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What a terrific way to kick off the week with a guest author post from M.J. Austin, "Four Tips to Get Inspired to Write."
Applause, applause to M.J. for taking the time out to drop in for a visit! I'm pleased to also share with you details about her book,
Bright Fire!
Take it away M.J.
Writing a book is no easy task and then there is that pesky little bug called “Writer’s Block”. The key to writing is to find what inspires you and keep going. Of course this is easier said than done. Here are a few tips to help keep you inspired to write everyday.
Journal
I find that if I have writer’s block and I start journaling, my thoughts start to flow again. The reason this works is, because sometimes you have so much on your mind, such as bills, kids, etc., that your brain focuses on that and limits creative thinking.
Read
I read like there is no tomorrow. I have a overly ambitious challenge set for myself on Goodreads this year. Reading is what inspired me to write in the first place. So if I run out of stuff to write, I read a similar book and try to think of what I think I can do differently that would make my book stand out
Talk to Your Fans
I was having trouble getting started on book2 for my Bright Fire series and I was talking to my sister-in-law about what she wanted to see happen in the next book. She gave me her opinions and all of a sudden my fingers flew across the keyboard at warped speed.
Open a Dictionary
I know it sounds basic, but if I am really desperate I open the dictionary to a random page and read the first word my mind stops at. I usually have to do this like three or four times until a word sparks something in my brain.
Writing is a rewarding experience that can become a successful career. All you have to do is keep writing and put yourself out there. These are just a few tips to get inspired. There are endless resources on the internet to help spark the creative juices.
What inspires you to write? Comment below on what inspires you to write.
Absolutely beautiful book cover!
Synopsis
Delfia thought she was a normal girl about to turn sixteen until her adoptive parents are murdered by creatures from the underworld. Her life gets thrown into chaos as she teams up with her best friend, a strange guy, and a prophetess.
She soon discovers her biological father, Hades, ordered the attack on her and her family because a prophecy names her as the one to take him down. She must first complete a set of tasks to free Persephone, her mother, from the underworld and defeat Hades.
Will she be reunited with her mother or will she get sucked into the underworld?
*Book is geared towards readers that liked Percy Jackson Series, Need Series, etc.*
Excerpt
Mondays are the epitome of all evil. It's just a fact.
Do you ever get those feelings deep in the pit of your stomach? The ones that make you feel all queasy and anxious? Well, that’s how I feel right now. I am standing at my locker at a way too early hour, and I am in Dragon Bitch mode; which is surprising because today is my birthday.
Normally, I love my birthday. I officially turn 16 at 11:59 tonight, and instead of reveling in the excitement, am I staring at my locker without really seeing it. I just keep trying to figure out what’s causing this annoying pinch in my stomach. I jump when I hear the locker next to mine slam shut.
Lyla.
"Jeez, Lyla,” I huff. “How many times do I have to tell you not to do that? Now excuse me while I find a doctor to remove my heart from my nasal passage." I’m not in the mood for the early morning antics of Lyla Browning, even if she is my best friend.
"Soooorrry, but it seems to be the only way to get your attention. I say 'Happy birthday, Dell' and what do you do? You ignore me and stare at your locker. What is up with you?"
"Nothing, just a funny feeling."
She eyes me for a minute, then shrugs her shoulders and in a matter-of-fact tone tells me, "It's probably PMS."
“Yeah, maybe I dunno...” I trail off, the feeling still bugging me. I understand that she is trying to snap me out of it so I muster up some enthusiasm and sing, “Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me.”
She perks up instantly, and before I can clamp my hand over her mouth she starts bellowing out “Happy Birthday” in the middle of the hall that is seriously starting to fill up. By the time she finishes, everyone is staring at us, and my face is burning red.
“Aww come on, you love me and you know it,” she beams.
I smile because I do love her. Lyla and I have been best friends since forever. We first met in kindergarten when this little twerp, Zach Moreno, decided to pull my hair, and she punched him square in the nose.
