Jokes, Anyone? and Back-of-the-Book Blurb #83

        Well, it's day three of NaNoWriMo. I've written all three days, but am already two-days' worth of words behind. By the end of today I should have written more than 4,8000 words. Instead, I have 1,788 words...

      ...which is okay, because I like the gauzy as cotton candy plan I've created. I'm writing a middle-grades novel. The main character: Nathan, an 8th grader who loves to pull pranks and tell jokes. When he finds out a teenager was lynched in 1955 all because of a joke, Nathan does some research... and gets immersed in a horrible historical moment.

       I began from a different perspective, but it didn't feel right. At all. So, today I switched, and the story's being told from Nathan's perspective... and it feels right.

      Will I be able to rack up 20-25,000 words by the end of November? Will I be able to write the story from beginning to end by November 30? Only time will tell. However, one thing I know for sure: I will have made more progress than if I hadn't even started NaNoWriMo.

      But I need your help. If you have a favorite joke or two--they need to be kid-friendly--I'd love to hear them. Pranks and jokes are going to pepper the story. One of my students was reading over my shoulder on Thursday, gave me a sly look and knowingly said, "That's an interesting story, Mrs. R," and then he laughed. However, Nathan doesn't know (yet) that he's the star of this WIP...

         And now onto the business of the book blurb...

         Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. Is it a coffee table book of fashion trends? Is it a photo collection of mentally-ill patients and their clothing choices? 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 writing challenge. She moved to Florida, and is too busy to host a weekly book blurb. Her first romance novel, Love Built to Last, just came out as an audio book.  She's quite busy these days. One thing she's been stuck with lately is using an electric cattle prod on me, since I'm late (almost always) with this Friday post (like I am late this week). Maybe some day soon, I can consistently post on a timely basis...

         
          Okay, back to book blurb stuff.
     

          Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link 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.

           Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

The Power of Words

Adara was silent. Always. Being a woman, she knew her place. The men in her life spoke for her. They told her what she wanted. They gave her what she needed. They told her what she thought.

Her father. Her brother. They were the center of Adara’s universe. They were her universe. They eclipsed everything, to the point there was no room for Adara.

But when her application for a fellowship in London was accepted, Adara knew her world was going to change… forever. Her family was not happy, but they told her to contact her London cousins when she got settled… and they could take over for Adara’s father and brother.

However, Adara plans on disappearing. She isn’t going to let any of her family know of her new address.

Soon, she is going to be able to think her own thoughts and create her own universe… with words. (150 words)

And for those dozens of writers who play along each week (ha), here is the photo for next week, so you can work ahead:

What Terrifies You?

      I still remember watching the movie "The Birds" for the first time. I know I was not yet a teenager, and being afraid was delicious. It was fun squealing and covering my eyes... as long as it was done in a safe place. (After reading about how some of the scenes were filmed, I now think that Alfred Hitchcock was the scariest part of that movie. If you don't know what Tippi Hedren endured to get the movie filmed, check out this article.)

      Probably close to the same time, I read the book Rosemary's Baby, which had me on the edge of my seat.

       As an adult I've continued my love of being scared, of being creeped out. Mostly, it's been via ink on paper. "Silence of the Lambs" was scary-suspenseful at times. So was "Psycho." (I just saw the new version of "It" and was not scared in the least. Can anybody recommend a scary movie?)

       Here are some of my favorite scary books:

• The Shining by Stephen King
• The Fireman by Joe Hill (Stephen King's son)
• NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (again, did you pick up on it? He's Stephen King's son)

    What scary books or movies can you add to this list? Terrified minds want to know...

NaNoWriMo and Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 82

NaNoWriMo is almost here (it begins Wednesday) and I'm not as paralyzed as I was a couple of days ago.

Two days ago, I had no idea what my NaNo was going to focus on. Last year I knew way ahead of time, had done some scut work before November 1 rolled around, and was inspired and excited enough to the point that I'm still jazzed about the project. (Of course, I'm now  working on the dental draft, making sure every detail is perfect.)


