Happy Blog-o-ween!!

Halloween is upon us!! One of my favorite holidays because for just a very short amount of time you can be anyone (or anything!) else in the world that you want to be. So here are some of my Halloween favorites!

Favorite Halloween Movie:


Favorite Halloween candy:




Favorite Halloween Song (duh)

Favorite place to visit around Halloween time: Salem, Massachusetts

Happy Haunting, my little boys and ghouls. Be safe and have LOTS OF FUN!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Red Pen Envy and Margin Love

It's editing talk time again!

Let's talk red pens. This falls into the category of "old school" when it comes to editing someone's work. I wanted to be a school teacher for a long time, and part of me wonders if that doesn't have something to do with my love for that red editing pen. Honest moment: Editing hard copies with my red pen is my favorite part by far. Crossing out incorrect punctuation, correcting spelling errors, scribbling love notes to my author in the margins.... *sigh* Okay, I'm a dork. But it's okay... this dork could be editing your work someday!  It's just so different than an electronic copy. It's more personal. It makes a story familiar in a completely different way than editing on a computer screen.

"Margin love" is a term I think I've kind of coined myself. It means writing notes that you think about as you're reading in the margins of your books . I love looking back through my books that I've margin-loved and it immediately transports me to that moment; where I was, who I was with, smells, sounds, and sometimes even what I was wearing. I remember my book, bouncing around in my bag as I carried it around with me to read wherever I went. (Cue Rory Gilmore reference here. BTW, ya'll should know I'm a Gilmore Girls FANATIC. I know all the episodes, all the lines, all the songs. Just a warning.) I completely believe that if you have interesting perceptions or amusing impressions, you should write in your margins. Books are made to be loved, to be analyzed, and debated over with your friends. A good book can spark intelligent thought and banter, spring emotions from the page and into the room, and make you question what you think you know. Sometimes it can even inspire you to bring your own ideas to life across a page. 

So don't be afraid to pencil in your margins and then SHARE!! Let other people read your copy and see what they think!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Book Review Baby!

Eeek! Due to an editing deadline, two dentist appointments today (one for me and one for my son), and a kid who refused to accept "quiet" or "calm" as part of his vocabulary, today's blog is SUPER late! But it's okay, it's here and that's what matters!

This is a book that I read when I was really young. It has charm, young love, and quirkiness and although it's a really easy read at this point in my life, it's still one of my favorite books.

A girl is forced to chill in France with her mom and aunts, and her only companion is a cat and her Mickey Mouse watch, until.....she makes a wish in a well and her whole trip changes! If you have young girls, probably around 9/10 and older, have them read this book. It's not as dramatic or angsty as Twilight, but it's a wholesome and enchanting story that the whole family can enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by! Back to our regular schedule tomorrow, I promise!

Movie Monday!

Hey there! There was no blog yesterday because I was spending the day with my family!

For Movie Monday I want to share a movie that I loved from the moment I saw it and ever since. I try to watch it a few times a year, even though my husband doesn't like it!

Joe Versus The Volcano!!! I am a huge Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan fan, and there will probably be quite a few movies involving one or both of these actors to come. This is such a cute early RomCom. It's quirky and silly, and it's so simple in the story and the special effects that it's hard not to fall in love with it. I think it might be on Netflix or Amazon Prime at the point of this blog post, but however you find it, you definitely should watch it if you never have. Or re-watch it if you haven't seen it in a while!!!

Okay guys! Thanks for stopping by and come back tomorrow for a book review!

Product Spotlight-don't miss this one!

For It Works today, I'm showing you my miracle product. If you suffer from headaches, allergies, have a hard time eating your fruits and vegetables or would like to kick coffee or soda; this is what you've been looking for.

 

• Detoxify, alkalize, and promote pH balance within the body
• Acidity-fighting magnesium and potassium blend
• Cutting-edge probiotic support for digestive health
• 38 herbs and nutrient-rich superfoods
• 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in every scoop
• Free radical-fighting antioxidants
• Great-tasting berry flavor

A couple scoops of this a day can boost your energy, help fight off headaches and keep your body balanced.
Here is the information page for the orange greens.

Here is the nutrition information for the berry greens: 

I drink mine every day!! A few days ago I felt a migraine coming on. I drank a whole bottle of water with 2 scoops of greens in it along with taking 2 ibuprofens. A couple hours later, it was like nothing happened. Six months ago, even with the ibuprofen I would have been in bed, no lights, no sound, cold pack on my head, and in the fetal position under my blankets. This is one I definitely stand by 100%. Visit my site to find out more or to check out my other products: https://kristyl.myitworks.com

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For Mary Kay, I've decided to highlight the mineral powder foundation. I was a skeptic at first because I didn't think it would be able to cover up as well as a liquid would, but boy was I wrong! You can layer it and it covers as little or as much as you want!

