Guest Post: Doug Solter

Hey y'all! Today's guest post is by Doug Solter, author of MY GIRLFRIEND BITES. I asked him about his inspiration for this story and I really like his answer! Just keep reading, you'll see, he speaks my language! ~Alli

Hi, Everyone! Alli was nice enough to let me come on her blog today to talk about what inspired me to write MY GIRLFRIEND BITES, a new young adult paranormal novel I released earlier this month.

This is an unusual sub-genre for me to write in. When I wrote screenplays years ago, not one of them was a romance. Sure, many had romantic sub-plots like most movies do. But for the most part, I wrote a lot of dramas, comedies, and a few action scripts. Even my first book, SKID, is more of a action-filled YA with the standard romantic sub-plot woven in. Writing “romance” stories didn't really appeal to me. But then I read TWILIGHT.

Yes, that TWILIGHT.

As a young adult author learning the ropes, I decided that I had to read it to analyze why teenage girls were pining for Edward or Jacob and why they could so emphasize with Bella. So I read the first two books. I did get a better understanding on why girls liked this book. However...I had a different reaction when it came to Bella's character.

I tend to write very strong female characters. I think it's because women fascinate me. The way they look at the world is always interesting to me. Plus, I'm always a sucker for the underdog. I'm not saying that as a put-down. I'm saying that historically, female characters either get shoved in the background, placed in only a supporting role, or there to give the hero something to do in between action sequences. One great thing about YA is that many of the heroes are girls and I see so much potential in young adult books for girls to really do some awesome things. I'm not talking about winning a boy's heart at school. I'm talking saving the world, blowing up the Death Star, leading a movement. Girls who are DOING something to affect the world around them. I love that stuff. Now don't get me wrong, I love the timeless brave-man-saves-the-world stories. But in this day and age, girls can be brave and we should show that in fiction.

Now let's get back to Bella. I think she's a nice girl. She's a quiet and thoughtful girl. Her heart is pure. And she just needs that special boy to give her life meaning. But, she needs Edward to save her...constantly. The poor girl can't tie her shoelaces without Edward making an appearance. Reading this actually made me a little mad. Don't girls want to feel empowered? Like they have choices? Do they want to feel like if they don't have a boy. then they can't function as people?

So that got me to thinking...

If I ever wrote a paranormal romance novel, I would swap the roles. My girl will be strong and it'll be the boy who will have to learn to be strong in order to be with her. She might save him a couple times and that would embarrass the boyfriend enough to change how he looks at himself. Then I thought, okay, the boy needs to be very weak. Like, maybe he's really a coward and needs to learn how to be brave. Then being around this girl will motivate him to be a boyfriend that's worthy of her. But what's so special about this girl? Why is she so strong? I wanted steer away from vampires for obvious reasons. Witches aren't physically strong so teaching the boy witchcraft didn't appeal to me. So what creature in a paranormal universe should the girl be?

A werewolf.

Yes! I love werewolves! And she can be physically strong because even werewolves in human form have all that bone structure and mass build up deep inside them. That would be awesome! A normal teenage girl who packed a big, fury punch. When the boy falls in love, that love for her will motivate him to change and be that strong boyfriend she could count on.

Oh, and the werewolves would be the central focus of the story. They won't be manipulated or be treated like second-class paranormal citizens like on True Blood. I refuse to make them into biker-gang-white-trash werewolves. My wolves will be sophisticated.

Before I knew it, I had this story planted in my brain that began to grow and grow. Pieces of ripe fruit formed here and there. Vines connected the fruit together. Bree Mayflower and Aiden Jay came into existence. Suddenly, I found myself writing a paranormal romance.

And now I think I'm okay with that. :)

Here is an excerpt from 'My Girlfriend Bites'

            “Can I just take you home and we can talk about it later?” I ask. But my voice sounds more like I’m begging.

            “No,” Bree says.

            I stare at the glowing dashboard. “How do I ask this?”

            Her voice softens. “Easy. Just ask.”

