December 2012 – Page 3 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Cheers, Cavanaugh Blogfest

Published on December 10, 2012December 10, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle17 Comments

Hosted by Mark Koopmans, Morgan Shamy, David Powers King and Stephen Tremp.

The 4 talented writers above have introduced an unprecedented idea to get together to thank a blogger who has touched all of our online lives. This is only a sample of what he’s created and this is just since I’ve known him:

He’s a published author of two books and a third is one is way. With all this going on, he still has time to comment on my little old blog especially when I feature a Sydney Quotes the Movies post. Did I mention he loves movies?

Alex is a quality person and he associates himself with quality. And, I can’t think of another person on the Internet that deserves to have a whole Blogfest dedicated to them more then Alex.

Four questions:

What does Alex look like? Alex is an attractive man (much respect to Mrs. Alex). Brown hair, greying at the temples, nice teeth, but a crooked smile.

Who could play Alex in a documentary? When I think of Alex, I picture Sean Connery circa 1987 in the Untouchables, but without the English accent.

Who does Alex remind me of? Alex reminds me an older brother and a younger friend, a wise owl and a impetuous ferret.

Flash Fiction – Dueling Ninjas

“IWSG” I punched in the letters on the keypad singing as I did. I was relaxed.

I had entered the office undetected like a ninja. The Cosbalt brand safe was exactly where my contact said it would be. Just as long as I beat my nemesis, this would be a great score.

I opened the safe inch by inch. A guitar pick and a piece of paper sat at the bottom. On the paper was ineligible writing, almost ineligible.

I crinkled the paper in my fist and slammed the safe shut. “Cavanaugh.” I yelled.

The note simple said, “Played again.”

Are you in love, in utter admiration, in complete adoration (again, no disrespect Mrs. Alex) of Alex, the Ninja Captain, then let me know in the comments below?

And be sure to visit all the others who are dedicating their blogs to Alex, today. And, if you don’t know Alex go by his blog and see for yourself.

My Weekly Update – I Love New York

Published on December 9, 2012December 9, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

I have been in New York for 4 days, now. Thanks to Ava J. Easterby. Her post Location, Location, Location (For your Novel) got my mind thinking, I need to visit some of the spots in my last few projects to make sure I have the locations correct. This is also my first time in the US in 2 years.

I love food. I love shopping with my mom. I love walking the streets with a latte in my hand in the cool crisp air. I love winter and I love New York. Some things never change.

I will warn you right now, I see several New York/New Jersey related post in the future.

But, I will tease you with this for starters.

Blog Award

inspiring-blogger Thank you so much EM Castellan for this beautiful award. I am a rebel award winner, I am going to refer to my And You Are? Bloghop post in lieu of sharing another 7 things about myself.

I would like to nominate the people in the Posts to Read below. They all inspire me to no end.

Flashback Blog Hop – The Peasant Revolt

The Peasants and Felicia Scotzig are celebrating her first blogoversary! To join in on the fun, the rules are simple:

Sign up at Flashback Blog Hop.
Look back at your work from January 2012–blog posts, stories, poetry, etc.–and find something you’d like to share. Whether you wonder, “What was I thinking?” or find something that you’re still proud of and want to share with a larger audience, I’d like everyone to share a piece of their work or a short reflection.
Hop around to the other blogs and meet all of the great folks participating.
At the end of the week, everyone who participates will be eligible to enter a giveaway for a $20 Amazon gift card.
You can also earn additional entries, by answering questions about some of the sponsoring blogs (questions will be released here on January 4, 2012).

Posts to Read

Update on the Plan from Angi Black – Haters need to lay off Angi, she is doing her thing.

Go Deep! Deeper! YES! Deep POV Rules in Fiction from Donya Lynne – great lessons on writing

Adding Humour in our Stories from Rachna – if you want to be funny

Fake It ‘Til You Make It from R.C. Lewis – i had to do this, too.

