Me? A Featured Author? Cool!

I was featured on my friend Scott's blog. I wanted to share it with you all. Just a little something.

Hope you like it! cjt

Scottywattydoodlealltheday.blogspot.com

FanXtraordinary!

Salt Lake FanX was so fun. I met so many great people. Here is some of them.

Me and my booth at SLComic Con FanX 2014
My amazing SIL Julie helped me the whole time

My own superhero
Lissa, editor extraordinaire, and little ol' me 

R2 - the newest Marvel Superhero

Vinz Clortho "Many Shubs and Zools knew what is was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you." 

Two R2. "Bleep Bloop!"

WWF Old school
Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, and Macho Man Randy Savage

Joel and Tom Servo

Proud member of DEVO

Otto 

One of the three storms from Big Trouble in Little China

The green room and the view of all the celebs have of my booth.
This is Jason David Frank - That's right, the original White Power Ranger (and my BIL's face).

The Wee Small Hours...

Here I am.... I woke up around 4 in the morning and my brain would not shut off. I fluffed my pillow, moved around, re-positioned my hip, smooth out the blanket contortion and again, closed my eyes, knowing I have three more hours before I need to get up and get the kids ready for school...

...and instead of dreaming, I lay there thinking.

This is what I call the magic hour. It doesn't seem magic at the time, it seems like the biggest pain to be thinking instead of dreaming. But trust me, use these hours to your advantage.

My brain takes off in directions I never expect. I think the resting images in my brain try to make sense of my day and connect the cognitive questions that never get an answer.

During different mornings I have thought up a few of my ideas for my books. Vivatera started this way. I thought of the whole story and my brain grew more excited and more awake. I used to keep a notebook like many people and write down different ideas, but can never make sense of it if I try to get back to sleep.

So, here is some writing advice...

The thing to do is let it play out in your brain, then make a sweet mug of hot cocoa, grab your little lap top, sit on the couch in your living room, and watch the sunrise while you write. Let your brain take over and get out those silly ideas that are keeping you awake. Who knows what might come of this. Some are rubbish, some seem promising, but out of all this there is one, one that might stretch its legs and take on a life of its own.

I love those mornings. And the best that comes from my writing happens during these wee small hours. I'm grateful for them. If you haven't experienced it, try it. See what comes out of you. You might write a blog about it. ;)

Christmas Cards for Everyone!

I didn't make Christmas Cards this year. I've been living in a Hobbit Hole for a few months writing. I couldn't climb out of the great mountain on laundry to muster the energy it takes for Christmas Cards.

But my 10 yr old made some for her friends that I thought I would share in hopes to pass them to you with holiday cheer. Enjoy!

Dear Cassidy (her best friend), You are so- AWESOME! I think you should have a Merry Christmas. The Great Zecora predicts it! Happy Holidays!

Dear Katie (her Aunt), I hope you have a great Christmas. That reminds me of an episode of Shaun the Sheep. I will tell you about it later. Happy Holidays! P.S. It's a Christmas Episode.

But this one is my favorite! Happy Christmas!

Dear Sarah (a girl in her class), I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Did you know that the first Christmas tree was in Germany? It was discovered by a guy named Martin Luther. Happy Holidays! Martin Luther in Germany "What the--?"

P.S. That's not what really happened and that's not what Martin Luther really looked like.

Incredulous. . . DING!

in·cred·u·lous

  [in-krej-uh-luhs]

adjective

1.

disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical.

2.

indicating or showing unbelief: an incredulous smile.

I realized something about Young Adult fiction . . . the word INCREDULOUS! I do not think it means what they think it means. Looking over the definition it shouldn't be used so much, but oh . . . it is.

This word saturates any action-driven, paranormal YA fiction out there, like a cancer running through every page. It is so overused that a bell goes off in my head every time I read it. DING!

(As a church go-er, I had a very irreverent moment with something similar, a phrase that the teacher kept saying over and over. I would make the DING! and my friend and I had to hold in our laughter until tears filled my eyes and fell down my face. I told the teacher I was just so moved by what she said. Am I going to Hell?)

It's not as funny when you're reading it over and over. As a reader and a writer I notice these things. The Twilight series has "Incredulous" on nearly every page. The Mortal Instruments Series, not as bad, but still too many to count. At least Cassandra Clare gets points for using "Incredulity" instead.

I tried to think why YA writers use this word so much:

• Maybe the author thinks that's what sullen, angsty teens do. Look at each other incredulously. Like the dumb expression- shifting their weigh and cocking their heads, like duh, don't you get it? "I'm a teenager and you're just an adult that doesn't understand anything, because you must've skipped being a teenager." I hope that, as an author, I can give teenagers some credit. Not all are "Incredulous."

• Maybe it's just a fun word that hasn't gotten it's time in the sun, like "Farfegnugen" or "Chimichanga."

• Maybe authors think they sound smarter when they use it, the magical word that makes an instant connection to the reader. "That's a smart word. I must be reading a smart book."

My point - We notice these things. Readers are not stupid. We hate it when you spell out the plot for us and we notice the lack of originality with wordplay. Authors might not, but I sure do. There are millions of words out there. So, get out your thesaurus and pick a new one.