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Thursday, September 29, 2011
Congratulations to Delia Latham for taking the crown in last week's Staff Clash. Two anonymous COTT staffers went into the ring and readers had another hard choice to make. Some said:
"This was a cruel choice!! LOL! They were both excellent."
(About Delia's excerpt): "Beautiful words expressing emotion and making the reader want more."
"Intense emotions on both excerpts! Great job!"
"Terrific excerpts!"
(About Katie's excerpt): "I need to know Wulf better! I have a feeling he's dreamy."
"Awesome clash with two well-written, emotion-packed scenes! Great job, authors!"
Both are recent additions to the staff. Delia has come on board as a Blog Alliance Correspondent, and Katie is the official Talent Scout. (Looks like COTT scouted some talent when they found these two gems.)
This fun excursion was a great interjection into the usual good times shared at Clash of the Titles. This week sees another fierce challenge with nameless authors nominated by COTT staff. Be sure to head over there and vote now!
And in just 2 weeks, the party begins! Mark your calendars for October 10th and be ready to play for extra prizes all month long as COTT celebrates it's first anniversary. Your vote will determine which of the year's winning authors will receive the ultimate honor: the Laurel Award.
I'm so excited to be talking with Hailee today. She's Penny Zeller's heroine in...what else? Hailee!
Here's what it's about:
For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragamuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two younger brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where her life was changed, thanks to her teachers. Now, nineteen-year-old Hailee excitedly heads to Montana to be a teacher, yet she's still plagued by her shameful past and the fear of never seeing her brothers again.
Based on his upbringing in high-society Boston, no one would have guessed that Nate Adams would attend seminary and become a church pastor in rugged Montana. Even now, Nate's parents refuse to put aside their own plans for his future and accept his calling.
When their paths converge, an immediate attraction draws Hailee and Nate together, even as the pressures and demands of others pull them apart. Can the unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?
Sounds like a winner, yes? I knew you'd think so! :) Now let's chat with our heroine...
Hello, Hailee, and thank you so much for talking with me today! To begin, could you just tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello, Delia, it’s a pleasure being a guest on your blog. My full name is Hailee Sophia Annigan, and I am 19 years old and was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have two younger brothers, Reuben and Philip. I am an orphan and tended to and provided for my brothers after our parents died. My dream is to be a teacher. Even as a young girl, I taught my brothers arithmetic and reading from memory from what I had learned when I attended school.
What’s one of your most interesting traits?
I tend to be clumsy. :) It’s the oddest thing, really. I’m not clumsy if I’m running, only if I’m walking and tripping over my own feet. I’ve tripped over stairs, while dancing, and pretty much just while walking down the street. It is quite embarrassing to say the least!
What’s your favorite indulgence?
My pa used to tell me I could run like the wind. So I would say my favorite indulgence is running, especially since I have a bit of a competitive streak.
What do you fear more than anything else?
More than anything else, I fearnever seeing my two younger brothers again. I miss them something dreadful. Now that I’m traveling to a teaching position hundreds of miles away in Pine Haven, Montana, I fear Reuben, Philip, and I will never be reunited. I also fear that someone will find out about my past and it will jeopardize my new teaching position and my hopes for a new life.
Who’s your favorite person in the world (whether they’re still with you or not), and why?
I would have to say my mother. She taught me so much about God and about life in general. I loved to climb into her lab and snuggle, especially during frightening thunderstorms. After she died, I wasn’t sure how I would continue on without her. I miss her dearly and would do anything to have her here.
If you could change one part of your past, undo one decision, what would it be?
I wish my brothers and I wouldn’t have been orphaned. Sometimes I don’t understand why things like that happen.
A decision I wish I could undo would be to have done things differently to support my brothers after our parents died.
What is one thing that amazes you?
One thing that amazes me is how the Lord never abandons us. I once thought that God left me or was too busy to care about all that was happening in my life. I’ve since learned that that wasn’t the case at all. It was me who left Him and that He is always here for us through the good times and the bad.
Thank you, Delia, for graciously allowing me to be interviewed on your blog. I’ve enjoyed being your guest!
