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This Week's Headlines - 09/01/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review.
Click here for our submission guidelines.
By Sara HallemanAs a literary buff, I must admit that I sometimes find poetry a bit of a struggle. Perhaps it’s the lack of poetic material in my education or my "Just say what you mean!" mentality. Either way I have to say that I was drawn to Plum Stuff by Rolli. The colorful cover work and delicious title drew me in like Alice chasing a white rabbit and the collection itself was nothing short of Wonderland.
Genre Reflections By Jessica Quillin
In what ways does your choice of genre shape and support your identity and reputation as a writer? In what ways does this public identity then affect and reinforce what you write and how you write it?
Manifest By L.L. McKinney
Last week we touched on being our own cheerleaders for writing, getting ourselves fired up in the face of the negativity that the world will throw at us, if it hasn’t already. Always remember that no one wants this more than we do, so we have to be the catalyst for any excitement that could spread to others. One thing I recently discovered adds a ton of fuel that fire. It’s a simple concept with a fancy name, but it only takes one step to complete: manifest....
This Week's Headlines - 08/25/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review.
Click here for our submission guidelines.
Grammar Matters by Red Tie Products
By Meghan Morrow
WritersNewsWeekly recently spoke with Paul Nandzik, President of Red Tie Products. Red Tie Products, which include Grammar Matters T-shirts, is an eco-friendly company working toward promoting literacy while retaining an ethical means of production. With great moral standards and even greater senses of humor, the team behind Red Tie Products has worked diligently to create a fun and exciting way to experience literature.
Curating Your Voice By Jessica Quillin
I am always impressed with the ability of novelists to craft sentences and realistic dialogue. For me, writing short and directed sentences is not something that comes naturally. However, as I contemplate my new project of redesigning my blog and curating it, my thoughts return to the art of well-crafted, focused writing.
Cheerleading, Sans the Pompoms By L.L. McKinney
How is everyone doing with those deadlines? Meeting them? Making them at the very least? Good. I wrote about one of my own major deadlines last week, which was August 22nd. I aimed to finish the first draft of Heritage Blade: Awakening/ and I did! Sort of...
By Elizabeth Milo and Meghan Morrow
This Week's Headlines - 08/18/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review.
Click here for our submission guidelines.
By Elizabeth Milo
Perhaps that title should have a question mark at the end: chicklit is growing up? You can almost hear the incredulity in the inflection required for that question. The idea that chicklit ever could grow up seems like a long shot. How can a genre based around the ideas of perpetual youth and indulgence mature? Chicklit series don’t grow with their readers, their readers grow out of them.
Writing Visually By Jessica Quillin
This past week saw the launch of my new company website. While I am thrilled with the results and am extremely grateful to my designers for their work, the website required a lot more time and direction on my part than I ever could have imagined.
A Separate Country by Robert Hicks
Review by Carlotta G. Holton
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Robert Hicks’ earlier novel, The Widow of the South, I opened the sequel A Separate Country with great expectations. Set in post-Civil War New Orleans, A Separate Country is a close look at the travesties of war as reflected in the individual, families, and the healing nation as a whole. Hicks’ second novel begins as a promising sequel to his first rich historical drama, following the life and perils of Confederate General John Bell Hood. I was disappointed with this continuing journey.
Deadlines, Not Just for the Published By L.L. McKinney
I am happy to announce that, by the time this article is published, I will only have five days remaining until my self-imposed breather is over. By August 22nd, six whole weeks will have come and gone since I last worked on Swayed. Thankfully, I was able to fill the duration of my break by attending writers group meetings and working on another book, or I would have lost my mind.
WNW talks with Bobby Devito, author of Burned
By Christopher Stokum and Elizabeth Milo
WNW recently spoke with author Bobby Devito about his book Burned, an autobiography about his life as a rock guitarist in the 80s and 90s.
This Week's Headlines - 08/11/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review.
Click here for our submission guidelines.
WNW talks with Carrie Cuinn, the woman behind the Cthulhurotica anthology
By Elizabeth Milo and Sarah Schiavoni
(image credit: Dominique Signoret)
Cthulhurotica - n. (kə-THoo-loo-rot-i-kuh) – an anthology of Lovecraft-inspired erotica; a new branch of “weird erotica.”