We’ve been joined at the hip ever since then.
“But hey, you should be thrilled you’re turning 16.” she nudges me in the ribs a little.
“Yeah, I know, but my parents still won't let me get my permit till I’m 18.”
“No offense, but your parents are a little...intense.” She says.
“What do you mean by that?” I ask getting a bit defensive.
“Well, it’s just that lately they seem to be taking your safety to the extreme. You can't have sleepovers anymore, a car or a life. I mean it’s sweet that they care, but I thought parents got more lenient the older you get.” She fidgets with her wavy blond hair, afraid that she has gone too far.
The truth is she’s not wrong. My parents are great people, and I love them, but lately they have been too over-protective. When I ask them about it they just tell me, “the real world is full of dangers, kiddo.”
and that’s the end of that conversation. “Yeah, I know, I’m sure that is just their way of showing me that they care.”
“By the way, are we still on for binge night Friday?” She sees right through my attempts to change the subject. Binge night has been happening every Friday since the 6th grade. We start off at the roller rink and end up at my place with a large bag of cheddar popcorn, candy, and cokes.
“Uh, duh.” She says rolling her eyes. She grabs her stuff out of her locker. “Come on, we have homeroom.”
I turn to grab my bag out of my locker when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Everybody gets those feelings now and then, but it was so intense I had to shiver to shake it off.
“Dude, what is your problem? Take a picture it lasts longer.” Lyla clicks her tongue, her usual reaction when something annoys her.
I whirl around to see who she is talking to and meet the gray eyes of Alec Hales, who is staring at me intensely like he’s waiting for something to happen. He would be the hottest guy in school if he weren't so weird. He continues to stare at me unabashed. I can’t
help but stare back.
“Come on,” she grabs my arm. “This guy is freaking me out” She throws him the stink eye, and we head to class.
I spend the rest of the morning stumbling through class in a daze worried about that creepy stare. I’ve never seen anything like it.
What’s worse is that I’m pretty sure he’s the reason I had a chill that ranked 100 on the creep factor. OK, Dell get a grip, I tell myself as I walk into the cafeteria.
I do my normal scan and Lyla’s waiting for me at our usual table in the corner of the room, trays in tow. We are not the least popular students, but we are definitely not a part of the in-crowd. Lyla could be, but she sticks with me. Aside from her slightly crooked nose, she is the picture perfect replica of a Barbie doll, with her blond hair, green eyes, and mile-long legs. You get the picture. Me, on the other hand, my height is OK, not too short or too tall, but my drab brown hair and beanpole body are nothing special. The only thing I have going for me is my clear blue eyes. Lyla always calls them hypnotic.
“Ugggghhh,” she whines as she rolls her shoulders back and forth.
“I think the teachers are secretly evil demons sent to torture teens with tests on Mondays. Seriously, who wants to take tests on Mondays?”
“Who wants to take tests at all?”
She throws a piece of lettuce at me. With a mouth full of food she asks, “What are your birthday plans?”
“Dinner with the family.”
“Same old, same old,” she laughs “maybe we can do something special for binge night like go shopping before the roller rink.”
“Yeah, that would be...” I trail off instantly when I feel the same eerie feeling I had by my locker. I lean into Lyla and whisper, “Is Alec staring at me?” She lifts her head up, and I pull her down.
“Can’t you be discreet?” I hiss.
She subtly does a sweep of the cafeteria and relaxes, “Nope; nowhere in sight. Why do you ask?”
“I just got this creepy feeling earlier and again just now. I thought maybe it was his intense stare earlier.”
“Wow, I hope your weird doesn't rub off on me. Do you think it happens to everyone when they turn 16?” she jokes.
I laugh half-heartedly unable to shake the strange feeling.
About the Author:
M.J. Austin is the author of the Bright Fire series and NaNoWriMo 2014 winner. She has always found the world of fantasy preferable to the real world. She channels this love of mystical worlds and creatures into her writing. She is an avid reader and proud bookworm. She has a Master's Degree in Project Management, but her true passion is writing.
When she isn't working or writing she is diving into random projects as often as possible. She lives in Tennessee with three children, husband, and three dogs.
Stalk The Author...
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I am delighted to host author/illustrator Kathleen Bullock. It's not too often that an author is also an illustrator. Come along for a glimpse into Kathleen's creative world. Take it away Kathleen...
In earlier days I worked my art in oils and watercolor, pencil and pastels, even the occasional collage. I’ve always been an illustrator at heart, rather than a classic ‘artist’. With a new world of electronics on the horizon, I saw that I’d have to adapt to creating artwork for publication in an electronic format, and I have. It’s a challenge to minimize the digital look of electronic art and give each piece the casual look of ‘top-of-your-head’ sketchiness that I so love, but I’m starting to get there.
I used Photoshop to create the artwork for Olive and the Great Flood. This meant that I could control the color and images on each page for consistency. Each separate piece of art is on its own invisible layer. I can eliminate or correct any of these images before I fix the art on a single layer. The pages then are sent to the publisher as individual jpegs for publication.
Also, look for my next book soon to be published by Guardian Angel,
I hope readers will enjoy reading Olive and the Great Flood as much as I did illustrating it.
Guardian Angel Publishing
Amazon
There will be two drawings at Connie Arnold's blog tour conclusion on the 28th for a copy of Ms. Arnold's first children’s book, Animal Sound Mix-up and a dove wind chime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
In the Write What Inspires You! August Newsletter I prompted the subscribers to hop on over to my blog and share what they do on a daily or weekly basis to make steady progress in their writing, illustrating and/or publishing careers.
I'll start off…
I begin each day with the edits to my current W-I-P, which I'm determined to hire an editor for by the end of August.
I have been reaching out to children's book festivals in the tri-state area (NY, NJ and CT) to participate in. So far I'm lined up for Collingswood Book Festival with potential prospects in 2015 for Hudson Children's Book Festival and Children's Book Festival Hillsborough Public Library. Also, a few others for possibly this fall, but not at the liberty to reveal at this time.
Research magazine markets to submit short stories and articles to.
Research and register for children's book conferences and writing conferences. I'm attending the Muse Online Writer's Conference in October and will be attending SCBWI Metro NY Tuesday Professional Seminars in NYC.
Read, read, and read some more in the genre I write for.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, I don't want to bore you with my writing life!
Looking forward to your responses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star ReviewThe Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist 
As promised, A.R. Silverberry is the guest blogger today. The topic COPPA is timely for authors and is a must read and reference tool for your writing career. Without further ado, take it away A.R. Silverberry….
COPPA for Authors
Guest Post by A. R. Silverberry
A lot of authors ask, “What is COPPA, and do I have to address it on my website?” COPPA stands for Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. It was enacted in 1998 and became effective in 2000, with an amended rule in 2012 that became effective July 1, 2013. What COPPA does is give control to parents over what information is collected online from their children, under age thirteen. According to the Bureau of Consumer Protection Business Center, COPPA applies to “operators of commercial websites and online services (including mobile apps) directed to children under 13 that collect, use, or disclose personal information from children, and operators of general audience websites or online services with actual knowledge that they are collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13.” If websites or online services have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information directly from users of another website or online service directed to children, the COPPA Rule applies.
As a children’s author, there were several ways I fell under the COPPA Rule. First, if a child under age thirteen emailed me, I had collected information from them, namely, their email address. Children might also want to sign up for my Newsletter or post a comment on my blog. Finally, I periodically have contests on my website that children under thirteen may enter. When I began doing live book signings, I did in fact receive emails from children under thirteen, happily, who enjoyed my book. Happily also, I had my COPPA policy in place so that I could follow the appropriate procedures. Here’s what the Rule requires; quotes are from the Bureau of Consumer Protection: <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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- “Post your online privacy policy. It should be clear, comprehensive, and describe “information practices for personal information collected online from children;
- “Provide direct notice to parents and obtain verifiable parental consent, with limited exceptions, before collecting personal information online from children;
- “Provide parents access to their child's personal information to review and/or have the information deleted;
- “Give parents the opportunity to prevent further use or online collection of a child's personal information;
- “Maintain the confidentiality, security, and integrity of information they collect from children, including by taking reasonable steps to release such information only to parties capable of maintaining its confidentiality and security; and
- “Retain personal information collected online from a child for only as long as is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected and delete the information using reasonable measures to protect against its unauthorized access or use.”
Personal information includes first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and town or city; online contact information; screen or user name that functions as online contact information; a telephone number; a social security number; a persistent identifier that can be used to recognize a user over time and across different websites or online services; a photograph, video, or audio file, where such file contains a child’s image or voice; geolocation information sufficient to identify street name and name of a city or town; and information concerning the child or the parents of that child that the operator collects online from the child and combines with an identifier described above.
If you don’t have a site directed toward kids but instead have a general audience website, you still might fall under COPPA if you have knowledge that you’re collecting information from children under thirteen. What is considered actual knowledge of a user’s age? According to the FTC, actual acknowledge can arise when “The site or service asks for – and receives – information from the user that allows it to determine the person’s age. For example, an operator who asks for a date of birth on a site’s registration page has actual knowledge as defined by COPPA if a user responds with a year that suggests they’re under 13. An operator also may have actual knowledge based on answers to “age identifying” questions like “What grade are you in?” or “What type of school do you go to? (a) elementary; (b) middle; (c) high school; (d) college.”
I have a COPPA Privacy Policy link at the bottom of my home pagethat takes visitors to my policy. My policy is on my contact page, and at the bottom of the policy, visitors can access a PDF version of the policy. The response I have gotten from parents when I contact them about the policy has always been positive, and I believe it has increased their respect for me as a children’s author.
There you have it: COPPA in a nutshell. This article is intended as an introduction to raise authors’ awareness of COPPA. Nothing written here is intended as the official word on COPPA or a substitute for legal advice. If your website or blog falls under COPPA, you can learn more by going to the Children’s Privacy page on the FTC website and also check out their Frequently Asked Questions. Having a privacy policy in place protects you, and especially, children.
About A. R. Silverberry:
A. R. Silverberry writes fiction for adults and children. His novel, WYNDANO’S CLOAK, won multiple awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Award gold medal for Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction. He lives in California, where the majestic coastline, trees, and mountains inspire his writing. THE STREAM is his second novel. Follow him at www.arsilverberry.com.
Synopsis of The Stream:
What if your world was six miles wide and endlessly long?
After a devastating storm kills his parents, five-year-old Wend awakens to the strange world of the Stream. He discovers he can only travel downstream, and dangers lurk at every turn: deadly rapids, ruthless pirates, a mysterious pavilion that lures him into intoxicating fantasies, and rumor of a giant waterfall at the edge of the world. Defenseless, alone, with only courage and his will to survive, Wend begins his quest to become a man. Will tragic loss trap him in a shadow world, or will he enter the Stream, with all its passion and peril?
Part coming-of-age tale, part adventure, part spiritual journey, The Streamis a fable about life, impermanence, and the gifts found in each moment.
Purchase The Stream:
Ebook:
Softback:
Synopsis of Wyndano’s Cloak
A sinister shapeshifter threatens to shatter Jen’s world and the kingdom of Aerdem. But how will she strike? A knife in the dark? An attack from her legions? Or with the dark arts and twisted creatures she commands with sinister cunning. Wyndano's Cloak may be Jen's only hope. If she has what it takes to use it . . .
Secrets, riddles, and mystery abound in this award-winning fantasy of loyalty, betrayal, and the yearning of the spirit. Ages 10 and up.
