tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38706328980003777812024-03-20T13:49:16.324-07:00Rainy Day WritersThe blog of children's authors Lindsay and Kristopher McClanahanDeeply Dapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06371903366107067009noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-47582359293072340682014-03-17T20:12:00.002-07:002014-03-17T20:12:49.070-07:00Publishing your own Novel<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Now Playing -</b><i> </i> <i>Creepin' Up The Back Stairs </i>by The Fratellis<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWBfnhwBPV5TAId0WFgUF6ogmcbuAoeRJioanpDayD0xJ2pe_LpNp6eYmRd2Gg86_1y267kG0Otqw8RHo2hqlmB5Q41X-Tg3MbEjBA192AaG13gdeXfpsC5Y593AJ0mHdl8GUeGGr0JQ3/s1600/999224_10152171892838139_1653728582_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWBfnhwBPV5TAId0WFgUF6ogmcbuAoeRJioanpDayD0xJ2pe_LpNp6eYmRd2Gg86_1y267kG0Otqw8RHo2hqlmB5Q41X-Tg3MbEjBA192AaG13gdeXfpsC5Y593AJ0mHdl8GUeGGr0JQ3/s1600/999224_10152171892838139_1653728582_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Life -</b> <b> </b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b>Over the past few weeks
I've had an unusual number of people ask me about resources for
publishing their own work and I figured rather than cutting and pasting
the response to everyone, I'd make a blog I could send people to.<br />
<br />
Obviously,
this is far from complete and I'm not going into extreme depth on most
things in this blog, maybe later ones. This is just a list of essential
steps for getting your creation into people's hands.<br />
<br />
<b>Step One</b><br />
<br />
Write
something. This is the obvious one and we'll assume you've written a
novel, done a few drafts and figured it's ready to go. It's also
important to note that this something should be written in a decent
editing program. The more familiar you are with it and it's functions
the easier and more professional everything will be. Word is great.
OpenOffice also works. (And is <a href="http://www.openoffice.org/">Free</a> )<br />
<br />
Go
back over it. Unfortunately, most aspiring authors can't afford
professional editing or proofreading. If you know someone that can do it
effectively, or is willing to do it on the cheap, cherish that person
and never let them go. This is the first place we will spend real money
on if we are ever making any of said money.<br />
<br />
For any
said novel, we typically write 2-3 drafts, do a thorough edit and
proofread, then pass it off to the other person who does the same. Then
we print it and do the same thing in paper form. And still miss things.
Rules, odd spelling things, Simple mess-ups... Linz is especially bad
with homonyms. There's nothing worse than publishing a book with english
errors or spelling mistakes, but there's also only so much you can do
without hiring a pro. Which will cost you. Hundreds, most likely.<br />
<br />
On
the bright side, most readers of your work will be aware that your book
isn't from a major publisher and unless it's a particularly egregious
error, are willing to cut you some slack. But do the best you can. In
addition to the usual functions like spellcheck and grammar, we use a
program called <a href="http://prowritingaid.com/">ProWritingAid.</a>
It's an online site that allows you to paste a block of text and it
analyzes it a few dozen different ways. Overused words, phrases,
spelling, weird rules. It's really nice. You can also pay for it to be
used as a widget in Word itself, which is really convenient and quite
useful.<br />
<br />
<b>Step Two</b><br />
<br />
Decide how you
want people to read your book and where. The two major choices are
physical books and as an eBook. (Naturally, you can post it online as a
blog and what have you.... ) We like our novels to be available as both
physical paperback novels and ebooks, but be warned, the physical copy
is a LOT more work than making an ebook. For the purposes of this blog,
We'll concentrate on making an ebook. Maybe I'll do a follow up on
paperbacks. However, if you are interested, we use <a href="http://www.createspace.com/">CreateSpace </a>to
make ours. It's run by Amazon, has full integration with them and most
of their steps are really easy to follow. They run a print on demand
service and you can order books yourself at cost.<br />
<br />
As for <i>where</i>
people can find your book, that's trickier. Realistically, the best way
to reach the most people is to have your book on as many sites as
humanly possible. That means publishing your book on Amazon.com, Barnes
&amp; Noble as well as sites like the Kobo store, Apple, etc.<br />
<br />
However
- Each of those stores require different formatting of the manuscript,
separate accounts, different hoops and rings of fire to navigate. They
even care about how you tab your manuscript and how many fonts you use.
