Writing Tips and the Kid Lit Blog Hop #66

Carpinello's Writing Pages is back this Hop with more tips from the Children's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult writers I've interviewed. These are from November 2014. Feel free to leave a tip of your own.

Be passionate about your work–the more passionate you are about sharing it with others, the more likely people will be to check out what you’ve done. Never stop networking or pursuing possible avenues of publicity. Generosity goes a long way too—Christine Meunier, author of the MG/PreTeen Free Rein Series

I still regard myself as a Newbie Author, but if I had to give advice to others it would be to form a great support group with other authors who are genuine and can guide you along the way. I have been extremely lucky in that sense—Lorraine Carey, author of the MG novel Jonathan's Locket.

Never give up—Christopher Mannino, author or the YA fantasy School of Deaths

Write what you know and then make up the rest. Be serious about your craft and understand that this is a business, and there are ugly sides to it, but don’t be afraid to chase after your dream. Be professional in all you do. Don’t skimp on editing costs or cover art costs. Invest in your work and yourself. Get your work critiqued if at all possible before you release it or even before you have it edited. That way you can make changes and make it as best as possible before the editor takes it—Brae Wyckoff, author of the YA fantasy series The Horn King

One thing I can attribute to my success is the fact that I belong to several author groups. There is something inspirational, energizing, and fun about being in the same community of like-minded people. I would advise every author, particularly if you’re new to the publishing game to find a group of authors on the social networks or in your local community you can meet regularly and exchange ideas with. Iron sharpens iron, and you’ll see a significant improvement in your writing and hopefully book sales as a result. Also, keep on writing. Farmers farm. Teachers teach. Builders build. And writers?…well we write—David Chuka, author of Kojo the Sea Dragon Gets Lost

And Now,

Welcome to the 66th Kid Lit Blog Hop where we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists.

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews

Swedish MG author A. J. York

and

Colorado MG author Phyllis J. Perry 

Remember, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors!

Hostesses:

Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Julie Grasso, Author/ Blogger

Cheryl Carpinello, Author / Blogger

Stacking Books

BeachBoundBooks

Music Teaching and Parenting

Pragmatic Mom

Reading Authors

The Logonauts

Spark and Pook

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

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Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. Link up any Kid Lit related post in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.

* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post.*

* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *

* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*

* Feel free to link more than one post.*

2. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS from the Kid Lit Blog Hop directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 3. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 4. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!

Happy Hopping!

 

KID LIT BLOG HOP

Meet MG/YA Author Lorraine Carey

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes MG/YA author Lorraine Carey and her latest book Jonathan's Locket.

First, a bit about Lorraine:

Lorraine Carey is a  veteran Children’s Reading Specialist, Teacher, and Author. She has lived and taught in Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Grand Cayman. She had a short memoir published in 2010 called Losing Ground. She has also written three novels for tweens to young adults which feature a male hero. All of them are fantasy and revolve around true historical events. She currently resides on Grand Cayman Island with her husband and dog, Matty. Her passion is reading, writing book reviews and writing Fantasy novels for tweens to young adults.

Why did you pick to write books for MG/YA?


I chose to write Middle Grade/Young adult due to the many years in working with children from all ages as a reading specialist. I read so many novels and some were of great interest to them while others would turn them off after the first chapter. They would always be asking me if we could change our pic for that week. They loved ghost stories and books about children or teens in trouble. I always said when I retire I would write books that would hopefully inspire them, especially boys.

What types of books do you like to read?

I actually love to read YA Paranormal, Fantasy and love Paranormal Romance.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

When I am not writing you can find me reading, beaching or boating with my hubby around this beautiful island on our boat, The Angelica.

Tell us about Jonathan's Locket and how the story came to be.


Jonathan’s Locket is a Paranormal Tale which stems from a real historical event that happened here on the island back in the 1700s. It was The Wreck of the Ten Sails off the east end of Grand Cayman. When I went to visit the monument here on the island that is in the area where the wreck occurred, I walked away thinking that there was surely a story there. I also felt a sadness in my heart.

Here's a peek at Jonathan's Locket:

Orphan Jonathan Palmer is a fifteen year old stowaway aboard the doomed ship The Convert which was part of the fleet that crashed into the reef on Grand Cayman in 1794. This famous shipwreck was known as the Wreck of the Ten Sails. Jonathan was not lucky enough to survive the wreck along with eight other seamen. Problem was, no one ever knew he was even on board.

Two centuries later strange sightings have been reported of ghost ships, screams, and eerie lights off the east end of Grand Cayman. Brandon Wallace, a troubled teen, seems to acquire a strange affliction and begins to have bizarre encounters from the sea where he befriends a mystical sea turtle who holds the secrets to the mysterious sightings as he plunges into the world of the paranormal. Here he is compelled to embark on a dangerous journey, risking his life to uncover the dark secret of Jonathan’s death. This task proves to be even more dangerous when one of Brandon’s closest friends has other plans for him.

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

My first novel was a short memoir in 2010 called Losing Ground which chronicled some of the odd experiences I had encountered leading up to a family tragedy and how I coped with it. I also have Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn and it’s sequel, Out of the Ashes, which is a Paranormal Western set out in the mysterious Superstition Mountains of Arizona. This also is a spin on the real Lost Dutchman Gold Mine and an Apache Massacre during the 1800s.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I have completed a new novel called The Last Vestal Virgin, which features a young Italian American teen who learns a dark secret about herself on a visit to Rome. She must deal with an ancient Roman Goddess, an obsessed lover, and a mysterious chaperone who will lead her into a realm she never knew existed.

What advice do you have for other authors?

I still regard myself as a Newbie Author, but if I had to give advice to others it would be to form a great support group with other authors who are genuine and can guide you along the way. I have been extremely lucky in that sense.

Where can readers find you and your books?
 
Readers can visit my website for additional information on me.

All of my books are available on Amazon in Kindle and print.