Posts

Showing posts from 2015

“Things Every Southern Woman Should Know How to Make”

Image
Alice clicked on the headline, mildly curious about what yet another stranger thought should be in her kitchen repertoire. Pictures of China plates mounded with crispy fried chicken, greens, cobbler, and a pile of biscuits a mile high flooded the screen, all set off with a pitcher of sweet tea beaded with condensation. The table was set; an apron draped off to the side next to a box labeled “Gramma’s Recipes” in fine calligraphy. She closed the browser and put away her tablet. She was born a Georgia peach, but she couldn’t make a cobbler to save her life. Did that mean she wasn’t southern? Or maybe just not “Southern.” For Alice, there was no recipe box full of family traditions. Her younger years were filled with rental homes in different states and her father’s voice coaxing her toward a text book rather than a cookbook. Metalworking and fabrication held more interest than learning to flambé or sauté. Did it make her less of a woman that her cooking skills consisted of fresh salads

PitchSlam! 250 Word Critique Selections: Peeves Edition

Hi there, PitchSlammers! The Goblet of Fire was sent out for cleaning--can't have all that smoke tarnishing its shine! We tried to get a mandrake to choose, but frankly, we couldn't handle the shrieking. So we asked resident poltergeist Peeves to choose the 100 selections for this second feedback round.   To be honest, he didn't seem interested, but he enjoyed the brief moment of tossing the paper slips into the air. Until he shredded them, that is. These were titles left intact.   Titles are sorted by AGE category. Please read carefully to see if your title is included. Please remember that feedback is subjective.   Adult THE DARK MATTERS FOUR TRAGEDIES THE REBIRTH OF LILLIAN ROSE CIRCUITS SETTLE THE SCORE SERENGETI   BEAUTY BOUND THE MAD BARON'S DOOMED DAUGHTER AVA AND GRAHAM KISMET FALLS A FRAGILE STATE FAE FAVORED FINDING PERSEPHONE   COLLARED THE GOLD IN THE RED DIRT THE VALLEY OF ROSES THE REMOTE PART BAD THING

PitchSlam! The Pitch Round Goblet of Fire Selections

Hey PitchSlammers! it's the moment you've been waiting for, agonizing over, maybe even losing sleep over! The entries have been tossed into the Goblet of Fire, and the following have been spat out of the flames! *blows off ashes* Selections are grouped by age category and listed by title , so please read carefully! Adult ERIN JANE TO FIND THE AIR MENDED THE COINS OF MAMMON SERENGETI THE LAST LEAF THE TREASURES OF DODRAZEB SUFFER THE CHILDREN START, KILL INNOCENT LIVES MATTER KISMET FALLS THE MAD BARON'S DOOMED DAUGHTER INVISIBLE INK WINTER RAINS THE VALLEY OF THE ROSES THE DARK MATTERS THE ORCHID GIRLS CHASE VENOM THE STALKING HORSE COLLARED A SONG FOR SARAH MCPHEE FINDING PERSEPHONE FAE FAVORED BAD THINGS COME IN THREES THE STAGE THE WRITE TYPE OF WRONG UNTIL THE END TUMBLE INTO ME SADISTIC CODED FOR MURDER BEAUTY BOUND FAMILIAR SPIRITS A STORM'S MIGHTY FURY Women's Fiction THE PERFECT WIFE AMERICAN PANDA STUPID GIRL BE

#Pitchslam is Nigh! A Bit About Feedback

It's time for another season of Pitchslam, the writing contest with the bonus of feedback! For all the nitty-gritty, you can check out our fearless leader's post here:   http://linkis.com/llmckinney.com/wjY1x   There's all kinds of bonuses to writing contests: feedback, getting your work in front of agents who might not be open to queries at the time, camaraderie between contestants, and even finding critique partners who get you but aren't afraid to tell you when you're way off course. (Seriously, crit partners (CPs) are essential. If you don't have one, get one. Or three.)   What I really like about writing contests is getting fresh eyes on my pitch or first pages. As the writer, we know the ins and outs of our story, and those details never really leave our minds. So when we're writing queries or pitches, it's easy to think our summary makes sense when really we're filling in a gap with our insider knowledge. When we think it's go

FRACTURED by Lisa Amowitz

Image
Hi, folks! Today I have for you FRACTURED, Book 1.2 in the VISION SERIES! Here's a little about it:     Bobby's a hick who sees visions. Jeremy's a smartass who sees dead people. Together, they have a weekend to stop a murderer...if they don't kill each other first. Sparks fly when the worlds of Lisa Amowitz’s BREAKING GLASS and VISION collide.        Nice cover! How about a taste of what's inside?     “Hey. You were the kid that played with that amazing redhead. Not bad, man. Not bad.” “Um, thanks.” “Not from around here, are you?” “No. I mean, I’m not, really.” The guy smiled and extended a hand. “Sorry. Just a little cranky tonight. I came in this morning on an epic bus ride from Duke just to see my girlfriend and she’s stuck in a study group with a bunch of other assholes. Oh. I’m Jeremy Glass.” He lowered himself on the bench next to me and massaged his leg. “Too much walking today. Damn.” I tried to keep my eyes fro