NaNoWriMo 2013 Has Begun!

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) kicked off today and I'm excited to announce that I am an active participant this year! As my first completed middle grade novel seeks an agent, my November will be filled with words, words, and more words. Hence: I am working on my second MG novel. I couldn't be more excited!

For those who are not familiar with the organization, NaNoWriMo is a community dedicated to helping writers start and complete a full-length novel (approx. 50,000 words) by the end of November. For myself, since I'm writing a middle grade novel, my word count will be around 30,000 words or so. The aim for any writer, though, is to ensure you write everyday. And no editing! A useful tip for any writer is to not find yourself married to your first draft words, otherwise it will make it that much harder to edit and kill your darlings.

I can't give too many details on what it's about yet but I will divulge that the viewpoint is from a male protagonist. The working title is: Dexter Fremont and the Blackmail Bailout.

Though I may not submit my writing through the NaNoWriMo website, I have added a word count tracker to my homepage so everyone can follow along in my journey to completing the book.

Each day I will attempt to come on here and paste a line or two from my novel, if not to prove I'm writing, but to entice future readers. :)

Here's todays: "Stop playing dumb, Ty. You know what I'm talking about, and it's not food. We basically just signed a deal with the devil. Actually, devils."

Who else is participating in NaNoWriMo! Please keep me updated on your progress as well! For those who want to follow me on the website, my username is: ksparks54.

Good luck, writers!

Hold Tight is Released!

Congratulations to my friend, Cherie Colyer, and the release of her second novel, Hold Tight, in the Embrace series! (For a limited time only, check out her blog to snag a specially priced copy of Embrace!) 

What's one little spell?

When you’re new to magic, one spell can be the difference between getting what you want...and ruining the lives of everyone you love.

Sixteen-year-old Madison has just embraced her magical powers. The trick now is learning how to control them. She and her boyfriend -and fellow witch- can’t even enjoy a simple kiss without getting shocked when their powers collide. Instead of mastering her new skills, though, Madison is stuck watching her kid brother and doing chores.

But being a witch does have its benefits. With a simple spell, Madison instantly conjures the help she needs around the house. Or so she thinks. Her idea of “help” invites trouble of its own as a pair of dangerous yet enticing beings enter her life. When a classmate disappears soon afterwards, Madison discovers she's the next victim of a threat she's powerless to resist...and there’s nothing it won’t kill to make her surrender.

Caught in the crossfire between two dashing but deadly creatures, Madison must figure out which one to trust and how to rid her world of the other—before one of them destroys her and everyone she cares about.

Get Your 4 Minutes of (Literary) Fame -- Now!

**Spark of the month** --- * .... The 4 Minutes of (Literary) Fame

Recently, my friends and fellow writers, Kym Brunner and Cherie Colyer sat down and discussed setting up an event where aspiring and published authors could come together and share their works at an open-mic sort of night. 

Want to join in on the fun?

STEPS TO (LITERARY) FAME:

1) Join us at a local pub (live in the vicinity of northwest suburbs of IL? Then join in!), grab some drinks and a few delicious appetizers (I recommend the sushi!), and bring along your favorite, pre-published or published work to share.
2) Sign up in advance to obtain one or all of the following:

• Reading pages from your story/book
• Sharing your book trailer
• Showing illustrations you've drawn (I write pictures books, so I always enjoy seeing the art!)
• Revealing your book cover
• Some other creative expression of your children's book lit book

3) Extend the invitation to your friends, family, dog, cat (okay, maybe not your pets...) but anyone who might find this interesting and fun is welcome to join!

4) Finito! You're ready for a night of literary fun! And some recognized fame...!

SPECIFIC DETAILS:

WHO: Any traditionally published, self-published or want-to-be published author or poet

WHAT: A good time of literary FUN!

HOW: PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE! To be one of the stand-up authors SIGN UP HERE. We're limiting this first stand-up literary event to the first 15 authors who sign-up -- but we are definitely planning on setting up more of these events in the future! Nervous to present? Not ready to present? That's okay! Come out anyway and cheer on your fellow writers!

