The Leibster Blog Award

 

 

 

 

 

English: Photograph of Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia. George Washington’s Home. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I’ve been tagged by YA Author, Vanessa Barger for The Leibster Award. It’s where I tell you 11 Fun Facts about myself, answer 11 questions, and come up with another 11 questions for the bloggers I choose. So let’s get started:

 

11 Fun Facts:

 

1. I used to LOVE coffee but it was bad for me, the doctor said, so I switched to the milder caffeine tea. Actually, tea was my first hot drink crush so it was kind of like coming home after being away for so long.

 

2. I LOVE animals. Tame or wild, though I don’t go out of my way to visit the wild, “up close and personal.” Lol.

 

3. Revising is the “It” thing for me. I just find it brings such promise, pulling together everything and making sure the vision works.

 

4. Worldbuilding often goes hand-in-hand with my stories. I think it’s a throw-back to all the fantasy books/stories I devoured when a youth.

 

5. Mystery is another favorite of mine. Although, I haven’t read much mystery lately. I’m fascinated by the puzzle of them, the truth behind all. Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew and The Three Investigators were a few I followed.

 

6. I’m gearing up to move into a bigger house as soon as I locate one that suits my family and I’ve been keeping busy packing, packing, packing. You never realize how much you accumulate over the years!

 

7. I am both repelled and fascinated by The Walking Dead series. At first, I couldn’t watch and then recently, I was drawn back in.

 

8. Cats are another thing that fascinates me. Their personalities, their actions, their way of life. I’m a cat at heart, I suppose. Lol.

 

9. During Christmas present opening, I’m more excited about what I’ve gotten others and watching them open it, hoping they like it, than I am about what I get myself.

 

10. I’ll be gearing up within the next 2-3 months to sub.

 

11. My writing process has gone from fevered pitch to slow as I concentrate on learning and practicing the lessons.

 

 

 

The 11 Questions Vanessa asked:

 

1. What is your favorite vacation you’ve ever taken? Washington D.C. with my son for his class trip a few years ago. I loved exploring George Washington’s home and learning about the ghost that lives there. There were other fascinating places we visited, but this one stood out the most to me. It’s simplicity and yet “homey” feel to it. Oh, and the goosebumps, wondering if the ghost would put in an appearance. It didn’t. But with that atmosphere, it’s not hard to imagine it being there.

 

2. What is your biggest pet peeve? Being late for something. I’m usually early to whatever I go to. I just think it’s better that way.

 

3. What is the scariest movie you’ve ever seen? I tried watching The Wrong Turn once. I had to turn it off after the first few scenes. It just made me sick. I like movies that don’t necessarily show the gore or don’t “dwell” on it anyway. I’ve seen my share of Jason, Freddy, and Michael Meyers believe me. What really “scared” me though was a television series I snuck down into the living room when I was little to watch: Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot.” I had nightmares about that cellar/basement scene for months. Lol. Mostly because the bed in my room was pushed up against the attic door at the time and I kept imagining vampires “breaking through.”

 

4. Name one food you cannot live without? Hmm. Tomatoes. Yep. LOVE them.

 

5. Pirates or ninjas? Pirates, I suppose. Though in reality, I wouldn’t have liked to experience the reality of them but ninjas–that’s just asking to be killed or seriously maimed.

 

6. What is your favorite childhood movie? Where the Red Fern Grows maybe. Oh! No! The Black Stallion. The friendship between Alec and the horse was truly memorable.

 

7. Do you have any pets? Yes. Three cats: Miss Socks, Midnight, and Miss Tinky. One dog: Bear.

 

8. What is the best piece of advice you’ve never taken? To do what makes me happy. It’s taken me forever to get that lesson home and now I am with writing. I encourage my children to pursue their dreams because let’s face it: “do something practical” makes you miserable.

 

9. Road trips. Good or bad? Depends on who you’re with and what you do to occupy your time. We used to take looong trips when I was a kid with three or four vehicles following one another. It was a blast to visit places we hadn’t planned on (my dad was spontaneous about stopping here or there). Nowadays, the trips have grown to 2-3 hours (still a long while) but the kids and I keep busy with songs, trivia questions, and I spy.

 

10. If you had to spend the night in the woods and could only bring one thing to entertain you, what would it be? Hmm. The woods at night is spooky to me, so that in itself would be entertaining enough. Some S’mores would be nice though and is always a conversation piece.

 

11. Do you have any writing rituals? Not really. I spend the “early” morning going through emails, blogs, etc. and then towards late morning get to the writing. Usually, I take a brief break between the “business” side of writing and the actuality of it. It kind of shrugs things off and helps me focus. Then I spend the first 5-10 minutes re-reading over the last scene and go on from there.

 

 

 

Okay. My bloggers to tag: Stina Lindenblatt, Julie Musil, Penny Randall, Kelbian Naidoo, Andie Russell, and Miranda Buchanan. Yes, I know that’s short of the 11 you’re supposed to, but most bloggers have already been tagged, I think. Good luck, ladies, here’s your 11 questions and play with it!

 

1. What’s your favorite thing about Spring?

 

2. Any big changes in your life coming up? A move, book coming out, etc?

 

3. Do you enjoy the indoors or the outdoors and why?

 

4. What creeps you out? Spiders or snakes?

 

5. Whose your favorite character on The Walking Dead?

 

6. Do you read in a wide variety of genres?

 

7. What has become the biggest “bore” for you when it comes to a book? Theme or character-wise?

 

8. If you had to do one thing different/over in your writing career, what would it be?

 

9. Best book you’ve read lately?

 

10. Dark Fairytales or light?

 

11. What unusual thing do you have hanging on your wall/s?

 

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Building on What’s Come Before

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Building on What’s Come Before

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

As a writer, I always want to build on what’s come before. I want to pull something new out of the hat when it comes to Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and Dracula. Otherwise, it’ll bore the reader. No two vampires are alike in the book world. Take for example: Stephanie Meyer’s sparkly/vegetarian Cullens versus Stephen King’s predatory lot. Love them or hate them, each author took the myth and made it unique to their stories. That’s what we need to do in our own. Create some aspect/twist to the monster that will thrill/awe/or send chills down reader’s backs.

 

To do so, we have to know the history of the creature we’ve decided on. There are so many tales about the three creatures above. Read wide and deep so you know what’s been done then compare that to where you want to take your audience. Do you want to focus on the vampire’s point-of-view or your human’s? We’ve seen vampire/human offspring (Blade) and we’ve witnessed Buffy’s (the Vampire Slayer) life. Each character brings something unique to the mix. It’s those differences that make them more compelling to the reader.

 

So whether we follow a whole town’s/country’s story or just one individual, the trick is to make the tale something new. Even if it’s just the mechanics of how the creature came about, what they eat, how they produce new ones, it’s up to us to dig deep into myth and scramble it about until we have the guts of our story. If we don’t know what’s come before, we risk producing something similar. Happy writing.

 

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Scary…to me

Combat Gear (Photo credit: John Starfire)

Scary…to Me

Traci Kenworth

 

I considered many ways to write this blog but I couldn’t quite pinpoint what I wanted to say. We can define horror in many ways: evil, savage, beastly, to name a few. The fact of the matter is, the types are endless. When I write scary stories, it’s not to invite anyone over to the dark side, or gross someone out so that they lose their lunch. I’m interested in what scares you and me and finding a way to combat those fears. I can think of a lot in this world that terrifies me: the loss of freedom, safety, and loved ones. I’m horrified at some of the real life events that happen. In my stories, I want the reader to find hope, a reason to go on when everything is numb, and quite simply, when there are no words.