            “You’ll think I’m crazy. I think I’m crazy.” I notice my hand twisting on the steering wheel, like Bree’s hand did when she picked me up that rainy afternoon. I can’t look her in the eyes. My stomach burns so bad the acid must be eating through the lining. A part of me doesn’t want to hear the answer to this question. But it’s too late to stop.

            “Are you some kind of animal?” I throw it out there quickly, getting it over with.

            Silence.

            “Yes,” Bree says.

            I search her face for any sign of joking or sarcasm, any sign that this was one huge joke on me. But there’s none.

            My brain goes numb.

            “The light’s green,” she says.

            I stick my eyes on the road and drive across the intersection.

            “There’s a park up ahead. Make a right,” Bree says. “We need to have a talk.”

            Is Bree planning to kill me now? Is that nip she gave me on the train going to be a full bite that rips my neck and throat out? Letting me bleed to death in some city park to be discovered by some hipster out on his morning jog? I think the stomach acid has seeped into my vital organs now.

            I maneuver the truck into the parking lot and switch off the engine. One single street lamp casts a weak, hollow glow inside the cab. A dark shadow covers Bree’s face, disguising that cute girl at the restaurant. The silence inside the truck is the loudest I’ve ever heard.

            We sit there for a moment.

            Or two.

            “Up for a walk?” Bree opens her door and steps out.

            I close my eyes. I have this awful feeling that I know something that I shouldn’t know about. Something dangerous. Something that will reveal its scary self and rip my body apart like Christmas wrapping paper. My door pops open without me touching it.

            “Come. Walk with me.” Bree offers her hand.

            I hesitate.

            “I won’t hurt you,” she whispers.

            My shaky hand grasps hers and I climb out of the truck.

            Bree then leads me into a dark grove of trees.

About MY GIRLFRIEND BITES:

A wimpy 16-year-old boy wants to find a girlfriend. When he falls for the perfect one, she shifts into a werewolf and throws his life upside down.

After his "dream" girl rejects him, 16-year-old Aiden tries to commit suicide. Yet he mysteriously survives. Now he feels like a loser with zero possibility of  finding the perfect girlfriend. Enter Bree, the creepy girl with too much hair who's rumored to be cloned from a frozen prehistoric cave girl that scientists discovered in Canada. But when he accepts a ride from “Cave Girl” during a storm, Aiden discovers this weird girl not only has a kind heart. She's also cute.

Aiden offers to help Bree in Algebra and the two become friends. When Aiden pushes that friendship into a date, Bree accepts. On a romantic night at the zoo, Bree and Aiden fall in love as the animals watch. Unlike Aiden, they can smell what Bree really is.

Bree decides to tell him her deep, dark secret. Her family are werewolves hiding from the Demon Skins, a mysterious new enemy hunting down all the werewolf packs on earth. Aiden struggles with Bree's revelation, but chooses to stand by the girl he fell in love with. But standing by his new girlfriend will be the biggest test of his life.

Too bad Bree can't turn a coward into a fearless werewolf. That bite thing is only a myth.

This forces Aiden to do the unthinkable...believe in himself.

You can get your copy of 'My Girlfriend Bites' here:

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Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Doug went to college at nearby Oklahoma State where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Radio/TV/Film production and worked in local television for 20 years. Doug began writing screenplays in 1998 and became a 2001 semi-finalist in The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. His script Father Figure was one of 129 scripts left from 5,489 entries. His tenth script, Rail Fan, became a quarter-finalist in 2009. Soon after, Doug made the switch to writing young adult novels in 2008. Skid, a young adult novel set in the world of Formula 1 racing, is his first.

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The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher Guest Post

I'm so excited about today's guest post with author of The S-Word, Chelsea Pitcher! I'm not even going to try to explain this one to you. (I haven't read it yet, but I really want to!) Chelsea asked me what topic I'd like her to write about and of course I was blank. Finally, this was basically what finally came up with...