What Type of Writer are You from Philip Overby – i am a combo of all of these

Write Romance? Get Your Beat Sheet Here! from Jami Gold – for the organized romance writer

Post Inspired by our Great Writers

Vonnegut on Creating Characters

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Top 10 Tips for Writers

New Followers

Next Weeks Schedule

Monday – Book Club Blog Hop

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – Jennifer

Wednesday -Jennifer George Guest Post

Friday – E – Book Challenge

Sunday – My Weekly Update

The Fitzroy – The MiniFitz Challenge

Published on December 7, 2012December 6, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

I told you about The Fitzroy, a live action feature film using Kickstarter to raise funds. They are at 35% towards their goal. The team at Dresdan Pictures unique marketing styles has created another interesting event.

The Mini-Fitz-Challenge

We’re going to make a short film in 48 hours using ideas provided by YOU!

We’ve been lucky enough to speak to some awesome filmmakers & actors throughout the course of this campaign, so we thought we’d do something special just for you!

Next weekend (8/9th Dec) we will produce a short film based around the world ofThe Fitzroy feature film, we’ll have 48 hrs only to shoot and edit the final piece. The short will not appear in the finished feature film, however some of the characters may do and it could be based around a sub plot behind the scenes or even a mini prequel. The finished short will be part of the special edition DVD and will be premiered online on the 10th December.

We want YOU to help us make this film! Helping us create the story and make the film in 48hrs by being part of the cast and crew.

We’ll be setting tasks everyday throughout the week so keep and eye out. The first task is one all of you can engage with. We’ve come up with three scenarios and have selected our favourites from the ones you’ve sent us. Vote for your favioute on our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/events/298842210235532/

The winning idea will go into production at the weekend.

The RULES

1) It must be set in one location.
2) The story for the film should be no longer than 2 minutes in length.
3) A gas mask must be involved in the story.
4) Most importantly, the idea must be set around the post apocalyptic world of The Fitzroy. On the sub, off the sub, during the film, before it, whatever you like – check out www.thefitzroy.com/ks to better understand the world.
Here are the five strapline ideas!
1) Two female hairdressers design a hairstyle to be worn with a gas mask – Rich I.
2) As an air raid siren sounds two people play chess for the last gas mask. – Chris K.
3) In an office building a council inspector looks to hire his replacements.
4) A salse man tries to sell his last gas mask just before a nuke goes off.
5) On a beach a young man is about to propose but everything goes wrong!

Please send your strapline ideas to hello@thefitzroy.com

We will announce our favourite on Tuesday morning with the poll opening on Facebook straight after.

Can’t wait to hear your ideas, and GOOD LUCK!

Please Note: If your idea ends up going into production you will receive a writing credit. Dresden Pictures will retain all rights to the final film.

For more information about The Fitzroy, please check out their media kit.

Questions . . . and answers

The Fitzroy – A SQM Special Report

My Road to Publication by Kathy Lynn Harris

Published on December 5, 2012December 5, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

Thank you, Sydney, for hosting me here during my blog tour for my new novel, A Good Kind of Knowing. I thought I’d give readers a quick timeline of my road to publication for the novel, since it’s not exactly a straight path! In fact, the story began a long time ago, and it includes my first novel, Blue Straggler. So here you go!

1999 – 2000 Completed the first full manuscript of A Good Kind of Knowing while living deep in the heart of Texas.

December 2000 – Summer 2001 Moved to Colorado to live in the mountains and write; began revising A Good Kind of Knowing like a crazy person

Fall 2001 Pitched it to NY lit agents; got picked up on my 10^th bite! Thought I was Hot Snot (not really!) Began writing Blue Straggler.

Spring 2002 Got close to a contract for A Good Kind of Knowing, but alas, ultimately rejected by the Powers That Be.

Spring 2003 – 2004 Completed Blue Straggler; decided to leave my NY agent and sign with one on the West Coast who was a better fit for me.

2005 – 2006 Revised Blue Straggler; agent held auction for publishers; got oh-so-close again, but no final takers. Drank lots of vodka. Licked literary wounds.

2006 – Spring 2011 Left novel-writing for a while and published essays and short stories and bad poetry. Adopted a beautiful baby boy.

August 2011 Discussed self-publishing Blue Straggler as an ebook with my agent; she was supportive and I had nothing to lose, so I went for it!

