Posted by kierynnicolas on August 17, 2010
On Long Beach Island, the beach my family has been going to as far back as I–and even my mom—can remember, there’s a free newspaper called the Sand Paper. (Ha. Yes. I get it.) This publication has a ton of coupons for awesome beachy places like the ice cream parlor one block from the beach house, Bay Village Pizza (the best pizza I’ve ever had), and the Chowda Hut, where my favorite New England Clam Chowda is made.
So when I got a call from someone who introduced himself as a reporter from the Sand Paper, I knew what he meant. He asked me some questions about my writing and my book and my upcoming visit at the LBI library. This was about a week before we left for the beach, and in the days leading up to it, I couldn’t find any article on the Sand Paper’s site that mentioned me, so I didn’t know if it had run. In fact, by the time we arrived on the island, I’d forgotten there was even the possibility of a story.
(Yum.)
The second night we were in LBI, after the library talk Monday and a good day shopping Tuesday, my family was walking back from the beach (which is about one and a half blocks from the beach house. Love). My sister and I decided to go and get ice cream, like always, and my mom told us to get a Sand paper from the free bin beside us and see if they had a coupon.
I sat next to my mom on the nearby bench. She was flipping through it, and I was watching over her shoulder. All of a sudden I put out a hand to stop her from turning the page.
“You found it?” she asked.
“Um, no, but, was that me?” I pointed to the top square of the page. It was me. It was my READ poster from Bookfest PA, so I was staring back at myself from behind pink sunglasses. The pink sunglasses I happened to be wearing at that moment, which was, admittedly, very weird.
The picture was part of a short, really awesome article about me and my visit at the library, which hadn’t happened at the time of the publication. Needless to say, my mom got extra copies and kept them (but not after my sister and I tore out the ice cream coupons). That has to be one of the most bizarre, but also one of the most awesome experiences I’ve had as an author.
Kieryn
www.kierynnicolas.com
www.kierynnicolas.blogspot.com
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Posted by tracycarbone on August 11, 2010
by Tracy L. Carbone
One of the most common questions I am asked as a writer is where I get my ideas from. The honest answer to that would be something like, “How do I stop the ideas from coming?” The thing about being a writer is that each thing you encounter, even the most mundane, can spark an idea to file and use later. Above, I found a smiley face in a bread stick. Writing prompts are all around.
To make sure I don’t miss any opportunities, I follow the advice of Ray Bradbury in his book, Zen in the Art of Writing.
At the end of each day I try to write down anything even remotely interesting that I’ve seen. It’s not a diary per se, but a list of images. For example, I might jot down, ”lady yelling at kid in store, street musician in Fanueil Hall, melted chocolate on seat, almost getting in a car accident.” Sometimes it’s months or years before I flip through the ideas in the book and use them but they’re always there, waiting their turn.
Street names are another great trigger for creativity. When I’m driving, if I’ve got a passenger who can type for me, I use the note function on my phone to write down streets names or important things to burn into memory. My daughter and I recently completed a very long drive through Canada and northern Maine. That area is rife with images. Here are “phone notes” from the drive to give you an example. “Crawford Bible Fellowship, Lord’s Point, Hardscrabble Farm, Big red building with small brown barn, buildings boarded up, devil faces on telephone poles, Harm’s Way.”
Add to that some pictures I took along the way and the story can almost write itself. I look at the pictures below, recall the memories, and it’s a walk in the park if you toss in a little creativity.
But what about when it doesn’t seem there are any interesting things to write about? Well, I highly recommend this little gem of a book. It’s called Creative Block by Lou Harry. It’s got short phrases and photos to jolt you into making a mental image and hopefully a story. It’s surprisingly helpful for such a small book.
Once you’ve got burning ideas, just start typing, or hand writing if that’s your preference. Before you know it, you’ll have a nice little draft of a story, or a great scene in a book.
Happy writing!
