Posts Tagged: MFRW
Wait. There Was a Summer Vacation? #MFRWauthor
Because time skipped forward during the months of June and July and we had unusually cool weather in Kansas, I’m having a hard time remembering summer vacation. I’m pretty sure I had one though, because when I returned to school in August, my brain had that familiar toasted feel to it. You know that feeling? The one where you’re not 100% sure you put on underwear that morning and you can’t remember anyone’s name and you can’t figure out which key unlocks the school library doors and…
Ahem.
But now my summer-toasted brain is once again working semi-full throttle, and I’m still having a hard time remembering summer.
But based on the empty suitcase I just put away from my vacation in July (yes, I just put it away. I wish I was kidding), bits and pieces of the summer have come back to me!
Here’s what I did:
1. I went to the Stanley Hotel in Colorado. This is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining!
The MAN!
2. I visited my parents in Washington, and just like we always do, we had a ridiculously good time!
I want your doooonnnuuuut!
3. I wrote The End on my ghost story in space book and sent it off to Super Editor.
4. I wrote a quarter of a contemporary story with no zombies or ghosts, and because it felt a little weird not writing about anything paranormal, I added bacon. Problem solved since bacon is paranormally tasty!
5. I watched the first three seasons of Sons of Anarchy.
Because Charlie.
6. Ummmmm…?
Yeah, that’s all I got.
So, summer, you were pretty epic, but next time, let’s relax on that fast-forward button, okay?
What about you? Any fantastic summer memories you want to share?
P.S. Be sure to check out other authors’ summer vacation memories by clicking on the Endless Summer Blog Hop button at the top of this post!
Ch-Ch-Changes: They’re Not Always a Bad Thing
Hurray! It’s time for MFRW’s YA blog hop, and I’m so excited to be participating! The theme for this hop is change, something that no one in the history of the planet can avoid. But change isn’t always a bad thing.
Take my main character, Leigh from The Grave Winner, for example (please don’t actually take her, though!) – one of the many changes she endures in this story is that her best friend’s brother suddenly takes an interest in her. She eventually realizes that this interest isn’t all that sudden, but her perception of him has changed now that she knows. She sees him for what he is – a hot jock who would do just about anything for her.
Of course, not all the changes that happen to Leigh are cute. She has just lost her mom, and as you can imagine, this leaves Leigh devastated. Her family now has to cope with the huge hole in their lives, and Leigh feels like she has to fill that hole with something. No, I can’t tell you what that something is. I can tell you, though, that it leads to very, very bad things…
Excerpts of all the YA authors’ books can be found here: YA_Hop_Excerpt_Book
Would you like a free e-book copy of The Grave Winner? Just leave a comment about how well you handle change or what the biggest change in your life has been so far and your email address! I’ll pick one random winner!
Summary:
Leigh Baxton is terrified her mom will come back from the dead — just like the prom queen did.
While the town goes beehive over the news, Leigh bikes to the local cemetery and buries some of her mom’s things in her grave to keep her there. When the hot and mysterious caretaker warns her not to give gifts to the dead, Leigh cranks up her punk music and keeps digging.
She should have listened.
Two dead sorceresses evicted the prom queen from her grave to bury someone who offered certain gifts. Bury them alive, that is, then resurrect them to create a trio of undead powerful enough to free the darkest sorceress ever from her prison inside the earth.
With help from the caretaker and the dead prom queen, Leigh must find out what’s so special about the gifts she gave, and why the sorceresses are stalking her and her little sister. If she doesn’t, she’ll either lose another loved one or have to give the ultimate gift to the dead – herself.