Two New Book Releases To Kick Off Your New Year

Happy Friday, Creatives!

So, we’re in the middle of those dog days of winter and by the way, Happy New Year 2016! I hope you’re not letting the cold melancholy and sluggish weather keep you from your creative juices! If you can’t write at the moment, at least do a good deed for someone and read a book or two.

Dontcha know, some of my best friends are  readers. “Ruff”

Speaking of the latter, I have two new books by two different authors  that landed on my desk recently, that I think y’all might like.  Although, I’m not in the zone to do book reviews, right now, I keep receiving these amazing books. Never look a gift horse in the mouth!

I read The Vicious Cycle over the holidays and it is an awesome true life account of one woman’s mission to re-educate and prepare inmates about the reality of the real world, once they’re released from prison. This book is based upon the author’s real experiences coming from living that life.

For more information about the author, feel free to visit her social media sites:

TargetEvolution.org

www.facebook.com/targetevolution

www.twitter.com/targetevolution

www.instagram.com/crystalvictoria107

www.linkedin.com/crystalvictoria

The second book is one I hope to read when time allows because the subject matter seems more aligned to my purpose brand. Here’s a snippet from A Monk’s Way:

“Insightful and at times enlightening, “A Monk’s Way,” posits an alternative to blindly following the conventional dogma of organized religion and presents readers with the tools to ultimately cultivate a more meaningful relationship with a higher power.”

For more on this author visit www.clarkeide.com and follow him on Twitter @clark_eide.

I receive many books from public relations people, on behalf of their clients, either looking for a review or offering an author interview. In most cases, I will offer the author space on Clara’ writer’s blog to promote their work and also give y’all an opportunity to read these books. I know, sowing those seeds girl, sowing those seeds!

Are you a relative new author, having difficulty selling your books with folk in your inner circle? If you are, I invite you to join the conversation happening on Friday the 15th, where the topic asks the question:

“Are authors being supported by their friends and colleagues in their book sales? If not, why not? ” Seasoned authors we value your input and want to hear your take on the subject as well.

Send your responses to clarawriter@att.net to be included in the conversation.

Today’s writer quote:

“My urge to write is an urge not to self-expressionism but to self-transcendence. My work is both bigger and smaller than I am.” — Susan Sontag

18 Gifted Writing Quotes For Your Holiday Enjoyment!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all avid readers and writers!

Good evening. You guys know by now just how much I love collecting  and sharing great writing quotes from every caliber of writers. It doesn’t matter who said it, as long as there’s a bit of sage advice in the  message. So, I decided what better gift to share with my awesome comrades in readership than writing quotes to enjoy along with their holiday festivity? I know, I done good, right? 🙂

Anyho, without further ado, here’s 18  memorable writer quotes to top off your holiday reading:

1. “Don’t write to become the next great somebody, write to be the next you- the one and only you, the writer/author our world needs to meet” – Wayne Dyer
2. “The only limit to your success is your own imagination” – Shondra Rhimes
3. ” Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry” – Mark Twain
4. “It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way” – Ernest Hemingway
5. ” I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose” – Stephen King
6. ” Writing is its own reward” – Henry Miller
7. “You learn by writing short stories. Keep writing short stories. The money’s in novels, but writing short stories keeps your writing lean and pointed” – Larry Niven
8. “To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme” – Herman Melville
9. ” A poet can survive everything but a misprint” – Oscar Wilde
10.  ” Never use a long word where a short one will do” – George Orville
11. ” I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick skin” – Harper Lee
12. “Write drunk, edit sober” – Ernest Hemingway
13. “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt” – Sylvia Plath
14. “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader” – Robert Frost
15. “The artist must bow to the monster of his own imagination” – Richard Wright
16. “Wait, wait, wait, wait. Don’t try to write-through it, to force it. Many do, but that won’t work. Just wait, it will come” – Toni Morrison
17.  “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching  the live of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life as well. It’ about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay?” – Stephen King
18.  “You can’t rest on your laurels. Your own body of work is yet to come” – President Barack Obama

So, there you have it folks, 18 holiday quotes from esteemed writers and authors for your reading pleasure. My gift to all of my loyal and faithful readers, colleagues, writers and authors everywhere.

Have the warmest, healthiest and happiest Christmas and New Year possible! I hope to see all of you along with new friends, readers and followers back here in 2016:)

BTW : If you felt good vibrations from today’s post, feel free to chime in and let us know the quote that resonated with you, on your writing journey.

