Tell Us About Yourself!
It’s time once again for me to learn more about you. To the right in the sidebar, there are FIVE questions. Please answer each one as accurately as you can by clicking in the bubble.
Then in the comments, tell us either:
–Something interesting about your current work in progress (WIP); or
–Something interesting about yourself.
I look forward to getting to know you! Thanks and have a great weekend…
© 2011 Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent
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I seldom comment, however i did a few searching and wound up here Tell Us About Yourself! | Rachelle Gardner. And I actually do have some questions for you if you usually do not mind. Is it only me or does it look like some of these remarks appear as if they are written by brain dead people? 😛 And, if you are posting on additional online sites, I would like to follow everything new you have to post. Could you make a list of every one of all your social sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
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There is nothing interesting about my job i work in a bank and is very boring. And about me I m just a little crazy 🙂
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I am currently at the end of a month retreat, hiding from my real job, my family, and my friends as I try to get started on my memoir. The time alone has helped me lose ten pounds and given me about 30,000 words.
You’re doing a great job Rachelle. So here’s mine–setting up a new home when I find someone to build my house.
>What fun reading the comments.
Something interesting about me: I tap dance with an award-winning group of ladies and all of us are in our 50's, 60's, or 70's. I'm on the young end. We perform at county fairs, senior living centers, and even participate in a recital once a year. This is my "get your butt out of the chair" activity and I love it!
>As for something interesting, I can't keep myself from reading the last page of a book first. I have had this habit for as long as I can remember.
>I recently completed a Christian fiction manuscript targeted to women around my age (33) and up. Knee deep in the query process, I was happy to stumble onto this blog a couple of weeks ago! Then, I read the blog for that day and worked my way back through time realizing I had mountains to learn about seeing a manuscript through to published fruition. Thank you for all of the valuable information you post here for those like me, desperate for learning material!
>Something interesting….well, I'm working on setting up a program to get every church in my city to have at least one person read a book to a child every week.
>I'm currently working on a contemporary suspense novel:
Recently widowed Kate McArthur doggedly fights to free Luke, her only son, from the life sentence mandated for an unspeakable crime. But now both Kate and Luke are being menaced by a murderous conspiracy that leads from Luke's corrupt prison guards all the way up to the governor's office. In saving her, Luke shatters his mother's world. Can Kate pick up the pieces of her own life in time to save his?
The story has a few "gritty" scenes to create a threatening atmosphere, but focuses primarily on the mother-son relationship and the conspiracy.
>Something interesting about my WIP, called Oh Boyfriend, Where Art Thou?
Kinsey Walden is a college sophomore determined to find a boyfriend. In order to do so, she logs onto timelessrelationships.com and begins trying to help God set her up with the perfect soulmate!
>I've been writing a children's fantasy for about five years now: Chelsea Always lives in a world of rejection. A young girl of ten, she has a deformed foot and is painfully withdrawn. At the death of her grandmother, she and her family move to their grandfather’s farm to care for him and his land where a dark mystery is awakened. Compelled to search for her younger brother who is taken in the night by a man with eight legs, she unravels the strands of her grandparent’s past in an ancient world just beneath the soil, being partly transformed herself into a spider. Can Chelsea save her brother from this dark world inhabited by humans and half-human creatures? What is the nineteenth secret that may be the only answer to saving this ancient world torn apart by prejudice and hate?
>Some interesting things about the novel I just finished… 1.) It's a work inspired by the death of the person who, in life, was convinced I hung the moon. 2.)There's a scene about a dead cat in a purse in church. 3.) My husband suggested I enter it into the Women of Faith/Westbow Press contest a few months ago, and it made the top 30.
Something interesting about me… Last year, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That diagnosis set into motion a series of events to follow, ultimately ending in the discovery of my biological father (whom I didn't know was missing!), the revelation of his death, and the acceptance into a family I never knew existed. (It was quite the year. To say the least.)
>My WIP is YA and centers around a young girl that finds out that she is a descendent of the wizard Merlin. I've read a lot of YA and haven't read one that really deals with Merlin in a present day sense.
About me, I taught 8th graders English for five years, but resigned in December to stay at home with my two kids and focus on writing.
>I'm a traditionally published author of 2 books. I have 6 chickens, 4 kids, and one husband. I love dark chocolate and I hate Skittles. I'm excited because my current WIP is done and as soon as I quit revising it, I'll submit it to my publisher! 🙂
>Previous Web "research" gave me the impression that I should attempt to sell my first nonfiction without an agent and then seek agent after that success. I am not young and not a full-time, writing-career-oriented writer (though I am serious about the work), so I am perhaps not ideal "agent fodder", so to speak.
On the other hand, I am getting discouraged trying to find likely publisher prospects for my specialized non-fiction WIP. You are quite encouraging; so much so that I am tempted to try querying agents. Is it legitimate to try marketing to agents after having sent a couple of queries out, directly to publishers?
Thanks for your time and attention!
>(Ok, Keli Gwyn distracted me with the whack-a-mole. Ha! What is that??)I want to toss aside all my required reading right now to read Richard Mabry's woman-in-the-trunk story (hurry up, Doc.) And don't let Sharon Lavy fool you–her kindness and compassion trump that deep introversion.
I'm writing contemporary romance, but I feed on historical romance and long to write that, but I never feel worthy enough! (Last book–The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund–ADORED it.)
My latest WIP:
What happens when a physician’s assistant/sky diver has to trust the man on the opposite side of a lawsuit with not only her life in the air, but with her heart?
I don't know if this is interesting about me, but I once traveled with friends who have amazing tales of overcoming danger–they escaped over the mountains in the fall of the last Shah of Iran (because their families were friends of the Shah.) And I competed in international trapshoots, and know how to interchange my barrels on my 12-gauge competition grade Perazzi trap shotgun.
So many interesting people. You sure know how to bring everyone out! (And I voted in your polls.)
>Something interesting: I have a brownie ministry. (And God forced me to find my kitchen, and the oven in this pursuit, since I don't bake, cook or use the microwave.)
Current WIP: "My Purple Friends -Things I Learned in Jail, from teaching ladies (they wear purple jump suits) who are in recovery, have spent the past two years with them, each Sunday morning. They have taught me…about compassion. acceptance, dreams, love, friendship. A book of research/notes/stories/helps for the bruised, battered, and broken woman. Yes, so far that would be most of us at some point. Love my ladies!! They're my best friends.
>I am writing and reflecting on my work in Jacmel, Haiti.
>I am writing and reflecting on my work in Jacmel, Haiti.
>I have one completed manuscript, a prequel and work of women's fiction. The main characters are a banker, a cop (possibly a bad one), a school counselor who is codependent and has deadbeat hippie parents, a wedding planner, who deals with a racist, overbearing mother of the bride, and finally, a NY socialite turned chef who is woefully addicted to the Internet.
I'm over one-third finished with the sequel and nearly half finished with a second novel, a romantic suspense, set on a college campus.
I also write children's picture books and have a publisher interested in publishing two of them. I'm working with the illustrator now!
I'm published in a collection of six-word memoirs by celebrities, famous and aspiring writers. Title: IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT. Publisher: Harper Perennial.
I've had several poems and haikus published online as well and am also published in a regional anthology, ECHOES OF THE OZARKS.
Updating my blog weekly is another challenge. Love your blog, Rachelle, and all your great tips!
Beth Carter
http://www.banterwithbeth.blogspot.com
>Guess I shouldn't have apologized for my late post. Since a ton of people posted after me!
I see a lot of those other late people are from overseas–Australia, South Africa, Holland, etc.
That's my excuse! I'm in Egypt–have to be, to revise my ancient Egypt novel.
Your blog has a worldwide following!
>My WIP is about a blind police psychologist that believes that she saw her would-be killer and fights to salvage her life and possibly her sight. In the process she struggles with becoming a Christian and a possible new love interest. It is a Christian thriller.
>I scour the internet for free writing resources and post them on my blog for others.
My WIP is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, set in medieval Croatia.
~Debbie
>My WIP is about a woman who wishes for something different and gets it. Along the way, she finds new ways to look at life and the people she loves and who love her.
>Hi, I'm Rosie and I stare at my third draft and whimper a lot.
Okay, interesting thing, um…
I love taking monsters and giving them the same day to day issues as people. Right now I'm thinking about sea monsters, unco-operative sacrifices and all the places crabs can get when you sleep for 100 years at a time.
My writing group forbears.
>I am the single father of four children and am a feature writer for the local newspaper. Recently, I completed my first book which is a nonfiction narrative about a two year period in the life of our family during which my wife was diagnosed with colon cancer and subsequently passed away. I appreciate your blog. It has been immensely helpful to me and has really opened my eyes to the world of agent-dom. I also get a kick out reading some of the comments. Such sensitive and serious people sometimes… 🙂 thanks.
>I am a recently unblocked writer and am having a blast with the entire creative process – from learning the craft to exploring the business side of things. Thank you for your interest in us, your readers, and for your wisdom, brevity and encouragement.
I am editing my first novel. In THE ROCKS CRY OUT, I’m tackling the idea that when evil is ignored, it flourishes. Erica is a mother who doesn’t want to acknowledge the possibility that Carrie, her ten-year-old daughter, is being molested. Only when Carrie goes missing does Erica face the truth. What comes to light is far worse than Erica could have ever imagined, and because of her willful naiveté, she is culpable.
>How intriguing! I've written 12 novels, wrote some articles/testimonies for a "Good News" paper, love motorsport and am a dressmaker. Call me Diverse, sweetie. I dislike FB but am considering twitter. Fav quote today: "Those who know me better, know better". Cheque's in the mail if someone can tell me who said that (I know who)! And Rachelle, chocolate and wine 2U! God bless you, you legend 🙂
>Hi. I always read your blog, but rarely comment because so many others do. I figure you wouldn't have time to read them all.
My first novel is presently with my agent. It's a YA fantasy, the first in a series.
It's about Ariel who is on a rescue mission in a hidden layer of reality where demons who feed on fear are hunting her. An old man trains her to locate and unleash her inner power and a young Warrior captures her heart.
>I'm enamored of the events, the people and the lifestyle cultural changes caused by "progress" and politics in the 20th century. My WIP, set in the WWII era, was originally a single novel loosely based on my mother's life. My characters demanded it become the second in a trilogy. So I have begun writing the first in the series simultaneously.
>Maybe not so much interesting as embarrassing. I am a fifty-some years young writer who is just now learning the ropes on this bloggie thing.
You have to understand something here. I am still the butt of jokes within the family after asking what a "Wii" was a few years back. Oh, and I am still convinced a "laptop" is a device used by children around the Christmas season, usually in conjuntion with big guys in red suits.
Hence, my earlier post, or at least the link to my profile from it, is lost. So forget the plea for more hours. All donations of on-line aptitude can now be forwarded to the re-established Bryce Daniels Preservation Society.
Thanks for the great topic, Rachelle. A LOT of interesting posts and people on here. My best to all.
>Fun fact about my WIP: It is medievel times and the story of clumsy character who is the key to her people's survival ~ and all because of the song she carries in her heart.
Fun fact about me: I'm a college student who often writes after the sun has bedded for the night.
>Just got back from a week-long vacation and I'm getting caught up on my blog reading!
My WIP is a (more or less completed) memoir about growing up all over the world with my missionary parents. By my sixteenth birthday, I'd been to over twenty countries. So it's about the ups and downs, the perpetual state of culture shock, and the gift that I (eventually) realized I'd been given — that I can honestly say my parents gave me the world. 🙂
>My work in progress is a MG historical novel set in the 60s in the south. The MC, a ten-year-old white girl, hates change and questions that are left unanswered. Over the course of the year, she battles in her own way a bully, the prejudice she observes around her, and the crumbling infrastructure of her family. She learns to accept change in her life and that some questions just don't have answers. She processes the year in her red journal, where she records her questions, observations, and poetry. It's the writing,ultimately,that gets her through.
>I'm writing a Christian women's fiction piece called Raining Toward Heaven: "When Rowen wished she could go back in time before her marriage started falling apart, she never thought she'd get her wish."
>Something interesting about myself…that medication won’t help?
Well, somehow ten years ago I tumbled into owning a small coffeehouse that came with a collection of irregular regulars. And wouldn’t you guess that the one customer whose life was most foreign to mine is now my dearest friend;and she is dying. Sixteen months ago she asked me to help her write the words she needs to say to her children and grandchildren, to her friends and her frinemies.
>I've been writing marketing materials and magazine articles for years, but I've been getting my feet wet with my first (attempt at) fiction over the last nine months or so.
My WIP is a dystopian fantasy that follows a mythical creature through an quest to retrieve a soul from the underworld…and the power struggle between the gods, humans, and other beings of this world. I'm about a third of the way into my first draft.
>I have written the first draft of my supernatural novel, but can’t seem to get into the “re-write” stage. I also have plans to start a memoir entitled “Summers in St. Vincent”.
>This afternoon I finished a novel I’ve been working on, on and off, between other books, for around seven years. Which is why I’m messing about on blogs now!
>I am from a very small country (Holland) and decided to write in a language (English) that is not my own so as to reach a nation (the USA) that influences the world!Needless to say I like a good challenge 🙂
>Something interesting about my current WIP? Hmm, I make an alien robot invasion an intergalactic type of cow tipping.
>Hellooo, Zita Consani here from Cape Town, child of Jesus.i like the spank in your blog; we writers need to be spanked into reality so keep up the good hard work, which it surely must be for U, Rachelle.My w i p(s) are: 1. Memoir in Four Movements (Preludes, Dadaland, Epiphanies, Fleur-de-Lis). I have had an extraordinary, cataclysmic journey that began with childhood trauma, segued into adolescent dysfunction; then spiritual visions culminating in radical conversion & restoration. written in 3rd person, no Christianese.2. Helen and Her Dolls: Women’s Fiction. Takes place in Cape Town, SA. Helen, gauche daughter of wealthy, ex-opera singer (Olivia) finds herself incarcerated in psychiatric clinic after attempting to slip away like Ophelia in order to escape life, herself and accusations of child molestation from her place of work, a child-care centre.Dat’s all for now, folks!