You <i>can </i>publish on all of them and more however. It's just a lot of work.<br />
<br />
There's
another catch too. Amazon.com, the obvious big daddy leader in eBooks
thanks to the Kindle has a program with perks available to the author
that chooses to e-pub exclusively through them. They let you run
promotions, give away free books, discount books to people that own the
physical copy, swell stuff like that.<br />
<br />
We've tried it
both ways and right now, we find that we get better exposure and results
from being exclusive to Amazon than we did being on all of the sites.
That may change as our bibliography expands and we can build a base of
readers outside of the kindle, but for now we publish exclusively there.
For those wondering, you can read Amazon books on other devices, it
just takes a number of extra steps. I made a tutorial about it <a href="http://deeplydapper.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-to-read-kindle-book-on-non-kindle.html">HERE</a>.
(Which is older and may be out of date.) I own a nook, and I can
understand wanting to be on more than just Amazon. I'll get into the
other sites at a later date. (Probably)<br />
<br />
<b>Step Three</b><br />
<br />
Okay,
so we are going to publish an eBook on Amazon.com, and not worry about
the other sites and options. The first step is to go to kdp.amazon.com
and log in. You can use your amazon.com sign in or create a new one for
your publishing empire. KDP is the world of tools for the aspiring
self-pubbed author. Not only does it get you the best exposure, the site
is well laid out and walks you through things simply and intelligently
(For the most part) I'll make another post later on the exact steps of
publishing on KDP, but in all honesty, you probably don't need it. Just
click on the yellow button labeled "Add new title" and start making a
book!<br />
<br />
If I were you, however, I would click on the Help
button on the top of the page. When there, Click on, download and print
the entire guide titled "Building Your Book For Kindle" not only will
this walk you through each of the steps, it explains the trickier stuff,
like spacing, tabs and tables of contents in a way that <i>anyone</i> can do it. It's a very nice guide that I still refer back to every time.<br />
<br />
That
alone should be enough to get your book into someone's digital reader.
Not impossible, but it also looks misleadingly simple. There's a lot of
little tricks and slang the process uses that can trip you up. Just
remember to take your time and read the guides and help sections if
you're stuck. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfsBgXkYQuIUCbImJp4X79M0QhYufYo3JxSqfkg8euH76hWIu5mlNjzzRZqMAhWvMNT36nnAOvqMX5kkwKLxdzkdsez93HBwnTuP34lzQqn6uRyEUsS6CHGI6GqhB8Sqf7QITbOcJsn1B/s1600/1888742_10152268087413139_1159901403_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfsBgXkYQuIUCbImJp4X79M0QhYufYo3JxSqfkg8euH76hWIu5mlNjzzRZqMAhWvMNT36nnAOvqMX5kkwKLxdzkdsez93HBwnTuP34lzQqn6uRyEUsS6CHGI6GqhB8Sqf7QITbOcJsn1B/s1600/1888742_10152268087413139_1159901403_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>A Couple of Notes:</b><br />
<br />
I would be terribly remiss if I didn't add a few things here that I think are incredibly important.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>READ OTHER BOOKS. </b>Lots
of them. Pay attention to how they lay things out, the way the page
looks. What the front pages look like before the story starts.
Especially books in the same genre as your work.<br />
<br />
<b>HAVE A GOOD COVER. </b>As
an artist, I concentrate on this a lot more than other people, I'm
sure, but it is vital. With the tremendous amount of ebooks available,
you MUST have some way to stand out before anyone ever gets around to
reading your plot synopsis. Sending people to buy your book is all well
and good, but if you can't get Average Joe to buy it, you'll never
become successful. If you aren't artistic at all, you can still make a
decent cover. Pay attention to color and font. Look at lots of covers.
