Pitch Wars is Coming...well, it's here...sort of

Pitch Wars is more than a writing contest, it's more than a mentoring session (that lasts for weeks), it's more than a great way to connect with other writers, editors and agents. . . it's more than a. . . well, it's this is a WAR! A PITCH WAR.

And if the idea of getting your writing in front of agents and editors appeals to you, then you should pop over to Brenda Drake's blog and read all about it...

PITCH WARS really begins August 17th but the list of mentors is already posted and you should be researching the mentors, making a list and checking it twice and by all means you should be polishing those pitches!

Lisa Schroeder and April Henry Event at Clackamas B&N 8.6 @7

Just wanted to let you know that April Henry and Lisa Schroeder are doing a panel and signing this coming Thursday with YA author Kris Dinnison, who is coming in from out of town to join us with her debut novel. The panel will be moderated by Sara who runs the well-known blog, Novel Novice. Here's a little bit about their books:

April Henry: BLOOD WILL TELL (Henry Holt) - the second book in the Point Last Seen series, about a group of teens who volunteer with Portland Search and Rescue. The first book in the series, BODY IN THE WOODS, was an Oregon Book Award winner!

Lisa Schroeder: ALL WE HAVE IS NOW (Scholastic) - about two runaway teens on the streets of Portland and their last 28 hours before an asteroid is due to hit the United States.

Kris Dinnison: YOU AND ME AND HIM (Harcourt) - Maggie and Nash, her out-of-closet best friend, discover they have something unexpected in common -- feelings for the same guy.

Once again, the event will be at the Clackamas B&N August 6th, 7:00. 

Thanks and please spread the word if you know of any teens who might like to come!

 

A Journey Home by Angela Scavone

 

 

 

Stephanie Tyler’s sole job is to fly overseas to war torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage.                                                               

 But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie’s surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain “D.A.” Douglas Aston.             

 

 From the moment Captain D.A. enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while they were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with D.A. even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension. 

        

Then, Stephanie’s cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and D.A. must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive. 

Links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/angela.scavone.52

Twitter https://twitter.com/busterwhyte

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6683076-angela-scavone

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/busterwhyte/

 

Pop over and support a patriotic writer:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W3UK05A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d16_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1ECR1S1MKJY50BF4CEC5&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

SHARING A BOOK RELEASE - HER HEART'S DESIRE BY LINDA JOYCE - August 18, 2015

LINDA JOYCE CELEBRATES HER BOOK RELEASE

HER HEART'S DESIRE

Her Heart’s Desire, Book one of the Sunflower Series

By Linda Joyce

I was told, shortly after moving to the Kansas City area, the Midwest is the Heartland of the United States, and if someone is looking to find love, to truly get in touch with their heart, it was the place to be. And I agree. 

Though I’m a southern girl, one who needs magnolia trees and Spanish moss, grits with eggs, and to hear “Yes, Ma’am” with a drawl, (not to mention men who hold doors open because they were raised to be southern gentlemen), there’s an allure to the Midwest that is undeniable. While I can’t handle the winters of seven below zero before wind chill, the rest of year offers festivals, hot air balloon shows, trout fishing, and the list goes on. 

All of Kansas isn’t flat like the Kansas of Dorothy and Toto. The Emerald City, I believe, is Kansas City, Missouri, rising high on a hill up from the Missouri River banks. 

For me, the winged monkeys were the burdens I carried, and while living in Kansas, those monkeys flew away. Undoubtable, my time in Kansas City restored my heart and filled it with friendships I treasured. 

I hope you will enjoy meeting Amelia and Lucas. They truly represent the tenacity, generosity, and dedication to family and friends that I experienced during my twelve years out of the south.

Blurb:

Artist Amelia Britton battles her older brother for the right to remain on the family farm—their inheritance after their parents’ tragic deaths—she faces a looming mortgage, weather threatens to destroy her crops, and the man she secretly loves only sees her as Craig’s little sister.

After serving his country in Afghanistan, Lucas Dwyer expected to return home to his family’s farm, but the bank foreclosed. Undeterred, he begins combining-for-hire to support his younger sister in college. His best friend convinces him to discourage local guys from dating Amelia. Craig wants her back in the city, farming is too hard for a woman alone. Only one problem—Lucas has fallen in love with Amelia.

With family, the bank, and the weather conspiring against them, can Amelia and Lucas ever hope to grow the love blooming between them?

Tagline: An artist and a farmer fight family, the bank, and Mother Nature…to grow love.

Bio: Linda Joyce is an award-winning author of women’s fiction and romance. She writes about assertive females and the men who can’t resist them. Linda’s a big fan of jazz and blues. She attributes her love of those musical genres to her southern roots, which run deep in Louisiana. If you walk-through several New Orleans cemeteries you’ll find many of her family buried there. She penned her first manuscript while living in Japan, the country where her mother was born and raised. Now she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and four-legged boys. She’s also a foodie and loves to go RVing.

Pre-Order Links for Her Heart’s Desire:

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/559925 

Amazon  http://amzn.com/B011LLKFXS

Places to connect with Linda:

Website: http://www.linda-joyce.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaJoyceAuthor

Twitter: @LJWriter  https://twitter.com/LJWriter

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950241.Linda_Joyce 

Amazon author page:  http://www.amazon.com/Linda-Joyce/e/B00BODDROS/

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/LindaJoyceWorld/boards/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lindajoycewrites

Linda also has a newsletter, LETTERS with Linda. It posts the first Tuesday of every month with book news, inspiration, a contest giveaway, and a recipe. If you’d like a copy, please send Linda an email: linda@linda-joyce.com

#MSWL - New Version launches today

The new version of http://ManuscriptWishList.com  launches today (or Tuesday, 7-28-15) at 9:00 am EST! or 6:00 a.m. West Coast time or PST!-  #MSWL

So Hop over to Twitter and type in #MSWL to see what Agents and Editors are wishing to see in their inbox. But remember, Don't Query on this hashtag, use the information found here to start your "agents to query" list. Then look at their websites and find their preferred methods of querying. This is an awesome tool to help writers connect with people looking for their specific work.

HELPFUL WRITER TIPS

HELPFUL LINKS FOR WRITERS

QUERY TRACKER: A great site where you can look up agents, the genres they represent, the time it takes for them to respond, and even track your queries.

AGENT QUERY: Another great site like Query Tracker.

AGENTS’ MANUSCRIPT WISH LISTS: This is a place to go to see what agents and editors are looking for.

TWITTER: #MSWL - The Twitter link to "real time" hints, tips and wishlists of agents and editors - BUT PLEASE do not pitch your story on this twitter site.

PREDITORS AND EDITORS: A place to check and see if an agent or editor is reputable.

MANUSCRIPT WORD COUNTS: The perfect place to see if your word count is in the right ballpark. 

WRITER’S DIGEST GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS: A treasure trove of information about agents and more...

PUBTIPS ON TWITTER:Tips about publishing.

TWITTER COMMUNITY WRITER LINK: An on-line community where you can share the trials and tribulations of being a writer, and get support, encouragement and inspiration.

COMMUNITY CHATBOARD (TOADHALL ON YAHOO): A chatboard about all things for Kid lit writers

SCBWI: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators website

BRENDA DRAKE: A fount of information with contests that help you get published, find an agent or simply help you perfect your craft.