Me: I'm just interested in why you chose tackled such a major issue in THE S-WORD, especially this being your debut novel. Maybe you could discuss why this story HAD to written. (I really like stories that take on bullies. I wasn't bullied too bad but I was never Miss Popular either, if you know what I mean.)

And the following is Chelsea's response!

I started thinking about “The S-Word” when teen suicide was all over the news. Ellen DeGeneres called it an epidemic. The folks at It Gets Better were trying to convince young people to hold on a little longer, because life really does improve. I kept thinking: what can I do? Can I do anything? I didn’t work in a middle school or high school. I didn’t have kids of that age (or, let’s be honest, any age), so it would’ve been somewhat odd for me to infiltrate the PTA. But I couldn’t just do nothing. People’s lives were at stake. Good people, whose only fault was being born into a world that didn’t appreciate them, or see their awesomeness.

So I started to write. I wrote about all the ugliness in the world that baffled me, or made me angry, or broke my heart. I wrote about it as honestly as I could. I didn’t sugar coat or gloss over anything. I wanted to reflect the world back to itself, to hopefully show people, from my perspective, what was wrong and how we could change it.

I also wrote about the connections between things: how boys being beaten for wanting to kiss other boys is connected to girls being brutalized for showing any hint of sexuality. How abuse in school is connected to abuse at home. I wrote about how it’s all part of a spectrum of violence, of a society that divides people into categories of “valuable” and “useless” and punishes those who don’t measure up. And once I started seeing the connections, I couldn’t stop. One connection bled into another, until I had this giant, unbroken tapestry of cause and effect, of bullying begetting more bullying. 

I called it “The S-Word.” I wrote the first draft in a month. And while I didn’t specifically say, “Here is the connection between this and that,” I attempted to show how all of this bullying and violence and divisiveness is experienced by teens on a daily basis. I created Lizzie, who’s tormented by her entire class after she’s caught in bed with the wrong boy. I created Jesse, whose refusal to conform to traditional gender roles makes people think they have the right to attack him, both verbally and physically. Shelby’s dealing with racism in a school that’s ninety-percent white. Kennedy’s been labeled “easy” since seventh grade. The more I thought about it, the more problems I uncovered for this group of struggling teens; problems dealt with every day in real high schools and junior highs. Problems I encountered in my own high school days (though I believe things are worse today). It almost started to feel like too much; the problems were overwhelming. Did I really have to write about all of these things? 

But that was the point. That’s our reality. And it needed to be shown, if we’re ever going to find a solution to this culture of violence. My version of things isn’t the only one, and there are certainly issues I wasn’t able to touch upon. But if one person is moved by my story, and inspired to change their behavior, I’ve done what I set out to do. And if one person realizes she’s not alone in a world that’s trying to objectify or marginalize her; if one person realizes he’s valuable in a world that tells him he’s not worthy of being loved, I’ve done more than I could’ve hoped.

About The S-Word:

First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.

But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.

Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible.



Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Purchase: Amazon

About the Author: 

Chelsea Pitcher is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light.

Official links: chelseapitcher.com | @Chelsea_Pitcher

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Writing Tidbits by Delilah S. Dawson

I had the pleasure of meeting today's guest post writer back in January. (See where I blogged about it here.) She's super cool, a Georgia author (gotta support the home state!), and she's into Steampunk. 

And she was kind enough to give us some information on writing! Yay!! I'm not a writer by any stretch of the imagination but I love to hear about the writing process...so I'm thrilled with today's post!

So...here's Delilah S. Dawson!

(Photo from Delilah's Blog, isn't she gorgeous?!)

Writing Tidbits: You're a Unicorn!

As I sit here with four different Word documents open on my laptop, it's hard to remember what my life was like before I became a writer. It's almost as if a switch in my brain suddenly flicked on, and since then, I've been constantly obsessed. If I'm not working on a contracted book in my paranormal romance Blud series for Pocket or revising my YA for Simon Pulse, I'm working on guest blogs, short stories, e-novellas, or the next big, shiny idea.