My heroes and heroines aren’t perfect. They have flaws just like you and me. They love, hate, and sometimes struggle to forgive. Life is difficult for us and fictional characters. I wish that weren’t true in our case but I’m glad it is in theirs because it forces our story people to come up higher. They find the strength, hope, and courage. With everything in them, they fight to save those they love. Sometimes they have to learn to let go too. Bitterness, anger, hatred, these can crush a person. It’s only when they overcome this darkness the light shines into the cave for them and all the bats rush outside. So, I suppose you could say, I like to bring my characters back from the brink of death, just to show them, it’s possible.

Over and over, we hear that those that do something horrible showed few signs of what they were capable of here on this Earth. In fiction, I sometimes smudge those gray areas as well. Villains love their wives, pets, even their dolls. They seem like us and yet, there is a pocket of pure evil within them that we can’t begin to understand. It forces us to confront them, ourselves, in an attempt to blot them from existence. We don’t want to see the cannibal living among us, the abuser, or the monster in the shadows. Somehow, we think if we don’t look, they aren’t there. Horror fiction to me, exposes that under seam of life, that certain nasty we want to ignore. It drives the protagonist to stab that vampire through the heart with a stake. Perhaps this same protagonist is attempting to atone for what he is himself: a bystander who takes no action against a savage act, until someone he cares about is harmed.

I don’t want to get all morally superior here and determine what is and isn’t good horror. There is certainly material out there that I find as objectionable as the next. But this is about what I write and why. Sometimes it’s because I’ve been the one in hiding, running for my life. Others, it’s because I want to show to that young girl or boy or even older reader, there is a future, a bright one, and you can triumph over evil. It’s not easy. But someday, someone will take your hand and lead you into the daylight. That’s why I write scary. So that, by doing so, I can shatter the demons around us.

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Book Review: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Cover of Full Dark, No Stars

Book Review: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Traci Kenworth

 

Scribner 2010 Short Story Collection-Horror

1. 1922

Hook: April 11, 1930.

A confession by Wilifred Leland James. He murdered his wife in June of 1922. His son, Henry, at 14, aided him although he beat fear into him over a two month period. All over farmland. Hears things in walls. This was a chilling and at times sympathetic story over a man trying to keep what is his.

1. Big Driver

Hook: Tess accepted twelve compensated engagements a year, if she could get them. She writes books. This is her retirement fund. She takes a shortcut home thanks to the librarian. Trouble comes in the form of wood sprawled across the road and a giant of a man. Oh, this was a hard story for me to read. It was full of such heartache, pain, and the thirst for revenge. Brutal in tone, Tess is a survivor and deals with the situation the way many women perhaps wish they could deal with their attacker. She had me rooting for her all the way through and it was a satisfying conclusion.

1. Fair Extension

Hook: Streeter only saw the sign because he had to pull over and puke. Diagnosed with cancer, he lives in Derry, and is a banker. In return for 15% for 15 years, possibly more, he buys a life extension from a guy alongside the road. The catch? Bad luck goes to enemy. He chooses to cast everything his best friend’s way because Tom and Streeter’s girlfriend fell in love when they were in high school and married. This was my least favorite of the stories written. Maybe it’s because Dave Streeter doesn’t really see what he’s got to be thankful for (a nice wife, great kids, good career). Instead, he pines for what he doesn’t have. Even in the ending, he shows no remorse for what he’s done.

1. A Good Marriage

Hook: The one thing nobody asked in casual conversation Darcy thought in the days after what she found what she found in the garage, was this: How’s your marriage? Darcy’s life is happy until she discovers her husband’s a serial killer and rapist named Beadie. He claims that he’s haunted by his boyhood friend who died when he was a teen. Darcy struggles to decide what to do: turn her back on her husband or unveil his deeds. King really digs into the story here and shows what someone like Beadie’s other life might really be. It was haunting and gruesome and yet surprisingly had a heart to it you wouldn’t think it would.

