Hello Russian Fans!

Сомеоне ис Россия кепс сеарчинг фор мы блог он тхе интернет анд И ам динг оф куриоситы то кнов вхо!

Хелло Руссиан Фанс!

Ит ис веры ехцитинг то кнов йоуъве бен хере ать мы блог.

И хопе ые коми бачк аган сун.

Бест вишес,
Анне 

Kudos to the Kardashians

Don't mistake me, I don't actually watch the Kardashians.  I don't watch much reality TV at all, save Survivor and Project Runway.  But I've been thinking a lot lately about managing self-image and publicity, and I have to say, those Kardashians are onto something.

They are OUT THERE.  EVERYBODY knows who they are, and they do an incredible job of reminding the public.  They have a Kardashian brand, they have shows, they have sponsorships, endorsement deals...and they live their life in the scathing public eye, for better, and probably, more often than not, for worse.

Then, there's me.

I am a piddly little writer.  I work from home, part time.  I raise my kids.  I take care of my dogs, and my husband, (no, it's not a coincidence those are listed in the same sentence), and I write when I can.  When kids are sick, the dogs need a walk, the husband's dry cleaning needs to be picked up, or a presentation needs finishing for work, writing waits.

I realize my priorities are out of whack.  If I really wanted to be a successful writer, I'd put that as my #1 top priority, and the dry cleaning be damned.  And there are times when I do that.

I write.  I Tweet.  I blog regularly.  I Klout.  I Facebook.  I Blog Tour.  I host giveaways.  I push, push, push, post, post, post, and even send a photo or two out into the cyber-space.

HEY!  LOOK AT ME!  BUY MY BOOK!  BE MY FB FRIEND! FOLLOW MY BLOG!

Blah, blah, blah, blah...

Then, more often than not, after several weeks of me busting my butt to try and drum up a little attention, a few people acknowledge my existence, and I am then utterly spent and emotionally exhausted.

All that work?  For what exactly?

For attention?
Because let's face facts, attention sells.

Now, the mere fact that I am doing 99% of my own attention whoring is most likely directly related to my emotional exhaustion.  The Kardashians probably have a team of publicists, stylists (if I had a stylist she'd absolutely cry at my jeans, tennis shoes, and tee shirt daily attire), agents, managers, etc. etc. etc.  So even though the Kardashians are working their tails off, they are not doing all the heavy lifting on their own.  Though, they are the ones who pay the price when there is a little TOO much attention.

But that's what they asked for, right?
And that's what I am working towards?  Right?  Well, maybe not to the Kardashian, or even the Rowling, degree.  I'd settle for a press release on the publication of one of my books, a signing tour of some sorts, and maybe a speech at an SCBWI event.  Or perhaps a movie deal...?

But I'm not going to get any of that without getting more attention.
And mark my words, if I ever got the media's undivided attention, I'd be scared to death.  All the pressure!

So kudos to you Kardashians, who have the media's undivided attention.
Careful what you wish for, right?

You know what? Nevermind.  I'm not sure I want any more attention.
My cave is starting to look awfully nice all of the sudden.

Of course, I'll change my mind and be back to whoring at the turn of the New Year.
Don't you worry.

I meant media whoring...by the way. o.O

Shopping vs. Writing

Copious amounts of writing delayed by copious amounts of holiday cyber-shopping.  Yippee!!

Gobble, Gobble

Half school days due to parent-teacher conferences (fun, fun, fun!) and then a whole week off from school for Thanksgiving.

I guess I'm not writing for two weeks.
This could be good, actually.
Perhaps I'll have a huge word count dump upon my return.
It usually takes me NOT having the time to make my psyche want to write oh, so much more.

One can hope.

Pressing Forward, Backward, and Sideways

I worked on the plot twist scene again, refining and rewording, then added to the end.

At some point I've got to put these scenes in order, but for now, writing out of sequence appears to be working.

I hope to continue in this manner the next few days.

The end draws near...

I'm a Best Seller!!

Holy cow!

"The Beast Call" is on page 2 of Smashwords.com's Best Selling list!

YAY!!!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/popular/0/any/any

Good Morning America Premiers 'Hunger Games' Full Trailer

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/movies-26594261/hunger-games-trailer-makes-debut-on-gma-27248969.html

Being Thankful

I am very very thankful to the incredible paramedics and firemen of Agoura Hills, California who arrived at my house within minutes of our 9-1-1 call.

I am very very thankful to the incredible staff at West Hills Hospital for their expediency in diagnosing, testing, x-raying, and following through...You were all amazing.

I am very very thankful to the ambulance drivers who kept my daughter calm, and even laughing in face of a very scary situation.

I am very very thankful to Tarzana Hospital for their Pediatric Unit's courteous nursing staff, and the wonderful surgeon who helped save my daughter's life.

Words cannot express how very deep you will be in my heart.

Truly.

I am also very very thankful to God who lodged the foreign object in her esophagus and not her trachea, because with one twist of fate, my daughter would not be here today.
Thank you, Lord.

Thank you!!

Blog Tour de Troops

Happy Veterans Day!
If you are following the Blog Tour de Troops, you have just arrived from Terri Guiliano Long's blog at www.tglong.com
Welcome!
If you are just joining me as one of my own followers, a hearty welcome to you too!