But if I had to start all over again, here are 10 things I would do differently:

1. Nothing

Hard to believe, right? But I wouldn't change any part of my writing journey, even the mistakes. There's a saying that all writers are unicorns, meaning every person's experience is unique and special. We write different types of stories in different genres. We use different methods of plotting—or just write by the seat of our pants. Some people rely on critique partners or writing groups, while others hire an editor or search out a literary agent. Some people dream of being traditionally published, while others relish the complete control self-publishing can offer. But we all have one thing in common: we want to tell the world our stories.

If you'd like to write a book, there's no big secret to doing so. You start writing and keep writing until you're done, and there's nothing in the world that should stop you. Sit down and write every day, even if it's only ten words and each one hurts worse than a root canal. Take a writing class, buy a book on storycraft, or join NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month and consumes hundreds of thousands of aspiring novelists each November. And always remember that all first drafts suck; even Stephen King's first drafts suck. Just get the words out and worry about fixing it later.

I keep a RESOURCES page on my blog where you can find links to all the websites and books I used to become a traditionally published author with four books, three e-novellas, and an anthology under my belt. In 2009, I had a horrible first book and no idea what I was doing. On May 3 of 2013, I'm having a big party in Atlanta to celebrate the launch of the second book in my series. And I don't have a degree in English, an MFA, any shiny awards, or a deep, personal knowledge that I was born to be a writer. I just have tenacity and Google.

If you ever have a writing question, come find me on Twitter, @DelilahSDawson. If I don't know the answer, I can help you find it. After all, we unicorns must stick together.

Thanks so much for having me, Alli! Readers can always find me at my blog, www.delilahsdawson.com, or on Twitter,http://www.twitter.com/DelilahSDawson. 

My next e-novella in the world of Sang is THE PECULIAR PETS OF MISS PLEASANCE, out now with Pocket, and the next book in Sang is out April 30, WICKED AS SHE WANTS. Oh, and if you like artisan perfumes, check out the scents based on my characters at Villainess Soaps!

*I just want to thank Delilah again for stopping by Alli's World. I'm super excited to hear more about the YA novel she's working on, as YA is my heart. Also, I saw this guest post she did the other day and I really liked it too! So check it out! Happy Friday y'all! ~Alli

Character Guest Post: WILDFLOWERS Tour

I used to (attempt) keep a diary. I always admired those who did and were able to keep up with writing in them. Now I guess I sort of use the blog as a diary sometimes. I post about events I want to remember, thoughts on books, or the occasional movie or tv show. Nothing super personal but still deeper thoughts than I usually share in everyday conversation with random people. 

The point is I'm excited to welcome a guest post from Susan, Schledia Benefield's female protagonist in Benefield's novel WILDFLOWERS. If you are anything like me, you'll be wanting to read WILDFLOWERS right away after learning more about Susan. 

Dear Diary,

Well, we made it to the town of Bayville, Mississippi yesterday. The scenery was beautiful on the way down. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to visit a beach and watch the waves. There are no beaches in Birmingham. I was hoping Dad would stop in Gulfport and let me walk through the sand in my bare feet, but he was ready to get to the house. He wanted to visit the hospital and set up his office.

We got all of our clothes and personal items in the house. The movers brought the furniture two days earlier, that’s why Mom came down a few days ahead of us. She wanted to make sure everything went exactly where she envisioned. I was kind of glad to be able to make the trip down to the coast with Dad. It gave us time to talk. He understands me a little better than she does.

I miss my friends so bad. I spent the entire night before we left crying. Change is so hard, but I have to believe that God has a plan. He’s always able to bring good things out of bad things, and moving away from my friends is definitely bad.

Today was my first day at Bayville High. Their school mascot is the Bayville Bears, so I’m going from a Tiger to a Bear, not that any of that stuff really matters to me. I’m not a cheerleader, and I can’t envision myself ever dating a jock. Most of those guys are only after one thing, and I’m not willing to give that up. Call me silly, but I want to be worthy of wearing white when I get married.

