Mindy Klasky - Virtual Cocktails

Mindy Klasky - Virtual Cocktails http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/ Mindy Klasky - Virtual Cocktails - LiveJournal.com mindy@mindyklasky.com Wed, 23 May 2012 13:14:03 GMT LiveJournal / LiveJournal.com mindyklasky 8808037 personal http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/116982170/8808037 Mindy Klasky - Virtual Cocktails http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/ 100 93 http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/354227.html Wed, 23 May 2012 13:14:03 GMT Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion) mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/354227.html <p>My SFNovelist colleague, David B. Coe, has a great post up at SFNovelists today, asking readers and writers what they most look for in book promotion. David discusses the (long and impressive) list of things he’s doing to launch his next book, THIEFTAKER, which will be a new book, in a new series, published under a new name (D.B. Jackson). He concludes by asking people to talk about what book promotion works best for them.</p> <p>Here’s the post: <a href="http://www.sfnovelists.com/2012/05/23/a-post-in-which-you-tell-me-about-self-promotion/">http://www.sfnovelists.com/2012/05/23/a-post-in-which-you-tell-me-about-self-promotion/</a></p> <p>I am <em>dying</em> to read responses to this post. (Yes, I am, and so is Morgan Keyes, who will be launching a new book, in a new series, under a new name, in August…)</p> <p>So, if you have one minute, go read about what David is doing (and prepare to be impressed!) And then jot down just your responses about book promotion — what works for you, what doesn’t work for you. You can help out a whole lot of your author friends!</p> <p>(The SFNovelist site does <em>not</em> require registration, but if this is your first time posting, your comment will be temporarily held for approval by a human.)</p> <p>Many, many, many thanks!</p> <p>Mindy, hoping many of you will hop over to SFNovelists, even just this once</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Needed: Your Opinion (About Book Promotion)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/needed-your-opinion-about-book-promotion/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/354227.html publicity public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353996.html Tue, 22 May 2012 15:07:06 GMT Back from the Stay/Va-cation mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353996.html <p>Hello there! I’m back, I’m reasonably caught up on social media, my sleeves are rolled up to write, and…</p> <p>What’s that? You didn’t even realize I was gone.</p> <p>::Pout::</p> <p>Last week, we decided to take a little staycation – mostly, taking advantage of local sites that we never make the time to go to. Except, at the end of the week, we also went to Williamsburg, so we had a bit of a vacation as well…</p> <p>We started out with a bit of museuming, and some streaming-movie marathoning, and some reading days. We traipsed through the main collection at the National Gallery of Art (focusing on Impressionism and Dutch painting) — it was fun to see old favorites and to realize that some of the Dutch paintings aren’t by Rembrandt anymore (they’ve been reattributed to his workshop – and I once wrote a mystery about that…)</p> <p>We also went to see the Jefferson Bible at the National Museum of American History. They had a small exhibit set up around this fascinating book — a version of the Bible (in Greek, French, German, and English), where Jefferson cut and pasted other copies to create a New Testament that contained *no* reference to the supernatural. (Jesus was a good man, a teacher, and he delivered sermons, but he didn’t raise Lazarus from the dead, and he never transformed loaves and fishes. And, um, he died. The end.)</p> <p>And we went to a lecture at the Newseum – Brian Stelter, from the New York Times, talking quite eloquently about new media. I was nowhere near as well-spoken (nor had I thought about issues so clearly) when I was 21 years old. At the Newseum, we also saw a collection of “books of freedom” – first (and other noteworthy) editions collected and donated to the museum. All of the books had the theme of “freedom” — there were editions of Common Sense, and Areopagitica, and a number of others that I’d never heard of before. The exhibit was most noteworthy for the *excellent* computerized presentation, which let viewers page through the delicate texts online.</p> <p>And, at the Newseum, I bought my new favorite T-shirt: Will Write for Food.</p> <p>On the viewing (and consequent knitting) front, we watched the BBC miniseries THE STATE WITHIN. I very much enjoyed Jason Isaacs performance (alas, poor AWAKE – you were cursed by our liking the show!) I was most amused, though, by the perspective that the British writers had of US politics — especially the power of the Virginia governor.</p> <p>And then we went on our tour of American history — Fort McHenry (where Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem, well, the song that would become the national anthem in 1930…), and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, closely followed by our trip to Williamsburg, and a day each at Yorktown, Jamestown, and Shirley Plantation. The theme of the trip, somewhat oddly, turned out to be the War of 1812. I remembered little of it from my 4th grade history class, but it was a constant reference point along the way. (OK, maybe it only seemed that way, because I knew more of the background of the other historical sites…)</p> <p>For Yorktown and Jamestown, we only had time to go the National Park Service sites at each — that just means that we’ll have to make a return trip for the “living history” museums in those places. Aw, shucks.</p> <p>To cap off the wonderful week, we went to a Nationals baseball game. They played the Orioles. Nats won, and phenom pitcher Steven Strasburg (no, his tired arm is *not* a concern) hit his first career home run. And the visiting fans were fun to have around (not the case with, ahem, some teams to our north…)</p> <p>Fill in the gaps with sleeping in nearly every day, wonderful food, great conversation… It’s sort of hard to get back into the swing of things!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Back from the Stay/Va-cation" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Back from the Stay/Va-cation" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Back from the Stay/Va-cation" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Back from the Stay/Va-cation" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Back from the Stay/Va-cation" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Back from the Stay/Va-cation" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/back-from-the-stayva-cation/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353996.html travels public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353712.html Tue, 15 May 2012 10:03:42 GMT Garth Nix — A Confusion of Princes mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353712.html <p>One of the best things about writing is that I get to read. Sometimes, I get to read ARCs (Advance Readers Copies) of books by my favorite authors. Every once in a while, I get one of those ARCs that makes me jump up and down with excitement. And once in a blue moon, I get an ARC by a favorite author that makes me jump up and down and then stay up all night, reading the book in one giant gulp.</p> <p>That, dear reader, was my fate when I received an ARC of Garth Nix’s <em>A Confusion of Princes</em>. The book is out in stores today, so you can join in the fun.</p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/garth-nix-a-confusion-of-princes/confusion/" rel="attachment wp-att-4342"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4342" title="confusion" src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/confusion.