Summer Is Coming!

You've probably noticed my posts are becoming more and more infrequent. For those of you who may not have followed through a summer, don't worry. I'm not quitting, just shifting gears to full time mom for a few months. There will be sporadic posts--mostly the sharing of book reviews, releases, author interviews, etc. In August I'll be back to my MWF schedule.

So, here is your chance to be a part of my summer schedule.

• Do you have a book coming out or that you would just like to highlight June through August?
• Would you like to be interviewed?
• Do you just want to guest post to point people to your blog or website?

Let me know in the comments or email me at: charity . bradford @ gmail . com

NOTE: I've had a few emails sent that I think I "missed" or forgot. If you sent one and I haven't replied, feel free to "nudge" me. :)

If you'd like an interview, pick 6-7 of these questions and send it with the email along with a picture and any links you'd like in the post.

What is your favorite color?
Who is your favorite author?
What is your favorite book?
What do you do when you are not writing?
When and why did you begin writing?
Is being a writer a curse or a gift?
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
What books/authors have influenced your writing?
What genre do you consider your book(s)?
Do you ever experience writer's block?
Do you write an outline before you write?
Have you ever hated something you wrote?
What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Name one person that you feel supported you outside of family members.
How did you come up with the title?
How do you market your book? What avenues work best?
What has been the toughest criticism so far?
What has been the best compliment?
What question did I leave out that you’d like to answer?
Please fill in the blank: Keep Calm and _________________

I is for Imagination and Inheritance

A quick note about the High School Short Story Writing Contest that I'm judging. It's in it's third year and is titled Imagination Begins With You! I helped judge the first year and really enjoyed it, stepped away the second year but came back this year! Holy Cow!

There were over 700 entries from all over the country. Each of the four judges are reading about 300 pages worth of stories and picking their favorite 8 or so from them. This has been so hard! There really wasn't any specific guidelines for the teens, just write a short story 1500 words or less. How do I choose from so many great and totally different stories??? Well, I finally came up with a plan. I would read and write notes on the ones I really liked and delete the ones I didn't. Here was my "delete" criteria:

• not a story with a beginning, middle and end
• too many grammar and mechanics mistakes to the point I couldn't see the story
• travel log
• so confusing that I had no idea what just happened

Everything else got notes until I had read everything. Then came the hard part. Whittling it down to the 8 favorites. At this point it was mostly just subjective. I picked what I related to, understood, just LIKED best. I found myself wishing I could send notes to the ones I liked but had to cut. There were so many really good ones but I couldn't pick them all!

On April 15th all the judges' picks will be combined and we will start the reading and choosing all over again from the smaller pool. There are some great new writers out there!

__________________________

And now, the wonderful L. Blankenship is also going to talk to us about Inheritance and the role it plays in her novel The Disciple.

Wodenberg, the kingdom in my hard fantasy romance Disciple, is a small nation controlled by three saints. Saints are powerful, long-lived magic-users, so rare and strong as to be considered sacred. How they govern their nations depends on their individual personalities and the traditions of the people they rule; therefore Wodenberg is a bit different from its neighbors, and its inheritance traditions are one of those differences.

The inheritance of titles is especially important in Wodenberg. The kingdom is constantly on guard against invasion and its nobility must always be ready to defend its borders. Thus, Wodenberg's saints have added the following requirements to the ancient tradition of passing titles to the eldest child:

1. The inheritor must have earned knighthood. This requires extensive training, commitment, and natural skill to meet Saint Woden's high standards. Unlike tradition in our world, knighthood can only be bestowed by the saints or a small number of saint-approved judges.

This requirement does not exclude women; if a daughter has the fighting spirit to take up the sword, she's encouraged to do so.

2. The inheritor must be currently capable of serving in battle. This is a constant requirement, though allowances are made for recovery from wounds or illness. Chronic illness or disability can result in one's title passing to the next claimant.

Only the title and the holdings directly tied to it, though. One cannot be stripped of personal property because of illness or disability.

3. The inheritor must be able to document his or her blood lineage to the clan which held the title in antiquity. This serves to choose between equally qualified candidates, and the preference here will lean toward the older sons. But the final decision will be made by the saints, and especially Saint Woden.

Wodenberg is a small kingdom, so its feudal structure is not too complicated and the list of inherited titles is limited to: king, duke, margrave, and baron. These positions are primarily concerned with military functions -- mustering the populace into companies, maintaining supply lines -- and the economic aspects of the kingdom are handled through a separate structure of guilds and civic offices.

Because of Wodenberg's traditions, these military titles are never complicated by being passed to a spouse with no martial talents, or hampered by a regency if an eldest child is too young to lead.

Inheritance of all other property is influenced largely by the people's faith, which holds that all one's children are valued members of the Flock and deserve some portion of their parents' estate.

War is coming to Wodenberg, in Disciple. Its entire populace will be put to the test, especially Kate -- she has studied hard to be ready to serve as a physician, and she wants to save lives. But...

Back cover of Disciple, Part II

The prince first kissed Kate Carpenter for fear of missing the chance if they didn’t survive the journey home through the monster-prowled mountains.

Now that kiss seems like a fever dream. It’s back to work for her, back to the fellow physicians jealous of her talents and the sneers of an infirmary director who wants her shipped off to some tiny village. Kate means to be on the front lines to save lives. She’s worked too hard to overcome her past to let them deny her the chance to serve her homeland when the enemy’s army reaches their kingdom.

The grand jousting tournament is a chance to prove she can manage combat wounded, and at the royal Solstice banquet Kate means to prove she isn’t an ignorant peasant girl anymore.

But the prince’s kiss still haunts her. Their paths keep crossing, and the easy familiarity they earned on the journey home is a welcome escape from their duties. It’s a small slip from chatting to kisses.

This is no time to be distracted by romance -- a vast and powerful empire is coming to slaughter anyone standing between them and the kingdom’s magical fount.

Kate ought to break both their hearts, for duty’s sake.

Disciple, Part II on sale now

along with Disciple, Part I

at all major online retailers

More information, updates, and extras at Disciple of the Fount

Sample of Part I • Sample of Part II

Disciple, Part III coming in late 2013

Disciple is complete in six parts and will make a lovely doorstop

when all 400k words have been published.

Goodreads links:

Disciple, Part I • Disciple, Part II

The Hot Seat

For November, I'm re-posting and hosting guest bloggers. The wonderful Cally Jackson suggested I re-post her interview of me. This was originally posted on her blog 31 May 2011.
If you would like to guest post in November, email me at charity.bradford@gmail.com.

Charity Bradford in the HOT SEAT

As a Mum of four, Charity Bradford is hard to rattle. But, is it just my imagination, or are her hands shaking? And if I’m not mistaken, she also looks like she’s gone slightly pale. Yes, Charity may be tough, but is she tough enough for the HOT SEAT?
Let’s find out!

Gday, Charity!

Charity is a writer, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a runner, an avid reader, and a Power of Tension Blogfest entrant! She joins us today from North Carolina, USA.

So, Charity, let’s get started. What genre(s) do you write?
Science fiction, fantasy and then whatever strikes my fancy. All have a strong romance element, but it isn’t the main focus. 

Tell us about Sendek,your Work in Progress, in 25 words or less.
Talia is trapped between science and magic. The handsome Commander Landry will help her embrace the magic and fight the Draguman.
[CJ: You already know this, but I can't wait to read Sendek!]
—–
Most of us write part time. How do you spend your time when you’re not writing?
I’m a full time mom to four great kids. I also teach a 6am scripture class to teens five days a week, compile and edit a 12 page newsletter for my neighborhood each month, blog (it’s like a job!), run ½ marathons, bake cakes, and this year I am cooking for 150 people for a full week of girls camp. There is so much planning!
[CJ: Wow, that's impressive. Do you ever get time to sleep?] Not really.

Tell us a little about your writing process.
I’m a mix between a pantser and a plotter. I begin with whatever crazy idea pops into my head—free writing until it runs its course. Then I put it away for a while. If the idea haunts me I’ll pull it back out and start to plot. This is always the fun part, but I’m learning to enjoy the revision process too. I love getting feedback from critiquers that sparks a new thought for my novel. Some of my best ideas have come from questions a reader has asked. 

Who or what are your biggest writing inspirations?
My answer would have been different two years ago, but now the who would be my fellow bloggers. I love reading about their journey and struggles because it lets me know I’m not that weird and I’m not alone. I love reading about their successes because it gives me hope that one day it may just be my turn. The what would have to be life around me. There are so many things that happen every day that spark my imagination and make me ask “What if?”
[CJ: You're definitely not alone. I couldn't agree more about the awesomeness of fellow bloggers!]

