Treats for All Hallows Read(ers)!

As promised, I'm giving away a couple of scary books for Halloween as part of the All Hallows Read deal, kicked off by my friend (in the online, never met, but I feel like I know him way), Neil Gaiman.

So I asked The Beneficent Mr. Hall to pick THREE names from this year's puking pumpkin, and he stuck his hand right down in that mush without complaining at all. (Okay, that's a lie. He 1. claimed that his precious hand wouldn't fit in the puking pumpkin, 2. wanted to know why he had to stick his hand in the puking pumpkin, anyway, and 3. thought Boogerface McGee 8 should have won. Hence the finger sticking out of the nose.)

Anyway, on to the lucky All Hallows winning readers...

Debra Mayhew won Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Donna (also known as Irishoma) won Bodies of the Dead and Other Great American Ghost Stories.

Lisa Ricard Claro won Anne Rice's Servant of the Bones.

Those are some pretty scary reads, people. Happy Halloween and...Boo, y'all!

Finding Something Friday: Essay Contest and Cool Networking

Just very quickly going to remind you that if you have a burning desire to win an essay contest, but you don't want to pay an entry fee, you still have time to enter the annual Funds For Writers Essay contest (no fee). Of course, you can also enter the annual Funds for Writers Essay contest (fee) as long as you have five bucks and can finish your essay by midnight on October 31st. The theme for this year is "diligence" and so may I suggest that you diligently set your butt in the chair and get writing those 750 words (or less).

And if you'd like to get in on some online hobnobbing with agents, editors and other writers, you might want to zip over to this spot and sign up for the WAE Network (Writers, Agents and Editors). I don't know much else about this network except that it's launching soon.

Somehow, I thought it had something to do with Kelly Milner Halls. But when I zipped over to her website, I didn't see anything about this new network. What I did see, and what THRILLED me to my toes, was her new book, In Search of Sasquatch.

As I happen to have a burning desire to meet Bigfoot (or a Bigfoot), I'll be rather busy reading all the stuff on her site. But you all should probably start writing that FFW essay.

Blog Hops, Book Tours and Book Reviews, Part Deux

You know how a picture's worth a thousand words? It occurred to me that maybe a link or two, directing you to a blog hop or a book blog tour or a book review, might be a good way to show you how everything works. So let's follow Cathy-on-a-Stick up those ooky cave stairs to...

THE COFFIN HOP HORROR WEB TOUR!!!

Here we have a themed blog hop, where a bunch of horror writers (97, to be exact) are waiting for you to drop in this week and get the bejeebers scared out of you. (There are some scary writers out there, my friends, writers who make you pray that you will NOT run into them on a dark and creepy night. Alone. In the woods. With their laptops in tow.)

Anyway, notice how each writer gets a chance to promote his/her books or stories or poetry, and you get a chance to perhaps find a new favorite writer--and win a prize or two while you're at it. Bet you'll also notice that some writers have done a great marketing job, from getting followers, to promoting their work, to offering fun contests. (You'll want to be one of those writers if you participate in a blog hop.)

Okay, now we'll hop into our time machine so we can visit the WOW!BLOG TOUR with Linda Hubelek's book, Trail of Thread, here at the Hall of Fame back in May of this year.

You'll notice that I talked a little about Linda and gave a short synopsis of her book. Often, authors will prepare ten to twelve posts on different topics and blog hosts can choose a topic. So I asked Linda to share a little about writing for our descendants. And I ended the blog book tour with a giveaway of her e-book, which Linda provided. Now here's a little something from behind the scene. Though I didn't get a ton of visitors commenting that day for a chance to win Linda's book, I did get a ton of visitors to the blog. And I still get hits on that post. So as a host, I attracted readers who might not have come to the Hall of Fame (and some of them signed on as followers and return). For the author, the promotion stays out there forever, possibly drawing new readers every day.

Finally, let's sneak a peek at some of my favorite spots to catch a BOOK REVIEW!

Sometimes, I'll review a book just because I like the book. My friend (and a swell writer herself), Sally Apokedak, often reviews Young Adult and Middle Grade novels just because she wants to. If I want an in-depth and thoughtful discussion of a book, I'll read Sally's reviews. But don't expect her to give away her books. (She might let you borrow one or two, if you know her.)

Any time you drop into Jodi Webb's blog, you're likely to find a book review. She reviews just about everything, from adult to kidlit. I like how Jodi gives a short synopsis, then follows it with her review, and then gives her readers a chance to win the book. Jodi is usually provided books by publishers; if you review a few books at your blog, don't be surprised if you're contacted by publishers, asking you to review their books. I rarely review books when contacted by a publisher, but I will do so if a. I LOVE the author and have already read other books by him/her or b. I REALLY, really love the author (in a writing kind of way).

