No Guts, No Glory

No matter how well a book is written, a handful of kids will always hate it. Hunger Games is the closest I've ever come to having most of my kids enjoy reading it. I personally love the Cinder series. I think it's incredibly well-written, especially the second and third books, but many of my kids can't get into them. That doesn't mean they aren't good books.

I recently gave my MS for critique to someone who didn't have the same vision I had for my plot and characters. As a result, the critique totally derailed me. Since then, I've been rethinking (and over-thinking) something I was initially excited to write instead of actually writing.

Likewise, a CP of mine on submission right now just received a R&R from an agent. While most of the suggestions were good, it caused him to temporarily lose sight of everything great and strong about his MS. My CP friend is brilliant. He emailed a best-selling author for advice. The advice Mr. Best-Seller gave was stark, sound, and basically boiled down to this: Just because someone gives you advice about your MS, doesn't mean you have to take it. No matter how good an agent, an author, or a CP is, if they aren't a fit for you and your work it's best to go a different direction. 

These last couple months have shed a new light on an old lesson - one I need to have more faith in: Write the novel you want to read. This April, may you all have the confidence, the ambition and the guts to do just that.

Happy IWSG Alex J. Cavanaugh and friends!

Better Late Than Never

I'm squeezing in last second with my IWSG post. I adore Alex J. Cavanaugh and my IWSG friends too much to skip out several months in a row and get kicked out...better late than never.

Today I'm airing out my New Year's Resolutions. Yes, it's February and New Year's Day was forever ago, but I'm hoping we can just tiptoe past that and let it cleverly fit in with today's theme. Right?

NY Resolutions:
1. I'm 10,000 words into my next MS. I hope to have a strong rough draft by the end of the year, with the high hope of sending out queries in early 2015.
2. I'd love to find one more CP that I mesh well with - preferably a female who loves YA. I LOVE my current CP's and Betas, but they are mostly male. I'd love another female perspective. (This one is for much, much, much later in the year when I have a bit more time to be a good CP myself).
3. Complete 15 credit hours by July...not difficult, just time consuming.
4 As always, give each of my boys the love, support, and attention they all individually need. This is listed 4th, but - as always - reigns first in priority. Today is Baby Boy#1's 4th birthday. For those of you who've been around for a while, perhaps you already know - it's a wonderful, emotional day. I'm very proud of my sweet birthday boy.

I'm excited for this year. I have a good feeling good things are to come.

Happy (much belated) New Year IWSG!

'Tis the Season

It's been a while, I know. But what's a holiday season without a little insecurity?

Let's start with my good news. My good news is I started my next WIP. Granted, I'm only two chapters in, but it's a start. I've been exchanging chapters with a dear friend and CP. In fact it's because of him (and my last IWSG post) that I'm writing again. He's fabulous at peer pressuring me. In fact so many of my CPs have been wonderfully supportive by trying to kick my butt into writing gear. Thank you for that.

Here's my problem, with the limited writing time I have, everything I give him is rough...and by rough I mean ROUGH. And yet so many of his comments have been positive, which, naturally, makes me insecure. Yes, I give my chapters away hoping someone else will like them. But then when someone does, I flip out and feel the need to pass them around until someone will crush my growing optimism and knock me down a peg. Stupid. Sick, twisted - yep, I know. Tell me, why do we only trust the bad stuff?

I hope you all enjoy a lovely holiday season!

Ice Skating and Grit

Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for giving me an excuse to blog every first of the month. Happy IWSG Day!

Angela Duckworth conducts research at the University of Pennsylvania that proves the two most determinate factors of reaching success in life are grit and self-control. As a seventh grade teacher, I’ve preached for the last 15 years that intelligence without determination is wasteful. I’d rather have a semi-smart student whose determined to find the answer than an ubber-smart student who can read any difficult text I throw at him but is too apathetic to push himself beyond his ability.

My three-year-old son was born with grit. After a punctured lung and almost losing his life twice in the first week of life, he fought hard to get rid of the machines breathing for him. He would pull out tubes and IV’s when he was ready to not rely on them anymore. How an infant can instinctually determine that is beyond me – but my kid has amazed more in the last three years than I’ve been in the last 35 years of life. At age two when he didn’t have words, he would sit for 20-30 minutes at a time and practice his flashcards that indicated sounds – not because I prompted him. He wanted to talk. His path to success hasn’t been easy. He needs everything explicitly taught to him. But he wants to learn, and he’s determined to succeed.

