Friday, November 17, 2017

Jaime Jo Wright | Author Chat


What better person to have a coffee with for Author Chat than Jaime Jo Wright aka Writer & Professional Coffee Drinker! I'm so excited to have her as my guest and I think you're really going to enjoy her interview! 


Professional coffee drinker & ECPA/Publisher's Weekly best-selling author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing spirited turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Coffee fuels her snarky personality. She lives in Neverland with her Cap’n Hook who stole her heart and will not give it back, their little fairy TinkerBell, and a very mischievous Peter Pan. The foursome embark on scores of adventure that only make her fall more wildly in love with romance and intrigue.

Let's get real...

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters?
Well, I’d definitely cast Tom Hiddleston for Joel (and then I’d be sure I was on set every day). Ivy would be played by me, because otherwise I’d be really jealous of anyone opposite Tom—ahem—I mean, Joel.

Grant would be played by Ryan Eggold from The Blacklist

Kaine would be played by Italia Ricci who is currently starring opposite Keifer Sutherland on Designated Survivor.


Name three places you’d like to travel to & why...
Well I love LOVE to travel. I’ve had the blessing of traveling many places around the world but three remaining on my bucket list are: Ireland (because it’s green), Norway (because my husband is Norwegian), and Russia (because I love cold and snow)

Share one pet peeve you have.
I’m pretty flexible with stuff, so not much gets under my skin. But I really hate arriving at the office in the morning being talked to before I get my stuff in order and coffee poured. I’m sort of the proverbial morning “crank”.

Which of your characters do you secretly have a crush on?
If I had a crush on one my of characters it’d be Joel Cunningham. But mainly because the model for his character was Tom Hiddleston. *Insert swoony-sigh here

Connect with Jaime on her website: www.jaimejowright.com

Pre-Order: The House on Foster Hill  (comes out November 21)

Enter the giveaway below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

How to Write A Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson | RE:View

This book is perfect! It's such a great way to think about plotting. I started it thinking it might take me a while to get through (most craft books do) but the way this one is formatted is AWESOME. It starts out as a story that then leads you into the second half (more like later 1/3) that breaks down the process for you.

If you're like me, learning through story and example is SUPER helpful. Randy starts out with a story of someone that could easily be you or I and then has her go through his snowflake process but in a story type of way. The story itself is a little cheesy, but I think that's the point. It's to instruct by example, not to be brilliant.

Then, what I like even more, is at the end he pulls apart THAT story and shows how he used his method (The Snowflake Method) to write the story. Brilliant!

I'd highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling with their plotting process or looking to streamline how they plot. It would even be great for those looking to 'think outside the box' as far as plotting technique goes. I've found it useful in my own stories but also as a tool. I don't do everything exactly as Randy suggests, but that's kind of the point. It's tool, not a rigid way.

All writers should do themselves a favor and read this book!

My Rating: 5*
Purchase: How to Write A Novel Using the Snowflake Method

Book Description 

A Magical Key to Unlock Your Creative Wizard
@createexploreread

Are you writing a novel, but having trouble getting your first draft written? You’ve heard of “outlining,” but that sounds too rigid for you. You’ve heard of “organic writing,” but that seems a bit squishy to you.

Take a look at the wildly popular Snowflake Method—ten battle-tested steps that jump-start your creativity and help you quickly map out your story. All around the world, novelists are using the Snowflake Method right now to ignite their imaginations and get their first drafts down.

In this book, you’ll follow the story of a fictitious novelist as she learns to tap into the amazing power of the Snowflake Method. Almost magically, she finds her story growing from a simple idea into a deep and powerful novel. And she finds her novel changing her—into a stronger, more courageous person.

Zany, Over the Top, and Just Plain Fun

Friday, November 3, 2017

A Small Book About A Big Problem by Edward T. Welch |Re:View

A little book to help you face the reality of anger in every day life.

A Small Book About A Big Problem by Edward T. Welch | Book Review


This is a small book that I wish had been a little bigger. Don't get me wrong--I think the content is very good and the format is really engaging in the way that you can go through a section a day, but I think that an opportunity was missed.

I have loved previous books by Edward T. Welch and I know the he has a lot of wisdom to share and good things to say. The book itself is filled with insight and wise statements and that may be something that is just right for you, but for something as big (and prevalent) as the topic of anger, I personally think this book could have been expanded.

I found myself coming to the end of a section and feeling like I wanted more. More ways to think about the topic of that day's section, more insights into how we can combat our own anger, more applicable scriptural passages. I felt a little cheated.