>My WIP is an historical fiction novel set in the 1930’s during the building of the Hoover Dam. I’m on edit number 1,245,754 and should be ready to “put it out there” soon!
>I’m an American married to an Aussie living in Adelaide, South Australia. My new thriller, The Identity Factor, was just released as an eBook on Amazon by my US publisher, Comfort Publishing, who will launch my newest thriller, Department Thirteen, at the University of Houston Clear Lake on September 15, sponsored in part by Qantas Airways, Jacob’s Creek wine, and Jana Foods. I will then drive umpteen thousand miles across the US promoting the book and hope to meet some of you along the way for a quick G’day or a glass of Aussie wine. More info on my website: http://www.jameshoustonturner.com.
>@Chemist Ken: I found it difficult to switch from writing fan fiction to writing original fiction, because my ideas so thoroughly represented the stories I read. I find it more useful to use details instead of things I know in my own writing. But that’s just my personal experience…
>This is totally awesome! : D I think I’ll do both of the suggestions…Something interesting about my current WIP? Well, that there’s three of them. Ha! Actually, I’d say that I’M SORRY is the almost-publication-ready one, so something interesting about that is I didn’t know who the narrator was when I started writing it — unlike the protagonist for that one, which I knew the entire background for beforehand.Something interesting about yourself? I like to paragraph role-play my characters before writing novels with them. That way, I know crucial information about them before I start a book. More often, though, I end up knowing a lot about a side or secondary character and the book forms around them, told from the perspective of a previously unknown narrator.
>Wow, what fascinating people read this blog. There are so many WIPs I’d be interested in reading!Something interesting about my WIP. My protagonist is inheriting $8 million dollars and she doesn’t want it. Something interesting about me: I used to teach karate to children and now that I am looking for a karate school for my daughter, none of them are good enough (and my instructor lives 2 hours away so he can’t do it)! Ha!
>My first book is being published by Bethany House next spring. Sixty Acres and a Bride is a historical romance set in Texas, 1878.Love this blog. It’s a daily read.Thanks, Rachelle!
>Longtime lurker here. I suppose my WIP could be summarized as Girl loves Vampire. Girl loses Vampire. Girl gets messed up with Very Bad Human. Girl gets Vampire back. Only funny. Because I can’t write much of anything that hasn’t got that tinge of humor. Oh, and interesting thing about me? On my father’s side I am distantly related to Robert E. Lee. And on my mother’s side, I’m related to U.S. Grant. No wonder I’m so deeply screwed up.
>Hello Rachelle,I am tickled that you asked for an introduction – although I cannot imagine in your busy day you can read all those interesting comments above.I have been reading your posts everyday – link from my blog – for months now and have never had the courage to speak out.I am a pastor’s wife, mother of three teenagers and a business owner. Then somewhere along the busy road, the Lord in a most mysterious way impressed on me to start writing.The interesting thing about me I guess would be that I never planned, dreamed or thought about being a writer. Instead I did it out of reluctant obedience to the Lord’s calling one year ago. Since then I have written five novels and mapped out in extensive detail twenty-six more. I cannot type fast enough to keep up with His inspiration. Obedience to His calling has turned into a full-time job. I haven’t had the courage to try to query yet. I am actually afraid to become published. My sixth novel – or WIP is about a young and lonely widow who embarks on a trip to Paris. She is pulled into a dangerous situation after she starts receiving visions from God about the immediate future. God wants to use her to save a man’s life. This is a love story about how God uses our fears to encourage us to take a risk on Him. This story is being written on a blog on-line with a new page posted every two days. My husband said if I ever decide to pursue publication I will need an internet presence. So here I am.Thank you for the kindness that is so evident in your posts. I hear your love of writers, stories and dreams come through nearly every time you post. (That is not a common thread in other agent’s blogs.)Thank you to everyone else who posted before me. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you.
>Something interesting about me: I love a really gritty joke, but can’t tell them because I blush :)But more interesting: I just had my first short story publication, In Bewildering Stories; have received an e-mail that one of my other stories has been accepted in an anthology; I have a completed women’s fiction trilogy, though the last two novels are completely unedited while querying the first; and have started an epic fantasy that will probably.My current projects are a short story for Naked Girls Reading contest, and a twisted Sleeping Beauty fairy tale that uses cyborgs and cryogenics for the story line.I hope you’re having a good weekend Rachelle :)…….dhole
>Something interesting about my WIP.. hmm.. I have been working on it for over 10 years…it has evolved so much I hardly recognize anything from the first few years in it anywhere. Great idea posting the questions! This is kinda fun reading all these comments!
>I love researching and writing historical novels most, but my current WIP has a fantasy bent. If we look close enough, life does have certain fantastical elements, doesn’t it? Or we sense that it can.
>I recently finished my first mystery novel and have two rejection letters under my belt. Guess I’m paying my dues. While waiting to hear back from more agents, I’m working on the outline for my second novel in the same series. I’m totally in love with my heroine. She has the perfect mixture of the rough edges needed to make a kick butt detective and the inner turmoil needed to engage the reader’s empathy. Creating the character was a fine line that I enjoyed walking.
>Interesting, huh? Well I’ll do my best.My WIP is a YA urban fantasy with a dual narrative. It’s in the last stages of editing and is book one in a trilogy. I’m hoping to add character pictures to the ends of each chapter. One of the necessities in my house is Frank’s Redhot hot sauce. I love the stuff and even have a little bottle just for my lunch box :3
>My current WIP is a Fantasy/GLBT story, which, judging from my agent searches so far, is a pretty rare genre combination.I’m not sure if this is good or bad yet.
>My first novel, the WIP, was written organically (sounds better to me than seat of your pants) during a NANO, before I knew anything. The first 50 pages have changed so many times in the last year. Recently, I realized I have the wrong protagonist. Another major rewrite. While the theme and direction won’t change, the wording will….
>I went to film school and have written a few screenplays, but my WIP is my first novel. I’m about 70% of the way through, and writing the first draft has been verrry slow. I hope to speed things up when I’m ready to revise. Revisions are much easier for me. It’s speculative fiction, i.e. ‘light’ sci fi.
>Hi, my name is Edie. I do mostly freelance writing for now. I have many nonfiction articles on inforbarrel and ehow. Demand Studios has bought a few of my articles as well. I maintain three blogs, two websites and three Facebook community pages. I am in the process of writing a self-help style book, which is taking a while because I am a full time student at Penn State and a mother of three. I am studying Psychology at PSU. I paint abstract art and other weird stuff when the mood strikes me. I have poked around in writing fiction (horror mostly) and I have completed a novella that has never left my home. I am a nonfiction writer at heart. One might coin me as an over- achiever I prefer to call myself motivated. :)Three random things that I love:Green Peppers, Stationary andSocks
>WIP: I have two. Fiction: a female MMA fighter goes with her ex husband to rescue his new fiance from a Mexican cartel. Creative Non-Fiction: How to be brilliant in college.About me: I’m a Trinidadian student in the U.S. studying health and fitness and living art.I journey through life fully, creatively, intuitively and out loud. I am working toward immortality.
>My WIP is about how being an all natural bodybuilding figure competitor has nothing to do with walking on the stage in a bikini, but EVERYTHING to do with who you are. I have no idea what form it will take, all I know is that I am a former fat girl that has become lean in her mind and heart, as well as her body.I love blogging and inspiring women to fully be who they have been created to be…and sometimes that means standing on a stage in a bedazzled bikini and 5 inch clear heels.
>In my WIP, everybody is a God. A person could be the Goddess of Love, or the God of Des Moines, or the Goddess of Magenta. For something to exist, a person must exist with it.An interesting thing about myself? I’m a social worker who works with people with serious and persistent mental illness. Mental illness almost always finds its way into my WIPs because mental health is a passion of mine.
>My WIP is the fiction story of a young woman who gives up her dreams to work in Haiti and is there when the earthquake strikes. She loses a loved one and returns back to life in a America questioning the goodness of God. Will the earthquake shake even the most rooted faith?Thank you for all your posts. I learn new things every time I read and they have helped as I delve into the publishing industry.
>The UNUSUAL thing about my novel/series is that God laid it on my heart over 20 years ago and I began my research way before the web was in every home and history and research material was so easily obtained. I write Inspirational Historical Romance. The series is set in Cades Cove, a remote valley tucked between the towering mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The first book begans just after the Civil War and continues to the day the National Park forced the families that had lived there for over 200 years, to leave their homes and their deceased realitives behind in the grave yards. My characters are fiction, with only a few REAL characters that I sprinkle throughout the books. The last book in the series will end in the early 40’s…the day they left thier family homes behind. I have always been an avid reader, and I have yet to find a book based on this area. God gave me the story and although the book is not yet completed, I was offered a contract from Hartline Literary Agency. This is very UNUSUAL also. I know that Gods hand is at work here. I have heard so many stories about writers working and writing several books before obtaining an agent or a publishing contract. While I have not written any other books, this first book in the series has been rewritten dozens of times as I learned more and more about the the craft of “writing”. I am about to sign my contracts and mail these back to the agent…so pray for the success of these books that are a work of love, a work that I know God has a plan for.
>My WIP is a contemporary romance novel. I’m currently doing a second edit/re-write on it. When that is done, I am going to start the query process. Wanda
>I’m finishing up the first draft of “Bin Ladens’ Pilot” about my 5 years in Saudi Arabia flying jets for the now infamous family. Missiles, terrorists, gold, cultural shock and an ego driven Sheikh Salem, head of the Bin Laden family, were part of the exotic mix of adventure and peril. Sheikh Salem fancied himself a pilot. Keeping both of us alive became an exercise in frustration and full camel in the windshield moments.Mostly I’m having problem paring down the content and injecting the right amount of dialogue with the myriad of strange and mesmerizing tales.I follow your blog religiously and enjoy learning more about about the writing, publishing process and the agent world.Keep up the great work.Michael
>My WIP is set in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion, the third in a psychic spy series. As I’ve now had 12 books published (not vanity, not self) and still haven’t been able to find an agent, I suspect I never will. I don’t despair, I just keep writing. A lot.
>I’d gone skydiving, rock rappelling, hot air ballooning, and white water rafting by the time I was twenty-one. Three of those activities I did while I lived in Australia, during my junior year of college. I also did stand-up comedy in my early twenties. Life has gotten considerably boring since then. This should change once George Clooney and I shack up. ;)Note: I imagine it’s been said somewhere in the almost 300+ comments, but just in case: I’m a combo of traditional and self-pubbed (traditional in that I’ve had some work published in lit journals). I checked the self-pubbed box since there was no combo option.Have a great weekend!
>What is interesting about me and my WIP? Hmmm, I was born with a heart mur-mur. I know, that’s not interesting. It’s hard to pick something out.:)I’ve gained lots of interest on my WIP which about a….=actually I probably shouldn’t post via online. But I’ll tell you one thing, it was interesting talking with fellow firemen, fire investigators, Restoration centers, etc. It is one of the most challenging yet most enjoyable books I have ever written and the day after I finsihed writing it, an agent sent me a note asking me if I had any projects.
>I put a sex scene in my Christian novel because I believe Christians should know about sex. 🙂
>(Late post as usual. Sorry!)Rachelle, you have an interesting crowd of followers. Interesting, or certifiably crazy (like me & my dog) or both!Publishing genres are interesting. My book is mainstream or general, although set in ancient Egypt & thereabouts.You need another category or 2 for “What are you writing now?” I.e. blog and other social media (FB, Twitter, etc.) I started a blog–ibischild.blogspot.com–and it’s taking an inordinate amount of time & energy which I should be devoting to revision. And “Revision Woes” is my latest blog post.
>Something interesting about me is that although I have a teaching credential, I’ve never used it. Nobody understands why, but years of obstacles have made me feel very removed from the classroom. After a lot of thought, I turned to writing as my career.
>Thanks Rachelle.Such an interesting variety here!May on the Way: How I Become a K9 Spy will release this summer. It’s about a young Schnauzer who escapes abuse through adoption and after several adventures, becomes a K9 spy. For animal lovers 8 and up.The illustrations are wonderful and it will release as a hardcover with a plush toy add-on. We’re so excited! May is wiggling her entire self!
>I use two monitor screens so I can have my wip up on one and check email once in a while on another. But I am going to have to shut one down because I keep coming back to meet all of you people who keep posting.The wip I am working on is in a depressing (to me) spot. Maybe that is why I am letting myself get distracted.
>Wow, what a diverse group of readers you have and what fun WIP comments everyone has made!My current urban fantasy WIP, very near completion, contains nary a werewolf despite the fact that I am best known for my NF books on werewolf-like creatures. As far as I can tell, they would actually make very disappointing boy or girl friends. 🙂
>I just gotta say I love these kind of blogs. Reading through every one of these posts, makes me I feel like I just attended a convention of great writers and came out inspired by each one of you.Well, the only interesting thing about me is that I ‘work’ with angels(our dearly departed) on occasion. But I have absolutely no psychic ability, couldn’t go into a trance if I was paid a million dollars(giggling every five seconds is a deal breaker), and couldn’t conduct a seance if my life depended on it(see above). And the word ‘medium’ as pertains to me, means that’s just how I like my steak cooked.So how does it ‘work’ then, especially with someone who’s native language is laughing most of the time? Well, sometimes it can be comical. Angels do have a sense of humor, especially when they delight in catching me unawares, like when I’m writing and have absolutely no idea they’re there. And sometimes, they’ll come to me through dreams.Other times it’s more obvious they’re around, especially if I happen to be visiting a nursing home or someone under hospice care, or someone suffering from extreme trauma, or extreme mental or physical distress. Those are more solemn and sacred occasions, of course.One thing I can say is that I never seek them out. They come to me. And I’ve been working with them for 15 years. In that time, they’ve been a great help in my own life. And no, I’ll never publish the experiences I’ve had for any amount of money. I will, however, do it for free.
>I am currently in Round 2 of editing my memoir and my pitch line is:Brace yourself in this memoir filled with drama, emotional turmoil and an inspiration to never give up!
>Hi Rachelle! So neat that you take the time to get to know your readers. Thanks!I’m Gillian Marchenko, and I am a writer. My WIP is a Memoir entitled KRASATA, A Memoir of Motherhood, Down syndrome and Faith.Here’s my elevator pitch:The day I was told my daughter had Down syndrome I was alone holding my baby’s heel in a hospital in the former Soviet Union. My memoir, KRASATA (beauty in Russian) is an honest chronicle of disability and faith yielding unforeseen brokenness, a renewed belief in God and the surprising arrival of a life-long pursuit of acceptance.The book covers a three year span: traumatic birth in Ukraine, Down syndrome, grief, a touch of alcoholism, renewed faith, adoption of another child with Down syndrome from Ukraine, and then a life threatening stroke. Dont need to look for drama :).Right now I am 1/2 through rewrites with an editor and then I will be shopping for agents (God willing, if I make it that far!)Just in case you are interested in learning more, check out my website:www.gillianmarchenko.comBlessings!
>I am two-thirds of the way through my first novel – women’s fiction – about two women from very different backgrounds whose lives intersect in a seemingly random way. Through the relationship they reluctantly build, they learn to let go of the things that keep their lives small and safe.I am a SAHM of three kids (ages 2,4, 6) who were all adopted. I am obsessed with tracking down gratitude, beauty and joy, every single day.
>My book proposal was rejected by one publishing house, but the editor thought it was a worthwhile project. She gave it to two “peers” for them to review. I am praying that means my non-fiction work titled “When it is Difficult to Conceive: A Godly Perspective for the Road Ahead” will be traditionally published. If not, I am highly considering self-publishing. We will see.
>This week I signed my first publishing contract. I have to say, I’m not quite sure it’s sunk in yet. I plan to compile contact lists, places for book signings, so that I can hit the market hard and strong. Of course I’ll have a marketing agent doing leg work too, but I plan to treat this as my busniess and work hard to achieve sucess! Thank you for your blogs. You truely have help get me this far. And I plan to continue to learn and grow from you. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
>My current WIP is Southern women;s fiction. “With a friend like Claire you need a gurney, a mop, and a guardian angel.”I’ve worn more hats than a milliner, but my favorite was legislative affairs director (a fancy name for a lobbyist) for Christian Coalition. It provided lots of fodder for one of my manuscripts.
>It’s been great to read everyone’s posts! Thank you all for sharing your processes.
>Interesting thing about me: I grew up a pastor’s daughter in the midst of all the devastation that follows in the wake of church splits and ministry collapses (heard of PTL anyone…? My family used to be part of that ministry.) Interesting thing about my WIP: Now my WIP is my blog, which I very much intended to be about “homemaking” and yet only ever seems to be about how God stretches my faith and uses hard things for His Glory. My heart’s desire is to write NF about the Lord – wanting to learn more about exactly “how” and “what” in that process. Love reading your blog and learning all I can about publishing as I’m working toward my goals!
>My WIP is a non-fiction guide to young women in college facing unplanned pregnancies. One million college-aged women become pregnant every year, but there are no books devoted to helping and inspiring them through the crazy world that is motherhood. I know, because I've been there and I looked for just that book; the one that would address the guilt I felt for violating my religious standards, the one that explained how I could get through class with puking, the one that would explain why I was terrified of my baby.
I delivered my first daughter one week after my college graduation, my second daughter, two years and two days later, and began my book that summer. I hope "Tiny Blue Lines" will provide other young moms that hope and help I craved (along with strawberry ice cream) through my pregnancy.
>My current WIP is an MG novel in rhyming verse and has a Kangaroo attached to a bee for the most part and a giant Snail lurking in the woods.
>I'm editing my second completed manuscript for the Christian market. It's a romantic adventure story.
In my glory days, I ballroom danced in Pro-Am competitions. I was the amateur.
>I write devotions, bible studies, articles, and non-fiction for women. I post the majority of what I write on my Christian book site, The Vessel Project.
I have two projects in the air at the moment.
1) A non-fiction project that challenges women to revolutionize their lives by denying the worn out feminist agenda and embracing a life of integrity.
2)A fiction project about a very popular, well-respected, successful female talk show host who sets out to denounce Christianity through a series of television programs only to realize the truth in the end.
>Just beginning my nonfiction – as yet to be named. Editing fiction book "Surrender."
One thing most people don't know is I've also started a writing service company about a month ago and have 3 clients for whom I'm thankful and excited to be working with them.
>I'm on a work haitus, which is giving me lots more time than normal to write. I've just finished a draft of a fantasy ms and sent it to its first 'beta readers' – exciting and daunting times.
PS – I'm another lurker, so I'll take a moment to thank you Rachelle for the great blog and everyone else for sharing their journeys through commenting.
>My current WIP has three prologues and two endings.
Think I might need to edit? 🙂
Blessings,
Voni
>My current WIP has three prologues and two endings.
Think I might need to edit? 🙂
Blessings,
Voni
>My WIP is a collection of related short stories about five brothers whose lives are changed when a sixth and eldest brother arrives unexpectedly at their home in Bellevue, WA; the brothers struggle to grow up, learn to live through their hurts, and find their individual places in a family of alcoholism, old secrets and deep family love. I am currently working on an MFA in Writing at Pacific University – and loving every minute of it. Thanks for sharing your blog!
>Current work in progress: came from a writing prompt in my writers' group. We have 10 minutes to write a short story based upon a prompt announced to us, and have about 10 seconds to mull through the prompt before we begin writing – and we can't use the backspace key. The whole novel laid itself out to me in that one flash. (I'm not saying it was good, but the story arc and characters all popped into view saying "tell my story!") I wrote the first 1200 words in that original 10 minutes, and finished the first draft of 82,000 words in 15 days. (First two weeks of NaNoWriMo – and remember, the first draft of anything is junk, so don't take it as THE NOVEL IS DONE. 'Cause it ain't.) I love the characters in the story and want them to succeed, and it hurts to see how they get hurt as the story develops, but it's all for the good.
I've spent the last 6 months since NaNoWriMo struggling to polish the darn thing. I realized that my first idea to develop the second half of the story was wrong and threw it out; revised it to bring more crises and rising action, and am much happier with it. My goal is to have it ready for my beta readers by May 31st and to be "done done done!" June 30th, because I'm bringing it with me to a writing conference, oh foolish man that I am.
>Something interesting about myself? I spent two decades as the wife of an FBI agent. It's a lifestyle that permeates your whole life, like being a police officer's wife or a military wife. Maybe someday I will use this life experience in a story. (Writing a YA contemporary @ present.)
>Thank you for asking!
My name is Elise Adams, I blog nearly daily on htt://adamsorganizing.com and am hard at work on a memoir of domestic violence and miracles. Sounds like it's 'been done'? No one has written from the INSIDE, however…I am writing my own internal conversations, justifications, prayers and miracles in a spare, minimalist style.
I have learned so much since following your blog and continue to 'stay tuned' as I put the hard work in honing my craft toward the day when I too will be a published author.
>I broke a fundamental writing rule (and surprised my agent) by crossing over from writing non-fiction to fiction. Actually, I surprised myself in the process, as I always said I was a completely satisfied non-fiction writer who would never write fiction.
Yep–never say never.
>Interesting fact: my first trip to the UK, I came up out of the tube station and who should be rolling by in her carriage: Queen Elizabeth, of course. 🙂
Katherine
>I stay up way too late reading the Left Behind books. I'm on The Mark right now. Unbelievable how right on JJ & TL are on accuracy and putting it into such a believable story of future events!
http://ruthataylor.blogspot.com/
>I have completed six novels and am now on my seventh. I like to look into the hearts of my characters and find why their lives have gone wrong, Then of course I must put things right.
I have lived in several different countries and they are the settings for my stories.
I love to paint the characters I write about and usually sneak in one of my horses or dogs. I always use my own birthdate for my protagonist – that way I can't forget it!
>My current WIP: Cupid is trying to live as a mortal, falls in love with a wedding planner. Mommy (aka Venus) is SO not happy with him.
>I love this post of yours and the surveys.
My WIP details the healing journey God led me on and where He was even in the detours and dark periods. It covers incest and other abuse, giving up on God, therapy, the new age and occult. I was once a priestess of a coven in Chicago. Then how God drew me to Him so real healing could occur. What is cool is that it is already ministering to people as I share it in some of the writers' groups I attend.
Something neat about me, I used to live on a houseboat in the Hudson River in New York City, BC – before children.
Hope your weekend is blessed.
Heather
>Just discovered your informative blog. Am a published writer: two plays, short stories in literary magazines, creative non-fiction, anthologies, a poem and wrote a life commentary column from 1989 to 1998. A writer should be able to write anything.
Re: WIP. I write what I read so that is literary/mainstream. Just finishing the final edits on my first novel which takes place in Montreal between 1967 and 1970. The novel explores issues of self-identity, self image, illusion, delusion and finally self acceptance. We follow a theatrical troupe as their lives unfold against the political background of that time in Quebec. Been writing it for three and a half years and left my job last May to finish it.
I believe every writer should have a book of their own so they know how complicated, exhilirating and creative the process is.
Interesting fact about me? I worked as an actress and dancer in the late sixties and seventies so am using my experience as inspiration.
And, oh, yeah, count me in on the ketchup on eggs and any pasta.
Thanks.
>Hmmm. Not sure if I deserve to comment here, since I am quite the reader/lurker and not really a commenter~ however there is no time like the present! I have been writing for four years, and my current WIP is *another* YA contemporary romance, (insert cute little <3 hearts here), because I guess I'm just passionately connected to my teenage self!
I have enjoyed your blog for quite a while now – ever since a year ago, when I timidly joined Twitter and began following people as silently as possible. I felt a little overwhelmed at the time by the whole confusing thing. In fact, I never even expected to have any followers. Ever. I didn't even have a bio set up! I just kept following writerly people– writers, editors and agents… including you. I read and learned from the many tweets while my "followers" remained at zero. But one day, I got an email from Twitter, and what did it say? "Rachelle Gardner is now following you on Twitter."
I'll never forget it! It meant so much. Right away, people began to follow me and I soon came to realize that followers were a pretty cool thing! So, thank you~
>I have two blogs: one on feminism and the other on being a Muslim convert. Sometimes I even mix the two together!
My genre is primarily historical fiction, but I'm also working with creative nonfiction and poetry.
>My current work in progress was inspired by a dream I had.
I’m a member of WITMasters- my college’s chapter of Toastmasters International.
>Writing my 2nd thriller – 1st still on the shelf – this one about a guy in his 20s who "accidentally" becomes a serial killer. The books take place in Montana, sort of an exotic locale to many city dwellers. I enjoy your blog and often forward tidbits to my FB network.
>This sounds like a cliche`, but for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a writer. And a lawyer, a singer, and an artist. The problem was that I had no (read ZERO) confidence in myself. When the movie 'The Bucket List' came out, so did I. I came out as a writer. Because of that movie, I chose to do everything I ever wanted to do. Well, except lawyering. I don't think I want to do that anymore.
My first book was lost to cyberspace at more than 35,000 words and I didn't have the you-know-whats to muster starting over. My second book was an exorcism of all things bad I could think of. My third book, now that one is my pride and joy! It is about old ladies and their secrets. It's funny but it isn't a rehash of the Golden Girls, it's more realistic, has a plot, etc, etc. My fourth book is still in the unedited neonatal stage and was written last November for the NANOWRIMO affair and, yes, I did make it past 50,000 words this year! I plan to self publish my old lady book. Look for it: Confessions of The Old Ladies Club.
I'm 56 years old, a wife, mom, grandmother and I am having a blast checking off my bucket list.
>Rachelle,
It's so interesting to hear from other writers! What a great post 🙂
I'm working on a series of articles for Christian families with elementary-aged kids [hopefully for a family magazine], and am toying with the idea of a fiction book.
According to my husband I am a "lyrical genius"–I may not be able to remember my kids' T-ball schedule, but for some reason I can remember multitudes of songs, band names, and lyrics. Too bad "Name That Tune" isn't in production anymore!
>The unique part about my writing-I am co authoring a book with my identical twin sister. Check out our blog:
Thanks,
Roslyn
http://doubleportioninspiration.blogspot.com/
>The unique part about my writing-I am co authoring a book with my identical twin sister. Check out our blog:
Thanks,
Roslyn
http://doubleportioninspiration.blogspot.com/
>My WIP (Which is now in the final editing stages) involves the discovery of a long-lost silent film! … and hitting people in the face when they break into your apartment.
>I'm currently working on a version of the Guy of Gisborne legend (from the Robin Hood legend) Told through the eyes of a woman he has been commissioned to return safely to England from Aquitaine. In the past I've written fantasy but I'm finding the research needed to spark my narrative and give it dimension is as rewarding as the exercise of writing itself.
Thank you Rachelle, for succinct and honest comment on the world of the book. It's much appreciated.
>WIP: An extreme sports enthusiast makes a friendship pact with a scrapbooking alzheimer's patient.
Me: My best friend from grade school taught me how to choose the Right thing over the Easy thing. She never did one thing to lose my respect.
>Just started following your blog….enjoying your posts!
My husband & I once spent a week in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and had the privilege of visiting our friend's grandmother who lived in a ger(yurt).
>I've been working on my WIP for almost 3 years. It's a fiction story based loosely on my experience growing up with a brother with cerebral palsy. For most of the winter this year I've had a hard time focusing on my MS. Three weeks ago my brother past away. I'm still mourning him but I asked him to give me the strength to work on my MS again. These last three weeks have been the most productive in a year, and I plan to finish the book by the end of this year.
>My current WIP is currently in the quarter finals for the Amazon Breakout Novel Awards. More information can be found here
>Always an avid reader, one day I said to myself, “this book writing thing can’t be that hard, I’m going to give it a try!” Having a few babies, working a full time job as a project manager in Internet Security, and the need for at least 8 hours of sleep a night (more would be better) all worked against me becoming a novelist.