 

“Running In Heels” A New Memoir by Mary Ann Perez

Hello readers, writers, authors and creatives! I’m always overjoyed to receive an email from writers I’ve connected with, informing me they have finished their manuscript or found a publisher for their masterpiece. You know the icing on the cake comes when I’m told that their book is ready for purchase and would I please aid them in promoting their baby?

Running In Heels, is a heart wrenching memoir, written by Mary Ann Perez and it’s available for purchase. For those of you who follow my blog, you know I don’t recommend a book I wouldn’t read or haven’t read myself. At this point, and after reading the synopsis to Mary’s new memoir, I’m looking forward to reading it in its entirety.

Pre-orders are available and can be ordered in soft, hard, or e-book. All printed pre-orders will be signed.

Go here to read an excerpt of “Running In Heels” and purchase your copy today. http://charthousepress.com/books/running-in-heels-a-memoir-of-grit-and-grace/

Everyone have a blessed (count your blessings) week-end and always treat yourself special…

September Writing Contests

Happy Friday, all! Let’s face it, writers cannot get enough of sharpening their skills by competing in writing competition. This is another arena for the creative to pit their abilities against fierce competitors for the big prize. Sometimes we do hit a home run and take home the trophy!

Writing competitions in any genre are beneficial to the creative because we can gauge our writing ability against the best of the best and still lose gracefully in the agony of defeat. We know that writing for us is a win/win, no matter if we place in the competition or not.

For those of you who want to compete for the prize or see how far your writing skills take you, here are three great writing contests you might enjoy entering in September:

Mslexia is holding a women’s memoir contest for women with a story to tell and who want to compete in the competition for their share of the monies. Go here for details- https://mslexia.co.uk/shop/ncomp_enter.php

Still working on your memoir and don’t really want to share your first draft for competition? How about sharing your dynamite opening paragraph instead? Go here to find out about your first memoir paragraph competition:
http://womensmemoirs.com/memoir-writing/pamela-jane-bell-announces-womens-memoirs-opening-paragraph-contest/

Creative Non Fiction Magazine is holding an essay contest in September called “Waiting.” Go here for guidelines on submitting to their essay contest-https://www.creativenonfiction.org/submissions/waiting

Entered a writing contest lately? Which do you prefer,those with or without fees? Share your experiences with us here on the writers blog and chime in on an upcoming writer’s debate where we discuss paying vs. non paying contest markets.

A Congratulatory Post On Poetry And Books

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope your week was productive and that you have a safe and memorable weekend of rest, reconnection and gratitude. I, like you, was saddened to hear of Robin Williams death. I was remembering all of his great performances and his upbeat, perfectly timed improvise & jokes that made us laugh until we hurt. What baby boomer doesn’t remember Mork & Mindy? His passing is unfortunate and very sad. There are never enough words.

This is a congratulatory post of sorts that I’ve been meaning to share with readers about what’s been brewing on my creative stove, give a well-deserved shout-out to an author’s milestone accomplishment and share information about clara54’s upcoming guest author appearances.

I admit it. I didn’t spend time working on my memoir during my hiatus. I couldn’t bring myself to create in that cathartic space and so I went back to writing poems; a genre I’d found a bit of success in, in the beginning of my freelance writing career.

I wrote a few new poems and gathered some of my languishing poetry to enter them in The Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize Competition.http://caseyshaypress.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-mary-ballard-poetry-chapbook-prize.html where they placed in the competition’s quarter finalists. The finalists vote comes at the end of August. Fingers crossed:)

I received edits to a poem selected for inclusion in the Michelle Obama Anthology (the authors changed the title) which is set for publication in the historical academia’s “The Black Scholar” sometime in September.

My poem “When Morning Comes” was selected to appear on the website Best New Poems for 7 days where readers and poetry lovers get to vote on the poem they like best and that poet wins the contest. My poem is scheduled to appear on the site August 29th. I need your votes, people! so go here to vote for When Morning Comes www.BestNewPoems.com.

I’m collaborated with,and will be the featured author on a new upcoming Christian Romance Guide, penned by my colleague and friend, Evelyn Cogdell. At our last correspondence, Evelyn was held up and anticipating returning to the project in September. More on that as it unfolds.

Kathy Pooler, who blogs at Memoir Writer’s Journey http://www.krpooler.com/blog is presently on a blog tour for her just released memoir and will be stopping in at clara54 the first week of September to talk about her new book (which has received great reviews) and her journey away from emotional abuse.

The same week, Kathy will guest post at my Authentic Woman site to encourage, inspire and empower other women to live a life of wholeness, away from abuse.

I was stuck writing my memoir and turned to penning poems on my time away. I also connected with Joy Devok, a prolific cross genre author who blogs at “My Life a Legacy” and who just happens to have recently published her e-book of poetry, called Poetry: Touch the World with Your Art and Soul.

