Freckles Included in an Author Bundle!

 See the Bundle Here!!!

See the Bundle Here!!!

Larry Simpson's No Excuses

HERE IS MY REVIEW AS POSTED ON AMAZON AND GOODREADS:

 I remember as a young man reading "Now Let Us Praise Famous Men." It was the compelling stories of simple Americans living in a hard era. I had the same ethos as I read "No Excuses."

Larry Simpson grew up in a family constantly on the move across America in the 1950's. As the title says, it is not a story of victimization, tragedy, or hopelessness. "I'm a trailer boy. I'm grateful for it all. I have no excuses. I hope you don't either," he declares. And that is his message. Through learning to play marbles, joining sports teams, acclimating to new schools, and building friendships Larry does something else: He lets my generation see the world as our parents lived it. 

"Find the story in yourself." - L Simpson

I saw in the stories the things I reflect were great about my parents (also growing up in the 50's). Larry at one point introduces a chapter by saying, "One of the great blessings of the life God gave me was being taught to work." In another place he tells of sliding down a mountain side with his rifle, realizing he was thirsty and ill prepared. He shares how much he treasured small things like his mom's plastic burgundy purse he acquiesced to use to keep his 127 marbles. He reports his early romance and the heartbreak of the family picking up and moving. He shaped his life not off the failures of his father, but off his father's strengths. "my human father had faults, but I never held any of those against him and chose rather to look at the very good character in him. All dads should have character traits for which to be remembered."

The story reads more like you are sitting on the porch listening to your grandfather weave stories, amazed at the life he led beyond how you know him. knowing Larry is a pastor, I imagine he has blessed his congregants over the years with these vignettes, using them as punctuated sermon illustrations. I'm sure when he did the people in the pews around him knew he was real, his faith was real, and he loved them. 

Love is the word. It is seldom used in the book, but it is on every page. In a later section Larry talks about his own faith that led him to college and ultimately to seminary. But this work resides in the life of a young man growing up in America with no excuses.  The book is written in what must be Larry's conversational "voice." I think the few editorial corrections would blur the connect the book offers to a part of history that many will enjoy remembering and all will enjoy experiencing through this memoir. I highly recommend. 

I was given a copy of the book for review. Opinions are my own.

Larry was kind enough to also share an exert. Presented here with permission:

Story 13:    "Sitgreaves Pass, on the way to California, 1957"

"We casually headed up and out from Kingman to Bakersfield-- a gorgeous, sun-lit day-- going
through Oatman was shorter, we turned North on Oatman Highway, old '66--  we were very
content-- being only 3,550 feet in elevation we knew we wouldn't have much of a climb--
slowly moving up to Sitgreaves Pass, Dad pulling our 50' long trailer with his green Ford truck--
then 4.4 miles down to Oatman-- the highway looked gentle-- the Del Vikings were singing"come
go with me," I got happy--

The decent would be easy-- THAT CHANGED SHOCKINGLY, increasing speed-- the slopes dropped
off like sinking earth-- Dad's face was white-- hitting one hairpin curve after another-- we were
faster-- the brakes were smoking, they faded completely, the trailer swerved close to the violent
edge-- looking down the rocky cliffs, I knew we were fighting for our lives-- time stood still--  his
look at me was fearful-- then mortal pity--plunging off the mountain filled my brain--jagged,
sharp rocks-- "we're going to have to jump!"-- faster with each passing inch-- the trailer tilted
to the left and shook-- as we fought for our very existence-- I thought, at least I'm with my
Daddy, we'll just go to heaven with each other-- But suddenly, shockingly-- we began to slow
a little-- the bottom seemed to be rising to us -- we're nearing the bottom-- pulling over to
the side of the road, we fell into each others arms and mixed our tears-- Dad prayed an
impassioned prayer--we were safe.

