C.I.N.

I got to chat with author Christina Pritchard about her new series C.I.N… Read the interview below. Thanks Christina for chatting with me.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing...
Before I could write, I made up fantasy worlds and tried to get my friends to believe they were real. I had notebooks and would write while my teachers lectured (since about nine years old.) I didn't consider myself an author until 4th grade...
There was a poetry contest in my fourth grade class. It was nearly a tie between Maggie and me. Her poem was by a famous poet and mine was self-written. Clayton, a boy in my class, raised his hand (I was losing by one vote) and lied, telling the teacher he didn’t get to vote yet. “I pick Tina’s!”  His second vote, tied us. That was the day I decided this was what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing.

You gotta love how childhood memories will influence us as adults, huh? How did you go from poet to novelist?
I wrote stories then too! My grandmother gave me a typewriter and I went to town on it writing mysteries for my Barbie Dolls, and chapters for my fantasy stories. I would come home from school and type up what I wrote in my notebooks during the day in class. I absolutely loved writing and typing.

Tell us a about your series C.I.N. and what genre it would fit into -
People are calling it paranormal but if anything, it is a young adult series. Book 1, C I N, is about some strange characters who live in Lynn, MA. Lisa thinks upon arriving in C I N, that she's landed in her own house of horrors but, things take a turn for the worst when she's struck by lightning.
The first 3 short stories in the C I N Series take you back in time to the 1980's and 1990's before Lisa was ever born. Back stories of her parents, her aunt and some others are revealed like, Donna and her traitorous beginning, how her parents fell in love and the ultimate sacrifice Aunt Millie's one true love would not make for her...
Book Two which was released in July, the reader learns that Alex lied to Lisa about lots of things. Like, what happens when she transforms? Her life is at stake. Will she survive and if she does, will someone else have to die?

Young adult and paranormal are popular genres these days, it seems. What age bracket would you say your books would be most appropriate for?
Many of my readers say 14+ for the C I N Series. My other books are for any age.

What about writing do you love the most and hate the most -
I love seeing the characters come to life on the printed page. I get to escape into amazing worlds and delve into the psyche of each character, wondering what they'll say and do next. It's a great adventure and since I write the worlds, I always enjoy the 'trip'!
I hate when a character no longer fits into a story. It's always disappointing to have to say good bye. (Except Frank in the C I N Series, I hate him! LOL)

ooooooooooooooooooooo characters you love to hate, and hate to love!!!! Those are the best! Do you ever get into mini battles with those characters? Who is your favorite character in the series?

Oh yes! I scream at them when I don't like what I'm writing. They can infuriate me to no end. I love all my characters except Frank. Ally is definitely a top favorite of mine. She's the kind of person you love to hate and writing her scenes always puts me in a good mood. I never know what she's going to do.

What are some points you’d give aspiring authors about the writing journey -

Don’t write what you think is popular. It should be as original as possible and reflect you. The world goes through phases. If what you write isn’t of interest now, it will be someday.

Excellent piece of advice if I do say so myself!

How can readers contact you?
Read FREE excerpts of current works!  Also, “Like” my facebook page! There will be prizes periodically here and current news/contests for readers.  Please Myspace and Twitter Me too!

CASTING CALL! Please join the raffle to be one of four new characters in upcoming C I N books! Submission Form. (No purchase necessary to win)
CASH PRIZE PHOTO CONTESTS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE! Submission Form.

http://cinseries.com/

Thanks Tina for chatting with me!

Kortney

Unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: Christina Pritchard,CIN,Author Interview

Words of the day …..

We’ve covered author and writer in a previous post - now lets cover the following:

editor, publisher, agent….

Edit - to prepare for publication as by adapting or correcting. to prepare an edition of. to put together the pars of by cutting, combining, and splicing. to delete. - n. editor (p 135)

Publish - to produce and present for public distribution or sale. to publicize; announce n. publish (p 340)

Agent - one that acts. one that represent another. a means by which something is done or caused, instrument. a representative of a governmental department. a spy. (p 10)

So what does this all mean to you as a writer? We’ve already established the differences between a writer and an author. So we’ll assume you’re a writer, and not just an author at this stage of the game.

You’ve written a novel. You’ve been accepted by a publishing house. So what does that mean for you? Well, the definitions are pretty self explanatory above of what you should expect from your editor, publisher, and agent. If you anticipate writing a novel, signing a contract and your work here is done - you’re dead wrong.

What gets people to buy your books over others? What makes them any different than the 4000 printed each day in America, alone? What makes you a different author? That is not the job of the editor, publisher, or the agent to present to the readers that may or may not pick up your book - that is up to you.

Like any other company, you have to build a solid author brand and set yourself apart. What makes you different than the rest? Why should anybody read your novel before others? Only you, as a writer, can answer those questions and pave the way for yourself. Traditional marketing and business techniques don’t work in this fast paced, ever evolving industry. In this social media generation people want to connect with their favorite celebrities - this means you. Churning out novel after novel does you no good, YOU have to connect with your reader base and show them you really are human.

You’ve done the writers groups, you’ve honed your skills, now you have to sell yourself. Your novels are your product, how - as a business - do you sell them? It’s not your editors job to show you off - it’s just their job to fix your English. Whatever they do above and beyond that is just their particular nature. Don’t take it for granted, they’re trying to assist you on your career path as a writer.

People and word of mouth sells books. Connect with your readers - you’ll be glad you did.

Kortney

www.unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: editor,publisher,agent,writing,publishing

Words of the day - author, writer

Today’s word of the day turns into two - and they aren’t randomly picked like normal. I’ll explain why in a minute -

author - 1. Someone who writes a literary work. 2. Someone who creates or originates anything. (p 29)

writer - One who writes, esp. as an occupation: author (p 481)

Hm, they sound synonymous with each other, don’t they? But, are they really?

I am an author. I am an author in the sense that I write this blog. I author answers to supplemental interviews for our authors. I author propositions for book signings. I author emails to pursue business relationships.

Am I a writer? I used to be, but I am not now. A writer is someone who takes care to learn their craft. An author can write anything. An author can write op’eds for a living, news articles, blogs, reviews, scientific text, a college syllabus, a grammar school book report, a college school paper, a text message, a tweet, a facebook status post, a joke.

A writer wants to hone their skills, craft that perfect scene, or that delightfully evil antagonist a reader loves to hate and hates to love. A writer gets into arguments with their characters. They scrap scenes only to put them back in again, to take them out, to put them back in, to asking someone else for their opinion and listening. A writer wakes up in the middle of the night because they had an epiphany and just had to write it down right now or they won't be able to go back to sleep, but when they wake up after satisfying the inner scribe and finding slumber once more, they ask someone else their thoughts. A writer takes classes, is part of writers groups, is looking for ways to better their skills - to better themselves. A writer crafts a story, an author throws words out there with a point to make.

So which are you? An author or a writer? If you’re not pushing yourself to your limits and then pushing beyond that to learn your art, you’re an author. If you are passionate about your work and want to make it the best of the best - evolving, learning, evolving some more, learning even more - and continue on that quest (which provides a better than the last experience for your readers) each time you finish a novel - you are a writer.

One is more important than the other, depending on your career goals of course. Each are equally important in the grand scheme of things. However, it is up to you to decide and take action accordingly.

Kortney

www.unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: author,writer,writing

Word of the Day - neophyte

 

Neophyte - 1. a new convert. 2. a novice or beginner. (p. 284)

Our company works with neophyte and unknown authors. One of the best things a neophyte writer can do for their career is join a writers group or fifty. The writers groups will be oh-so beneficial. They can help writers find and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. They can help with the editing process prior to submission or prior to the novel landing on your editors desk. They can help start a necessary network that will be able to provide new distribution avenues, and a plethora of other things - the latest industry news, contests, structure, formatting, reviews, sales outlets, tours, networking areas, media contacts, publishing contacts, associations. You get the point. A writers group(s) can help start the foundation you need to be a successful author.

You have to be mindful that a lot of publishing companies will not take the time to help completely re-write your novel. The writers groups can help get your work tightened up. They can help you identify if you write passive, how to watch for it, and keep your eyes open as you continue to scribe. Back story dump AKA catching up the reader is very common. Seasoned writers even do it. But going through writers groups on a regular basis will help you identify these areas, how to tell when you have done them when you start editing your own work, and how to fix it.

As a neophyte author part of learning your craft, your art, and evolving as a writer is learning from those around you. A writers group can provide one of many paths to support that evolution. Learn from the seasoned writers around you and apply those lessons to your writing. It is like any other career. You learn from those around you with years more experience than you.

I fully support an author who hits the ground running, taking their career in their own hands. However, part of that process is learning as you go and a writers group can help start that process. Find a good one. Find a structured one. Find one that has other writers that support and not inhibit your growth. Most writers band together to support each other. They were where you are now and understand the learning curve.

Kortney

www.unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: writing,wording

Word of the day - gawk

Gawk - to stare stupidly: gape. (p 175)
Interestingly enough gawk is one word where its -y form means something completely different -

Gawky - Clumsy, awkward.

English is a very difficult language to learn. You have your hear, here; bear, bare; their, they’re, there’s. But then you have words like gawk, gawky. Gray and grey - American and British. Adding a -y to the end of the word can make it an adjective. Fun and funny.

Know thy audience, and remember that adding a letter or more to the end of a word doesn’t necessarily mean it has the same meaning with a different tense or possessive or plural.

Happy writing!

Kortney

www.unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: writing,wording

Word of the Day - prognosticate

Prognosticate - to predict from current indications. (p. 337)

That word sounds a little archaic doesn’t it?

The publishing industry is full of prognosticators. Just look for op’eds on the Apple/DOJ case, Amazon, and e-books. There is a plethora (oo, maybe tomorrow’s word of the day) of them on the web. Read a handful of them and you’ll notice a distinct line, no happy medium, no gray area. Sign with a publisher, self publish. Print or e-book or both. Publishing is like any other industry - everyone has an opinion on the best way to move forward with your hard work.

What it boils down to is what is best for you, as a writer. None of it matters, though, if you do not continue to learn your art and continue to brand yourself as an author. The most profitable publishing company, with money to burn, is not going to be able to turn you into an overnight sensation if your writing does not appeal to a reader base and you’re not out hitting the pavement connecting with your readers.

Join a writers group, take writing classes, learn where your weaknesses are and focus on making them stronger. Continue to challenge yourself and push further and harder. Don’t be afraid to try something different. Network online and offline. Learn about the industry. Stay on top of the latest news. Do all of this before you publish your novel - traditionally or self publish. Continue to do this after you publish. Learn from others. Ask questions - a lot of them and keep asking until you understand. Do your own homework.

This is a new/current/future career for you. Your old/current career did not get successful because you expected someone else to do the work for you. Take the bull by the horns, kick it in the knees and become a pro at your craft, at your art.

Two things my grandfather tells me all the time - bend down, put your nose to the grindstone, dig in your heels, and push forward. The other?

Illegitimi non-du carbondum or very poor/mock Latin for Don’t let the bastards grind you down.

Kortney

www.unforgettablebooksinc.com

photo from: http://www.magic8ball.org/

BuzzNet Tags: wording,writing,publishing

Word of the day - inflorescence

I thought it would be a novel idea to break out my old trusty dictionary and provide a random word of the day. My dictionary is old and should probably be updated with a newer one. It does not have the words recently added over the years - tweet, fist bump, bling, or even bromance - for more odd entries into our dictionaries just do a google search for dictionary additions and pick a year.

My dictionary was given to me by my grandfather when I was rather young. The copyright on it is 1988 and it is a Webster’s II home and office desk edition. I can remember reading and asking my mother what a word meant or how to pronounce it. Her canned response was always “Look it up, your grandfather gave you a dictionary. Use it.”

So hear we are, the dictionary is over 20 years old, and I still “look it up.”

Inflorescence - N. A Characteristic arrangement of flowers on a stalk. inflorescent adj. (Page 217)

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/terminf1.htm

http://www.missouriplants.com/Pinkopp/Monarda_fistulosa_page.html

Kortney
www.unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: wording,writing

Wording

Have you ever read something or been listening to someone speak and raise an eyebrow at the wording? I had that moment this morning watching our local news. The last part of their slogan is “late breaking”. That made me think for a moment. I know what that means, but would someone who lives in another country or their primary language is not English? Both words, standing alone, do not mean the same thing.

late-breaking~late-breaking news concerns events that happen just before a news broadcast or just before a newspaper is printed - http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/late-breaking

late [leyt] Show IPA adjective, lat·er or lat·ter, lat·est or last, adverb lat·er, lat·est. adjective
1.occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.
2.continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted: a late business meeting.
3.near or at the end of day or well into the night: a late hour.
4.belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent: a late news bulletin.
5.immediately preceding the present one; former: the late attorney general.

break [breyk] Show IPA verb, broke or ( Archaic ) brake; bro·ken or ( Archaic ) broke; break·ing; noun verb (used with object)
1.to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments: He broke a vase.
2.to infringe, ignore, or act contrary to (a law, rule, promise, etc.): She broke her promise.
3.to dissolve or annul (often followed by off ): to break off friendly relations with another country.
4.to fracture a bone of (some part of the body): He broke his leg.
5.to lacerate; wound: to break the skin.
When you are writing, be mindful of your audience

In today’s global world - books, like anything else, can and will cross borders. If your goal is to sell internationally, keep in mind words or phrases common to English speaking countries, or Americans only, will probably not be common to other areas. Know thy audience.
Kortney
unforgettablebooksinc.com

BuzzNet Tags: writing,wording