Browse Amazon's listings for similar books and see what they do on
theirs that makes them successful. Remember that the first time your
cover is seen it's less than an inch tall. That's important to note -
some covers become a jumble of ugly at thumbnail size.<br />
<br />
If
at all possible, don't go the generic "Colored background with white
words" route. They scream amateur. I read over 200 books a year usually,
about half are self pubbed or independent and I have never bought one
with a cover like that.<br />
<br />
At the same time, <i>never</i>use
an image you found online unless you bought it for your use. Anything
on the internet, whether it says so or not, is protected by copyright.
There are some sites that offer images for use, but be sure to check and
make sure it's okay to use for commercial matters. Some sites look like
they have free images, but it's only if they're used for editorial or
non-profit reasons. If all else fails, take a picture and add your title
to your own photograph. That's relatively easy with free programs like <a href="http://photoscape.org/">PhotoScape</a>.<br />
<br />
Another option is to hire someone to create a cover for you. We do that on our site <a href="http://www.deeplydapper.com/OctopressBooks.html">Octopress Books</a>
where we make custom covers and have started selling template covers
that we can add your title and name to a pre-made design for a lower
price than our fully custom covers. NOTE: I didn't write this blog to
plug our cover services, but I couldn't write this and not mention it,
could I? :)<br />
<br />
<b>Believe in what you write.</b><br />
<br />
Both
before and after publishing your novel, you have to love what you write
and what you are doing. People online can be cruel or mindless and that
can result in some harsh criticism. My suggestion is to ignore reviews
completely if possible. Or have a trusted friend read them and forward
ones that are positive, uplifting or genuinely useful. Don't <i>ever </i>let
the haters stop you from writing and loving the process and result.
Most authors hate their first works. But you have to keep writing and
improving. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>(This post is being cross-posted to our other blogs, so I apologize if it's redundant to my readers that follow all of them.) </b><br />
<br />
<b> </b> </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The ROUS FAMILY - </b> <b> </b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://r-o-u-s.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0nxsAqFMIWci86e70TbvbqV5puqbyGMd7ljn3q7d-qSkFdDzUPk-UQPjwKNSX9SoeUxM-i56QkwtBMij7NrPz0ha5v-G4whIeG89fwf3EpbUcCAZwsNBCeRJMz1RJiH0JTnabCeASSVJ/s320/ROUS+Motel.jpg" height="36" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rainydaywriters.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2IVLIR75Uj_Y-ncfTchjUIn9uaR3kfOA2kFL2rGWA9PXzCqkQIzrZYoB4fEg4jLhsvh_Abz-KYXLEh-e1i3FL1vkRjLeuclYy5rHkajyXIE0CG3yKLZgJ1AxFgscoh68rs-Ly_BTuIrS/s1600/Header+link+for+ROUS.jpg" /></a></div>
<b> </b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nealkristopher.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2gvNVwPbo_uMZ_qVZKpt_SWeqTXksClPk-D1PIJ3jCAk4APRqhJJJ-QpR7C7cpEC-H75PGGNNZcHc5b3Ci4G3nxFPAv-JVx1JwFPepsBxX7nXhx6UsTACh5zOHJYu1BJSO8e4Z1SUoAj/s320/Neal+Kristopher.jpg" height="36" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://deeplydapper.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE08PiU4FQ5-ltORAvo4XzwuBYOddCOQaYMUKZMCcz3HRX1kx7K1Kc2fi9ztPR-3X0tMgHV9tn8qtY_BhpUQ7meOZTCfyiuKUMpc8IUTvIPdtJ4q-iHMj4JE2NDjzFMJvC-dzkbqPkmu2/s320/Deeply+Dapper%25282%2529.jpg" height="36" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://reviewsofunusualsize.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ_pFppoIf_c2ry8htkV5H7V0AnWDsp1-ZZpJzDGZXO5tpd-9tzFzM-aiSUvrpQi-IN8o8IPV4GCZYCLY39J1BAZKhm0pYqqk8dpx5JFxdi6L9m78Q9dwm-AgqDinGRLgL35mvKsblKQT/s320/Reviews+Of+Unusual+Size.jpg" height="36" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> </b> <b> </b> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-36803042008509912792013-04-21T08:37:00.002-07:002013-04-21T08:37:58.204-07:00Rainy Day Songs - Foggy DewIt's time for another Rainy Day Song!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m1WHkcovci8" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
I've always loved a good Irish tune and Young Dubliners do a great version of this song, which sings of an affair between a drifter and a lovely young serving girl.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is also a great version, by Sinead O'Connor and The Chieftans. I love her voice.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/13MQFCfCYdQ" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-89982552151929815712013-03-19T11:38:00.001-07:002013-03-19T11:38:10.794-07:00Snow DayWell, snow month or two, really. Sorry we've both been absent, we've had a lot on our plates and been a little overwhelmed, but we'll both be back soon. For now, The rainy Day writers are covered in snow. It's the middle of March and we've got over a foot of the stuff heading our way today.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdbK_-ygB1anZ01UJRy70WFCAksI310dtg9OMeJJ6-HgT3c6Heln5ujFd_vZLq3kEiIJXvomjRU_trWktVx3ODiXuOTARLtrQT5SnnP58FaQX8Ofy92V1B5l0ZQJBPP8Pc3nFV-SAOq4j/s1600/nessie+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdbK_-ygB1anZ01UJRy70WFCAksI310dtg9OMeJJ6-HgT3c6Heln5ujFd_vZLq3kEiIJXvomjRU_trWktVx3ODiXuOTARLtrQT5SnnP58FaQX8Ofy92V1B5l0ZQJBPP8Pc3nFV-SAOq4j/s320/nessie+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When will spring come?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-21455624089063392992012-09-27T20:15:00.001-07:002012-09-27T20:15:46.957-07:00My Book - FREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTOGiKo0I0jzzJFLbrQM3X_nvbUE53zKIyFbbeNfn41xs4bTDNM-lOig9crXWKP4E9e4jFHPUWXSxcWgQMgy0SBu3f8b9yEWUh9aLPIyPlhN9eO44xJYQ1070Nxy3ih6eI8O1UwW-yH9O/s1600/Welcome+Color+Foggy+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTOGiKo0I0jzzJFLbrQM3X_nvbUE53zKIyFbbeNfn41xs4bTDNM-lOig9crXWKP4E9e4jFHPUWXSxcWgQMgy0SBu3f8b9yEWUh9aLPIyPlhN9eO44xJYQ1070Nxy3ih6eI8O1UwW-yH9O/s400/Welcome+Color+Foggy+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you haven't had a chance to check out my first Kid's novel, <i>The Whispering Ferns</i>, (And judging by my sales... most of you haven't! haha) now is your chance!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;">From now until Sunday, the first book in <i>The Moonstone Bay Mysteries</i> series is available for <b>free</b> in the Kindle store on Amazon.com! You can "Buy" it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Whispering-Ferns-Moonstone-ebook/dp/B004Y0UYL2/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1"><b>HERE!</b></a></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU6F7FSZj-1e2a1CRc5Atez7Cd8h1ANSCrcbFA7VEOP5A4CNKB5R4Dp_cmRLni8Bzg0Gj4U2dtXGPBhWzqVhBiHNpr_Tfu7XDKJuaxutwXt7EL-jZhpnvyZavVdVfZSQHL8Gledk_I7kT/s1600/e07651124377a463a370fa2d43a4c2bd2a1aeae9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU6F7FSZj-1e2a1CRc5Atez7Cd8h1ANSCrcbFA7VEOP5A4CNKB5R4Dp_cmRLni8Bzg0Gj4U2dtXGPBhWzqVhBiHNpr_Tfu7XDKJuaxutwXt7EL-jZhpnvyZavVdVfZSQHL8Gledk_I7kT/s320/e07651124377a463a370fa2d43a4c2bd2a1aeae9.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a fun little novel about friendship, loss, ghosts, secret passages and finding the courage to do what you believe in. Inspired by my love of the Pacific Northwest and classic children's fiction like Encyclopedia Brown and John Bellair's novels, <i>The Whispering Ferns</i> available now!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you don't have a Kindle and want to read it on a different e-reader, fear not! My cover artist Deeply Dapper has <a href="http://deeplydapper.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-to-read-kindle-book-on-non-kindle.html">a blog</a> about how to do that very thing! I hope you like the book and if you do, please take a moment and review it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Whispering-Ferns-Moonstone-ebook/dp/B004Y0UYL2/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11221782-the-whispering-ferns---a-moonstone-bay-mystery">Goodreads</a> - it's amazing what a positive review can do for an aspiring novelist. Thanks!