This collection was everything a fan of Stephen King could want, maybe more. King always tells a fascinating tale and gets down to the nitty-gritty of things which is what I personally think makes him such a great writer. He knows people. And isn’t that the greatest compliment a writer can have? In his Afterword, he explains why he writes the stories he does and what he thinks makes a bad writer: someone who refuses to look the truth of the story in the eye and tell it for what it is. King has proven time and again that he’s unflinching in his portrayal of people and their humanness. We might not like what we see when the scab is ripped off, but we know that in doing so, he’s exposing all the pus beneath. Life isn’t always sweet. Sometimes it’s painful, heartbreaking, and unfair. How we each respond to that is different, unique. It’s what makes the tale true and the storyteller genuine. I heartily recommend this collection to all King fans and to anyone who loves to see the truth behind the mask of life.

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Writing in the Dark

Writing in the Dark

Traci Kenworth

 

I used to write religiously with an outline as I’ve said on here before but lately, I’ve been “writing in the dark” so to speak. Which is to say, I’ve thrown out my outline with my current project and what I’ve begun to do is to take each chap as one/or several long scenes and jot down notes before writing the chapter. Then I proceed to the next chapter and start the process over again. I’ve discovered a freedom in this type of writing and it’s really opened up the creative doors for me.

Part of why I’ve down so is reading several Stephen King interviews as well as going back over his The Stephen King Companion. He’s admitted he isn’t one for knowing exactly how a story is going to go, but with his writing, “finds what he needs, when he needs it.” I’m paraphrasing here, these aren’t his exact words, but I’ve found this to be true when it comes to my own writing. See, I was having a hard time getting enthused about a wip when I knew what was going to happen down to the ending. Writing this way lately, has multiplied the possibilities.

I’ve found new life in my story, my cps are enthusiastic about it, and it’s turning out to be one of the most complex stories I’ve written. So, it just goes to show, sometimes if you throw all the rules out, you find the will to go on, and what’s more, you’ll soar in your efforts. How about you? Are you an outliner or a pantser or a little of both? Any tips on how to do writing your way that you think might help others?

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Another Miss

Picture of the author Diana Gabaldon during a book signing held in Fergus, Ontario (during the Scottish Festival) on August 11, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another Miss

Traci Kenworth

 

Sorry, everyone, I didn’t get a book review in this week again. More life came into play. Between appointments, errands, and Spring Cleaning the book/s got pushed to the side. I will be back soon and plan to make book reviews a regular feature here. Some problems might occur when outside events come into bear and also depending on the length of the book. I.E. A Diana Gabaldon or Stephen King of good length may take a while, but I’ll try and read other things (non-fiction, craft books, etc.) at the same time. I’m working on catching up with the books I’ve stored away in to-be-read-piles all these years as well as current draws. I figure if I challenge myself enough, I can clear away a lot of non-keepers and get my bookshelves more maneagable.

How about you, what’s in your tbr pile as of late? Are you doing some “Spring Cleaning” of older books?

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A New Award–I’m Honored!!

Thanks to Jenny Keller Ford, I’ve been awarded The Paperclip Award. Here are my questions to answer:

1.When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Famous. Lol. I just always wanted to be in the lime light–an actress, dancer, singer. I used to write my speeches out in acceptance of awards–who knew that I’d be accepting them today as a writer?

2. What is your ultimate favorite place to be?

At home with my family. I enjoy learning about their days and sharing precious time with them.

3.Name one famous person who inspires you (just one).

In a previous award, I named Stephen King, so I’ll go with Marion Zimmer Bradley. I just loved her fantasy novels and when I submitted to her magazine, she actually wrote encouraging words to me. That she took a moment of her time to do so, remains with me all these years after her death as do her intricate, magical worlds.

4. Tea or coffee? I used to revel in tea for my morning drink, but cappucinos came along and coffee has become my all-time favorite.