That may sound negative and I don't want it to; I just want to be honest. I think that, if you go into this book with the attitude that you need to supplement with your own Bible reading and journaling to truly flesh out the topic, it could be a great devotional book for you. I also think it could be great to go through with a friend where you could challenge each other to think deeply about what you've read and to be honest with yourself and each other.

All of that to say: Yes, I would recommend this book, but I would give the caveat that it will be best used as a kick-starter to deeper conversations with others and self-reflection. With that in mind, I think you'll find a lot to take away with from this book.

My rating: 3.8*
Purchase: A Small Book About A Big Problem 

Book Description
(from Amazon)
Look closely at any day and we can usually find anger in both our actions and attitudes. Things spill or go missing, we get stuck in traffic, and the people we live and work with often make life even harder. We want to stay calm, but what do you do when you feel your blood pressure rise yet again? Anger is so common yet it also destroys. It leaves its mark on us it s not healthy which is one reason we hear so much about finding peace. And it leaves its mark on others. The wounds we inflict on others when we are angry the loss of intimacy, trust, security, and enjoyment in our closest relationships give us compelling reasons to look closely at our anger and think carefully about how to grow in patience and peace. If you have just gotten irritated for the umpteenth time today, you might wonder if change is possible. Can anyone grow in patience and peace? Yes. But you need a plan. Biblical counselor and psychologist Ed Welch invites readers to take a 50-day journey that unpacks anger and encourages readers to become more skillful at responding with patience to life s difficulties. Along the way, readers will be introduced to Jesus, the Prince of Peace the only one who can empower his people to grow in patience, peace, and wholeness.

_______________
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Lydia Howe | Author Chat

Author Chat with Lydia Howe

I've been a little behind on the blog recently, so sorry friends! But, I'm excited to introduce you to Lydia Howe. 


Lydia Howe (aka Aidyl Ewoh) spent her teenage years reading and writing late into the night. Now in her twenties, she has hiked the mountains of the Far East and lived in the Andes Mountain Range of South America, built life-size models of dinosaurs, taken road trips across Europe, and explored caves in North America. Lydia grew up in a 135 year-old barn and spent six months in a tipi. An enthusiastic writer of Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction, she has three published books to date: Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl, Action Kids' Club, and Cool Critters of the Ice Age. She blogs regularly at Noveltea.

Lets get real...

Tell us a little bit about yourself...

Some of my earliest memories are of my mom and oldest sister reading to me, so it’s no surprise that I grew up as a bookworm. Becoming a writer was a natural next step, and one that has been a lot of fun, and offered a lot of challenges, over the last decade.

The power of words, and the ability of a well-written book to drag you far into another world or era of time, has been a huge inspiration to me. I’ve learned an incredible amount from books, as well as having been endlessly entertained. The thought of being able to pass that joy and knowledge along to others has kept me writing even when things get tough.

Is there a funny story associated with writing this book?

This book is about cousins and the importance of family. When I was growing up I was incredibly close with my cousins. There were four of us: my sister, me, and our two girl cousins who were also sisters, who hung out together all the time. I had fun pulling various stories from our childhood to add into the book - like the time my older sister convinced us that vanilla extract was actually caffeine, and that if we added it to orange juice we’d get all the hyper effects of having caffeinated pop. (Apparently we were gullible.)

Were your characters easy to pin down or did you discover them along the way as you wrote the book?

The four main characters are very loosely based off of us four girls, so they came together very naturally during the first draft of the book. In fact, they were some of the easiest characters for me to write, and yet they all turned out unique and special in their own way. I also had fun creating the supporting character cast, even though they weren’t based off of anyone in real life.

What’s your favorite snack while writing?

I’ve found I work best when I have something in my mouth, so I drink a lot of water and suck on a lot of ice while concentrating. I also keep flavored lifesavers and jolly ranchers near by. But if we’re talking about an actual snack, then probably fresh fruit - yummy! Plums and nectarines have been my go-to snack recently.

What’s your encouragement for younger writers aside from “keep writing”? 

There’s no doubt about it: If you want to be a successful author you’re going to go through a lot of rejection - not just when you get to the querying stage, but when you get to the revising/editing part of writing. Early on in my writing career I had an author tell me that I would need to develop thick skin and learn to graciously listen to and accept advice that I really didn’t like. Boy has that ever been true. But, being willing to set aside my feelings and what I want to try and objectively listen to feedback has been really good for me. That doesn’t mean you should take everyone’s advice when it comes to writing, but being willing to listen to the hard stuff and make changes when needed? Well, that goes a long way.

When you get an idea for a novel, what is the first thing that you do? 

The first thing I do when I get an idea is a lot of brainstorming and praying. Generally, I spend a couple of weeks, months, or even years, developing the idea in my head and praying for clarity as I go about everyday tasks. I also have a couple of good friends that I’ll send texts to, telling them what I’m thinking of and asking for their feedback. Eventually, I get to the “writing it down” stage, but that generally takes a while to arrive there.


September is Classical Music Month so, in keeping with that theme, do you have a favorite character from a classical novel?

Ooh, that’s neat, and no, I didn’t know that! One of the books I’ve been working on has a main character who is a classical musician, so I suppose I should have come across that information somewhere in my research. :)

I’m not a huge Jane Austen fan, but I really like Mr. Knightly from Emma.

What is your favorite fall snack food?

Do s’mores and caramel apple suckers count? ;)

What are you currently reading?

Seeking Refuge by Stephan Bauman, Matthew Soerens, and Dr. Issam Smeir. So far it’s a really informative and well-written book. I also just finished My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould.

Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Emilie! I had fun answering your great questions.

Where Dandelions Grow
by Lydia Howe

Cousins are forever, or at least they’re supposed to be.

What happens when your world falls apart and your dreams are mocked by those closest to you?
Destiny’s idyllic childhood full of laughter and cousins abruptly ended when her mom uprooted the family to move them across the country with strict instructions to never talk about Swallow Ridge again. Eleven years later Destiny moves back to her hometown, determined to find her cousins… and answers. 

Plagued by generations of bitterness and manipulation, Destiny hides her life-long goal - unwilling to let anyone else trample her fragile dreams. But living in the cozy town full of dandelions teaches Destiny there’s more to life than what she’s been taught. 

Is it possible Swallow Ridge not only holds the answers Destiny so intensely searches for, but also the hope?

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

My favorite things for NaNoWriMo


I am so excited for November and this upcoming NaNoWriMo season. If you don't know what it is, check out their website for more details.

For this post celebrating the FIRST day of NaNo, I thought I'd compile a post of things I find indispensable to make it through the month.

Favorite Things For NaNoWriMo

COFFEE

This may be a given...I mean, I think by now you all know how much I love my coffee, but I couldn't start my NaNo list without it. And, the best news? There is coffee made specifically for book lovers! My friend Shelly over at Book Lovers Coffee makes some of the most incredible blends. I'm telling you...this coffee is delicious and bookish. There isn't anything better in my opinion.

Go check out her website: www.bookloverscoffee.com

Pssst! This Pumpkin Spice autumn blend is AMAZING!

A good mug

Maybe it goes without saying, but what is coffee without a great mug? For me, I find a few things to be majorly important about mugs.
1) They must feel great in my hand. None of these miniature little handles that only allow two fingers in there. Nope!
2) They must hold an immense amount of coffee (or tea) and do so well.
3) They must inspire me. This last one is a personal thing and every person will find certain things inspiring over others. For me, I enjoy bookish mugs which is why I've made fun designs in my Society6 shop to reflect my love of books, reading, and writing.

Check out my shop mug designs here:
www.society6.com/emiliehendryx/mugs

Um....just incase you weren't sure, YES the 11oz is worth it. We're talking the perfect hand-hold for the mug 😉

White board

Now were getting into the nitty-gritty of NaNo. The writing! I love to plot things out on a white board because it's visual as well as easy to erase and/or add to as you go. Keep track of the scenes you're on, see your story arc, and jot down new ideas as you go.

Fuzzy Socks

This may not seem crucial, but it is! Those toes of yours will certainly get cold sitting around writing all day. Especially as the weather starts to take a turn for winter, you'll find these fuzzy socks as a necessity, not just a want.

A place

Whether it's your favorite coffee shop, couch, chair by the window, your bed, or your best friends porch, make sure you have a place (or more than one). It may seem like a silly thing, but if you think of going to a coffee shop as "your place" for writing, you're mind will become accustomed to writing there. It's not to say you can't write in other places, but have one spot that's your "special writing spot". Then use that after NaNo is over to keep the magic alive!

Friends 

This last one is probably the most important (and my favorite, favorite). PEOPLE! You need your people, whether that's locally or globally, you need to have friends who are struggling along in the writing trenches with you as well as those who may not understand this whole crazy writing thing but are willing to support you in it. There are lots of options for this - those in a writers group near you, those online in a writers group or support group (like mine linked below), and those on the NaNo website.

Then, for those non-writing friends, just take a few minutes to tell people in your life why you're doing this crazy 50k words in a month thing. Chances are they will be super proud of you AND will help to keep you motivated by asking you how you're doing.

So, go and write fearlessly!

Join my NaNoWriMo Support & Encouragement group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nanowrimoencouragement/

Join the NaNoWriMo website and community: 
https://nanowrimo.org