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;">And for those three of four of you that <i>have </i>read it, I am finally writing a sequel - <i>The Ghost Light</i> will be released in early 2014. (I hope!)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-20821014392796405402012-07-23T14:22:00.004-07:002012-07-23T14:24:20.475-07:00Favorite Authors - Donald J. Sobol<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lNNl2SsDg4xQqa5Y4Mefvos4JgsUvAhOrevqIBkyyyuuvNwrG9t0PY-bw8dheDFbFSYaVBk8K42hQZcEDb0OpkoiG5HZwymyWNTF02Dssf6plFIs-Iy02NDgTZO-p4z9AgjPti7S-Ihj/s1600/Sobol_717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lNNl2SsDg4xQqa5Y4Mefvos4JgsUvAhOrevqIBkyyyuuvNwrG9t0PY-bw8dheDFbFSYaVBk8K42hQZcEDb0OpkoiG5HZwymyWNTF02Dssf6plFIs-Iy02NDgTZO-p4z9AgjPti7S-Ihj/s320/Sobol_717.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In any list of influential writers in my life, Donald J. Sobol has to appear pretty high on it. He created the Encyclopedia Brown series, featuring an amateur sleuth that solved school day crimes. He uncovered lunch money thieves and gambling rings, usually dropping clues along the way so you could be in on the big "Ah-Ha" moment at the end of the book.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They're all short, goofy and a lot of fun and have never been out of print since he wrote the first novel, <i>Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective </i>back in 1963. Sobol wrote 28 of them before his death on July 11th at 87. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While I eventually moved on to more influential authors, which I'll write about later, Encyclopedia Brown and his mysteries have always held a special place in my heart. And my books - The main character in my Moonstone Bay Mysteries is named Smith, after the Smithsonian and is a bit of a tribute to Sobol's boy detective.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7N5JQLatrJeHqAsxATuwOrJQPI3eH8hznfAP8d1aW7xSZfcW1deNDJYGR4gfAVE4Yx9s7cZZbmVQ-Bwcl87AUntb1EGDaLKBKgQj4qVMI9FLU5oEUoaOQ11cBhVDBiXokHTb1oadyWpx/s1600/EncyclopediaRough1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7N5JQLatrJeHqAsxATuwOrJQPI3eH8hznfAP8d1aW7xSZfcW1deNDJYGR4gfAVE4Yx9s7cZZbmVQ-Bwcl87AUntb1EGDaLKBKgQj4qVMI9FLU5oEUoaOQ11cBhVDBiXokHTb1oadyWpx/s320/EncyclopediaRough1.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">~Kristopher</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-78128910317266599572012-07-17T06:30:00.000-07:002012-07-23T14:24:49.460-07:00Rainy Days<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2JblVN0mT1fwk1cok1gAKVQqwSPC4MZmZ8Sgq6Zbd_q5C8eq-g-BOXA6u4sMRnnB7achliDXcX5Rvjje6HNgYPxQFP45cwcCKCmAj-zuFBARmdYBkPdi5CT2QeMRDrGD03Fj4Cwq9ZY/s1600/storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2JblVN0mT1fwk1cok1gAKVQqwSPC4MZmZ8Sgq6Zbd_q5C8eq-g-BOXA6u4sMRnnB7achliDXcX5Rvjje6HNgYPxQFP45cwcCKCmAj-zuFBARmdYBkPdi5CT2QeMRDrGD03Fj4Cwq9ZY/s400/storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It seems strange to me when I run into people who hate it
when it rains. As the title of our blog suggests, Kris and I are not
those people. We love walking the dogs in light rainstorms or bunking
down at home with a good book during the bigger ones. Often storms
inspire us to write.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I can sympathize with those who don't like having their
plans ruined by weather or those who have survived terrible hurricanes,
tornadoes, or other weather related disasters and come out of them
shaken. I remember when I was with my little cousin one time he started
screaming when a storm blew through because he had recently encountered a
tornado and he worried that it would happen again.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mainly I'm talking about the ones that make the grass
greener and occasionally put on a good, but safe, show. I like to think
that loving storms is a trait that I learned from my dad. My parents
can't recall me ever slipping into their bedroom during a bad storm.
