C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Insecure Writer Me

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Here’s my October contribution to the Insecure Writers who are slogging through this amazing writing life with me. 

Bless you for being here. Be sure to visit others in this hop.  

And bless people like Erich Fromm who have words that help.

“The task we must set for ourselves is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.” 

Erich Fromm 
Just wait until December if you want to see some INSECURITY on this blog! 
This is a Blog Hop!

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Alligators Overhead On Its Swamp Hop Tour

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Because writers are the most amazing people on the planet, I’m on this SWAMP HOP with my first ever middle grade novel. Here are some writers who are helping to make my launch happen and happen well.

ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD ON TOUR
Tuesday, August 14

Swamp Hop Schedule

Julie Musil is going to INTERVIEW today. (*Lee turns cartwheel, then dials her chiropractor.) I hope you’ll pop by and say hello, then follow Julie’s blog. She’s a super blogger who introduces her readers to a lot of great books, but also pulls out what she learns by reading these books and shares it. One of her more recent posts on MATCHED was wonderful. I suggest you visit this post. It has some excellent writing tips.

Buddy, Mike Boyd’s owner and trainer, will interview me today, too, on his Confessions of A Canine Couch Potato. Buddy is considering a position as MUSE, so if you’re hiring one of those you might check out his credentials.

Beth Fred is hosting me on her blog, so I hope you’ll paddle over and say hi. It’s very pink over at her blog and very unswampy, so it will be a nice change from what you’re seeing here these days.

Thanks and here’s to a wonderful August.

Alligators Overhead Swamp Hop Moseys On

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Thank heaven today is Monday and not Friday. I’m a little superstitious and Friday 13 always gives me a case of the jumps. So since this is the beginning of the week and my usual time to blog, I’m feeling kind of back to normal . . . whatever that is.

The Swamp Hop is hoppin’ and I believe there are FREE BOOKS involved here and there during the month of August.

Since I am now imbued with super powers and can be in two places at one time,  visiting two  different and very important bloggers.
One is BISH DENHAM on RANDOM THOUGHTS TODAY. I love visiting her blog because a lot of the time it’s like a mini-vacation to the Virgin Islands. Bish has fascinating stories to tell about growing up in this island paradise. Hope you’ll pop in and say hi, then follow her blog if you don’t already.

JENN HUBBARD is hosting me, too, on her Books of our Youth series. I always enjoy her series. She features a lot of different writers who share their thoughts on one topic, so you get to know a bit about the writers who create the stories you love to read. Here’s one of her super books.

Swamp Hop & 5 Review Request Mistakes

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If you’ve been following the AP story about my legal battle with the FFF, Federation of Feline Familiars, you’ll be relieved to know that the cats have asked that negotiations be suspended until they return from their national conference. This gives me a breather and lets me get on with my launch. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on the news when the FFF v C. Lee McKenzie battle resumes. *Sigh.
Today I’m visiting STEPHEN TREMP, author of the BREAKTHROUGH series. He’s featuring me and those Alligators Overhead! Hope you have time to stop by and say hi! Since I’m going to be “hopping” a lot this month, I’ll post daily (except Sat. and Sun.) the rest of August with links to all the bloggers who are supporting me. Hope you’ll stop in, and visit these blogs. They’re always worth the time because they share so much information about our craft and the business of publishing.

One thing we know as writers is that after we write, then publish, our work has just begun. We want visibility, and one way to get that is through REVIEWS. Since reviewers don’t usually knock at our door asking if they can read our book, we’re the ones who have the “leg work” to do. Today it’s not so much the legs that we exercise, but our eyes and our nimble fingers get quite a work out.

If we’re going to put in all that time and energy finding reviewers and contacting them, we best do it right. I found this great article that gives writers 5 REVIEW REQUEST MISTAKES. They are right on. Find the link below.

Do you have any mistakes or any positive suggestions for how to approach reviewers? Add them, please.

 
 

   
    5 mistakes to avoid when requesting a book review (via ePublish a Book)
   

       5 mistakes to avoid when requesting a book review As writers with a book freshly out on the market, we are all in dire need of reviews to promote the first steps of our baby in the cruel publishing scene. This means finding reviewers. Of course, writers almost always being readers, we already have…
   
 
 

 
 

Author Retaliates Goes to Bloggers for Support

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August 8

Hadleyville, U.S.A (AP)-An ongoing conflict between the Federation of Feline Familiars (FFF) and the Alliance of Alligators Overhead (AAO) has come to a head. Both sides have agreed to negotiate with the author, C. Lee McKenzie, and those negotiations continue behind locked doors.  Thanks to supporter Alex Cavanaugh and E. J. Wesley, she is now in communication with the K-9 Collective; however, only the Malamute chapter has responded to lend a hand. They’ve sent contributions of three doggie rawhide bones and one ball with bell. The alligators ate them.  She asks that any other contributions be sent the local animal shelter in the name of the cause.