Today had its good points and its bad points. I got stuck in a regular English class, despite the fact that my transcript showed clearly that I belong in advanced English, but I think there may be a reason. God has a way of guiding us even when we don’t initially understand. There was this guy in my English class. His name is Aster. He refused to read aloud in class. He seems like he’s a pretty rough guy. He really got into it with the teacher over her insisting he read. Something in my heart told me he can’t read.

They finally called me to the counselor’s office to fix my schedule right around the time he was arguing with Ms. Howard. She sent him to the principal’s office at the same time. She was furious with him! I dropped my books, so she made him pick them up. He obviously resented that. It was the strangest feeling being close to him. His eyes reminded me of my special place. He’s very attractive, but he was very mean to me. Despite that, I feel bad for him.

The principal called the counselor about getting him in a tutoring class while I was in her office, but they didn’t have a place for him, so I offered to do it. I’m a little nervous about it, but there has to be a reason for it all.

                                                                  Yours truly,

                                                                  Susan

Summary:

Have you ever feared what may be hiding deep within you?

Darkness often skulks in the blood of unsuspecting victims, but Aster McGrath is acutely aware of the violence coursing through his veins. After all, he is the son of a murderer, and everyone in the town of Bayville, Mississippi says he will end up just like his father.

When Susan Blackman moves into town, Aster has already embraced his brutal nature, but her gentle spirit draws him in and slowly melts the icy exterior of his heart. Taming his savagery, she professes her love, but will the good within him be able to overcome the evil lurking deep inside? Or will the fiend break free of its fetters and seek blood?

 

About the Author:

Schledia Benefield is the author of Plain Jane, Pretty Boy, and her soon to be released novel, Wildflowers. She attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College but chose to be a stay-at-home mom for many years. She devoted eight years of her life to working with youth as a youth minister and has been invited to speak in a rehab to hurting and wounded women, giving them hope for a better future. She was the Keynote Speaker for Division 14 of the Key Club International’s divisional rally.

Born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Schledia holds a sense of pride in her southern heritage. She presently lives in Big Point, Mississippi with her husband and four of her five children. On top of writing novels, she writes youth and children’s church curriculum, and she works as a substitute teacher at East Central Middle School. In her spare time, she reads, sews, and spends time with her family.

 

Social Media Links:

http://schlediabenefield.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/Schledia
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17312737-wildflowers?ac=1

Buy Link:

Amazon (ebook & paperback) http://amzn.to/WPszMD
ebook 99 cents March 25 - 31 *regularly $4.99

Tour Schedule:

March 25
[YA] Between the Lines http://yabetweenthelines.blogspot.com/ Author Guest Post
Ohana Day Academy http://ohana-school.blogspot.com.au/ Review
The avid Reader www.tarmyblospot.blogspot.com  Book Promo
Brooke Blogs http://www.brookeblogs.com Character Guest Post

March 26
Rayborn Rambles http://Raybornrambles.blogspot.com Review & Book Promo

March 27
Now is Gone http://katysozaeva.blogspot.com/ Author Guest Post
Lubs Book Chatter lubsbookchatter.blogspot.com Author Guest Post

March 28
Library Girl Reads & Reviews http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com
Sab The Book Eater http://sabthebookeater.blogspot.com/ Top Ten Favorite Books EVER

March 29
Pieces of Whimsy http://piecesofwhimsy.blogspot.com.au/ Author Interviw
Curling Up With A Good Book http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/ Top Ten list
Alli's World http://mrscaptkirk51.blogspot.com/ Character Guest Post

Guest Post: Darby Karchut, author of Finn Finnegan

Y'all! I'm so excited about today's guest in Alli's World! Darby Karchut, the author of Finn Finnegan, is here today to school us in the history and legend in which Finn's story is based. When I enjoy a story, I know I like to find out as much as possible about that world. If you are anything like me you will enjoy today's post! 

(See my review of Finn Finnegan by clicking here.)