WritersNewsWeekly recently spoke to Carrie Cuinn, the woman behind Cthulhurotica, “An Anthology of Lovecraftian Lust.” As an emerging new genre of weird erotica—erotica based in science fiction and fantasy—Cthulhurotica has received some raised eyebrows about its choice of inspiration. Will too many tentacles keep readers from enjoying the stories? Creator Carrie Cuinn stands by her decision to pull together an anthology all about the sexual encounters of these Lovecraftian characters: “For us, Cthulhurotica is the logical extension of the works of H.P. Lovecraft, who often mentioned female characters that he never explored.” Cuinn views this anthology as an opportunity for writers to explore the lives of minor characters in the Cthulhu tales and expand on Lovecraft’s stories. Cuinn is also quick to clarify that this is erotic fiction, not porn.
Directions By Jessica Quillin
I started this column over a month ago with the goal of sharing my experiences as a writer who purposefully wears many hats working across different fields. Yet, for me, I think this past week is the first time that I have ever felt completely confident in applying the title “Writer” to my own profession.
Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt
Review by Carlotta G. Holton
This spellbinding tale dredges up the very real hysteria and societal pressures that pitted neighbor against neighbor in a time when Catholicism and the old folklore religions were being replaced by Protestantism. The memorable cast of characters is led by widow Elizabeth “Bess” Southerns, aka Mother Demdike. Living with her in a crumbling old watchtower in the countryside of Pendle Forest is her dependent daughter, Liza Device; her dim-witted grandson, Jamie; and her granddaughters, Alizon and Jennet.
Put Down the Pen and Step Away from the Manuscript By L.L. McKinney
Last week I made a promise of sorts to utilize one of the methods listed in the article on ways to combat writer’s block. Let’s get that out of the way before delving into this week’s topic, which believe me, is a good’un.
WNW talks with author Jamie Penn
By Megan Morrow and Elizabeth Milo
WritersNewsWeekly recently spoke with up-and-coming British author Jamie Penn about his new novel, The Altruist’s Prey. The Altruist’s Prey is meant to be the first book in a three part series.
This Week's Headlines - 08/04/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review. This is an open submission, so all categories of books are accepted, and there is no submission fee. Your book will not be returned to you--it will either be given to the reviewer or donated. There is always a chance that your book may not receive a favorable review, but keep in mind, we call it like we read it. If your book is reviewed, we will contact you.
If you have a book that you would like us to consider for review, please mail a hard copy to:
WritersNewsWeeky
Attn: Meghan Morrow
3468 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
By Jessica Quillin
This week, I faced every writer and business person’s worst nightmare: I lost a contract. Arguably worse than rejection, losing a contract or writing project means that you initially did something right to win business, but later, something went drastically wrong, whether through your actions or someone else’s.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
By Elizabeth Milo
When I picked up The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, I was drawn in by the rich colors and pictures of old books that adorned the cover. But it only took a few pages before the story drew me in as well. At approximately 400 pages, The Thirteenth Tale takes its time to work through the multiple storylines that Setterfield masterfully weaves together, but with so much intricacy to the plot, anything less would feel hurried and sloppy.
Bridge the Gap
By L.L. McKinney
Last week we delved into the topic of the different kinds of writing groups out there. Though there are several types, we took a closer look at three. A writers group is one suggestion I made as a means to occupy the time between finishing your first draft and starting on the revisions. A second suggestion was to work on a different project altogether. This week we’ll focus on other work that can be done to bridge the gap. Notice: I didn’t say pass the time, because what we do is more than that, remember?
WNW talks with author Jennifer Brown
By Chris Stokum, Sarah Schiavoni, and Elizabeth Milo
We recently spoke with Jennifer Brown, author of the forthcoming In Jen’s Words: Facing the Issues and founder of Authors for Humanity.
This Week's Headlines - 07/28/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review. This is an open submission, so all categories of books are accepted, and there is no submission fee. Your book will not be returned to you--it will either be given to the reviewer or donated. There is always a chance that your book may not receive a favorable review, but keep in mind, we call it like we read it. If your book is reviewed, we will contact you.
If you have a book that you would like us to consider for review, please mail a hard copy to:
WritersNewsWeeky
Attn: Meghan Morrow
3468 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
By Jessica Quillin
At the end of last week, a professional door opened for me that I thought was essentially closed. Okay, not so much a closed door as a door that was slammed shut, window shade pulled down, and then a sign posted saying “CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. COME BACK TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS.” The big news? I was contacted by a local university about an opportunity to teach adjunct courses in writing.