I briefly got to speak with the author who I met at NextChapter Con in Dalton:

https://www.facebook.com/J. Larry Simpson, I - No Excuses.....
https://www.newswire.com>news> J. Larry Simpson, I
https://www. amazon.com
https://youtu.be/WoXP5PxiRis....tv interview
https://youtube.com/ No Excuses....press release
https://fultonbooks.com/J.Larry Simpson, I


Author name:  J. Larry Simpson, I

Title:  "No Excuses, The True Life Adventures of a Little Trailer Boy" ( see links above)

What led you to write your memoir?

    Living in NW Ga. I am a first time author, with a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Ed.
and Political Science, a Master's  Degree in Theology, a businessman, a lifetime pastor,
a horse National Champion, and was a distance runner.  I'm married to my teenage
sweetheart, Sandy.
    I began writing because I knew I had to tell my' boyhood story'.  My story is too
unique, filled with boyhood adventure, family, successes, girls, friends, all while I
traveled across America as a boy.  Moving to 10 states , 15 schools, 24 moves in a trailer
pulled by my father, I lived a life like no other.... too unique not to tell.  On retirement at
age 73, excitement to reveal this one very different and blessed life moved me to start
writing.


What are your hobbies and do they play into your writing?:

Yes, was horses up till 3 years ago, and my experiences with them enter into my writing.

What is your favorite part about writing?

My re-discovery of the blessings and uniqueness of my life as a 'trailer boy' etc. and refined
the love and thankfulness of my life and the hope that others will see it and enjoy with me.

WIs there a follow-up?

Other untold stories of childhood then into adulthood, including victories of life and exciting
horse stories. As well as Knowing God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rules on His throne.

WHY WE WRITE: Your First Novel

 Today let's talk about editing!

Maybe if you are a plotter editing is a joy? I've met a few weird souls who seem to thrive on revision and editing. For a pantser it can be painstakingly difficult.

I've already given my first tip I've discovered. I write my first draft by hand. This forces me to edit as I move my penscratch to computer. However, I feel the struggle. Just like the middle of the book can feel like an anchor weight... so can the idea of meticulously going through hundreds of pages.

Good news! Remember that talk we had about WHY you write? If you are not in love with the idea of editing then feel the freedom to freelance / contract out the work to others!!! I know there are authors who don't want to let their newborn manuscript out into the world until it is completely perfect. If you are such a person, let me encourage you to write down "WHAT DOES A 'PPERFECT' MANUSCRIPT MEAN TO ME?" The answer should not be more than three snetences or several bullet points.

Here is mine for Freckles: The Dark Wizard.

- First chapter that connects my wizard world to a middle school kid while showing the magic

- clear main story arc

- laugh when read

- minimal distracting editorial issues (grammar, consistency issues, confusing narratives)

And for Twelve Hours on the Block:

    A edge of your seat action ride from chapter to chapter with comic relief between the two main characters. Story should get crazier and crazier but never violate the reader's suspension of disbelief created with opening scene where "Hummingbird" (Aztec god) rips a man's bleeding heart out.

If you can pinpoint what it means for you to release your story to others, then you have a goal to work toward. Ultimately, you will have to share it to be heard. So figure out when that is for you. 

Now, when I first started writing I was overwhelmed with terms like proof reader, beta reader, content editor, developmental editor, copy editor, critique partner, or online editing software. Let me offer my humble take on all of this. You have three stages of editing:

I grew up helping my dad in his workshop. If it helps, think about this like sandpaper. You do not pass over a project the first time with 220 grit fine sandpaper. You are wasting your time and will ruin the sandpaper. First, you use a coarse grain (40 or 50 grit) to get rid of rough edges and large issues. Then you use a medium grit (80) to give the project a unified look. When you get to fine grit (120) you aren't even doing enough to take off a varnish. Yet, the last strokes are the one that make the project a masterpiece.

-1. BIG ISSUES  (40-50 grit sandpaper)

    These are the massive problems that demand rewriting whole characters, major plot points, changing the novel's POV (point of view). These take a lot of time to fix and perhaps create more repairs along the way. 