~Darby's Post~

The Celts of Colorado

Hi everyone! *waves from Colorado* Thanks so much for letting me visit today and talk about the mythology behind my story. Since my undergraduate degree is in anthropology, this kind of stuff sends my geek meter through the ceiling.

Finn (not Finnegan) MacCullen, and his master, Gideon Lir, are based on the legend of the Tuatha De Danaan (tua day dhanna), a semi-immortal race of beings who were one of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland. In some accounts, they were gifted with warrior-like abilities and considered themselves descendents of the war goddess, Danu. According to the legend, they had invaded Ireland in the late Neolithic era and wrestled it from the Fir Bolg, an even earlier race. Sadly, they were, in turn, displaced by the Bronze Age humans. I took that long ago diaspora and moved my version of the Tuatha De Danaan to modern day Colorado, and gave them a new enemy to battle: the goblins known as the Amandán (AH-mon-dan).

The Amandán were Irish and Scottish figures which were said to reside in fairy mounds. They were feared because it was believed their touch, called the fairy stroke or poc sidhe (poke she) caused paralysis or death.

Besides wielding some wicked cool bronze weapons, Finn and Gideon also have an additional weapon: the Song of the Tuatha De Danaan. This chant gives them heightened abilities, such as being able to run faster, jump higher, and take a blow that would level most humans. The Song is actually based on the famous ‘Song of Amergin’, an early Celtic poem. 

The wildly popular band, Emerald Rose, had written a variation of the ‘Song of Amergin’ for their 2002 album, Celtic Crescent. One of my editors, Trish Wooldridge, introduced me to this band and their version of the Song entitled ‘Fire in the Head.’ Trish worked her magic and before I knew it, Emerald Rose gave Spencer Hill Press permission to use ‘Fire in the Head’ as the pseudo-theme song for Finn Finnegan. If you want to listen to the song, go here. 

Thanks again, everyone, for letting me indulge in this bit of Celtic scholarship. There’s more in my author notes in the back of Finn Finnegan if you are interested. And, please, ask me questions and I’ll try to answer them. I do not pretend to be an expert in Celtic mythology, just a humble neophyte.

Darby Karchut is the award-winning author of GRIFFIN RISING and GRIFFIN'S FIRE (Twilight Times Books), and FINN FINNEGAN (Spencer Hill Press, March 2013) and GIDEON'S SPEAR (Spencer Hill Press, February 2014)

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Guest Post: Ally Malinenko

I have a treat for you guys today! A guest post from Ally Malinenko! She's going to impart some wisdom and advice for those struggling writers out there!

Hope you enjoy the post and feel free to leave us some of your favorite writing advice in the comments! And THANK YOU to Ally for stopping by today!

~alli

Top Five Pieces of Advice for 

Aspiring Writers

(Not from me)

That’s a weird title. I mean what constitutes “aspiring” and not. As soon as you write something are you no longer aspiring? Or is it publication? Does that mean you are officially a writer? Which came first the chicken or the egg? Here’s what I think  - all writers are still aspiring because becoming better at what you love to do makes for a full life….(“full” mind you, not necessarily happy).

So here are my top five bits of writing advice from some really great writers all of whom have written YA or MG books cause that’s what I write. And because I needed some sort of format otherwise this would go on for days. 

5. Garret Freyman-Weir – Author of My Heartbeat, Stay With Me, When I was Older and The Kings are Already Here. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Read. Really, I cannot begin to describe all the times I’ve met people who tell me that they would love to write, if only they could find the time (as if writing were a hobby, although given the quality of much of what is published, I sometimes think it is!), but if I talk to them at length it quickly becomes clear they do not read. That’s like wanting to run a marathon, but not wanting to run. Reading is the only way to learn how to write. It can’t be taught, exactly. It has to be absorbed.

4. Rebecca Stead – Author of When You Reach Me and Liar and Spy

What tips or advice can you share with young students who hope to start writing?

First: Read. It’s been said over and over, but reading is the most important thing an aspiring writer can do. Read what you love. Read something you think you won’t like at all. Experiment with your reading, but don’t stop reading.