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a writer?
Finding the balance between my writing life and my life as mom and wife. It’s hard to turn off the writing mind and really pay attention to your kids when the muse is screaming in your ear. At the same time, when life is busy, it’s hard to carve out that writing block. Just like eating healthy and exercise, I seem to be good at only one of them at a time. If only I could do both equally well at the same time…
[CJ: I hear ya!]

And now for the HOT SEAT questions!

*Insert scary music here*

If you could only read the work of three authors for the rest of your life, which authors would you choose?
This is so hard! I’m going to choose Orson Scott Card, Jane Austen, and OMGosh how do I pick the last one!!! Umm, ok, Louise Lawrence because as a teen she really inspired me with her stories. I’m already having buyer’s remorse. LOL. I’m so glad this will never be a reality.

A well-reputed publisher offers you a major contract but requires you change something about your plot that completely goes against what you want for the book. What do you do?
Another hard question. [CJ: Yep, that's the idea ]My gut reaction is to wait for another offer, but I’m learning from good critiquers that sometimes a suggestion that is different from my original plan can make my book better and stronger. I think I would have to take this question on a case by case situation. Is the change something that could have happened? Does it fit with the characters I love? Can I wrap my brain around it and fall in love with the idea? If so, then I would be willing to make the changes. If not, I would continue looking for someone that sees what I see in my book.

If your current WiP was going to be made into a movie, who would play your lead character(s) and why?
Ooo! This one is easy because I did it for a blogfest. To see a video of a teaser, go HERE and leave me a comment.
[CJ: Grrr, HOT SEAT interviews aren't supposed to be easy! ]
Talia – Emily Deschanel
Landry – Karl Urban
Stefan – Eric Bana
Jaron– Jude Law

Guest Blogger: Jen McConnel on Staying Positive

Staying Positive

As writers, waiting is something we better get used to.

Sometimes, we have to wait for inspiration to strike. Then comes the waiting for the words to flow onto the page, the waiting for the head space to begin revisions, and finally, the waiting once your book is as good as you can make it and you begin sending it out into the world.

For me, that’s the hardest part of waiting. When my actions feel largely within my control, I can make lists, set goals, and prioritize. But once I release a manuscript into the slush pile, I start to panic. I’m no longer the one pulling the reins, and I find myself buried with “what ifs”.

This is the darkest part of the writing process for many of us. We’ve crafted a story that we believe in, deep within our hearts and souls, and now we have to trust that the time is right for us to realize our dreams. It can be hard to put your trust in complete strangers, but isn’t that what writing is about? If you are working towards publication (or already published) you are trusting that people who have never met you before will want to read your book. This goes beyond agents and editors: your readers will likely not know you from Adam, and that’s ok.  Your words must weave a spell, bringing complete strangers close within the web of your story.

Perhaps it is this component of anonymous trust that is most frightening about waiting: your blood, guts, and tears are in that book, and now you have to do what? But for anyone who wants to follow the traditional path to publishing, someday you will have to put your trust in the universe and release your book into the world.

It may take awhile. Some people have fabulous success stories that feel like they happened overnight, but if you scratch the surface, you will find that even the “instant” sensations spent years honing their craft and submitting their words, just like you are doing now.

So what is the key to handling the waiting period? Stay positive. I know, it’s easier said than done. I’ve found that the best way to stay positive is to apply for a mind wipe. If I can focus my energy fully on something that is not related to my precious story child, I tend to stay saner and happier while waiting for the right agent to read my book at the right moment. This month, NaNoWriMo provides an excellent distraction: we should all be so busy pounding out our 50,000 words that we forget everything else, including the dozen submissions loitering in agent’s in boxes.

Owl cupcakes from Charity to Huntress

Creature comforts and indulgences can help, too. Get a frothy cup of coffee, go for a massage, or treat yourself to that dress you’ve been eyeing for months. When we celebrate ourselves, we cultivate a mindset that is receptive to joy. Like attracts like, and you’re more likely to attract happiness when you find happiness in your daily life.

It’s challenging. Believe me, I know. I struggle with this whenever I submit a piece of writing. But if you find ways to keep yourself smiling, the trust you place in strangers will eventually pay off. So write your 1,667 words today, go to the spa, and do your best to forget about the thing you are waiting for. It’ll happen in its own time, and if you are relaxed and relatively happy, think how much sweeter your success will taste.

Jen McConnel

Blogging at: Carolina Yankee
Follow me @Twitter @YankeeWriter