When I did wake up late at night to find the sky covered in black with
bright flashes of light filling the air, my first reaction was to go
down the stairs to my parent's porch to watch the storm with my dad.
Sometimes my mom would be out with him, occasionally my brother, even my
sister, although she didn't like the thunder. Me, I loved it. My dad
would quietly play his guitar and after a big streak of lightening we
would count the seconds until the thunder followed after it.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved the energy that it contained and although it was
sometimes startling, it was always marvelous. I think that's why I love
writing on rainy days with a lit candle nearby and a steaming cup of
cocoa. It reminds me of when I was little and I could stand amazed as I
watched the power of a storm sweep in and take me over.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">~Lindsay </span></div>
</div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12944042760313658572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-44252840729490793252012-07-10T06:30:00.000-07:002012-07-23T14:25:06.628-07:00Let's Get Grimm-The Brothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgpmMHA3uznTbKn_EtB3It_qRJxO9noCiczPmtfeDct-C6c_MAc9ZDDAEcu5VEuMNSxtOYo0S2knYtcOln9HmpHHHtkGLeiQSebCFBw2WIB4LM8qgl8iGTORyd2JZ5ZhBUp0NImZ76x8/s1600/grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgpmMHA3uznTbKn_EtB3It_qRJxO9noCiczPmtfeDct-C6c_MAc9ZDDAEcu5VEuMNSxtOYo0S2knYtcOln9HmpHHHtkGLeiQSebCFBw2WIB4LM8qgl8iGTORyd2JZ5ZhBUp0NImZ76x8/s320/grimm.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Where would children's stories be without the fairy-tales that passed down from generation to generation? The Grimm brothers didn't write the stories so much as collect them. Their collection was important because of the wide birth of people that they took the stories from. Most similar projects stayed along class lines. You can imagine that the tales a princess was told at night in the castle was different from the ones that her servants would tell their children. The brothers tried to collect from many different areas which created a very unique and obviously lasting set of folk tales.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But the tales were often richer and darker than the ones that most of our parents told us. To me, the Grimm's original stories remind me of things my brother would have told me before turning out the lights and warning about bed bugs. Women getting their eyes gouged out by birds, witches being forced to dance in red-hot slippers until their death and evil mother's who had their children killed. The original Grimm's stories were not for the faint of heart. Even at the time that they were published, they were considered too gruesome. The brother's had to edit many of the stories, including the switch of Snow White's mother to a 'step-mother' so that it wouldn't seem so shocking when she tried to have her daughter killed.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Children's stories haven't always been about trying to get your kid to fall asleep or eat their vegetables. Many stories and ideas marketed at children were meant to teach them lessons, not all of which were pleasant.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I plan to occasionally take a look at the darker side of children's stories and consider why I like that the genre has remained just a bit Grimm.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">~Lindsay </span></div>
</div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12944042760313658572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-4874214412309707522012-07-01T09:20:00.001-07:002012-07-23T14:25:23.951-07:00Why I write Children's Fiction<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRtf5CO-WyGEU49qECcflomy9ozyPud0Y5JyYmPN01R-u_OjiB4XD7wlRsWZOAtEmVOjAyqFtHDlP6r0-X25A0NkgEzKpPORcHRi3NNhNQ_ncJKAorKn1AXpdOnqOjXlH1k7e0R52A1Zy/s1600/bellairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRtf5CO-WyGEU49qECcflomy9ozyPud0Y5JyYmPN01R-u_OjiB4XD7wlRsWZOAtEmVOjAyqFtHDlP6r0-X25A0NkgEzKpPORcHRi3NNhNQ_ncJKAorKn1AXpdOnqOjXlH1k7e0R52A1Zy/s320/bellairs.jpg" width="271" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I never thought I would write kid's books, honestly. Obviously, I started in with them and loved reading, my entire life, really. I remember every family reunion, showing up with my book, looking desperately for a place to hide away and read. But I started in to adult fiction (Fantasy, primarily) at a fairly young age and never really looked back. Every once in a while, I'd re-read something for nostalgia's sake, but was woefully out of touch with current trends.