Second: Don’t be discouraged by your first draft. For many writers, the first draft is a pretty terrible translation of what might be a terrific idea. Don’t stop and think, “this is awful.” It doesn’t help. Revision is just as much a part of the job as the first draft. If you aren’t willing to revise, you can’t be a writer.

3. Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) – Author of The Series of Unfortunate Events, When We Broke Up and All The Wrong Questions Series.

What’s the greatest or most memorable piece of advice on writing that you have ever received?

“Read everything out loud.”

2. Laini Taylor – Author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight

“Be an unstoppable force. Write with an imaginary machete strapped to your thigh. This is not wishy-washy, polite, drinking-tea-with-your-pinkie-sticking-out stuff. It’s who you want to be, your most powerful self. Write your books. Finish them, then make them better. Find the way. No one will make this dream come true for you but you.”

1.Neil Gaiman – Author of (tons of other stuff but also) Coraline, The Sandman Series, The Graveyard Book

Be wise
Make amazing mistakes
Break rules
Leave the world a more interesting place, and
Make good art

And he said it all quite well here in a now pretty famous commencement speech. 

So there you guy. Easy right? Read. Write. Believe. Don’t give up. Read more. Write more. Believe more. Don’t give up more. 

I don’t think there’s much that I could add to this. I mean, let’s be honest – these are all big fish writers and I’m a bottom feeder – happily and joyfully – but still a bottom feeder. But I will say this: 
When you do start writing don’t give up. Just write. Keep writing. When it’s good keep writing. When it’s bad keep writing. When someone tells you it’s terrible and you should stop, keep writing. When someone tells you it’s perfect don’t change it, keep writing. You know in your heart what you are striving for. One day you’ll wake up and you’ll have found your voice. But it takes work. Be ready to do the work.

Ally Malinenko is the author of Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb

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Book Tour Guest Post: Julian Rosado-Machain author of Guardians Inc

Today we, here in Alli's World, have the pleasure of hosting a guest post written by author Julian Rosado-Machain. Reading his guest post about the book and his background got me excited about his book The Cypher! I hope you enjoy his post. 

And a HUGE thank you to Julian for stopping by today!

A chance reading of a newspaper ad will send 16 year old Thomas Byrne into the world within our world.  Following the ad he will find Guardians Incorporated. A seven thousand year old organization charged with protecting the balance between Magic and technology.  Through their guidance technology has kept Magic at bay since the Renaissance, but the balance is shifting and soon all those creatures we've driven into myth and legend will come back with a vengeance.  To protect the present, Guardians Incorporated needs to know the future and to unlock the future they need a cypher.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Guardians Inc.

The Guardians Inc. storyline is not a trilogy, but a series of books 

Before writing Book 1: The Cypher, I had already developed all story and character arcs for the whole series, and what I wanted to explore on each book. This process took about two years. 

The Ending of the Series is already written. 

Each book seeds the next books, so things, enemies and storylines will appear and reappear all over in the complete series.

 There are allusions and "Tips o' the hat" to many books, writers and movies I admire seeded throughout the Books. From The Jungle Book to The Last Starfighter. Most of them are done quite openly, even referenced by name, but some are very cryptic.

Guardians Inc. relies heavily on historic figures and events. I research thoroughly before referencing a place or an event.

The same applies to technology, I do try to do as much research as I can before writing about technology. (although, like Thomas, theoretical physics are beyond my full understanding!) 

One of the evil characters in Cypher: THE MAN IN THE TRENCHCOAT, got its own interactive book app for the ipad as an illustrated children's book.  

ALL storylines will get closure. I promise.

As time progresses in the story and Thomas gets older, dangers, moral dilemmas, and romantic situations will get rougher, tougher and more... romantic! 

Get the book now!