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Here are the first two sentences: “I have died three times, and three times been reborn, though I am not yet twenty in the old Earth years by which it is still the fashion to measure time. This is the story of my three deaths, and my life between.”</p> <p>OK. How can you not read on, after that?!?</p> <p><em>Confusion</em> reminded me of the best of the space adventures that I loved as a kid. It’s more sophisticated than the John Christopher books I adored, but it has that same sense of wonder, that same absolutely confident world-building. The hero, thrice-dead Khemri, has some good traits and a lot of bad ones. His unspoken assumptions permeate every sentence that he narrates, making us completely buy the world that he’s showing us. Khemri’s changes in the novel make perfect sense given who he is and what he learns.</p> <p>This is space opera at its YA best — I strongly recommend this book for readers of space opera, for readers of YA, for readers of good strong storytelling that sticks in the mind.</p> <p>Buy links:<strong> <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060096942"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Amazon</span></a> <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Confusion-of-Princes/Garth-Nix/e/9780060096946"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">B&N</span></a><br /> </strong> </strong></p> <p>Mindy, so pleased to find good books to share<strong><br /> </strong></p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/garth-nix-a-confusion-of-princes/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353712.html reading public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353292.html Fri, 11 May 2012 10:00:38 GMT To Trunk or Not To Trunk? mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353292.html <p>A recent article in <em>Romance Writers Report</em> discussed “under the bed” manuscripts (what I would call “trunked” manuscripts – as in, stored in a trunk). The article pointed out that many authors are publishing their trunked works, using the wonders of Amazon, B&N, and other purveyors of ebooks to reach the audience that their treasured never-sold manuscripts had not yet found.</p> <p>I have five trunked novels — two traditional fantasy, two category romance, and one mystery. I’ve fiddled with one of the fantasy novels off and on over the years — it has some wonderful things going for it, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s plot is irrevocably broken. I looked at the category romances recently, and they’re not ready for prime time — they’ve got decent category bones, but they’re too full of adjectives and adverbs in virtually every sentence. They’d take a *lot* of line editing to make decent. As for the mystery – the best thing about it is its title. Enough said.</p> <p>That leaves the other fantasy novel. The first fantasy novel that I ever wrote. I have two versions of it — one that I circulated via an agent for years and a shorter-by-20% version that resulted from an editor who was interested but ultimately left her job before I could finish my revisions.</p> <p>Last night, I took a peek, to see if there’s anything salvageable there.) The long version was as broken as I’d feared it would be. Like the category romances, it suffered from way too many adjectives and adverbs. It also had huge pacing problems — the first chapter was an interminable council meeting, where no fewer than twelve (12!) nobles are introduced, all to let us know that hey, we have to go to war.</p> <p>I almost didn’t read the trimmed version. But I did.</p> <p>And you know what? It isn’t terrible.</p> <p>It isn’t publishable – not now, not in its current state. But if I reworked it a bit… If I emphasized <em>that</em> aspect… If I trimmed more of <em>that</em> one…</p> <p>This wouldn’t be a quick edit — there’s both structural and line work to be done. But the novel wasn’t terrible.</p> <p>I’ve got plenty of work on my plate for the next couple of months. But after that? Who knows?</p> <p>(And I have to say – I was <em>astonished</em> by how many of the sentences were still absolutely, completely, 100% familiar, 15 years after I last read them. I really poured my heart and soul into this work once upon a time, fighting to make it the very best novel I could write. That required a <em>lot</em> of revisions, word by painstaking word…)</p> <p>Mindy, musing (which usually only happens when she reaches the <em>final</em> quarter of a work in progress…)</p> <p> </p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/to-trunk-or-not-to-trunk/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353292.html super secret projects public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353139.html Wed, 09 May 2012 15:21:17 GMT Magical Words – Incognito Introvert mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353139.html <p>I’m over at Magical Words today, writing about how I disguise my inner introvert when I have to take her out in public:</p> <p><a href="http://www.magicalwords.net/mindy-klasky/incognito-introvert/">http://www.magicalwords.net/mindy-klasky/incognito-introvert/</a></p> <p>Stop by and comment (and share your own experiences as an introvert or extrovert or someone in between!)</p> <p>Mindy, ducking back into writing…</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Magical Words – Incognito Introvert" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Magical Words – Incognito Introvert" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Magical Words – Incognito Introvert" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Magical Words – Incognito Introvert" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Magical Words – Incognito Introvert" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Magical Words – Incognito Introvert" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/magical-words-incognito-introvert/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/353139.html magical words public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352898.html Tue, 08 May 2012 17:53:42 GMT Found It! mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352898.html <p>After two days of poking and prodding and trying to come up with the perfect first sentence for PLEASANT VALLEY, I have it: <em>It’s not my fault.</em></p> <p>Yeah. It’s only four words. But when Ashley said them to me, I suddenly understood exactly how to start this thing.</p> <p>Pardon me. I’m off to write…</p> <p>Mindy, already out the door</p> <p> </p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Found It!" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Found It!" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Found It!" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Found It!" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Found It!" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Found It!" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/found-it/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352898.html pleasant valley public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352403.html Wed, 02 May 2012 19:32:19 GMT Pleasant Passions: Book Research mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352403.html <p>I’m stringing together the outline for a new book, in a new genre (contemporary YA, with no paranormal element), temporarily called PLEASANT VALLEY, USA. As with all books, this one cries out for some basic research, so that I can define the parameters of the story.