The Writer's Chatroom presents a Critique Chat

Sunday, May 27, The Writer's Chatroom will have a critique chat. Would you like a crit from the entire chatroom? Then follow the guidelines EXACTLY.


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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES


Email audrey@writerschatroom.com 200-300 words from your work. Paste your submission into the email.


Copy this list and put it at the beginning of the email, with your answers:


Genre:
Format (short story, novel, etc):
Section: (beginning, middle, or end of piece):
Name you intend to publish under:
Name you use in the chatroom:
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Submissions that follow the guidelines will be used in the order they are received. I don't know how many we will get through, but the queue starts when the first correct submission is received.

I strongly suggest you submit polished work. Most of our chatters are aiming for publication. To get there, you have to be able to handle honest critiques. I will not allow personal attacks, but problems in the writing will be openly discussed.

 

If you are not in attendence, your submission will be skipped. It's a waste of everyone's time to critique something if the author isn't there to hear it.

Fiction, nonfic, essay...doesn't matter. I recommend trying to get an entire scene into 300 words. Full scenes get better crits.

 

Why only 300 words? More than that will scroll off the screen too quickly. People need to be able to read it, to give a good crit.

 

Please be on time for this chat. Crosstalk, including greetings, will be kept to a bare minimum. Make sure you have floated and enlarged your screen in chat, so you can keep up.Here we go...let's see how many of you have learned to write well and follow submission guidelines. First submission up for crits is...  

 

WHEN?

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Eastern USA Time.....7 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are?  http://www.worldtimeserver.com


WHERE?


The Writers Chatroom at:  http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm


Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.


Please note:  The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats. 


Don't forget the topic chats on Wednesday nights, 8-10 pm EST!

Interview with sci-fi author Marie Bilodeau

Please welcome science-fiction author Marie Bilodeau. She's on a tour for her novel Destiny's Fall.

She's offering a gift to a lucky commentor on this blog today, and other chances to win. Details follow the interview.

Bio:

Marie Bilodeau’s space fantasy novel, Destiny’s Blood, was a finalist in the Aurora Awards and won the Bronze Medal for Science-Fiction in the Foreword Book Awards. She is also the author of the Heirs of a Broken Land, a fantasy trilogy described as “fresh and exciting” by Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo award-winning author of WAKE. Her short stories have appeared in several magazines and anthologies. Her short story, The Legend of Gluck, published in When the Hero Comes Home (edited by Ed Greenwood and Gabrielle Harbowy), was also nominated for an Aurora Award. Marie is a professional storyteller, telling adaptations of fairy tales and myths, as well as original stories of her own creation.

Welcome, Marie. Please tell us about your current release.

Destiny’s Fall is the sequel to the award-winning Destiny’s Blood.

Our heroine, Layela Delamores, gives birth to her daughter, heir to the First Star. But what should be a joyous occasion turns to terror as the First Star rejects her daughter, triggering destruction across the Solarian Empire and sparking rebellion on the withering planet of Mirial.

Denied access to her ether as a new heir steps up to claim her throne, Layela embarks on a journey across worlds to save her daughter from the bloodthirsty rebels and from the fate deemed by the First Star long ago.

But not everyone can be saved, and destiny may prove impossible to escape.

Blurb for Destiny's Fall:

A broken tradition. A hunted child. A rebellion that threatens to topple the very fabric of the universe. 

When Layela Delamores gives birth to her first child, the ether immediately rejects what should be its only heir. A wave of destruction sweeps the ether races and sparks Solaria’s ire and rebellion on Mirial. A new heir rises to take the throne of Mirial, one who wields tainted ether.

Unable to access the flow of ether, Layela is left with little choice but to flee Mirial, seeking answers that may no longer exist, prepared to sacrifice everything to free herself and her daughter from the clutches of the First Star.

Excerpt from Destiny's Fall:

Elsa sent soothing waves to the earth. The saplings, still so small and tiny, responded in turn. Be still, she comforted them. They grew still and quiet, and she hoped they would avoid detection.

