tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81197008683640483462024-03-13T09:48:21.371-07:00Fiction ideas for readers and writersHi, I'm Carolyn Chambers Clark.
I'm an author and reader of many kinds of books including mysteries, romance, YA, suspense, thrillers, and more.
I'm also a nurse practitioner interested in the environment and wellness.
Just finishing a YA novel and could use your help. See my post about how you can help and become one of Chanel's Cheerleaders!
Also find me on Twitter @DrCCClark
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-24298810513796385822018-06-09T04:38:00.001-07:002018-06-09T04:38:45.334-07:00How You Can Be Part of My Publishing ProcessWhoops, I forgot to tell you how to participate in my writing, revision, and publishing process.<br />
<br />
If you sign up to provide support and input I'll put you in my most splendiferous group: Chanel's Cheerleaders and you'll get information FIRST, before anyone else, about when I get an agent, get published, have input into the cover and plot.<br />
<br />
Just comment below, telling me how to contact you back, providing the info, or if you prefer, telling me what I should post here that you can comment on.<br />
<br />
Thanks immensely and Let's have fun with this.Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-50987819718775360032018-05-16T03:49:00.000-07:002018-05-16T02:33:50.881-07:00My new novel and how you can participate!I've been away for a while...<br />
<br />
Not really away, just:<br />
<br />
1.adopted a puppy named Chanel (a Chihuahua mix probably terrier, maybe Jack Russell, who loves to jump, run, and play tug of war with one of my old socks. Chanel even appears in my latest YA novel),<br />
<br />
2.trying to do final revisions for my latest YA novel, SECRETS TO FOREVER.<br />
<br />
This is a picture of one of the spots sixteen-year-old biker/ Native American Lulu and Olivia visit on their cross-country motorcycle tour of the U.S. as they come of age, solve family dilemmas, face romance, nearly go to jail, and meet up with some pretty shifty critters.<br />
<br />
This picture portrays one of the trails they follow. Can you name it and tell what city it's in? If you can, I'll gift you a copy of one of my e-books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2zv7VrWU5W6VR83yrYxp7aGwVXxUZQRbZ5G9r4GtQrp3A3lQGuS50O5HpROr7mlIfayo1_sxa_xP0oht37kxoHpbnWCrRHvmK10EnYdAs5WtiEcQLxfUdXCQvPFr4L-NXDXUPg-XdSk/s1600/Paseo+del+Bosque+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2zv7VrWU5W6VR83yrYxp7aGwVXxUZQRbZ5G9r4GtQrp3A3lQGuS50O5HpROr7mlIfayo1_sxa_xP0oht37kxoHpbnWCrRHvmK10EnYdAs5WtiEcQLxfUdXCQvPFr4L-NXDXUPg-XdSk/s320/Paseo+del+Bosque+Trail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even if you have no idea what city this trail is in or don't care, go to my website at http://www.carolynchambersclark.com to become one of Chanel's Cheerleaders and get current updates on what happens with my novel. Or just to cheer me on as I hunt for an agent!!</div>
<br />Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-50709182978135003622018-05-16T02:44:00.000-07:002018-05-16T02:44:04.973-07:00 Desperate! Need Help Marketing my Books - Looking for Virtual Marketing AssistantDo you know of a virtual marketing assistant to help me market my books? If you do, please put a comment here with the info.<br />
<br />
I am so behind in marketing all my books and want to do better. I've taken the courses, read the books, and still can get my virtual self to do the job that has to be done.<br />
<br />
Any feedback is appreciated.Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-17925331872977697412016-12-14T15:12:00.001-08:002016-12-14T15:22:56.822-08:007 Writing Rules You Can IgnoreIf you've been writing for a while, you no doubt know there are writing rules and what they are.<br />
<br />
Seven writing rules you can ignore are:<br />
<br />
<h4>
1. Write every day.</h4>
<br />
<h4>
2. Kill your darlings.</h4>
<br />
<h4>
3. Show, don’t tell.</h4>
<br />
<h4>
4. Take out all the adverbs.</h4>
<br />
<h4>
5. Don’t read reviews.</h4>
<br />
<h4>
6. Write what you know.</h4>
<br />
<h4>
7. Know your audience.</h4>
<h4>
<a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/7-writing-rules-ignore?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=wds-csa-nl-161214&utm_content=906409_GLA161214&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">To find out why and when you can ignore these rules, click on this line.</a></h4>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-59362749799145585432016-11-30T13:29:00.000-08:002016-11-30T13:40:29.624-08:00New FREE contest for writers of Historical Fiction http://tinyurl.com/zodcsgo Judged by agent @EliseShaull, via @chucksambuchino<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New FREE contest for writers of Historical Fiction http://tinyurl.com/zodcsgo </strong><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Judged by agent @EliseShaull, via @chucksambuchino/</strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Do you write historical fiction? Here's your chance to get your manuscript noticed by a premier agent!</strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Go to the tinyurl above for all the details.</strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hurry now, you wouldn't want to miss out!!</strong>Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-80364794102316694662016-11-15T12:38:00.001-08:002016-11-15T12:38:44.752-08:00Exciting Next Chapter in Michelle Hauck's Birth of Saints Series Available now!<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The next volume in the Birth of Saints series is available now!</span><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.brenda-drake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Faithful-n1.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #7299e6; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="faithful-n1" class="alignnone wp-image-28516" data-recalc-dims="1" height="601" scale="1.5" src-orig="http://i2.wp.com/www.brenda-drake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Faithful-n1.jpg?resize=373%2C601" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.brenda-drake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Faithful-n1.jpg?zoom=1.5&resize=373,601" srcset="http://i2.wp.com/www.brenda-drake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Faithful-n1.jpg?zoom=1.5&resize=373%2C601" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="373" /></a></div>
<div id="gr_add_to_books" style="background: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="gr_custom_each_container_" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; clear: both; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 684px;">
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Following Grudging–and with a mix of Terry Goodkind and Bernard Cornwall–religion, witchcraft, and chivalry war in Faithful, the exciting next chapter in Michelle Hauck’s Birth of Saints series!</b></span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A world of Fear and death…and those trying to save it.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Colina Hermosa has burned to the ground. The Northern invaders continue their assault on the ciudades-estados. Terror has taken hold, and those that should be allies betray each other in hopes of their own survival. As the realities of this devastating and unprovoked war settles in, what can they do to fight back?</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On a mission of hope, an unlikely group sets out to find a teacher for Claire, and a new weapon to use against the Northerners and their swelling army.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they find instead is an old woman.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But she’s not a random crone—she’s Claire’s grandmother. She’s also a Woman of the Song, and her music is both strong and horrible. And while Claire has already seen the power of her own Song, she is scared of her inability to control it, having seen how her magic has brought evil to the world, killing without reason or remorse. To preserve a life of honor and light, Ramiro and Claire will need to convince the old woman to teach them a way so that the power of the Song can be used for good. Otherwise, they’ll just be destroyers themselves, no better than the Northerners and their false god, Dal. With the annihilation their enemy has planned, though, they may not have a choice.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A tale of fear and tragedy, hope and redemption, Faithful is the harrowing second entry in the Birth of Saints trilogy.</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Faithful</i></b>– November 15, 2016</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harper Voyager</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Find It: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Birth-Saints-Michelle-Hauck-ebook/dp/B01C2NIVO4" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #4d469c; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faithful-michelle-hauck/1124484061?ean=9780062447173" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #4d469c; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062447173/faithful" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #4d469c; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HarperCollins</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29242455-faithful?ac=1&from_search=1&from_nav=true" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #4d469c; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<u style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Also enter to win a signed paperback of <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Grudging</i>, the first book in the series: </span></u></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe frameborder="0" id="rcwidget_v88sajx4" src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/classic/b0acc03/main.html" style="background: transparent; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 684px;"></iframe></div>
<br />
<a href="http://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtSJSlwXkII/WCIBrZ3aTeI/AAAAAAAAEcw/gDOtfdhb9jM9wHCv6-ixFUyPSdAhbBWGgCLcB/s1600/Grudging%2B%25281%2529.jpg?ssl=1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #7299e6; margin: 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img border="0" class="aligncenter" data-recalc-dims="1" height="400" scale="1.5" src-orig="http://i1.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtSJSlwXkII/WCIBrZ3aTeI/AAAAAAAAEcw/gDOtfdhb9jM9wHCv6-ixFUyPSdAhbBWGgCLcB/s400/Grudging%2B%25281%2529.jpg?resize=247%2C400&ssl=1" src="https://i1.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtSJSlwXkII/WCIBrZ3aTeI/AAAAAAAAEcw/gDOtfdhb9jM9wHCv6-ixFUyPSdAhbBWGgCLcB/s400/Grudging%2B%25281%2529.jpg?zoom=1.5&resize=248,400&ssl=1" srcset="http://i1.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtSJSlwXkII/WCIBrZ3aTeI/AAAAAAAAEcw/gDOtfdhb9jM9wHCv6-ixFUyPSdAhbBWGgCLcB/s400/Grudging%2B%25281%2529.jpg?zoom=1.5&resize=248%2C400&ssl=1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="248" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0in 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0in 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A world of chivalry and witchcraft…and the invaders who would destroy everything.</b></span></span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The North has invaded, bringing a cruel religion and no mercy. The ciudades-estados who have stood in their way have been razed to nothing, and now the horde is before the gates of Colina Hermosa…demanding blood.</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On a mission of desperation, a small group escapes the besieged city in search of the one thing that might stem the tide of Northerners: the witches of the southern swamps.</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Women of the Song.</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But when tragedy strikes their negotiations, all that is left is a single untried knight and a witch who has never given voice to her power. And time is running out.</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A lyrical tale of honor and magic, Grudging is the opening salvo in the Book of Saints trilogy.</span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GRUDGING</b></span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">November 17, 2015</span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harper Voyager</span></span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Find it: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010LU8ZQO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B010LU8ZQO&linkCode=as2&tag=twchonbo-20&linkId=VWTUDVZD5M22762O" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #5f28e1; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amazon</span></a><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grudging-michelle-hauck/1122494167?ean=9780062447159" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #5f28e1; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/grudging/id1013980749?mt=11&at=10l32yD" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #5f28e1; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">iBooks</span></a><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25815723-grudging?ac=1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #5f28e1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads</a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-6001873611039735572016-10-05T14:42:00.001-07:002016-10-05T14:52:51.117-07:00FREE PASS to Nightmare on Query StreetMichelle4laughs.com is at it again, offering a FREE PASS to her Nightmare on Query Street<br />
Contest.<br />
<br />
If you're a writer looking for an agent, this could be for you. Just go to http://www.michelle4laughs.com/2016/10/nightmare-on-query-street-2016-free-pass.html?showComment=1475701272565#c4209088435715766376<br />
<br />
All you have to do is put your favorite Halloween decoration in the comments section and say you did it on the rafflecopter on that page. You could win.<br />
<br />
Now hurry on over there. Contest ends on October 10th!Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-40173565278507313602016-10-05T14:42:00.000-07:002016-10-05T14:50:59.134-07:00FREE PASS to Nightmare on Query StreetMichelle4laughs.com is at it again, offering a FREE PASS to her Nightmare on Query Street<br />
Contest.<br />
<br />
If you're a writer looking for an agent, this could be for you. Just go to http://www.michelle4laughs.com/2016/10/nightmare-on-query-street-2016-free-pass.html?showComment=1475701272565#c4209088435715766376<br />
<br />
All you have to do is put your favorite Halloween decoration in the comments section and say you did it on the rafflecopter on that page. You could win.<br />
<br />
Now hurry on over there. Contest ends on October 10th!Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-69264549137642260622016-08-12T14:24:00.000-07:002016-08-12T14:24:37.773-07:00FREE contest for writers of Young Adult, Judged by Agent Andrea Mossison<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.07143rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New FREE contest for writers of Young Adult http://tinyurl.com/z7e9rsc Judged by agent Andrea Morrison of Writers House, via @chucksambuchino</strong></div>
<div>
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-32710507846643752942016-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:002016-06-30T12:39:28.293-07:00Wildlife Rescue: Saving a Fledgling Pigeon<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">WILDLIFE
RESCUE: HOW I SAVED A FLEDGING PIGEON<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Copyright,
2016, Carolyn Chambers Clark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tropical storm Colin hit the Venice-Englewood
Florida area with a bang one Sunday night in June, 2016. The wind roared, the
waves tossed, and baby birds fell out of their nests under the fishing pier by
Sharkey’s restaurant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My husband and I love to go to Sharkey’s early in
the morning. Catching the lavender and pink sky at sunrise and inhaling the tangy
air is a delight. It makes me feel glad to be alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My husband loves to fish off the pier, while I walk
the beach, collecting shells and invigorating my feet and legs by walking in
the surf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Sunday night, the rains started. That and the high
winds kept us off the beach all of Monday. There’s always more wind at the
water so I could only imaginr the destruction Mother Nature was releasing at
the pier. At our house, newly planted shrubs and flowers whipped around so herd
I worried they might be ripped right out of the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Because it had rined the night before, when we got
up the next morning, I decided to check the locall weather. I saw a picture of
the fishing pier with a CLOSED sign on it. We waited until the sun broke
through, and then we got into our car and headed north for Venice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The sea was very rough, the sky cloudy, and the wind
blew off my baseball hat a few times, but I persevered down the beach. The sand
was very wet and it felt as if I was slogging through a foot a mud, so I cut my
walk short and came back. Halfway there, I saw feathers in the water. When I
went closer, I saw a baby bird. I grabbed it out of the water and tried to
revive it, but it was dead already. I didn’t know if I should bury it under the
sand or leave the poor thing for other birds or animals to eat. I finally left
it on the sand, but I felt horrible that I hadn’t been able to save the
creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">That night I dreamed about the bird, saw its
water-soaked feathers, and closed eyes. If only I’d come out earlier, maybe I could
have saved it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Although the radio predicted rain on Wednesday, we
shoved out raincoats in the backseat of our car and headed for Sharkey’s
fishing pier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As usual, Tony took his fishing cart up the long
walk up the pier, but not before he gave me a hug and said, “I’ll see you at
the car at nine or nine-thirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I walked across the sand toward the water, taking
off my crocs and holding them in my hands as I started north. Many of the
turtle nests marked off by the volunteer turtle crew had lost their signage and
markers. I hoped not all the mother turtles’ efforts were in vain. As I kept
walking through piles of seaweed and tree branches, I saw several new turtle
nests, but these were farther in from the shore. I wondered if the departing
turtles who had already laid their eggs had communicated with the incoming
turtles and told them to bury their eggs farther back from the shore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I met several people walking the beach. Of course, I
had to tell my sad story of the dead bird to them. They all shook their heads
and said something like, “Mother Nature can be cruel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">That didn’t make me feel one bit better. I met
several people picking up refuse and I joined in, but my heart wasn’t in it. I
just wanted to get to the car and write about the dead bird.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When I was almost to Sharkey’s, I looked out into
the water. To my surprise, I saw another bird tossed around by the sea. I ran
into the water and grabbed the bird. It was soaked and exhausted, unable to get
its footing on the wet sand and roaring wind. I thought it might have a broken
foot, but I wasn’t sure. The water-soaked creature let me carry it to the sand,
where I set it down, talked to it in a soft voice, and put my hands around the
bird to warm and revive it. I didn’t know if it understood what I was trying to
convey, but it let me touch and hold it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A young couple came down the beach and I called them
over. “Do you have a cell phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The young woman took out a phone. I didn’t know the
number and they were only here visiting, but somehow she found the number for
the Venice Animal Rescue and dialed it. They weren’t open until nine and it was
only 8:30, so the couple had to leave to check out of their hotel. Before they
left, the man moved the bird a little farther from the water and copied down
the phone number of the rescue service in the sand for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Two little girls and their mother stopped by as I
stood watch over the baby bird. “Is he hurt?“ the older one said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I nodded. “I think so. I just called the Animal
Rescue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">They started down the shore. The older girl ran back
and said. “Standing like that makes that bird feel safe and protected.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Two young women came by. They both had tattoos on
their arms and legs and were very helpful, too. The younger one called the
number in the sand, but it was the wrong number. While she looked up another
number and left a message for the Wildlife Rescue of Venice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I refused to leave the baby bird alone on the shore.
By then, my husband saw me on the shore and came to the beach to find out what
had happened. I sent him back to the car to get his cell phone and I
contemplated taking the bird home with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Many years ago, when I lived in the woods of upstate
New York I was out jogging with my dog and found a small pinkish baby animal.
Its eyes weren’t even open yet and I had to feed it with an eyedropper. I kept
that animal in the pocket of my DJs at night and in the pocket of my shirt
during the day to keep it warm and safe. It lived for four days and then died.
I was hoping this bird would stay alive to break the jinx about saving animals
that plagued me. As a nurse practitioner, I’d helped many people, but my record
with animals wasn’t quite so sterling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My husband suggested we take the bird up onto the
pier. He told me that many pigeons nested under the pier and probably many of
the baby birds had fallen out of the nests in the storm. H3 tried to feed the
bird little pieces of bread, but it didn’t look interested. “They usually get
their food predigested from the mouths of their mothers. This bird looks
totally lost.You could take it up on the pier. Maybe its parents will find it
and feed it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I didn’t have a better idea. I couldn’t think of a
way to predigest its food. After we met one of my husband’s fishing friends, a
warm and friendly woman he introduced me to as Missy. She said, “Its parents
may be down at the other end of the pier. They usually come this way later.”
She promised to watch out for the baby bird while she was there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I still wasn’t comfortable with that, but had no
other ideas. I poured some of our drinking water onto the wooden pier and the
baby bird took two sips.I was worried it wouldn’t get enough food or water to
survive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As we walked off the pier, my husband’s phone rang.
It was Peg, a volunteer with the Venice Wildlife Rescue team. She said she was
on her way and would ge at the pier in five minutes. We went back to the bait
shop on the pier to wait for Peg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She arrived as advertised, a short woman with white
hair who wore a navy blue Animal Rescue jacket. She held a tiny blanket in her
hands and was amazed that the bird let me pick it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You found the bird on the beach?” she asked as she
covered the bird with the blanket and held it against her chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“No,” I said, “it was rolling around in the waves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You know,” she said, “you saved this bird’s life.
You’re a hero.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We walked off the pier together. “You know, the bait
shop has our phone number and also a place where you can give a donation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As we parted to go to our own cars, she said, “We’ll
keep this fledgling unless we’re sure it doesn’t have diarrhea or any injuries.
Once its wings are fully developed for flying, we’ll release it into the wild.
Thank you for what you did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Update that afternoon: Don at the center told me “Your
pigeon is quite thin, but otherwise healthy. We’re hydrating and feeding it.
Call back in 3-4 days for an update.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I had another dream that night, only this time, a
happy dream. I held the bird I’d rescued in my arms and felt a deep sense of
love and peace. I was a hero. I’d saved a tiny creature from death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The next morning, I looked up the Wildlife Rescue on
the internet. I saw pictures of raccoons, birds and some animals I didn’t
recognize. Across the top were words like contact, history and the one that
struck me—volunteer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I knew I couldn’t just drop by and see the bird I’d
rescued, who in my mind I’d named Walter Pigeon, after an old-time movie star
my mother liked. Their address wasn’t even listed, but the history said it was
located in a secluded spot. I didn’t think they wanted people dropping buy, gawking
at the animals, trying to feed them crackers and peanuts and taking pictures of
them. They were to be respected and cared for in a loving way. I liked that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The next thing I knew, I was downloading the
volunteer application. I started filling it out, then got a little nervous when
they asked for my address and phone number. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What if I went there and a snake bit me or a rabid
raccoon swiped me with its claws? I <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Calmed myself down. The animals were in cages,Yes, I
might have to clean the bottom of their homes, but they’d teach me a way to do
that so I’d be safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I also got to choose what kind of jobs I’d like to
do. I didn’t have a car, so I couldn’t drive to places where animals were in
danger. I wanted to take care of animals anyway, so that didn’t bother me. Sure,
I wanted to see Walter Pigeon, but I wanted to see the look in the eyes of
other animals I helped. That’s what was so satisfying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Stay tuned for part 2 of Wildlife Rescue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-67928052118417850032016-04-22T05:52:00.000-07:002016-04-22T06:08:55.684-07:00AN AGENT FOR YOUR DIVERSE BOOKHere's an agent looking for writers of diverse books for children and young adults:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Clelia Gore</strong> (<a href="http://www.martinlit.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #006699; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Martin Literary Management</a>)<br />
<br />
<img alt="illustration" src="https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/cleliagore/main.jpg" /></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Genres</span>: picture books, middle grade, young adult.</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Notes</span>: “I seek protagonists we don’t see enough of — minorities, mixed race, heroes with disabilities, etc.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">How to submit</span>:<br />
<br />
“Please send your queries to Clelia [at] MartinLiteraryManagement.com. In the subject line of your email, write ‘QUERY’ followed by the title of your work. In your e-mail, provide the text of your query letter, followed by a short sample of your writing pasted into the text of the e-mail (only illustration attachments will be opened). Kindly indicate if this is a multiple submission. Your query letter should include publisher submission history and previous publishing credits, if applicable. If you receive an offer of representation from another agent, please let us know immediately.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
PICTURE BOOKS: Query letter + full manuscript text pasted in email.</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<br />
ILLUSTRATORS: Query letter + 2 to 3 illustration samples (attached in jpeg or pdf format), link to online portfolio, and text of picture book pasted in email, if applicable.</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f0; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida sans', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<br />
FICTION: Query letter + text of first ten pages pasted in email.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f0; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">-</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f0; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
Check her out.<br />
<br />
Writing tip: It's always best to query agents who are already interested in the genre you're writing.<br />
<br />
Good luck.<br />
<br />
<br />Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-74497396604794521522016-01-26T10:34:00.000-08:002016-01-26T10:36:26.821-08:0021at Free Dear Lucky Agent Contest, Women's FictionI don't write women's fiction, but I'll bet some of you do. If you want an agent to take a look at your work, sign up for this.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">Agent judges and super-cool prizes. What more can you ask?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">Here’s the deal. If you’re writing women’s fiction, this 21st contest is for you! (No genre romance or erotica.) The contest is live through EOD, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. The contest is judged by agent Elizabeth Winick Rubenstein of McIntosh and Otis.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">For more information, go to </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/21st-free-dear-lucky-agent-contest-womens-fiction.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">Good luck!</span></span>Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-85354750698973060782016-01-17T14:53:00.001-08:002016-01-17T14:53:23.495-08:00Writers, Don't Miss PitMatch!<img alt="PitMatch" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.brenda-drake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/PitMatch.jpg?zoom=1.5&resize=684%2C557" />Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-44544555619893163082015-11-21T11:13:00.000-08:002016-01-17T14:57:48.695-08:00Love YA Fantasy, chivalry--this book's for you!<div align="center" class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xT3CGiGIL._SX307_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.9pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Title: <b>GRUDGING</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.9pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Author:
Michelle Hauck</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pub.
Date: November 17, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Publisher:
Harper Voyager Impulse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Format:
eBook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Find
it: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010LU8ZQO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B010LU8ZQO&linkCode=as2&tag=twchonbo-20&linkId=VWTUDVZD5M22762O"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Amazon</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grudging-michelle-hauck/1122494167?ean=9780062447159"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> | <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/grudging/id1013980749?mt=11&at=10l32yD"><span style="color: #5f28e1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">iBooks</span></a> | </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25815723-grudging?ac=1"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">A world
of chivalry and witchcraft…and the invaders who would destroy everything.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
North has invaded, bringing a cruel religion and no mercy. The ciudades-estados
who have stood in their way have been razed to nothing, and now the horde is
before the gates of Colina Hermosa…demanding blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">On a
mission of desperation, a small group escapes the besieged city in search of
the one thing that might stem the tide of Northerners: the witches of the
southern swamps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Women of the Song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But
when tragedy strikes their negotiations, all that is left is a single untried
knight and a witch who has never given voice to her power. And time is
running out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">A
lyrical tale of honor and magic, Grudging is the opening salvo in the Book of
Saints trilogy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Excerpt:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Shortly after the combat, Ramiro
made his excuses to the men at the wall and left, returning to the citadel and
taking the stairs to the roof. Some<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>alcalde’s</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>wife from the past had turned this
spot into an outdoor garden and dining room, making it a favorite retreat for
many. A peaceful place when he felt anything but.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Other people’s blood spotted his
white shirt. Had things gone differently, it could easily have been his own. He
needed a bath and a rest, but his mind hummed from the conflict, leaving him
unable to stop pacing. Cold chills claimed his limbs. His stomach was sourer
than when alcohol had filled it. With no clear single-combat victory, he hadn’t
earned his beard. The night reeked of disappointment.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">How long? How long could they
keep the Northerners out?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Stars spotted the night sky here,
where the citadel met the top of the world. Or so it had always seemed to him
as a child. Life was no longer so certain now that he was older.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">He drew in the cool scent of
creeping jasmine, carefully tended and watered by hand in pots across the
rooftop. Colina Hermosa spread before him, a humbling sight. The city stretched
away from the citadel on all sides, a jewel shining with lights. It spread down
the hill, becoming wider and grander as it sprawled, with imposing avenues and
white-clad stucco buildings whose thick walls and small windows kept out the
noonday heat. There was squalor and dirt as well, fits of temper, rudeness, and
often impatience. But the darkness hid all that, washing the city of its faults
and giving it a fresh life until it tumbled like the sea against the immovable
stone walls that now held out the Northerners.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">His heart swelled with love.
Something worth defending. Home.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Outside the high, white walls,
well beyond arrow shot, was a sight not so welcoming. There, jammed between the
city and a deep, old quarry used to build the city walls, campfires burned. A
red swarm of rage and death, brimstone and smoke, offering a grim contrast with
the peaceful firmament. Not by the hundreds did they burn, but by the thousands,
mirroring the stars in the sky. How many peasants’ houses did they demolish to
feed so much hungry fire? They must be down to burning cacti. How they kept it
up night after night, he couldn’t begin to comprehend.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Salvador<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>had talked on about supply trains and
quartermasters, but Ramiro had let his imagination dwell on his first ride
instead. An indulgence he regretted now.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">If only each fire meant a single
enemy, but that was wishful thinking. Each fire contained tens of men. Tens and
thousands. And behind them, the siege machines waited their turn. A lethal
combination for Colina Hermosa.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">He touched the spot above his
spleen, and whispered, “Santiago, don’t let me give in to despair.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">About
Michelle: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.9pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjELTvwp8m5prL8tTWtPJxRDHRngBJ9PEWvfCK4TBehxrVWYtOkiyZN68MoN5jHCaA9Gh61p_TsON-3sRA8qVrZ-zN-g1o-vokxomCc208kguF6BjQMhMAar1YnvAUqfVr6Lryx6XsuK1w/s1600/michelle_h.png"><b><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjELTvwp8m5prL8tTWtPJxRDHRngBJ9PEWvfCK4TBehxrVWYtOkiyZN68MoN5jHCaA9Gh61p_TsON-3sRA8qVrZ-zN-g1o-vokxomCc208kguF6BjQMhMAar1YnvAUqfVr6Lryx6XsuK1w/s200/michelle_h.png"
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjELTvwp8m5prL8tTWtPJxRDHRngBJ9PEWvfCK4TBehxrVWYtOkiyZN68MoN5jHCaA9Gh61p_TsON-3sRA8qVrZ-zN-g1o-vokxomCc208kguF6BjQMhMAar1YnvAUqfVr6Lryx6XsuK1w/s1600/michelle_h.png"
style='width:139.8pt;height:150pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'
o:button="t">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.png"
o:title="michelle_h"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjELTvwp8m5prL8tTWtPJxRDHRngBJ9PEWvfCK4TBehxrVWYtOkiyZN68MoN5jHCaA9Gh61p_TsON-3sRA8qVrZ-zN-g1o-vokxomCc208kguF6BjQMhMAar1YnvAUqfVr6Lryx6XsuK1w/s200/michelle_h.png" border="0" height="200" src="file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.png" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" width="186" /><!--[endif]--></span></b></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Michelle
Hauck lives in the bustling metropolis of northern Indiana with her hubby and
two teenagers. Two papillons help balance out the teenage drama. Besides
working with special needs children by day, she writes all sorts of fantasy,
giving her imagination free range. A book worm, she passes up the darker vices
in favor of chocolate and looks for any excuse to reward herself. Bio finished?
Time for a sweet snack.<br />
<br />
She is a co-host of the yearly contests Query Kombat and Nightmare on Query
Street, and Sun versus Snow.<br />
<br />
Her epic fantasy, <i>Kindar's Cure</i>, is published by Divertir
Publishing. Her short story, <i>Frost and Fog</i>, is published by The
Elephant's Bookshelf Press in their anthology, <i>Summer's Double Edge</i>.
She's repped by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.9pt;">
<a href="http://www.michelle4laughs.com/"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Website</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> | </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Michelle4Laughs"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> | </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michelle4Laughs"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> | </span><a href="http://michelle4laughs.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tumblr</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> | </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6692215.Michelle_Hauck"><span style="color: #5f28e1; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 10.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-49904578882465359702015-10-25T06:13:00.002-07:002015-10-25T06:52:44.706-07:00For YA Authors: 19th Free Dear Lucky Agent Contest<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">Welcome to information about the 19th (free!) </span><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Dear Lucky Agent” Contest</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;"> on the GLA blog. This is a FREE recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">According to <b>Chuck </b></span><a class="url fn n" href="http://www.writersdigest.com/author/chuck-sambuchino" rel="author" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View all posts by Chuck Sambuchino">Sambuchino</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">, here’s the deal: "With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. So if you’re writing any kind of young adult fiction, this 19th contest is for you! (The contest is live through EOD, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015.)"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px;">This contest will be <b>judged by Agent Eric Smith</b>, so you'll have a chance to have an agent see and review your work, and you might even win a critique!</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
Here's the place to go: <a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/19th-free-dear-lucky-agent-contest-young-adult-fiction" target="_blank">http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/19th-free-dear-lucky-agent-contest-young-adult-fiction</a><br />Be sure to scroll down to the article, then submit per the instructions.<br />Good luck!</h2>
</div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-1907816583940386912015-10-18T05:38:00.001-07:002015-10-18T06:34:40.681-07:00How tennis teaches you patience, control, focus, how to have fun and keeps you healthyI've been into tennis for decades...off and on. Now, I'm into it in a big way, playing 4-5 times a week, and loving it.<br />
<br />
Yes, this is me, before I got off the hard courts, and now play only on clay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtCTKCnKj-JQM0bLqLKnY-CSDrkrJiYdLtfOxiDKSWwEG038pFhMEAdRuR7DYG9YuVFW8hlhxBjKgVgwIVS1SAPrbjbfAUCMTT7ysRjM7kH2ktHQlIRJDs6fQ5rnmIwyx2JEOvonv1fo/s1600/Carolyn+hitting+tennis+ball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtCTKCnKj-JQM0bLqLKnY-CSDrkrJiYdLtfOxiDKSWwEG038pFhMEAdRuR7DYG9YuVFW8hlhxBjKgVgwIVS1SAPrbjbfAUCMTT7ysRjM7kH2ktHQlIRJDs6fQ5rnmIwyx2JEOvonv1fo/s1600/Carolyn+hitting+tennis+ball.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tennis, which contains not one normal movement, is a real challenge because most of us like to attack problems head on. Does tennis? NO. To execute every shot in tennis you have to turn your body either left or right, and that calls for focus and control. Of course, you also have to position yourself in the right spot, keep your eyes on the ball, have the right grip, right swing, and right follow through, but if you do all things, the ball will go where you want it to go with plenty of power to knock the socks off your opponent.<br />
<br />
Okay, so tennis requires focus, patience, and control. Bigtime. It's said you have to hit a stroke thousands of times to make the mind-body imprint so the movements become a habit. It may even be millions of times. I'm not sure. I'm still working on consistency.<br />
<br />
Tennis is also a lot of fun when you execute properly because you win the point. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and pure joy when that happens.<br />
<br />
The most important thing tennis can do for you is keep you healthy. Sitting is the worst thing for the body. Moving it is the best. Our bodies are meant to move and tennis accomplishes that. Also, if you play on clay or grass court, you'll protect your joints while exercising. And it's a lot more fun to play a game than work out in a smelly gym...at least it is for me.<br />
<br />
Also, we all need to get at least 15 minutes of exposure to the sun (the best source of vitamin D there is) 3-4 times a week; up to three times that if you have dark skin. Playing outdoors is a great way to get that exposure, but play before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m.<br />
<br />
So, if you haven't explored tennis, do so. And let me know how it goes.Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-46169766570583060452015-10-15T05:45:00.002-07:002015-10-15T05:55:02.319-07:00Cover Reveal for GRUDGINGDO you like <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">c<b>hivalry and witchcraft…and invaders from the North who would destroy everything and</b></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> bring a cruel religion and no mercy? What about a </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">single untried knight and a witch who has never given voice to her power? </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>GRUDGING is the opening salvo in the Book of Saints trilogy. To see the cover and read more about book, which is coming next month, click on</b> </span><a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/2015/10/grudging-by-michelle-hauck-cover-reveal/">http://www.brenda-drake.com/2015/10/grudging-by-michelle-hauck-cover-reveal/</a>Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-18777619227697989292015-09-12T13:49:00.002-07:002015-09-12T15:17:39.039-07:00Win a Free Copy of Katlyn Duncan's paranormal novelDo you love paranormal novels?<br />
<br />
Katlyn Duncan is offering a copy of one of her backlisted paranormal ebooks. Just click on over to <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9a07ce2b321/" target="_blank">https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9a07ce2b321/</a><br />
and sign up.<br />
<br />
You could win!<br />
<br />
P.S.<br />
Her cover for her new book is awesome.Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-72924253023835718912015-09-05T13:45:00.000-07:002015-09-05T14:45:58.100-07:0018th Free “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest: Thriller / Mystery / SuspenseDo you write mystery, suspense, thrillers?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you do, hop on over to the 18th Free "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest.</div>
<div>
<br />
You could win an agent, a critique, or a delicious prize.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You only have until September 17th, so time's a-wasting!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
See you there.</div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-50900607581719207352015-09-01T05:55:00.000-07:002015-09-01T05:55:38.945-07:00Free copies of 3 of THRONE OF GLASS fantasy seriesEnter rafflecopter at https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2328/<br />
to win copies of three of Sarah Maas, THRONE OF GLASS fantasy series.<br />
This is a bestselling series, folks, so hurry on over the rafflecopter and enter. You might be the lucky winner!<br />
<br />
Good luck!Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-55231225069736450372015-08-02T04:48:00.003-07:002015-08-02T04:50:41.054-07:00How A Mountain Bike Can Extend Your World and Save the EnvironmentOkay, I did it, I bought a mountain bike yesterday, the kind that has really strong tires so I'll probably never get a flat, the kind that can go and go on cement, or mountains, or whatever.<br />
<br />
Why did I do this?<br />
<br />
Because, we sold our second car a couple of months back. It was old, we'd sunk a lot of money into it recently, and with only using it once a week, the poor machine just didn't get enough of a workout to stay healthy.<br />
<br />
But, this left me with no way to get to my tennis workout on Monday mornings. Now, after consulting with my tennis friends who have bikes, a mountain bike emerged as the safest, easiest to maintain, least costly transport for me on the days our car isn't available for me to use.<br />
<br />
It's for sure better for the environment than spewing gas exhaust into the air.<br />
<br />
Consider a bike for your transport and let me know how it works out.Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-82779099306763107132015-07-21T10:57:00.000-07:002015-07-21T11:01:09.687-07:00MY SISTER'S DATING A SERIAL KILLEROkay, I'm posting my query letter and first 250 words for my novel, MY SISTER'S DATING A SERIAL KILLER.<br />
<br />
If you're a reader or writer, please put your critique below. I love honest feedback, so rip away.<br />
<br />
If you're a writer, post your query on your blog and sign up over on Michelle4Writes.com. The more, the merrier.<br />
<br />
Here goes:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dear Ms. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>My
Sister’s Dating a Serial Killer </i>(62,000
words) is a fast-paced YA mystery/thriller with magical realism. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Bad things can happen when nobody listens</i>. Especially Cammie’s
sister, who’s being a lovesick jerk and denying anything’s wrong with her
boyfriend. Cammie’s been watching way too much CSI to buy that. She claims
there’s evidence he’s burned down the pastor’s barn and experimented with small
animals in his basement lab—two things associated with serial killers,
according to Dr. Phil. Cammie’s cried wolf too many times about suspects who
turned out to be innocent, so not another soul in Sleepy Valley SC believes the
sixteen-year-old’s claim her sister’s boyfriend is a serial killer. Except maybe
the police chief’s nephew who takes a shine to Cammie and wants to help, but
Cammie’s not sure she can trust him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucky she has her flaky Nana and
a spirit who calls herself Flannery O’Connor, but they may be more interference
than help. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cammie could be right this time,
but if she doesn’t hurry and get enough evidence to send her sister’s boyfriend
to the slammer, both girls could end up in pieces in his basement lab.</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
Even though I live in the South now, like my
heroine, I grew up in a small town—only mine was in northern Wisconsin. The
University of South Florida's <i>Palm Prints</i>
published one of my short stories, <i>Riverwalk</i>
published another online. I also took first place in a Virginia Romance Writers
contest and second place for a YA novel in a Florida State Writing
Competition. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Thank you for considering <i>My Sister’s Dating a Serial Killer</i>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Sincerely, <span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
MY SISTER’S DATING A SERIAL KILLER<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Into the Deep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
“Cameo! Don't
jump,” Cort, my older sister, shouts to me from the woodsie Carolina path.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The sweet and
succulent blackberries we’d been picking for Mom’s pie still melting in my
mouth, I straighten from my diving position, yank off my sweaty T-shirt and
hang it on a shrub. For dramatic effect, I step out of my cutoffs like a striper
and pull up my one-piece swimsuit, which has lost some of the elasticity around
the strapless top. </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
It’s Cort who
needs protecting, not me. I kick off my flip-flops and the warm sand
prickle my toes.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
When I can’t come
up with a way to tell her the truth about her new boyfriend, I plunge deep into
the channel.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
A luscious wetness
covers me until something large swims in my direction. It’s impossible to see
what’s hiding in the pitch black underwater. A knot grabs hold of my gut and twists