However, two days ago I returned to the idea that kept appearing on my radar--another historical fiction project for (probably) middle-graders. I figured that there was a darned good reason why it kept reappearing.... and I should take heed of why it keeps coming back to my brain.

So now I know what I'm going to work on beginning on Wednesday, alongside my students. I'm lucky. If it pans out the way it did last year, I'll have two 45-minute sessions every day to write with them.

And if you'd like to read about what I've learned from NaNoWriMo, read my post on The Muffin.

How about you? Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? I'd love to hear about it if you are...

         And now onto the business of the book blurb...

         Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. Is it a coffee table book of fashion trends? Is it a photo collection of mentally-ill patients and their clothing choices? 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 writing challenge. She moved to Florida, and is too busy to host a weekly book blurb. Her first romance novel, Love Built to Last, just came out as an audio book.  She's quite busy these days. Currently, she's writing a screenplay about her life. Viggo Mortensen is slated to play her hubby; Marisa Tomei is going to portray Lisa. Working on a movie project is hard work, so she's too busy to host this writing prompt anymore.

         
          Okay, back to book blurb stuff.
     

          Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link 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.

        Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

  

The Artist’s Way

Jason was a kid who doodled all the time in school. His teachers took his sketch pads away, they tore up the scrap paper he drew on, they’d confiscate his pencils, his pens, his crayons.

Despite the earlier discouragement, Jason kept his love of art alive once he hit adulthood. In fact, he’d parlayed his passion into a full-time job. Jason’s Doodles was the name of his art business..

For a crazy-high price tag, Jason would draw anything for anyone. Working on huge pieces of paper, he’d begin with no rough sketch and no idea. Preferring to dive in without the benefit of constrictive plans, Jason would begin with blank paper and end with a masterpiece.

His latest collection? Drawings of wild animals that should be better protected, and circus animals that should be permanently retired.

Will Jason continue to doodle and dabble, or will his drawings make a difference? (150 words)

And for those writers who would like to work ahead, here is the photo for next week:

My Real-Life Out-of-Towners and Back-of-the-Book Blurb #81

      One of my favorite movies is "The Out-of-Towners." The original one with Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.

      It's a perfect example of black humor. Disasters happen to a couple traveling to New York for a job interview--over and over.

      Tuesday--after my school's blood drive--I lived my own version of the movie. Here's what happened:

       I was the teacher/staff person. My principal drifted in earlier, as did a couple of teachers, but this evening, I was in charge.

      I gave blood, and one of the teachers who stopped by convinced me to eat a bag of Cheez Its. (I would be grateful for those few crackers later.)

      A little after 6, the janitor asked me if I had a key to lock the side door. I didn't. He said, "I"ll lock the doors but prop open one of the doors with a rock, in case anyone comes to donate." That was perfect... or so I thought.

     When the blood mobile people finished dismantling and packing up things (a little before 7),  I don't know why, but as I stood inside the building, I asked them to check on the doors to make sure they were locked. They did. One of the doors was unlocked.

      One of the doors was unlocked? What was I going to do?

      I walked up the stairs--from the basement to my classroom on the second floor--so I could call someone. I had a couple of choices. The principal or a man (like a caretaker) who lived in the neighborhood (I'll call him Mr. K) could help me out. It would be easy. Or so I thought.

      I called the principal. No answer. I looked up Mr. K's phone number on the internet, and called him. No answer. I then called the parish priest. (The church is right across the street from the school.) No answer. I then called the school secretary, who lives right around the corner from the school. No answer.

      For over an hour I called those 4 people--several times.

      I figured I'd be stuck in the building all night, since I didn't feel right leaving the building unlocked. Since I'd only had the small bag of Cheez Its between noon and 7, I was getting hungry. And The Voice television show was on. I was missing it. How bad would I smell if I spent the night sleeping on the floor by the unlocked door, presumably "guarding" it? I had nothing to eat in my little classroom refrigerator. If my stomach starting eating away at itself, I supposed I could find something in the school cafeteria, right? (Of course in reality, I have enough lard on my frame to last me a few weeks...)

       I called my husband and let him know I had no idea when I would be home. By this time, the messages I left for the principal, the priest, the secretary and Mr. K were a bit tearful at the end. I was trying not to sound too desperate.

      After more than an hour, Mr. K answered his phone. His wife was in the hospital (knee surgery), but he said he'd be right over. Wonderful. I could finally go home. It was a little after 8.

       Just when he walked into the side entrance and we were talking, the secretary called. She had come over and tried to lock it (hadn't called me to let me know she had gotten my 192 messages) but something was wrong with the door. Apparently the custodian had locked it--as far as he knew--but the door was malfunctioning and the lock never "caught." She couldn't do it so she called her son who was able to lock the door.

      As we were leaving the building, Mr. K said, "I think your principal's in the building. I think that's his car in front of the school."

       I looked, as I was getting into my car, prepared to burn rubber to get home as quickly as possible. I could see people leaving the school via the front door.

       On the first floor, in the teachers' lounge, a finance meeting had been going on from 7-8. The principal was there, along with the parish priest. My principal had not taken his phone into the meeting (too many people do that, and the ringing and vibrating make for too many interruptions) and I had been calling the priest on the rectory line... and he wasn't across the street. He was right in the same building as I was.

       I laughed with the principal when he called me back, and the secretary and I chuckled the next day. I got home a little after 8:30, told my husband the story, and got teased for being held "prisoner."
   
         Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. Is it a coffee table book of fashion trends? Is it a photo collection of mentally-ill patients and their clothing choices? 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 writing challenge. She moved to Florida, and is too busy to host a weekly book blurb. Her first romance novel, Love Built to Last, just came out as an audio book.  She's quite busy these days.

         
          Okay, back to book blurb stuff.
     

          Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link 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.

        Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

The Food Hat Fad

Renata loved flashy clothes. Sequined shoes. Ruffly dresses. Out-of-this-world hats.

Renata also dreamed of someday having her own restaurant. She enjoyed cooking for others, and everyone said her dishes were divine.

One night, Renata realized how she could achieve her dream. It would be better than a diner or a food truck. Renata’s Food Hat. Renata would traipse around, with the food on her head. If she did that, it would catch people’s eyes and would also fill their tummies.

Some dishes would be easier to balance on a hat, of course. A block of lasagna would stick like glue to the plate. A serving of shepard’s pie, adhered to the plate by mashed potatoes, would be safely anchored down. But how about toasted ravioli? Deviled eggs? Crab cakes?

Will Renata be a smashing success? Or will she just leave a trail of smashed and fallen food in her wake? (150 words)

And for those who want to work ahead, here is the photo for next week:

Books, Blood and Book Blurb # 80

       Tomorrow I will be participating in an indie author event at Spencer Road Branch Library in St. Charles. Several writing friends will also be there, including Donna Volkenannt, Linda O'Connell, Lynn Obermoeller and Pat Wahler. Maybe Marcia Gaye? Probably others I'm forgetting to mention...

      If you live in the area, drop by. It's from 10-2. There will be refreshments, along with over 100 authors eager to talk about (and sell) their books...

      So, you might be busy tomorrow, but you're looking for something to do on Tuesday evening, something that involves blood? How about giving a pint? St. James the Greater School (1360 Tamm Avenue) is having a blood drive on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 3-6:30. Of course, after a blood donation, you need to eat something. There are several wonderful restaurants right on Tamm, as you head back up the few blocks to Oakland... Seamus McDaniels, Felix's and Nora's (which has snagged national acclaim for its sandwiches). And at Seamus and Felix's, I know you can drink a pint (or two). I will be there at my school, working with a couple of my 8th graders, along with donating blood.


     And now onto back-of-the-book blurb business...
        
         Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. Is it a how-to book on making hand puppets? Is it sci-fi... birds and hands have mated, resulting in new creatures? 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 writing challenge. She moved to Florida, and is too busy to host a weekly book blurb. Her first romance novel, Love Built to Last, just came out as an audio book. Her newest project? A B & B & B--a bed and breakfast and barkery. Lisa is constructing a bed and breakfast out of her piles of rejection letters (you can't be as successful as Lisa without getting lots of rejection), and off to the side of the bed and breakfast will be a bakery for dogs (and cats). Fortunately, she has offered her St. Louis writing friends a free stay whenever they head to Florida.

          Thanks, Lisa.

         
          Okay, back to book blurb stuff.
     

          Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link 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.

        Here's the book cover, along with my blurb: 

Et Tu, Toucan?

Bernie had his own business. He did puppet shows at kids’ birthday parties. He entertained at cocktail events, when rich folks need a little diversion before a symphony concert started tuning up.

But recently, disturbing things are happening.

Bernie’s hand puppets--intricately painted onto his hands along with onto the hands of his assistants--have turned on him. It’s strange, but the hand puppets have grown backbones of their own.

They talk back. And what they say is not very nice.

“Hey Buddy. You really slopped the paint on at the end of my tail. What a slob you’ve become.” (This was stage-whispered during a preschool party.)

“Hey, Jerk. Your knuckles are way too hairy to pull off this snake puppet. Have you ever thought of shaving? I mean, really.”

Will Bernie be able to give those hand puppets a slap on the wrist? Or, will they completely take over? (148 words)

And for those who want to work ahead, here is the photo for this next week:

A Dog's Dream Come True... and Back-of-the-Book Blurb #79

         One night Winnie's dream came true.

          Winnie is a three-year old golden retriever from Turkey. She's been living on her own for most of her life, probably. She's had at least one litter of pups, and came to the U.S. starved. She's been here a week. (You can feel all her ribs, and every time we open the refrigerator, her head is inside the fridge, nosing around. When we open the dog food tub, her head in buried in the food, in a helpie-selfie all-you-can-eat-in-two-seconds buffet.)

         Winnie's eating three meals a day in an attempt to get some meat on her bones.

         One night this week I was filling the dog food tub. I guess I wasn't quite calculating (correctly) where I'd cut the bag open, because a couple of cups of dry dog food spilled out onto the floor. The pieces skiddled all over the place.

         Winnie was on clean-up patrol immediately. Since I was about to feed her dinner anyway, I let her enjoy herself.

          As far as Winnie's concerned, it was a perfect night... And now onto book blurb stuff.

            Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. Is it a love story about a feline and the bus driver? Is it an insider's tale, exposing the horrors of the lives of feral cats? Is it the true crime story of a cat stalking Morris the cat? 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 writing challenge. She moved to Florida, and is too busy to host a weekly book blurb. Her first romance novel, Love Built to Last, just came out as an audio book. Her newest project? A writing retreat center on the beach. Writers rent beach cabanas, unlimited drinks are included, and the cabana boys either look like Viggo Mortensen or Jason Momoa. Therefore, Lisa doesn't have time to host this anymore.

          Okay, back to book blurb stuff.
     

          Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link 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.

        Here's the book cover, along with my blurb: 

Enough is Enough is Enough

Marvin Hall’s wife needed him. If he wasn’t around, she’d feel useless.

He left dirty dishes in the sink. She enjoyed scrubbing the plates after the food had turned to concrete. He dropped his towel onto the bathroom floor showering. Melissa, his wife, would invariably pick up the towel and hang it up where it belonged. Marvin’s slobby ways made the little woman felt necessary.

His favorite thing to do, however, was to smear his fingerprints all over the windows. Each time Mrs. Hall saw some smudges on the panes of glass, she’d get out the vinegar and start wiping away.

Ahhh. Making a woman happy is easy… Or so Marvin thought.

One morning, a message on the bathroom mirror, written in lipstick, greeted Marvin.

“I’ve had enough. I’m not gonna take it anymore.”

How will life change for Marvin? Will he ever see the light? (146 words)

And for those who need an entire week to come up with hilarious reviews, here is the photo for the next blurb: