Highest Bidders

I'm going to honor the two highest bids.

Mir Writer

and

Lisa Godfrees


Lisa and Mir, please contact me at
donitakpaul(at)msn(dot)com

Congratulations, ladies, and thanks to all who participated. We will be sending $305 to Samaritan Purse for the Sandy Hurricane Relief fund.

Write Now Relief

Write Now Relief

How you can help the victims of Sandy and also get a little first aid for your novel!

 

WHAT: Bid on a 50-page critique of your novel by a published novelist! Highest bidder will send their amount to Samaritans Purse for their relief efforts for the victims of Superstorm Sandy.

 

WHEN: Begins Friday, November 9, ends Friday midnight EST November 16.

 

HOW: Head to the blog of the author you’d like to have critique your 50 pages. Find their Write Now Relief blog post and place your bid in the comments section of that post. Monitor it closely so that you can re-bid! Check back on this Facebook page for updates on all the bids. If you are the high bidder at the end of the week, make your donation and email a copy of your receipt to the author with your 50 pages. It’s that easy.

 

How much is a 50-page critique worth?

Most authors and editors can easily charge $35 an hour and a fifty-page critique is well over three hours of labor. But this labor of love is for victims who have lost everything. Their need is huge. One blogger who hosted a similar campaign last week had a top donation bid of $1,000 for a 50-page critique!
The minimum bid for Mrs. Paul to do is $50.

 

What will the critique entail?

The author you choose will read your fifty pages with an eye to giving you insights and feedback on all aspects of your story excerpt, including plot, character, story arc, mechanics, pacing, and reader appeal.

 

What is Samaritan’s Purse?

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Here is a video from Samaritans Purse on their efforts to help Sandy’s victims.

http://youtu.be/rd7KyY2p6ms

 

How do I donate to Samaritans Purse?

You can head to the Samaritan’s Purse webpage on Hurricane Sandy http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/hurricane_sandy/

and click on the GIVE link imbedded on the page. Whether you are the highest bidder or not, do consider donating to this effort.

 

How do I start?

Check Susan Meissner’s blog on Thursday, Nov 8 for the full list of participating authors and their blog addresses. Pick an author, head to their blog on Friday, November 9, and make your opening bid.

 

CSFF Blog Tour Eye of the Sword

One of the reasons I love the Christian Science Fiction Fantasy blog tours is the introduction of new (to me) authors. I'm hoping to read many more books by Karyn Henley.

And according to her bio from her website, I have a lot to choose from.

 "Award-winning author Karyn Henley has written over 100 titles, which include a mix of children's books and articles, parent-teacher books, articles, and curricula, and preschool musicals and CD's/DVD's of original music for children. An accomplished songwriter, Karyn has been a Dove Award nominee, and received a regional Emmy Award as Music Composer for a Christmas television special. She has traveled worldwide speaking to parents and teachers and entertaining children and their families in storytelling/active movement sessions and concerts.

"A graduate of Abilene Christian University (BSEd), Karyn received a Master's of Fine Arts degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2004. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee."

I confess that I read two books at once, and through that experience pinpointed some truths about what makes a satisfying read. I'll talk about those tomorrow.

Book link - http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Sword-Novel-Angelaeon-Circle/dp/030773014X/ (or some other link of your choice)
Author’s Web site - http://www.karynhenleyfiction.com/Karyn_Henley_Fiction/welcome.html
Author Blog - http://www.maybeso.wordpress.com/
Author Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karyn-Henley/140411189331787?v=wall
Participants’ links
Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jackie Castle
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer

Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Karen McSpadden
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Mirriam Neal
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler
Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

D. Barkley Briggs- CSFF Blot Tour

Corus the Champion is the sequel to The Book of Names. I read the first book some time ago and gave it to my assistant to read recently. It is fun to listen to her enthusiasm. She tells me about how fantastic a scene is or what a great character this guy is. She will soon be after me to loan her the second book.

One of the things I admire about D. Barkley Briggs' style of writing is his descriptions. Look at this paragraph:

Other than hedgerows of wild hazel and scattered oak and elm, the hill was the only major feature, like someone had dropped it there by mistake. It rose, tall and sudden, shorn of trees, utterly alone, with vast sweeps of green on every side. A worn footpath wound down the hill, past a stand of trees, toward a clutch of wattle-and-daub buildings. One of them, larger than the rest, was circle shaped, with a cross made out of beams rising from the center of the thatched roof. It looked to Garret like an old church. Near to these simple structures, small brown figures worked in rows, tilling the earth. The way they were hunched over made Garret of giant mushrooms. He stood very still, trembling, not quite sure to believe his eyes.

