C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Trick or Treat Book Blog Hop. Happy Halloween & Let’s Celebrate the Small Things

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We are now at my most favorite ever in the world holiday, Halloween!

Why?

Candy, of course!

No. Not really. I just like the macabre fun and in-your-face-MR. DEATH attitude of 

All Hallows Eve. 
Since I was a kid I’ve loved scary stories and reading ghost stories under the sheets with a flashlight, or. . . and this is the very best thing . . .telling ghost stories under the stars with night lurking beyond the bonfire where goblins and werewolves and ghoulish creatures hide in wait.

Boo!

Gotcha, didn’t I?

So to celebrate this ancient, pagan ritual that today is more about fun and treats, I’ve joined PATRICIA LYNNE’S Trick or Tweet Book Blog Hop. She’s so right. EBOOKS ARE CANDY.

I’m giving you a choice of eBooks. For one simple Trick. Ready? Post a comment. (1. leave email 2. book you want 3. format you need) That’s it. I’ll choose 4 of the best comments and send those people a book. But if you want to give any of my books a LIKE on good old facebook, I’d really appreciate it.

AMAZON

AMAZON

AMAZON

AMAZON

I have one request. Be patient. I’m going to be gone from Nov.1-Nov. 20, so I won’t have time to send my Treats until I return, that is unless I can do it from far far away, which I might be able to do, but only if WIFI is available.  

VIKLIT

This week I’m celebrating that break I’ve put off for two years. 

I’m also celebrating getting some time to be with old friends and meeting some new ones.

See you in December.

The World Hop Rules, Some Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns & the Hats Off Corner With Beverly McClure

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Thanks to YVONNE VENTRESCA for tagging me. Here’s her POST

The World Hop Rules

Start with a quote.
Answer 4 short questions
Tag another writer
“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.”  Francis Bacon
1. Why do I create what I do?
One answer is it keeps me out of trouble, but I guess the best answer to this is because I love to see if I can get the ideas from my head to the page. It’s a true challenge, and sometimes it takes a lot of word wrestling before I succeed.
2. How does my creative process work? (note my editing of this question. There are days when the creative part just ain’t there.)
But when it is there, I start with a single sentence. That sounds sooooo simple, doesn’t it? But it’s the toughest part of my job. Once I get a sentence that has a character I can relate to, a goal I can imagine, and some obstacles I can dream up, I start the story. Sometimes I write the end first. Sometimes I write scattered but important scenes I have in my head. I never know how the book is going to come together.
3. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I guess one difference is my focus in never on romance. It’s always on the circumstances that the teen is stuck with. If love finds its way into the story, it has to have a purpose. In Sliding on the Edge, I needed the Sunday Boy to provoke my MC in a country boy lighthearted way and show her the truth. In The Princess of Las Pulgas I needed a no nonsense kid who could set the Princess on the right track. In Double Negative I needed one person Hutch McQueen could turn to and trust. 
4. What am I presently working on?
I’ve gone back to middle grade adventure fantasy for a bit to clear my head and have some lighthearted fun. I’ve finished a sequel to Alligators Overhead and called it The Great Time Lock Disaster. I’ll be subbing that starting December. I’m also in the middle of editing an ancient manuscript, Dragon Child. I say ancient because this is something I started years ago and never finished. I did a lousy job crafting it, so it has taken some doing to fix my mess. Still I’m fond of the story and hope to whip it into some kind of shape soon.

Next up on the blog hop, I’d like to tag CATHERINE STINE. Catherine is the author of several novels. Among them her Fireseed Series. She’ll be joining this HOP in December.

Now. . . about that Jack-O-Lantern

Got your pumpkin ready to carve? Here are some ideas. Simple, and then the Not So Simple.

Love the Bats

My Carving Level
Ahhh. Sweet Bird Nesting

Shudder

Hats Off Corner

A girl.
A dream.
An accident.
A dream shattered.
Eleven-year-old Kate Taylor dreams of being the star of her basketball team, Angels. When Kate’s tooth is knocked out at one of the games and her mother, who is also her coach, says she can’t play until the tooth the dentist replants heals, Kate’s dreams are in jeopardy. Add Emily, the new girl at school who claims she’s the best, and Kate faces a challenge to prove that she is the star.
Will Kate succeed? Or will Emily ruin Kate’s plans?
Available on AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE
About BEV!
Most of the time, you’ll find Beverly in front of her computer, writing the stories little voices whisper in her ear. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks and snaps pictures of clouds, wild flowers, birds and deer. To some of her friends, she is affectionately known as the “Bug Lady” because she rescues butterflies, moths, walking sticks, and praying mantis from her cats. 
For twenty-two years Beverly taught children in grades two through five how to read and write. They taught her patience. Now, she teaches a women’s Sunday school class at her church. To relax she plays the piano. Her cats don’t appreciate good music and run and hide when she tickles the ivories.