Tracy L. Carbone , is the author of The Man of Mystery Hill, a middle grade paranormal mystery, published by Echelon Press. Buy now on BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon or in many fine bookstores.
Follow Tracy on TWITTER for continual updates.
Posted in New Releases | Tagged: Creative Block, fiction, getting ideas, how to write, Ray Bradbury, Short story writing, the man of mystery hill, Tracy Carbone, Writers' Block, Zen | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Heather on August 7, 2010
You’ve heard the advice: show, don’t tell. But what is it, really? Visual detail is comprised of the things in your story that help the reader see what is going on, what people look like, and where they are. Think physical details, such as colors or shapes: the tall green cabinet, the round blue vase.
Exercise: What do you see?
Write a paragraph describing the room you’re in. What color are the walls? What kind of furniture is there? How light is the room? How dark?
~*~
Heather S. Ingemar has loved to play with words since she was little, and it wasn’t long until she started writing her own stories. Termed “a little odd” by her peers, she took great delight in exploring tales with a gothic flair, and to this day, Edgar Allan Poe continues to be her literary hero. To learn more, please visit: http://ingemarwrites.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/heatheringemar
Buy a story (or two or three): Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Fictionwise
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: five senses, heather ingemar, heather s. ingemar, writing, writing tips | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Karen Syed on July 28, 2010
Mary Cunningham needs your help to choose a character for the next Cynthia’s Attic Series book! Here’s how!
Listed below are 10 Cynthia’s Attic characters she’s considering for a returning role in Book Five. Leave a comment with your choice and an explanation as to why you think that character deserves to return.
What do you win? First is the Cynthia’s Attic book of your choice. You can wait for Book Five (She’ll reveal the title soon!) or you can choose one of the first four titles.
Now for the really fun part. If your character and comment is chosen, you’ll also be written in as a character in the new book! One winner will be chosen based on the most compelling reason.
Choose one:
*Louis – 10-year-old ghost – The Missing Locket
*Aunt Belle – Cynthia’s great-aunt – The Missing Locket
*Blackie – The evil clown – The Magic Medallion
*Jake – Cave guide and Gus’s dad – The Magic Medallion
*Gabriella – The fortuneteller – The Magic Medallion & Curse of the Bayou
*Jasmine - Mudbug’s mother – Curse of the Bayou
*Samantha - Cynthia’s excitable great-grandmother – Curse of the Bayou
*Linus - the unscrupulous antiques dealer – The Magician’s Castle
*Kathryn - Sebastian’s fiancée and assistant – The Magician’s Castle
*Molly - The dog that helps ‘dig up clues’ – The Magician’s Castle
So, let Mary know your choice and why! She has to start writing!!
Posted in FYI, Get Free Books, Reader Contests | 2 Comments »
Posted by Karen Syed on June 4, 2010
For Immediate Release
Click Cover to BUY NOW!
June 4, 2010–Laurel, Maryland–Wisconsin offers a great deal, but nothing more exciting than author J.R. Turner. On June 12-13, 2010 J.R. Turner will step onto the streets of Printers Row to spend time getting to know her fans and signing copies of her latest Young Adult Horror novel, SCHOOL’S OUT 4-EVER. This is the second novel in the highly praised Extreme Hauntings series featuring skater girl Kaylee Hensler. Turner will join 15 of her fellow Echelon Press authors in Chicago, IL for the 2010 Printers Row Lit Fest. As one of the Quake authors, Ms. Turner will be charming readers of all ages for two-fun-filled days of books! Also in attendance will be Quake (A division of Echelon Press LLC) authors, Norm Cowie (FANG FACE), Nick Valentino (THOMAS RILEY), Sam Morton (BETRAYED), Marlis Day (THE SECRETS OF BAILEY’S CHASE), and Kieryn Nicolas (RAIN). No one will be disappointed with the chance to meet this extraordinary group of authors at Booth “FF” at the festival. The Quake authors will be signing books, talking about eBooks, and doing photo opps with readers over the entire weekend. You can find more information on Printers Row online or contact the Chicago Tribune.