The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí by Salvador Dalí
By Chris Stokum
In the early chapters, Dalí seems to be little more than a highly creative but spoiled child. As Dalí reflects on his young adulthood, however, a new facet of his personality begins to emerge. Dalí’s actions, we find, are never as senseless as they appear, his radical opinions never as unfounded as one might be tempted to think. In fact, Dalí’s reasoning, based largely on his aesthetic sense, is often just as convincing as the common rationale he rebels against.
The Write Group
By L.L. McKinney
That is the first step to take after finishing a first draft and this is what we discussed in last week’s article. Once you’ve typed up that final page, put it all aside. They say to let two to six weeks pass before starting on the second draft. And who are They? Other writers, published and aspiring, agents, editors, and people who take up residence in the world of literature.
WNW talks with author Steven Craig Barrett
By Elizabeth Milo and Christopher Stokum
We recently spoke with Steven Craig Barrett, author of the The Apocalypse Chronicles, the first book in the series of the same name.
This Week's Headlines - 07/21/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review. This is an open submission, so all categories of books are accepted, and there is no submission fee. Your book will not be returned to you--it will either be given to the reviewer or donated. There is always a chance that your book may not receive a favorable review, but keep in mind, we call it like we read it. If your book is reviewed, we will contact you.
If you have a book that you would like us to consider for review, please mail a hard copy to:
WritersNewsWeeky
Attn: Meghan Morrow
3468 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
The Appointment
A Short Story By Kirk B. Young
I was five years old the first time he looked at me. It was the middle of the night; I had chicken pox and I'd been scratching feverishly at my body all day only to be put to bed wrapped up in a wool blanket. You'd hope it was a cruel joke and not just malevolence, and truth be told it was neither. Auntie Lilith never had any children of her own, and when she looked after me during the summer months it had always seemed more of a neutrality with which she approached my presence there.
Writing Vertically and Horizontally
By Jessica Quillin
In what ways should you think about marketing your work while writing? To what degree should you think about how what you write connects with the rest of your portfolio or is representative of the topic about which you are writing?
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
By Sarah Schiavoni
I’m not quite sure how I got started on Philippa Gregory’s books. I’ve always been interested in England and its rich history, so perhaps I caught a glimpse of one of her titles on a bookstore shelf and thought I’d give it a chance. Even if I can’t remember which of her books I read first, I do remember falling in love with historical fiction and becoming hooked on her writing. I’ve read and bought so many of her works, they now fill up a whole shelf in my bookcase (and are starting to creep onto the shelf below). I hadn’t read any of her books for at least a year, having thought I’d read most of them already. But when I saw The White Queen, a book I was unfamiliar with, displayed in a bookstore, I picked it up. Like her previous novels, this newest book didn’t disappoint me.
"The Next Step. Well, one of them."
By L.L. McKinney
Last week we touched on what I believe is the most serious condition that ails us as writers: procrastination. I bet some people thought I was going to say something like writer’s block. Being unable to think of what to write, or how to proceed with writing, is indeed a serious matter, but in order to discover that you suffer from writer’s block you have to have sat down and tried to write something.
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WNW talks with author Marlis Day
We recently spoke with Marlis Day, author of the Margo Brown Mystery series (Why Johnny Died, Death of a Hoosier Schoolmaster, and The Curriculum Murders) and The Secret of Baileys Chase, the first book in the Adventures in Bailey’s Chase young adult book series.
This Week's Headlines - 07/14/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is now accepting books to be submitted for review. This is an open submission, so all categories of books are accepted, and there is no submission fee. Your book will not be returned to you--it will either be given to the reviewer or donated. There is always a chance that your book may not receive a favorable review, but keep in mind, we call it like we read it. If your book is reviewed, we will contact you.
If you have a book that you would like us to consider for review, please mail a hard copy to:
WritersNewsWeeky
Attn: Meghan Morrow
3468 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Getting Published is Guerilla Warfare
By Alex Miller
I remember how differently I thought in 2007 than I do now. I had just finished work on my first book, a memoir, The Heart of a City. Oh, how happy I was to have achieved such a stellar accomplishment at such a young age. How I danced and pranced about my apartment. I had no idea what a “vanity press” was. Heck, I didn’t even know what a printing press was. Joking on that last part, but you get my drift.