MY REVIEW HERE.
You can visit her here. 
BEV’S BLOGSPOT 
BEV’S WORDPRESS 

Spooktoberfest Flash Fiction & Celebrating Small Things

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COVERGIRLS

The Rules: 

  • no more than 300 words
  • use commotion, chill, curse, cocoon, and virus
  • post between Oct. 24 and Oct. 28
  • follow the COVERGIRLS
In the legend, a curse befell a large, blue diamond, eventually called the Hope Diamond,  when someone lifted it from an idol in India. From then on anyone who touched that jewel had horrible luck or a horrible death. The stories are interesting, but most likely the Hope Diamond had nothing to do with those tragedies. However, this myth had everything I needed to jump start my Flash Fiction. I’m titling it. . . 

THE NEWBIE

 “It has been over three hundred years,” Sita shouted. The commotion in the chamber ceased, and her followers humbled themselves before her. “My patience is ended. One week, then I take charge.” 
     A deathly chill fell over the assembly. They cringed under her glare and didn’t move. Not one person doubted Sita’s power. She conjured curses that reached around the world—a virus in India, a plague in England, a revolution in France—all bringing lives to a sudden and horrible end. 
     Everyone knew she would wipe them out just as quickly, just as horribly if they didn’t finally restore her jewel.
     She stepped down from the dais and the congregation parted. They gave her a wide path and dared not raise their eyes. 
     The chamber echoed with the heavy thud of the doors closing behind their goddess.
     The eldest minister, looking pale, called his Jewel Recovery Committee to him. “My office. Now.”
     They huddled over the conference table, hatched schemes, then discarded them.
     “Been done.”
     “Ineffective.”
     “Too dangerous.”
     Then a new minister, Shanti, one steeped in magic and benevolence, raised his hand. “I think we should ask them to give it back.”
     “Ask?” The ministers inhaled as one.
     “Have you tried that?” Shanti asked.
     “Never.” They said.
     “Then how about, I give it a shot?”
     Nobody objected, but a lot of eye-rolling went on.
     The young minister caught the next plane to the U.S. When he arrived, he went straight to the Palace of Archives. There he asked for Sita’s jewel. The man in charge said no. 
     Shanti smiled and held out a tiny, glittery cocoon on his palm. “Give me the jewel, and I will give you something much more valuable.”
     The man inspected the object. “What is it?”
     “World peace.”
     Sita got her jewel back.

Visit some others and have some fun. Happy Halloween. 

VIKLIT

Celebrating Small Things

  • I’m almost ready for my trip to Myanmar (I prefer Burma and so does the U.S. government so it seems.)
  • My typhoid shot was painless with no side effects
  • I haven’t had a computer glitch in three days.

How to Enjoy A Good Book. The International Potluck Blogfest

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The brilliant idea of Lexa Cain, Medeia Sharif, and Beth Fred
A Very International Group 
You haven’t lived until you’ve read The Milagro Beanfield War and crunched a few chapulines. Pair those two delicacies with a lovely pinot, and you understand the concept of heaven.
Milagro was first published in 1974 by Ballantine Books. John Nichols was the author and brilliant in this book.
Here’s what steered me to choose this book and chapulines as the accompaniment.
Kirkus: “More alive than a grasshopper on a hot skillet. . .full of good humor.”
So here’s the Chapulines Recipe:
In May, and up until  late summer (hurry) trap a few thousand grasshoppers.
Thoroughly wash and pat dry. They like the patting part. Washing? Not so much.
After you’ve  thoroughly cleaned and dried them, Take out your comal, sauté garlic in a light oil.
Say good-bye to your tiny long-legged friends and toast your critters until crispy.
Toss in lime juice and salt containing extract of agave worms. This will lend the piquant—sour-spicy-salty—taste to the finished product. 
If you like spicy, add chili.
Get some napkins, the pinot, and find a comfy spot with good lighting. Open to page one and read, “Many people in the Miracle Valley had theories about why Joe Mondaragon did it.”

