Category Archives: Writing

Writing News

I didn’t intend to time it this way, but this past weekend I had blogs published at the Huffington Post and Scary Mommy.  They’re original pieces, so you can’t read them here, but I’ve provided links below.

A few weeks ago, I had an incident with Barrett in a California Pizza Kitchen, while on our February mini-road trip.   I have petty thick skin when it comes to Bear and our escapade at CPK wasn’t my first time at this particular rodeo, but two things made it  unique for me.   The first was the way the restaurant manger handled our situation that night.  The second was how similar the event was to an article I’d read at the Huffington Post a few weeks ago, titled To the Woman and Child Who Sat at Table 9.  I decided to write about it and submit our story.  Eleven months after my first try, I finally got a piece posted at the Huffington Post.  Yay!  Overall, the response has been positive, but as of yesterday, I received my first (published) negative response to my writing – so I’ve arrived!  Surprisingly, I had a good reaction –  I just laughed at the snide comment.  Different strokes…

Read the article here:

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To the Manager at California Pizza Kitchen

 I’ve also written an Atlanta Travel Guide for the website, Scary Mommy.  The guides at Scary Mommy focus on things to do with your kids.  It was hard to limit it to ten places (as I was asked to do), so I emailed my girls for input.  Thank you for all the feedback.  You can read the list at Scary Mommy.

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I also posted my for blog at the Family Legacy Center (which was featured here last week).  I happy to announce I’ve been asked back, and will be featured there monthly – writing about the topic of legacy, which is very important to me.

FLC website header

Thanks for all the support and encouragement!  I’m grateful to ALL of you!

 

Author Interview: Samantha March

You’re my first interview and I’m so excited to tap my inner Barbara Walters!   Full disclosure for my readers, Samantha March is my cyber boss, as I’m a contributing reviewer for her book blog, Chick Lit Plus.  In addition to writing reviews, she’s given me the opportunity to do other writing as well for new book releases and various entertainment topics.  I’m so grateful.  I was already duly impressed by how she managed her blog, ran her publishing company, and navigated social media  – all while planning a wedding.   I only recently learned that she also has another full time job.  I am now in awe, dumbfounded actually, of her time management skills.  For my first question, I was going to ask her how she found the time to do everything, but she addressed that in yesterday’s guest blog.  Samantha is celebrating the first birthday of her book, The Green Ticket, which was published December 3rd, 2012.  I read the book last week and loved it.  It made me nostalgic for my college days.

 

1)      You’re a very prolific reader and I assume most of the reading you do is for CLP reviews and submissions to Marching Ink.   I know I sometimes get overwhelmed with my have-to-read pile, and look longing to my want-to-read pile.  Do you ever get to read for pleasure?

I really don’t. All the books I read are indeed for Chick Lit Plus, CLP Blog Tours, or Marching Ink. I sometimes feel guilty when I say I don’t read for pleasure, because I enjoy reading so much. And I do get to choose which books I review and don’t review for my sites, so it’s not as if I’m reading books that I don’t have an interest in.

2)      What was your inspiration for The Green TicketThe-Green-Ticket (2)

My college experience. I had such a great group of girlfriends and I really wanted to capture our dynamic. I also wanted something to be dramatic when it came to a professional setting, because I have been in Alex’s shoes in a few different situations that she finds herself in.

3)      What’s your dream cast for The Green Ticket, if it were made into a movie?

I love Emma Stone for Alex, and maybe Zach Efron for Henry.

4)      What motivated you to start your own publishing company?  Did you ever try to traditional publishing route?

I went to college for business and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and I know books and publishing really well. It seemed like a natural career choice. I did query agents the traditional way in the beginning (to three agents exactly) just to make sure I gave it a try, but my heart was really set on starting my own business.

5)      Given the multiple professional hats you wear, how long does it take for you to write a manuscript?

It takes me about a year. With my third book (currently written, in the cover design stage) it actually took me a little less because I stayed so disciplined and gave myself writing goals each day.

6)      Are you working on you next book?  If so, any hints as to what it’s about?

I am! The book is written and edited, and we are just starting the cover design work. The story is about a friendship between two women that looks perfect from the outside but everything isn’t as it seems….

7)      I only stumbled upon the world of book blogging about a year and a half ago, and you’ve been doing this for a while.  How did Chick Lit Plus come to be?

I started Chick Lit Plus to help me gain exposure in the writing community, because being an author was my goal. I have made so many valuable connections, and I truly credit CLP for my success.

8)      Who are your writing crushes?

Oh boy. Emily Giffin, Jennifer Lancaster, Meredith Schorr and so many more. I add new ones each week!

9)      Do you remember the book you read that inspired you to become a writer?

I wanted to be a writer since I was 9, but I told myself to get a “real” degree before pursuing what I thought was a fantasy. It was after reading “Something Borrowed” by Emily Giffin in 2009 that really lit the fire for me again.

10)   What was you major in school?

I majored in Travel and Tourism for my Associates Degree and Business for my Bachelors.

11)   Any advice for writers starting out?

Write every day. You will hear this from so many authors, but it’s the truth. If you don’t write your words, no one else will.

12)   You are in the unique position of being a book reviewer and a published author.  How do you feel about negative reviews, from both perspectives?

It can be tough. Negative reviews aren’t fun to write or receive. I like to call my negative reviews that I write “critiqued reviews.” I try not to focus on the negative, but give some advice on areas that I think could use improvement, and will also add a positive comment in there as well. Being an author, nothing is worse that a review that bashes you, your book, or your intellect (which I’ve seen often in the book world), or my least favorite – a two line review just saying how someone hates the book but gives no reasoning as to why. I think an author would love to know areas to improve, not just that you disliked a book.

