• my view

    Exclamation Nation!

    Happy Monday everyone!!

    I know what am I doing going getting all exclamation point happy about on a Monday? Don’t ask me because I really don’t know. It’s Monday and It’s November if I could, I’d slow down time so I’d have more for college apps with the dear teen twins and more time for Nanowrimo, but as you all know, time don’t wait for no one so here we are on another Monday so…!!! Take them for what they are good or bad.

     

    I hope you all had a good weekend. One of my highlights was the DH and I started back with our church bowling league. Yep, it was time to pull out the old glittery ball and dust off my clown shoes.

     

    On the up side I started out great, but by my 3rd game I was a hot mess.  Here’s hoping I improve this season as much as I did last. I was honored to receive a most improved award for last season so that’s not too shabby. Goals are good! Darn there goes those exclamation point again. What’s with them on Mondays?

    Best,

    Kwana

  • contests,  jack,  my view,  writing life

    Hungry for Words

    What’s Jack up to? Jack is a little tired of all the damp weather. It’s messing up his happy long walks you see. I’m with you Jack. A little rain is ok but I’m not a fan of the wet dog.

    Happy Friday everyone! I hope your week has been good.  I’m wrist deep in NaNo writing and starting to feel the heat already and it’s only the 5thof November. Eee…I have to keep my fingers limber and my mind lose and not all knotted up in fear and just let it flow in the images that I know are there.

     

    Thanks to those that entered the HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE giveaway. And thanks to random number generator we have a winner…. Sarah T! Thanks Sarah. Please email me your info and I will make sure Jeanine gets you a book.

     True Random Number Generator

    2

    Everyone have a good weekend. You know what I’ll be doing.

     Best,

    Kwana

    Comic from here

  • authors,  interviews,  my view

    Who’s Hungry?

    Oh Happy Day!

    Why you ask? Because we have a guest on ye old blog today and it’s a really great friend, one of my critique partners, Jeanine McAdam.  Now the relationship between critique partners is a very special one and in some ways like a marriage because it is based in mutual trust and respect and filled with highs and lows (lots of whining over the business and all that). You put your most basic self out there (your words, your ideas) and trust another person to come back with their honest, thoughtful and hopefully caring opinion of it. Talk about vulnerable; better be careful when choosing that critique partner.

    Well I’m so happy and proud to have Jeanine (one of the trusted ones) here to talk about the release of HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE and her part in the anthology out now from St. Martin’s Press. 

    Hi Jeanine, Tell us a little bit about HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE. I mean Zombies and love? What a mix there. 

    Hi Kwana, HUNGRY FOR YOU LOVE is a collection of twenty one zombie romance stories.  My story Inhuman Resourcesis in there along with New York Times best-sellers Lois Gresh and Brain Keene.

    The blurb from the back cover explains it best:  “Romance ain’t dead…it’s undead.  In this thrilling zombie anthology, horror fans will finally get their fill of zombie-on-zombie action, zombie-human love, and zombie smut.  Because why should vampires have all the fun?”

     So what’s your story about?   Let the readers know. It’s gotten great reviews and I can attest is so funny and cute.

    “Inhuman Resources” is about Claire Defoe an office worker who doesn’t like her wheezing, moaning, pealing and flaking co-workers.  However, in this economy she has to put up with them.  Rafe comes in and tells Claire her fellow paper pushers are zombies.  Claire doesn’t believe the nerd with the smug attitude, she thinks her co-workers symptoms are the result of too much time under the florescent lights.  Things change when Claire’s boss tries to chew on her thumb and Rafe comes to the rescue.  Suddenly Claire notices the zombie hunter’s athletic build and skill at disposing the undead.

    Publishers Weekly called Inhuman Resourcesalong with Dana Fredsti’s First Date “zippy stories about the sexy turn-on of successful zombie hunting.”  Also RT Book Reviews gave HUNGRY a four star review and Inhuman Resourceswas mentioned again.

    You have sold over 26 short stories to True Romance and True Experience Magazines. Why do you love the short story genre so much? How do you feel this prepared you for your publication in the HUNGRY Anthology?

    Short stories taught me how to write.  In five to eight thousand words I establish a conflict, create interesting and engaging characters and build a meaningful plot that maintains itself all the way to the end of the story.  It’s been a great lesson and wonderful to be published monthly.

    So Jeanine what’s next for you? 

    I’m working on a paranormal short story for Harlequin’s Nocturne Bites about an eco-terrorist trying to save a tree and a hunky fairy who thinks she should save the forest.  Plus, he’s got a big chip on his shoulder about being a member of the fair folk.  Too many stereotypes for this alpha male.

    Thanks for having me today!

    Thanks so much for being here Jeanine!

    Now for some fun, one lucky commenter will receive a signed copy of HUNGRY FOR YOU LOVE from Jeanine so please comment away. Winner will be announced on Friday.

    You can find Jeanine here at: http://jeaninemcadam.blogspot.com/

     

    You can get HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE HERE.

    Best,

    Kwana

  • my view,  writing life

    NaNo Time!

    What’s Jack up to? Jack had a good Halloween weekend though he could have done without me embarrassing him with that witches costume. So sorry Jack.

    So today starts Nano. National Novel Writing Month. Wish me luck and plenty of words. I sure will need it along with a high does of family support and sanity. If I’m missing from ye old blog at times please forgive me or if I’m not commenting on yours all that much be happy because that means I’m over here writing or at least I’m trying to write.

     And now the Nano Song!!!

    Best,

    Kwana

  • writers,  writing,  writing life

    Nano Bamo

    Well I’m at it again. You’d think I’d have learned from the torture of last year but, um, no. Once again I’m participating in November’s National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWrimo. It all starts on Monday and the challenge is 50,000 words in 1 fun filled month. Eek.

    So who’s with me? Think you’ve got a novel in you? If so head on over to the Nano page and register and let’s see if we have any hair left in a month. 

    Best,

    Kwana

    image from here

  • my view,  writing life

    Happy Dance!

    I’m doing the happy dance today because the DH came home with my laptop all fixed. Woo hoo!

    But oh boy you know what that means. No excuse for not writing. Gotta go. Bye!

    And remember, back it up.

    Best,

    Kwana

  • happy birthday,  jack,  jack pics,  my view

    Happy Birthday Jack!

    I had a wonderful and inspirational time in NJ over the weekend at the NJ RWA Put You Heart In a Book Conference (we won’t talk about how many times I got turned around driving in NJ. I think it’s my mental NJ block). I’ll write more on it later when I’m fully functioning and awake.

    But for today it’s special celebration time because it is everyone’s favorite bad little dog’s 4th birthday today. Join me in saying…Happy 4th Birthday Jack!!!

     

    Much love and treats to you. Thanks for all the excitement.

    Love,

    The Family!

  • kids,  motherhood,  my view

    Just One More Thing

    Sometimes I feel like as the mom of teens I have to be Columbo in order to get a complete story out of the two of them. It’s like I’m constantly grilling folks in my house to find out basic info. “And uh, just one more thing…” as Columbo always says.

    Slightly tiring but I’m getting some mom development time and am off to NJ for the NJ RWA writers conference this weekend. I can’t wait to see old friends and attend the workshops for some writing inspiration. I’ll leave the Columbo duty to the DH for the weekend.

    Enjoy love!

    Best,

    Kwana