WHEN: Monday, October 21st, 2013  @ 7PM 

WHERE: Tokio Pub, 1900 W. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, IL  (http://tokiopub.com)

COST: Free! (although, we're hoping attendees buy a drink/app to thank Tokio Pub for hosting us!)

Hosted by: Kym Brunner (kymbrunner@comcast.net) // Cherie Colyer  (cheriecolyerwriter@gmail.com) // Katie Sparks (kathrynsparkswriter@gmail.com)

ExTrAs:

*A table will be set up for attendees to provide bookmarks or other swag/giveaways, but to avoid those who attend to feel pressured to buy, we ask that you do not bring any books to sell. 

**However, we will be providing everyone with a list of stand-up authors names, book titles, websites, social media (Twitter/Facebook) accounts, and any other contact information should you be want to follow-up with them afterwards.

SEE YOU ALL THERE!!  ::::SIGN UP HERE!!::::

~Katie

Happy Birthday to Embrace! (by Cherie Colyer)

It’s Embrace’s Book Birthday and to celebrate the success of her debut novel Cherie Colyer is giving away a copy of her book plus swag. Before we get to that, here is a brief excerpt and some information about Embrace.

“I’m beginning to realize I’d do whatever it took to keep someone I care about safe—expose what I am, harness my anger, let my darker side take over. That’s one promise I know I can make without regret.”

[…]

I was about to protest when he then asked, “What about you? Just what are your feelings toward me?” I must have hesitated because he laughed, light and warm, yet there was a bitter edge to it. “I just told you I’d embrace the dark to protect you, and you still can’t open up to me?”

Embrace

by Cherie Colyer

From Omnific Publishing

How far would you go to save the people you love?

Synopsis:

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

~~~~~~~~~~~

To add Embrace to your Goodreads’ lists click here and to view the book trailer click here. If you’d like to curl up with Embrace today you can download the eBook on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To win a copy of Embrace or swag, hop over to Cherie’s blog and fill out the form. 

Find Cherie: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter 

*The Liebster Blog Award*

Last month, I received the excellent news that I was the recipient of the Liebster Blog Award!  This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers. Thank you to my Twitter follower Christine (@SunflowerScribe) for nominating me! Please visit her blog The Sunflower Scribe! I am proud to display the award graphic on my blog.

The Rules of the Award:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you and create 11 new questions for the people you've tagged.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. Remember, no tag backs!

Christine's 11 Questions/My Answers

1. What is your favorite book?

Wow. This is a difficult question. There are SO many I could choose! However, the first thing that always comes to mind is Snow in August by Pete Hamill. I read this book in AP English one year in high school, and the story has never left me! I read it often just to remember how I felt the first time I read it.

2. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

For me, this is a two-part answer. If I could go anywhere tomorrow, I would go straight to Salzburg, Austria where I studied abroad when I was in college. It was the most amazing, phenomenal experience of my life and I would love to visit my host family and see Mozart's birthplace again.  As far as a place I've never been to, I'd love to go to Spain! 

3. What technology do you think you will never adopt? 

I can't say there is anything in particular that I would not adopt, however, I am one of the select people that doesn't own a Blu-Ray player. (Does that count?) My DVD player works just fine and I don't want to have to start my DVD collection over again! 

4. What is your favorite comfort food?

Again, there could be many answers to this one! But if I had to choose, probably hummus! I could eat A LOT of this and still feel okay since it's pretty healthy for you! (Blue cheese stuffed olives might be right up there with hummus!)

5. What was your most embarrassing hairstyle?

It wasn't so much the hairstyle that I look back on and cringe, but rather this suede green headband that I religiously wore with everything. I had no shame when I was 10! But hey, I was being an individual, right?

6. What was your favorite childhood candy?

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. And that hasn't changed a bit!

7. What is the prettiest city you have ever been to?

See answer to # 2. Salzburg, Austria, hands down!

8. If you had 10 minutes on a popular TV talk show, what would you talk about?

I guess it would all depend on whose talk show I was on, but I'd probably either talk about my writing and passion for children's books or encourage more college students to look into studying abroad. It's such an incredible and rewarding experience! 

9. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely a night owl!

10. What is your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?

Watch the Chicago Bears, of course!!

11. Is there such a thing as too much chocolate?

NEVER! 

Questions for the people I tagged below:

1. What's a guilty pleasure of yours that you're embarrassed to admit around your friends or family?

2. What's the last thing you accomplished that made you incredibly proud?

3. What's your biggest fear?

4. Have you or do you think you will ever overcome your fear?

5. Have you ever broken a bone? If so, how?

6. Do you have to eat breakfast in the morning in order to function? 

7. What's your favorite movie and why?

8. If animals could talk, what would ask you them?

9. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

10. What is your favorite type of cookie?

11. Would you ever go sky diving?

People I Tagged (3 instead of 11):

1. Bloody Banana Peels

2. Enchanted Escapes

3. Writing Art and Design

"Dear Lucky Agent" Middle Grade Novel Contest

Writer's Digest is offering an amazing opportunity for all middle grade authors! From August 13th - 27th, writers can submit the first 150-200 words of their unpublished novel for a chance to have their work critiqued by Full Circle Literary's agent, Sara Sciuto!

Click here for more information!

Good luck!!

A *Groovy* SCBWI Summer Conference - 2012

Tonight marks a week since my first day back from the 2012 SCBWI LA Conference. For the fifth time in a row, I attended the national children's writer's conference, and man, was it a blast!

My fellow critique partners and friends from home, Cherie and Jen (roomies!) and I arrived early Thursday to take advantage of the LA weather and get some relaxation in before the really grueling (but exciting!) agenda arrived the following day. (And of course, we couldn't forget to include Kym!)

Cherie, Kym and Me on the plane to LA!

To welcome ourselves to the west coast, we treated ourselves to a delicious late lunch at Pink Taco. Yum!

Thankfully, when it comes to the LA conference, time flies and before you know it, you are back in the hotel basement, laptop opened, ears attuned. With a Starbucks in hand, I was home. Friday morning, the conference kicked off at 8:30am with the usual (and sometimes humorous) introductions and warm welcomes.

One of the most exciting features of the conference was debut author Cherie Colyer's first-time signing at the PAL book sale, or as I have dubbed it, The Wine & Cheese Party. It's one of my favorite events of the conference, and I was thrilled to be a part of Cherie's wonderful experience. Congrats Cherie!

Embrace by Cherie Colyer -- Read it!!

Friday through Monday consisted of some excellent, gut-wrenchingly funny, and sometimes tear-inducing keynotes. Among my favorite were Arthur Levine, Gary Schmidt, Dan Gutman and Tony Diterlizzi. The Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Award winners also gave spectacular speeches and truly deserved the honors awarded to them. (Quotes to come later!)

Many of the break-out sessions really hit home as well including presenters author Jay Asher (13 Reasons Why), agent Jill Corcoran (won a book at the raffle!) and Tim Ditlow from Amazon Publishing, as well as the agent/editor panel on finding your unique voice.

And then, it was time to get ready for....

Cherie, Matt, Me and Jen

Cherie, author Michael Reisman, Jen and Me

Meg and Me

                              The Hippie Hop Gala!!
Excitingly enough, we even had the chance to steal the spotlight from one of the hotel's events that night and walk the red carpet.  Check out our glamorous ten minutes of fame photos:

                                             

So even though we close the chapter on #LA12SCBWI and another conference comes to an end, the inspiration continues. I'm excited to have met several more wonderful friends, made invaluable connections, workshopped my writing, as well as gained insightful knowledge and tips that will carry me into next year's conference.

    As they said in the 60s, peace out!