She reached out to the plants surrounding the gardens—the elm tree to the right, the great oak to the left. The bluebells lining the ground, mixed in with buttercups. The Lacile flowers which glowed gently, hiding now from the sun. The grass all around them, the wildflowers peeking through between the blades, the roses and their thorns, the poofy orange plants whose names she could never recall, and the bushes that held tiny leaves and pink flowers when spring was fresh and new.

She called out to all of them in the sunlight, to take care of the gardens, to protect the sproutlings of the Berganda in these uncertain times, while their mothers fought for peace on Mirial. Wave after wave of hope and need left her and filled the plants. With her all-too-human eyes, she imagined the plants standing a bit taller, but she knew it was only her imagination; they gently swayed in the wind around her.

Her own mother had been able to communicate with the plants and bend their will to hers. Or seal them to her with friendship, she wasn’t certain. Her own mother would have stood by Layela and fought, even giving up her life for her and the Berganda. Elsa hid her forming plans deep in her heart.

She had never known her mother, but she intended to live up to her legacy.

What inspired you to write this book?

Honestly, there wasn’t supposed to be a second book in the Destiny series. Dragon Moon Press’ Editor-in-Chief, Gabrielle Harbowy, requested a rewrite of the first book’s epilogue, saying it was too final. As soon as I handed that in, she asked if I’d be willing to write two more books in the series. 

And I certainly was!  Returning to the world of Destiny was like returning home and meeting old friends again.  Except I’d done horrible things to them in the first book, so they probably weren’t really happy to see me again. Regardless, a whole plot was quickly born and we headed towards adventure at breakneck speed!

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m working on the third book of the series, which is darker, more action-packed and, for me at least, very nostalgic. I won’t spoil anything, but trust me – it’s gonna be awesome! 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When the whispers of a story would tease me awake and my pen met paper every morning before sunrise, when the scent of a latte was my sole companion as I discovered new worlds, and when I first wrote “The End” on a novel. That was more than ten years ago, after I finished university. And what a ride it’s been!

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I wish I wrote full time!  But not yet. I get up early in the mornings and head to a coffee shop downtown.  I write for about an hour (at least 1000 words) before heading in to work. I have an energizing job that I love in communications. I work a full day. Then, my day breaks down. I socialize, I read, I watch some TV, I prepare for storytelling shows. But the one thing I always do before going to bed is prep for the next day’s writing session. I plan my scene, put my characters to bed, and when the morning writing beckons, I’m ready to go before my first neuron fires (which can take a while). 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When I only have a third of a book left, I like to head to a convent where I can have a quiet writing retreat.  I write and write and write for three days, stopping to sleep, eat and take a walk once in a while.  My personal best was 45,000 words in two days, so it’s a worthwhile endeavor! I saw double for a while after that…

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

She-ra. Never did find my power sword. Just a power pen. Sigh.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Thanks for having me here today! Cheers!

You're quite welcome, Marie. Glad to be a tour host.

Readers, remember, Marie is giving away a signed e-book copy of Destiny's Blood (the first book in the series) to one randomly drawn commentor at every stop (so that means there will be a winner HERE), and an autographed set of Destiny's Blood and Destiny's Fall in print (US and Canada only) or e-book (International) to one randomly drawn commentor during the tour. So, leave your e-mail address with a comment below for a chance to win. And also follow the tour and comment at other stops to increase your odds of winning.

Interview with children's author Kristy Taylor

Today's guest is children's author Kristy Taylor. She's here to chat about her book Mrs. Garcia's Class Visits the Hospital.

Bio:

Kristy K. Taylor is a fulltime Health Science Professor, author, and founder of Kid Medic, LLC. She has over seven years of teaching experience in the field of health science education, and she spent two years as an elementary school teacher in Brackettville, Texas. Prior to becoming an elementary school teacher and accepting her current position at Palm Beach State College in Florida, she spent six years on active duty in the United States Air Force as a Healthcare Administrator and teacher for the Community College of the Air Force.

