Coming Soon!

I'd like to take this week's Writer's Wednesday to talk about Echelon Press' new holiday 12 days of great reads!

What Echelon Press' new line - Echelon Press Shorts - have done is they have taken holiday-themed stories from twelve authors and have compiled them into their 12 days of Christmas promotion. Each day, from December 1-12, Echelon Press Shorts will be releasing a new story written specifically for the holidays. And what greater way to give someone a small gift then by giving them an EBook from Shorts!

If you check out their blog each of these twelve days, you can read a post by each author, all about his or her short story, on the day of the story's release. How cool is that??

On another note, Writer's Wednesday will be back next week! I have two great authors scheduled for the next two Wednesdays - Pam Ripling will be making an appearance on December 9th, and Mary Cunningham will be stopping by on the 16th while on her book tour for the release of her newest Cynthia's Attic book - The Magician's Castle.

So make sure you keep tuned in!

Old Enough, Already!

Old Enough, Already!
by Pam Ripling

I’m so excited to be blogging with Alyssa Montgomery today. Why? Because this is the perfect place to announce some big news: I finished OLD ENOUGH! And why is this so significant?

OLD ENOUGH is the next in a series of books that began with my middle grade mystery, LOCKER SHOCK! The latter is the story of junior high student Ben Mitchell, who one day finds a mysterious brown paper bag in his school locker. What’s in the bag and who put it there serve to make Ben the most miserable boy on campus. Worse, his best friends are feuding. Ben’s normally calm, status-quo life is upside down.

My blog host today has always been a big fan of LOCKER SHOCK! and its myriad of middle school characters. When she discovered I was writing the next book in the series, she was supportive, encouraging and overjoyed. However, as weeks, months and even a couple of—well, a few—years passed, her enthusiasm turned to crankiness and her encouragement to down-right nagging. Now I ask you: who wouldn’t want such a supportive fan? [Think Stephen King’s Misery, film starring Kathy Bates and James Caan…]

Well, the book came back to life with a gasp and a prayer, and I finished it. Still in “first draft” form, it’s not quite ready for submission, but it has a beginning, a middle, and end; conflict; pain and suffering, laughter, and dancing. It has diversity, romance, acts of God and challenging friendships. With luck and some good editing, I hope to have OLD ENOUGH released for the Kindle and other ebook readers by next summer. And just maybe a third book in the series in draft format, too—but whatever you do, don’t tell Alyssa!

Pam Ripling is the author of middle-grade mystery, LOCKER SHOCK! Buy it at Quake, Fictionwise, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon today! E-book version now available for your Kindle! Visit Pam at http://www.beaconstreetbooks.com/.

Locker Shock by Pam Ripling

Looking for a good book to read? Why not check out Pam Ripling's

Locker Shock! , a great read for tweens!

From Quake:

What would you do if you found something deadly in your school locker and you suspected a friend of stashing it there?

Benjamin Mitchell thinks life really sucks when he nearly fails his history test. What's more, he's trying to get on the Midland Racers hockey team as a replacement goal tender. His buddies, Zach and Frasier are as different as night and day, and Ben feels like salt-water taffy, stretched thinner and thinner as the boys battle for his attention. And as if things couldn't get any worse, Valerie has suddenly started acting like a girl. The pressure is on. But Ben has bigger problems and it looks like somebody is out to set him up. Can he find out before it's too late?

A crucial aspect of this book is that Ripling creates characters that are realistic and deal with real-life issues, not issues that merely exist in a fantasyland. Her characters are easy to connect with and by the end of the novel, the reader's feelings seem to be connected and intertwined to those of the character.

Furthermore, the novel, which is intended for younger readers, is written in a fashion that is easily understandable by younger readers. The plot is not unnecessarily complicated as Ripling has found a solid, and likable, ground between a plot that is too simplistic and one that is too complex.

I would easily award Locker Shock! with two thumbs up!

Alyssa Montgomery

Author of Where Are You?, Mr. Mysterious, and 9:53 PM (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Interview with Pam Ripling/Anne Carter!!

Posted below is an exciting interview with Pam Ripling/Anne Carter!! Enjoy!


How did you get into writing?
In 7th grade, I took a Creative Writing class as an elective. My teacher, Mrs. Murray, was very inspiring. We learned to craft short stories, did lots of reading, etc.

How long have you been an author?
I was first published as a short story author in THEMA Literary Journal, for my story "Eureka". That was in 1997, I believe. My first full-length fiction publication was IN TOO DEEP, in 1999.

What is your proudest achievement in writing?
Just being published is huge. Twice, my work has been read by producers for screenplay potential. That was exciting. One of my favorite works is "When Harry Met Soli", surprising because this little story gets very little attention (and you can buy it here: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook42534.htm)

How many books do you currently have published and what are they about? Where can they be purchased?
As Anne Carter: (hot links take to buy page)
IN TOO DEEP; Wings ePress; 3rd chance at love for a young mother; hockey player boyfriend can't believe it when her past life suddenly starts haunting them.
STARCROSSED HEARTS; Wings ePress; Hollywood love triangle with world travel, kidnapping, whodunit, lots of romance!
A HERO'S PROMISE; Wings ePress; Characters from STARCROSSED HEARTS return to vie for heroine's heart - only murder gets in the way!
POINT SURRENDER; Echelon Press; Romantic mystery takes place in a haunted lighthouse on the California coast!
WHEN HARRY MET SOLI; Echelon Press; What happens when a young boy thinks he's the real Harry Potter? (eBook only)
STARFIRE; Echelon Press; Conservative L.A. CPA meets and begins an affair with the movie star man of her dreams...but is it the right thing to do? (eBook only)

eBook versions of all of these books are available at Fictionwise.

As Pam Ripling:
LOCKER SHOCK! Echelon Press; What did Ben find in his school locker? Something deadly, to be sure! Middle grade mystery
eBook available at Fictionwise.

Is there any advice you would like to give to aspiring authors?
Perseverance. If you give up easily, you probably weren't meant to be a writer. And, to be a writer doesn't mean you have to be published. There is nothing wrong with just writing for yourself. Ask yourself what you true goals are and work toward that end.