Purchase Wyndano’s Cloak:
Ebook:
Limited first edition Hardback:
Signed and unsigned copies available only from the author
Follow A. R. Silverberry:
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Thank you for visiting with A.R. Silverberry today, I am confident you learned something of value today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
A big part of my blog is to feature fellow author's through guest posts, often times fittingly around the them as to what inspires them to write. I'm delighted to host Diahana Barnes today with her guest post. Welcome Diahana!
What Inspires Me to Write
by Diahana Barnes
Author of Mommy Summer Camp
What inspires me to write? Hmmm that’s an interesting question. I am a super busy working mom with a health coaching business, a corporate job, a small business with my husband, two kids, two dogs, two chickens and a bunny rabbit and with all that I’m always looking for ways to find balance in my life, to save time, and ways to save money. When I find ways to accomplish those things, whether it’s a new easy recipe, or a way to get my kids to do chores, I love to share those ideas with others.
I find that I am inspired to write when people ask me, “How did you do that?” or when a problem presents itself and I want to find a fun solution. I tend to write when an idea keeps niggling in my brain and I feel the need to let it out. I am my most creative right before I fall asleep and it is not uncommon for me to sit up, jot a few notes down, then go back to sleep. I have a passion for technology and crafts and I love finding new ways to inspire my kids and in turn that inspires me.
With, Mommy Summer Camp I created the camp out of a desperate need to get them to stop fighting all the time, to get my kids to do chores and stay out of my hair when I was working from home. Then once a few friends heard about it and asked me what I did, I decided to compile my findings. Each year I would design a newer version of the camp for my own use and occasionally lend some of the ideas out to friends. I actually didn’t even realize there was such a thing as, “printables” until this year when I discovered it on Etsy. That’s when I was inspired to publish the ebook and files as printables to share with anyone else who maybe had a crazy busy life like mine.
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About the Book:
Mommy Summer Camp started in 2011 when as a busy working mom with both a corporate job and a small business. Summer was fast approaching, what could we do?
So, one Saturday as my kids were complaining about something…not wanted to do whatever chore they were supposed to be doing…inspiration hit. I sat down and outlined my idea for a stay at home, Mommy Summer Camp where the kids earned, "mommy bucks" in order to attend camp by doing chores, being nice and various other good deeds.
It became so popular other mom's asked me how I ran it, so here is everything I have. Over the years I've refined the program and created a custom camp that you can use too!
Once you purchase you will receive nine (9) flies, five of which are 100% editable in word format that you can use your own activities, children's names, etc. I really hope you enjoy it. The nine files are:
1. Mommy bucks template
2. Mommy Summer Camp template
3. Mommy Summer Camp Activities for Kids
4. Mommy Summer Camp Journal
5. Mommy Summer Camp Catalog for Kids
6. Mommy Summer Camp Recipes
7. Mommy Summer Camp Sticker template
8. Mommy Summer Camp weekly checklist template
9. Read Me First - How to Run Mommy Summer Camp a step by step guide
10. Mommy Summer Camp eBook - this 142 page book goes into a bit more detail how I started Mommy Summer Camp and how I used the templates. It combines some of the above into one easy to read ebook.
About the Author
Diahana Barnes
Mom. Health Coach. Corporate Woman. Small Business Owner.
Diahana loves coffee (and a newly found favorite - tea), spending the day at the beach with family, and her iPad Mini! She is energetic and passionate about creating a community that leaves you feeling energized, focused, happy and purposeful. She loves being a coach, a cheerleader, a positive and inspirational influence to everyone around her.
Her formal bio includes a Master's Degree in Organizational Management & Development, eLearning Certification, and Coaching certifications while currently authoring a book called, "Design Your Bliss in Work & Life".