5. If you could be any other person for 48 hours, who would you be? J.K. Rowling, just to know how she approaches her writing, to learn about her as a person (I’ve heard she’s done some fantastic charity work), and to know what’s it’s like to live in a castle. Lol.

6.What is your earliest memory: Gosh, my memory is thatthick (lol). Um, I was convinced I was adopted. My family was just way to normal…lol.

7. If you could ask anyone, living or dead, anything, who would it be? And what would you ask? I’d ask my grandfather on my mom’s side about his family as I work on genealogy and it’s so frustrating to find such slim leads. I would about his Cherokee mother and her story.

8. What is the scariest thing you have ever done? Walk away from a world of violence.

9. What is your favorite book? Different Seasons by SK for The Body story within.

10. Briefly explain one of the weirdest dreams you have ever had.

Hm..Well, it involved cougar teeth, a creature that tore flesh of a skeleton ate it and also slurped up the blood. Yes. It’s where I get my ideas. Lol.

11. What song best describes you? (Feel free to post a utube video.)

The above song reminds me of growing up in the country. It’s sad though.

Then there’s this ones which lifts me up to being a little risky in life:

12. Pen or pencil?

Pen.

13. Is 13 an unlucky number or not?

Not for me. My daughter was born on Friday the 13th.

And here’s who I’m passing the award off to:

Jody Hedlund

K.M. Weiland

Lisa Lail Green

Rek

 

 

 

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I’ve accepted another tag…

Image via Wikipedia

Barbara’s Meanderings has tagged me. Here are the questions:

1. If you could be any famous person, who would you be? I don’t know if I’d want their crazy, publicity-hounded lives, but if I could be the female Stephen King and write as many books as he has, make them as fantastic as he has, and help others as he has, that would be my ideal.

2. Why did you decide to write? It was part of therapy for me after my divorce.

3. What is your favorite food? Why? Beef stew because it’s warm and comforting.

4. What is your favorite YA book? Why? Hard to choose. I guess at the moment, Hunger Games.

5. Who is your favorite author or authors? Why? Stephen King because of the kind of person he shows himself to be as well as his great books.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world besides where you live now, where would you live? Tennessee.

7. What is your favorite thing to do besides writing? Reading.

8. Are you a plotter or a “pantser”? (Do you plot or do you just start writing?) Both. I do a reverse outline and somewhere along the revision stage the outline gets thrown out and the real story begins.

9. Who is your favorite character of all time? Why? Oh. A hard one. So many. I guess Gordy LaChance from Stand by Me because he’s really what inspired me to start writing. Part of the “Don’t let them tell you, you can’t do this,” chime from Chris Chambers.

10. What would you like to learn how to do? Actually, I’m learning it. How to be a better person and how to write better.

11. What is your favorite kind of music? I like Christian and Country.

 

And now, I’m going to close this round of questions, so you’re all safe!!

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The Questions I Thought I was Safe From…

Cover of Stand By Me (Deluxe Edition)

Well, Yikici snuck up behind me and tagged me, so without further pause, here are the answers to the questions. To be followed by my fellow tagees…

1.   Where did the inspiration for writing your WIP come from?

A couple different sources. Once upon a time, a movie called Stand By Me (Yes, Stephen King’s “The Body” short story) inspired me to think, “I can do that.” In the movie, Chris Chambers tells Gordy in no uncertain terms that he is meant to be a writer. That it’s a gift and not to lose it, because kids lose everything unless they have someone willing to keep them at it. It was like his character was speaking to me. It’s the first time I said to myself, that’s what I want to do. Then I happened on a movie about angels. Things twisted together into a camping trip among friends where heaven and hell come into play like a chess match. Thus “The Angel” was born.

2.   Any interesting tales about your muse?

Hmmm….sometimes I can bribe it with chocolate, but mostly it perks up with coffee.

3.   Your muse; fab/frustrating/inbetweener?

All of them.

4.   Why do you write?

I used to do so for therapy but now, I would say because I love to tell stories, to take readers down different paths, to make them laugh, cry, cringe. There’s nothing more rewarding than this job.