One of my dear mentors says that the author makes promises to the reader along the way. If we introduce a wizard with a secret pendant he wears under his cloak, we are promising the reader that pendant will be used. If we tell the reader the heroine has never been kissed, we are promising there will minimally be a kiss in the story. Some promises are key. in fact, there is probably one central question to your story. For my twelve Hours on the Block it is "Will the two main characters survive?" Along the way they meet two girls ("Can they rescue their new relationships") and a woman who swears she will die trying to get out (yes, she does). Apart from major content editing of plot, world, characters, and subplots you must also make sure the reader can follow your engaging story, satisfied in the end.

-2. MEDIUM ISSUES (80 grit sandpaper) 

    Here we are looking at smaller issues. They may be within a specific scene or chapter or may be a small add, subtraction, or revision to the novel to support the story. It may be adding something in earlier to prepare the reader, changing something about a character necessary to the plot, or answering a small  unanswered question.

In my book, Freckles: the Dark Wizard, Simon (MC) sees a picture of his dad winning the school RumpleBottom trophy with his mom on his dad's shoulders in a victory celebration. It was a promise to the reader regarding what would happen in the end with Simon's love interest (medium size promise)  if Simon won the tournament (big promise) 

-3. SMALL ISSUES (120 grit sandpaper)

    Here is where you make the work ready for publication. Spelling. Commas. Dialogue tags. passive Voice. Show, Don't Tell. And my personal favorite, not putting two spaces between sentences (apologies to my editor!! I grew up using typewriters!). 

I know. I worked hard to develop cool sounding terms. Now, for each layer you have three options:

-1. Do it your self (well... except for "small issues." That one needs outside eyes.)

-2. Pay someone to do it.

-3. Coerce, Bribe, or Beg someone to help.

Next Wednesday we will dive in!

Chattacon!!!

 

GO TO THE MAIN SITE NOW! - CLICK HERE

GO TO THE MAIN SITE NOW! - CLICK HERE

Friday, January 14th - Sunday, January 16th 

I'm excited to be on several panels during Chattacon.

Friday I am hosting a panel on Middle Grade Fiction. More to come about this for sure and I'll try and post my resources here as well. 

GO TO THE MAIN SITE NOW! - CLICK HERE

I will be promoting my latest MG Fantasy!  Freckles: The Dark Wizard

"Anyone who has ever survived middle school will enjoy this. The magic is cleverly original, and RumpleBottom (which is dodgeball plus magic) is suitably vicious. The author knows middle school from bottom to top. Human nature doesn't change much, magic or no magic." - John McBride

I will be at Chattacon!! 

I am super excited on Saturday to be doing a panel with the highly sought after MD Cooper. Her work is fabulous. The panel is on character development. I hope if you are in the area you can attend! Chattacon is a great con and this will be a superb panel.

original image Source

See her Good Reads here - or just google MD Cooper!

I'll also be doing a fun panel on Dune with a great local author who also works at UT Chattanooga. Check out his blog here!!

ETHAN'S BLOG

In addition, I'll be in a panel regarding Self, Small Press, or pursuing an agent in regards to publishing. Those who read my blog know that is something I've started writing about a lot recently.

Oh! And shameless

 self-promotion!!

My Chattacon Profile (you know... to prove I'm actually invited...):

https://chattacon.org/person/jerry-harwood/#

And be sure to check out my latest!!

Freckles: The Dark Wizard

(Self Published)

Twelve Hours on the Block

(Indie Press Published)

The Frights of Fiji by Sunayna Prasad

 The Frights of Fiji by Sunayna Prasad

 

 

 

The Frights of Fiji (Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions #1)

by Sunayna Prasad

Genre: Fantasy

Age category: Middle Grade

 

Blurb:

A world of magic and adventure awaits…

Sent to live with her strict, aloof, and uncaring uncle after her parents are killed in a car accident, twelve-year-old orphan Alyssa McCarthy longs for the life she used to have—one filled with fun and love. Then one stormy night, a message appears in the raindrops on the window that will change everything.

"Your life will never be the same again, as magic will interfere."

Before long, Alyssa is kidnapped by Master Beau, a banished sorcerer with a mysterious connection to her who can only regain his power by weakening hers. Suddenly hurled into a world of wizardry filled with fantastical beasts and marvelous technology beyond her wildest imagination, Alyssa must defeat Master Beau if she ever wants to get home again. But Master Beau will stop at nothing, including using Alyssa’s friends, to ensure he is triumphant.