She has over 20 years of experience working in the technology and insurance industries in training & development, sales strategy, enablement, marketing, and communications. She is an award winning speaker and trainer and has spoken at events hosted by the American Society of Training & Development, Training Magazine, eLearnting Guild and the Learning Consortium.
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Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star ReviewThe Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist 
The connections are never ending through cyberspace and I'm delighted to welcome guest author, Marnie Lester to Write What Inspires You! Marnie's article is an inspirational piece that will have you viewing the world through different eyes…
Lyrics, Prose, Life and Love
By Marnie Lester
Life inspires me, the beating of my heart, the flow of air in and around me. The very fibre of existence, what makes each of us unique and divine. The people I touch, the pain I feel, the joy that makes every day a blessing. This is what inspires me to write.
The words of a song or an aria that stirs my soul and lifts me to heights unimagined or plunges me to equal lows.
A poem that is music to my heart, a magical blending of language and sound that sing in my ears and in my soul.
It is a deep, abiding love that can only be felt by two souls connected over time and distance. When one person is your rock, your pride, your joy, your mentor and your best friend. It is the deep and maternal love I feel for the characters I create. The love of watching them grow and evolve as my story grows.
I am inspired by all that I see, that I feel and that I love. Sometimes a phrase catches my ear. Sometimes an image moves me in a deep and profound way that I cannot explain. Sometimes I wake in the night with my head full of thoughts and images. This is when I cannot wait to sit down at my computer again and see what flows from these thoughts.
Writing is a release, it is a means of understanding myself; it is food and air to me, I could not live without it.
Marnie Lester lives in rural Victoria with her partner, best friend and soulmate. She is an ex-nurse who always wanted to be a writer. Her novel Ariel’s Charm has recently been released. She is currently writing the sequel.
Learn more about Marnie's writing career at http://classic-jojo.com/authors/marnie-lester/.Marnie, thanks for visiting today. It was a treat to host you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMultiple Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I'm pleased to welcome Margo Dill as my guest author today at Write What Inspires! This is a terrific way to get me back into the groove of blogging and hosting regularly. Welcome Margo…
What Inspires Me by Margo L. Dill
Trying to figure out what inspires me to write is somewhat difficult. I tell people I write because I have to. It makes me happy. I now can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s hard to remember my life before I dedicated it to writing. (I think I used to have a lot more free time.) But what inspires me to write?
I really believe it’s the ideas that pop into my head and will not let go. That’s what happened with Caught Between Two Curses, my new contemporary YA novel. I have always wondered WHY some people survived accidents and tragedies and others didn’t. Then I heard two news stories in 2003—one about a Cubs fan that interfered with a foul ball and the other about a toddler that was the only survivor of a car crash—and I realized this question, this idea, is not letting me go. So, I was inspired and I wrote the novel.
The same thing happened with Finding My Place—I read one paragraph in a fifth grade social studies book about the Siege of Vicksburg and people doing anything to survive, including eating rats and living in man-made caves, and I had to know more. An idea seed was planted, and it wouldn’t let go until I nurtured it into a mature plant—a novel.
I am currently working on two novels—both are also ideas I couldn’t let go. One started as a short story, and it begged me to write a full-length novel for 9 to 12 year olds. The other novel, another YA, was inspired from a terrible tragedy that killed a beloved high school friend—a community building shooting in Kirkwood, MO in 2008.
So what inspires me? I would say life—exploring interesting and sometimes heartbreaking questions that give me ideas that won’t let go and beg to be written.
Margo’s bio: Margo L. Dill is a children's author, freelance editor, and workshop leader, living in St. Louis, MO. She is the author of the YA book, Caught Between Two Curses, and also the author of the historical fiction, middle-grade novel, Finding My Place: One Girl's Strength at Vicksburg (White Mane Kids, 2012) and the forthcoming picture books, Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire and the Case of the Missing Cookies and Lucy and the Red Ribbon Week Adventure. Caught Between Two Curses is her first young adult novel. She promises that she is a Cardinals' fan at heart, but the Billy Goat curse on the Chicago Cubs is too irresistible for a plot line. You can find her blogging on Tuesdays at http://www.thelitladies.com and more about her work at http://margodill.com/blog/.
