The Lucky 7 Meme

I was the recipient of The Lucky 7 Meme, not once, but twice.  The first time was in March, shortly before the Blogging From A to Z Challenge began, so I said I'd get to it afterwards.  I received the meme from Sherry Ellis over at Mama Diaries.  Then in April, during the A to Z Challenge, I received the meme from Killarney Sheffield over at Author Killarney Sheffield.  This meme is for writers, and it's a chance to showcase your latest manuscript.  So today, you will get to read an excerpt from one of my works in progress.  

Lucky 7 Meme Rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current manuscript.

2. Go to line 7.

3. Copy the next 7 lines (sentences or paragraphs) and post them as they're written.  No cheating!

4. Tag 7 other writers to pass this meme on to.

Manuscript Excerpt: 

     "As soon as Mrs. Greene arrives, we will start the reading of the will," said Mr. Treytle, nervously wiping his brow with a hankie.  "She called to say that she'd be here in about 15 minutes."

     "Step-mommy dearest must make her grand entrance, no doubt," said Jeremy, looking down at his watch.  "I don't know what father ever saw in that conniving witch.  She has only been after one thing since she met my father and that was his money."

     "Jeremy, darling, didn't your mother teach you better manners than that?" said Mrs. Greene, as she walked into the conference room.  "What in the hell is she doing here?"

Writers I'm Tagging:
 

1. Martha Ramierez

2. Jennifer Shirk

3. Julie Flanders

4. Karen Gowen

5. Peggy Eddleman

6. Heather Spiva

7. Jen Daiker

Book Review of Night Sky

Night Sky

by Jolene Perry

Publisher: Tribute Books
                  www.tribute-books.com

Released: March 1, 2012

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
  

eBook; 247 pages

ISBN: 9780983741862
ISBN: 9781466052338

Kindle buy link: CLICK HERE
NOOK buy link: CLICK HERE
Smashwords buy link: CLICK HERE

Night Sky Summary

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.
 

Review 

Jameson is best friends with Sarah, who he has secretly loved for the past three years.  His heart is crushed when Sarah starts dating someone else.  Then Jameson meets Sky.  She is a college student, somewhat mysterious, and expects total honesty from Jameson.  She is the total opposite of Sarah. 

When things in Jameson's life start falling apart, like his parents separating, Sky is the one who is there for him.  But what happens when Sky doesn’t seem to be completely honest with Jameson, after she expects total honesty from him?  What secrets is she keeping from him?

Jameson is a well written character.  I like how his mom is not an absent parent and that the two of them have a good parent/teen relationship.   Jameson is sensitive, but not wimpy.  When things get bad in his life, you feel his pain.  Anyone whose parents have separated or divorced, or have had to deal with heartache will be able to relate to what Jameson goes through. 

Something that did get a little old for me was that Jameson’s thoughts were quite often on Sky’s body and wanting to be intimate with her.  Although I’m sure that a lot of young guys have these same thoughts, I just didn’t feel that I needed to read about it in almost every chapter.  Another thing I would have liked was to learn more background on Sky’s heritage and the Alaskan clan she came from.

I think the cover for Night Sky is beautiful.  I found it very refreshing that this story was told from the male teen's point of view.  Kudos to the author for giving us this unique perspective.

Author's Bio

Jolene Perry grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.

Night Sky web site:
http://www.night-sky-book.com

Night Sky Twitter hashtag:
#NightSky

Night Sky GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12588673-night-sky

Jolene Perry's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677

Jolene Perry's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry

Jolene Perry's Website:
http://www.jolenebperry.com/

Jolene Perry's Blog:
http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/

Jolene Perry's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

 

Random Act Of Kindness - Elysabeth Eldering

Elysabeth Eldering is one of two people that I chose to honor for the Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ!  If you didn't get a chance to see the original post, click here.  My gift to Elysabeth was to do a blog post about her.

Elysabeth Eldering has been a traveler since birth.  Her father was a military man, so her childhood was spent living in such places as Germany, Japan, and many of the different United States.  These days, she calls South Carolina home, her mindset being that she is "Southern by choice, not by birth."

This busy mother of three is a full time medical transcriptionist.  She also participates in virtual classroom visits and can be found at home school and book events promoting her writing.

On a dare, Elysabeth entered her first writing contest in 2005 and took second place for Train of Clues, a children's mystery story.  She was then inspired to take that story and start writing a series for children, the premise being that each state would be the mystery.  Each book in the series concentrates on one state and there are supplemental study guides available, which take the series cross curriculum.  