The foundation is mineral, so it doesn't harbor bacteria like a liquid might. It helps keep shine at bay if you have oily skin, and it is quite forgiving if you use a shade lighter or darker than it should be, it seems to adjust to your skin tone quite nicely. I once had a group of girls, all different colored skin, and the ivory 1 (one of the lightest colors) looked amazing on all of them. It's just a great versatile and light way to wear your foundation. Here is the website for more information: mineral foundation.


That's it for today, it's been a great lazy day of relaxing with my little one and editing in between. Have a great weekend!

Guest Blogger Friday!

This week I have a new aspiring writer sitting in the blogger seat. As you can see from his very telling and slightly embarrassing foreword, he's known me since I was very little, and it is my pleasure to be working with him on chasing his dreams as he does the same with me. So it is with red cheeks I give you the start of what should be a very exciting journey....

Foreward

            I've always enjoyed writing but have never really published anything.  Occasionally, I have submitted short stories to magazines that I enjoy reading without ever having them accepted for publication.  So I was excited to learn that Kristy had taken on the challenges of becoming an editor.  I have known Kristy since she was just a little thing.  Her father and I were friends in high school and I have watched her grow up over the years and was fortunate enough to attend her wedding with my own daughters in tow. When she started her blog, I immediately saved it to my bookmarks and checked on it daily.  In particular, I was interested in her guest blogger piece for Fridays.  I read that first piece and realized that maybe I can do this.  Maybe it's not beyond my capabilities.  So when Kristy asked me if I would like to be a guest blogger, I jumped at the chance.  I was flattered that she asked me without ever reading my material other than my facebook posts.  I had expressed my interest in writing to her and that was all it took for her to give me the opportunity.  So here it is.  It's just a beginning but everything has to start somewhere and maybe this is it.  I hope you enjoy!   

Offworlders

Written by Stephen Strzelinski

Chapter 1

            I'm just an ordinary guy in every sense of the word.  It was all I ever really wanted.  To be ordinary, accepted by my peers, unremarkable, nondescript.  It always seemed like there was far less drama when you didn't attract attention to yourself.  You never really understand how far you can bury the real you, until you realize that all you do is hide behind the shell of a human that merely looks like you.  Every action, every thought, every emotion, every word that slips off your tongue, carefully scripted so as not to reveal what may set you apart from the rest of humanity.  I've always hated that word, humanity.

            What is it about that word that causes me so much discomfort?  Well for starters, it would help if I were human.  Sure I look like them, sound like them and act like them...for the most part.  I even want to be human.  But I'm not.  I'm a Corvan, at least that's what I think the humans would call it.  Our own planet, Corva, was on the verge of destruction.  Our star had neared the end of its life span and was beginning to shed its outer layers and grow into its red giant phase.  Hastily, we abandoned our planet and set out for the four corners of the universe in the hopes that we could find a new home world.  About ten Earth years ago, after many years of searching, we finally discovered this star system.  We had hoped we would be able to begin our new life immediately. 

            It wasn't as simple as all that though.  It wasn't like we could just park our starship in a stable orbit and beam down like they do on Star Trek.  In fact, we are kind of the opposite of the villainous Borg from one of the incarnations of that show.  Rather than assimilate humans, we needed to be the ones assimilated into the human population.  For ten years we stayed in an orbit well beyond their moon.  We eavesdropped on humanity, learning their languages, understanding their politics...which I must say, I still don't understand.  We quickly learned that humanity is a violent race intermingled with a glimmer of hope.  If we had any hope of survival on this blue world, we could never reveal ourselves to them.  Not now, or for the foreseeable future.  Not until they learned tolerance and acceptance.  Those ten years seemed like an eternity.  I learned to love people, and hate people.  I began to understand that humanity was full of promise but prone to failure.  While I could accept them for all that was good and bad, I knew that if they ever found out the truth about me, they wouldn't show me the same courtesy.  A simple phrase said it best...It sucked.

            I never knew my home world.  I was born on the voyage, seven years before we reached Earth.  What I do know of Corva came from pictures and studies of our history.  Very similar to what I know of Earth actually.  The difference being that I can put into practice what I've learned of this place.  We have come to the decision to change our names in an effort to fully integrate with the inhabitants of this planet.  No mistakes that way.  We become who we say we are.  My name is Ben, shortened from my given name of Bentor. 

            Fortunately, we are very similar to the inhabitants of this planet.  Our bodies are adapted to similar diets, however the taste of the food is quite different from the processed food we have been subsisting on.  We are roughly the same height and our skin tone is similar to a Caucasian human with a good tan.  Unlike the humans, we are only one race.  Years of evolution and blending of races have muted the skin tones to our present appearance.  We can also communicate with our minds which makes it easy to share information without revealing ourselves.  In our limited excursions to this planet, we have come across a select few humans who also demonstrate this ability but it is in no way as developed as it is in our race.  We have the ability to see in a wider spectrum and our night vision is far superior.  This is probably why it was so difficult to adjust to the bright sunlight when we first arrived here. 