Margo, it's been a pleasure hosting you the last two days during your virtual book tour! Wishing you the very best!
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Best wishes,Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I'm delighted to host Jo Linsdell as she tours the atmosphere promoting her latest book, Fairy May. I always find it interesting where fellow writer's find their inspiration. I invite you to sit back and enjoy getting to know Jo through her guest post.
We invite you to share with us where you find your inspiration too! We look forward to hearing from you.
A Constant Font of Inspiration
By Jo Linsdell
When writing for young children a writer needs to go back mentally to their childhood to remember what it was like at that age but they also need to get in touch with today's generation of young children.
Times have changed and kids today see the world differently to the way we used to. Even the youngest of kids would look at you strange if you told them that mobile phones didn't exist when you were their age. How about explaining about computers like the Commodore 64 that would take hours to load so you could play "high tech" games like Tetris... in black and white no less, were considered advanced technology? Most kids would just laugh at you in disbelief.
You need to think about these kinds of things when writing for children. You need to get inside their heads and see the world the way they do. As a mum of two young children (one is 5 years old, the other 17 months) I'm lucky to have a constant font of inspiration for my children's books. My 5 year old is also particularly good at sharing his opinion about things and is about as honest as they come and doesn't hold back on criticism.
Ways I find inspiration for my books include;
Playing together. Spending time with my kids and getting involved in games with them is great for seeing how they react to different ideas. If I suggest something that isn't "right" in their book you can be sure I'll get a "silly mummy" and a shake of the head in reply.
Watching them play. Observing how they play, the language they use and the games they create is very inspiring. Seeing how they interact with each
other and others of different ages is also useful.
Watching cartoons with them. Kids love cartoons but not all cartoons. My 5 year old is quite the channel hopper already. Just watching TV with him gives a huge amount of insight into what kind of cartoons catch his interest and what doesn't.
Reading together. I should probably have put this at the top of this list. I read a lot with my kids in both print and ebook format. I try to make sure they get to experience a wide variety of books. Whenever a book lights a spark with them I mentally note what they liked about it.
Listening to music. I usually have some music on in the background and I sometimes find that a phrase from a song with spark my imagination.
Art.A visit to a gallery can really kick my creativeness into top gear. I love art and the right picture can take me mentally into a whole different world.
Inspiration is all around us. It's just a case of being aware of it. Where do you get your inspiration from?
About the author: Jo Linsdell is an award winning blogger and freelance writer living in Rome , Italy . She is also the author of several books including the popular Italian for Tourists, A Guide to Weddings in Italy and the best selling children's picture book Out and About at the Zoo. Her latest book Fairy May was released on 1st February 2013. You can find out more about her at www.JoLinsdell.com
Jo, thank you for joining me today, it's always a pleasure to have you visit. Wishing you all the very best as you travel through cyberspace and beyond!
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
This is cool - posted by OnlineCommunityReport:
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Indeed. Almost makes me want to go back in time!
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It's always a pleasure to visit your blog. Thanks for your support Donna.
Thank you for sharing a wonderful post full of inspiration and insight.
Thanks for dropping by Virginia :)
Hi Virginia,
Thank you for visiting with Jo today. I appreciate you stopping by.
Best regards,
Donna
Hi Jo,
It's always a delight to host you. Happy to be part of your virtual book tour. I too find inspiration in my children and listening to conversations in coffee shops.
All the best,
Donna
I have no kids of my own so I have to get my inspiration from other peoples children. I keep my eyes and ears open at all times so I don't miss an opportunity for a great idea!
Thanks for dropping by Allyn. I'm very lucky to have two little ones to feed me with ideas but there are plenty of other ways to get inspiration too. It really can come from anywhere. Keep those eyes and ears open ;)