This is the cover of one of the books in the Junior Geography Detective Squad (JGDS) series.  The books focus on middle grade geography of the different states.  The series, loosely based on the original Train of Clues story, follows four friends in their handheld game playing adventure.  The game gives the four friends clues and they need to guess which state is being described.  



For more information about the JGDS series, please visit the JGDS blog at http://jgdssseries.blogspot.com or the JGDS website at http://jgdsseries.weebly.com


Some of Elysabeth Eldering's other award winning stories include: The Proposal, a humorous romance, which took 3rd place in Armchair Interviews April Fools Day contest; Butterfly Halves, a YA fantasy that was a runner up of Echelon Press's fast and fanciful contest; The Tulip Kiss, a paranormal romance that took 1st place in Echelon Press's fast and frigid contest; and Bride-and-Seek, a paranormal romance which was a selected story for SCWW's anthology, the Petigru Review.

I did a review of The Tulip Kiss back in March.  Click here to read the review.


I will be featuring other books and short stories by Elysabeth Eldering in the upcoming months.

For more information about Elysabeth's other writings, please visit her general writing and family blog at http://elysabethsstories.blogspot.com or her website at http://eeldering.weebly.com
 

******

Twitter: elysabeth42

Facebook: Facebook profile

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/elysabeth-eldering/9/596/92b

AuthorsDen: www.authorsden.com/elysabethmeldering

LibraryThing: www.librarything.com/author/elderingelysabeth

JacketFlap: www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=Elysabeth

Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/Elysabeth-Eldering/e/B002BLQFFK

Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/profile/view/elysabeth42

Random Act Of Kindness - Karen Cioffi

Karen Cioffi is one of two people that I chose to honor for the Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ!  If you didn't get a chance to see the original post, click here.  My gift to Karen was to do a blog post about her.

Karen Cioffi is a woman who has many jobs.  She is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, editor, and marketer.  She is the founder and manager of Writers On The Move.  Be sure to check out Karen's site, Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing, for great writing and marketing information.

Karen also presents workshops on writing and marketing.  These are offered as webinars, teleclasses and chats.  I've attended some of the workshops and each time I've learned something new about some aspect of writing or marketing, but also something new about myself. 

Karen writes a monthly newsletter, A Writer's World, and she is a regular contributor to the 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News newsletter.  

Let's not forget Karen's most important jobs.  Those are of wife, mother, and grandma.  With all that Karen has going on, she still finds time to answer questions, share words of encouragement, and offer a helping hand.  Karen is truly an inspiration to me and many others.

The following is part of an interview that I did with Karen for a July 2011 blog post.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a former accountant who is now an author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer. I am also the founder and manager of Writers on the Move, acquisitions editor intern for 4RV Publishing, and moderator of a children’s critique group.

I live in NYC with my husband.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

As with most writers I enjoyed writing stories as a child, but never thought of actually becoming an author until later on in life. When I had to leave the accounting profession due to multiple sclerosis, I put down my pencil and took up the pen.

What genre(s) do you write and why?

Interestingly, I began with children’s picture books because I wrote a lullaby over 30 years ago that I wanted to turn into a picture book, primarily for my grandchildren.

I also wrote a children’s middle grade story, Walking Through Walls. I was given an outline of an ancient Chinese tale in 2008, and saw the potential in it for a children’s book. And, it turns out I really like the chapter book and middle grade genres.

Along with this, I’ve ghostwritten one memoir, several children’s books, and a few hundred health and business articles, which I’m very comfortable doing – I think it’s because of my accounting background and my interest in a number of health issues.

To read the rest of this interview, please click here.

Day’s End Lullaby

by Karen Cioffi and Robyn Feltman

Genre: Children's bedtime picture book 

Paperback, published September 2008

Publisher: BookSurge Publishing

                   www.booksurge.com

Walking Through Walls 

by Karen Cioffi

Illustrator: Aidana WillowRaven

Genre: Middle grade fantasy adventure

Paperback, published June 2011

Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC

 www.4rvpublishingllc.com

******

http://karencioffi.com (children’s author site)

http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com (offers writing and marketing information, ghostwriting and freelance writing services, book reviews, and guest postings)

http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com (offers Karen’s e-books on writing and marketing)

http://writersonthemove.com (offers writing and marketing content from a number of writers and marketers, as well as workshops)

Be sure to sign up for Karen’s FREE monthly newsletter, A Writer’s World, on any of the above sites, and get 2 FREE e-books on writing and marketing.