</p> <p>In the past week, I’ve researched the following items (in no particular order):</p> <ul> <li>Shakespeare’s <em>Midsummer Night’s Dream</em></li> <li><em></em>Timeline of the Columbine shootings</li> <li>Process for procuring production rights of plays through Samuel French</li> <li>Acclaimed college baseball programs<br /> <em></em></li> <li>Pink slime</li> <li>Daily calendar of my local high school</li> <li>Composition of mustard gas</li> <li>Arthur Miller’s <em>The Crucible</em></li> <li>Composition of chlorine gas</li> <li>Cheesy videos of invitations to prom</li> <li>Timeline of Hitler’s rise in Germany</li> <li>Gazetteer entries for towns and cities named Irondale</li> <li>About a million other details that aren’t coming to mind as I type this.</li> </ul> <p>The vast majority of these dribs and drabs won’t make it into the final book, of course. But each new website is helping me to figure out the parameters of my story, the nature of my characters, the style of their story.</p> <p>I love research. I love how reading one page sends me haring off after another. I love how ideas circle back on each other, how I eventually find linkages that I never anticipated. This is why I loved being a librarian, why I looked forward to my days on the reference desk.</p> <p>I’m going to have fun writing this one. If the FBI doesn’t stop by to arrest me, first…</p> <p>Mindy, wondering just how many searches it takes to generate “official” interest</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Pleasant Passions: Book Research" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Pleasant Passions: Book Research" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Pleasant Passions: Book Research" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Pleasant Passions: Book Research" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Pleasant Passions: Book Research" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Pleasant Passions: Book Research" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/pleasant-passions-book-research/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352403.html pleasant valley passion public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352006.html Tue, 01 May 2012 15:31:05 GMT SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352006.html <p>I’m over at SFNovelists today, writing about my decision to write a novella, after years of writing novels. Check out my post!</p> <p><a href="http://www.sfnovelists.com/2012/05/01/call-me-a-rebel-or-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/">http://www.sfnovelists.com/2012/05/01/call-me-a-rebel-or-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/</a></p> <p>Mindy, wearing many hats!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="SFNovelists Post: My Life as a Novella-ist" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/05/sfnovelists-post-my-life-as-a-novella-ist/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/352006.html sfnovelists public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351967.html Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:10:37 GMT Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351967.html <p>Whew! What a whirlwind weekend! From the pre-retreat booksigning until my return home on Sunday afternoon, I spent the three-day weekend surrounded by friends (new and old), talking endlessly about writing, reading, romance, publishing, and all aspects of the book world. The retreat was inspiring (you’ll see the results of some of my thoughts sooner, rather than later) and (for this introvert) exhausting.</p> <p>In one quick list, here are a few highlights from the retreat:</p> <ul> <li>Robyn Carr’s publishing story — thirty years of writing before she became a #1 NYT Bestseller, and consistent appearances on the list since then,</li> <li>Elaine Spencer’s industry insights — this agent from the Knight Agency represents some friends of mine, but I’d never met her in person. She consistently presented interesting, engaged views of the current, rapidly-changing publishing world,</li> <li>Valerie Gray’s insider perspective — this Mira Executive Editor discussed the way that she works with Robyn Carr, Carr’s agent, and the Mira imprint to build a hugely successful career. (As a former Mira writer, I found it fascinating to hear about the career landmarks for growth — being offered an anthology slot, being offered a Christmas book, shooting for the 24th, then 3rd, then 1st slot on the NYT list…)</li> <li>Laura Reeth’s marketing advice — this publicist who works with Nora Roberts shared a recipe for success (and one for margaritas). While the specific tools were not earthshaking (writing a bio, building a website, maintaining a blog), the emphasis on traditional resources (dress for success, branding, print communications) made me reflect. A lot.</li> </ul> <p>The high points of my retreat though, were actually off-campus. I met Stephanie Dray for a rousing conversation over coffee and dessert and I came away — as I always do from my meetings with the divine Ms. Dray — with a new love for my job, and for my various writing projects.</p> <p>But the biggest eye-opener of the weekend was the booksiging at Turn The Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland. I was fortunate enough to be invited back to this year’s event (having signed there for the first time last year.) Turn The Page is (as the famous story goes), owned by Nora Roberts’s husband. It is located cross the street from the BoonsBoro Inn, owned by Ms. Roberts herself. The signing was one of the seven that take place there each year — Nora invites fourteen authors to join her each time. The event draws hundreds of readers, who line up hours in advance. The signing is beautifully orchestrated by store staff, who sell hundreds of books before the signing starts, but also allow authors to hand-sell books during the course of the signing.</p> <p>As before, I was overwhelmed by the reader response — attendees came from as far away as Montana and Arizona. One woman was there with her husband — he had planned the trip to celebrate a major wedding anniversary. Several readers juggled small children, or wrestled with walkers or wheelchairs. Many had cameras, to document a virtual pilgrimage.</p> <p>I realized, as I watched the whirlwind of activities, that Nora Roberts has done more than publish 200 books. She has done more than put forward the face of a professional businesswoman to replace the timeworn image of a caftan-and-yappy-dog-writer-of-romance-novels. She has done more than please millions and millions of readers (including, most amusingly to me, my then-94-year-old grandfather!)</p> <p>Nora Roberts practically supports the town of Boonsboro. Her seven-times-a-year signings infuse the historic town with cash. The pizza joint on the corner (yes, featured in the most recent Roberts series). The bakery across the street (*my* personal destination of choice – for the lemon-frosted ginger cookies!) The farmer’s market, the gas station, the couple of dozen small businesses that get flooded with customers like life in a tidepool…</p> <p>(Of course, those businesses and all their employees work hard. I don’t mean to belittle what they do.)</p> <p>Truly, booksigning day in Boonsboro is a wonder to behold. And it’s all because of the work ethic of one woman who has figured out they key to the hearts and minds of millions of romance readers.</p> <p>So, I’m back from my Maryland safari. I’m settling down to get some writing done. (And some support-work too, all the behind the scenes stuff that keeps us authors busy from dawn to dusk…)</p> <p>And you? What wonders did you discover this weekend?</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Maryland Adventure – Washington Romance Writers Retreat" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/maryland-adventure-washington-romance-writers-retreat/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351967.html travels adventure conventions publicity public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351531.html Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:00:27 GMT Booksigning Today! mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351531.html <p>Just a quick reminder: TODAY, at 11:30 a.m., I’ll be signing books at <a href="http://www.ttpbooks.com/">Turn the Page Bookstore</a>, 18 N. Main St., Boonsboro, MD 21713.