 

Originally titled "From Frights to Flaws", this story is the exciting and enchanting first book in the "Magical Missions" series.

 

Links:

- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42438477-the-frights-of-fiji

- Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-frights-of-fiji-alyssa-mccarthy-s-magical-missions-book-1-by-sunayna-prasad

- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Frights-Alyssa-McCarthys-Magical-Missions-ebook/dp/B07HXMJ6GB/

- B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-frights-of-fiji-sunayna-prasad/1131319822

- Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/the-frights-of-fiji

- Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/The_Frights_of_Fiji?id=oYUFEAAAQBAJ&h

- Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1460719018

 

 

This blog comes as part of Lola's Blog Tours.

About the Author:

I have always been passionate about fantasy, especially with a modern twist. I have read bestsellers, like the Harry Potter series, which gave me a lot of inspiration for my books. Movies, especially Disney classics, also inspire the content of my stories.

When I am not writing, I am drawing, cooking, and working out to Disney song videos as well as other visual and entertaining videos.

 

Author links:

- Website: https://www.sunaynaprasadbooks.com/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SunaynaPrasad

- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5002639.Sunayna_Prasad

 

MY REVIEW:

It reminded me some of Series of Unfortunate Events with its start and took on some of the things that make popular fantasy tales work including a banished sorcerer somehow connected to the heroine, cool creatures, and a quest to get home to her godfather, Alex. At times, the story seemed to borrow heavily on “Harry Potterisms”  but I know for my kids they love seeing the same tropes played again. There is a tech / sci-fi twist here that kept me engaged as well as Simon, who is likely my favorite character. The ending is a bit open ended, even as the first book in a series. I was given a copy as part of a blog tour. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

WHY WE WRITE: Your First Novel

 

Let's get something on paper!

First, in the writing world there are two recognized groups (with lots of people in the middle). There are the PLOTTERS, people who outline and script out everything before they put pen to paper. Then there are PANTSERS, as in "by the seat of my pants" writers who just jump in and see where the story goes.

Which are you? You probably already know. Either way - this is a fun quiz: 

https://www.writinglaraferrari.com/plotter-or-pantser-quiz

Knowing which you are is helpful so you will know the inerant pitfalls:

PLOTTERS TEND TO:

- struggle to start because the outline isn't perfect

- develop intricate worlds and character backstories that bog down the story

- continually work hard at the craft of writing but not on actual writing.

- write with expertise but lose the initial passion of their idea 

PANTSERS TEND TO:

- have many story starts but bog down in the middle

- struggle with complex stories that involve remembering facts (was that guy's name Johnson or Johns?)

- write with energy and fail when energy fades

For clarity, these are my opinions with no real statistics to back up what I'm saying. However, according to good reads (Don't know goodreads? You should go start a profile today!!) J. K. Rowling is a plotter. It shows. Every character and every space in her world is filled with backstory and wonder. There is a reason they make a Harry Potter world theme park. On the other side, they list Stephen King as a pantser. There are no theme parks based on the master of horror. He places some interesting characters in a "What if?" situation and lets it roll.  both are incredible authors. So do not think of Plotter and Pantser as "good" and "bad." Know which one you are and embrace it. Then plan to overcome your type's shortcomings.

SIGNPOST MODEL:

    I prefer what Gregory Scott Bell calls the signpost model. This is a great model for pantsers. It is not a full plot outline. Rather, you focus on character development and then have "road signs." On my way to work there was a street sign out of my neighborhood, a stop sign, followed by a red light and entrance ramp onto the freeway. The freeway had a split to two different cities followed by signs pointing to places of interest and my final destination. Being a teacher, I even got school speed zone signs!

