Silver Maples anyone?

We finally had a few days without rain and what does that mean?  Outside work!  I would say BOOO! But I actually like being outside.  And working outside is fine by me as long as it’s not strenuous and backbreaking work.  We live out in the “country” on a lovely lot of acreage consisting of yard and several acres of forest surrounding the yard.  Sounds lovely right?  It is…in general.  The trees of the forest are pine trees and silver maple trees, tons of silver maple trees.  Full grown and huge.  Oh, there are a few white and pink crab apples here and there, but otherwise its pine and maple. 

Silver maples are a nice shade-producing tree.  A little on the branchy and root side, but the leaves are pretty which is where they get their name. 

Spring comes every year at our house and the maples leaf out very beautifully.  Then…..they seed.  Little tan seed helicopters dance down from the trees……in waves.  So many of them that on a windy day it looks like it is snowing.  In fact once they reach the ground they blanket the grass in mounds that you literally have to wade through.  They come in storms and leave a mess like you wouldn’t believe.  We mow and we sweep and we rake up the little buggars and still I see them spinning happily on the wind. 

Although I admit that some days its fun to watch their topsy-turvy decent to the ground, I am still always amazed at what damage and work a tiny seed can cause when multiplied by thousands. 

Bring on the summer.  I am sick of the seeds….

ctny

Things I didn’t realize

I’m a writer (in case you didn’t know).  When I began this “life” I thought being a writer meant that you wrote.  Whether it was stories or articles or books or whatever, but in the end, you wrote.  I had no idea that you also needed to be an editor, a critiquer, and in the end a salesman.  Who knew? 

So, first I have to say, that I am not a salesman.  One of my part-time jobs when I was a teenager was to try to get people to RETAIN the services that the company I worked for provided, at the small price of $50 a year.  What I didn’t know when I took the job was that it was a sales job.  I hated that job.  I sucked at that job.  I didn’t hold it even a year before I resigned my post and ran screaming somewhere else.  It took a few years to figure out that the reason I was so bad at that job was because I thought the service I was trying to sell was a stupid waste of $50.  I couldn’t sell, aka retain, people to the service because I didn’t believe in it. 

The other problem is that I am not a social being.  I know most of you reading this would never realize it, but I’m not.  I’m a shy introvert.  Surprise!  My comfort zone is behind a computer where I don’t have to see facial expressions or try to interpret body language.  A “no” in writing is so much easier to take than a “no” to my face. 

What does this all have to do with writing?  Well if I was only trying to write for myself that it wouldn’t matter at all, but because I am trying to write for the public it does.  Yes, I have to write a good story, no a great story, one that I believe in.  If I don’t believe in it, who else will?  How can I sell it, if even I think it sucks?  Then I need to get out of my comfort zone and sell it.  Sometimes by computer, but sometimes over the phone or even face to face. 

I’m struggling very much with this part of it.  I know what I need to do.  I do.  Really.  I will walk into a bookstore in which I want to try to get my book shelved.   Then I get in front of the manager or whoever and I just smile and then………choke.  Its terrible as then I’m so upset at not getting the shelving and at myself for failing and then trying to work myself up to doing it again….horrible. 

However, this is not all bad news.  I’m getting better.  I am forcing myself out of my comfort zone.  I am forcing myself to move forward because I want something more than my fear can hold me back.  If they say no, to my face, then they say no.  There are other stops, other avenues, and other stores to try.  I focus on that, instead of the failure. 

So anyone struggling with sales in any way, shape, or form, my advice?  Get out of your comfort zone.  Force your fears back and do all that you can for yourself.  You are the only one that’s going to.

ctny

End of a Blog Tour

Now that my blog tour is officially complete, I wanted to thank everyone that hosted me on my tour, took the time to read and review Shadow Dancer, as well as all the people that followed and commented.  Thank you, truly, sincerely.

I was asked just this morning what I thought of the whole blog tour thing.  Did I think it was helpful?  Did it get me new readers?  New fans?  New Followers?  The answer to all these questions is, yes.  The blog tour did its job of getting Shadow Dancer’s title out there for more people to see.  The blogs were fun and different and silly and entertaining all at the same time.  Each one was different which was what I was hoping for.  I am also the happy recipient of several new followers on my blog and twitter.  Plus, I received several lovely emails from new fans (Yay!).  I wont know if my book really had any increase in sales, but even if it didn’t, I am certain I received several, due in large part to the blog tour.

It was definitely work, but it was the good kind of work.  I actually enjoy my book and the characters, so having to immerse myself in Shadow Dancer to create the blogs and answer the interview questions was no hardship for me.  It was fun.  Time consuming and thought provoking, but fun all the same. 

Will I do one again for future titles?  Oh yes. 

What did you all think of the tour?  Where there posts you liked more than others?  Were there posts that were just…eh?  What are your thoughts in general?

ctny

Shadow Dancer Blog Tour

On May 23, 2011, the blog tour for my book Shadow Dancer will begin.  If you want to follow the tour (and who wouldn't want to follow, right?) the following is when and where you need to visit. 

Shadow Dancer Blog Tour

Author, Courtney Rene

May 23 – June3

Monday, May 23: (Author Interview w/ Book Line Answers) http://lostforwords-corrine.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, May 24: (This or That List) http://pensivebookeaters.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 25: (Book Review) http://amberinblunderland.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 26: (Character Interview: Sunny) http://patriciasparticularity.blogspot.com/

Friday, May 27: (Tens List) http://bookgirl-mel.blogspot.com/

Monday, May 30:  (Character Tweets) http://www.mundiemoms.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, May 31: (Tens List)  http://www.bookscompleteme.com/

Wednesday, June 1: (Book Review) http://patriciasparticularity.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 2: (Multicharacter Interview) http://www.hopelessbibliophile.com/

Friday, June 3: (Character This or That List) http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 6: (Author Interview) http://creativityscorner.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, June 7:(Teenage Garage Sale) http://www.latebloomeronline.com/

Wednesday, June 8: (Book Review) http://creativityscorner.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 9: (Character Interview: Leif) : http://amberinblunderland.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 10: (Into the Past) http://www.theresabook.com/ 

Hope you enjoy the posts and the tour and if you want, let me know what you think. 
ctny

What have you left behind?

I realized something today, when I look in the mirror, I don't really see "me" anymore.  I see my brown hair, or my blue eyes, but I don't actually see me.  When did that happen I wonder.  Was it recent?  Like in the winter when I was mourning the loss of the sun, did I lose myself as well?  I don't know.  As I said, I only really noticed it today.  I stopped and stared and I found that I was missing, hidden behind the shadows and the angles.  I don't even recognize the person in the reflection that stares back at me.  That person is too old to be me.  That person has sad eyes, why?  Is it the constant rain?  That person just can't be me.  Can it?

As I drove in to work today and in fact all the day long this has haunted me (which may be why my blog is so late in posting).  Did I sort of fade away over time, or did I vanish in a second.  As I sort my way through this thought, another comes to mind.  During my life have I touched the world at all or have I only waited for it to find me?  When I am gone will anyone remember me or will I just be gone?  In 200 years, will I only be a note in a census somewhere?  Oh I know you are thinking "But you have children, of course you will be remembered."  But will I really?  When you think of the people that have gone before you, do you really remember them or do you only remember their names or moments or even only other peoples memories of them?  What have I left behind of myself.  Will I be truly remembered?

This caused me to be even more haunted than I was already so I had to seriously give it some thought.  Here is what I have come up with.

1.  First and foremost, I do have my children.  I will live on in them and in their children, and their children's children.  I will be a part of them all.  (Do you ever wonder if that is what living forever really means?  I guess, that's a question for another day though).

2.  My stories.  They are out there for the world to see and read and enjoy.  Even if the computer and technological age come crashing down, my written word will still be out there somewhere. 

3.  My gifts of laughter to the people around me.  I have always tried to bring people joy and happiness.  Even if it's just for a moment, they will remember it.  . 

4.  My unceasing, unquestionable love of life and the people I share it with.

These are all that I could come up with.  I was a little sad a first that I could only come up with 4 things.  That's it?  Those four things are all that I have?  Then I thought about it.  Yes, those are the only things that I have......today.  What can I find to leave behind tomorrow?  What will I or can I accomplish tomorrow that will live on.  I don't know.  I'll have to wait and see.  So when I look in the mirror tonight will I see me or will I just see shapes and colors and angles.  I don't know.  I'll have to look to find out. 

Come on sunshine.  I really miss you.  I'm getting a little to maudlin for my own good. 

ctny

Sex in Movies

This weekend I rented the award-winning movie Black Swan.  After all the awards, and reviews, and acclaims of this movie, I was quite disappointed.  You have Nina, a ballerina that is focused on being the best, being perfect.  You have a whacked out mom who is focused on making her daughter perfect and staying sweet and wonderful.  You have an over bearing director that gives off the dirty old man vibe.  You have an older ballerina that is retiring for some strange reason and is not happy about it at all.  Then you have the new girl, that is a little too nice and a little too good and Nina believes is after her part as the Swan Queen.  All of that was great, sets up a great story, sets up a great plot…then you add in the oral sex, and the back alley sex, and the self-love and you get one icked out Courtney.  You can make a creepy psycho movie without all the gross in your face sexual content.  If I wanted to rent porn, I would have gone out to rent porn not a mental thriller.   The movie would have been so much better without all that crap in it.  The idea and the story were really good.  Why?

