A Box of Goodies, A Give-Away and Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday #45

Today I got a huge box of books, bookmarks and a limited-edition (I'm assuming it's not one of a million) coffee mug... all courtesy of Lisa Ricard Claro. 

Lisa was having a "create-a-new-name-for-her-blog" contest. I came up with the worst ideas. All lame, all tongue-in-cheek, all a bit fun (for me). 

Hey, Lisa. I didn't submit this one: Naked With a Tongue-in-My-Cheek(s)

Lisa came up with her own, after 137 different bloggers submitted an idea (she has quite a following), but she chose two winners at random, and this is what my postal carrier dropped off today:

                                                        and

Lisa's generosity led me to pull out a book I've meant to give away for a long time. It's got a 2002 copyright and one author's name made me buy it. (I got it from a thrift store years ago, I believe.)

Donna Volkenannt. It includes the story, "Julie's Gift" by Donna. And if you don't know anything about Donna, here are two tidbits: She's a gifted writer, and she rarely writes about personal things. This is one of the rare exceptions.

So, if you leave a comment, I'll put your name (literally) into a literal hat or bowl or cooking pot, stir up the name(s)... and you might end up a winner.

And now onto the book blurb--

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. A thriller? A study of mental illness? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project and has at least 3 published novels under her belt. Not only is she a novelist, she's also a professional editor. She has a deft hand when she writes, she knows what good writing looks like and she knows how to edit in an encouraging way. So, if you need some tweaking (not twerking... if you need that, you're gonna have to do that yourself) to get your manuscript polished, check out her website. You'll find inspiring posts as well as information on her editorial services and rates. 

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, ink your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Sometimes writers need to take a break from the serious work of writing they're doing. Put the article/short story/novel aside that you're working on, have some fun with this... and then get back to your WIP.

Here's the book cover and the blurb:

photo by pexels.com

Queen of Cougartown

Herbert, her husband, died twenty-three years ago. Cooking for one wasn’t too much fun, and Bingo wasn’t too exciting, but it was the rut-of-a-life Bernice had settled into.

But when Bernice saw Betty White flirting with a Hawaiian hunk named Jason Momoa on a talk show, something inside her started breathing again.

‘I’m ten years younger than that old biddie. Betty’s in her nineties, and if it’s okay for her to have fun and act like a hussy, why not me?’

Who would she set her sights on? After perusing magazines and the internet, she decided on Benecio del Torro. His dark hair, his boyish smile made him irresistible. And like a rocket, Bernice started work on making “Benny” her first cub. She packed her bag and headed to Mexico. Once she was tan and had picked up a few Spanish phrases, she’d be ready to pounce... (150 words)

Reviews of Queen of Cougartown

Courteney Cox: Bernice is no cougar. To be a cougar, she's gotta be a hottie. Bernice is just a has-been. Besides, this almost sounds like it should be a television show, not a book. I just might steal this idea... I'd rather be dancin' in the dark than read this trash."

Ruth Gordon as "Maude": "This book makes me literally turn over in my grave. I was the original cougar. Me and Bud Cort were so hot together, a couple of reels of film even melted. Bernice needs to back down, or I'll sic Harold on her."

Sofia Vergaro: "No cougar has as cute of a cub as my Joe. Bernice can have Del Torro--there's nothing magic about him, even if he changed his name to Mike--and the rest of you ladies can have this book... because I am living it in real life."

For Val and Pat (along with anyone else who wants to play along), here is the photo for next week:

photo by pexels.com

And if you'd like to see the snippet of Betty White that inspired this blurb, here it is:

Can You Handle the Truth? Three Reasons Why We Should Write Honestly

I was looking for a great quote about writing for a project I'm working on, and came upon this one by Margaret Atwood:

“The only way you can write the truth is to assume that what you set down will never be read. Not by any other person, and not even by yourself at some later date. Otherwise you begin excusing yourself. You must see the writing as emerging like a long scroll of ink from the index finger of your right hand; you must see your left hand erasing it.”

I'm struggling with a project. Should I keep it intact as a novel, or divide it into a couple of different projects? Or, should I keep the novel as is, and write a memoir that was inspired by the fictional piece? (The Lovely Bones and Lucky were like this.)

I've had some unusual challenges in the last five years. (My brother was a real piece of work.) My oldest childhood friend is a psychiatrist, and even she said she's never heard anything like it. (I definitely don't feel proud. ;) Certainly there are advantages to writing truthfully. But what are they?

