Location-Location-Location

I love creating settings. I'm sure that passion is a holdover from my theatrical design days. When I write, I can build a world without slamming my finger under a misplaced hammer stroke.

In fact, my one hoarding tendency is the files and files I keep of old scenic calendar pages, amazing images I've come across on the Internet, and the endless pictures I take myself. 

I keep a setting diary full of sketches or bullet pointed details when I encounter delicious visuals. Later I can draw from this resource to combine elements from completely different places into a new reality.

I get a rush when I come across a funky or unique locale to add to my diary. On the road between LA and Las Vegas there is such a goldmine.

Alien Fresh Jerky in Baker, CA. Now hang on all you alien activists - it's not jerky made from aliens. It's beef jerky in dozens of flavors from traditional to habanero to whiskey. All delish, and yes, quite fresh. 

The alien themed decor is trippy and plays homage to the Area 51 mythology.

Can you imagine a character in your story encountering this mecca on a road trip?

What fun!

Do you have a system for crafting settings? Any cool roadside   stops we should add to our "must visit" list?  

BONUS NEWS: From Wed. 8-29 to Friday 8-31, the e-version of Journeys of Wonder, Volume 1 (see sidebar) is free-free-free.
Click HERE to go grab it.

Cause and Effect

If you give your cat some freedom,

 it may dart out from under a table.

If the cat darts out from under a table, the fiend will trip you.

If you trip and face plant on the tile, taking a dining room chair along for the ride, you will sprain your wrist. 

(which hurts more than a break I'm told

I TOTALLY believe it)

If you sprain your wrist, you will have to wear one of these.

If you wear a wrist splint, you will have to type with one hand and take pain killers.

If you take pain killers, your cat will have total freedom and you won't care anymore.

I'm over at Lisa Gail Green's Blog 

PARANORMAL POINT OF VIEW 

this week discussing the issue of...

...da da da

When critique partners don't agree

BEWARE OF THE CAT

View From the 5th Grade Trenches: August 2012 - Suggestions Please

Now that the new school year is upon us, my monthly feature:  View From the 5th Grade Trenches

where I crack open my classroom door so you can peek at life in 5th grade at a public school will be starting up again.

For the first installment of the 2012-2013 school year I'm going to pick your brains.

What books should I read aloud to my class this year?

I am thrilled to open the year with:

Stand by, Lee for a barrage of questions and comments from my new crop of 5th graders.

I am seriously toying with the idea of following that with:

since I have a "thing" about kids being exposed to the book before they see the movie.

And now, it's your turn.

What is a MUST READ for my kiddos this year?

Lola and Sarah

A while back Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins was getting a lot of love in Bloglandia.


I read it and fell in love myself.


When Sarah H., a former middle grade student of mine, who has now entered the YA realm of readership asked me for a book recommendation, I shouted LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR.

Sarah graciously agreed to share her authentic teen opinions of this wonderful book with all of you.

First, let's get to know Sarah.

I'm in 10th grade. My favorite subject is French. I love to go horseback riding, draw, and cook.

(Aside from Leslie: Sarah is one of THE most talented artists I've ever had the pleasure to teach.)

My goals for right now are to try the best at what I'm doing, and when I get back to school from summer break, I'm going to study hard in every subject so I can pass my classes.

(Aside from Leslie: Sarah is every teacher's dream student.)

Did the characters in Lola and the Boy Next Door feel authentic to you? 

Yes. Stephanie Perkins made every character come alive for me in the way she described them and talked about them. I liked every character, yes, even Calliope. I mean, sure she was mean at first, but near the end she was nicer to Lola. The only character I disliked was Max from the start. The way he treated Lola was harsh. I know he's the antagonist of the story, but I still didn't like him even if he did make the story interesting.

Lola is an artist. Do you find that kids with artistic gifts are celebrated in high school as much as students with other strengths like academics or sports?

Kids with artistic gifts should be celebrated more in high school. It is a talent that should be acknowledged.

What was your reaction to Lola's unique family of two dads?

I love Lola's two dads. They're just the best. Andy and Nathan make the best dads for Lola.

Did you feel the author respected the intelligence of her teen audience in the way she told Lola's story?

Yes. Lola had her first boyfriend and her first love right in front of her. Some teens can understand how Lola felt trying to decide between the two. When you have your first boyfriend you can be too crazy about him to see the problems that are happening between you and you can't let him go. That's what Lola's problem was. She was too crazy in love with Max that she didn't see he was the wrong guy for her.

Any other random thoughts about Lola and the Boy Next Door?

I liked that the story was in first person so you know what Lola's thoughts and feelings are throughout the story. I also love how the author squeezes in humor. I thought the book was perfect.

Okay, Sarah, wish list time. If one of the amazing authors out there was writing a book just for you, what would you want it to be about?

Write about my normal high school life because it's full of drama, friendship, crushes, heartbreak, betrayal, enemies, etc., but in the end, make it turn out better.

I agree, Sarah. I love it when authors make crazy life turn out better. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Lola and the Boy Next Door. 