Hooked? You bet you are. Now enjoy those crunchy chapulines, that pinot, and a great adventure in the beanfield unlike any other. 

Celebrate the Small Things and Snapshots Relaunch

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VIKLIT

Co-Hosts


LG KELTNER @writing off the edge
KATIE @TheCyborg Mom
CAFFEEMAGGIEATO @mscoffeehouse

Celebrating!

My Grape Harvest.

My Grape Jam
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So what small things are you celebrating today? Patricia Lynne’s celebrating a Relaunch of her book Snapshots. Let’s give her a hand for this job well done, then go buy her book! 

Welcome to the SNAPSHOTS relaunch blitz!

Add to your Goodreads shelf
Buy on Amazon | Smashwords

It’s said the eyes are the windows to the soul, but that’s a lie. They are snapshots of a time yet to come–the future of the person to which they belong.

Cyclop Blaine stands out in a crowd with his pale skin and mismatched eyes, but it’s his ability to see the future that really sets him apart. The unusual gift makes him an invaluable asset to Tyler, his adoptive father and leader of the Victory Street Gang. It also means Cyclop must hide what he can do from others. Once, a man he knew only as Master controlled him, using him for experiments. Cyclop has no desire to return to that life.

But he may have no choice. A man claiming ownership over him haunts his dreams and waking moments, leaving him no choice but to go back to the past he thought he had escaped. Cyclop must face this man, along with his past, if he wants to reveal his own future.

About the Author

 
Patricia Lynne never set out to become a writer. In fact, she never considered it an option during high school and college. But some stories are meant to be told and this one chose her. Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.
Follow Patricia on Twitter | Goodreads | Google+ | Author Blog

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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offer up some literary cuisine. Sign up and get ready to dine.

Here’s my Quote of the Day. “The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.”David Foster Wallace, in Vanity Fair

Like jelly? Patricia Lynne’s latest hair color?  Are you entering the Potluck? What’s your take on the truth?

Hop, Hop, Hop!

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I missed last week’s Celebration of the Small Things, but I’ll make up for it this week by celebrating extra hard. Hope that counts.

Thanks VIKLIT

I’m celebrating finishing a rewrite on a YA manuscript. Yay! I’m jumping up and down in case you can’t see me. And I sent it off to my miracle group, The Garret. Let me just give them a few celebratory kudos. Mel Higgins, Heather Couthard and Yvonne Ventresca are amazing readers and writers. We’ve hung out together for several years now and I couldn’t continue if they weren’t there.

Be sure to watch for Yvonne’s book PANDEMIC when it’s released this year.  It’s a great YA read and so on topic.

Something else I’m celebrating is signing up for CHAPTER SEE. It’s another site to showcase your books. Since I’ve just started, I can’t say if it’s effective, but I’ll keep you posted.

I’ve got 16 votes for Alligators Ovehead on that contest at LinkedIn. Of course I need 40, so chances are now slim to none that I’ll win. If you’re on LinkedIn and have a minute to give me a LIKE, I’d really appreciate it. I hate to not even get half way to 40!

Carrie Butler has a new cover! WHERE ARE THESE MEN?

CARRIE BUTLER
MICHAEL DI GESU’S the host!
What do love about COFFEE? As for me, it’s the aroma of freshly ground beans that hooks my nose and pulls me from between the sheets in the morning. The first coffee has to be a cappuccino and usually that’s all I need. If I do have another cup, it has to be very dark and plain. So join the hop unless you’re GARY, then don’t. 

Monday Ketchup or How to Make Goulash

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I’ve been busy with wrapping up my mom’s end of life business (there’s a lot, believe me) and seeing to my son’s care since his accident. Therefore, I’ve not really been HOPPING or FB+ING or SOCIAL MEDIA+ING very much. It’s going to take a few more months before I’m at full strength, but I will be. In the meantime, here’s what’s up.

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Today is very special because I get to share BISH DENHAM’S book with you. First, look at this cover. Who wouldn’t pick this from a shelf or a webpage?

Please add this to your GOODREADS TBR 

About the Book






How do you escape a hungry tiger? Why do ram-goats smell? What happens if you get too greedy? In this collection of ten retold Jamaican stories, Anansi the spider tricks, sings, and dances his way into and out of trouble.


But who is Anansi? It was the Ashanti of West Africa who brought the spider into the Caribbean. He clung tight to the web he wove in the minds of those who had been captured, surviving not only the harrowing passage across the Atlantic Ocean, but hundreds of years of slavery.


As a trickster, Anansi has both good and bad traits, which makes him very human. Sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses. When he wins he dances and sings for joy. When he loses, he shakes it off and keeps on living, a lesson for us all.

About the Author
Bish Denham, whose mother’s side of the family has been in the Caribbean for over hundred years, was raised in the U. S. Virgin Islands. She still has lots of family living there and visits them regularly.

She says, “Growing up in the islands was like living inside a history book. Columbus named them, Sir Francis Drake sailed through the area, and Alexander Hamilton was raised on St. Croix. Pirates plied the waters and hundred of years of slavery left its indelible mark. It was within this atmosphere of magic and wonder that I grew up. My hope is pass some of that magic and wonder on to my readers.”
“LIKE” HER FACEBOOK PAGE. 
FOLLOW BISH ON TWITTER.

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If you missed this on Michael’s Blog, the link to his post about his very COOL and FUN COFFEE BLOG HOP is below. It’s a commitment, guaranteed to wake you up!
MICHAEL DI GESU’S HOP
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If you made RESOLUTIONS or set GOALS. Check out this helpful list of TIPS for keeping those in place this year.

How did this Goulash taste? I love it when I have just the right ingredients to make a great stewy kind of blog post. Hope you’ll check out Bish’s book and join Michael’s Coffee Hop.

Small Things to Celebrate & Dream Destination Blog Hop

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Thanks to VIKLIT
My list is very short this week and it’s early because I didn’t want to miss out on the first day Lexa’s and Julie’s DREAM DESTINATION. 
Also I wanted to tell you that Crystal Collier has extended her winner selection until Dec. 10. We just have to wait a bit longer, but I’ll announce the winner here ASAP. 
Then there’s the IWSG Contest that you must sign up for.
Now for that Celebration. I’m thankful for the life I have. It’s a small thing when you consider just how big our universe is, but as we all know it’s the small things that are the most important. Hope you’ll visit the others in this HOP. Just click on the link find all those who are participating. 

Where to go is the question?  For me the answer is quite simple. I would choose to go to one of those newly detected galaxies. I’d want to take a peek at planet X, Y or Z and look back at our place in space. Think of the new perspective! 

Any suggestions for what I should pack? 

Go see where the rest of the hoppers are dreaming of going. I’m on my way to check them out where Lexa and Julie hang out and to enter their giveaway. See you there.

The Anti-Blog Hop, Hop & A Special Giveaway from S.R. Johannes

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MR. ANTI, BUT NOT REALLY.

I’ve been known to HOP on any HOP that comes along. After all why not? I have nothing else to do. Just like other writers I spend a lot of time doing my nails, eating bonbons and napping in a hammock.  However, there are some HOPS that I would not be interested in. Here are three.

The Mosquito Sandwich Blog Hop. . .where everybody loses weight, but is itchy.

The Chat and Cat Blog Hop. . .in which the cat gets all the good lines and gloats.

The Close But Not Quite Blog Hop. . .in which an agent writes, “I loved your story, but. . .”

This totally insane, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT HOP, HOP is brought to you by

Here’s where you can find the LINKY with the other anti-HOPPERS. While they’re lounging in those hammocks they would appreciate your stopping in to say hi!

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S.R.JOHANNES HAS SOMETHING FOR U. WANT TO SEE?
SORRY YOU CAN’T.
IT’S
 UNTRACEABLE.

HOWEVER, SHELLI IS NOT UNTRACEABLE. SO YOU CAN VISIT HER HERE. AND YOU CAN JOIN HER STREET TEAM. I DID BECAUSE SHE’S AN EXCELLENT WRITER. FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Small Things Hop?

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Celebrating The Small Things

HOP

It’s the small things that add up to how we spend most of our lives. The trip to Bali or the graduation ceremony we remember easily, but the day we had a coffee with an old friend might be forgotten.  So here’s a chance to mark a few of those easily forgotten things and share them with others. 
Today’s small things:
1. I paid my bills. The act was small. The bills were not.
2. I threw out magazines from the 1990’s. I now have a free shelf. 
3. I called my sister just to say hi.
The day’s not over, and when I walk down to the mailbox to see what the postman has deposited there for me or when I peel the carrots for dinner I’ll remark on these small things and be grateful for them.
Want to join this Hop? Want to visit some others who already have? Here’s your chance.