Award-winning author J.R. Turner lives in Central Wisconsin. Some might not find that exciting, but life with her husband and three children keeps her pretty busy and there is never a dull moment. She began writing in high school, and after a decade working as a commercial artist, started her first novel in 1999. Aside from crafts, camping and cooking, she loves holidays. A favorite is Halloween, a combination of spooky supernatural fun and chocolate. J.R. Turner is always on the lookout for new story ideas and loves to hear from her fans.
Turner is also the author of a half dozen adult romance and adventure novels that take readers on all kinds of escapades.
With the young readers in mind, Echelon Press selects their Quake authors very carefully. “We don’t want just anyone writing stories for the future generation. What kids read is extremely important. While we want our stories to be fun and entertaining, we also want to ensure that we maintain the importance of good values.” Quake, a division of Echelon Press, was developed specifically to reach readers between the ages of 10 and 20, but they have found a much larger audience than expected. “Adults love our Quake books as much as the kids and this is humbling, as they are the ones who ultimately make the decisions on what their kids can read,” says owner Karen Syed.
President and CEO of Echelon Press states says “J.R. Turner is one of the most underrated authors in the industry. She has a truly remarkable voice for fiction. When I read her work it is like stepping out of my life and right into the stories. Her books just feel so right you never want them to end.”
For more info on Echelon Press, Quake, or any of its authors contact Karen Syed at echelonpress@gmail.com or 301-490-2507. On site Interviews can be arranged for the Printers Row Lit Fest.
Posted in Author Spotlights, Buy Our Books, FYI | Tagged: authors, books, dead friends forever, DFF, ebooks, Echelon Press, extreme hauntings, fantasy, fiction, horror, jr turner, juvenile fiction, middle school, mystery, printers row, printers row lit fest, quake, reading, schools out 4-ever, teen, teen seen, tweens, young adult, young adult horror | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Karen Syed on June 4, 2010
For Immediate Release
Click Cover to BUY NOW!
June 4, 2010–Laurel, Maryland–Indiana author Marlis Day will be making a summer appearance with her ‘tween novel THE SECRETS OF BAILEY’S CHASE at the 2010 Printers Row Lit Fest. As one of the Quake authors, the exhilarating Ms. Day will delight and entertain readers of all ages for two exciting days of adventure in bookland! Along with Marlis Day will be Quake (A division of Echelon Press LLC) authors, J.R. Turner (SCHOOL’S OUT 4-EVER), Nick Valentino (THOMAS RILEY), Sam Morton (BETRAYED), Norm Cowie (FANG FACE), and Kieryn Nicolas (RAIN). This–more than a little–lively group will embrace young readers (sometimes literally) at Booth “FF” on June 12-13, 2010 in Chicago, IL. The Quake authors will be signing books, talking about eBooks, and doing photo opps with readers over the entire weekend. You can find more information on Printers Row online or contact the Chicago Tribune.
Marlis Day loved reading books about adventurous kids when she was a child. Like Sparky and Grey Bailey, she enjoyed riding her bike and looking for a mystery to solve. She imagined having dangerous and magical adventures like the two girl heroines in the town of Bailey’s Chase.
Later, she became a teacher and read exciting books to all of her students. She wrote three mysteries for adults. The Secret of Bailey’s Chase is her first book for middle-age readers. When it was released in 2008, Marlis visited many schools and discussed her book with students. She hopes her readers will delight in this sequel, Back to Bailey’s Chase.
The author lives with her husband in the rolling hills of southern Indiana where she is working on her next book. She loves to visit schools and read to kids. 
Echelon Press is tickled to bits with its Quake authors. Every story at Quake is unique. We make sure that each new story is another adventure for readers. Quake, a division of Echelon Press, was developed specifically to reach readers between the ages of 10 and 20, but they have found a much larger audience than expected. “It’s a bonus for us. Plus, our authors understand the need for diversity and this inspires them to write stories that don’t just entertain, but educate as well,” says owner Karen Syed. “Most of the authors have children of their own and strive to ensure that the values they teach their children are apparent in the stories they write—even the fun ones.”