After 4 years of hearing my characters talking constantly in my head, I finally finished my first novel. Gateway of the One is a MG fantasy book.
>I looooved reading about everyone… and the knitting erotica got my attention. (Er, needles?)
I'm a freelance writer and content editor who works mostly with science, technology, business writing, legal writing etc. Ie, I'm a total dork. I've written lots and lots of books and screenplays, but mostly just for the fun of learning to write fiction, to understand narrative structure and dialogue, the mechanics. I'm working on a supernatural fiction book with Christian themes for the general market. It's in its third revision and I'm fleshing out two subplots to take it closer to 90,000 words.
Interesting thing about me… well, I'm a former farm girl and I probably own way too much mossy oak and camo. Also, bright shiny objects and people with amazing senses of humor will get me every time.
>There weren't enough choices for some of my answers. For instance, I've self-published once (but costs were underwritten by an arts council), vanity-published two collections of humor columns and short stories that had been previously published in periodicals, and had my two latest works for children traditionally published by a small press.
Something interesting about me: I'm a nationally ranked bad writer, having been a category winner in the Bulwer-Lytton fiction contest twice: "Worst Western" in 1996 and "Vile Pun" in 2008.
>Interesting WIP fact: my WIP, a Biblical adventure which stays entirely true to a historical-grammatical hermeneutic of Scriptural interpretation, deals with (among other things) a TRUE account of paranormal romance. Hint: Genesis 6:1-4, supplemented by 2 Peter 2:4-5.
Seriously, if you haven't read the story of Noah (heck, the first 11 chapters of Genesis) since your Sunday School days, do yourself a favor. It's a tiny glimpse into 1500 years of a lost history that must have been truly fascinating.
>My current WIP is the 1st of a 4 book series. It is set in a small town in central Massachusetts eerily similar to my hometown 😀
I'm self-published but hope to have this wip traditionally published.
>My current WIP is the 1st of a 4 book series. It is set in a small town in central Massachusetts eerily similar to my hometown.
I'm self-published but hope to have this wip traditionally published.
>Enjoyed everyone's answers! Thanks for the blog, Rachelle. I enjoy stopping in here once or twice a week and catching up.
About me: I have a large garden and about 25 dozen canning jars–most of which are full in October every year. Lots empty in April!
About my wip: I have three at the moment: My (SOLD!!) novella is out for crit while I bounce ideas for a new series. Next week I begin tackling a major rewrite my agent requested on an existing novel. Busy!
>My WIP is a YA steampunk adventure set in the land of drought (Australia – my land). It's so high concept I can't say what the high concept is (too unique, too cool, and too easy to imitate).
Louise Curtis
>I'm a virologist by trade, but I use my background and the resources as part of a University to write forensic crime. The lab job is the ho hum side of science for me (not because it's not interesting, but more because I've done it for nearly 20 years), so writing forensics gives my love of science a fresh and fun spin.
>I'm working on a historical novel set in medieval Spain. It's based on a revenge epic I read as a graduate student. Even in my academic bubble, I thought it could be marketable!
I'm working at a small press in acquisitions. Anyone here with good historical fiction, especially nautical, please consider Fireship Press!
>The daughter of Pentecostal missionaries to Midwest Latino communities, I came of age in a crossroads of religion, ethnicity, and economic class. Not surprisingly, my literary novels and short stories frequently explore the tensions among conflicting religious perspectives, economic classes, as well as those between the Latino and Anglo cultures. In this, as the recent census suggests, I am firmly stationed among the growing numbers who transcend traditional uni-dimensional demarcations of race, class, and religion. Perhaps a new literary genre can emerge to describe this new polyglot reality. I am nearing the end of my WIP novel’s first draft. Ten of my short stories have been published in literary journals. My other novels await publication.
>Hello Rachelle, Thanks so much for taking the time to write all of these posts!
I have two YA WiP's (currently shopping #1):
#1 – An adventure in which two teen fugitives create anonymous miracles for oppressed people, reminiscent of Robin Hood.
#2 – An modern day refresh of The Scarlet Pimpernel set in California/Mexico instead of revolutionary era England/France.
Something interesting about myself:
#1 – I stayed up late every night this week watching Young Indiana Jones on streaming NetFlix.
#2 – When I went to SCBWI Illinois last fall, I tried to verbally pitch my WiP for the first time and ended up sounding kind of like Ralphie in 'A Christmas Story' when Santa asked him what he wanted for xmas. "Uh… football."
>I couldn't vote on whether I am writing for the general market or the Christian one because I'm writing both. A memoir of how I went from a god-hating anti-theist to a Christian for the Christian market. And a book about mothering from a slant I've never seen before so I'm not at liberty to discuss it till I finish!
>I love reading everyone's projects! What creative people are here. I write about animals and how my life has changed because of the animals. After spending 25 years as a manager in the information systems field, I changed careers when I became certified as a pet behavior consultant, pet massage therapist and dog trainer. My escapades over these years have resulted in one self-published book (Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK!), an e-book in progress, and a mystery novel and a memoir that I hope to get published traditionally, also in progress. I write a blog called the Menopausal Entrepreneur that started out as my musings about going through changes in my career as I was going through "the change." But the animal lovers have found me and they want mostly animal-related content. The animals are my guides! It's an interesting journey.
Thanks for asking!
>My WIP is a sequel/prequel to my first novel. It deals with a young woman learning about her family through her great-grandmother's World War II diaries.
>My WIPs…(wait, that should be WsIP)…I'm working on a Christian living/women's interest book about contentment, based on Philippians. Also, I wrote several lessons and devotions on Moses for a women's retreat at our church. I'm thinking of turning it into a Bible study.
About me…I'm a pastor's wife. Is that interesting? 🙂 Some days it's more interesting than others, I suppose. 🙂
Thanks for a great blog, Rachelle!
>–Something interesting about yourself.
At the moment, I'm trying to devise a plan to buy a "class A" RV, travel North America while still working and writing about my US state-to-state experiences.
Yes, that's right. I am trying to become a hobo. 🙂
>Oh, how fun!
Most of my work is nonfiction and is published online or in magazines and trade journals.
In my secret life, I am a closet fiction writer… shh don't tell.
My WIP is a young couple on an adventure in Alaska, fun for me since I grew up there.
Rachelle's blog is one of my favorite so she gets to be in my RSS reader!
>Since I'm not super interesting…my new WIP is a blend of alternate history and steampunk in my very favorite time period: ancient Greece. I'm also on a self-imposed deadline to finish the first draft by July 1st, when my baby is due. 🙂
>Two things I dreamed of doing since i was a child: writing fiction and working with exotic animals. I graduated college with a degree in Exotic Animal Training and Management, and now I spend my free time writing, writing, and writing some more!
>Eli Waters is tired of his life as a Middle School Music teacher- the commute, the uninspired students, the lack of time for his own composition. When he finds a body in his trash bin and the police find many clues to link him to the crime, Eli discovers that being wrongly accused of murder can change your life.
Work in Progress- undergoing final edit, hope to epublish by June.
More of my adventures including how to write, revise and edit while working full time as a teacher and raising three kids at
http://writeintention.wordpress.com
>Right now I'm stuck. I've started on my fifth novel, but the rejection from the previous four, particularly the last one, which I think is pretty good, has me himmin-and-hawwin at the keyboard. Hopefully I can bust out of this malaise and get crack-a-lackin. Thanks for all the hard work you do educating us publishing neophytes.
>I write historical fiction/Civil War era and inspirational historical romance.
My first article will be published in the spring issue/June 2011 by the Indiana Historical Society's Magazine, Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. The 4600 word article is about the battle history of the 9th Ind. Regiment during the Civil War, and co-written by my husband, Eric.
I am also a Civil War reenactor.
>My WIP (on final edit — I hope, I hope!) started as a memoir but has "evolved" into fiction, inspired by true events.
Every house I've lived in has been haunted, but the one I'm living in now is the most "interesting." That's what my first book was supposed to be about, but life hijacked me and led me towards a different direction — one where I needed to be.
>I'm currently in the midst of a (hopefully) final rewrite of my murder mystery. I completed the draft in a about a year when demands from my day job were lesser. The rewrite is taking a bit longer. I'm looking forward to the day when I can write full-time.
By day, I do PR work.
>"Hayward, Hurley, and Hell – the three hottest places on earth." That's what they said at the turn of the century about the raucous lumberjack location my WIP is set. ("The Black Rose", book 3 of The Empire in Pine series from Desert Breeze Pub.)
I love cows, old movies, homeschooling, and my son's screamo music. It's all good.
>I've currently polished off some hot fantasy and am querying. It is loaded with supernatural aspects and targets adult readers. I'm also working on two different paranormal romances. I like to tinker with science fiction and horror and have considered posting a bit of horror on my blog just for kicks.
Decades ago, when I was 12, I had a short story published in Young Writers of America. If I remember correctly, it was something about a flying dog, cute kid's story. It was the first time I touched someone with my writing, been hooked ever since.
>*warning: stupid alert*
One scene in my wip makes me bawl everytime. Now for crying out loud (no pun intended), I wrote the darn thing, I typed the words so why am I reaching for a tissue when I edit?
*crazy, yep that's me*
>My WIP is a memoir called NOT IF, BUT WHEN about being an adoptee in a closed adoption and being found by my birth family three decades later. Life truly is a circle and my birthmother told me our reunion was never an if – but a when (Tada! See how I cleverly used that as the title? 😉 ).
>I am excited because I just signed a contract for one of my devotions to appear in Gary Chapman's next book, Love is a Verb, coming out in late summer through Bethany House.
I'm wondering if it goes on the NY Times Best sellers list (it is Gary Chapman!), can I claim I am a NY Times best selling author? LOL!
>Loved reading what people wrote…As for me…My first book was done by the seat of pants. It was published by my university and won The Word Guild award for life stories and was one of three that received an honourable mention for their highest award. My story, A Refugees Hope recently won in the short story catagory that was a joint contest put on my Tyndale College and World vision. I'm now trying my hand at writing fiction. I have 45,000 words so far. It's called Dancing Softly and it focuses on women and the mental health system. It might be more YA than women's fiction…not sure yet.
>I am a homeschooling mom/art instructor/designer/book typesetter/writer.
Currently writing:
• 1st draft: sci-fi middle grade fiction
• Numerous picture books, one of which was considered for awhile by Magination Press but didn't make the final cut. (Too far outside their niche.)
Currently doing:
• Setting up acrylic and cartooning art classes at local craft supply (Moving out of typesetting and design because it's hard on my upper back.)
• Graduating my 17 year old twins after 13 years of homeschooling.
That's pretty much it. Love your blog!
By the way, I did click on yes for published, because I wasn't sure if you counted magazines. No books yet, however.
>Hi Rachelle,
My WIP is in the genre of Memoir.
I know bad can happen in places where it should be safe. I know firsthand because I experienced its grip of darkness over me.
I thought the darkness would win.
Yet, I know now, it has not the last say.
I have been on an amazing spiritual journey.
Christmas time two years ago I tossed out the proverbial "message in a bottle" by way of email holding onto belief God would send it across the ~cyber~ waves where it needed to be.
I signed my email struggles plainly, anonymous victim.
Within the week an amazing set of conversations began to take place. An anonymous person, a christian woman, found my message in her in box. She tenderly read my thoughts, feelings and understood my dark place.
She responded, greeting me always in her email replies as ~Dear One.
The name began to warm the coldness I lived.
I have never met this woman who has written emails of plenty, filled of poetic words of healing that touched my heart. We plan to meet this Spring when it warms up. I imagine her hug to feel like God with skin on. I have been very blessed.
Life is good.
God is good.
And yes the light can shine through the darkness.
>My work-that-was-in-progress drew inspiration from my love of the night sky, and in its turn inspired me to finally get a telescope. It's fantasy, with a little sci-fi influence. And I sent my first query this week.
Next up: a middle grade fairy tale.
Your blog is all kinds of helpful. Thanks for the instruction and encouragement!
>I write inspirational fiction. Heres a short description of my historical romance.
Emmaline sneaks onto a cattle drive bound for the California gold fields desperate to escape an arranged marriage.
The dangers of the trail threaten both her heart and faith, forcing her to chose between honoring a deathbed vow and the man she loves.
The poll was fun. I enjoyed seeing what the other readers like.
>My current WIP is hard to write. It deals with the topic of sexual molestation. I split the time with work on a funny WIP I'm co-writing, about an Amish girl in NYC.
Me? Hmmm… I love ketchup, honey, and peanut butter–not together, gross. And, I grew up on a reptile farm–yes it was interesting, no I don't aspire to take over the family business 😉
>I am young woman chasing hard after God and learning the art of crafting great fiction. I claim to write women's fiction, because I have no romance experience–yet. *wink*. But the real reason I write is to take the gritty and glorious stuff of life that God lays on my heart and put it into story form that might someday be used for His glory.
My first WF WIP is Releasing Yesterday, a poignant story of secrets, forgiveness and the power of faith that could tie a family together or completely crumble them to their knees.
>I write YA Para Rom. I just got a yucky critique from my new writing coach, took her notes. Went back and created a really strong opening. Sarah Sompulec at MyBookTherapy made some things clear I've never understood before.
I'm excited to write again.
>I am a former newspaper reporter/features writer/columnist; currently, a self-published "independent" author. As for my WIP: There is none as my muse has gone on vacation and I don't have a clue when she'll return.
As for me personally: I am an ardent animal lover. Ergo, all my current books (suspense novel, short stories, published columns) feature a dog…IMHO, the most fabulous creature on this earth.
>I self-published my first novel to give myself a boost. A chain store manager read a copy and asked me if I would consider supplying their shelves. That lead to a national distributor and an introduction to a small Aboriginal publishing house, who are about to launch my second novel next month. All this because I thought after 25 years, maybe it would be encouraging if I held "one" copy of my novel in my hands.
>I write YA fantasy and my debut, WITCH SONG, comes out this September. Something interesting about my book–it's # 8 for books released in Sept!!! I'm so excited.
>I am in the process of epublishing my first novel, a historical romance novel. I have two others in the works, one being a sequel to the one being epublished. Besides that, I am working on a memoir. It's a work in progress.
>I'm a social worker by day but on the weekends, I'm writing my first novel. I say it's Christian fiction I'd like to read. It's about a woman learning to live an authentic life, as she grapples with her grandmother's cancer diagnosis and falls in love.
>I love reading everyone's comments! Thanks for asking!
My WIP has recently posed a difficult question for me – if an ordinarily good person were suddenly stripped of her conscience, what would remain? Or, how much of what we do in a given day is driven by a sense of right and wrong, habit, or adherence to societal norms in order to avoid bothersome consequences?
>My WIP is a memoir on how someone as fabulous as I am has remained single for 50 years. I set the actual writing of it aside several months ago to learn more about the craft of memoir writing. I'm enjoying writing through the exercises in Natalie Goldberg's book, Old Friend From Far Away.
>Aspiring author who read your never send laundry lists to literary agents with a fair amount of glee; the glee being because a sharkly colleague of yours lovely assistant had read my first full and loved it; alas, not saleable at present. When asked if I had anything else to present…anything at all, even if it wasn't finished, I wrote another full (because the novel she read was my first fiction novel and I literally had nothing else) and she requested full as soon as I re-queried…as she'd asked me to do!
I wander back to your Laundry List post quite a lot to chirk me up and prevent me from biting nails to the quick while I wait for second full to be read; a hearty THANK YOU for the encouragement you didn't even know you'd given this aspiring author!
>Right now I'm teaching myself how to write by writing fan fiction, a project which I expect to take at least another year. Then I'll move on to my own fantasy world instead of building in someone else's.
I teach chemistry at a local college at night, so expect a fair amount of alchemy in my stories.
>Perhaps it's not that interesting without having read the story, but I wrote an amazing scene where a character absolutely flips out last night. I haven't felt that high after writing a scene for a while, and was pleased with how melodramatic it wasn't!
>My WIP? The Lore of Efrathah is a four-book epic fantasy, and I'm all but DONE! I have revisions of book 4, Against Blood And Fire to complete.
And interesting about me? I'm the managing administrator at the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour.
Becky
>I'm currently writing a high fantasy novel which involves memories as a central theme.
>My 150,000-word MS has been completed for over a year, but I fear it will never be published. Much of the story is beseeching God's guidance, but my passion to tell the truth – including accurate dialogue – offends Christian publishing. And, my desperate seeking of God's guidance – including accurate dialogue – offends general publishing.
Of course, your blog today provides an outlet for healthy venting, with maybe only a minimal chance of rejection – and if your name were "Lucy," I would owe you 5cents.
Thank you for your continued generous sharing, teaching, and encouraging of aspiring writers. You do a helpful service to many whom you will never meet.
>My WIP is composing the perfect query letter… 😀
Sometimes I feel like my MC, surrounded by storms that erase the memories of anyone in it's path. <—heh, I'm not trying to subtly throw my pitch in here! *looks around with shifty eyes*
>Keli, You know I'm in!
And how cool that Christina played rugby. Looking forward to her book!
So fun to read through these!
~ Wendy
>My debut paranormal romance, DEMON HUNTING IN DIXIE, comes out from BRAVA April 26, 2011. Whoo hoo!!!
>Don't know if people will make it this far down the comment list – that's a lot of introductions. Hello everyone!
I'm a professional full-time writer with four non-fiction books out (not "how-to" – more literary, themes related to travel, science, indigenous issues).
http://jacquelinewindh.com/books/
But I am moving towards examing these same themes through fiction, and especially to exploring that very interesting grey area between "fiction" and "non-fiction." My next book, My Secret Sasquatch and Other Possibilites, will be exploring this very interesting terrain. There's not much up on the website yet, but look for the book in 2012!
http://mysecretsasquatch.wordpress.com/
Something interesting about me? I have a PhD in Earth Sciences, and I am really starting to have fun using this dual background (scientist/artist) to approach my fiction from a unique and atypical point of view.
>My day job is writing TV animation (Zoinks!). As much as I love doing that, I hope to someday be called a successful middle-grade sf/f author.
>Hmmm -something interesting about me.
My husband and I are 12 days apart in age. We both lost our moms when we were young (I was 7, he was 13). Both our dads remarried women with two sons – and our step-brothers are close in age as well. We were both raised Jewish. We came to Christ within three months of each other.
I do NOT believe in coincidence 😉
>The people who inhabit the fantasy world I'm writing about have "hair" that acts as a super-sensory organ. They use it to communicate telepathically, it lights up at night, it can make them buoyant temporarily, and some of them can use it to control others' minds.
>The novel I'm querying is a YA speculative fiction with Christian undertones.
I'm getting my first piece published in Australian Literary Review's Anthology THE BASICS OF LIFE in the DEATH category with my short story GROWTH. It's about coping with the news a family member has terminal cancer. It's interesting my first novel is general fiction as I write it the least.
I have several WIP:
Dirty Rainbow (main WIP) a Utopian/Dystopian set well in the future. Men are extinct and the surviving women have created a society with no war, poverty, disease or need for money. Thanks to science and gentic selection, everyone is beautiful. But Utopia comes at a price.
Conquest: Space adventure
Emerald: Steampunk Dystopian
Pucker Up: Midsummer Night's Dream from Puck's POV
Plus short stories for anthologies and competitions.
>I just finished the first draft of my novel about a disgraced seminary student who struggles to convince the authorities that the beloved small town pastor is really a serial killer.
I enjoy your blog and read it daily. Thanks for the good advice and information.
>Right now my WIP is about a guy who gains the ability to absorb other people's souls through his eyes after suffering a bizarre accident during a solar eclipse. This sets him up for a lifetime of being a hermit until certain people around him challenge him to come out of his shell. Can he learn how to be around others without accidentally killing them?
>Love your blog, Rachelle. My current WIP is in the revising stage (3rd time around) and is women's fiction focused on how a husband's interest in pornography impacts the family.
Interesting fact about me: I spent a week with a church team in a Muslim orphanage in Somalia. We went to show the love of God through helping them repair their war torn buildings, putting in a play area and just generally sprucing up the place. It was a great experience.
>I'm pregnant with my second child (a boy this time)… Due in August. My current WIP I've been working on since I was about 12… It has really.. changed a lot since those days. Haha. I just haven't been able to finish it… not sure what the problem is… haha
xo,
Christen
christenkrumm.blogspot.com
>My novel is in submission – it's won the Great Expectations WF category, and I just heard yesterday that it finalled in two more!
I'm SO dancing!
>I'm working on a 4th fantasy novel. The first one about air pirates, second about an ancient war and the third about a dead army rising from the grave. Now I'm taking on vampire-like story while trying to sell one of the three.
>I write narrative non-fiction.
Humor with a propensity for embarrassing myself and my kids.
I'm passionate about connecting moms to ideas and each other.
My WIP- "A Mile in Her Shoes" an experiment in finding out what it's really like to be- that other mom.. you know the one. Her.
So far I've been a- SAHM, Working mom, Work from home mom… more mommy-types to come:)
Goal- to inspire moms to look beyond out stereotypes and find out the truth about other moms. With a goal of building bridges to end the mommy-wars. We are better together.
>I currently have two WIP's. The first is in the hands of a wonderful editor through the Editorial Department (for the second time!). I am hoping to start querying it next month. It is women's fiction with a bit of romance, mystery, and suspense.
I have just started writing the first draft of WIP #2, which I'm really excited about! It tells the story of an eighteen year old girl living in a small village in the Middle East, whose father is the only doctor and she works as his assistant. When their country goes to war, her father leaves for the army and she is left behind to run the clinic. She falls in love with an enemy soldier and fears he has been killed in action, so she travels to the front lines to find him. Her country sees her as a traitor and in the end she must decide between loyalty and love, sacrifice and safety.
>I've published two non-fiction books about Christian spirituality, with Crossroads and Morehouse/Church Publishing, respectively. I'm currently working on a mainstream novel about a once-famous singer/songwriter who re-invents her life and her career.
>I hate mushrooms more than is really polite or appropriate for legal, non lethal food groups. My current WIP is the story of a woman settling her past as a foster child so she can embrace her future.
>Working on an Eddie Coyle-esque novel set in the eastern Midwest. Once spent an afternoon in the sky in the company of hawks.
>I write both creative nonfiction and chick lit. I'd like to say that I'm aiming to write like the A-list authors, like Philip Roth, Ian McEwan, and Anne Tyler. But the books I like reading are chick lit and funny memoirs, so that's the kind of stuff that I've been writing. I started blogging as a way to discipline myself to write regularly, and it gave me the idea to write about my experiences as a grad student, an English teacher, a city dweller, and a (semi-reluctant) online dater.
>Ideas, as we know, come from everywhere. But the plot I came up with in the mss I'm querying right now started when I won an engagement ring at a wedding event. No bigs, right? Except…I WAS SINGLE! Don't even ask why I was there (perhaps I was sick of waiting for Mr. Right). I had to stand in front of everyone and tell them the truth and watch as the women with boyfriends/fiancés (of many years) glared. A great idea was birthed from this (and lesson learned). That's my story!
>On an instinct if you will I wrote 2 short stories, both clean fiction, Caffe' Seduzione and Familial Witch introducing my characters so to speak BEFORE the actual novels. To my excitement the reviews are all 4 stars because they are mad that it wasn't a novel. So to listen to the readers I have two WIPs to sequel both shorts. Worked like a charm.
Bri
>My writing must be improving: Of seven completed manuscripts, the sixth is now a 2011 Golden Heart finalist.
I started it — and then abandoned it for another project before going back to finish it last spring. The last few chapters were written while I camped out at Starbucks on "Free Pastry Day."
>Wendy and Carol, I think a trip to visit Rachel in southern Germany for some Whack-a-mole sounds wunderbar. You in? =)
>My WIP is an epic fantasy novel in which none of the characters is white. It's about a war between two empires, and what happens to the little guys who get caught in the middle.
I checked "unpublished" because I haven't yet put out any work for sale, but I'm a founding member of Turtleduck Press, which we're calling a "self-publishing collective".
>My WIP – women's fiction – is titled HONEY. It's about a dreamy, distracted, disorganized legal aid attorney named Alexandra. The story open w/Alex visiting her mother, Peach, on a Sunday afternoon. Peach soon discovers that she's out of honey, a necessary ingredient for her homemade iced-tea. Next thing you know Alex is driving all over Newark searching for honey, striking out everywhere, until she ducks inside a bodega just as the clerk is flipping the OPEN sign over to CLOSED. The clerk’s name is Zeke. He is tall. Strapping. Good-looking. But he’s also edgy. Moody. And with a three-inch gash running down the left side of his face, dangerous . . .
I enjoy your blog, and I thank you for asking about my WIP.
Best,
~K
>Hello Rachelle, we have known each other, on and off, since you began Tweeting… Re Interesting- my writing has always got me into trouble and no doubt "A Reluctant Novice" will also give me a headache or two. Have a nice day.
>In my current WIP, the protagonist is mute and plays the violin as a substitute for speech. That's not the plot, btw, just a tidbit about the character.
>My WIP is a book about the characteristics of the Christian life.
Due to the fact that my father works in international marketing, I had the opportunity to grow up overseas and to travel more than your average American kid.
>My current WIP is Sci-Fi Romance with a simple premise:
Someone is stealing Howie's mind and the only one who can help him is a girl who has already lost hers.
I was just starting my first edit, and I slammed my finger in the car door slowing my writing down to a crawl. So my poor characters are left unedited all on their own for a few weeks.
>I got into writing urban fantasy after discovering the genre and really enjoying it. I'm writing a series of ghost fiction from the ghost's point of view. It's been intensely enjoyable and difficult at the same time.
>I've completed one novel in my series, started on my next, and recently signed with a fantastic literary agent!
Interesting tidbit…Although I have a degree in psychology and I'm a former social worker, people do sometimes surprise me.
Oh, and I lovvve mashed potatoes and gravy for a midnight snack!
>I recently saw a quote in a shop window: Yes, you are unique, just like everyone else.
Good thought to ponder while responding to your post. I think the most interesting thing I have done (so far) was to marry my husband in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa – a long way from a small town in Oregon.
>Something interesting about my writing is that I can't seem to avoid the military when writing. Whether it's knights in armor in my high fantasy or any branch of our current Armed Forces in the contemporary stuff I write.
As for me, I'm a culinary school washout, but only after obtaining a master's degree. (I really didn't want to leave the academic environment. You know those people who become professional students, always in classes or getting degrees? Totally understand how it can happen.)
>Hello! I enjoy your blog and tweets:)
I write romantic comedies, both novels and screenplays. I'm currently working on the story of an extraordinary violin prodigy turned very ordinary voice/music teacher who is hounded by a famous rock singer. He insists she can help him fix his broken voice. She refuses. Not only is she not qualified for the job, whenever he's near her, she speaks like a cave woman. Star struck? You betcha, but what's a girl to do when he insists on popping up in her mundane life? Fall in love with him, what else. Too bad he's engaged to an equally famous lingerie model.
Have a great weekend everyone!
>My current WIP is a romance novel that was inspired by a recent trip to Italy. I am documenting my journey 'to publication and beyond' on my blog. 🙂
>I've written nonfiction for 30+ years and had no intention of shifting to fiction. That is until a voice came to me in the dense woods behind Blarney Castle in Ireland and whispered, "Tell my story." I am now 10,000 words into a novel which takes place in pre-history.
Karen
>Something interesting about me? Ummm…
I lived on a small island with no electricity and no running water for a month. It was bliss.
>I have been involved in ministry all my life. I was raised in a minister's home and have served in a wide array of Christian ministry from youth and music, to Christian education teaching on the elementary through high school,and adult Bible institute levels, as well as serving as President of a Bible institute and seminary. I have also served on the mission field and as a senior pastor. I have a Bible study on Christian leadership that has been published and a book on the church and our modern culture. I am presently working on a book dealing with the mind and how it impacts the believers relationship with God.