When I wrote Twelve Hours on the Block I had on a notepad twelve gods of the ancient Aztec culture. Each hour of the book one would introduce himself. From there I used a basic plot model (I love Save the Cat) to orchestrate moments of hope for escape and "all is lost" for my two central characters. Then I could just write. I just knew I had to get to the next signpost. Now, I several times swapped what god (signpost) went in what order based on what I needed for my plot, but even with the changes I had enough structure to write the work in small, manageable bites.

Whether you are a plotter, pantser, or Signposter --> START WRITING. get motivated. Put words n paper. They don't have to be epic. Just down on paper. In doing so you will join a very small percentage of people who have written a first draft. You got this!!

Here are my four tips... or maybe five... I'm not sure yet... after all, I'm a pantser...

-1. READ YOUR GENRE.

You should have a genre. Fantasy. Mystery. Romance. Southern Steampunk Horror SciFi. There are books out there like yours. If you think you have a new genre no one has ever done I would encourage you to first look harder. If it really is true, then double your work and read twice as much by reading the closest two genres.

Yes, you will see things you like and will be tempted to copy. Readers love a good trope. It is okay to borrow (just don't plagarize) ideas. Harry Potter is not the only kid ever to attend wizarding school and the Gunslinger is not the first cowboy to stop the world from ending or chase a man across a desert. By reading you will also develop an idea for what works and doesn't work in your genre. If you are writing a Hallmark you need the first boyfriend to be bad... but there also has to be a reason the heroine was with him. If you are writing a mystery there must be clues left along the way even if (hopefully) the reader doesn't put it all together till the end. If there is a zombie vampire who feeds on kittens you have to have a world where that is okay and normal. At least they don't glitter!

I really can't stress this enough. If you want your story to be original reading a lot is much better than coming to an empty page with only a few stories rattling around in your brain. Read. Read bestsellers. Read past hits. Read modern books. Harry Potter and the Dark Tower are two of my three favorite series of all time. However, they are both now over twenty years old. Especially if part of your WHY is to find an agent and a traditional publisher you should know the current market.

 

-2. DEFINE YOUR INITIAL MEDIUM

    As a pantser, I like to handwrite my manuscripts. I don't do this because I think better, but because it will make me go back and edit when I type it in. I have friends who overcome their pantser issues with software such as ProWrite or Scrivener. These allow you to keep side sheets of character names, slang, places, and other info you need to keep consistent. They are good investments. My friend who is a plotter types in MS Word. He then saves each edition under the title and date so he can go back if he needs too. Laptops, Desktops, voice-to-text, napkins, journals, or papyrus. Choose where you will best tell your story. I have another plotter friend who hand writes because a computer is too distracting as they just click over to look something up on Wikepedia. Experiment. 

-3. SET ASIDE THE TIME AND SPACE

Talk to your family and make sure everyone is on board with your adventure. Turn them from pulls on your time to accountability partners. My fourteen year old routinely enters the living room with "You writing?" If I answer, "yes," she gives me a hug and watches tv. If I say "no," she asks me, "Why not?"

Maybe you write best in a coffee shop or at home. In a silent room or with Metallica blaring on a nearby radio. Maybe you need three hour blocks or six thirty minute blocks. Maybe you need to work in the morning or after the clock strikes midnight. Once you find a groove that works, feed it, nurture it, protect it. I almost never see this advice in writing books but I think it is critical. King mentions it in his must-read On Writing. 

-4. SCHEDULE YOUR DISTRACTIONS

I remember the first time someone in my writer's group told me this. She said, "I know I am going to play on the internet for twenty minutes so instead of feeling guilty about it I schedule it. Then when the timer goes off I end that part just like I might stop a writing prompt or character worksheet."

Another writer friend has an app that lets him grow trees whenever his phone is down. He sets small goals for writing bursts and then takes a break. I know one writer who logs on zoom and she writes in scheduled times with other writers. As for me, I write during my breaks. As a school teacher, I am blessed with fall break, Christmas break, Spring break, and summer break. I try to set goals for each. In between I edit. It is an important point. Writing must find a life around your job, family, friends, and obligations. If it is at war with them it will eventually become a costly burden or will lose the battle and your manuscript will sit undone.  Talk about your project with others so they can help you.