            Our own world had a stronger gravitational pull so the simulated gravity on our ship was attuned to what we were used to.  When we arrived here, they matched the gravity on the ship to simulate Earth.  That gave us ten years to adapt.  It was enough time to acclimate our bodies, however it will be generations before the genetics catch up.  In the meantime, our stronger muscles will be one of the things that will be difficult to hide.  We've also evolved to survive in the lower oxygen atmosphere of our own world.  The extra oxygen in Earth's atmosphere makes us even stronger and faster and gives us more endurance.  In effect, we are super humans.

            We are not immortal.  We age slower, live longer and are still vulnerable to many of the same things as humans.  Pain and bleeding, for example-the very same vulnerabilities that I'm exposing as I stand here trying to stem the flow of blood from my nose.  The pain comes in waves, riding the crest of every heart beat.  I'm stunned, unsure of what I've done, withholding the urge to demonstrate my superhuman strength.  I hear him say, “You must not be from around here boy! Nobody eyeballs my girl and gets away with it, ya hear?”  I simply nodded.  “Yeah, that's right, welcome to East Georgia High.”  New kid on Earth, new kid in school...same shit, different day.  I hope my first day in twelfth grade isn't an indication of how the rest of my life will play out.

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There you have it! Look out for him in the future, I'm looking forward to see where this story is headed. If you're an aspiring writer and interested in just letting a little out, let me know and I'll feature some of your work on an upcoming Guest Blogger Friday. Thanks for stopping by!


*Note: Anything you see on Guest Blogger Fridays is the property of the author featured. Any similarities in names or events to other works are purely coincidental and not to be reproduced or copied in any way, shape or form without the express written consent of the author. This forum is used to help writers overcome fears, get positive feedback and share what they have to offer. Naysayers, trolls and hecklers will not be tolerated. 

Miscellaneous Ramblings Today!

Hello my blog buddies!

So today I want to talk a little more about editing. After re-reading last week's editing day, going through yesterday's entry, and in light of some recent projects I've been working on, I want to dig deep into the relationship an editor has with their author.

Everything up to this point has been a learning process. Think about that. Any person, any age, any sort of background can say this sentence, and it's true. I've tweaked things along the way, and I may be better than I was when I started, but I'm still always learning-not just in editing, but all of life in general.

Up until a few weeks ago, I only had experience working with one writer. All I knew was the relationship I had with this person. To be perfectly honest, I've heard nightmare stories, and I have been spoiled and blessed with the writers I've been able to work with. Now that I've been working with more people, different styles, different personalities, different techniques, it's been very cool to watch this editor/author relationship pan out differently for each person. I feel like if it's a good fit, you can really connect with your author in a way that nobody else can. I think an editor also takes on a little bit of a therapeutic friendship, a person an author can go to who they know can understand what they're going through in a way that nobody else really can. If you've been reading my blog, you know I try very hard to put myself in their shoes, to be sympathetic with their struggles and take joy in their triumphs, and with that comes a very close friendship that is like nothing else.

So, in editing my authors' works and with the conversations we have through the course of editing, I imagine them sitting at home, biting their nails and anxiously awaiting my opinions, corrections, criticism and evaluations. What I don't think you (the authors) understand is, when I send that edited copy back to you, I'm pretty equally anxious to hear how you take it all. If you have ever or will ever work with me, there's some things you should know:
1) Sometimes editing happens late at night because it's the only time I have that's quiet and uninterrupted.
2) Sometimes it's when I'm wide awake during the day while Will is at school.
3) Always, it is in this very focused, very intense place of scrutiny (in a positive way!) where I can sometimes write very direct/short or very silly sounding comments.

Sometimes I get goofy, especially with the late night edits and the comments can get quite hilarious. Occasionally I will go back through and make them a little more professional, but there are some I leave just for sheer entertainment. I take my editing very seriously, but once in a while it's okay to let loose. When it comes down to it, this is something we love doing: writing and editing. So if we can't have fun as a team at least some of the time, we've kind of lost the reason why we're doing this in the first place.

On the other hand, my comments can sometimes seem a little harsh (to me). I've looked back and, with some positive feedback from my authors, I've realized that they're not harsh. They. Are. Honest. I sometimes have to remind myself that I'm here to make the story the best draft it can be, not to spare feelings or coddle the author. If things are hard to understand, don't make sense, don't fit in the story or just plain suck; it's my duty to let you know! (FYI: Nobody's work has "Just plain sucked" up to this point, just want to make that clear!) Anyways, I am the one that you want to hear this from, not from Judgy Joe Reader who gives you 1 star and a load of crap on your Amazon reviews for the world to see.

I suppose that the moral of today's blog is this: editors have insecurities too. When you are reviewed online, we are too. There is a lot of pressure to make you look good, and I don't mean that in a bad way, I mean that this is our job as your editor, and we can be just as nerve-wracked as you are! So I hope I've been able to give you a little glimpse into an editor's mindset, and not that we're looking for pity or sympathy or anything, just know you're not in it alone, and your editor is your teammate. If you don't feel that way about your editor, find a new one. Even if it's me you're not meshing with. You have to be on the same side and understand each other, that's the only way your story is going to be the very best it can be.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back tomorrow because there is a brand new author putting himself out into the world for the first time, and these are the people we want to support!

Editing Etiquette

Wednesday already?!?!? I've been doing this blog for a week and a half now, and I have more support than I ever thought possible! Please do not be shy to start a conversation in the comments, let me know what you think, what you want to hear about (I take requests!) or even just let me know you're listening. I will always respond ASAP as without an audience, my blog would be obsolete.

It's editing day! Right now I'm smack dab in the middle of editing a proof that is on its way to being published. It's a great story and I'm stoked for it to come out. I find it a little easier to edit a hard copy sometimes. For some reason, it just looks different on a page rather than a screen, and I like holding it in my hands and being able to take red pen to paper. I guess I'm a little old school in that respect; I do have a Kindle, but I still buy paper books. I suppose it's akin to downloading mp3s and still buying the CDs.

Editing a proof holds a little bit more pressure than editing a book being released electronically. This is black and white baby. No going back. Unless you want your author to strangle you. When you edit an electronic copy, it's a little bit easier for an author to correct the errors, but when you edit the proof and the author prints up 100 copies, that's for real. This is a great juncture to pinpoint any holes in the story. This read-through is my 3rd or 4th time reading this book in a short span of time. By now, it's easier to find gaps or inconsistencies because, for all intents and purposes, I am intimate with the plot. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. And it's a completely different intimacy than the author has with it, which is good. You don't want to be that close to it if you're going to edit it. I've tried to edit my own work, it sucks. I change things constantly. The author needs to be able to say 'this is my story and I'm proud of how it came out'. My personal opinion is that editing your own work causes you to overthink the story, and often subsequently leads to the writer changing something that ultimately began as an amazing piece of work.

So the moral of today's blog: Don't edit your own stuff. As I've written before, it's important to overcome that feeling of vulnerability. Even if it's not a professional editor, it's good to hear someone else's opinion of what you've written. Your work might drive you crazy and make you want to re-write every time. But you can't be sure unless you let someone else use their imagination to picture the world you've created. That is an incredible way to know if you're writing enough; if someone else can picture it. The best books I've read are ones that draw out my imagination and create a whole world inside my head. Listen when people say "I can't picture that in my head" or "I have no idea what that person looks like", because it doesn't mean your story sucks. It means "I want to know more, and I need you to give it to me in order to enjoy the other components of your story." And that's a good thing. It's always good when people want to know more about your characters or settings; it means they're interested and have amazing expectations from you. Only you can deliver your readers into the world you've created, and it's your responsibility to make it cohesive enough to transport them into your story.

Thanks for stopping by, ya'll! Tomorrow is random thoughts, so tune in because who will know what will fall out of my brain and onto the page!

Book Review Tuesday!

Today is short and simple because I have a miserable little boy on my hip, so I apologize, but hopefully I can give you enough to entice you to read! I'm going to introduce you to an indie author that made me wish I had just a tiny bit more time for actual pleasure reading these days! Her name is SM Reine and the books I'm reviewing today are The Descent Series.

This series is early in her career, and you have to approach it with that mentality. There is a lot of great action sequences and a pretty hearty story line. There are some spots that are hard to follow, but overall I found the series to be very intriguing and interesting. I really like this genre, it's demons/gothic/heaven and hell type stories, and it's nice to read new things coming out from new authors. I have other books of hers waiting patiently on my Kindle for me to get a little bit of free time, and I'm hoping that will happen quickly! Please read her books, leave her reviews and suggestions, seek her out on Goodreads and also on Amazon (which I've noticed as of this posting you can download this series for free on your Kindle!!) and continue to support indie authors trying to be heard! 

Tune in next week for more good finds! Thanks for stopping by!

Manic Movie Mondays

So something you might not know about me; I'm a movie fanatic. I'm a bibliophile for sure, but I'm also a sucker for a great movie. In fact, I think we have around 200-300 DVDs in our house. So Mondays will be movie review days. Now, I use the term "review" very loosely, because I don't plan on formally critiquing any movies, but instead telling you all my favorites and why they are my favorites.

Today's movie is a classic and pretty much defines the era I grew up in and all the things I loved about it.

The Breakfast Club. All the elements that made the 80's movies so amazing; the clothes, the music, the pot smoking, the cars, The Brat Pack. Those were the days. I'm sure everyone feels that way about their favorite decade, but a large part of me really wishes I was in my 20s in the 1980s. I think I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more, I would have fit in there so much better and I for sure would have been more trendy at that point in time. I remember watching this movie with my best friend in high school, Julia, and all the hilarious inside jokes we made from those times. I remember that care-free feeling and the excitement of young love and learning what the world was REALLY about. I try to hang on to those moments as best I can. The years have robbed me of some of those memories, but I refuse to snuff out that youthful excitement and the idea of letting my heart think for me sometimes. It's definitely something I think we take for granted as young kids, and something we hope to hold on to as adults. Anyways, if you haven't seen this movie, do it. It's hilarious, profound, and has a great cast. I'm going to leave you with probably the #1 reason why this movie is so great:

Business Schmisness

Little late today, but it's Sunday! Even God rested for a day!