1. It is healing. Writing of sad or challenging times can help the writer work through those feelings.

2. It can help others. No one is alone. Everyone has issues they have to deal with. Reading about someone else's life lets the reader know they're not alone in their struggle.

3. It makes our writing more powerful. If our writing is true, if it lays out our vulnerability for all to see, it's going to have a strong impact on the reader.

How about you? How do you handle honesty in your writing? Have you had any blow-back or success stories because you honestly wrote? Vacillating minds want to know...

A Bloody Good Time, A Bee Champ and Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 44

Two days ago my school had a blood drive. The other middle-school teacher and I were in charge. Usually I'm too low (iron-wise) to donate and if I make it over that hurtle, I have wily veins. Some really talented blood-suckers have surrendered (after digging around with their needling ways), so I was upfront. I told them, "I'm a tough stick. Who's the best one with needle?" The woman taking my vitals said she'd take care of me. (She whispered, "I'm the best.") Unfortunately, another nurse tried first, they switched to my other arm and the first woman, the one who claimed to be the best did indeed take care of me. She had to work at it, but she got a donation out of me.

As writers, it helps if we know what we need from our critique partners. Ask for it. Be honest. Everybody's a winner if we get to the finish line... even if we're crossing it next to someone else.

Yesterday my granddaughter won the Spelling Bee, and now heads off to the regional competition (in March, I think). The photo below was taken at their Christmas concert. She's sporting her 50's hairstyle, she loves Frank Sinatra songs and she's unfailingly kind and thoughtful. (I'm just a tad bit proud.)

Don't let yourself get boxed in. Try new things. Keep things interesting. Do something daring.

And now onto the book blurb--

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. A thriller? A study of mental illness? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project and has at least 3 published novels under her belt. Not only is she a novelist, she's also a professional editor. Check out her website. You'll find inspiring posts as well as information on her editorial services and rates. 

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, ink your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. You don't have to buy him a drink or anything. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

The purpose of this exercise is to delve into some fun writing. Perhaps if you took a break from your WIP and worked on something

Here's the book cover and the blurb:

photo by pexels.com

First Steps

Dennis viewed life in thin slices.

Living in his mother’s basement had its advantages, certainly. A full freezer of crab rangoon and corn dogs. A microwave next to his bed and a TV on the other side. Mom did his laundry, his shopping and made sure he never ran out of his favorite candy: Whoppers. Dennis had quite an easy life. He slept in til almost noon every day, watched Judge Judy every afternoon and worked delivering pizzas most evenings.

But lately, he wonders if there isn’t more to life. Maybe there’s an exciting world past his cement walls and cobweb-covered rafters. The things Dennis sees when he stares out his basement window makes him curious.

That next day, Dennis gets up early, grabs a bagel instead of his usual bowl of Count Chocula, and heads outside…
… to see what he’s been missing all these years. (147 words)

And if you're Val, and you need to work ahead because every week you write pun-filled book blurb "reviews," here's the photo for next week:

photo by pexels.com

I DO Hate These Dogs... A Submission... and What Information Can Spit Share With Us?

         I do. I hate chihuahuas. They're little. They're yappy. And I tend to trip over little dogs. 

       However, my sister's dog Chloe (a rescue) is part chihuahua and part terrier/mystery dog, and she's awfully cute and beguiling. She has longer legs (from the mystery DNA) than most chihuahuas, and is an odd-looking pooch, with all the wiry wisps sprouting up here and there.

       It's probably the quirky that gets me. I like things odd.

       A couple of days ago I sent off my "Listen to Your Mother" submission. Now it's out of my hands. The deed's been done. All I can do now is wait until late-February or whenever for the decision about who makes it to the audition phase.

      And on Saturday I got a DNA kit in the mail. You know, from Ancestry. That site that's advertising on the TV all the time. I've read the directions. All I have to do is spit into a tube and send it off.

      According to the story my biological mother told the adoption agency, my biological father was from Greece. Now, if you know what I look like, you might wonder if she said, "He was from Greece," or if she instead said, "He's from grease," which might have meant what? They loved fried chicken? They had french fries floating around in a deep fryer all the time? I'm not sure, but considering my skin's as white as notebook paper, I think I missed out on the Greek part.

      The Native American part, too. The biological family I was able to track down (my birth mom died when I was 9) claim there's a Native American branch in our family tree. The last name--Gann--makes me think of Scottish/Irish.

      I think it takes 6-8 weeks (or longer, because of all those commercials causing a flood of customers), but soon, I'll be able to say more than, "I don't know. I'm adopted," when someone asks, "Where is your family from?"

So, what have you disliked but later opened your mind up to?
Are you submitting to your local Listen to Your Mother show?
And have you done the DNA/ancestry testing thing? If so, what was the most surprising thing you found out?

What Does "Class" Mean? and Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday # 43

What is classy behavior?

In my opinion, classy people are encouraging and inclusive, not denigrating and exclusive.

Classy people never make gutter-worthy comments. They keep their heads high and their standards just as lofty.

Classy people put "normal" first, and make sure their baby is home studying and getting to bed at a decent hour... even though her father is making an important speech.

It's been a long time since we've had such a classy, intelligent president. Thankfully, he left us hopeful. Hopeful that we are the instruments of change. Like classy people do, he gave us credit, saying it wasn't him--it was us who were responsible for the positive changes in our country.

And now, onto book blurb fun... 

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. A book on art techniques? An artist's biography? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project and has at least 3 published novels under her belt. Check out her website. You won't regret it. She is incredibly generous with her talent and her encouragement.

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, ink your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. You don't have to buy him a drink or anything. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Above all, have fun with it. Think of it as a way to take a break from the truly important writing you do... like a bit of a warm-up.

Here's the book cover and the blurb:

Yo! Adrienne!

Adrienne loved her job. She loved having time to daydream in-between customers. She loved selling quirky earrings and bracelets from her little kiosk. She loved sitting on her butt.

But she dreamed of more. More time to herself… many times, Adrienne was traveling someplace exotic in her mind, customers would come, and her trip would come to a screeching halt. More money. She snagged a little over 50K a year, and this year, it looked like she’d double her profits. (Jewelry made out of cut-up soda cans was pure profit, and her stuff were selling like hotcakes. When Michelle Obama was photographed wearing Adrienne’s earrings, sales went through the roof.)

Wanting more, Adrienne shocked her customers, and closed up her booth. She enrolled in college. In four (or five) years, she’d be a teacher.

And then, she’d have lots of time to herself… and she’d be rollin’ in the dough. (150 words)

For those writers who like to work ahead, here's the photo for next week:

photo by pexels.com

Five Reasons Why You Should Listen to Sioux About the "Listen to Your Mother" Show

1. Sioux doesn't lie--at least not about this. Now, when I was pulled over last spring for going 78 in a 60, I did lie (by omission) and didn't open my mouth and say the truth, "It was a reeeeally good song on the radio. It was Uptown Funk," when the officer asked why I was going so fast. At least he was a nice guy and only wrote it for 70...

You should submit a piece to the Listen to Your Mother show. They're only taking submissions until February 17 in St. Louis.

2. They're open for submissions. Right now. Like, this minute. At least they're open in St. Louis. Writers around here--check it out. (Cathy and Lisa--check out the details for the Atlanta show.)

3. You're treated like you're royalty when you're in a Listen to Your Mother show. In St. Louis, the three producers-directors treated us to dips and chips and cookies (oh, my!) at the rehearsals. We guzzled mimosas the day of the show. We reunited in the summer for a BBQ when the videos hit YouTube. 


4. You might get some swag along with the notoriety. In St. Louis, we each got a new pair of designer shoes. The whole cast went to a shoe party and drank wine, nibbled on snacks, got massages, and tried on shoe after shoe after shoe. 

While at the shoe party, I held a shoe execution. My daughter and granddaughter (both quite stylish and both haters when it comes to my Crocs) came to the party and--as promised--witnessed me cutting up with scissors one of my favorite and well-loved ratty-looking pairs of Crocs.

I'm willing to do the same thing this year if I end up being part of the show. Which pair of Crocs might be heading toward the guillotine? Check out this beauty:

        And before you get to salivatin' over these stylish kicks, don't get too jealous. Yes, they're fancy Crocs knock-off Crocs, what with their swirly pattern. I know they're extra-special because they were purchased from the Five Below store (where everything is $5 and less). No, they don't have straps any more. Those were cut off a long time ago. And yes, these Crocs are sneaky as crocodiles. They look stylin' on top, but the soles have several holes. Hence my willingness to part from them... forever.

5. You don't have to have had a June Cleaver mother in order to tell your story. You could have had a good-for-nothin' mom. You could have been a rotten mom. Or dad. Google "Listen to Your Mother" videos on YouTube, and get inspired... 

      ... and then submit.