>From my WIP: the main character is distantly related to the writer Edith Wharton and hangs out in her birthplace in NYC–which is now a Starbucks!
Other stuff: I write an environmental blog with a friend called Frogs Are Green. Ribbit…
>Hello, about my WIP going through the final stage of editing. It is a regency romance murder mystery. It is book 1 out of 7 based on the seven deadly sins.
Love your blog and thanks for having it available to the newbies.
M. Perez, The Regency Inkwell
>Polls completed.
I write both fiction and non-fiction, but marked fiction.
My current WIP is an inspirational historical set in late 16th century Japan. I'm finishing edits on it as well as on a proposal requested by a publisher.
>I have two WIPs, and can't seem to figure out which one to stick with. (Trying a new genre since the old one doesn't seem to be working out.) One is Christian romance, the other is historical (non-romance).
>Hmmm, something interesting about my WiP is that it has a running theme of forgiveness that appeared without my planning. 🙂 And something interesting about me: I like peacock feathers. 🙂
>My WIP is in the editorial revision stage, my publisher is Written World Communications under their Other Sheep Imprint. It's a historical romance/adventure story with a Christian and vampire twist. Set in 1755Pennsylvania, it concerns a Christian named Rebecca, who is also a vampire. Not the undead creature of Balkan folklore, Rebecca suffers from an extremely rare genetic distorder that is the basis for all the vampire legends. She's come to America looking for Sanctuary and finds it in the most unlikely of places when she accepts captivity by a Mohawk offshoot tribe to free a 13-year-old colonial girl, is adopted by the tribe and by custom marries one of their great warriors. But when the French set La Guerre Sauvage in motion in the backcountry, only a vampire can stop it, even if she might pay the ultimate price. I'm pretty excited about this, the culmination of a long and arduous journey, and look forward to the day it actually comes out. May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised. Thanks!
>I am many things: writer of a novel, short stories, poetry; painter of dreams, mosaics; dancer; mother; wife… but today I am eggshell blue, and as fragile.
>My WIP is a high-concept Christian story about what it means to love your neighbor. When I'm not writing it, I'm trying hard not to think of the words "practice novel." 🙂
Thanks for providing such a great resource and congrats on being named a top agent blog again!
>i am (unpublished, but disciplined & presistent) a writer of southern literary fiction.
rachael's blog is better than a college course in "What To Do & How To Get Published."
.
http://tomhonea.wordpress.com
>Something interesting about my WIP? My ten-year-old daughter sees it being made into a movie and she's practicing the way she smiles when she walks down the red carpet.:) We are both believers of the law of attraction by the way…
>My current WIP is getting serious about blogging. I have excellent guideposts from one of your earlier posts about Blogging Identity. My fiction centers mainly on Florida so I'm going for something like Florida on My Mind.
I wrote an acclaimed first novel, The Chinaberry Album, and now have two other novels being reviewed by agents. One is a paranormal (without vampires) and the other, while not a sequel, revisits the setting of T.C.A.
My writing is sometimes chosen for anthologies, and I have written two plays that took first place in contests.
Thanks for your interest.
>Good morning, Rachelle! I'm a writer, currently writing devotionals. I also edit a military spouse blog for an organization I'm happy to be a part of. I have started several novels, never finishing any of them. Have a great day!
>My WIP is not a sugar-coated love story; rather, the main character faces heartache, deceit and betrayal headlong, but she will be stronger for it in the end.
>Something interesting about myself is that I'm avid poker player, yet have never written poker into any of my books.
My current project is taking a turn when the character I thought was going to be my main characters best ally turned against her.
>Love this idea, Rachelle. I thought I had my whole year mapped out with a few regular columns and some magazine writing then someone dropped a non-fiction book idea in my lap that is too dear to my heart to dismiss without some serious consideration.
Personally, just make sure I have tea and chocolate and I will be okay.
>Hi Rachelle and everyone,
I am currently editing the third book I've written for Writer's Digest Books. It's called The Writer's Workout and it's going to launch in December of this year. It's very sporty in appearance and, though I am a lot less sporty than I used to be, once upon a time I was a rugby player and I have the tattoo to prove it. (That's both questions.) Thanks for all you do for writers. 🙂
>I'm currently working on some short stories as well as a novel tentatively titled "Prometheus." It's about a woman who thinks that the artist her friend is dating could be a psychokiller.
>I am querying a book about a street kid who gets turned into a vampire only to discover he's the reincarnation of a long lost vampire king.
My current WIP is about a defrocked priest who ends up exorcising a demon from a possessed six-year-old girl.
I have been a pointe shoe fitter for over 15 years and I moderate on Ballet Talk for Dancers. I can also crochet and play the harp. I love watching MMA fights.
>Something interesting about my WIP: I first wrote it as a memoir. Then I turned it into a nonfiction narrative. Now, it's morphed into a novel which only vaguely resembles the original memoir. But it's my favorite as a novel. I weep when I'm writing it and new things enter the story's landscape every day. Something interesting about me: I once spent the night camped out on a frozen lake near Ely, Minnesota and I swore I was gonnna die before morning. I mushed a dog sled that same trip with a man who's been to the North Pole.
>Fun day, Rachelle!
I love (canned) spinach sandwiches.
>My thriller _Remember_ was inspired by a dream (from which I woke up, and desperately wanted to get back in and finish).
I studied for two semesters under Time correspondant David Aikman and spent a summer as a script supervisor for an independent film (scripty's are responsible for continuity, and keeping the ducks in a row on the right side of the director's brain).
>I love that you give this opportunity to your readers.
something interesting about me hmm… I am a first time mommy to be and despite how busy that makes me and my husband, I am still trying to find time to work on a few works in progress.
>I am writing a (Christian) womens fiction about a stripper…
And my husband, our three teenagers and I plan to run 4 half marathons in October but none of us are runners. (Training starts tomorrow)
>Something interesting about me . . . Back in ’95, when I was 27, I answered a singles bulleting board posting on America Online for “seeking a left handed future matriarch.” This led to a 9month long e-mail and phone relationship between Tulsa (where I lived) and Boston (where he lived). This was ’95, so I spent a lot of time explaining e-mail to people. This year we celebrate 15 years of marriage and we have five passionate children. So I have that matriarch thing sewn up. Plus I am left-handed.Always fun to tell this story (the better version takes an hour to tell.) Thanks, Rachelle!
>Thanks for the poll.About my WIP?The simple thought I keep in my mind about my current WIP is “First love, haunted.”Something interesting about me?I don’t know if this is interesting to anyone, but I crochet French market shopping bags out of recycled plastic grocery bags.Thanks again for all the advice and encouragement you share with us.
>Sorry – somehow my post double entered 😛
>Hmmm… an interesting thing about my WIP? Which one to choose? 😉 In my highest priority WIP, my main character is faced with the reality that her best friend–and the her deceased fiancé’s best friend–is in love with her. For me, I’m a mom of two, one of whom is afflicted with a very rare disease called Schwachman-Diamond Syndrome. He’s almost 9 months old, and we’re still in the process of learning the extent of his affliction, which that, and his constant care, is taking a lot of what used to be my prime writing time. But, he’s worth the extra care. 🙂
>It’s so fun to read everyone’s replies and see the poll results. Way cool idea, Rachelle!Something interesting about myself … I used to read the dictionary when I was a kid and now, I will choose a show on the History channel over going to the movies to see a chick flick. Guess I’m a little odd 😉
>I am writing a literary science fiction story with the theme of by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. I have 4 different methods of travel that are metaphors for the two forms (and 2 heretical forms) of all religions as described by CS Lewis. My finished work is an allegorical account of Jonah with the twist of Jonah as antagonist instead of protagonist that shows that even when we think we are running from God, His will is still done. It is not sci-fi but it is merely novella length–a very difficult first “sell” work. I started following you at the suggestion on Michael Hyatt and read your blog often enough that I both want to submit my story to you and know there is no point because you don’t represent sic-fi. The wisdom you display is still helpful and useful in my desire to one day be published.
>My W.I.P. began as my 2nd year of doing NaNoWriMo – would like to finally finish (written, edited, etc) a novel before my 55th birthday – more than a year away! Interesting fact #1 about me – my husband and I are pulled, drawn, comitted to missions work in Africa and waiting on God’s timing to go. Our short time in Uganda gave me so many words, what will long term bring?Interesting fact #2 – My husband gave me the nickname FireFly because he said I reflect the light of God. I became HisFireFly as an online identity because it covers both God (big His) and Rick (little his)
>I have about a million works in progress!I chose “other” for the first question because, though I am solely a writer now, I am training to be an editor, and would love to do that full-time someday. 🙂 In fact, I’d love to take it up a notch and become an acquisitions editor!
>Interesting things about me: I hate butter, can hypnotize bunnies (seriously!), and I absolutely love learning!One of my goals is to convey what I am learning, particularly in the area of serving with nonprofits, into a book, but we will see! Right now I enjoy teaching high school (I have a little time off at the moment:) and look forward to teaching college in June!Thanks for being willing to get to know me!Peri
>Writing – I’m working on a women’s fiction ms and also taking part in the Write 1 Sub 1 Challenge (the monthly version, not the weekly!)Me – my husband and I have two pet tortoises who are the inspiration for my blog (where I talk about reading, writing, and you guessed it – the tortoises!)
>Question 2…I am both self-published and traditionally published so I wasn’t sure how to answer it.:)
>I have a BA in English Lit and a Masters in Theology. I’m in the outline stage for a novel (trying to learn everything I can about good books and publishing) and I love this blog.
>Something interesting about my WIP: I’m laying the ground work to kill off an important person in the supporting cast, and simultaneously working on bringing in a character to live with and complicate my protagonist’s life.
>Something interesting about my WIP: I recently started the 12th draft. :)Each draft varies on chapters for me though. Sometimes I’ll write five chapters and then start a new draft because I decided to change a major plot point. Something interesting about me? Much harder question. I’ve recently started horseback riding again. Love it!
>I’m finishing up a novel set in Victorian England in Whitechapel (Whitechapel Hearts) combining R. L. Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Jack the Ripper. The one thing I always wondered about J&H is why? Why did he feel the need to separate himself from his evil side. The answer is Delilah Makepeace.
>This is so fun! I wrote a YA fantasy novel that doesn’t take place in a high school. It’s called ON FALLEN WINGS and it’s about Faeries! In the querying process now while writing another.
>I am writing a fiction novel about a boy’s difficult time dealing with his mother’s second husband. My WP blog is a daily reflection of my writing (among other things). The novel is still a work in progress, but I have gained a lot of momentum in the past four months and hope to have a strong draft ready by end of July. Hopefully, I will be ready to submit before the end of the year.
>You need a third category on “are you writing primarily for” question. 🙂 My NF is almost exclusively for the Christian market; my fiction I want to aim for the general market (coming from a Christian perspective, but not overtly religious).
>My WIP? The one I’m working on is my first EVER. MG Historical fiction (ages 10 & up). About me? It took 40 years to realize that writing lives in my soul.
>My current WIP is a short story about a ghost hunter investigating a haunted pool hall. His hidden motive is the search for a means of breaking a curse chaining him to his ex-girlfriend’s ghost.Trivia about me: I play a decent game of Words with Friends.
>Me? I’m a writer who writes anything and everything. Notes on scraps of paper, a blog, facebook jingles, and due to your encouragement I just started to “tweet” again. Also working on a piece of fiction and constantly taking classes.Husband and I,sold everything and moved to the Caribbean about a year ago, by the hand of God. Wow, what an adventure!
>Something interesting about me: I’m Dutch or origin, American at heart and I live in the south of Germany, so Keli and Wendy are more than welcome anytime to play whack-a-mole 🙂 I’m addicted to chocolate and high-school series and movies…Something about my WIP: I’m working on a Christian YA novel and on a on-fiction book about youth ministry and I’m very excited about both!I absolutely love your blog and I never miss a post, thank you for all the time you’re putting into this!
>WIP – well I am not quite sure what genre it will be in. However, my WIP is called To Whom It May Concern and is about a man who has Alzheimers and is in a nursing home. He writes “letters” daily beginning each one with To Whom It May Concern. Some days he writes about that days events in the nursing home and other days about his life during WWII and the Great Depression.He is currently the only character in the book and believe it or not I havent even chosen a name for him yet. A friend of mine read it and said it was just “brillant”. I was hoping to have it finished by December 2010 however that didnt work out so my new goal is to finish it, send to publisher (no self publishing this time) before my son Josh leaves for USMC Basic Training in December 2011.
>My current WIP was inspired by a dream I had about a burning crown. I wrote the zeroth draft for NaNoWriMo 2005 and I was about halfway through when I realised it was a trilogy.I am closing in on completing the second draft. Planning to start editing in June…. and even after more than five years living with this alien world and the characters inhabiting it, I still love the place.
>I recently discovered that one of my family lines traces back to one of the earliest Amish settlers to come to Pennsylvania in 1737. I started thinking of myself as “almost Amish.” That inspired a story by that title, now under contract (current WIP). I’d never had interest in writing Amish stories, but this personal connection gave me a new twist.
>I recently discovered that one of my family lines traces back to one of the earliest Amish settlers to come to Pennsylvania in 1737. I started thinking of myself as “almost Amish.” That inspired a story by that title, now under contract (current WIP). I’d never had interest in writing Amish stories, but this personal connection gave me a new twist.
>I recently discovered that one of my family lines traces back to one of the earliest Amish settlers to come to Pennsylvania in 1737. I started thinking of myself as “almost Amish.” That inspired a story by that title, now under contract (current WIP). I’d never had interest in writing Amish stories, but this personal connection gave me a new twist.
>Thanks for asking, Rachelle. Very kind of you! :)I write romantic women’s fiction and am in the throes of securing an agent for my 80,000-word novel. I’ve had lots of bites (not the vampire variety!), and many close calls, but am still searching for The One. An interesting factoid about me: In addition to writing fiction, I am a certified life coach. My biggest claim to fame? I turned down an appearance on the David Letterman Show, after discovering that the segment I was to appear on would lampoon the coaching profession. I don’t mind making fun of myself; I just didn’t want Letterman to do it for me! :)Thanks again for giving writers the chance to introduce ourselves on your blog. It’s much appreciated!