******

Twitter: http://twitter.com/KarenCV

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kcioffiventrice 

JacketFlap: www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=KarenCV 

AuthorsDen: www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=100782 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice 

GooglePlus: https://plus.google.com/107054879622971281466/posts 

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/KarenCioffi/ 

 ******

Blog for Day's End Lullaby: http://daysendlullaby.blogspot.com

Blog for Walking Through Walls: http://walkingthroughwalls-kcioffi.blogspot.com 

 

Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ!

A smile. An encouraging word. A thoughtful gesture. Each day people interact with us, help, and make our day a bit brighter and full. This is especially true in the Writing Community. 

Take a second to think about writers you know, like the critique partner who works with you to improve your manuscript. The writing friend who listens, supports and keeps you strong when times are tough. The author who generously offers council, advice and inspiration when asked.

So many people take the time to make us feel special, don't they? They comment on our blogs, re-tweet our posts, chat with us on forums and wish us Happy Birthday on Facebook.

Kindness ROCKS!

To commemorate the release of their book The Emotion Thesaurus, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting a TITANIC Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ. And because I think KINDNESS is contagious, I'm participating too!

I am picking two people for my Random Act Of Kindness. They are Karen Cioffi and Elysabeth Eldering. Both of these women have been very generous with their time and writing knowledge and I have benefited so much from each of them. I am blessed to have them both as friends. Karen and Elysabeth, for my RAOK gift, I will be dedicating a blog post to each of you!  

Karen blogs over at Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing and Elysabeth blogs over at Elysabeth's Writing Emporium.  If you have a minute, please stop by these blogs and tell them how awesome they are!

Do you know someone special that you'd like to randomly acknowledge? Don't be shy--come join us and celebrate! Send them an email, give them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. Kindness makes the world go round. :)

Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for you as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up.

Have you ever participated in or been the recipient of a Random Act Of Kindness?  Let me know in the comments!

Reflections Post for the Blogging From A to Z Challenge

Today's blog post is about my thoughts on the Blogging from A to Z Challenge that I participated in last month.


I know that a lot of people will be sharing Reflection Posts, so I want to make this post short, sweet and to the point.






What I liked about the challenge:
- I met lots of new people
- I found some really cool blogs to follow
- I got some ideas for future blog posts
- My blog gained about 35 new followers during the challenge
- That my hardest post of the challenge (X) was also one of my most favorite posts to write.


What I disliked about the challenge:
- That on a couple of the blogs I stopped at, I couldn't figure out where the comment link was


What I learned from the challenge:
- To choose a theme and stick with it, so I can have blog posts written up before the challenge begins
- To schedule my posts, so it is not the first thing I'm worrying about doing when I wake up 
- Stress less and have fun  : )
- That I want to do an A to Z challenge next year!


I want to say THANK YOU to Arlee and all the co-hosts for everything they did to make the A to Z Challenge run as smoothly as it did.

Guest Post by Jon Jefferson, the "Writer" Half of Jefferson Bass

Jon Jefferson at the gate of the Body Farm

Novelist Jon Jefferson teams up with legendary bone detective Bill Bass to write memorable forensic thrillers under the pen name “Jefferson Bass.” The latest and most ambitious Jefferson Bass novel, The Inquisitor’s Key, comes out May 8. Read an excerpt on the Jefferson Bass Facebook page.

 

Stabbed Ribs, Barbecued Bodies, and Other Forensic Adventures

By Jon Jefferson

A dozen years ago, I was developing a television documentary about the Body Farm. I’d called up the founder of the unique post-mortem research facility, Dr. Bill Bass, and explained what I’d like to do: a piece that focused more on the scientific research than on the sensationalism of the place. Dr. Bass was agreeable, and fairly early in my research, he and I met for lunch at a Knoxville barbecue restaurant, Calhoun’s, to talk about forensic anthropology and murder cases.

Midway through lunch, he began describing the case of Letha Rutherford, an 18-year-old girl from Lexington, Kentucky, who went missing one day. Months later, her decaying body was found hidden in a trash pile in a rural area. Her death was declared a homicide, but the medical examiner couldn’t determine the cause of death.

Letha’s mother remained determined to find out what had happened to her daughter. Eventually she learned of Dr. Bass and his forensic prowess, and she persuaded him to examine her daughter’s remains. The body was exhumed, and Dr. Bass and a graduate student cleaned and examined the bones. On one of the girl’s first ribs, he told me, they found a cut mark. “Let me teach you something about stab wounds,” Bass said, and with that he snatched my plate, grabbed a steak knife, and plunged it into my half-slab of smoked ribs. Heads swiveled in our direction, then—as our fellow diners recognized Bass, a local celebrity—they smiled and returned to their conversations.

That lunchtime demonstration taught me a little bit about cut marks, and a whole lot about Bass: a guy who, despite being up to his elbows in death and dismemberment, loved his work, and loved sharing his knowledge. “This is gonna be fun,” I thought, and I was right.

I ended up making not one but two Body Farm documentaries, and for the best possible network: National Geographic, which—to their huge credit—allowed us to put the “graphic” in Geographic, when graphic (even gruesome) footage was required to explain the forensic research. Often that meant getting up close and personal with insects feasting on decomposing flesh; one night it meant filming arms, legs, and torsos as they burned on a half-dozen fires—a graduate student’s unflinching research on the effects of fire on flesh and bone. It was a nightmarish, hellish scene, and it got even more surreal around midnight, when coyotes began howling on a nearby ridge.

The adventures didn’t end when the television documentaries were done. Nine books later, they’re still going on. Some of the adventures are real-life forensic adventures (mostly Bass’s, but I’ve had a hand in some, too), recounted in the nonfiction books Death’s Acre and Beyond the Body Farm. Others are a combination: real-life science and sleuthing, applied to fictional crimes, as in the new e-story, “Madonna and Corpse” (download it for just $ .99 – the cost of a candy bar, and lots easier on your teeth!) and the latest Body Farm novel.

The novel—The Inquisitor’s Key—is the ultimate game of “what if”: What if an ace forensic anthropologist were given the chance to examine the bones of the most famous victim—the most innocent victim—in all of human history? Read it, and join us for the adventure!

For more on Jefferson Bass, find them on Facebook, join them at the blog, and follow along at Twitter. 

If you would like to check out other Jefferson Bass blog tour and book tour events, CLICK HERE.

Interview with Author Nicole Borgenicht

Nicole Borgenicht is a children's fiction writer. Her most recent picture book is The Bridge published by Publish America. Some of Nicole's other kid's stories have appeared in The Los Angeles Times Kid's Reading Room section, Stories for Children Magazine and LadyBug Flights Magazine. Additional works comprise poetry and essays, short stories, one act plays or articles  in magazines such as Arts and Entertainment Skyline and American Fitness.

 

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a freelance writer, and I love to write fiction most of all. My published works have included kid’s books, short stories, a one act play, tons of articles, a produced spot on NBC, and more.

Would you describe your desk or workspace?

I have a great desk and office area, but in fact once I bought a laptop, I usually work on the dining room table because the view is a beautiful bucolic vision. 

 

What are you currently reading?

I am reading Write Your Book Now! by Gene Perret. It’s a great book and reminder of different ways to get it done.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

“Have fun with it!” Gene Perret regarding writing - of course he’s a comedy writer!

If you could have coffee with anyone (living or dead, real or fictional), who would it be and why?

Hemingway. I think he really wrote what he wanted and the way he wanted to. 

What are your top three favorite books and why?

Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway, inspiring about challenges and dimensional goals

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by Le Carre’, he creates a range of characters without favor, but still present an author’s undercurrent of humanity

Short Stories by Joyce Carol Oates, she has the skill and creativity to tell a far deeper story than meets the eye and her character subtext is fascinating.

What was your favorite book as a child and why?

I liked Sword in the Stone. It restored my faith and I liked the imaginative and heroic aspect of the story.

 

 

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Full-time

 

 

Could you share about any current writing projects?

I am working on a chapter outline and some scenes for The Kids of Dandelion Township II.

What would be the best way for readers to contact you?

Author Website: www.nicoleborgenicht.com

Where can people find The Kids of Dandelion Township?

Amazon.com

The Kids of Dandelion Township

Author: Nicole Borgenicht

Illustrator: Lisa M. Griffin

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN-13: 978-1466466401   

(CreateSpace-Assigned)

 

ISBN-10: 1466466405

Author Website: www.nicoleborgenicht.com

SYNOPSIS

The Kids of Dandelion Township is a story about new friends who in the process of discovering magic together, learn about their similar emotions and different cultures. All in the context of a child's day, the kids unravel mysteries of A students, and invent ways to be creative while completing their homework assignments. Preparing the way for children to receive magic, the kids of Dandelion Township wish all children will experience it one day.

 

The link to Nicole Borgenicht's tour page:

http://storiesforchildren.tripod.com/worldofinknetwork/nicole-borgenicht-april-12.html

 

The rest of the tour schedule:

May 3^rd

The New Book Review – Book Review

http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com

May 5^th

Author Nicole Borgenicht reads first couple of chapters of The Kids of Dandelion Township

May 7^th

Utah Children's Writer Blog – Guest Post

http://utahchildrenswriters.blogspot.com/