Whether ‘Tis Bolder in the Mind of the Web
By Jessica Quillin
Over the past week, I have spent at least an hour a day pouring through page mockups, selecting images, and writing text for a website to represent my new company. Putting together this business website has become a strangely intimidating process. I say “strangely” because web content development and communication strategy are two major components of what I do for a living.
Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro
By Amanda Linsmeier
The novel tells the story of Lucy Fisher, a young woman who goes on a Hawaiian vacation with her two friends. When she returns home, she’s shocked to discover all her belongings on the lawn, her fiancé unwilling to talk to her, and the locks on their home changed. To top it off, she’s recently been fired from her job. What’s a girl to do? She stores her stuff at her friend’s house and moves in with her sister and nephew, exploring possibilities in the new life before her. Unfortunately for Lucy, she is hit by a bus in the process.
"I need time" really means "I need to MAKE time"
By L.L. McKinney
This week we’re going to talk about a crime we all commit, not just as writers, but also as human beings: procrastination. When I say we all have done the delay dance, I mean all. I see you hiding behind your pile of excuses. Yes, you too.
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WNW talks with author Robert Hays
We recently spoke with author Robert Hays about his latest novel, The Baby River Angel, and his other stories, Circles in the Water and The Life and Death of Lizzie Morris.
This Week's Headlines - 07/07/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is preparing a series on the impact childhood books have on their young readers. If you’re an author interested in being interviewed, or if you think you have a unique perspective on the topic, contact us at submissions@writersnewsweekly.com.
The Internet and Writers
With the arrival of the internet, writers have gained many benefits such as ways to save money and more access to publications we might not have otherwise known about. Unfortunately, the internet has also caused some of us to pick up some bad habits that could ultimately hurt us...
During grad school, a professor once accused me of lacking “scholarly and critical depth” when participating in classroom discussions. While he later apologized after learning of my complete unfamiliarity with the material for this course (that had no prerequisites, mind you), his comments continue to haunt me when approaching the subject of my own writing and my critical abilities as a writer.
Midnight Revelations by Karen M. Bence
By Chris Phillips
Is there a point at which the rational can no longer be reconciled with the facts? How is one to judge the difference between what the senses reveal and what the spirit world shows?
Bence takes these questions and answers them for Sara Miller, her husband David, and their son Jack. This mystery, and perhaps even horror story, is a tale that grabs the reader and never lets go...
At Least the Hard Part is Over...I Think
Welcome to Fiction, from the First Draft Forward, a little blurb about the undertaking of a fledgling writer going from first draft to querying agents and beyond.
WNW talks with author Brad Parks
We recently spoke with Brad Parks, author of Faces of the Gone, the first book in the Carter Ross Mystery series. Faces of the Gone is about Carter Ross, an investigative reporter who finds himself faced with discovering the true story behind a gory quadruple murder in the city.
This Week's Headlines - 06/30/2010
Attention: WritersNewsWeekly is preparing a series on the impact childhood books have on their young readers. If you’re an author interested in being interviewed, or if you think you have a unique perspective on the topic, contact us at submissions@writersnewsweekly.com.
WritersNewsWeekly talks with the Ask a New Author Team
Book Divas is an online book club started in 2002 as a community for girls to freely express themselves and share in their love of books. Eager to help budding authors, Book Divas recently started a special column, Ask a New Author, where three authors share their stories about breaking into the book business and answer the questions of those hoping to write and publish their own books. We recently spoke with the three authors who contribute to Ask a New Author.
Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
By Carlotta G. Holton
When it comes to murder, does history repeat itself? It seems that way in this tautly written mystery that revolves around the decades-old murder of fifth grader Del Griswold, a pariah dubbed, “Potato Girl.” When divorced school nurse Kate Cypher returns to her childhood home in Vermont in 2002, she is confronted not only with a mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s, but also with a new murder involving another young girl.
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
By Amanda Linsmeier
I am admittedly the type of reader who judges a book by its cover. Strolling through Barnes & Noble a few months ago, a certain book happened to catch my eye. Titled The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, it intrigued me immediately, and the synopsis on the back made me want to know more. I didn’t purchase it right away, but the memory of the cover and premise had me searching for it on Amazon.com late one evening. I bought it and devoured it in one or two nights of reading.