Look for Joy’s appearance very soon as she joins the writers blog to talk about her enormous body of work and the joy of writing poetry. I’m excited to have these authors visit and share with us their writing process and talk about their books.Congratulations authors!

Whew, this post was supposed to be short and sweet. What happened!? If you have great news to share with my readers, please feel free to inquire about joining the fray:)

On Hiatus

Happy Friday to all of my readers, writers and creatives. I hope you have a safe and lovely, memorable Fourth of July! I will be extending my hiatus as I am off somewhere chasing rainbows of passion and purpose:)

See you in August.

Peace and blessings.

“Ten Lessons My Mother Taught Me Before She Died” By Faith L. Walls

It takes courage and a spirit filled life to continue to live joyous and productive in this great big world without your mother. Faith L Walls wrote a moving tribute to her dear mother who passed away in 2007. Her book serves as an inspiration to all “girls” without mothers.

I am one of those ‘girls’ and I’m reading “Ten Lessons My Mother Taught Me Before She Died” by the author and educator, Faith L. Walls. You can go to http://amzn.to/18Wo3AE to pick up a copy for yourself or for a “girl” you know who is out here living life without her mother.

Peace & blessings

All Beautiful Things: Amazon Book Review

Wow, overcast skies and a slight misty rain, makes for one of those awe-struck beautiful mornings. Happy Spring to my readers, writers, movers and shakers! Since my last visit, I’ve been putting in hours as a great grandma, working on writing projects, scouring for gigs, attending seminars, teleconferences, and reading an assortment of books:) which brings me to today’s Friday post.

If you haven’t read “All Beautiful Things”, a plot centered around the Beauty and the Beast fan tale by Nicki Salcedo, I don’t think your book collection is complete. Here’s the review that I posted on Amazon.com:

When I read a book for review, I’m usually conscious of my personal taste for story telling. The ability to keep the reader turning the page and the overall feeling of satisfying a hunger that burns in the belly of the reader is a plus. Redundancy, predictability and failure to persuade the reader can detract from a book’s praises.

In All Beautiful Things, the author writes a horrific attack scene that immediately horrifies and draws the reader in and sets the tone for a roller coaster ride of expectancy. The wonderful pace of Imagery moves the story from beginning to end.

There are a few predictions that played itself out that was not a surprise to this reviewer, but still so few that it didn’t detract from the overall expertly written and nicely applied attention to detail the author conveys.

The protagonist is Ava Camden, a rich African-American socialite in Atlanta who is brutally attacked and left for dead. Only she lives and her life is a constant reminder of her ordeal because of the deep scars in her face sustained from the knife the perpetrator welded in the attack.
Ashamed, angry and embarrassed by her disfigurement, Ava refuses to ever have her picture taken. She becomes withdrawn and spends her time working in a shelter amongst people who she feels doesn’t judge her.
When Ava’s white attacker who is serving ten years for the crime against her is released after only seven years and promptly disappears, the brother of the accused attacker sets out to find him, along with the answers to the mystery surrounding Ava Camden’s attack.

All Beautiful Things is a well crafted story that will keep readers intrigued until the end. I enjoyed reading it.

You can see the review here- http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LJ1FGQQTUQPN.

Nicki on Goodreads- url
https://www.goodreads.com/nickisalcedo

Have you read All Beautiful Things yet? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

A Blessed Spring Morning

Spring is here. Tulips are my favorite spring flowers and Clara54 is taking a spring break from her job 🙂 Until a time in April, everyone be safe. Live, Love, Laugh and READ great books.!

On The Horizon at Clara54

It’s been a looong Friday! So, I’m going to make this short but relevant:) I’m taking a page from Oprah when I say the one thing I know for sure is that nobody’s perfect. Every single creative on their writing journey want to become better at their craft. Readers just make better writers who are always looking for that next great read. I recommend “100 Ways To Improve Your Writing” by Gary Provost, who also wrote “The Freelance Writer’s Handbook.”

This particular handbook is only about 158 pages, but it is packed with useful information and proven techniques on everything from finding inspiration, punctuation and grammar, to rewrites and gaining the respect of your readers. It’s a great little writer’s resource and I finished it in about 60 minutes.

“All Beautiful Things” by Nicki Salcedo is be the next book on the horizon for an upcoming review at Amazon.com. If you’ll like to read the author’s debut novel, pick up a copy here: http://www.amazon.com/All-Beautiful-Things-Nicki-Salcedo-ebook/dp/B00H9H6JNE.

I was the featured author at BAB.http://buff.ly/1nHDsgs

What’s on your reading agenda?