Not as much as I've enjoyed having you, Hailee!
Bio: Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog "A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author" (www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com). She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women's Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women's prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. Hailee is the final book in the series, which began with McKenzie and Kaydie in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she's not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband reside in Wyoming with their two children. Penny loves to hear from her readers at her website, www.pennyzeller.com.
some beautiful people simply make others disappear
with their very presence? LOL That shadow on the left...?
That's me peering through Brandilyn's effervescence...!)
Back home, and I'm physically drained, mentally exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed...and absolutely thrilled that I was able to attend ACFW 2001!
How can one human body contain so many emotions? God certainly knew what He ws doing in the creation of we "mud people," didn't He? :)
Where should I start?
Upwards of 600 writers attended the conference - a veritable mass of creative people and personalities, all clustered together in one place, at one time.
I was, of course, starstruck by the number of what I called "celebrity authors" out there mingling with the likes of fledgling writers like me. Brandilyn Collins laid her hands on me and prayed for me (in the lobby of the women's bathroom, no less!), and she was just an amazing, sweet, down-to-earth person. The experience took my breath away!
From the huge, loud, hectic general sessions to the peace and comfort of the prayer room...to the opportunities to meet "friends" I'd only known online...ACFW was amazing, amazing, AMAZING!
Did I have one of those renowned emotional episodes called a "meltdown"? Indeed I did, and that too, ended up wonderfully, because it was through that experience that I met Therese Travis (a fellow WRP author who happened to be volunteering as a prayer partner in the prayer room when I ran there to have a moment with God and hopefully pull myself together)...and also how I wound up in the lobby of the women's restroom at the perfect time to encounter Brandilyn. God does work in mysterious ways...
Highlights for me:
1. Jenny B. Jones' devotion. I truly have nothing...nothing!...but Jenny's beautiful words assured me that God can and will work with that!
2. Brandilyn. 'Nuff said.
3. Meeting my cyber friends. Jeanie Smith Cash, I love you, girl! And Chere, you are an angel! (I recognize angels, you know...) You ladies made such an impression on me with your humble demeanors, sweet spirits, and loving hearts. Shirley Kiger Connolly and Anne Greene, my roomies...you gals ROCK! It was a pleasure getting to know both of you in person. Therese Travis, thank you for being such a strong support in prayer and in friendship. Lisa Buffaloe, Jeannie Campbell, Pamela James (Pammer) and so many others that it was probably a mistake to start naming names. Seeing their faces in person, getting a hug from them, just made them all the more real and precious to me.
4. Seeing friends and acquaintances I already knew but don't get to see often. Susan Hollaway, all the wonderful authors in the Tulsa WIN group, SarahMeisinger, Susan Mires...I have to stop, because again...I know I'll miss someone terribly important to me!
5. Watching wonderful authors being recognized for jobs well done (books well written!). What a joy and pleasure - what a blessing! - to see them blessed for their efforts!
6. Workshops. All were good, but of course a few in particular resonated with me. Loved many things about the Early Bird session with Stanley D. Williams. I'll never watch a movie so lightly again...; Julie Lessman and Ruth Axtell Morren's A Kiss is NOT Just a Kiss was funny and informative and unforgettable; Romantic Times' Morgan Doremus and Stephanie Klose brought a wonderful workshop on Media Training that I truly enjoyed. There were others, but I think these three are at the top of my "most helpful/enjoyable/memorable" list.
7. Meeting Linda Glaz, Hartline Literary's newest agent. Linda was friendly, personable, very approachable...and so encouraging. Whether she's ever my agent or not, I will always be honored to have met her, and grateful for her part in helping me get through my "meltdown day" just by being who she is.
8. Speaking with Pam Hillman, absorbing her sweet, sweet spirit and her wisdom.
9. Getting home! I missed my honey...and all of you. :)
How about you? Were you at the ACFW Conference in St. Louis? What were your favorite moments? If you weren't there, but hope to attend in the future, what do you look forward to most?
Something quirky happened, and the following post (which should have posted on the 21st, didn't post. So here it is, after the fact! I'll update later.
I am still pinching myself, thinking surely I'll wake up. Surely I'm not really blessed enough to be going to the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers)Conference in St. Louis this year...
But I am! I really am!
Workshops. Classes. Agents. Editors. Fellowship with other Christian authors.
A chance to actually meet "friends" with whom I've had only a cyber-connection so far.
Yep, I'm excited. And scared. And so very, very nervous - but not nervous enough to back out. Nosirree, Bob! I am there!
Starts tomorrow. I'm leaving today, and will return home on Sunday. I shall try to drop an update or two while I'm gone, if I find a free minute or two.
Pray for me! Send up a cheer or two. And stay tuned... :D
It's been almost a year since COTT opened its voting-booth doors and invited everyone in. Over the past twelve months, readers have chosen 25 Clash winners and received 48 free books. And along the way, a family formed. That family consists of the voters, authors, staff, and the 25+ blogs who have banded together in mutual support with COTT.
This is cause for major celebration! So COTT is doing it up to the nines.
Clash of the Titles' first annual Tournament of Champions begins next month! Over the course of four weeks, past winners from the previous year will compete in a series of clashes for the ultimate prize: the Laurel Award. The Laurel, COTT's most prestigious honor, is awarded by public vote to a single author among the year's champions.
Voters are expected to turn out in droves to support their favorites and participate in games just for readers. Each week, COTT sponsors—consisting of various authors and staff—will issue fun challenges to readers along with the chance to win gift cards, critique services, a business card design, and more. A dozen sponsors are lined up for the event so far. That's a lot of prizes!
Throughout the month, details and updates on the Tournament of Champions will be shared on the COTT website and featured within the Blog Alliance. To help spread the word, please grab the special Tournament Button (below) to display on your site. Then send a link to your page to: contactcott at gmail dot com to enter the special COTT Shout-About drawing. The drawing will take place during the first week of the Tournament and the winner will receive a Clash of the Titles mug.
Please also consider Tweeting or sharing this article on your Facebook wall.
(it only takes a second--just click the share button.)
Mark your calendars and spread the word. This BYOV (Bring Your Own Vote) party begins on October 10th!
* Michelle Massaro is the Assistant Editor of COTT and a writer of contemporary Christian fiction. Find her on Twitter @MLMassaro or Facebook.
Lilly Margolis and Cullen Burnside are about as opposite as two people could possibly be. He's the tortured, scarred, reclusive hero. She's the carefree, beautiful, unfettered flapper who drops into his world and turns it upside down.
While Lilly upends Cullen's life, he and his sweet, gracious, ever-more-senile mother set hers to rights. Cozily ensconced in their palatial home, she finds much more than a world of more wealth than she's ever dreamed of. She learns about family and faith…and what love really means.
When push comes to shove, it's a road trip across the country with a car full of varied personalities that brings some answers and clears the way for love to work its magic…if the war hero is brave enough, and the girl forgiving enough.
I loved this storyline. Fun, entertaining, touching, and absolutely believable. Add "well-written" to the mix, and Allison Pittman definitely hit one out of the ballpark with Lilies in Moonlight. Very highly recommended!
About the Author:
ALLISON PITTMANis the author of Stealing Home, The Bridegrooms, the Crossroads of Grace series, the Sister Wives series, and Saturdays with Stella. A former high school English teacher, she serves as director of the theater arts group at her church. Allison makes her home in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Learn more about the author at www.allisonpittman.com.
The other day my daughter orally lamented a previous conversation. “I always think of my best come-backs too late.” I know how she feels, although I’m probably on the other end of the spectrum—I often wish I hadn’t said X or Y once the conversation is done. At least in writing we can carefully craft our words, which should make it easier, right? Not necessarily. Writing effective, authentic, snappy dialogue is a skill that must be honed. And yet, when done well, it plunges the reader deep into the story and provides vivid characterization.
This last week two authors threw their “chatty-keyboards” into the Clash of the Titles' ring and although both excerpts were phenomenal, Sarah Sundin, author of A Memory Between Us, wowed readers with her printed banter.
Here’s a snippet of her COTT competing excerpt:
Jack made out Ruth’s shapely figure coming down Northgate Street. She couldn’t afford the new olive drab uniforms some of the nurses wore, but she sure looked smart in the dark blue jacket and medium blue skirt.
Jack stepped back around the corner. He unzipped his lightweight leather flight jacket, made sure his shirt collar was open, and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his olive drab trousers. Had to look casual.
He let Ruth pass, then fell in behind her. “‘One misty moisty morning.’”
Ruth looked over her shoulder and smiled.
“‘When cloudy was the weather, I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather. He began to compliment and I began to grin. How do you do? And how do you do? And how do you do again?’”
Amusement crinkled her eyes. “It’s afternoon.”
“Yeah, but it’s misty and moisty. Life in England has taught me what that means.”
“No misty moisty mornings in California?”
“In January, not August.” Jack proceeded down the flagstone sidewalk. “And look, you chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather.”
***
Gotta love that phrase, “Misty, moisty morning,” an example of great dialogue and fun alliteration!
The story it came from is about a determined soldier on a mission to win a woman’s heart:
Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man. As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways? From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.
Romance, tough, rugged men, and rich history make this novel a must read!
Want to nibble on a few more COTT winning excerpts and win great prizes in the process? Make sure to join us for the ultimate literary challenge where COTT winners go head to head in our Tournament of Champions on October 10th to November 4th! What better way to launch the Holiday season than with a stash of great books won in our tournament give-away?
And make sure to hop on over to Clash of the Titles to help determine our next literary champion!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Have you visited my newsletter, The Bookshelf? The September/October edition is live, and (along with some great information by and about other authors) it includes a fun short story to make you smile. Come on over!
Dialogue lets your characters be heard. It’s their voice; their conversation amongst themselves. It’s how they tell their story. Dialogue is talk. Discussion. Arguments. Jokes. Questions and answers. Foibles. Mystery. Mesmerism. It’s the muscle on the skeleton of the story.
The writer’s ability to conquer natural dialogue comes out of how well we know our characters. The reader’s ability to hear natural-sounding dialogue comes from the depth from which he is drawn into the story.
Using dialogue in a book helps readers see that characters spend time with each other for a reason, even if they’re stranded on desert islands. Tom Hanks had Wilson in the move Cast Away, after all. Dialogue is more than internal mutterings or their revelations to the reader. It needs to be heard, not just read. The words need to translate immediately to sound in the reader’s inner ear, and thus be natural, no matter the setting.
What can we deduce from these two small pieces of the excerpts in this Clash? Are you in time, in story, in the character’s emotions? Can you cheer for them? Figure out exactly what will happen next, or are you eager to turn the page for more?
“Would you mind if I walked with you?”
“As long as we’re not together.”
“All right.” He strode into the street and spread his arms as wide as his grin. “There. We’re not together.”
“Jack!” she cried…. “Get back up here.” Ruth motioned frantically. “Don’t make me fix you up again.”
OR
“Perhaps you cannot wait for the wedding night?”
Her brown eyes simmered. “Why you insufferable cad!” She raised her hand to slap him.
He caught it and lifted it to his lips for a kiss, eyeing her with delight.
She studied him then released a sigh. “You tease me, sir.” Snatching her hand from his, she stepped back. “But what would I expect from you?”
In a novel, talk must have a purpose. A conversation shouldn’t be talk for the sake of filling time or space. Readers have only until the last page to spend with people in a book, so writers must not waste time. Dialogue is meant to reveal something useful, important to the story line—passion, motive, or confession.
Why Snappy? Characters must speak true to their nature. While snappy it might not describe the personality, it implies action, tension, perhaps a slip of the tongue or a revelation that might even surprise the character, but certainly should surprise the reader.
Clash of the Titles hopes you are intrigued by these little snippets of story and want to find out more about the books and authors. Stop by and you’ll get that chance! Meet the authors and leave comments to enter the drawing for a free book.
Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and fifty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she has written dozens of feature newspaper stories, magazine articles, radio theater, and several inspirational novels to date. She is also the senior editor at Reflections in Hindsight.
