We All Could Use More 'Gumption'...read what Nancy Kelly Allen has done now...

   My good friend and critique buddy, Nancy Kelly Allen, has done it again...she wrote the most endearing tale titled AMAZING GRACE, a children's novel about a family living in rural Kentucky during WWII. The story draws you in, wraps its arms around you and won't let go.
   Grace's parents receive a mysterious letter that changes their world completely - the family is uprooted and plopped down in another town, another house, another life. The pain of missing Daddy, watching Mom struggle to pay bills and hearing Grandma insist on a regular basis that they just need to have 'gumption' makes life for Grace anything but amazing! Throw in a younger brother, a school bully and Grace's missing dog and all the gumption in the world couldn't make poor Grace's life amazing.
   But amazing it becomes. Grace deals with the bully, manages to tolerate the younger brother, and even finds her missing dog. But as one problem goes away, another rears its ugly head. Through her letters to Daddy, Grace unfolds a story of courage, love and a close-knit family that turns the everyday challenges into an amazing story of hope.
   I give AMAZING GRACE two-thumbs up. A sweet, sweet story woven with enough history and facts to keep even the most reluctant reader turning the pages, AMAZING GRACE will soon become a favorite of yours. It has mine.

  

 

Nancy K. Allen's BARRELING OVER NIAGRA

Into every life some rain must fall. This winter has sent that rain in forms of ice and snow. I'm soooo ready for spring. It's almost as if the word itself is magic. You know when folks say...it's right around the corner, I want to race to that corner and peek. Spring will be so welcomed this year. I plan to be super-productive. I plan to fulfill some of my dreams. Why I need to wait for spring, I dunno...but credos to my writer-buddy, Nancy. She isn't waiting for spring. Nope, she uses her wintry, snowing, frigid winters to churn out another (or two...) story. One of Nancy's latest is BARRELING OVER NIAGRA:

Annie Edson Taylor hatched a big idea in 1901 that she needed to find someway to change her luck. With no money and the poorhouse her only option, she decided to throw caution to the wind and try the impossible: barreling over Niagara Falls. In order to do this, Annie must first design the barrel - preferably one that won't crash into bits and pieces when she goes over the falls. Did I mention Annie was 63 years old when she attempted this feat? This is truly a bold adventure story in Annie's

search for FAME & FORTUNE.

Watch for these other books coming soon by Nancy  K. Allen:  FIRST FIRE—A CHEROKEE LEGEND and AMAZING GRACE

Another week has gone by...

...and I've lost count. After awhile, the days merge together and the anticipation slows down. You realize the pins and needles have given way to rocks and hills. The view at the top is cloudy...(sorry, I drifted off there for a bit.)
I really wanted this post to be about help. Real help. As in Writing Partners. Writing Partners can be life savers. At least, that's what my pal Nancy has become. She has the patience of Job when it comes to reading my chapters. Her advice is spot on and easy to grasp-not out there on a plane by itself. Tips I can use. Guidance that makes me think. Suggestions that present themselves over and over again to spice up a scene or describe a feeling--useful ideas that make me a better writer. And sometimes, just reading her emails on what she has learned becomes my 'ah ha!' moment.
Like this week: She received a rejection and instead of wallowing in self-pity (that's always my first inclination!) she concluded that particular genre wasn't hot right now. Instead, she decided to reserarch exactly what is AND she shared that info with me.
Well, needless to say, the unpopular genre is exactly what I've been concentrating on since my last submission. And it didn't take a sledge hammer to the head to know if SHE can't sell it, I surely cannot! Luckily, I do have a little story waiting in the wings on Contempory MG Mystery that might open more doors. So, switcheroo-I'm jumping back into THE SECRET AT ONE BELMONT LANE.
In this story, two Middle Graders stumble onto the bizarre and unexplained-until it's too late and they almost lose their lives and a whole lot of bank money, to boot. What does a wolf, a grizzly bear and a python have in common? Did I mention the villians were shape-shifters?

Who remembers how long it's been???

Still waiting...

Week 16:

Here I sit, cobwebs filling my mind, as I wait. Never was good at waiting. I almost will gladly accept another “no,” rather than wait to hear a “yes.” But let me tell you about my recent weekend conference where I heard a wonderful author who inspired me so much, I couldn’t wait to rush right out and buy some of her books. The line to get her autograph stretched all across that conference hall and out the door. I should have done what many others did- buy the book and get the autograph later. But I didn’t. For 2 days I tried. Finally on last day, I had slim pickings, but I did get a quick chat with the author. Why is it every author seems to live the dream life and I don’t? Oh yeah…I haven’t sold anything, yet. Oh yeah, I’m still waiting to hear back.  And so I wait…

Week 15

Did the editor receive my submission or did it get gobbled up as spam? Did she forget ever expressing interest? Maybe this time it didn’t even make it to her desk. Maybe an intern took one look and decided it wasn’t what they were looking for. This is a game we all play when it comes to submissions. You’re never really sure your submission makes it to the destination until you hear back, sometimes weeks/months later. So in the meantime, we wait…

Or, we take this opportunity to start a new project or revisit an old one. A good way to pick up an old story is to read over the outline or read through what you’ve already written. Chances are, the characters will step up and step in. Sometimes, they’ll follow along right where you left them, but other times, they’ll leap off in a new direction. Either way, you’re writing. And that’s the best way to manage your time while playing the waiting game.

Week 14 - The End or The Beginning-depends on how you look at it:

I’ve finally come to the end of the MOUNTAIN LAUREL rewrite. I’ve proofed until I’m blue in the face (now where did that saying come from? I’ll have to ask “Mama.” If you read the story, you’ll understand.)

Every word, every sensory notation, every visual scene has been a labor of love. But it’s time to put it to bed, once and for all. I’m not saying I don’t have another rewrite in me. I’m just saying, my creative juices need freed to roam elsewhere.

At any rate, it has been sent to the editor. Now, we wait.