Kristy holds an associate’s degree in Healthcare Management, a bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Resources, and a master’s degree in Health Science with a focus in Health Education. Kristy is also currently pursuing her doctorate in Health Science with a focus in Global Health at A.T. Still University located in Mesa, AZ.  

In the past, Kristy has worked with students by providing them with career exploration tools and resume help. She is also currently working on her Career Coaching Certification through the Professional Association of Career Coaches and Resume Writers. Kristy enjoys teaching and working with students to help them achieve their goals.

She started Kid Medic because she believes that children can reach their potential only when they are properly taught, nurtured, and engaged in a manner that inspires them to expand their horizons through reading, thinking, exploring, and discovering the world around them.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Kristy. Please tell us about your current release.

Mrs. Garcia's Class Visits the Hospital is the first book written by author and former elementary teacher, Kristy Taylor. The book is an exciting career day adventure with a diverse group of characters where the students in Mrs. Garcia's class visit the local hospital for their class field trip. While touring the hospital with Mrs. Garcia and Dr. Johnson as their guides, the students learn about over twenty different healthcare careers, and they have lots of fun along the way!

What inspired you to write this book?

I have always been interested in teaching and career exploration in general. One day while having a "What do you want to be when you grow up?" discussion with my group of 4th graders, I was inspired to write a story that would encourage them. After our discussion, it only took me a few days to write my first story. As a result, when I decided to publish the book, I used the students and town as my inspiration! I was so inspired, I decided to keep writing and start Kid Medic as well.

Excerpt:
Eric introduced us to Michelle, the phlebotomist.  “What is a phlebotomist?” asked Haley.  “A phlebotomist is a person who specializes in drawing a patient’s blood for testing,” said Michelle.  Suddenly, Nathaniel got an interesting look on his face and raised his hand.  “Yessss,” said Michelle.  “Is your job sort of like being a vampire?”  Nathaniel asked.  The entire class laughed and turned to look at Michelle.  “No,” she chuckled.

I learned about all of the different areas that doctors could specialize in, for example, Dr Herrera was a podiatrist, and he specialized in treating patients with feet problems.  Dr. Osborn was a neurologists; she specialized in helping patients with nervous system disorders.  We also met Dr. Chadwick, the hospital’s pharmacist; she helped patients get the medicine that they needed in order to help them feel better.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am working on a career motivation book for adults as well as a children’s book about veterinarian careers.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I initially only wrote my book for my students, but once I realized how the book could actually be used to inspire people, the light bulb turned on!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I want to write everything from children’s books to adult career motivation books. 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A cheerleader, dinosaur, and President, but since none of those worked out, I opted for teaching instead.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers? 

Be sure to continue following the tour!

Kristy is giving away a free activity guide to everyone who purchases the book during this tour. And there is also a giveaway of a Swag Pack (Kid Medic t-shirt, coffee mug, pen, and stickers) to a lucky commentor. So feel free to comment and leave your e-mail address if you'd like a chance to win! You can also follow her tour and comment at other stops to increase your chances of winning.

Live chat/interview with John Rosenman

The Writer's Chatroom presents author John Rosenman.

WHEN?

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Sign In. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Interview with novelist Irina Shapiro

Today's guest author is Irina Shapiro. She's talking a bit about her favorite novel to date, The Hands of Time.

Welcome, Irina. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born in Moscow, Russia in 1970 and lived the life of a model communist child until my family immigrated to the United States in 1982. Like most teenagers, I eagerly embraced the new culture and did my best to shed the old, restrictive ways, frustrating my parents to no end. Despite my love of history and literature, I majored in International Business at Bernard M. Baruch College and pursued a career in Import/Export until I left the work force in 2007. I currently reside in New Jersey with my family. Since then I have written five novels and explored some other interests that I didn’t have time for while working full-time.

As long as there are books to read, movies to see, and exotic places to visit I will never be bored.      

Please tell us a bit about your favorite novel.