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, apart from Harry Potter, Lemony Snickett and Percy Jackson, I guess. I knew of them, but had only read the Potters, which Lindsay is obsessed with. However, when my wife suggested that I tried my hand at writing, a small germ of a novel appeared in the back of my head. I'd been writing a horror novel for a while, pecking away at it in my spare time at work, but the idea of starting fresh in a new world was irresistible. I also found out about a contest for a publishing contract and I couldn't resist.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So 11 year-old James "Smith" Campbell was born. The son of two scientists and book smart but a little introverted, Smith got his nickname after an attempt to run away and live at the Smithsonian. Sent to live with his aunt and uncle in a small fishing village called Moonstone Bay on the coast of Washington, he learns to make friends and explore the new world he finds himself in.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I really wanted something that showed my appreciation and love for the Pacific Northwest and the kooky things that are rumored to live in the area. The Whispering Ferns, my first novel in the area was about a ghostly figure in the woods, but even as I planned the book, sequels were brewing, with sea monsters, missing tribes, magic ravens, secret passages, pirates and sasquatches.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It really wasn't something I thought I'd love so much. Both the writing and the characters, but I found myself falling in love with the genre again. I re-read my old favorites - Bellairs, Dahl, Banks, The Hardy BoysAnd I picked up some of the new novels - I especially love Skullduggery Pleasant.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had - and have - concerns that my books are a little old fashioned. Today's protagonists are are lot more cynical and worldly, while I made it a point to make Smith's books exist in a kind of timeless place. When things were a little more innocent.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had some interest in the book, an agent wanted to see more, but nothing really ever panned out there. She liked my ideas, but they weren't modern enough. Luckily, e-Pubbing came along. But more about that later.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the end, I loved writing for kids and plan to continue. If nothing else, I'd love it if the quiet boy in the corner of a family get together at some point in the future is escaping with one of my books.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">~Kristopher</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-13211212016669039382012-06-25T21:21:00.000-07:002012-06-25T21:21:36.665-07:00Rainy Day Songs - Boots Of Spanish Leather<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGe6hgfszi2H6Hemc1CNTGTs5tXXLAdpYpigUULwcvrsAaCAkxgrpkGFO_o1iloI5nmRqoqFrL6Bj17WJTkE_rt2mYsDH3G6GIfHdbYaUi89J8kJ7H02rUYQcHIUTgEBvyTUxLV3-NE9S/s1600/800px-Emile_Berliner_with_disc_record_gramophone_-_between_1910_and_1929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGe6hgfszi2H6Hemc1CNTGTs5tXXLAdpYpigUULwcvrsAaCAkxgrpkGFO_o1iloI5nmRqoqFrL6Bj17WJTkE_rt2mYsDH3G6GIfHdbYaUi89J8kJ7H02rUYQcHIUTgEBvyTUxLV3-NE9S/s400/800px-Emile_Berliner_with_disc_record_gramophone_-_between_1910_and_1929.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Music has played a huge part in the lives of us both and every once in a while, we want to share a song or video that's shaped us, inspired us, or just made us giggle stupidly. I grew up listening to my mom's old 45s and singing along with the Muppets and Lindsay's dad has owned a fiercely independent record store for almost 40 years. We have a very eclectic taste in music - folk, rock, Irish, pop, quirky, sad... pretty much anything that isn't just screaming over drums. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This Rainy Day Song is Boots Of Spanish Leather.