>Rachelle,I love your blog. It is so helpful and uplifting. An interesting thing about my WIP is that the heroine pet is a 1,000 bull.
>Hm. WIP – werewolves are an evolutionary cul-de-sac. I’m also working on a revise and resubmit for an agent. It’s much scarier than the original query process.
>Currently working on a YA paranormal featuring a too-human girl, cannibal spirits, Ojibwe mythology, and bears.Also have a few speculative shorts I’m preparing for submission.Interesting fact: Me + fork + can of black olives = happy bedtime snack.
>/glares at a certain doctor for teasing us so/Keli – definitely need to know more about this Whack-a-Mole business!Current WIP: Mail order bride [with a 21st century twist] meets Mr. MomFirst draft is not being nearly as amusing as I’d like it to be.Me? Moved into our first house on Friday the 13th. It was on Elm Street.
>I clicked traditional publishing, but I expected an option for electronic publishing. I have a short story out now with an e-press and am waiting to hear about a novella. Your blog has been so useful. Thanks for that.
>I’m co-writing a book with the father of a boy who killed his best friend and best friend’s parents. It was national news back in 2007.I live in Paradise, PA, where it’s impossible to disagree with Rob Bell – at the end of the day, everyone here goes to Paradise.
>I write comic fiction in an urban paranormal genre. I’m about to start writing the second of a series of four novels set in the UK each themed to one of the four elements. The first was earth so was all about money, or at least gambling. The elemental connection was a bit of a coincidence so I’m running with it, or at least I’m going to see how far I can take it.I’m in the process of moving my existing three books from self publishing (no point in trying to keep it a secret) to a small press based in Oxford.Oh and my books have a fairly strong pagan connection so I suspect we’d not really be a good match, which is a shame because looking at your blog and tweets I reckon you’d be a good way for me to get into the US.Keep up the good work.
>I’m a professional violinist and music educator by trade, and a former missionary, making a transition to “writer”. My current WIP is a proposal for a spiritual memoir of being married to a bipolar spouse, and our literal ups and downs. I find the timing interesting as bipolar disorder has been in the news more recently, as reasons for Charlie Sheen’s behavior as well as Catherine Zeta Jones’ recent announcement. My prayer is that through our story, those who deal with mental illness, whether themselves or loved ones, can find hope. This is an area where there is still a lot of stigma and confusion, especially within the Church. Praying that God uses it somehow!
>Current WIP: An informative article about e-books for a Hungarian journal.Life WIP: Participating in the digital transition in Germany.
>My most complete work-in-progress is Documenting America: Lessons for today from the USA’s Historical Documents. In this I take original documents from the US’s past—not the well-known ones, but still ones of great importance—excerpt each, discuss the importance of the concepts to our nation’s growth, and pull out lessons suitable for guiding us as a nation today. It’s complete except for the Introduction and proof-reading, 30 chapters, 40,000 words. I intend to e-self-publish it via Kindle, Smashwords, and print self-publish it via CreateSpace. Maybe a month to publishing.
>And I realized I’m supposed to share. I write YA and MG. My current wip is a high concept YA about a girl who falls into the role of a spy while living in Paris. That’s why I was curious about your expanded genres of interest.
>I want to write something that will challenge Christian culture and possibly have some general market interest as well. WIP #1 – non-fiction, interviews with people who feel like they are on the outside of the Church. WIP #2 – more of an idea about how the church can reclaim the concept of “community”.Interesting fact: I’m from Illinois, but I’m fluent in French
>Hi Rachelle, three years ago I started writing again after a 20 year silence. Recently I completed a collection of 160 poems accompanied by a fictional concordance. It doesn’t fit into any genre, so I will be self-publishing very soon; as soon as my artist finishes the book jacket! Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself. I enjoy your tweets!
>I’m currently working on a S&S Fantasy Novella series. The first book has been published on Smashwords, but due to a series of comments, I am re-writing it.I haven’t started querying anything yet, I’m content to self pub for the minute.
>Wow. I’m not unique! I’m in the majority of every category. But my WIP is. I wish you liked my genre, even if only to be rejected…ha haWIP: Pop Travel. (sci-fi thriller)One sentence summary:Reclusive detective and spunky, sultry FBI agent investigate the cover up of a deadly flaw in laser teleportation, pop travel.Me? I lived in Georgia and base many stories there, love it! I’m a math teacher so analytical and sarcastic =) (never would’ve guessed I’d be a writer!)
>My WIP is trying to figure out where God wants me and what we should be doing.In this arena, I’m drawn mostly to Bible Study writing/teaching.
>I’m a published business writer by day, aspiring memoirist by night. I hope to finish polishing my WIP before giving birth in 5 or 6 weeks!
>I didn’t realize you were interested in YA for girls. I’d love to hear more about your decision to rep YA, unless there is a post I missed. Pretty cool.
>My current WIP has been bugging me lately because it doesn’t have any gimmicks in it…just a story. No gimmicks = not agent-friendly.There is nothing interesting about me.
>My current WIP is a nonfiction picture book about one of my experiences.And my experiences are also something that is interesting about me. I’m probably the only person in the whole wide world who survived the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, September 11th, near plain crash, and a college campus shooting.
>I’m Sarah, and I’m working on a short story collection that chronicles to underbelly of a small Southern neighborhood. My title is(a possibility) Between Rosemary Street and Hawkins Crest.
>I'm just beginning to query agents:
Set in the San Francisco Bay Area, BLESSED ARE THE DEAD is a mystery about a newspaper reporter’s quest to find a kidnapped girl and just how far she will go to get a front-page story. It is inspired by a story I covered as a crime reporter and my own efforts to get a serial killer to confess to taking and killing a little girl. Years later, I am still haunted by the story. When the man died in prison two years ago, I was called for a comment, so I guess in a way I’m considered an “expert” on him now.
>Something other people tend to find interesting about me (I just find it normal) – I have five kids, ages 3-13. On a side note, all delivered sans epidural. 😉
>Over the course of a year, my family stayed with 31 families around the country (17 of them we had never met–we met through my blog). I'm writing about the crazy-awesomeness.
>Hi. My name is Angeline and I'm a Starbuck's addict. I've been drinking their coffee now for 7 years. I fight it, I really do. I am weak.
I also spend my free time writing romance novels. Life deserves a happy ending, yes? The hardest part of writing, for me, is crafting stories and prose better than I ever have before so they live up to the standards my characters and their lives deserve. The easiest part of writing is…ooh! Latte! Got to run!
>Something about my WIP? How about this:
Who wanted him dead, and why? And who killed the woman in the trunk of his car?
Rachelle, thanks for all you do, including this great blog.
>This is so much fun–great idea Rachelle!
Something interesting about me AND my WIP: I've gotten compliments on the realism of the near drowning experienced by a four-year-old in my novel The Memory of Drowning. It's real because . . . I nearly drowned when I was four-years-old. My earliest memory (and it's not a bad one)!
I also had broken arms three times–my right arm is spectacularly crooked at the elbow. This is what happens when you grow up on a farm with brothers . . .
>These comments are fun to read.
I'm working on my second novel after taking a break to take few creative writing classes at a university. My WIP is upmarket women's fiction for the general market. In it, a woman finds that one of her lowest parenting moments is caught on a surveillance tape at a bridal shop while she tries on bridesmaid dresses for her sister's wedding, two small children in tow. The event causes her to re-evaluate her memories and relationship with her own quirky mother. The book explore the humbling, haunting, and sometimes hilarious disconnect between a mother's intentions and her reality.
I've spent the time since querying you last time reading craft books, taking creative writing classes, and enjoying my kids are they grow older and get more self-sufficient. I'm applying for several MFA programs this fall, and can't wait to query you again!
>I can't write a novel without pets being in it. Try as I have, I just can't. Hmmm, thinking it might have something to do with the fact that my little yorkiepoo won't let me write without him cuddled in right next to me in the chair.
>The stories my mother told me about her life during the Great Depression provided the inspiration for my WIP, a historical romance set in the area where she grew up.
>Right now I'm polishing my paranormal novella about a woman who falls for the alien (looks like a human) who struggles between his love for her and his mission to steal her technology for his race. It will be a three-part series.
Plus, I'm doing one final polish on a full ms, aChrisitan romantic suspense, that was requested by Steeple Hill just yesterday!
>Fun idea! Ok, something interesting about my WIP–
The invading aliens turn out to be a human dragon hybrid created centuries before on the planet they are invading. My heroine is a direct descendant of the mage who created them, but she doesn't know it.
Interesting about me–
I lived for five years in a house with no running water. We had an outhouse and everything! It was like a never ending camping trip. Good thing I like camping.
>I'm pretty boring compared to your other readers!
It's been three years since my brother died, and my WIP is based on the journals that I've written as I've uncovered the secrets of his past and examined if everything I believe about grace is true.
>I am almost finished editing my WIP, my 2nd completed novel. Here's my blurb:
April despairs of ever reaching her teenage daughter. Her sweet girl is brilliant beyond words, but has grown dangerously troubled since the death of her father.
Nick, a gifted teacher, gave up on his father a couple of decades ago. His dad's experience in communist Romania left him so emotionally scarred, he's not capable of a real relationship, not even with his only son.
But when 15-year old Sierra wanders into old Luca's yard, new bonds begin to form, old stories come to light, and life begins to change for all of them.
>I dove into the publishing world nine years ago as an independent publisher, publishing 4 books of my own, and several books by other authors; gave up the publishing side after writing reading assessment passages for educational publishers; currently seeking representation for my middle grade novel (not the self-published ones).
>My only current work-in-progress is my blog, http://trac-changes.blogspot.com/
I write about the publishing industry — advice, tips, and critical analysis — for writers and young professionals in the field. It's great fun!
Love this post idea =)
>The most interesting thing about me as a writer is that I wrote a few animated YouTube videos that went viral over the inter-webs, and helped me sign with my agent.
Some of you may have seen my "So You Want to Write a Novel" video, and I also wrote one called "So You Want to Go to Law School," which has about 1.3 million hits on YouTube.
it's been the most exciting thing to happen to my writing career- (Rachelle even tweeted the Novel video link a few months back!)
>Something interesting about me or my WIP?
Me–I just got my first cell phone last week. Yes, I am very proud, even if it was my mother's old phone. 😀
>Since I was 18 years old, when I wrote a children's story for acceptance into college, I have wanted to get a chidren's book published. As as an older adult, I have started to write more. I recently submitted my manuscript of one of my children's books to an agent based upon my query letter. So I have been waiting to hear. My blog consists of poems and sometimes I post my children's stories. Please visit my blog.
choices-lovetoteach@blogspot.com
>I truly enjoy reading your blog. It has been very informative and inspiring. My WIP is my very first, and it is young adult fiction. I am writing about the budding relationship between a farm boy and the girl next door. Things become complicated when one of them becomes super human.
I keep a writing vlog on my computer that I am afraid to let anyone see.
I am in the process of revising and I am finding this part of the process to be not as fun, but far more rewarding than putting down the first draft.
>I'm in the small percentage of peeps that responded with non-fiction. I've loved following your blog for the past two years but I hardly ever leave a comment.
My WIP is called "Jesus and the Compelling Parade". The focus of the work is how Jesus started a movement that is like a peculiar parade which is still marching through culture today.
The interesting thing about me is that I hate parades.
>I have spent several decades in banking and Wall Street (I started very young 😉 and grew up in the same house my very Irish grandmother. So it seemed natural to write about Druids and Bloodsuckers. What if in our 24/7 world Gordon Gecko really had fangs? Would ancient magic, hidden underground with the Tuatha de Danann, oppose them or join them? Is it ever that simple?
Visit my blog http://kvictoriasmith.blogspot.com/
for excerpts.
>I pour way too many spoonfuls of sugar in my tea every morning. I take risks every day, I don’t embarrass easily, and I almost choked on a lemon ball in the car until my mom pulled over and my sister gave me the Heimlich (one of many reasons why I love capturing a sibling relationship in my current WIP).
Oh, and I’m thrilled there’s a book out now titled Weird: Because Normal Isn’t Working. Can’t wait to get my hands on that one!
And Keli, I will challenge you to a game of Whack-a-mole in Germany. May it be noted. (I can also be quite competitive at games like Whack-a-mole.)
Have a wonderful weekend, Rachelle!
~ Wendy
>Hmm, something interesting about me . . .
Nope, got nothing.
How about my current WIP?
I decided to merge two characters into one. One of the characters wasn't doing his job, but I couldn't totally delete him–so the merge happened. And what a pain-in-the-butt-hot-mess THAT was to fix!
It is done.
>Something about my WIP: One of my three main characters originated from a ball-jointed doll I received as a Christmas gift in 2008. Despite her not being the main focus of the story, she's still my favorite character.
Someday I want to get the other two characters in doll form as well, just for completion's sake.
>Just went and did all four polls! 🙂
Now…something interesting about my current WIP…hmm. Well, it is a medieval, romantic suspense. The two main characters is an assassin paid to help bring down the royal family, and a Princess who must learn to outsmart her enemy and stay out of his clutches. It's been a blast to write! 😀
~ Katy
>Currently enrolled in my second writing course. Working on a manuscript for the fiction (western) market. After taking my first writing course, I learned that I will have to back to page one of my first manuscript and start all over.
>I recently returned to Ohio from a tour called "Traveling in the Footsteps of Paul."
The first part of the two week tour was spent in Turkey. We had a wonderful guide. A very knowledgeable man who is, like 70% of the nation, a non-practicing Muslim. The countryside is beautiful. We spent a week riding a bus and stopping at historical sights and many ruins of Christian Churches, or the towns where they had been. Most of these places were not excavated, but you could see bits a pieces sticking up through the tells.
The places that were uncovered and partially restored were very impressive.
But as the journey through Turkey continued, I wondered about all the churches the Apostle Paul had visited. What happen?
When Christ returns He will draw His own from every tribe and nation. Where were the Christians in Turkey? This really troubled me.
On one of our last days in Turkey, a few of us wandered into a small cafe for lunch. The woman who helped us spoke English as if it were her native tongue. She was so helpful. Our group struck up a conversation with her, leading her to ask us if we were Amish. (A common mistake.)
I said, no we are German Baptists . . . so Baptists. (actually . . . Brethren.)
She said her family is Protestant.
That perked me up. I said, "You're Christian?"
She nodded and said, "It's hard."
I jumped up from the table and rushed to her side. "I need a hug," I said.
(Have I ever told you I am a deep introvert?)
Anyway, I told her about our tour to the "Churches of Asia" and how I was depressed wondering where are the Christians?
Husband took a picture of she and I and I think of her often.
I am still processing that trip.
>Something about my WIP: After reading and critiquing it, Dennis Hensley wrote this at the bottom of one chapter: "Now, that is so wacko, it's fabulous! It's insanity that you can believe. WOW!"
Something about me: Since 1987, I've traveled to Russia and Ukraine over 40 times. (I've also applied to the TV reality show SURVIVOR 24 times, but so far haven't been selected. Still trying!)
>"Falkenstein" is my first work of fiction. It is full of surprise characters real and imagined, helping to bring history alive. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the mysterious death of one of the main characters. "Falkenstein" finally "solves" the case.
>Interesting? Hmm. Well, I engaged in a two second conversation with Prince Edward several years ago – he still had a bit of hair at the time. I interviewed Jerry Douglas from Young and The Restless, (John Abbott) he had hair too, more than Edward come to think of it. And although I live on a tiny island, I really hate to fly. Go figure.
>Interesting and current: I completed a half-marathon last Saturday (felt great the whole time!)
While running that race, I thought of a few lines in my WIP (memoir about recovery after almost dying and almost losing my leg) that I need to change.
>My book should be ready to be printed next Wednesday, so that means I could be holding my book in my hand the week after Easter. Yeah!
>I love Circus Peanuts (the marshmellowy kind).
>Know how Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland is always seeing funny and crazy things around him? Like the kids flying out the window.
That happens to me all the time. That's what I write about. Random epic nerdity.
The other day there was a dragon perched on my roof, ready with its saddle to take me to Wendy's.
>That should read "part of" rather than "part os". One of these days I'll start proofreading before posting…
>So many people who have read part os my novel, "Coldfire", assume it's science fiction simply because it's set in the future.
Whenever I got shopping for clothes, I end up in the bookstore. After hours of clothes shopping I may walk out with one or two items but if I go into the bookstore, more often than not I walk out with five books.
>Something interesting about my historical WIP is that my heroine, Portia Hamilton, becomes a designer of Regency interiors.
>done the polls!
Something about me: I once sang on a record for a recording of "Oliver." and I've been round the world twice.
My WIP is set in WWII and is a kind of spy adventure with a gay protagonist who's a bit of an antihero.
>My WIP, Nepenthe, is set in a small mountian town 90 minutes from where I live. One of my characters (a ghost) allegedly haunts a famous historical hotel there.
About me: My side job is an eye-back tech in which I perform enucleations (removing eyes from deceased human donors for corneal transplants).
>Really enjoyed reading all the comments before mine! I'm first of all a short story and article writer (many published, some won prizes). But my first novel, Dangerous Deceit, is a historical romance set in Regency England (I'm Scottish) and is coming out in May from Champagne Books in Canada!
My other novel (looking for an agent) is a women's contemporary with short, alternate historical chapters. I like to use an occasional real historical figure (but fictionalised) in my novels. I also have two children's novels searching for a publisher. I love dancing and am currently attending an adult Tap class!
>My WIP is finished and in the copy editing stage. I have an agent and am publishing traditionally. My book, Lessons from the Monk I Married, is about my 14-year journey with my husband, a former Korean Buddhist monk. It's due out in bookstores across North America March 2012. I also write a popular blog where I have posted over 365 lessons. http://www.lessonsfromthemonkimarried.blogspot.com
Thanks for the opportunity to share! Your blog has been a great inspiration!
>My WIP is a novel that literally began with a walk in the park. We were visiting a town in South West France we'd never been to before and stumbled across a huge magical park with peacocks roosting in the trees and a 16th century cloister in the centre. A whole set of characters started to jostle around in my head and my next novel was underway.
Interesting fact about me. I was interviewed on BBC Woman's Hour by Jenni Murray (a scarey interviewer but I've admired her for years), when I wrote a book about being a Christian mother with a gay son. My son took part in the interview as well and he was a lot better at it than I was, but we both had a ball!
>I'm writing a science fiction thriller called Out of the Shadows. It's sort of Dawn of the Dead meets Firefly.
>I am in the middle of writing the sequel to my first book, a historical suspense novel set in 1898-1900. New book comes forward to present times.
After spending the past two years with just a blog and a Facebook fan page, I finally broke down and purchased a domain and author website last night!
>I am a new writer, student at 53 years old, so I have a lot of work in progress (in various genres) because of class assignments. My favourite is about a teenaged girl who falls into the world of Merlin, who has been trapped by Nimue, his evil nemesis. She has to race a bewitched knight down a snowy/icy hill and she does so with her trusty snowboard. Of course, she is Merlin's great-great-great-yadda-yadda-grand-daughter. It was meant to be a short story, but I'm extending into a novelette for pre-teens.
>My horror novel is titled Guardian Angel – What if evil was your guardian angel, and your guardian angel wanted you dead?
>A year ago, at the ripe old age of 46, I had an idea to write a thriller. I'm an architect, not a classically trained writer, yet I cranked out an 87,000 word novel in 6 weeks then spent the better part of the year polishing it. Now I am working the system & querying for an agent & gearing up for my next novel because I find writing to be my true calling.
>I play a mean game of Whack-a-mole. One time when I was going at it during a Fest in Germany, a crowd gathered to watch me bop those babies but good. =)
>I want to know why YOU don't write fiction. I think you are a very engaging writer. Have a great weekend, girl!
>I was crazy enough to take on the NaShoStoMo challenge during April to churn out as many ideas as possible, post them on my blog, and see which ones work, so that is my current WIP. That way I get to tell myself that I won't spend so much time writing and more time studying… Something interesting about me – I am busy with my MA in Afrikaans, Old Norse and Dutch. I find mythology fascinating and this seemed a good way to further my studies in languages while adding a good dose of myths and story telling!
>I think it's interesting that (at least at the moment) most of your readers write the very genre you don't represent 🙂
About my WIP: It's a completely insane attempt to combine ninjas, dragons, mechs, krakens, and whatever else I can cram in there without breaking disbelief.
About me: My wife and I parent 9 kids (trying to adopt a 10th) in Thailand. I am not a ninja, but would very much like to be.
>Current WIP is a modern day Sleeping Beauty story. Or rather, what happens when Aurora grows old. The MC is her granddaughter, who ends up going through much the same thing as she did. But with several twists, of course =).
>Since this is an either/or question, I'll choose the 'or' and tell you that I was the Grade One teacher for astronaut Robert Thirsk. I was both humbled and awestruck when he acknowledged me publicly for my contribution to his education. I wrote about it on my blog at http://wp.me/phaYw-cs to make the point that we may never know what purpose God has for us or what influence we may have on the people around us. "Our task is simply to turn up each day and live our lives to the best of our ability…."
>WIP is set in 2138. A dead man wants a new body, a Russian scientist needs to get his formula for immortality back from the mobsters who stole it, and a young woman who watched her brother be murdered that morning just wants to survive the day.
I've lived overseas since 1993 in Russia, Croatia, China, Iceland, Azerbaijan, and next I will move to Hungary. I once tied for 1st in the US Amateur chess championship, and as a starting pitcher in little league I never lost a game. At 16 I was offered a pro contract in soccer, but my mom wouldn't sign it as it entailed moving to Mexico City.
>I currently support myself writing web site content. I am working on a horror novel, revising a children's picture book manuscript and researching a children's non-fiction manuscript. I am a former journalist turned freelancer.
>Interesting thing about my WIP: For research, I had to read up on cryptography, the Beat poets, and Edgar Allan Poe.
Interesting thing about me: I married the boy who sat in front of me in Ms. Adkins 7th grade social studies class.
>I write LGBT contemporary YA! My current WIP is about a boy who falls in love with the worst person imaginable… his girlfriend's brother.
An interest fact about me: I'm dropping out of college and running away to Europe later this year!
>In my long personal tradition of not following the rules, I will provide something almost interesting about my WIP and myself.
My WIP, "One Great Big Not-Listening Party," is a humorous memoir about surviving life in the heartland as a wife, mother, and high school teacher. One of my students saw the Virgin Mary in a plate of microwaved gummi bears, then ate her when I wouldn't let him take a picture with his phone.
I won the Author! Author! First Pages contest this year for memoir. My sixteen-year-old son refers to my WIP as "One Great Big Not-Reading Party."
>I am only halfway through chapter three of my first draft of my fantasy novel. Factoid about me – in real life I am a fiction editor.
>Okay, this was hard but one interesting thing about one of my novels (WIP):
Not all genetic mutations are fun or even very useful. Not having machines detect body temperature doesn't do much good and it makes it impossible to stay home from school due to a fever.
>I am writing a short story about demons (don't worry, they're not all bad) and I have several ideas for a web comic and a graphic novel. The short story is going good but the comic and graphic novels are at a stand still until I learn to draw or find a suitable artist to work with. I plan on writing another short story or two before I write the novels I have ideas for.
>About my WIP? A thriller entitled "The Commuter," which was inspired by what I see as a disturbing rise in road rage incidents.("Inspired" might be the wrong word choice.)
About me? Currently three-quarters of the way through my second edit, and suffering through a severe case of syntax rage.
Oh. And I want to start a blog, I really do. Please forward all available hours you might have to the Bryce Daniels Preservation Society.
>Great idea Rachelle! 🙂
I can't seem to decide on a favorite genre. I love and have ideas for high fantasy, romance, historical and, my current favorite, urban fantasy. I have at least one complete first draft in each of those genres, but so far only one urban fantasy that I've polished to querying-level. My current WIP is also urban fantasy.
@ The Writing Goddess: Knitting erotica!?!? LOL I'm so reading that if it gets published!
>I have one completed manuscript, everything else is in IIP (Idea-In-Progress) format at the moment. So, technically, I don't have a WIP. My manuscript, though, is about two unexplored but dynamic ascpects of the Viking Age: the Swedish trade routes into the East, and the influence of Christianity on their society.
I wear purple zebra-striped fingerless gloves whenever I write and I drink hot chocolate year round 🙂
>My WIP (almost finished with the first draft, itching to start revising) is a memoir about being a missionary in what is often referred to as "The Slum of the Pacific". However, instead of the traditional missionary story of one fighting demons and tigers to baptize millions, I am writing about the very real humanity of missionaries — a side I feel that we often do not see.
I love brownies, writing (obviously), and taking great pictures in amazing locations.
>My WIP (in revision) is contemporary romance, single title. My female protagonist is a Chief of Staff. Interesting part: I was actually a policy analyst for the House, so I approach this from an insider’s perspective. I didn’t mention party names or go into political issues, because that’s 1) boring and 2) polarizing. I simply wanted to craft a ridiculously Type A female character on the quest to find Mr. Almost Perfect.
I suppose the most interesting (strange?) thing about me is that I first trained as a concert pianist, but I loathed performing. It was an idiot savant talent I was born with and can’t explain – think of the character in “Rain Main” who counted the matches – or were they toothpicks? — when they fell on the floor. I’m much happier as writer. ☺
(Jenni, I love ketchup on mac n' cheese, too. Also on scrambled eggs. Ketchup makes the world a better place. Noms!)
>I'm a vegetarian who's working on my first horror/supernatural novel – easy on the blood and guts.
My ten years of chronic pain were the inspiration along with living on the Mexican border where I'm lulled to sleep by coyotes, wild cats and rapid fire weapons.
>I have been a lurker on your blog for quite a while. I am revising my first novel (literary fiction). As for something interesting? I have a PhD in theoretical linguistics, but am a rotten speller. Thanks so much for the advice and inspiration!
>I live and write in Johannesburg, South Africa. Some of my short stories have been published in ITCH magazine and “Notes from Underground Anthology”. I was recently shortlisted in the African Writing Flash Fiction 2011 competition. My self-pubbed novel, Dancing in the Shadows of Love will be released in May 2011. I've just made my first book trailer all by myself and found it such a fun experience! And, I'm vegetarian (How can I eat meat? I may as well eat my cat, and HRH Theodora would have something to miaouw about that!)
Judy, South Africa
>My current WIP is two things
1) Its a YA urban fantasy novel called the Book Of Days its almost finished but it still needs some editing before its done. And I want to do some drawings for it as well.
2) Its a collaboration comic book called The Glitch. Which I'm doing with a fellow artist. Doing this comic is soo much work –.–
>I mostly blog devotional Bible teachings on my blog and for a Christian military wives blog. I recently began working on an idea for a novel in the Christian fiction genre.
>Something interesting… I am close to being done with editing my current WIP, which will be my first completed piece yet. And already I am worrying more about picking my topic for this year's NaNoWriMo. My priority? Uh… WRITING!
Oh, another interesting fact. I cannot eat my mac and cheese unless I have ketchup on it too 😉
>I'm close to finishing my current WIP, which is – drum roll please – knitting erotica.
Have been consumed in recent months starting my blog, learning to use the Interwebs better, and by that pesky day job which gets in the way of everything. However, I did churn out a short-short story in my genre (except a PG version) which was just published in Rose City Sisters Flash Fiction. Yeah, me!
Love all I'm learning here and at other sites, and look forward to continuing to learn. Thank you, Rachelle!
>Blue Mountain Arts has used several pieces of mine on their greeting cards and in their gift book anthologies. Right now, one of my pieces is featured on an Easter card for "Friend". Keep an eye out for it! 🙂
>Wow, I stumbled in a few minutes before you posted this one, and saw one of the polls early!