The Hands of Time is a time travel romance. It’s the story of Valerie Crane who travels to England with her sister in order to escape her painful divorce and her ex-husband’s upcoming wedding.  While shopping for souvenirs, Valerie wanders into an antique shop and picks up an ormolu clock, which is set to the wrong time.  As Valerie turns the hands of the clock she is instantly transported to the year 1605 where she becomes entangled in a passionate love triangle with the Whitfield brothers, who take her in, and must learn to navigate the volatile political climate of 17^th Century England.

Meanwhile, Valerie’s sister, Luisa, is desperately searching for her missing sibling. Through unexpected clues Luisa finally begins to piece together what happened to her sister and come to terms with losing her forever.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have always been fascinated with the idea of time travel. What would any of us do if suddenly transported to a different time? How would we survive? Would we be able to adapt if faced with the prospect of spending our life trapped in another century, much more dangerous than our own? Might we possibly find some things in the past that were missing from our lives in the present?

I also like to explore the difference between the relationships of today and the courtships of the past. Men and women had such different expectations of each other, yet their relationships were not as transient as the “hit and run” encounters of today, or were they?

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have just finished The Folly. It’s a romance/murder mystery set in 19^th Century England. The story explores how far people are willing to go for love and revenge. Although this book does not have the supernatural element of my other books, it has a few twists and turns of its own.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I still don’t consider myself to be a writer. I feel a little self-conscious about using that title.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I don’t have any specific regimen. I write when I have an idea. Some days I write for hours, while other days I can’t manage a single sentence.

I left my job as an Import Manager five years ago to stay at home with my autistic son, so I write while the children are at school. Once they come home, I devote my time to them.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When I begin a story I have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen or how it’s going to end. The characters start taking on a life of their own and eventually reveal to me what they want to do. I know that sounds a little strange, but that’s how I roll.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. The idea of uncovering fragments of the past and piecing them together seemed like a very exciting way to spend my time. If that didn’t work out, I was planning to join the circus. 

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I began writing as a form of therapy and I never intended for anyone to see my work. It was just for me. I’ve come a long way since then and it has been an amazing journey, mostly into my own psyche.  

I stay in touch with readers through my website and Facebook page. 

And readers can learn more about my novels through Amazon:

The Inheritance

Precious Bones

Full Circle

The Hands of Time

The Folly

Thanks for being here today, Irina. It's nice to get to know a bit about you and your writing.

Interview with author Chris Redding

Chris Redding is today's guest, and her newest book is Blonde Demolition.

Bio:

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing and giving workshops, she works part time for her local hospital.

Welcome, Chris. Please tell us about your current release, Blonde Demolition.

You just can't hide from the past...

Mallory Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.

Former partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory's life. He believes they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don't have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.

Framed for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running out.

What inspired you to write this book?

My husband has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years. Part of that time his fire company ran a fair to raise money. It had a beer tent and the guys who worked it were called The Beer Gods. They always asked me when I would write a book for them. This is their book even though they only have a small part in it.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Right now I’m working on a short romantic comedy about a vegetarian veterinarian and the heir to a hot dog fortune who is allergic to dogs.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was ten.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I don’t write full time. I work part time. I usually write in the mornings. When I am in revision stage that happens morning and night. I don’t revise until the first draft is finished.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

That I can inject humor in just about any genre and situation. I have a dark sense of humor. I guess that helps. I’ve been involved in emergency medical services in some form for 20 years so that helps.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. At one point a lawyer, but that faded quickly.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I hope you enjoy my stories.

Thanks for being here today, Chris, and letting us learn a little bit about you and your writing. 

Interview with humorous memoirist Derek Thompson

Today's guest author, Derek Thompson, is here to talk a bit about his memoir Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ve Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic’s Mood Chart.

Bio:

Derek Thompson grew up in South Charleston, Ohio and received a BA in communication in 2005 from Wittenberg University. After graduation, he pursued a corporate sales career at AT&T where he excelled in the high-paced sales environment. That’s up until he was unexpectedly and rudely interrupted by his first manic episode in 2008 which changed everything; they tended to be real jerks like that. 