to warn me. Whatever is down here is evil. </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Before I can swing
into a fast breast stroke in the other direction, something below my feet sends
chills up my body. A rough current tumbles me along the river bottom into a
sunken tree. </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Something large
bumps into my leg. </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
I jolt back.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Which way to find
Cort? My inner compass is off course.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Adrenaline rushes
through my body and I battle up from the muddy bottom. </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Something grabs my
legs from behind.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Not a fish. </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Not an alligator.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Those were hands.</div>
Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-3661590232562587162015-07-10T13:32:00.001-07:002015-07-10T13:49:14.154-07:00MY ROMANCE WITH TWITTERWhen I first got on Twitter, I was enamored with it totally. I spent hours reading other people's Tweets. They were so sexy, so interesting, so smart.<br />
<br />
By comparison, mine paled. No doubt because I've been writing non-fiction, health-related books for so long, my sexiness, interestingness and smartness have faded to zero.<br />
<br />
Still, I persisted. After all, it was the favored social media for people who held contests for people like me to be favorited by an agent, send them pages from my novel, and ultimately be represented by said agent. One is not sure exactly how long that takes because it's been ions since I started querying, and have not yet Gotten the Call, but that's another story...<br />
<br />
Anyway, last week, I began getting messages that I could not post that message. At first, I thought maybe I'd put swear words in it, or been mean to another Twitterer, or some such. But no, I checked my Tweets and they were pristine.<br />
<br />
Today, the low blow came.<br />
<br />
I was told I could not Follow anyone.<br />
<br />
Why not? I'd only followed less than 200 people. Was I on some kind of list I was unaware of for writing thrillers or young adult romance? Maybe my choice of people to follow was bad.Again, I found no problem with the people I'm following. They are all sterling Tweeters.<br />
<br />
Then, by some amazing process I've totally forgotten, I discovered a way to send a message to Twitter.<br />
<br />
Hurrah!<br />
<br />
I filled in the form and pushed SUBMIT. I even received a thank you, but along with that were words something like: You will not receive a response to your question. We only collect this information to make Twitter a more pleasurable experience.<br />
<br />
If it were anymore pleasurable, I'd probably die, or at the least, go into a hiccup spell.<br />
<br />
Any advice out there? Have you, too, had this horrific experience, and if so, how did you get out of it? Are you still alive, or have you been turned into hot, melting taffy?<br />
<br />
I'm holding my breath in anticipation of your sterling suggestions.Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-17940832683249688562015-06-27T14:24:00.000-07:002015-06-27T14:24:42.787-07:00Are you a writer who's stumped? Find new inspiration...<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;">Want to write more easily?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;">Mary </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;">Jaksch, Editor-in-Chief </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;">gathered the </span><a href="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=V7Rp9.&m=Iwq.FFYIV6MVnK&b=RKylPvTZr7vQ08RpWQEl6g" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" target="_blank">10 best creative writing exercises </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;">for you!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;">Each one comes with an image which will stimulate your creativity.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" /><a href="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=V7Rp9.&m=Iwq.FFYIV6MVnK&b=RKylPvTZr7vQ08RpWQEl6g" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" target="_blank">Click here to check out these fun exercises.</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.2000007629395px;" /><br />
<br />Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119700868364048346.post-28607819675163855182015-04-27T05:27:00.005-07:002015-04-27T06:17:33.716-07:00What Makes You Cry? What would Wordsworth say?<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“Fill your paper with the<br />breathings o f your heart.”<br />~William Wordsworth </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Whether you're a writer or a reader--or both, emotion is what you're going for. As a writer, most of the time you want to make people smile or laugh, or be scared, but sometimes everyone needs to cry. It's a great release of tension, cleans out your eye channels, and just feels good to let it all out.<br />
<br />
What makes me cry?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Animal</b>s, especially moms with their pups (or whatever) or sibling animals. I have a picture of baby elephants holding onto each other's trunks and strolling along in front of watchful Mom.<br />
<br />
<b>Romance</b>. I'm a sucker for a lot of those romances on the Hallmark Movie Channel. At the end, when the two lovers kiss after being through the wringer, I always sigh and wipe away a tear or two. <br />
<br />
<b>Ballet</b>. When I lived in NYC, I used to go to the ballet with my roommate. I will forever be indebted to Susan. She was the one who introduced me to Lincoln Center. The beauty. The precision, The emotion of the dance. It's so beautiful, I have to cry at that.<br />
<br />
<b>Puppies</b>. All kinds, but especially cockers (because we had one when I was a kid), Swedish Elkhounds (because one lived with us thirty years ago and I still miss her), Maltese, and Terriers, and mixed breeds with sad faces.<br />
<br />
<b>Old boyfriends</b>. I wonder what would have been if....<br />
<br />
<b>Regrets</b> about scenes with my parents. There are a few I'd like to rewrite. Writing gives me the chance to do that. <br />
<br />
That's pretty much my list. For today. What about you? What makes you cry?Carolyn Chambers Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03494503999922712440noreply@blogger.com0