</p> <p>This event is the kickoff to the Washington Romance Writers’ annual retreat. You don’t need to be a member of WRW to attend the booksigning. (For those not in the know — Turn the Page is the bookstore owned by Nora Roberts’s husband. It’s located practically across the street from the inn that Nora owns, and it’s one of the main businesses in historic Boonsboro. The town bakery would be worth the trip, even if there weren’t such wonderful book-related places in Boonsboro!)</p> <p>Lots of other authors will be at the signing, including: Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Robyn Carr, Elizabeth Boyle, Cathy Maxwell, Amanda Brice, Leigh Duncan, Alma Katzu, Lavinia Kent, Alethea Kontis, Kieran Kramer, Allison Leotta, Pamela Palmer, Hope Ramsay, Alix Rickloff, and Christine Trent.</p> <p>Mindy, hoping to see you there!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/booksigning-today/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351531.html recent public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351480.html Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:04:30 GMT Hidden Genres mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351480.html <p>Yesterday, I <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/experimental-form/">mused</a> about the production of O’Neill’s Strange Interlude that I saw over the weekend. The production must have affected me more than I thought, because I find that I still have things to say about it.</p> <p>As I mentioned, the play was written in 1923 and produced in 1928. The action in the play starts somewhat after Armistice Day (the main character has had time to have a nervous breakdown and to begin recovering.) The play then moves forward in time, some 2o-odd years. Therefore, <em>Strange Interlude</em> is, in some ways, genre fiction — near-future science fiction. (Except for the fact that it’s not particularly pre-occupied with science…)</p> <p>O’Neill accomplishes his future writing by keeping things general. When he wants to show a wealthy couple, he places them in a lavish Park Avenue apartment (betting that the luxe address of the 1920s would continue to be so through the end of the 30′s.) He displays “privilege” by placing his characters at a regatta, without naming specific schools who are rowing.</p> <p>Of course, O’Neill misses some things. He does not hint at the Great Depression, which would have had a serious impact on his wealthy characters. He cannot be aware of the rise of German nationalism, which might well have had echoes in a play about Freudian analysis, the lasting effect of World War I, etc.</p> <p>Near future SF is a dangerous business. We can read Orwell’s <em>1984</em> (written in 1948) and be amused by the various “misses”. Clark’s <em>2001</em> has come and gone, of course.</p> <p>What near future SF do you think has been successful? What is laughable, in retrospect?</p> <p>Mindy, perhaps through musing about <em>Strange Interlude</em>…</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/hidden-genres/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351480.html recent public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351219.html Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:42 GMT Experimental Form mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351219.html <p>Last weekend, we attended a production of Eugene O’Neill’s play <em>Strange Interlude</em> at the Shakespeare Theatre. The play is relatively early O’Neill – it was finished in 1923 and first produced in 1928. It tells the story of a woman, Nina, who loses her fighter-pilot fiance two days before the World War I armistice and who spends the rest of her life trying to recapture the perceived perfection of her life with the dead man.</p> <p>As written, the play runs 5 hours; it was originally performed with an intermission dinner break. The production I saw was cut to 3 hours 20 minutes (plus two intermissions.) The play is structured somewhat oddly — there are 9 “scenes” (rather than acts), corresponding to the nine months of human gestation.</p> <p>But the most noteworthy aspect of Strange Interlude is its narrative form: Each actor speaks his or her lines (as in a normal play), and each actor also speaks his or her thoughts. In this performance there was no visual or aural distinction between what was dialog and what was thought; for the most part, though, that was made clear.</p> <p>The effect was … interesting. So much of what we perceive as acting is the conveyance of emotio; we’re accustomed to studying an actor’s face, body language, and tone to decipher how his/her character <em>feels</em> about something. In this play, the actor states those underlying emotions explicitly: “I hate him. I think he’s fake and phony. Hello there, how are you today?”</p> <p>At times, the effect is comic. (The strongest laugh line in the play was one character saying/thinking, “What am I <em>doing</em> here?” — a sentiment apparently echoed by a lot of the audience.)</p> <p>But at times, the effect is enervating. We hear someone think about something, then say that something. A number of the lines feel doubled up, repeated unnecessarily.</p> <p>And yet, I find myself intrigued by the form. I wonder how it would work in a short story — we often already provide some of the interior monologue, but to reproduce all of it like that… I’d never try it for more than a short story — essentially this is a gimmick, and most gimmicks get boring after a short time. (At 3 hours, 20 minutes, the play was too long, by at least half an hour. I can’t imagine how I would have felt about the 5 hour version!)</p> <p>So — we arrive, at last, at a question: What novels or short stories have you read that experiment with form? And do you think those experiments were successful?</p> <p>Mindy, musing. Or maybe just procrastinating, because it’s time to start outlining a new novel…</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/experimental-form/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/351219.html culture public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350798.html Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:01:09 GMT Foreign Editions mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350798.html <p>As a writer, I would love to see my books in as many countries as possible. There’s a certain thrill in seeing foreign languages on the cover, along with my name. There’s a definite curiosity in seeing cover art, figuring out what works in one country, as opposed to another.</p> <p>With my fantasy novels, I have fought long and hard to keep the rights for foreign distribution. Publishers in certain countries (e.g., Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia/New Zealand) pay as much or more for distribution as U.S. publishers pay. Publishers in other countries might not deliver huge advances, but any extra money is “found” money.</p> <p>The publisher of my “fun” and “passion” novels (all of the Jane Madison Series, the As You Wish Series, and my Special Editions) was Harlequin. Harlequin was not willing to forgo foreign distribution; they insisted that they have rights to translate and sell my works worldwide. That insistence was not a deal-breaker, in part because Harlequin has a huge, worldwide distribution system.</p> <p>Under my contract with Harlequin, they are required to send me two copies of each book published abroad. Alas, that doesn’t always happen (there are at least two books that I did not receive). Nevertheless, I often receive “care packages” from Harlequin, with unexpected foreign editions.