Amazon (ebook is free throughout the tour)

Barnes &Noble (ebook is free throughout the tour)

Book 2 is also now available: 

Amazon

Julian Rosado-Machain has enjoyed pizza in three continents, BA in Graphic Design, worked building armored vehicles, handcrafted alebrijes, owned a restaurant and swears that he has seen at least one ghost.  A Mexico City native he now lives in San Diego, California and enjoys the sun with his wife, three children and cat.

Guardians Inc. The Cypher is the first book in a series that describes the creatures and powers that live in the world within our world.

Website

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The Guardians Inc. Blog

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Julian Rosado-Machain

English is not my native language, all the books are edited by a professional editor.

I can't write in Spanish! I did try I swear...

I've stopped trying to explain to my friends or people I meet what Guardians Inc. is about. Since it has mythology, fantasy, alternate history and Science Fiction I was told many times that I sounded like a crazy person. 

I have two older brothers, one is a sci-fi fan, the other is a fantasy hard-core fan, both tried to convert me to their ways... I ended up right in the middle.

I rely heavily on the opinion of a couple of friends to finalize the first draft of each book and on my editor to help me fix all those grammar problems and other stuff,- Like run on sentences... 

I am unabashedly, irrevocably, uninequibably a cat person.

I spell wrong and create words all the time... I even say them wrong some times.  

The first book I read in English was Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Princess of Mars. The first book I read when I fully understood English was the same.

I was born in Washington D.C. in the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. I have an American birth certificate, but I can't be a U.S. Citizen because my dad was in a diplomatic mission in the U.S. so both countries consider me as being born inside Mexican embassy grounds AKA Mexico. 

Yes it is complicated and I'm quite confused about it too.

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Jack Templar Tour with Guest Character Post

Image from Goodreads

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendant of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.

You can pick up a copy at any of these place:

Amazon

IndieBound

Barnes&Noble

Now for a super special treat...
a character guest post from 
Jack Templar's Best Friend...
Will Akers!

Hi everyone. This is Will Akers, Jack Templar’s right hand man. You probably heard about me in our book Jack Templar Monster Hunter. I say “our” book since it really could have been called Jack And Will: Monster Hunters. But I guess since Jack wrote the entire thing, he felt like going with the title he had.

I know Jack and Eva were pretty mad when the book got out to regular people. You know…non-hunters. Or, as some people at the Academy call them, Creach-bait.

But I was happy the book got out. I know, I know, everyone’s worried about how reading the book attracts monsters to the reader and inevitably drags the reader into our world of man versus monsters. You know what I say? About time.

I mean, come on. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to become a monster
hunter? It’s by far the coolest thing that’s happened to me, I’ll tell you that much.

Even when we’re being chased by a flock of mad harpies, or facing down an entire field of zombies, or being pursued by Ren Lucre, the Dark Lord of the Creach himself, I was still having the time of my life.

The way I look at it, what’s not to love? You’re doing something really important, you’re helping others, you get to use cool weapons and fight against heinous monsters. Oh, and you don’t have to go to school. As far as I’m concerned, that’s like
winning the lottery.

I guess there’s the fact that there aren’t many hunters who live past thirty. The luck runs out for even the best hunters eventually. Turns out no matter how good you are, if you try to face down a pack of werewolves or a coven of vampires on your own, it’s not going to turn out well. But I’m only fourteen. Thirty is forever away so I’m not too worried about it.

One thing I do worry about is all this talk of Jack being “the One.” Other hunters who meet him always have a weird reaction when they find out who he is. They either keep their distance like they are scared of him or they act like he’s some kind of celebrity. I mean, he’s super cool and all, but he’s just Jack. I just hope that he doesn’t start taking too many chances trying to live up to his own hype. Either way, I’ll be right next to him. As we say, Do your duty, come what may. I look at keeping Jack alive as my duty and I intend to see it through, no matter what happens.

I hope you join the fight. It’s quite a ride.
Will Akers.

Author Bio:

Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.

You can find Jeff Gunhus online:

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Tour hashtag: #jacktemplar

Twitter Party: Friday, Dec. 21 6 pm - 8 pm EST

Big Prize Pack can be found on Girl Who Reads.

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