A couple weeks ago, I took him to an introductory ice skating class. I don’t know what I was thinking. My kid struggles with coordination, motor planning, and core strength – things you kind of need to skate. It was nothing short of disastrous.  He cried, screamed, and fell a million times. At one point, he was crawling on his hands and knees for the door of the ice rink while sobbing. In that moment, I was pretty sure I’d ruined his life. But at the end of the thirty-minute session, he took one step off the ice and said, “Mama! Mama! I did it!” He smiled for the rest of the night. After two more lessons, he was skating. I still tear up when I think of how proud I was of him in that moment.

My kid is amazing.

I can read about it, I can preach it, I can be inspired by it on a daily basis. At some point, it’s time to get my ass in gear and show some grit.

May you all find the grit you need to meet the success you want in life.

My 3 yr old son with his brother and his aunts

CassaStorm Book Release

One of the greatest parts about having a blog is having the opportunity to support friends and talented writers. Today I get to celebrate both. Alex J. Cavanaugh's CassaStorm, the final book in his best selling series, will be released on Tuesday, September 17. Congrats Alex! I am thrilled for you.

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“With a talent for worldbuilding and a compelling cast of characters, Alex J. Cavanaugh combines high powered space battles and the challenges of family dynamics to provide readers a space opera with heart.” 
- Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the Southern Quilting and Myrtle Clover mysteries

“I thought the revelation was going to be one thing and I was completely wrong … CassaStorm pushes the limits…”
- Tyson Mauermann, Speculative Reviews

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002

Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastorm

Book trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Umm2l0XdHc&feature=youtu.be

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh  

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

Inspiring Success Stories

I have officially become a lurker. I've been stopping by blogs, reading what you have to say, and leaving without commenting. Blasphemous, I know....If it helps, I feel guilty about it. In my very weak defense, most of my perusing has been on my iPhone, which makes commenting impossible. Let's blame Apple, shall we? (Certainly this has nothing to do with user error). Why Apple, when the iPhone can do so much, is blog commenting difficult?

In my prowling, however, I've come across some people with wonderful news. I thought this month might be a good month for a few success stories. If you don't know these people already, follow them.  They are wonderful, knowledgeable, and perfect people to secretly stalk visit:

Amy Sonnichsen at The Green Bathtub

Amy just sold her book, RED BUTTERFLY, to S&S

Dahlia Adler at The Daily Dahlia

Dahlia sold one book, changed agents (after multiple offers of rep)

AND she'll be blogging about it this month

Go visit them and be inspired. I GUARANTEE both of these authors have big writing careers ahead of them.

Happy IWSG Day! 

IWSG: Gremlins

It's been a while since I've posted - I know. I said I'd be back after we moved and then nothing. Little did I know how long it would take to "move in" to a house. I swear late at night those stupid boxes piled in my garage are multiplying like evil little gremlins.

So, I reenter the blogosphere (briefly) for ISWG day baring a few gifts....contests....and good ones.

If you have a fabulous MS waiting around seeking representation you MUST check out:

Christmas in July hosted by the fabulous Ruth Lauren Steven and Michelle Krys. Submission window will be open July 9.

Authoress of Miss Snark's First Victim is also hosting July's Secret Agent Contest on July 8 AND The Adorable Editor's Contest on July 16.

Now onto my IWSG post hosted by the fabulous Alex J Cavanaugh.

Over a year ago, I jumped into submissions with my first MS thinking "it's now or never." It did pretty well - no offers of representation, but just enough encouragement to make me think publication is possible. I entered the blogosphere, met some fabulous, kind, talented, smart, smart, smart people - writers, agents, friends and critique partners. Then I had Baby Boy #2. Then I went back to work. Then we moved. Then I started taking graduate classes. Then we moved again. And I found myself saying over and over again, "Next month, I'll have more time....for writing, critiquing, reading your manuscripts, and blogging." But every month, something new pops up and that anticipated time disappears. It literally vanishes - swallowed whole, most likely, by evil little gremlins who can be blamed for everything. (In this particular case, the evil little gremlins are NOT my two baby boys, who sometimes act like evil little gremlins).

So my conclusion is giving in....Right now, responsibilities and family time (something I'm never willing to sacrifice) take precedence. I'll squeeze the writing in when I can, but that probably means pulling back on some other things....like blogging regularly - at least for now. And that is what I'm insecure about. I hope I can be that distant friend that you hear from every now and again but don't wholly give up on. I hope that when life settles down - surely in a few more months, right? - I'll continue bumping into you regularly. Until then, have a happy 4th of July - my favorite holiday.