</p> <p>The most recent of these arrived late last week. It was <em>The Daddy Dance</em>, published by Mills & Boon, with English-language text. I did not realize, though, until I added the edition to my website, that the book was actually published for the Indian market! So, now Mindy Klasky books are available in Germany, France, the U.K., and India (along with the U.S. and Canada…) I can’t wait to see the next package that arrives! (The complete list is available here: <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/books/printable-list-of-all-novels/">http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/books/printable-list-of-all-novels/</a></p> <p>(I have a writer-friend, Stephanie Dray, who has a tradition each time she sells foreign rights on one of her books: she dines out at a restaurant that serves food from that country. I think this is a grand tradition, and I think that Indian food just might be on the bill of fare soon…)</p> <p>Mindy, amused</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/foreign-editions/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350798.html business of writing daddy dance public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350508.html Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:00:17 GMT Booksigning – Turn The Page Bookstore (Boonsboro, MD) mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350508.html <p>On April 27, 2012 at 11:30 a.m., I’ll be signing books at <a href="http://www.ttpbooks.com/">Turn the Page Bookstore</a>, 18 N. Main St., Boonsboro, MD 21713.</p> <p>This event is the kickoff to the Washington Romance Writers’ annual retreat. You don’t need to be a member of WRW to attend the booksigning. (For those not in the know — Turn the Page is the bookstore owned by Nora Roberts’s husband. It’s located practically across the street from the inn that Nora owns, and it’s one of the main businesses in historic Boonsboro. The town bakery would be worth the trip, even if there weren’t such wonderful book-related places in Boonsboro!)</p> <p>Lots of other authors will be at the signing, including: Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Robyn Carr, Elizabeth Boyle, Cathy Maxwell, Amanda Brice, Leigh Duncan, Alma Katzu, Lavinia Kent, Alethea Kontis, Kieran Kramer, Allison Leotta, Pamela Palmer, Hope Ramsay, Alix Rickloff, and Christine Trent.</p> <p>Mindy, hoping to see you there!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/booksigning-turn-the-page-bookstore-boonsboro-md/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350508.html conventions publicity public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350320.html Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:00:25 GMT Bookshelf – April mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350320.html <p>So, just about a month after my last bookshelf post, another glimpse at what I’ve been reading…</p> <ul> <li><em>The Dark Enquiry</em>, by Deanna Raybourn. I adore the voice in these novels, and the London setting worked better for me than the Indian locale of the last book. Raybourn has done a great job of keeping the tension between her romantic hero and heroine, long after they’ve admitted that they love each other. I <em>thought</em> that I had the mystery of this book worked out from the first chapter, and I was partially right, but I loved every page getting to the end.<br /> <em></em></li> <li><em>A Confusion of Princes</em>, by Garth Nix. I scored an ARC of this book, and I loved it – but I’ll tell you more about it closer to its release date of May 15.</li> <li><em>Kat, Incorrigible</em>, by Stephanie Burgis. Fun, fun, fun – Regency-era fantasy for middle-grade readers with wonderful characters, excellent writing, and a moral that works.</li> <li><em>Zoo City</em>, by Lauren Beukes. In a parallel time-stream, criminals are bonded to animals who reflect their law-breaking past. Um, I was terrified to read this novel, because I thought it would resonate too much with my own <em>Darkbeast</em>, coming out in August. I had no reason to fear – the stories are as different as two humans-with-animals stories could be. Beukes tells hers with a kaleidoscope of media (IMDB listing, anyone?) — I wasn’t always sure what all the slang meant, but I was thoroughly immersed in this book!</li> <li><em>Boneshaker</em>, by Cherie Priest. I’ve traveled where this novel takes place, including Underground Seattle, so I was really looking forward to this read. Priest told an interesting story very well, but I’m afraid that I have to confess that steampunk is just not my thing. ::hangs head in shame and hands over F&SF badge::</li> <li><em>Her Fearful Symmetry</em>, by Audrey Niffenegger. I was one of the big fan’s of <em>Time Traveler’s Wife</em>, and I’ve had this newer novel sitting on the to-be-read shelf for far too long. I adored the way the characters were drawn, and I was enchanted by the way I had no idea how the story was going to wrap up, when I was right in the middle of it.</li> <li><em>The Wind-Up Girl</em>, by Paolo Bacigalupi. I’ve had this novel on the to-be-read shelf for a while; it made a number of “year’s best” lists when it came out, including in mainstream press. It was the first “hard” reading I’d done in quite some time, and it was a challenge for me to shift gears into this post-apocalyptic view of Thailand. For the first several chapters, I just let the foreignness wash over me; gradually, I sorted out the characters, their slang, and their various plot goals. The ending has stuck with me in the few days since I finished reading — I’m tempted to re-read this one from the beginning, to see what I missed the first time through.</li> <li><em>Hearts in Darkness</em>, by Laura Kaye. I’d heard Laura read from this novella when I attended the Baltimore Book Festival, so I knew a little bit about the story. The first half takes place in an elevator that has lost power; the author does an incredible job describing her characters without relying on visual cues. The characters were interesting and complex (especially the hero); however, I wanted just a bit more conflict.</li> <li><em>Matchmakers 2.0</em>, by Debora Geary. Another in my study of novellas. This one had fun characters and a great chick-lit feel. My only complaint was that the conflict was resolved too easily.</li> <li><em>Winning the Wallflower</em>, by Eloisa James. First in my study of romance novellas — a *wonderful* story, perfectly scaled to its size. There was conflict that grew organically from the characters, fun tricks to deliver background information, and witty dialog to satisfy even my critical eye!</li> <li>RITA Contest #8 – RITA books must be kept secret.</li> <li>RITA Contest #7 – RITA books must be kept secret, but this one was particularly problematic. I agonized over my scoring for several days, because the sub-genre is inherently unappealing to me, but I ultimately decided that the book failed as a *romance*, not merely as that sub-genre. Sigh…</li> <li>RITA Contest #6 – RITA books must be kept secret.</li> <li>RITA Contest #5 – RITA books must be kept secret, but this was one *superb*, and I’ll eagerly seek out other books by the author!</li> <li>RITA Contest #4 – RITA books must be kept secret.</li> <li>RITA Contest #3 – RITA books must be kept secret.</li> <li>RITA Contest #2 – RITA books must be kept secret, but this one was good enough that I’ll be seeking out the author’s backlist.</li> <li>RITA Contest #1 – RITA books must be kept secret. This one was neither here nor there, pretty average for its sub-genre.</li> <li><em>Blood Red Road</em>, by Moira Young. I had heard that this book was difficult because the story is told in dialect. That didn’t get in the way of my reading at all – I inhaled this story that is a cross between <em>The Hunger Games</em> and <em>Hansel and Gretel</em> and a number of other stories. My only quibble was that the narrator states that she is 18, but she felt younger to me.</li> <li><em>Cleopatra’s Moon</em>, by Vicky Alvear Schechter. Part of my Rome odyssey, <img src="../wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" /> . This book covers the same territory as Stephanie Dray’s <em>Lily of the Nile</em>, but it takes a different approach. In some ways, the Schechter book is more complicated — she uses the Latinized versions of names (Marcus Antonius, instead of Mark Antony), and her characters feel more formal and stylized. In other ways, the story is simpler than Dray’s — the characters’ motivations are more straight-forward. Schechter is writing more explicitly for a YA audience. There’s a very nice twist at the end, though, with one character’s motivation that I completely did not expect.</li> <li><em>The Next Best Thing</em>, by Kristan Higgins. I’m a tough sell when it comes to humor — I tend not to laugh at most jokes in most books. That said, there were several times when I literally laughed out loud while reading this novel. It’s not going to change anyone’s life, but it’s good fun in the strongest descendant-of-chicklit tradition (and I mean that in the best of all possible ways.)</li> </ul> <p>I’m still worrying away at that to-be-read shelf. Of course, conference season is starting up, so I’m likely to start losing the battle again soon…</p> <p>Mindy, trying to decide on the next read…</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/bookshelf-april/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350320.html bookshelf public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350008.html Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:01:56 GMT More Writerly Advice – A Contract Primer mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350008.html <p>As noted <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/">earlier</a>, I have added a number of my articles about the writing process to my website. These articles were originally written for the Romance Writers of America’s monthly magazine, <em>Romance Writers Report</em>. This week, I’ll highlight the articles that formed my “Contract Primer”. The titles of the articles are pretty self-explanatory:</p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/writing-advice/a-contract-primer-term-and-territorial-rights/">Term and Territorial Rights</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/writing-advice/a-contract-primer-electronic-rights/">Electronic Rights</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/writing-advice/a-contract-primer-subsidiary-rights/">Subsidiary Rights</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/writing-advice/a-contract-primer-red-flags/">Red Flags</a></p> <p>I hope that you find some useful guidance there!</p> <p>Mindy, pleased to be sharing</p> <p> </p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/more-writerly-advice-a-contract-primer/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/350008.html writing public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349776.html Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:37:28 GMT Capitol Magic - In Stores Now! mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349776.html <p>And now I can share the news (which was released in my newsletter yesterday):  <em>Capitol Magic</em>, a novella featuring Jane Madison (from <em>Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft</em>) and Sarah Anderson (from <em>Fright Court</em>) is now available!  Here’s everything you need to know:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/books/fun/jane-madison-series/capitol-magic-a-novella/capitolmagic-003b/" rel="attachment wp-att-4254"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4254" height="300" src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CapitolMagic-003b-200x300.jpg" title="CapitolMagic-003b" width="200" /></a></p><p>Jane Madison is searching for a job that will fulfill her, enabling her to combine her peerless librarian skills with her witchcraft. Sarah Anderson, clerk of court for the District of Columbia Night Court, is just beginning to figure out what she can do as a sphinx, an ancient protector of vampires. Magic flies when Jane and Sarah team up to protect a rare collection of books. Along the way, both women need to balance personal goals, professional careers, and their often-unwieldy love lives!</p><p>This novella combines the beloved world of the <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/index.php/books/fun/jane-madison-series/">Jane Madison Series</a> with the excitement of the stand-alone novel, <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/index.php/books/fun/fright-court-series/fright-court/"><em>Fright Court</em></a>. Where else can a reader find a novella of witchcraft, vampires, and cupcakes?  (<em>Capitol Magic</em> also contains sneak peek chapters from other Mindy Klasky novels.)  Serena Ung created the spiffy cover.</p><p><em>Capitol Magic </em>is available as an ebook (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Capitol-Novella-Madison-Series-ebook/dp/B007US3JWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334697104&sr=8-1">Amazon Kindle</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110198153">B & N Nook</a>).  Currently, there is no print edition.</p><p>You can read the <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/books/fun/jane-madison-series/capitol-magic-a-novella/">first chapter</a> on my website.</p><p>I am thrilled that <em>Capitol Magic</em> is already a Kindle bestseller.  In my dream of dreams, it will hit top 20 some time this week!  I thank you, in advance, for spreading the word and making that happen!</p><p>Mindy, bouncing up and down while typing</p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349776.html fright court capitol magic jane madison series public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349588.html Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:08:09 GMT Newsletter News mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349588.html <p>Are you signed up to get my occasional (never more than quarterly) newsletter?</p> <p>If so, you’re going to learn something within the next 24 hours — news that I’ll share with newsletter recipients before anyone else!</p> <p>If you’re not yet receiving my newsletter, it’s easy to subscribe – go to <a href="www.mindyklasky.com">www.mindyklasky.com </a>and complete the three-box form in the lower left corner.</p> <p>What have you got to lose?</p> <p>Mindy, eager to share the good news!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/newsletter-news/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349588.html newsletter public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349366.html Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:25:07 GMT Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up) mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349366.html <p>Wow. It’s after 5:00 on Monday, and I’m just getting around to writing about my long weekend. I guess that means it was a good one, eh? We had quite a mix of culture, socializing, and sports…</p> <p>Thursday night, we went to see <em>Long Day’s Journey Into Night</em> at Arena Stage. I have a soft-spot for O’Neill, and Arena’s production of this play, about 15 years ago, has long been one of my favorite productions. This new one rivals the old — the actress who plays Mary (Helen Carey) is *incredible*. She is one of the most subtle actors I’ve ever seen, conveying an incredible amount through intonation and physicality. I love the poetry of this play, even though I felt like a limp dishrag by the time I left the theater… (The play clocked in at 3 hours, though, shorter by almost a full hour from what I remembered.)