Malamute Chapter sends donations, but remains Switzerland in negotiations.

The story unfolds here: August 3. August 6. August 7.

C. Lee Tries to Reason with Negotiator

In the meantime, C. Lee has taken her case to the bloggers in hopes of stirring interest in her newly released middle grade novel, Alligators Overhead. At this time, she has refused to rewrite the story, replacing cats with alligators. As she said during a brief recess earlier today, “I have artistic control over this project, and I refuse to allow any of that control to slip through my fingers . . . even to those cuddly FFF members.”

When asked how she plans to deal with her book launch and these negotiations, she replied, “Very carefully. However, I will proceed with my book launch as planned and I hope followers will be able to get beyond the ugliness of the situation and stop by the different bloggers to add their support at sites I visit.”

Catherine Stein, author of FireSee One support beleaguered author.

C. Lee will be at Catherine Stein’s IDEA CITY today and, as she told this reporter, “. . .carrying on as if nothing is amiss. I hope my readers will stop in to leave a comment and forget that I’m embroiled in a nasty dispute about rewriting and threats of book banning.”

We contacted the FFF and the AAO, but lawyers for each side have asked that neither side speak to the press.

Howl-In Successful. Author Comes to Negotiating Table

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August 7

Author Prepares for Negotiations

Hadleyville, U.S.A. (AP)- In a surprise move, author, C. Lee McKenzie offered to come to the table and negotiate terms with the Federation of Feline Familiars. (Follow previous stories leading to this latest development. August 3 August 6)

Townspeople are now bracing themselves for protracted negotiations between the two sides and hoping that the conflict can be resolved peaceably.

When the leader of the Alliance of Alligators was interviewed, he stated “The Ornofree alligators want the two parties to come to an amicable agreement; however, should the author succumb to the feline demand for a rewrite and a replacement of alligators in the leading role of this story, she should be prepared for a law suit. We’ve already made our position very clear and Ms. McKenzie knows we are firm in our stance on this matter. We have 65 million years of endurance to call upon. And thick hides.”

Cenozo Gator, tribal leader,  certain McKenzie won’t buckle.

The Federation of Feline Familiars claim that Alligators Overhead threatens a way of life for future generations of cats. “We cannot allow our jobs to go away, and that is exactly what will happen if we allow this crack in the door.”

Federation of Feline Familiars bring out youngster to add clout to their demands. 

C. Lee McKenzie is now in seclusion; however she has promised a few interviews in the near future. “I’m in shock,” she told reporters today. “Cats on one side. Alligators on the other. I hope you’ll understand my need for privacy at this time.

Protests Continue. Cats Demand Rewrite.

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August 6

Hadleyville, U.S.A (AP)—Hundreds  of protesters converged on the Hadleyville complex again last night. The “Howl In” began at midnight and continued until authorities arrived and arrested several of the more obstreperous cats.
“It’s a ‘rent-a-cat’ strategy, pure and simple,” the mayor declared. “And it must end.”
Albert Wisecat seen here with his chief consort, Mitzi French in a more relaxed moment.

Albert Wisecat refuses to back down in his demands for a complete rewrite of Alligators Overhead. He went on record as saying, “Either she does a rewrite or we continue in our demands for this book to be banned.”

Champion of the Undercat might be amenable to author’s tuna offer.

The author, C. Lee McKenzie is holding her ground and refusing to bow to the pressure. “I’ve featured cats in both of my previous books. It’s time for a change. I will not give in to their demands.” She did offer to ease their pain and suffering by donating a case of dolphin safe tuna to the next Feline Familiar Conference. Champion of the Under Cat, aka Sly, agreed to take the offer to his constituents.
Meanwhile, the author is continuing in her book launch. She optimistically stated, “I’m sure the Feline Familiars will come to their senses and agree to stop this protest.”
In an effort to overcome the mounting negative publicity, C. Lee Mckenzie is posting helpful hints on things she learned while preparing to launch this most recent and most controversial book.

“One thing about doing a book launch is you learn a lot and meet a lot of people who are willing to help you out. Here are a few things I’ve learned,” she said during our interview.

  • Ask for “help-advice”when you need it.
  • Listen and take any ‘help-advice” from those who are successful launching their books.
  • Don’t rush. You’re going to make a lot of mistakes anyway and rushing only increases the number of mistakes.
  • Organize your hop or your tour or your whatever. Linky is a good way to do that. It collects all the participants and their contact information in one place.
  • Have all your links and your posts as complete as possible, so you don’t have to send additional information later. I know I like setting my posts up ahead of schedule, so it saves time if I only have to do that once for each post.
  • Remember, this is a network, so help others when they need it. 
  • Once your guest post is up, visit that page, tweet, post the link on fb and respond to the comments. That interaction helps you and your host. It widens your network of bloggers and readers.
  • Above all, enjoy the beejeebers out this event.  
If you can, leave more “help-advice” for us in a comment and if at all possible I’d appreciate letters to your congressmen and women supporting my fight against the unfair treatment by the  Federation of Feline Familiars.

Insecure Writer Succumbs to Poetry

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Insecure writer me
How on earth came this to be?
In days before this passion came
My writing ne’er appear so lame. 
So tell me please why now mere words 
Jay Hilgert

And now your turn. Some poetry to express yourself? 
I think we should have an Insecure Writer Poetry Contest
 with prizes, of course.
Your thoughts? Gemme some words before they fly away.

 

Flit past my brain like agile birds,

Not lighting on the page the way
I’d planned they’d perch and there to stay.
Instead these feathered shadows fly 
Before the ink I can apply.

All About Alligators & Swamp Hop Linky List

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Available in Kindle at Amazon. Nook at B&N

While I’ve written a lot about alligators lately, I haven’t really included much about other story threads in Alligators Overhead.  There are a few WITCHES, but they’re not terribly witchy-no warts, no pointed hats and definitely no cats or broomsticks. One looks kind of like this when she’s on her way to meet with the mayor about the Ornofree Swamp.

Oh, and there’s a MANSION with a mysterious past. 


Pete’s a kid who’s always in trouble . . .Here he is a year ago when things started happening.

And Weasel’s Pete’s one and only friend, a brainiac (notice how inmagined he is) who’d rather get lost in a good book than in the 
SWAMP. 

Some wonderful bloggers are signed up for the Swamp Hop already. So in August the swamp comes alive with GIVEAWAYS, INTERVIEWS, and, if you can stand it, more ABOUT ALLIGATORS. If you’d like to add your name to the Linky List I’d be ever so grateful.

All About Alligators

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Most of my readers know I’m launching my first Middle Grade novel, Alligators Overhead. How could they not? That’s all I’m posting about these days. Sorry. I’m not usually so ME, ME, ME, and this will pass. I promise.

When I started writing this story it was just for fun and just for me. Then a few kids read parts and wanted to know how it ended. That lead to my wondering how it ended, too. So I had to find out. This was my most “by the seat of my pants” book I’ve ever written, so it has taken me some time.

While I was trying to figure out that ending, I did some research into alligators and found lots of interesting facts. I thought I’d share some of them.

Did you know

  • alligators crept onto the planet during the Cenozoic era, a couple of years ago? When the dinosaurs died off, alligators didn’t. I’d say they have survival down. 
  • their eyes glow red under light? That’s how they’re counted-at night. Talk about scary.
  • they were near extinction, but now they thrive in the SOUTHEASTERN U.S. swamps and wetlands?
  • they’re ambush predators, so they do lots of stealthy stuff, like, pretend to be water hyacinths?
  • they’ll eat anything, but they’re really keen on marshmallows? I feel a joke coming on. Why do they love marshmallows? Because they live in the marsh. (Terrible, right? Sorry.)
Other writers have used alligators in stories for kids. This one is for the really young pre-reader by our late, but forever great Maurice Sendak. 
Alligators All Around

Here’s another author who seems amused by alligators. Mercer Mayer wrote a bedtime story for the little old set. His book, There’s an Alligator Under My Bed, seems to have brought out the ham in this writer.

When I was a kid I loved stories about animals: Bambi, My Friend Flicka, The Black Stallion, all the James Herriot books. I never did care much about alligator stories (Captain Hook’s enemy being the exception-or was that guy a crocodile?), and here I am the author of a book with these reptiles as major characters. What were your favorite animal stories growing up? Do you know of other books with alligators as featured characters?