So, I hope those links painted a better picture than all my blah-blah-blahing about blog hops and blog book tours and book reviews. Honestly, I'm wore out. (And Cathy-on-a-Stick's getting a tad peckish, too.)

Blog Book Tour, Book Review, Blog Hop: What's the Dif?

So, you see that your author friend is doing a blog book tour and you wonder what the heck is that? Or you see that another writer friend is doing a blog hop and you figure that must be the same thing. And then you decide that really, they're both just a way to get a book reviewed. Why make it all so confusing?

Because it kind of is confusing. Your friend's book may be making the rounds on a blog book tour, but may not be reviewed at every blog. And a blog hop can include a book review, or giveaways, or just a bit of promotion. Perhaps we need to take a closer look...

Blog Book Tour: When a book goes on a blog tour, the book's author usually submits a post of some sort to the blogger. Often, the post will be in an interview format, and sometimes, the author will make him or herself available for questions from blog readers. The post may also be a topic discussion related to the subject of the book or the author. Say, for example, a fiction book about the Salem witches is on tour. You might read about "How To Research for Historical Fiction" or "How I Got My Book Contract." In a blog book tour, you'll find a summary of the book and oftentimes, you'll find a book giveaway at each stop. And sometimes, you might find a short book review, mostly in the form of a recommendation. So, if you're interested in a newly released book, search the author's website for a Blog Book Tour. Somewhere along the 20 stops or so, you'll win that book. And if you have a book coming out, contact blogger friends and schedule a blog book tour. Or use professionals (you'll pay a fee) to help you target blogs with the right readership for your book.

Blog Hop: A blog hop is a fun way to get a ton of blogs involved in a common purpose; it is NOT a book tour. It is, however, a great way to get promotion if you have a book. Blog hops are usually centered around a theme...scary reads, foodie books, romance. All the participating blogs plan a post and usually some kind of giveaway (a great opportunity to talk about your book!). Honestly, it's the prizes that draw readers to a blog hop. And here is where promotion for a book comes in. An author may offer a free download of the first chapter of his or her book to every commenter, or will sponsor a contest giveaway for the book. And don't forget that getting folks to the blog is the first step in getting them to return! So a blog hop is also about encouraging readers to join as a follower, or sign up for Twitter or Facebook. The key word in a blog hop is fun, so if you're thinking of participating, think outside the box. And keep in mind that blog hops usually last for a set period...say a week. Have your post prepared to go from the first day, and keep it up all week. You don't know when readers will be hopping to your blog!

Book Review: A book review is pretty cut and dried. A publisher sends a book to a blogger and the blogger gives a review. Often, the blogger will give the book away. Some bloggers know how to write reviews, and others not so much. If there's a genre you love (and write!), there's likely a ton of bloggers who review it. Find a blogger you respect and you can keep up with what's being written in your genre. But as an author, you need to know that a blogger's book review may or may not be favorable. Often, it's the publishers (or their representatives) who contact bloggers to do a book review (rather than the authors).

Now, that's about it. Or maybe not. No, that's it. Um...let's just close the book on the subject for now, okay?

Finding Something Friday: Humor, Books I'm Reading, Contest, Writing Tips

That's not a very catchy post title, but it does pretty much sum up the day's catch.

If you'd like to read October's column in Modern Senior Living, check out page 13 for "My Not-So-Smart Phone." (I could probably write a book about phones at the Hall house. One time, I walked into Juniorest Hall's room and found this mangled mess of wires and such on his bed. Just before I threw it out, he yelled, "Wait! That's my phone!" Which he was actually still using. It was the phone I'd purchased 24 hours after I'd bought his first phone--but that's another story.)

As you may remember, October is National Book Month, and I thought I'd update you on what I'm reading now: Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley (a middle grade novel with fairy tale overtones) and Bodies of the Dead And Other Great American Ghost Stories (Did you know Edith Wharton wrote a ghost story? Neither did I, but there she is with Ambrose Bierce, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Willa Cather, and Harriet Prescott Spofford. I don't know Harriet Prescott Spofford from Adam's house cat, but how many times do you come across a name with that many double consonants? When I finish this scary book, I'm giving it away in the All Hallow's Read Giveaway. Don't forget to mention BOOk in a comment if you want your name in the cauldron.)

Janet Reid (yes, the literary agent, again) is having a contest. You have till tomorrow (at noon) to write a 100 word themed Halloween story with the words she's posted. You can win a critique from Barbara Poelle, and that's pretty awesome for a micro-fiction story. (You get bonus points if you work in the word "insalubrious". And yes, I know that you know what insalubrious means, but I thought I'd give a quick definition for all those folks who may have taken a siesta during 10th grade Vocab drills: insalubrious=not conducive to health, unwholesome.)