</p> <p>Friday night, we went to our first baseball game of the season, and the Nats won in extra innings. I have been a big time non-fan of Jayson Werth, ever since I first saw him play with the Phillies. Several times on Friday, I informed him that all would be forgiven (his absurdly high contract, his utter failure to produce last year), if only he got rolling this year. And he did. So, I’m not ready to say that I’m a fan. Yet. But I won’t be bad-mouthing Werth for a while… (Incidentally, they gaveaway t-shirts at the game, and I think that the shirts might win the contest for “Thinnest Cotton Woven Anywhere, Anytime”. If, you know, anyone was having an award for that.</p> <p>Saturday, I drove to West Virginia (about 2.25 hours from home), to attend Scott Edelman’s legendary annual daffodil party. The daffs didn’t cooperate – they bloomed 3-4 weeks ago, and only a handful remained for the fete, but good company and incredible food prevailed. Scott and Irene live in a lovely home, surrounded by 8 acres of woods. I volunteered to housesit for them, any time <img src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" /> </p> <p>Sunday, we attended the final performance of our World Orchestra series at the Kennedy Center. The orchestra was the European Union Youth Orchestra — performers from age 15 – 23, each representing one of the 27 EU countries. The orchestra was *huge*, and the sound was very good (although there were a few rhythm problems in the Copland.) For an encore, they performed “America” from <em>West Side Story</em> – a very lush orchestration that reminded everyone that Leonard Bernstein heard a Copland song or two. All in all, a fun way to wrap up the season.</p> <p>You’d think that, after a weekend like that, I would have slept like the dead last night, but you’d be wrong ::wry grin:: We’re, um, enjoying summer heat, so I headed downstairs in the middle of the night to turn on the air conditioner. After not being able to get back to sleep, I effectively used to my time to finish reading the book on my nightstand. I forbade myself to take a nap today (while I was working, working, working on something I’ll be announcing shortly!), so I should catch up on sleep tonight. Or else, I’ll get another book read <img src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" /> </p> <p>Whew! I need a weekend, to recover from my weekend!</p> <p>Mindy, dashing off to fix dinner for the friend who’s coming over to work on a knitting project tonight!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Better Late Than Never (Weekend Wrap-Up)" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/better-late-than-never-weekend-wrap-up/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349366.html culture public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349020.html Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:35:36 GMT Writing Advice mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349020.html <p>Over the past few years, I’ve written a number of articles for the Romance Writers of America’s monthly magazine, <em>Romance Writers Report</em>. (And, if you’re not a member of RWA, and you <em>are</em> a writer, you should seriously consider joining, just for the magazine. It offers great insights on the writing process, publishing, mental and physical health for writers… I learn something in virtually every issue!)</p> <p>I have now decided to post some of my older articles on my website, highlighting a couple of them each week. So, without further ado…</p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/writing-advice/coping-with-crunch-time/">Coping With Crunch-Time</a> sets forth a number of strategies for balancing writing and life, especially when writing makes its loudest demands.</p> <p>and</p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/writing-advice/keeping-time/">Keeping Time</a> discusses ways for authors to manage timelines in their stories, keeping track of how much time has passed for the characters.</p> <p>So? Go forth. Read. And get back to writing!</p> <p>Mindy, glad to be sharing articles she had fun writing</p> <p> </p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Writing Advice" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Writing Advice" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Writing Advice" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Writing Advice" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Writing Advice" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Writing Advice" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writing-advice/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/349020.html writing public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348885.html Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:03:59 GMT Writerly Doings mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348885.html <p>So, I had a nice, long chat with my agent yesterday. In these days of combined self- and traditional-publishing, nice long chats with my agent are … interesting.</p> <p>You see, my agent is not involved with my self-publishing career. He does not provide advice, he does not provide support, and he does not see any profit. To the extent that I devote my time to self-published works, my agent remains uncompensated.</p> <p>I love the self-publishing that I’m doing. I get a little thrill every time I check my sales numbers at Amazon and B&N. I’m enjoying the opportunity to pursue projects that would never see the light of day in traditional publishing — things like the novella, CAPITOL MAGIC, which I’ll be publishing by the end of this month, and a strangely formatted short story that is rattling around inside my brain… (And, yes, a new Jane Madison novel, which will likely be out in the late fall…)</p> <p>But I also still love traditional publishing. I love holding ARCs in my hands. (And I got to do that on Monday, when ARCs for DARKBEAST arrived!) I love the strategizing for marketing, the “big book” feel of traditional publishing. And yes, I love the advances.</p> <p>The agent and I talked for a long time about a novel I’ve considered writing for more than five years. At first, I didn’t have the skills I needed, as an author. Then, I made some questionable plot- and character-choices, which made for a weak story. But now, I think I’m ready to roll up my sleeves, to see what I can do. (And when I’m ready to share that publicly, this will be the first place I talk!)</p> <p>One thing has remained constant, between the world of traditional publishing and the world of self-publishing: my First Reader. I met my First Reader in 1994 (!), in an AOL chat room that was built around Orson Scott Card’s Hatrack River series. Bruce critiqued some of my work then, and he has been the first reader of every one of my novels (except the category romance) ever since. We’ve only met in person once, and we’ve had a couple of times where we’ve been out of email touch for a few months. Nevertheless, despite differences in gender, age, religion, family-situation, and probably a million other things, Bruce remains a most-valued partner in my writing process.</p> <p>And now, Bruce has published one of his novels. THE POCKET UNIVERSE is available on Amazon — it’s the story of a fifteen-year-old girl who bridges our world and another. As with all of Bruce’s novels, the story is relatively simple, quite straightforward — except for the moments when it isn’t, when it knocks you over with a twist or a turn or a moment of Meaning that you didn’t predict. If you’re interested, check it out on Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SQP8ZG">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SQP8ZG</a></p> <p>Mindy, off to get some writing done…</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Writerly Doings" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Writerly Doings" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Writerly Doings" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Writerly Doings" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Writerly Doings" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Writerly Doings" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/writerly-doings/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348885.html self-publishing jane madison series super secret projects agents public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348472.html Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:47:00 GMT Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348472.html <p>I’m over at Magical Words today, talking about Kickstarter, patronage, and support for writers. Stop by and let me know what you think!