The episode took him back home where he struggled to understand what his new mental health condition diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I was and meant. To cope with this confusion he began writing a blog as a therapeutic process to deal with his new crazy life and have some fun along the way. He currently resides on one of his family’s farms in rural Ohio.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Derek. Please tell us about your current release.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is the story of one Millennial’s bipolar life with moments ranging from the ridiculous to the terrifying to the hilarious. By blending pop culture references and cyberspeak with psychiatric terms, it combines the funny, conversational tone of Sh*t My Dad Says with a nonlinear narrative structure similar to that of Manic. The book actually began as blog I started writing as a therapeutic process to deal with the diagnosis of my bipolar disorder type I.           

Somewhere Over the Rainbow will be the first humorous memoir about bipolar written by a member of the Millennial Generation--today’s young adults. The entries are divided into three sections, Depressed, Normal, and Elevated, and cover the past three years: my psych ward getaways, my vision of fighting alongside Jesus at Armageddon, my attempts to find a woman who accepts that I sometimes lose my mind. Therapy “sessions” with a fictional psychiatrist provide my present-day reflections on each entry. (I had to create my ideal shrink because I tend to fight with the real ones.)

More than an account of coming to terms with a mental health condition, it’s a story of being young and feeling lost, dealing with heartbreak and still finding plenty to laugh about, no matter what happens.

What inspired you to write this book?

Well, to be completely honest, I never really seriously considered writing a book until I was forced to move from Chicago back home to Ohio. This was last summer and it was caused by the fact that I was suffering another setback in my recovery due to my mania. I had to essentially sit on my hands and wait and see whether my new medicine would work and on top of that complications with my mania had also forced me to drop out of graduate school as well. I guess I figured I wasn’t doing anything else so there probably wasn’t ever going to be a better time to start writing my story than right then.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m actually trying my hand at a novel this time. It’s going to be loosely based off my life and told as a mysterious adventure through my manic mind. By incorporating themes from my blog, memoir, and mania the reader will be able to experience what a psychotic manic episode feels like. The questions I’ve been relentlessly struggling with over the years about my bipolar life will finally be answered. . .maybe.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

For the longest time I only wrote as a therapeutic release and as a way of communicating the difficulties of bipolar with my family and friends. It always felt like it was a hobby to me for some reason and merely as another part of my support system I needed to live with the bipolar. I think that started to change when people I didn’t think knew I wrote began coming up and telling me they enjoyed my stuff. I’d say right about then is when I started to feel like a writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I don’t write full time in the sense that I consider it my 9-5 job, but I do feel like I’m always trying to be writing in some way. It could be research for my book or simply noticing something peculiar whiling hanging out with friends. I’m constantly looking for inspiration as well. For some reason I find a ton of it when I’m driving around so I’ll constantly find random reasons for a drive. I’ve never really been able to just sit down and say I’m going to write so many pages today or whatever. I usually just start writing whenever something inspires me, whether that’s when I’m randomly driving down the road or during commercial breaks of the Reds game.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

One quirk I’ve noticed when I’m writing for my blog is that if I outline my post for the week too much the writing really isn’t very good. I usually come up with my ideas to write early in the week, but wait until later in the week to actually sit down and write it. When I used to try getting an in depth outline and to really set up the structure for my post it never would turn out very good. But rather when I merely jot down a couple ideas and then just sit down and write later on my post are so much better. So with my blog it almost seems that in a way the harder I try the worse it gets.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up in a small farming community in rural Ohio where I was completely out of my element. Despite our family’s long heritage in agriculture I sucked at it. This being the case I just wanted not to be a farmer when I grew up, because I knew I would be a terrible one.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Yeah, there’s been this rumor going around that I can’t read. To be completely honest I have no idea where this came from, but it’s absolutely ridiculous. I mean I’m a writer for God’s sake. Thanks.

Thanks for being here today, Derek, and showing us that we can still have some fun with serious topics.