A little business:

Tour de Troops

Your next stop is at Tracy Rozzlynn's blog.

Here's the link: www.TracyRozzlynn.com

BUT BEFORE YOU GO! POST A COMMENT HERE!

Your comment here on this post earns a soldier a free copy of my book, also if you'd like to receive a FREE e-copy of The Beast Call, leave a comment below with your email address, and I'll forward you the Coupon Code from Smashwords.com too!

About Me:
Those of you familiar with me know me as a writer of Young Adult Fantasy, namely, The Beast Call , an e-book available on Kindle, Nook, Smashwords and iBooks, but I'm not blogging today to make a plug (although, I can't help but notice that I just did!).
My post today is in honor of female warriors around the world.

I am a woman, and a mother of two little girls, and despite the fact I have not chosen the life of a warrior (at least, not the physical kind - the most I fight with is myself!), I do long and cherish the idea of writing about strong female warriors, because, let's face it, the world needs more of them.

I tried to write The Beast Call about a seventeen year old girl warrior, and what it's like to be a girl undervalued in a society fearful of her magical powers, and undervalued as a girl in general, and her quest to prove to them just what she's capable of, but it really only scrapes the surface of what I am sure it is like.

So here's to you: chicks with guts!  I salute you, and here's one to the men who fight along side you.
Here's one citizen who appreciates what you do, and appreciates those who have given their lives for me and my country.

Huzzah!

Your comment here on this post earns a soldier a free copy of my book, also if you'd like to receive a FREE e-copy of The Beast Call, leave a comment below, and be sure to give me your email address so I can forward you the Coupon Code from Smashwords.com too!

It would be my honor if you'd read my e-book and let me know what you think.

A little business:
Tour de Troops
Your next stop is at Tracy Rozzlynn's blog.
Here's the link: www.TracyRozzlynn.com

Now I'm off to write - because if you thought it was hard to write about an undervalued teenage girl being a warrior, try putting that girl in charge of the world and see how she does... :)

Oh, The Tangled Web I Weave

1,600 words and a plot twist I'd never planned on, and never saw coming...But DAMN, I love when that happens!

3 Out of 5 Star Review for The Beast Call

Yay!  Another positive review for The Beast Call.

http://triciakristufek.wordpress.com/book-reviews/the-beast-call/

Between the Battle Lines

In the midst of planning all these intricate battle scenes, I had neglected to consider the conclusion to the many emotional character arcs that I'd created for this particular sequel.

The solution was simple.  Get more specific with the battle scenes, so I could use them to demonstrate the manifestations of these character arcs, and then create some sort of conclusion for these internal as well as external battles.

Now that the outline is more detailed, finishing the book is about ten scenes away.  Give or take.

It might change as I proceed, but for now, I am confident that the end of the first draft is near.

I am, however, going to take the rest of the day, if not a day or two, and allow myself a little decompression time, so I may go back and look at the outline and determine if my first instincts hold true a few days later. Sometimes, they don't.

It's best not to rush, and hard not to, since I know I am so very close.

Patience, Young Skywalker.

Rush not.

BackAssWords

2,000 words today.
My theory of working backwards is quite fruitful.
I hope to repeat my success tomorrow.

Tour de Troops

I'm participating in a blog tour to celebrate Veterans Day and to honor our troops, and I'm giving away free copies of "The Beast Call" via Smashwords as a thank you to our men and women in arms!

Look for more details, but be sure to come back on Friday, November 11, 2011 and comment, because if you do, you get a coupon code to Smashwords as well!

Cheater, Cheater, Candy Eater

I admit it.
I've cheated.
I've totally gone against the grain and done something totally weird.  I've proven all my daughter's friends correct.  I am not normal.

I wrote the end of my book today.
Some might congratulate me and want to hear all about my plans for the revision, but in truth, I'm not done.
I haven't finished the book!
I've only written the ending.

Wait.
What?

Here's the scoop:
I'm at the first part of a multi-battle sequence that is slow, and frankly, not much fun to write.  I can't tell why I am not having fun with it, currently, I think it's because I am too distracted with other things.
Also, the more Halloween candy I eat, the more my blood sugar crashes and this does tend to make me sluggish (both in body and in mind) and a little moody.  I think if I watched a depressing movie I'd feel at peace, which is a bit twisted.  This might also have something to do with my frustration level at the literary agent search.

When you are right, you are right.  And Joel, you were right.  There.  I said it. :P

Anyway, back to the point at hand.
So, in the interest of shutting out the world's woes, my failures as a wife, mother, editor, author, etc. (wow, I am in a dark place today), I decided I was too frustrated with inching forward one small battle scene at a time and wrote the LAST scene instead.

This will give me happiness, won't it?
THIS will bring me peace, and fulfillment, and keep me on track...Won't it?

I'll let you know tomorrow if it worked.
I have to say as of right this moment, I'm not sure it accomplished all that I hoped it would.
But, what it DID do, was show me where I need to go with the story, and if I have to write the end of this book backwards one scene at a time (from the end to the beginning of the end), I will.  Because not everybody can do things normally.

Some of us are just weird.
I should just embrace it.
I don't know why I try to be normal then feel bad about myself when I inevitably fail.

Being weird is something I'm good at.
I think I'll stick to that and live a happier, and healthier life.