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Originally written and performed by the incomparable Bob Dylan, the version that's really caught my fancy lately is by The Airborne Toxic Event and can be found on the album "The Songs Of Bob Dylan, which is a four disc compilation of Dylan covers for a charity. I've always liked the song, but never really listened to the lyrics. (My wife will tell you - I listen to the song and can get emotional about it but when I sing along, the words are always all wrong.)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a beautiful song about love and how it falls apart of time and distance and sounds like an old sea shanty. I'd never heard of The Airborne Toxic Event, but I love this version... I'll have to seek out more. There's also a nice cover by the Irish Band Dervish that really has the sea shanty feel, but the ATE version is clearer and easier to hear the beauty of Dylan's lyrics. Enjoy!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="324" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="575"><param name="movie" value="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=USZXT1200388&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False">
</param>
<param name="wmode" value="transparent">
</param>
<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000">
</param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
</param>
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always">
</param>
<embed src="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=USZXT1200388&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="575" height="324" bgcolor="#000000" wmode="transparent"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870632898000377781.post-86541320215700236822012-06-25T05:51:00.000-07:002012-06-25T05:51:52.042-07:00Who are the Rainy Day Writers?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpwh2U4WWOjv2WX-uwdiD4BZIZeBMqTn-0fDh7A9zopu1TGXUl3soCr7L8b396YScrLqD2GDZSGYPUu3xsdIr4FwLJEQHgzTlOLjbCGcHutPjEaf8PsDxSLTPBlUcMRDptxJup6ifVxY/s1600/reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpwh2U4WWOjv2WX-uwdiD4BZIZeBMqTn-0fDh7A9zopu1TGXUl3soCr7L8b396YScrLqD2GDZSGYPUu3xsdIr4FwLJEQHgzTlOLjbCGcHutPjEaf8PsDxSLTPBlUcMRDptxJup6ifVxY/s400/reading.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In short, we are a couple of married writers who enjoy creating children's books. This is actually something of a new development in our lives. If you had suggested to the two of us just five years ago that we would become children's book writers we wouldn't have believed it. The process was a somewhat slow and subtle surprise for both of us.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For one thing, five years ago, Kris wasn't trying to be a writer. He is an amazing artist, if a wife can brag her husband up a bit. However his writing was limited to a few short stories. I don't know that he ever imagined writing a full series of books. His main interests were in crime novels, scifi, horror and fantasy. I had figured that if he ever did get around to writing a novel it would be something for adults. It was quite a shock to me when Kris found his inspiration to write and his first completed novel was about a young boy sleuthing around the woods and beaches of Washington.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While I've always wanted to be a professional writer, I had assumed that what I enjoyed creating was too dark to be children's books. I thought that "See Spot Run" and "Babysitters Club" books were what they meant by children's books. I'll admit that I was a bit too narrow-minded to realize the depth that some of the genre's books achieve and what the readers would allow. I had thought that the idea of a series of dark children's books was something of an oxymoron. Now I am excited to dive in and perhaps push the envelope.</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Each of us has very different styles of children's writing and different interests in what children's stories we like to read. Hopefully all of this will mesh well and become an interesting adventure for the writers and the readers!</span></div>
<div style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">The two of us are excited to invite you to our new blog, Rainy Day Writers, which will chronicle our writing adventures in the exciting would of children's novels. Wish us luck and please come back soon to learn more about our novels and our thoughts on writing and reading children's books.</span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12944042760313658572noreply@blogger.com0