-5. LEARN THE CRAFT

Okay, so there are five things. This one is too important to gloss over. There are numerous ways you can learn the craft of writing. You can join a writing group or guild that does teaching as part of their meetings. You can purchase masterclasses, training workshops, or just watch tiktok, youtube, or blogs like mine (https://www.circumlocution.net). Writing is a skill set, even if you are a pantser... especially if you are a panster. Things like I have sometimes capitalized the word "Pantser" in this article and sometimes I have not. Shame on me. I will have to go back and edit. Better is that I learn such things and correct it as I go. After all, I want my story to be compelling. I want it to be believable, well-told, and engaging. If all you want is your mom or husband to read it and tell you how special you are, I strongly encourage you to be a learner of the craft. 

Now a word of caution here. There are many out there who will take your money, make outlandish promises, and give you very little. Beware the To-Good-To-Be-True trap. If you really have no where to start, I would recommend 

Stephen Kings On Writing

James Scott Bell's Great Course: How to Write Bestselling Fiction

Jessica Brody's Save the Cat

William Strunk Jr and EB White's The Elements of Style

You can also find local conferences. I love DragonCon in Atlanta and learn a lot from their writer's track. My Chattanooga Writer's Guild often has authors teaching courses in their areas of expertise (I'm doing one on the MBTI and character development soon at a local Con). 

Final Thought on Getting Something On Paper:

I am a huge advocate for writing groups, but I also realize they are not for everyone. One group I'm in we ask each other about word counts each month. A lady with severe anxiety and PTSD from a military career shared that she wrote two sentences that month, the most she had done in months. We celebrated. That was huge for her and she read the lines to us. The friendships and accountability should always be more of an encouragement than a burden. More on that later.

For now... put words down. They don't have to be good words. Just let your story flow!!

Review: Madness by Paityn E. Parque

 

 Below is my review of Madness, a new RPG fantasy novel put out by 15 year old Paityn E Parque.

Ezra keeps getting sicker with migraines. Then, one day, she wakes up in a game run by “Engine.”

“Congratulations! You have been selected to participate in the Battles. You just died, but have unlimited lives.” So begins the Rules of the game. Ezra enters the game, making an ally with Speedy. Others follow as she enters a world of RPG video game destruction. She discovers her own feats and how to use them as well as their potential danger to herself. After all, killing yourself removes you from the game and life permanently

As the book progresses, Ezra devolves. We are prepared for this early as she is told the game leads you to madness and few if any escape. She is eventually so transformed, she is even given a new name: Shadow. “She was her own worst enemy. By now, Shadow couldn’t tell who she was. Was she Ezra? Was she Shadow?”

As Ezra wrestles with her own identity she must also continue to wrestle with the Battles the mysterious company, Engine, has set her in. The book ends both satisfactorily with regards to Ezra and her entrance to the games but also offers a cliffhanger, setting up a future volume.

Overall, this is the most enjoyable RPG Fantasy I have read. It is fast paced, doesn’t overload me with video game talk, and has some “man vs institution” themes I enjoyed. It could certainly use a bit of a content edit and the world had some puzzles for me (Why don’t you just team up with one person, kill each other, earn points, and leave?) but there is enough good here to offer suspension of disbelief. Especially, as mentioned in other reviews, knowing the story comes from a teenager herself it is an excellent debut novel. The things that really distract me in indie novels – bad grammar, misspellings, lack of proofing – are not here. It reads fast and smooth. I would say the book is well worth picking up, if for nothing else so you can say you knew about this rising star of an author before she was famous.

I was given a copy of the book for review on my blog: circumlocution.net. The opinions are my own.

The following can be found on Paityn's Amazon Author page:

Paityn Parque lives in Puyallup, Washington, where she spends most of her time gaming and writing. She plays competitive volleyball actively, and when she’s not practicing, she finds time for her friends and family. She lives with her older sister, an idiotic dog, and her parents. Only 15-years-old, Madness is her first novel published. She wants to continue her career in writing and hopes that you’ll stick around to see her grow.

Questions? You can contact her at: Paityn.Parque@gmail.com