President and CEO of Echelon Press calls Marlis Day ”A little bit of wow! She is tireless in her quest to give kids great stories to read. She is constantly on the move to live life to the fullest and this really shows in the fullness of her stories.”
For more info on Echelon Press, Quake, or any of its authors contact Karen Syed at echelonpress@gmail.com or 301-490-2507. On site Interviews can be arranged for the Printers Row Lit Fest.
Posted in Author Spotlights, Buy Our Books, FYI | Tagged: authors, books, ebooks, Echelon Press, fantasy, fiction, indiana, juvenile fiction, karen Syed, marlis day, middle school, mystery, printers row, printers row lit fest, quake, reading, teacher, the secrets of bailey's chase, tweens | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Karen Syed on June 3, 2010
For Immediate Release
- Click Cover to BUY NOW!
June 2, 2010–Laurel, Maryland–New Lenox, IL author Norm Cowie (Fang Face) will join 15 of his fellow Echelon Press authors on the streets of Printers Row in Chicago, IL for the 2010 Printers Row Lit Fest. As one of the Quake authors, Cowie will be mingling and entertaining readers of all ages for two-fun-filled days of books! Along with Norm Cowie will be Quake (A division of Echelon Press LLC) authors, J.R. Turner (SCHOOL’S OUT 4-EVER), Nick Valentino (THOMAS RILEY), Sam Morton (BETRAYED), Marlis Day (THE SECRETS OF BAILEY’S CHASE), and Kieryn Nicolas (RAIN). This–more than a little–lively group will embrace young readers (sometimes literally) at Booth “FF” on June 12-13, 2010 in Chicago, IL. The Quake authors will be signing books, talking about eBooks, and doing photo opps with readers over the entire weekend. You can find more information on Printers Row online or contact the Chicago Tribune.
Norm Cowie is the author of three humor novels, including Fang Face, his new Young Adult vampire book. He’s qualified to write about teens because he has two daughters who have gone through junior high, high school and the fifty hours of mandated parental-supervision Illinois driver’s education program. And because of his experience with blood-suckers (he works with attorneys during the day), he is also highly qualified to write about vampires. He’s a regular speaker at schools, Boy & Girl Scouts and won’t shut up at the dinner table. And, um, don’t believe the rumors about his baldness.
“I loved this book, fangs and all.” –James Rollins, best selling author of Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow
“Fang Face made me laugh.” –Raymond Benson (James Bond author)
“…genuinely funny…” –Taliesin, The Vampire’s Lair
Echelon Press is tickled to bits with their Quake authors. The fresh and innovative stories for young readers are great fun. Quake, a division of Echelon Press, was developed specifically to reach readers between the ages of 10 and 20, but they have found a much larger audience than expected. “I never imagined adults would like our Quake books as much as they do. I think it will help bring parents closer to their kids by giving them something in common to talk about,” says owner Karen Syed. The authors not only put their hearts into every book they write, but they live for the personal interaction with readers. This fact has made them festival favorites across the nation. 
President and CEO of Echelon Press states calls Norm Cowie “One of the funniest guys I’ve ever met. His wicked sense of humor shines through in his writing and you can’t help but laugh out loud when reading his books. It’s such a relief to find good clean humor in books. Reading should be fun for kids!”
For more info on Echelon Press, Quake, or any of its authors contact Karen Syed at echelonpress@gmail.com or 301-490-2507. On site Interviews can be arranged for the Printers Row Lit Fest.
Posted in Author Spotlights, Buy Our Books, FYI | Tagged: authors, books, ebooks, Echelon Press, fang face, fantasy, illinois, james bond, james rollins, juvenile fiction, middle school, new lenox, norm cowie, printers row, printers row lit fest, quake, raymond benson, reading, teen, tweens, vampires, young adult | Leave a Comment »
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