Fall 2011 Blue Straggler as an ebook went viral, and sales exceed expectations. Signed a five-year contract with 30 Day Books of Seattle to publish the novel as a trade paperback.

March 2012 Blue Straggler published in paperback. It becomes a #1 bestseller in two categories on Amazon.

May 2012 30 Day Books passes after reading A Good Kind of Knowing, but encourages me to publish it myself.

October 2012 A Good Kind of Knowing is published as an ebook. Paperback release planned for December 2012. Sales are rockin’ along! Just released a Music-to-Read-By playlist, too.

So there you have it. My steep, winding roads to the publication of two novels.

Good Kind of Knowing is a novel about the power of music and friendship, the relationship two-steps that go on in old Texas dancehalls, and the secret to finding just a little bit of common ground in a world full of distrust.

Sera Taylor’s store is the one place in Lakeville, Texas, where individuals from all walks of life share a universal love for music and a respect for the gypsy-like woman behind the antique glass counter. Readers get a taste of the unorthodox connection between Sera and Mack, a young local cowboy and musician, and Sera’s previously untested devotion to her husband Bill. They learn of her relationship with Ruby D., the vibrant but misguided mother of five; with Louie, the shy high school band director; with Beverly, the religious, upper-class socialite; with Antonio, a local bar owner striving to make a life for himself; with Tommy Lee, a rich and directionless gigolo; and with Wes, the only out-of-the closet gay man for miles. As Sera battles a serious illness, the characters must overcome long-held stereotypes to save Sera’s store, and in the end, large parts of themselves.

Buy Links:

agoodkindofknowingcover

Amazon | Barnes and Nobles

Author Bio:

Kathy Lynn Harris grew up in rural South Texas—and comes from people who work hard, love the land and know how to have a good time on a Saturday night. In 2001, Kathy made the move from Texas to the Colorado Rockies to focus on her writing and soak up All Things Mountain. She lives in a 1920s log cabin with her husband and son, plus two fairly untrainable golden retriever mixes. Kathy has written two novels, three children’s books, a lot of bad poetry, short stories, newspaper and magazine articles, and personal essays. Kathy’s blog, You Can Take the Girl Out of Texas, but, can be found at kathylynnharris.com.

Connect with Kathy at kathy@kathylynnharris.com or take your pick of social media channels:

Twitter – @KathyLynnHarris

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/BlueStragglerFiction

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5137823.Kathy_Lynn_Harris

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/kathylynnharris/

Tour Stops:

December 3 My Escape Book Blog Excerpt

December 4 Her Story Calls Excerpt

December 5 Happiness, Passion, Love & Faith Timeline to publication

December 6 Nothing Better Then A Book Excerpt

December 7 A Buckeye Girl Reads Review

December 8 Bex N Books Review
December 9th My Devotional Thoughts Review

December 10 My Devotional Thoughts Excerpt

Insecure Writer’s Support Group – Optimistic, but Should I Be

Published on December 5, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle15 Comments

First of all, did you hear they declared a new National Holiday. On December 10 – 12, 2012, it is officially Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh Day. Make sure you participate in all things Alex that day including “Cheers, Cavanaugh BlogFest”.

Click on the badge to sign up and for more information.

My insecurities this month stem from the fact I quit my job of 7 years and will be moving back to the United States tomorrow. I am excited and optimistic about the future, but should I be.

Or, I am crazy for making this move. This is one of those moves were I am 100% percent ready to pursue my passion of being a writer and making a living at it. I have a plan that will be revealed shortly and I am confident if I work hard and am patient, I will succeed.

But, perhaps I am fooling myself. I have no concept of day to day reality in the United States. I haven’t lived there in 6 years. I haven’t even been in the states for 2 years. I a little in the bank, but nothing that will sustain me for any long period of time.

But, you never know until you try, right.

So, anyone else made a ~~drastic~~, ~~dramatic~~, carefully calculate, but still filled with unknowns, move on behalf of pursuing your dream. How did it work out for you? Give me the good and the bad results.

Month: December 2012