Saturday, March 31, 2012

Kindles for kids

The deadline is tonight for Kindles for kids. It's for a good cause and should try to help out with all you can. It for the kids who are in the hospital and anything that you can do to help out will be very much appreaciated.
Click on the link below to find out more on how you can help.
Kindles for kids

Why do people write YA books?

Just as the title says, why do people write young adult books? I was going to write about why I choose to write YA but then I got to thinking, there are others out there like me who writes YA. Why not ask other writers and authors the same question. So I did just that, I've asked them to answer the question in one to two paraghraphs why they write YA books. Here are their responses to my question:


Tricia Drammeh: The Claiming Words
Why Do I Write YA?

When I made the decision to write a novel, I naturally gravitated toward YA, and I think I did that for two reasons. The first reason, of course, is that I love reading young adult books. The second reason is because my children are able to read what I write. Books written for the adult age group would be off-limits to my younger children, but with my YA books, I don’t have to worry about my kids picking up my book and reading it. And, I don’t have to worry about traumatizing my parents or other family members who decide to check out what I’ve been doing with my time for the last two years.

I love writing for young adults because the style is straightforward, fast-paced, and fun. I think young adult books have the most widespread appeal; the writing is sophisticated enough to appeal to adults, but the subject matter (in most cases) is appropriate for a wide range of age groups. YA books range from teen romance to fantasy to adventure, so there’s something for everyone and the possibilities are unlimited. I can definitely say I’m proud to be a YA author.


Hope Welsh: Linked (Prophecy Book One)
I have recently started writing YA. As a former English teacher, I discovered that getting kids to read was difficult. As a student myself years ago, I loved to read, but most books just weren't geared toward kids my age.

It was all either middle-grade or younger. Now, a teen can find books that will appeal to them on many levels. I think overall, we are going to be improving the reading skills of our children.

I write it so because -- to be honest -- it's just fun to write.

Dave Crews: Slinker-Evasion & The Chemo Diaries 
In all honesty, I'm not sure. I write stories that appeal to me first and foremost, and I believe this to be true of all authors. The fact that I myself am a 'YA' would obviously have some influence. But at the same time, I don't think that as I grow up I will write more grown up books. At heart, I will still enjoy writing for YAs, and I think all adults enjoy a good read of some book to fulfil their inner child.

Shaina Cilimberg: Perfect Forgiveness (Deep River High Series)
I write YA because I love teens and think they have a voice to be heard. I also want to bring them to or closer to God. They are fun to write for. I think they're adorable

K.A. Jack: Land of Midnight Days
Why I write YA fantasy?

When I first decided to write speculative fiction, I went down the “traditional” route. By that I mean
I tried my hand at heroic or high fantasy and failed abysmally. Trying to emulate such classic writers as Robin Hobb, David Gemmel and even Tolkein, got me nowhere. Then I was introduced to the works of urban fantasy writer Jim Butcher and my writing life changed forever. A blend of mythology, faerie, horror and dark fantasy, Butcher’s Harry Dresden series lit up my world.

I’ve always been fascinated by urban decay and on train journeys to and from work I’d pass docks,
warehouses, abandoned train stations and so on. They called out to me and provided me with the backdrop to my first YA novel: Land of Midnight Days. But why YA, why not adult? I’d always resisted people’s suggestions that I write for children, but my main protagonist in Midnight consistently came across as a lot younger than intended. However, the background to his story contains scenes too dark for very young children; so I compromised and decided to aim for young adults. It’s the best decision I ever made. I’ve finally found, what I believe, is my writing niche.

You can visit her website here:
http://kateannejack.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/the-land-of-midnight-days/

Michel Prince: Chrysalis
I think I'm stuck at age twenty...a little older than the normal YA character, but similar mentality. I like writing YA because that's a time in your life when everything is there for you. Much like people who write characters that have a lot of money so they have no limitations, I see the same thing with YA. You're in high school. You're not tied down with a job, house or responsibilities outside of going to school.

You still have stressors that can you change your life, but you also have the redemptive nature of youth.

Noelle J. Alabaster: Dark Origins
I enjoy writing YA because it's very widespread. There are a lot of ideas that can be used for a YA novel. I also want there to be books out there that are okay for teens to read--books that they can read without worrying if their parents will approve of the content

As for me, Dylan Knight: Rush Against Time
I write YA books because I'm still young at heart. I write them because in some ways, I still think like a young adult. When I was a kid there were very many books that were geared towards my age. Back then I had heard of the Hardy Boy Adventures but they were out of print, the ocal library never arried the series and the ones they did have were too old and very fagile because they had been read so many times before I was even born.

Now, I just write what I wanted to read when I was a kid and I must say it's very fun in doing so. You could call it a guilty pleasure.
To visit the offical website click on the link below:
Dylan Knight Series



As we have discovered there are many differnt reasons why people write YA books. Some writes action adventure, romance and even fantasy and all in between. But I do believe that we all the same reason in the end, we write YA books because it's fun to write.

Happy Writing Everyone.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Writer's group, good or evil?

I looked up some of my earlier writing that I had done and I was amazed at how much improvement i had made since joining anine writer's group. I've been with Authonomy, done by Haper Collins Publishing Company in England, for about a year now. In the past my writing was shabby and didn't really make any sense in some places where I thought it did. Writer's groups, in my opinion, are a fundimetal to all writers and author's alike. Not only do they help improve your writing skills but they also give you feedback on what works and doesn't work for your book. As well as many other things for your writing.

So joing a writer's group has helped me become a better writer, Now I'm not saying that joining a writer's group is the primary reason why I feel I've become a better writer,there are many other ways as well but a writer's group is definately a primary way to becoming a better writer. Becausing joining the group, I found other ways of improving my writing (articles, advice, ect.).

Find a writer's group near you, wither it be on line or a local group. You never know how much it will help you in the long run for your writer.

Click here to visit Authonomy

Happy writting everyone.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Inspiration For Writing

In the interview that I did back in Feb. I said that my Creative Writing teacher had said that there is inspiration all around us when it comes to writing. In many ways it is true, there is inspiration around us, and they can come in many ways and forms. For instance it can come from observing people in a setting, or just an idea or from some other form.

I'll give you an example: I'm currently doing research for another series I'm comming up with, yes I know I'm currently writing the Dylan Knight Series and I haven't even done my finishing touches on the first book Rush Against Time but that does not mean that I can put aside the inspiration for this project. Getting back to point, the inspiration for these series came from a series of dreams that I had for the past week and they seem to not stop. It is these dreams that I'm talking about for Inspiration for a story or for a series of books. This is just one type of inspiration people can have for their writing.

Many others can include a scene from a movie, book or in real life. Another can be from nature like leaves falling during the fall months. The inspiration can be from different places, some known (like the latter), and some that can just creep up on you without you actually see it. What ever the reason for the story or book, find or not find your inspiration, act upon it. You may not know where it may lead you in the future.

Happy writing everyone.

To read the interview done back on Feb. 26th, click here:
Interview with Greg Hart

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Storm VictumsTelefund

You know that the states of Kentucky and Indianna has been hit pretty hard, no more so than Henryville, Ind., this week by severe weather. So I'm giving you all a heads up for all those who want to help the storm victums. This comming tuesday, march 6th, a local TV station is going to be doing a telefund for the storm victums. It starts @ 4:00 pm in the east coast, 3:00 pm central, 2:00 pm mountain and 1:00 pm pacific time.

If you want to help, here's the link to give you further information about the telefund WHAS 11 Telefund.

I'm sure that any amount will be appreciated by the station and the victums.