After reading that paragraph, one not only has a clear picture of the scene but also the feel of apprehension that shrouds Garret. The image is precise, but the prospect is incongruous to his reality. His reality must shift.

I love that precise description with just an edge of emotion coloring the setting.

Now I have to admit that chapter Two, Mount Agasag, triggered the skim mode for me. The details did not rivet me to the story. I skimmed, looking for Garret or Gabe, to latch on to what was happening with them.

I'm sure many readers were intrigued by Corus and Kr'Nunos. My investment was in the four brothers and therefore, every time they were "in the picture," my interest was caught and held.

Book link - Buy at Amazon

Author’s Web site - The Hidden Lands

Participants’ links

Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Carol Bruce Collett
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

CSFF- Monster in the Hollows

Well, I didn't get back to this blog in a timely manner. I've been off chasing dragons and evil minions through a whole new world.
One of the things that attracts me to Andrew's work is the names he chooses. Many of you know I love making up names, so I doubly appreciate Andrew's wit in this area. Just take a gander at some of my favorites.
Olumphia- shouldn't every school have a teacher whose first name is Olumphia?
Guildmaster Nibblesticks - I suggest you put the pretzels under lock and key.
Grigory Bunge - of course, he's horrid.
Podo
Zola Mae
Rudric, and
Kelvey O'Sally.
Andrew inspires me to dive into of my own making and populate it with wonderful characters. I hope you enjoyed his book as much as I did.

The Monster in the Hollows - Christian Science Fiction Fantasy Blog Tour

First of all, let me make it clear that the Wingfeather Trilogy, of which this book is numbered, consists of four (4) books. Therefore it is no longer referred to as the Wingfeather Trilogy, but the Wingfeather Saga.
I'm mixed in my feelings about this. I was so looking forward to the third book and the exciting conclusion of the tale of the Wingfeather children, the Jewels of Anniera. When I reached the end of this book, I was delighted to find a fourth book would follow. I often wish a particularly good piece of literature (and this is definitely a good piece of literature) would not end, and I could continue to enjoy the characters and their efforts to come out victorious. So now I have it. I can continue, but I must endure the torture of the long wait between book 3 and book 4.
And now I am informed that the Wingfeather Saga has always been Saga and never been Trilogy, so all this angst and delight that has permeated my life has nothing to do with Saga vs. Trilogy, because the confusion was all in my head and in my head alone.
Now I am not saying that reading the extraordinary prose of Andrew Peterson messes with your mind. But when you have to deal with toothy cows, Gnag the Nameless, and the Fangs of Dang, some weaker minds may reveal the strain by a breakdown in reality.
Oh, and the Monster in the Hollows isn't who you might think it is. I was delighted to find out I didn't guess correctly until the end. See? More delight. This is a book you really should read.
More tomorrow.
Visit the sites listed below for more delight today.


Book link
Series Web site
Author’s Web site

Participants’ links



Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Cynthia Dyer
Amber French
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
* Eve Nielsen
Joan Nienhuis
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, or I ordered it from The Rabbit Room. I can't remember which.

CSFF Blog Tour -Dragons of the Valley

What fun to be a part of my book's tour! By the way, CSFF stands for Christian Science Fiction/Fantasy. CSFF is a great place to meet people and learn about the genre books.


My favorite characters on DOTV are the kimens. These small people dressed in light got to come forth and participate in a big way. Usually, they aren't center stage much, but in this book each main character is given a kimen to help him or her in his or her task.


My favorite scene is when Lady Peg and Tipper are lying in bed under the protection of wild animals Sir Beccaroon has sent to defend the house against the invading army. If that last sentence had been in a manuscript, I would have reworked it to read more smoothly.


Greatest point of satisfacion is when Bealomondore defeats oops! that would have been a spoiler.


I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to write in their blogs about the book.

Book link - Amazon
Author’s web site


*Participants’ links
Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Keanan Brand
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Amy Cruson
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Dave Wilson