Have you read Lola? What is your take on celebrating the arts in high school on the same level as sports and academics?

The Backworlds Series by M. Pax

Have I got a treat for you! The second book in M.Pax's THE BACKWORLDS series is here.

Calling all sci-fi fans especially Browncoats (Firefly loyalists, of which I am one) and Star Wars nuts (Guilty as charged). This is a series for you. The main character Craze is from the same delicious mold as Captain Malcolm Reynolds and Han Solo. Need I say more? Indulge in M.Pax's universe.

The sequel to The Backworlds is now available. Craze and his friends continue their adventures in Stopover at the Backworlds’ Edge. See what role chocolate plays in the galaxy this time. 

   The interstellar portal opens, bringing in a ship that should no longer exist. A battleship spoiling for a fight, yet the war with Earth ended two generations ago. The vessel drops off a Water-breather, a type of Backworlder thought to be extinct. She claims one of Craze’s friends is a traitor who summoned the enemy to Pardeep Station. A betrayal worse than his father’s, if Craze lives to worry about it. 

Available for all ereaders from:

Amazon / Amazon UK / B&N / Smashwords

iTunes and Kobo will be available shortly.

If you haven’t read The Backworlds yet, it’s available as a free read from many outlets. See HERE for links. [http://mpaxauthor.com/the-backworlds-series/backworlds-the/]

 

Inspiring the words M. Pax writes, Mary spends her summers as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory in stunning Central Oregon where she lives with the husband unit and two loving cats. She write science fiction mostly and has a slight obsession with Jane Austen. Mary blogs at http://www.mpaxauthor.com/blog/

In other news:

FREE FREE FREE

The Kindle version of JOURNEYS OF WONDER, Volume 1, is available for free download until Tuesday, July 24th at midnight from Amazon.

Welcome to Angela Ackerman

I am honored to have the amazing Angela Ackerman as a guest today. Angela and Becca Puglisi have given the writing community a treasure, The Emotion Thesaurus. It's a master class on show don't tell. 

Their blog The Bookshelf Muse is also one of the best writing resources in Bloglandia.

Angela indulged my Lord of the Rings obsession to answer the following question: 

If you were Frodo and had to bring the one ring to Mordor, who would your 5 companions from literature be and which character trait would each represent? 

Angela:  First off, BEST QUESTION EVER. 

Leslie: Ah, shucks ma'am, thanks.

Angela: Second, this really made me think about what character traits the original companions embodied. Each had a special intrinsic quality that added to a greater whole, and because of this, the venture succeeded. So, with that in mind, here’s who would be on my Dream Team of Five:

Roland of Gilead (Stephen King’s The Dark Tower). This Gunslinger is tough--stringy tough, skilled and emotionally hardened, but the trait he embodies most is tenaciousness. Roland never gave up on his quest to find the Dark Tower, not when loved ones died, nor when some crazy-ass giant lobster ate his fingers off, or even when his reality split and caused his own mind to fracture. No matter what life threw at him, Roland kept going.

Astrophil (Marie Rutkoski’s The Cabinet of Wonders). Now while Astro might be only a tin spider who hides in the main character Petra’s hair, he is wise and resourceful. Most of all, he is incredibly loyal. On a trip to Mordor, I’d need someone who would stick by me no matter what. Besides, who wouldn’t want a tin spider to come along?

Katniss Everdeen (Susanne Collins’ The Hunger Games). I’m sure no one is shocked to see Katniss on my list. She’s dedicated, selfless and has great instincts. Most of all, she is a born hunter and skilled in adverse environments. Taking on the Hunger Games arena is no easy feat, and perfect training ground for Mordor.

Mat Cauthon (Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time). Matrim is a trickster, gambler and trouble loving character, adding levity in a dark time as the seals on the Dark One’s prison begin to break. Always in trouble of one sort or another, but loyal to the core, Mat’s antics cost him part of his memories, replacing what is lost with a battle-hardened warrior, transforming him into a formidable strategist and unparalleled leader. These are all great qualities, but it is Mat’s cleverness that earns him a seat on the bus to Mount Doom.

Merlin (too many sources to name). No matter what fiction piece he featured in, Merlin was an advisor, a wieldier of  magic, and scholar and protector of the people. One quality stands out more than any other however, and that is wisdom. To successfully infiltrate Mordor and destroy the ring, wisdom is key.

So, the ideal traits I’ve gathered for this journey are tenacious, loyalty, skill, cleverness and wisdom. 

Who would be on your Team Mordor? Would you choose to feature the same traits, or different ones? Tell me about it in the comments!

What fun--thanks Leslie for asking me to do such a unique post!

No, no thank YOU, Angela for hanging out and assembling a kickin' team. Frodo doesn't know what he is missing.

Free download of the Kindle version of 
JOURNEYS OF WONDER
until Tuesday night

Fivers

Thank you so much, C.LeeMcKenzie, author and blogger extraordinaire over at The Write Game blog, for passing on positive vibes with the following awards. Look for her new middle grade novel, Alligators Overhead.

The task for this award is to name your five favorite books. I can't, I just can't. It's like picking a favorite child. 

I'm an audiobook nut, so I'll pick five YA audiobooks that kept the ear buds firmly planted in my noggin.

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

3. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

4. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

5. The Chaos Walking Trilogy: The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Don't you just love anything with the word fabulous in it?

Fabulous Moments:

1. Applauding as my daughter graduated with a BA in English from UC Irvine - Yes, another writer has entered the ranks

2. Watching my son on stage - so talented

3. Sitting on the beach from sunset until the stars come out

4. The first day I meet a new class of fifth graders

5. Reconnecting with a friend I thought I'd never see again

Five Things I Love:

1. Writing by the fire, wearing fuzzy socks

2. Snuggling with all three cats at once

3. Road trips

4. A story that moves me to tears

5. Watching my students sneak-read a book they can't put down in class 

Five Things I Dislike:

1. Dream stealers

2. Meaness

3. Joss Whedon killing off characters I love

4. Narrow, inflexible minds

5. Double dippers at a party

I'm going off book here for passing on these awards. Instead of naming names, I award anyone who:

1. Listens to audiobooks

2. Has met one of their favorite authors in person

3. Married their childhood sweetheart

4. Has a child who is pursuing a life in the arts

5. Is going to Comic Con in San Diego this month

Please let us know as you pick up an award so we can click your link and visit your blog.

I'd can't wait to hear your stories.


Giveaway over at Journeys of Wonder this week.

A Writer's Biggest Mistake

What is a writer's biggest mistake? 

Adverbs? Too many adjectives? Dialogue tags? Saggy middles?

No, no, no, and no.

I believe the biggest blunder we commit as writers is allowing our possibilities to dwindle. 

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We all fall into funks of self-doubt and insecurity now and then. That's part and parcel of a creative life. Sometimes when we're discouraged we might distance ourselves from our creative process and products. We stop writing, revising, querying, blogging, or going to conferences/workshops.

In Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Betty Edwards describes a "crisis period" in the artistic development of a child where their drawing has been misinterpreted or criticized and the hurt from that judgment can make the child stop drawing altogether.  

Anyone who has been rejected by an agent, editor, lost a contest, or had a less than flattering critique can relate to that moment where you want to give up to avoid any more hurt.

Withdrawal from the creative process zaps the soul of an artist. Worse than that, if you pull away from writing when successes arent' stacking up, you rob yourself of possibilities. No querying - no requests for your work. No revising and writing - no new product to send out. No blogging or conference/workshop attending - no sense of community and support.

Don't make the mistake of letting your possibilities drain away. I've fallen into that trap and it can be tricky to pull yourself out. Honor your creativity and don't give up your passion because you were bonked on the head by subjectivity. 

In honor of the 4th of July, I leave you with the immortal words of Katy Perry.

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh

As you shoot across the sky

Here are two new possibilities for you to grab:

An agent pitch contest with Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Anderson Literary Management on the Writerly Rejects blog – July 9th

A editor editor pitch contest with Entangled Publishing Pitch Contest on Brenda Drake’s blog – July 16th

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I'll Take Potpourri for Twenty, Alex

Greetings from Las Vegas, land of buffets and broken dreams. I've played my favorite slot machine, Lord of the Rings, and had a steak. Once I hit the outlet mall for some serious discount shopping, my Vegas triad of delight will be complete.

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I want to share a super opportunity with you. Daisy Carter, from the Fresh as a Daisy blog, is hosting a pitch contest with Tricia Lawrence of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency on 6/29. 

Details right HERE

Daisy's contest is now closed.

And now the clapping while jumping up and down moment of the week...

The Journeys of Wonder anthology 

is out in print version right  HERE

In fact, I'm over at the Journeys of Wonder blog doing a guest post on editing. Pop on over.

In closing, I have two words...

VEGAS BABY!

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Take Offs, Parodies, and Spoofs, Oh My

I have a weakness for a good parody. Taking the essence of a story and giving it a humorous twist is an art form in itself.

Here are three examples that would make my personal Parody Hall of Fame.

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Galaxy Quest took the Star Trek fanboy/fangirl phenom, turned it on its ear and make a hilarious movie with its own engaging journey.

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Jimmy Fallon's spoof, Downton Sixbey, of the currently trending, Downton Abbey is "spit take" hysterical. His show is produced in Studio 6B - hence the name. If you are hooked on Downton Abbey - Downton Sixbey is your next step.

And the newest inductee into my Parody Hall of Fame is:

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Yes, it IS a musical parody of Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring - LIVE on stage. 

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This wonderful production tells the ENTIRE story of Fellowship of the Ring with all the heart and a thousand times the humor of Tokien's tale.

Fellowship! Is playing in Hollywood for the next two weekends. If you live in the area grab your tickets and get to the theater. If you don't live in the area, make your plane reservations, grab your tickets, and get to the theater. Click on the link above to their website to see if the show is coming your way. 

You haven't lived until you've seen a diva Balrog sing a torch song in a red spotlight.

What take offs, spoofs, or parodies would make your Hall of Fame?