Not too late to join in the discussion - Pantser vs. Plotter

Yesterday was a whirlwind of a day for me. I forgot to post that I'm over at Ciara Knight's blog talking about Pantsers vs. Plotters. The post is still up and if you're inclined to head over there, I'll be sure to answer any comment you leave.

A Writer's Dream

I have been out of the social media circles this past month or so because I've taken on another job - Editor in Chief of Living Stations, of Living Faith-Fine Arts Apostolate. I am extremely happy with this new venture, even though, along with my editor/project manager responsibilities at Nelson Publishing & Marketing, I have very little brain energy left for much else at the end of the day. That being said, I haven't stopped writing, but it's a much slower process these days and honestly, I'm not always inspired. I am so very happy with Living Stations that I often think that that is what I'm supposed to be doing - not writing books for young readers.

But then something incredible happened. A 5th grade teacher read my book to her class and they LOVED it. A whole class. Like more than one kid - and girls loved it just as much as boys. I've had a few kids tell me they like the book - but most of them are children of my friends. With having two boys of my own, I know that kids will say what they think (and not necessarily what their parents want them to say), so I know that they're not trying to make me feel good when they tell me they like Saving Redwind.


But a whole class where neither of my kids attend? Way cool!

I found out about this because a wonderful author, Lisa Gail Green, tweeted about the blog post yesterday on Thanksgiving. With that wonderful little @KrisYankee tag, I saw the tweet and immediately headed over to Leslie Rose's blog. I was stunned. And what was so cool was that Leslie posted questions/comments from the kids. I had a blast answering them!

Later last night, after my belly was stuffed with turkey, squash, 7-layer salad, and pretzel jello (YUM), my agent called. Crazy. She should be spending time with her family and taking a much needed break. But no. She called because she'd been thinking about me for the past week, especially after an email of me alluding to my happiness with my current job situation and speculating if this was my real calling. She wanted to make sure that I understood the potential impact of my work on readers. That I needed to keep "hanging on" and to keep writing. It was wonderful to hear her voice and her words of encouragement.

So, what does all of this mean? Book contracts are awesome, and I hope that someday I will have one. But writing is such a personal activity. We pour our hearts and souls into the words and are often met with rejection after rejection. Saving Redwind wasn't bought by a publisher. I only put it out there through Createspace/Smashwords because my agent wanted that story available to readers. I was hesitant to self-publish. If I hadn't taken that leap, I wouldn't have touched the lives of that 5th grade class.

And that's a writer's dream - to touch the reader and maybe make some sort of impact, even if it's just that they want to read more.


Thanks to Leslie Rose's 5th grade class. You guys are A.W.E.S.O.M.E.!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love this image and wanted to share. I hope and pray that you will have a wonderful and safe holiday with people who you love, and who love you. The holiday season can be especially difficult for some, in a variety of ways. Take a moment to say a prayer for those you know and those you don't. Tell someone why you're grateful for them being in your life. And, remember not to eat too much!

Monday (11/28), I'll be a guest blogger over at Ciara Knight's blog. I'm hoping you'll stop by and say hello.

Peace!

Guest Post - Susan Kaye Quinn - Her new book is out TODAY!!

Meet Rafael Lobos Santos, Mindreader

by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)

In my new young adult paranormal/SF novel Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy), everyone reads minds, except one girl. 

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others.  Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

 For this guest post, I went undercover as a regular mindreader working for the school’s morning tru-cast to interview Rafael Lobos Santos, a mindreading character in Open Minds (Note: I’m not this evil in real life; I just like to torment my characters).

Me: Raf, thanks for agreeing to do this interview with me!

Raf: (*tunes out stray thoughts from other students in the after school club meeting*) Sure. But I don't know why you want to interview me.

Me: Are you kidding? You were the rage of the morning tru-casts all last year: Sophomore Soccer Kicker Brings State Trophy To Hometown!

Raf: (*blushes*) Yeah, well, it was a team effort.

Me: But you were the star! Tell me, have you been working on some new strategies over the summer? Got some more synchronized plays like you sprung during the Championship Game?

Raf: (*grins*) Well, I did spend most of the summer at camp with the New Metro Flyers. It was very mesh. (*grin fades*) Although I missed being at home, you know? I'm really a homebody kind of guy.

Two girls cast daring looks at Raf and their mental admirations whisper by.

Me: Looks like you're not the only one glad you're back. So, do you have a favorite among your adoring fans?

Raf: What do you mean?

Me: Oh, come on! Inquiring minds want to know! Soccer superstar like you, but no girlfriend? Everyone's dying to know if you found someone while you were away for the summer! Or are you still on the market?

Raf: (*sighs*) I don't have a girlfriend.

Me: Well, that won’t last long. (*Raf doesn’t have a girlfriend, Raf doesn’t have a girlfriend echoes through the reader minds in the room.) So, is there any hope for your many fans? Anyone in particular you'd like to share more than just thoughts with?

Raf: (*scowls*) Not at the moment.

Me: No? Rumor has it that you've got eyes for that zero ...

Raf: Hey! Don't call her that ...

Me: Ah, you know who I mean. Sorry. It's just ... how can you trust someone like that, much less think about touching her? I mean, you have no idea what she's thinking. She could be plotting your murder or secretly torturing kittens.

Raf: (*clenches jaw*) Stop it.

Me: Oh, come on! Everyone's thinking it. Maybe the soccer hero isn’t quite so heroic. Maybe he likes girls who haven't gone through the change ...

Raf: This interview is over.

Me: Does that mean you don't like her? Can I tru-quote you on that?

Raf: (*walks away*)

***

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of Raf’s (and Kira’s) world with you. To find out more, you can check out the first chapter of Open Minds.

*********************

See more guest posts about Open Minds at the Virtual Launch Party!

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) by Susan Kaye Quinn is available for $2.99 in e-book (Amazon US (also UK, France and Germany), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords) and $9.99 in print (Amazon, Createspace, also autographed copies available from the author).

****************************************************************************************

PRIZES!

Susan Kaye Quinn is giving away an Open Books/Open Minds t-shirt, mug, and some fun wristbands to celebrate the Virtual Launch Party of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)! (Check out the prizes here.)

Three ways to enter (you can have multiple entries):

1)      Leave a comment here or at the Virtual Launch Party post

2)      Tweet (with tag #keepingOPENMINDS)

Example: When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. #keepingOPENMINDS @susankayequinn #SF #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds

Example: Celebrate the launch of OPEN MINDS by @susankayequinn #keepingOPENMINDS #SciFi #paranormal #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds

3)     Facebook (tag @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn)

Example: Celebrate the launch of paranormal/SF novel OPEN MINDS by @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn for a chance to win Open Books/Open Minds prizes! http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds

**********************************************************************************************************************