5.   If you could enhance one of your senses, which would it be?

The sense of taste. Due to a childhood accident part of my taste buds were damaged. It always my least favorite sense to use in stories but I’m working on it.

6.   When you are not creating what do you do?

I’m a single mother of two.

7.   Ask yourself a question –now answer it.

What’s my favorite character I’ve written? I love them all but the one I’m editing at the moment for LATWD (Thomas Skyhawk) is so charming and funny, I have to admit, he’s got my attention. LOL. In fact, the entire yaff critique group loves him…

8.   How long is a piece of string?

Depends on where you cut it.

9.   What was the last dream you saw?

I was running–I don’t recall where–and I was tackled by someone or something.

10.  In a film about your life, which actor would play you?

Drew Barrymore

11.  What’s your motto in life and also your work ethics?

Be there for people. Keep the faith, do your best, and in the end, smile.

Okay, my 11 questions are for: Mina Burrows,  Rachel Morgan, Rek, Cindy Hogan, Jamie McHenry, RaShelle, J.C. Martin, SP Bowers, K S Collier , and jarmvee.

1. Daymare or Nightmare?

2. How many books/short stories/poems/songs etc. have you written?

3. What genre is your current wip?

4. Do you have someone in your live who keeps you on track with your stories? Give them a shout out!

5. Do you write what you know, or stretch your imagination, or both?

6. Who would you like to see on a coin/money?

7. What’s your favorite place to write and why?

8. What would you describe your “Voice” like? I.E. Southern gothic…

9. Do you mix genres? Which ones?

10. If you could move anywhere in the world where would it be?

11. What book (craft or otherwise) have you learned the most from?

There you have them! No tag-backs. Lol.

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And a New Tag from Laurie Dennison…

Cover via Amazon

Thanks, Laurie!!

1. What kind of music (if any) do you listen to while writing? I don’t usually listen to music as it distracts me and pretty soon, I’m singing and tapping along and there goes my focus for the day. Lol.

2. Do you rush right out to see the movies adapted from books you love, or do you avoid them? Usually I wait for them to come out on dvd. I like the comfort of my own and free access to unlimited snacks (lol) while settling in. Currently awaiting Breaking Dawn Part I. I MAY actually go see Hunger Games when it comes out though.

3. Pick five fictional characters you’d love to have over to your house for dinner. Does it count if their from TV? Lol–Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural, Buffy, and lest you think I don’t read: Stu from The Stand, and Claire Fraser from The Outlander series.

4. Do you have any pets? Yes. I have 3 cats, and one dog.

5. What foods would you pick for your last meal? A steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, mushroom stuffing, and a slice of my Mom’s cherry pie.

6. Name the number one person who would make you faint if he/she commented on your blog or tweeted you on Twitter. (Can be a celebrity, author, or anyone else, but it has to be a real, living person.) Stephen King.

7. What’s the last song you listened to? Mean by Taylor Swift.

8. If you could pick one book that all teenagers would have to read in high school, what would it be? I would have more freedom of choice, so there’s no ONE book. I would rather see them be able to pick what they wanted more instead of having to read only required/approved books.

9. Which fictional character is most like ‘real-life’ you? Hmmm. Carmel from Anna Dressed in Blood. That scene where she runs in to save her friends from the ghost with only a baseball bat would so be me. I’d be scared as hell, but to save someone I loved, I would do it.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes and no. I believe it happens for some people, unfortunately for me, it delivered me into a scary situation which took me years to get freed of. Don’t get me wrong though, I know that it DOES happen. Evidence in the people around me. I still hope for it to happen for real for me again, so not giving up but I definitely will take my time even so, getting to know the person first before being committed again.

11. You can only pick one book to read over and over for the rest of your life. What would it be? The Bible. It’s the original book and has so many stories and uplifts and restores your soul.

 

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