Finally, just a quick mention of the writing tips you can find over at Finders & Keepers this week. I mentioned that I attended an SCBWI conference and I wrote a "what I learned from whom I saw" post. It's packed with stuff you can use, whether you're a children's writer or not. (Seriously. It's kind of a long post. But no one will know if you skim it.)

And now, as my insalubrious tale won't write itself, I have a story to find on this fine Friday. I'm pretty sure it's rattling around in my head, somewhere.

When Is A Debut Novel NOT a Debut Novel?

Yesterday, I read a blog post from Janet Reid (the literary agent). What I spied with my little eye was the bit about the writer who was very, very good but she'd turned him down because she'd seen that story a dozen times. A debut novel needs to be something fresh and new, she said.

Over the weekend, I attended an SCBWI conference where Alexandra Cooper (an editor) mentioned that writers should do their homework, see what publishers are buying and pay attention to what kinds of books are glutting up the marketplace. But what if a writer's been working on a book for a couple years and NOW the marketplace is glutted with her kind of story? What to do then? Ms. Cooper suggested that perhaps that "overdone" novel might need to stay under the bed for awhile. A debut novelist needs something...yep, fresh and new.

The last query response I received was very sweet. I can't remember the agent's name off the top of my head, but she personally answered the email. Loved the title, she said, loved the humor, and she felt that the writing was good and that the book would find a home. But this sweet agent already had something like my novel. Honestly? It's not the first time I've gotten a response along those lines.

And so I'm considering, or perhaps I should say re-considering, whether this manuscript is the one I should be putting out there as a debut novel. I really love this story. I love these characters. And I want to tell more of their story. A story that may, if I keep pushing, sell sooner or later.

But is it fresh enough and new enough to be a debut novel? In the last three months, I keep hearing this message, and now it's beginning to take on an ominous tone, like a warning. To wit: just because you can get your first book published...should you?

Which just goes to prove that October may be all about scary monsters and things that go bump in the night, but what really keeps a person wide awake and terrified is freakin' reality and the choices we make that might affect the rest of our lives. (Boo!)

A Conversation (But There's a Payoff Contest, too)

I was late getting to bed last night because I was zipping around Twitter, reading about zombies and a contest, and spreading the news about such. I related that fact to the Beneficent Mr. Hall and he said, "I'm going to twit."

Whereupon I felt compelled to correct him (so that others would not consider him a twit).

"It's tweet," I said.

"I thought it was called Twitter," he said.

"It is," I said, "But it's tweet."

"That makes no sense at all. It should be twit. I'll twit to you."

I could see this conversation getting caught in one of those annoying loops so I moved on.

"What's your username going to be? You have to sign up and get a name if you're going to tweet."

"I have a name," he said. "It's Boogerface McGee 8."

"Why the 8?"

"Because there were already seven Boogerface McGees."

I suppose if you ask a stupid question...anyway, it occurred to me that old Boogerface McGee 8 was right. He'll be twitting.

Now, the contest I promised you. Wanna win a Kindle? The lovely founders of Writer Unboxed are kicking off their new site, Reader Unboxed, with a lovely and splendiferous contest where you can win a Kindle and a gift card. That's pretty awesome, huh? Reader Unboxed looks to be pretty awesome, too. So zip over there and give both a look-see.

You should probably know that I've already signed up and I'm feeling pretty lucky. Plus, I'm getting Boogerface McGee 8 to sign up, too, doubling my chance to win. Of course, he'll have to figure out that whole twitting thing first. (But fingers crossed that he's smarter than he...sounds.)

Oops! Forgot to mention my book giveaway! ANY comment this month, on any post, with the word BOOk in it will count in my All Hallow's Read giveaway. On October 31st, I'll give out a couple spooky books from my personal stash of creepy. And seriously? I found some pretty creepy stuff. Like Ann Rice's Servant of the Bones. *Shudders while typing.*

A This 'n That Thursday on Reading

So I came across Neil Gaiman's bloody brilliant idea the other day on Twitter: All Hallow's Read.

It's pretty simple. Just give someone a scary book to read on Halloween. It doesn't have to be brand-spanking new. It doesn't have to be just for kids. It doesn't have to be written by Neil Gaiman, even.

Just go watch the short video and hear what Neil has to say. But you'll probably be distracted by the zombies in the background and not really listen. Or maybe that's just me.

Anyway, I love this idea. In fact, I love it so much that I'll give some lucky blog reader a scary book. Maybe I'll give away a couple of scary books. I guess that depends on how many scary books I can round up. In the meantime, leave a comment with the word "BOOk" in it and you might get one from my personal stash of creepy favorites!

Also, whilst piddling...um, make that business networking, on Twitter, I came across a very funny site about the value of our libraries. If you're familiar with the book, Go The F*** To Sleep, and have a wondrous imagination, you'll know where I'm going with this site. And why I can't actually mention it in a G-rated blog. You'll just go and laugh and laugh and laugh.

Or again, maybe that's just me.

Wit of the Day: John Ciardi

"You don't have to suffer to be a poet;
adolescence is enough suffering for anyone."

~ John Ciardi

I'm not sure if Mr. Ciardi means our own adolescence, or the pain associated with teenagers living in the house. Either way, I'm pretty sure that both instances provide equal opportunities in the suffering department.

Anyway, if you pen poetry, you may know John Ciardi's book, What Does a Poem Mean? It's one of those classic books about reading, writing and teaching poetry, and just as relevant today as it was in 1959 when it was first published. He was also a columnist for the Saturday Review (and the poetry editor). He even had a network show, back in the day when really smart people were on TV. But it's John Ciardi, the children's poet, that has a special place in my heart.

When the Junior Halls were very junior (and still listened to me), I'd force-read them poetry. It did not always go over so well. And then I came across You Read to Me, I'll Read to You, by brilliant John Ciardi. Holy poetry, those kids loved that book! I loved that book. We almost tore that book up, we read it so much.

Here's one of the first poems:







About the Teeth of Sharks

By John Ciardi

The thing about a shark is—teeth,
One row above, one row beneath.


Now take a close look. Do you find
It has another row behind?


Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:
Has it a third row behind that?


Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,
I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.


How can you not love that poem? So if you want to spark a love for poetry in your wee, little kids' heads, try good, old wickedly witty John Ciardi. But please do not blame me if your child grows up and decides to get a degree in English (Creative Writing, heavy on the Poetry). At least said child will have a bizarre sense of humor (which comes in handy when dealing with adolescent angst).

Finding Something Friday on The Scare Factor

I just got off the phone with Juniorette Hall who went to a haunted house here in the ATL.

Now, when I say "haunted house" I do not mean a fun, kind of creepy place where high school kids dress up in masks and jump around with fake blood and fake screams. I mean Netherworld, which is billed as the #1 haunted house in America. We're talking scary as crap. Maybe even scarier than that.

So when I asked her if she was scared, she said (and I'm quoting here), "I was please-let-me-pass-out-in-a-corner-so-an-ambulance-will-have-to-come-and-take-me-away scared."

Then I asked about the group of 20-somethings who went with her, and whether they were scared. They were, she said, but more like "screaming their heads off, but this is so fun to be scared" scared. Which apparently is not nearly as scared as wanting an ambulance to come.

Fright, I suppose, is subjective. When it comes to ghosts and haunted happenings, I'm much more scared of the things I can't see rather than the things I can. Sometimes, when I'm writing a story with a paranormal bent, I can scare myself just thinking up the stuff. Imagination can be pretty scary all by itself.

So, how about you? What's your scare factor? Would you be more scared of a haunted house like Netherworld or getitng trapped inside the local, sinister house rumored to be inhabited by ghosts?

Or maybe just spending over twenty bucks for twenty minutes in the #1 Haunted House in America makes you want to scream. I know that price scared the crap out of me.

Good, Old October: National Book Month

Good, old October is one of my favoritest months for many reasons, but now I have another reason to add to the list. It's National Book Month! Wheeeee!

Now, honestly, I don't need bells and whistles or a monthly celebration to get me to read. I LOVE to read. I would read here or there, at the store, behind a door, on a couch, in a pouch, in a car, covered with tar. I do so love reading all kinds of books. Thank you, thank you, books with hooks.

Um, I seem to have gone off on a Dr. Seuss tangent. The point is, October is National Book Month, so perhaps you might like to check out the National Book Foundation site where you'll find lovely lists of National Book Award winners and other ideas to cram ever more books into your life.

Right now, I'm reading a folksy, self-pubbed memoir called The Thrill of the Chase by Forrest Fenn. If you live out around Santa Fe, and have a hankering to go treasure hunting, check out Fenn's poem (in the book) filled with enigmatic clues to the buried gold. That's right, he buried a treasure chest and it's there, yours for the taking, if you find it.

It's kind of the perfect book to start National Book Month. Because for me, every book holds treasure. How about you? What are you reading in good, old October? I'll keep you updated on my choices this month, and you can keep me updated with your choices. Oh, I am really LOVING October!