13)   What are your three favorite books of all time?

Kristy’s Great Idea – Ann M Martin, Something Borrowed – Emily Giffin, and I feel like my third choice would change every week if I had to narrow it down!

14)   Do you read any nonfiction?

Not so much.

15)   E-book or paper book?

As much as I love paperbacks, I prefer to read on eBooks because it’s more convenient for me and the number of books I read a week is pretty high.

16)   Favorite book store?

I do like Barnes & Noble, I think because it’s so big. I just want to get lost in it.

17)   Favorite place to read?

My couch – with my new puppy in my lap.

18)   Name a book that everyone loved and you were just blah about.

Fifty Shades of Grey. All my friends just rave about it. I’ll admit – I haven’t read the whole thing. I read the synopsis and skimmed through the book and knew it wasn’t for me.

19)   Do you have a writing ritual?

Yes, I write in the mornings and follow my word count goal I give myself.

20)   As a publisher, were do you see the industry in five years?

That is so tough to answer. Each publishing plan Marching Ink has for books has changed significantly each time, and we’ve only been around since 2011. Something new is constantly popping up, and I just think it’s important to keep adapting and marching forward with the change – like that word play? 😉

Guest Post: Samantha March author of The Green Ticket

Balancing being a book blogger and author

By Samantha March

Sometimes being both a blogger and an author can be challenging. One of the biggest hurdles is honestly time. I read around five books a week, and all of them are for reviews on Chick Lit Plus. I’m often staying up late into the night finishing a book so I can get my review written and posted for the following day. My to-read pile is stacked crazy high, and when I tell people those are the books I need to read and review, the question I typically get asked is, “When do you have the time?” Add that in to my full-time job, my writing schedule, being an editor and a publisher (not to mention wife and mother of 9 week old puppy) and sometimes that answer isn’t the easiest. Fortunately, I love what I do, and that makes working feel like … not working. I enjoy it, and not everyone can say that about their jobs.

On the flip side, I think there are advantages of being a blogger and a writer as well. Being a reviewer forces me to read, read, read (though I know I would do this anyway, I love books!) and really think about the book. I dissect the characters and the plot and the writing and the editing, and I think that makes me a better writer. When I see what works and what doesn’t helps me when I come back to my manuscript. Constantly reading means my brain in constantly churning, thinking of new scenarios and characters and plot points.

And of course, being both a book blogger and author means I’m a part of two very special communities. The women that I have met in the four years since I started Chick Lit Plus and ventured into writing are really amazing. Whenever I need encouragement, a piece of advice, or just someone to talk to who knows the challenges of what we do, I can go to my computer and send an email or a tweet. Sometimes balancing the two roles can be challenging, but I have found it worth it every day.

Thanks Samantha!  Be sure to check tomorrow – I’ll be conducting my first cyber interview with Samantha.

 

Say “hi” to Samantha below , in the comments section.  Tell us how you do it all?  Let me know if you’ve read the green ticket!

 

My second (virtual) child has turned one! Right before Christmas last year, I was giving myself a wonderful gift in publishing my second title, 14 months after the first. The-Green-Ticket (2)It was such a great feeling because after publishing Destined to Fail, the questions were constantly asked: “When’s the next book coming? Are you writing a second book? How much longer until we can read something from you again?” So. Much. Pressure. I learned a lot about publishing in general from the first book, and it was much smoother the second time around – I had formatters and my cover designer lined up well in advance, I had a marketing plan in place, and I now had readers who actually wanted to read my next book. Quite amazing. So a year has passed and I’ve been so thankful for all the reviews, tweets, emails, and comments on The Green Ticket. I’m happy to be celebrating this occasion on your blog, and the support you and so many others have given me not only with this book, but my first, my upcoming third, and Chick Lit Plus and Marching Ink in general is so incredible. Thank you!  Continue reading Guest Post: Samantha March author of The Green Ticket

Class Assignment: What is home for you?

This fall I’ve been taking a writing class and I LOVE it.  It’s kept me busy, but a good busy.   With this class, my other writing commitments to My Forsyth Magazine and Chick Lit Plus blog along with taking care of my family, I’ve found it difficult to find the time to write all the blogs I want to for the Latchkey Mom!  I want to keep posting things other than book reviews, so I thought it might be cool to share some of my class writing assignments.  Some of the writing exercises are pretty interesting and I love the book we use for practice.  I have flagged and highlighted the heck out of it. 035 Most of the exercises are ten minute drills to get the brain working, and they’re supposed to be raw:  just whatever comes to mind on a given topic – “Ten minutes, go.”  I’ve been surprised how easy it comes, when I’m not over thinking it.  I believe many of my practice writings will make excellent blog topics, so I’m going to cheat and periodically post some.  This first one is about what home means to me.  I hope you enjoy.

What is home for you?

People have said, “Home is what defines us.”  If that’s the case, I think my definition is very long and complicated.  In the literal sense, I think of home as where I live now – the four walls, which I decorated with love that encompasses the people who I love most in this world.  Home should evoke a peace, exhale a breath.  There should be familiar smells, laughter and lots of comfortable places to rest.  It should be the place you run to when you’re happy and when you’re sad.  You should miss it when you’re gone.  For me, my home is all of this and more.  It is a place where I can just be me.

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Home also makes me think of where I was born Continue reading Class Assignment: What is home for you?