Business is difficult, whether you work in an office or run a home business. I have learned a lot about running a business, both the right way and especially the wrong way.

As I've mentioned, I've had a few jobs that were really pretty miserable. It comes down a lot to how you're treated from the top down. If you're at the bottom of the pile, you can still feel happy and satisfied with your job if you do your best and people recognize that and treat you kindly. When you are asked to do menial tasks and people do not appreciate the effort you put forth, it makes it very hard to feel like you are a productive and welcome part of a team. When you're running a home business, it is still important to make the people working down your line feel important and listened to. The more positive and supportive you are with people, the more productive they will be.

Another issue with working in an office is when people simply cannot divide their personal feelings from their professional issues. It's normal and natural to get aggravated, frustrated, upset and even resentful of coworkers when there is a dysfunctional work environment. But if you can't make decisions or mediate without letting your heart take over where your level head should be working, you shouldn't be in a management or superior position. This makes the employees working under your care angry and resentful. They feel like they haven't been listened to and that they have nothing to offer the company. Keep your head calm and cool. Act, don't R E A C T. You can't control how people work, their actions, or what they say. But you can control how you react to a situation, and you can listen to all sides of the issue to carefully and logically reach resolution. You can either lose your cool and probably some respect and credibility, or you can stay calm and handle things at your very best. It's up to you. Only you can decide how your environment affects you.

Some great tips for working with people in general:

• Be kind. If people look up to you, you want them to respect you and feel comfortable talking to you about anything.
• Have great communication. You might not like everything you hear from people you are working with, but listen anyways. You never know when something important will come out of someone's mouth. And if you have a problem with someone, work it out. It NEVER works out when people bottle things up and let them simmer.
• Be helpful and supportive. People are often propelled by encouragement, positive feedback and having someone back them up. We, as humans, are insecure with ourselves as it is. If you find someone is great at what they're doing, let them know!! When did it stop being okay to give an "attaboy" now and then?
• Leave your home life and your emotions at home. Don't bring it to work. It's okay to make friends at work and have great relationships with people, but the more people know about your private life, the more you're asking for drama. Drama belongs on TNT, not in the workplace.

Now, I'm not a professional motivational speaker or life coach or anything like that. But I've had my own experiences, and I've had my share of feeling like gum under someone's shoe. It's not a fun place to be. I hope that I never in my life make another person feel that way, and if I did, it would never be on purpose. I would also hope that someone would be able to come to me and say "Hey! You're being a jerk! Knock it off!"

Next week will be more about approaching customers and clients, especially in the home marketing business aspect. I've had some great training and inspiration given to me over the last year or so, and I can't wait to share. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Product Spotlight

A little late today, but it's Saturday and we're being lazy!

So I'll start with It Works. Our biggest selling product is the body wrap.

It takes 45 minutes. You put the wrap on, saran around it, watch TV/read/cook/etc., then take it off. Drink lots of water and take LOTS of pictures! That is the best way to see progress. I have my own before and afters, that I will be glad to show if you inquire. The products are all natural, so no chemicals to worry about. You can use them anywhere from the neck down (there is a facial wrap, which is designed to work with the more sensitive skin of your face). Wraps are not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The wraps tighten, tone and firm the skin on which they are applied. For a list of all information and ingredients, go here. If you have questions or concerns about it, the best idea would be to print out the ingredient list and bring it to your physician. Please email me if you'd like information on having a party or getting wrapped. Wraps are $25, with a box of 4 being considered a full treatment. If you get 5 friends to wrap at a party, yours is free! We also have a loyal customer program with perks that we can talk about. Please visit my It Works website.

Now for Mary Kay. I'm going to start with my very favorite product: the Indulge Soothing Eye Gel.

This product contains botanical extracts, including cucumber, that tones, firms, and reduces puffiness around the sensitive eye area. It adds 130% moisture when you apply it to your eye, and it is dermatologist tested and fragrance free. It has a cooling effect when you put it on, and even more so if you store it in the fridge (which is my favorite thing to do). I call it "Magic Mommy Gel" or "Hangover Gel" because it is so soothing and refreshing to put on after a night of very little sleep. If you are a migraine sufferer (which I am), keeping it in the fridge and spreading it over your temples or sinuses can help relieve some of that pain. You can spread a thin layer on after you do your normal skin care routine or you can use it as a mask, a good idea to do right before bed. At $16.00, it sounds a little steep, but I can use the same container for a month or more with regular use. Please email me or visit my Mary Kay site if you'd like to order or see more products. 

Keep checking in on Saturdays for more of my favorite products and please send me a message if you want to know more or have a product you wish to see highlighted on Product Spotlight days. Thanks for stopping by!

Is that a guest blogger I see?

Maybe it's a little early in my blogging career to have a guest blogger, but I have many wonderful and intelligent friends with lots of crazy, helpful, uplifting, inspiring and funny things to say. I'm hoping that some of my "closet writer" friends will be able to use this as an opportunity to share about themselves and their writing. Not all of them will be writers per se, but they'll all have something special to contribute to my blog. So if you know me, expect that I may some day ask you to be a guest blogger some random Friday in the future. And hey, if you are interested in guest blogging, by all means let me know!

My first guest blogger is my inspiration and, if I'm correct, one of my biggest fans. Meredith Pritchard, or M.R. Pritchard, (who I will probably always refer to as "my author") is the writer of the first books I've ever edited that have been published. I am humbled by her "fangirl" praise and comments, as well as the support and encouragement that she's given me. Here is her story: 

My life as a writer.

I have been a writer my entire life. How do I know this? I remember as a kid my parents got me this book on how to draw animals step by step. I went around for weeks making books about farm animals (specifically goats, hey we lived on a goat farm at the time). I would illustrate them and write them, then bind them with a cardboard cover. Maybe that was when the bug hit me. I’m not sure. All I know is that I loved to write and I loved to read. In high school the bug hit me hard. I took every creative writing class offered. Instead of writing reports I would take the teacher’s offer to write a short story on a topic we were covering. And the thing that stuck in my brain all through high school was one of my teachers telling the class that the world didn’t need good scientists, it needed scientists that could write. Because better than half of science and research is writing. And it’s boring. Because scientists are boring.

Enter me about to take the stage to collect my degree in Biochemistry. I graduated in December, so there was a mishmash of students. Everyone was asking what the other was graduating with. I was standing next to a woman getting her Masters in writing and I was pretty jealous. So I walked across the stage, collected my degree in Biochemistry, went to work in a research lab, and wrote journal articles. Now, it wasn’t easy. The learning curve was steep. But when I had my journal article accepted to BONE with no revisions needed, and my boss was impressed, I knew that I could write. I had excelled at not being a boring scientist.

Flash forward a few years. With the pressure of lab funding running out and having a newborn at home, I shifted my career to nursing. Flash forward a few more years. I loved nursing, but I was bored. When people asked me if I missed the lab, my response was always the same: I miss writing.

So last year, I finally did it. Opened the laptop I had always used for writing school papers and scientific journal articles and started writing down ideas and stories I’d been carrying around in my head for years. My husband thought I was crazy. He was the only person who knew. I wrote two books before I told another soul. I let two of my close friends read my first book, under the threat of death if they told anyone. And then I wrote another book. In less than nine months I had written three full length novels. The feedback from the few people I let read was positive. Really positive. I sent out query letters to agents, which got me nothing. So I read up on self-publishing. I studied self-publishing for months. I started my blog. I played around with formatting. I read and read and read about the industry.

In February 2013 I finally decided to take the plunge. I went ahead and published my first novel with Amazon. And then I drank a lot of alcohol.

The first reviews were amazing. And since they were reviews from strangers, it was uplifting. When I found a review on Goodreads from Ian Hocking (a successful sci-fi author who started out Indie), I was stunned. Yes, there were haters also. But you can’t let them bother you. I just repeat in my head what my mother said to me: “If it’s not the New York Times, then who cares?”

Since I am a middle-class American with bills and a small child, I couldn't put a lot of money into this venture. I self-published on a budget and that budget was $0. That means I couldn't afford an editor. I used computer programs and friends, but I knew from being out of the writing world for so long my skills were rusty. And the wonderful reviewers on Amazon let me know this. Enter Kristy Ellsworth and her offer to edit my work. The union was made via Facebook messenger and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in this venture. (So, fellow Indie Authors, if you’re looking for an editor don’t pass up your chance on Kristy. She’s going to be busy very soon. I can feel it!)

Now it’s seven months later. Am I a millionaire like all of those other Indie success stories? Nope. Does that make me regret this? Nope. I have a job and writing is not my job. It’s my release. It’s my fun. Some people scrapbook, some people bake, but writing, yeah, writing is my hobby. I write my stories. I have conversations with fictional characters. I work with my husband to design original book covers. I have the rest of my life to advertise and make a little extra pocket change. Right now I want to put out the best work I can. I’m thankful for the team of people I have around me helping and I am thankful for my fans. My fans are the best people. Without their support and excitement, this would be a much less rewarding venture. 

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You can follow her blog at what I consider my "sister site" at Secret Life of a Townie, where she talks writing, handling critics, unicorns and surviving a zombie apocalypse! Come back next week because you'll never know who will pop up on Guest Blogger Fridays!! 

As a heads-up, weekends will be dedicated to business matters; Saturdays to Mary Kay and It Works! Global with Product Spotlight Days where I will pick my favorite products and let you know all about them. Sundays will be Business Advice Days. I will give you tips, tricks and opportunities that I have learned throughout my journey. A large part of business is social and communication skills, and I will let you know the kind of things I have learned and overcome as a small business owner. There is incredible potential for guest bloggers here as well & I already have some people in mind! Looking forward to sharing with all of you! As always, thanks for stopping by!

Miscellaneous Day!

I've decided that Thursdays are going to be miscellaneous days. I have my own writing, opinions, ideas, etc, that I have rattling around up there, and it could be cathartic to let some of that out.

Honest moment: I'm not really great at fresh ideas for stories. I think I've read so many books my whole life that I start meshing in all the plots until it's one giant nearly plagiarized Frankenstein hot mess. On the other hand, I'm good at poetry and writing about real things I've encountered.

I once went to a workshop at a camp; we were told to wander off and find a place to sit and write, then reconvene at a set time and place. This camp is right on the lake I live near. And the following is the raw draft of what came of that quiet time that I spent with my pen and journal.

The morning is peaceful and pure along the rocky beach. The water is gently reaching for the tiny smooth pebbles along the shore. The horizon is flat and clear with no angry white foam crests to break it up. Occasionally a little fish pops its head above the surface, leaving widening rings behind, an echo of his presence. 

It feels like a mirror of human nature; a smooth calm facade with only subtle clues to what lies beneath the surface.

An entire ecosystem lies under a seemingly unremarkable surface. There is comedy and tragedy in a way so different yet so parallel to humankind. A torrent of activity, relationships and survival so well disguised that we take refuge alongside this vast camouflage to find our own inner peace. 

*deep breath* It's hard for me to release my little written babies into the world. It is really difficult to feel that vulnerable, but it's good for an editor to walk a few steps in their authors' shoes. It brings you closer and gives you an understanding of the other side of the situation. If you are a closet writer, put a little bit of your work out there. Post it on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, read it to your dog or your fish, read it to the guy pumping your gas. Facing these insecurities and overcoming that vulnerability can make you stronger, and not just in your writing-in your every day life as well. Maybe I should have called today "Lay Your Shit Out There Day". 

I guess the moral of my blog today is this: Just write. It doesn't matter if it sucks, or if it makes any sense or if it's perfectly edited. Writing is a great form of therapy, of which not nearly enough people take advantage. That's my blog today, tune in on Thursdays if you want to read more of my personal writing or listen to me rant about random things in life!

Thanks for stopping by!

Editing Etiquette

What does an editor do?

I haven't really gotten this question, but I anticipate some people will ask me eventually. Since I'm new to the biz, and I really march to the beat of my own drum, I have no idea what the proper "procedure" for editing is or if there even is one! I thought I would share my process so you can have an idea of what a typical book editing has looked like for me.

First, I read the entire story all the way through. As you know from my post yesterday, I get lost in my stories. So editing the first time around is simply impossible. I've tried it and I miss all the errors because I'm so focused on what's happening. So I fly through, top to bottom to satisfy the hungry reader in me. This also gives me a baseline for how the story unfolds, making it easier to edit for story holes and flow of the storyline.

Next, I start an "edit read through". I correct spelling errors, awkward wording, and sentence flow issues. I cut down run-on sentences and make side notes if, as a reader, something would seem completely out of place or hard to follow. I often use websites for help with comma use or dictionary.com if I'm unsure of spelling. I have a pretty extensive understanding of the English language and all the dumb rules and regulations, but occasionally I have to look things up to make sure I'm doing it right. The geek in me ADORES this part of the process. The research, the rules, the spelling. Exciting...for me!

When I finish the edit read through, I read through it again-with the edits-to make sure it flows and ebbs, leading to the beautiful waterfall that is the last page of the book. I fix anything that bothers me, and when I'm satisfied, I send it back to the author.

I keep in contact with the author, discussing anything they have questions about, helping them reword things if they want, and watching their excitement grow as it gets closer to publishing time. Before the book gets released, the author may elect to have a proof copy (the first printed hard copy) of their book sent to them. I will also edit that as well, which generally runs quickly as this will be my 4th or 5th time through the story. I make sure that spelling, punctuation and formatting are all as perfect as possible.

And then a novel is born. It's hard work, it can be tiresome and frustrating sometimes. It's important to know when to walk away and take a break. Sometimes if you can clear your head and come back to it, you see things in a different way. This works for writing as well. If you find you have a block, go for a walk or put it down for a day or two. Sometimes it may even take weeks, but always pick it back up and lay those ideas out onto paper. I may be an editor now, but always and above all I'm an avid reader. New authors are the reason why there are so many excellent books out there. Don't give up, let your voice be heard. Can you imagine if Dan Brown decided to play hockey instead? Or if Stephen King thought that painting was more up his alley?

I'm going to leave you with my all-time favorite skit about the English language. I hope you enjoy!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

First book review day!

I've decided to lay out a schedule of what I'm going to blog about every day because I like to be organized. I'm not great at it, but life seems to be much easier when I am! As you can tell by the title, I've decided that Tuesday is going to be book review day. As well as having read a jillion books in my lifetime, I have also read a lot of reviews. Generally, I will read a book regardless if 200 people think it's a pile of crap, if I feel drawn to the story. And I usually like it. Does this mean I like to read garbage? No. It just means I look at things very differently than most people do. I also like to think that I still have a tiny slice of that naivete that keeps you from trying to predict how a story unfolds, which keeps the thrill and the excitement of reading the book in the first place. I tend to lose myself in a book, close the back cover and look around at 2 a.m., ready to talk the heck out of the story-only to find everyone has gone to bed and I'm the only crazy awake, feeling sad because my adventure is over. I'm also not the type of reviewer to recap the story because, well, you should read it yourself! So... on to the reviews.

Of course, I'm going to start with the 2 books I've edited. (Duh) I may be partially biased, but I can be fair too.

The first is The Phoenix Project:

This is a great first novel for a break-out author. This one I read as every other reader had, in its raw form, by a tentative and vulnerable new writer. I fell in love with it. To be fair, I am from the area that the book is set in and I think that weighs heavily on my appreciation for it. (So all my locals reading my blog, holla! Go get this at Barnes & Noble or download to your Kindle post haste.) I know that anyone from around here will probably enjoy reading through and picturing the landscapes and situations in their hometown. When you read the story and then drive by the places where some of the things happen, it can even freak you out a little bit! It's an engaging storyline. You can tell that it is someone's first novel as the writing is a little amateur, but I also feel this makes it whimsical and easily relatable. It's easy to follow the story, and the gripping tale far outshines any novice components of the book. 4 Stars!


And the other book is the second in the series, The Reformation (The Phoenix Project: Part 2)

This is the excellent second installment of The Phoenix Project. This is more of a whirlwind adventure and traveling around the United States opens up the thrill of a story set in or near your town to many more readers. For me, as I have said, there were quite a few things I "didn't see coming" because of my dive into the storyline. This time I watched, not quite from its conception-but close, and followed along the journey until it is now a published book. It is a whole different ballgame when you and your author put so much heart and effort into a project. I am slightly more biased to this book as I had much more involvement and put many hours and late nights into it. The strength of the main character is incredible, and she continues to show that bravery and intelligence through this novel as well. The writing is clearly more mature, and the depth of the story shows that this is not her first rodeo. You can see the improvements and growth happen right before your eyes, and from my personal connection to these books, I am very proud of you, M. R. You can download this book or buy it as well. 5 Stars!

I have to add that as I have a bond with this author now, and we have been working on other projects together, please keep watching out for her works. And not just because I'm the editor, but because she has some really amazing and fresh stories coming out. Look for Saratoga coming out this December. You can even get an early copy, meet the author and have her sign it for you at this event. <---(Click here and check it out!)

That's it for today. Tune in for next week's review, it's a sci-fi series that had me glued to my Kindle for a week! Thanks for stopping by!

Blog The First

Hello! And welcome to my inaugural blog as a freelance editor. Seeing as the English language is my drug and editing is my true love, I wanted to share that with people who understand the fickle addiction that is literature.

A little bio: 
I'm married since 2003, with one boy-child named William. He is diabetic, ADHD and high functioning autistic. I have had a series of inherently unsatisfying J.O.B.s (Just Over Broke) and getting unjustly fired 4 days before Christmas in 2012 was the final straw. I vowed never to work for anyone but myself ever again. Not to mention, having the flexibility to be at my child's beck and call has given me a security that can't be topped. I'm nerdy; I love Star Wars, Big Bang Theory and science. I understand the English language and for me, reading Shakespeare is like reading Green Eggs and Ham. I'm not bragging. I'm good at something and I'm proud of it. More people should think like that. Humility and pride can be good partners, if executed properly. There's not much else, I live a pretty mundane and safe existence.

I have also taken on a couple of home-based businesses that are a lot of fun:
Mary Kay consultant: www.marykay.com/kellsworth4
It Works! distributor: https://kristyl.myitworks.com

So earlier this year, I read a book written by someone I had been friends with in high school. I loved it, but I noticed that a lot of her reviews were nit-picking at her editing. So I approached her and offered to edit her book. The rest is history and Kristy Ellsworth: Freelance Editor was born. 

My goals are truly to help the little guy like me. I would like to cater to indie authors and amateurs who can't afford the thousands of dollars it could take to have a professional editor take over your precious work. I just want to make enough to help my husband pay our ridiculous electricity bill and our mortgage. Humble needs, really. And very much what I think most people want: just to live comfortably and happily. 

So I'm going to wrap this up with a few links to the super awesome chick that lit the literary fire under me and my new partner in crime, Meredith Pritchard. (Note: Do not read your paper books near an open flame, they do not make good bedfellows.) If you want to get to know me better, are interested in having me look over your work for editing, or if you want to know more about Mary Kay or It Works products, feel free to email me at klellsworth22@gmail.com.

Here is her blog:
http://secretlifeofatownie.blogspot.com/

And here are her books, which are also currently available at Barnes and Noble:
The Phoenix Project (Part 1)
The Reformation (The Phoenix Project Part 2)



Thanks for stopping by!