</p> <p><a href="http://www.magicalwords.net/mindy-klasky/the-patronage-system/">http://www.magicalwords.net/mindy-klasky/the-patronage-system/</a></p> <p>Mindy, musing when she should be writing</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="Magical Words Post – Patronage and the Writer" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/magical-words-post-patronage-and-the-writer/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348472.html magical words public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348262.html Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:01:32 GMT Omnibi Among Us mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348262.html <p>In my (ahem) spare time, I’ve put together two omnibus editions — one for the first three volumes of the Jane Madison Series and another for the three volumes of the As You Wish Series. They feature spiffy cover art by Serena Ung:</p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/omnibi-among-us/jane_omnibus003/" rel="attachment wp-att-4186"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4186" title="Jane_Omnibus003" src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jane_Omnibus003-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/omnibi-among-us/asyouwish_omnibus-003/" rel="attachment wp-att-4187"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4187" title="AsYouWish_Omnibus-003" src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AsYouWish_Omnibus-003-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>So, what’s the advantage of an omnibus edition? You can buy all three books with one click, downloading one file to keep on your ereader. And that one file gives you a discount over the cost of buying all three separately (about 10% off.) So? What are you waiting for? Pick up an omnibus today!</p> <p>The Jane Madison Series: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Madison-Series-Volumes-ebook/dp/B007RFG2C6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1333659684&sr=8-6">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1109938902?ean=2940014210300">Barnes & Noble</a></p> <p>The As You Wish Series: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Wish-Series-Volumes-ebook/dp/B007RFIMGA/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333659711&sr=1-7">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1109939090?ean=2940014223669">Barnes & Noble</a></p> <p>Mindy, pleased to be sharing <img src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" /> </p> <p> </p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/omnibi-among-us/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/348262.html as you wish series jane madison series public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/347998.html Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:01:35 GMT Sweet Middle Grade Magic mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/347998.html <p>Several months ago, I heard about Stephanie Burgis’s first novel, <em>Kat, Incorrigible. </em>I knew that the novel had a different name in England — <em>A Most Improper Magick</em>. I knew that it had a great cover:</p> <p><a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/sweet-middle-grade-magic/kat_us_cover/" rel="attachment wp-att-4181"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4181" title="kat_US_cover" src="http://www.mindyklasky.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kat_US_cover.jpg" alt="" width="140" height="195" /></a></p> <p>And most importantly, I knew that it sounded like fun — a girl who lives in 1803, who begins her adventure by saying: “I was twelve years of age when I chopped off my hair, dressed as a boy and set off to save my family from impending ruin. I made it almost to the end of my front garden.”</p> <p>Kat had a wonderful voice. And Stephanie is a wonderful person (at least she seems to be; we’ve never met in person, but I love her posts about life in Wales, with her author/web-designer husband and her precocious son.)</p> <p>But to-be-read shelves being as they are, I had not gotten around to reading <em>Kat, Incorrigible.</em> But then, Stephanie announced that the book was out in paperback in the States. And the second book, <em>Renegade Magic</em>, is now out in hardcover. And Stephanie has made the first three chapters of <em>Kat</em> available on her <a href="http://www.stephanieburgis.com/books/most-improper-magick/">website</a>. And, and, and…</p> <p>And I read <em>Kat, Incorrigible</em> in record time. Kat is a charming narrator — true to her time and place (Regency England), with a spark and a wit, and a credible magic system, and wonderful supporting characters, and fantastic moral lessons to the story, and…</p> <p>Well, I don’t want to spoil it all for you. But take my word. Read <em>Kat, Incorrigible.</em> Today. And then, be like me, and read <em>Renegade Magic</em>, immediately following. Seriously. You won’t be sorry.</p> <p>Mindy, wanting to spread the word about this one, far and wide</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="" st_url="" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/sweet-middle-grade-magic/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/347998.html reading public

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http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/347734.html Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:35:39 GMT I’m Still Standing mindy@mindyklasky.com http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/347734.html <p>So, you know the way things work in book world. You rush and rush and rush to finish a manuscript. You make your deadline. You celebrate with friends and family.</p> <p>And then you get felled by the Almighty Cold.</p> <p>(Seriously. This happens to me almost every book. Otherwise, I’m actually a very healthy person, really!)</p> <p>This one hasn’t left me feeling too ill – I’ve just been sleeping. A lot. As in, canceling plans with friends, and sleeping through Mark’s leaving for work, and dozing while doing comfort reading…</p> <p>But I’m on the upswing. And I promise a post with real content. Soon. Very, very soon.</p> <p>Mindy, taunted by the gorgeous weather outside!</p> <p><span class="st_facebook_buttons" st_title="I’m Still Standing" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons" st_title="I’m Still Standing" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_email_buttons" st_title="I’m Still Standing" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_sharethis_buttons" st_title="I’m Still Standing" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_fblike_buttons" st_title="I’m Still Standing" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" displaytext="share"></span><span class="st_plusone_buttons" st_title="I’m Still Standing" st_url="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" displaytext="share"></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://www.mindyklasky.com/index.php/2012/04/im-still-standing-2/" title="Read Original Post">Mindy Klasky, Author</a>.</small></p> http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/347734.html life in klaskyville public

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