I watched the movie 127 hours.  It didn’t win anything really when it comes to awards or whatnot and that movie was FANTASTIC!  It was thrilling, exciting, scary, sad, funny and wonderful and you know what?  I can’t think of one moment of real sexual content.  I’m not saying there wasn’t any, but if there was, it had to have been so tame as to not even register.  Would a big naked butt have made the movie better?  Nope.  It would have just been a nice show for all the ladies to see James Franco’s hiney.  Yes, a nice moment, but unneeded in the movie for its purpose. 

So my thoughts on Black Swan.  Sucked!  My teenager that really wanted to see it, wasn’t able to, as heck no!  Ick ick ick! 

What’s the point of all the explicit sex in movies?  I don’t get it?  Really, I don’t.

Author Interview - Rebecca Besser

As promised, this week I would like to introduce to you, Author, and Editor, Rebecca Besser, who has generously agreed to allow me to interview her for my blog. 

So onward with the interview:

1.         Thanks for coming Rebecca.  So, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I'm Rebecca Besser, a house wife, mother, editor, and full time writer, and the author of the recently released zombie novella, "Undead Drive-Thru."

I write fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for various age groups and genres.

I'm a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature. My work has appeared in the Coshocton Tribune, Irish Story Playhouse, Spaceports & Spidersilk, joyful!, Soft Whispers, Illuminata, Common Threads, Golden Visions Magazine, Stories That Lift, Super Teacher Worksheets, Living Dead Presents Magazine, The Broke One, The Stray Branch, and The Undead That Save Christmas charity anthology. I have multiple stories in anthologies by Living Dead Press, Wicked East Press, and NorGus Press, and one in an anthology by Pill Hill Press and Hidden Thoughts Press. I also have a poem in an anthology by Naked Snake Press.

2.         What are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on co-editing End of Days 5: An Apocalypitc Anthology for Living Dead Press, and then I'll be working on editing Earth's End: A Scifi Apocalyptic Anthology, same press.

I also have some other collaborative projects going on. I've recently join in on the Collaboration of the Dead novel project, for instance, and get the honor of writing two chapters for the book. There are many, many more that I'm involved in... Oh, and I plan to work on my zombie novel some more, and I'm doing book reviews now.

3.         If you could be any character from any book, who would you want to be and why?

Wow! There's so many to choose from.... Honestly I don't know. I like to be with the characters I'm reading, and enjoy switching to different books and genres and experiencing something different. It's like we can live a new life with each book we read and explore.

4.         What inspired you to start writing?

I've always had a knack with the written word, and I have a horribly strong and inventive imagination. If I didn't write, I would prolly go insane! Does that mean my insanity made me do it? Awesome!

5.         Do you remember the very first story you ever wrote? What was it about?

I don't remember the first one I ever wrote, but I do remember the one I won my first prize for... It was in first grade and and it was about giraffes and why they had long necks. hehe

6.         What resource has been most influential in helping you become a published writer and why? How often do you refer back to it?

The course I took at the Institute of Children's Literature has been a tremendous help. Knowing the ins and outs of the submission process, and knowing the dos and don'ts, are good skills for any writer and I draw on the knowledge constantly.

7.         What is the thing you enjoy the most about writing.

Seeing what I can come up with and where a story will go. Just letting my imagination free to roam is like being on a high. You leave the limits of life and the world as we know it and literally anything is possibly. You can create an entire new world if you want to. Through your characters, you can create and be an entirely different person.

I think when you can carry your reader on the same limitless journey, you have the potential to be one of the great writers of the world, because it's easier said than done. But isn't that why most people like to read? To escape what is and explore what could be? It's truly an honor to be a part of that for other people.

8.         What are you doing when you are not writing?

Trying to keep up with everything else in life. I have a family that I love with all that I am, and they take up a HUGE chunk of my time.

9.         Who is your favorite author?

Jean M. Auel

A few fun questions that have nothing to do with writing:

1.         Chocolate or Candy?

Chocolate! Most of the time anyhow... hehe

2.         Summer or Winter?

Winter! I can't stand heat!

3.         If you were trapped on a deserted island, what 3 things would you have to have with you to survive?

A book on local plant and wildlife, a book on water purification/survival, and my family. Oh, wait, did I just go to Heaven? Sweet! hahaha

4.         What is your absolutely favorite movie of all time?

Again with the hard stuff.... I can't pick just one! I love lots of movies! I prefer comedy or action movies though, if that helps any at all.

5.         What are your thoughts on ebooks vs. print books?

Doesn't matter to me. But with the massive amount of people with ereaders and phones that can download ebooks, I think not being into ebooks is a bad thing. I prefer that books be available both ways and that we let the reader decide how they wish to enjoy the works. I love holding a book in my hands and turning pages, but I also know that if I had an ereader I would use it a lot. It's a win/win situation to have everything available to the consumer.

I would like to thank Rebecca for stopping over at my blog this week.  If you have any questions for her, go ahead and leave a comment, as she will be stopping over. 

So where can you find Rebecca Besser?  She has graciously provided me with the following: