I'm very excited to announce ...

... that I have just signed over the print rights for String Bridge to the magnificent Aussie publisher, eMergent Publishing.

I am seriously seriously blessed to have crossed paths with the amazingly talented founding partner of eMergent, Jodi Cleghorn. She is a breath of fresh air. Her passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for encouraging emerging writers is awe-inspiring and inspirational. In 2011, the Chair of Queensland named her the 2nd recipient of the Kris Hembury Encouragement Award for Emerging Artist at the Aurealis Awards in Sydney. You should check out her blog and follow!

I first crossed paths with Jodi, when a short story of mine was accepted into eMergent's anthology, 100 Stories for Queensland, which was published to help raise money for Queensland flood relief in May of 2011.

Since 2009, eMergent Publishing has produced "conceptual fiction anthologies which push the boundaries of form and structure. [They] seek to find new permutations and relevance for the short story in the rapidly changing digital landscape."

String Bridge will be their first single author mainstream novel. I am so so proud to be a part of their team, and to help establish them as a publisher of full-length fiction.

On another awesome note, I've changed my author website! Like?

How To Run A Writer's Retreat: Part One

As I said in this post, I will be answering all your questions about the Homeric Writer's Retreat & Workshop, in a series of posts. Tune in every Thursday to get some answers. I'll be posting until I run out of questions.

The first question I'm going to answer is the most popular one. One that was asked by many, including Shannon Cyr, Theresa Milstein, D. G. Hudson, Lane7, and Hart Johnson:

QUESTION: "I'm curious about how you structured it--how did you mix writing, learning from the experts, (seminars versus workshops?) playtime ...?"

I spent quite a bit of time organizing the schedule to work well with the August heat. This was my main concern, because in the middle of the day on a Greek island it can get pretty stinky. But holding the retreat at any other time of year, would have meant missing out on the amazing traditional dance festival which proved to be an absolute hit with our attendees. (you can read some testimonials here.)

the schedule: click to enlarge

Firstly, as you can see if you enlarge the schedule, most of the sessions were lectures/seminars on how to get published. From the query letter, to getting articles published in magazines/newspapers, to building a platform. The only interactive workshops were mine on the last day, which I will be incorporating more of next year due to the fact that they were very much enjoyed. (woop!)

During free time, which was mostly in the middle of the day, one-on-one sessions took place. We just played this by ear. Whomever was ready to do one, did one. It worked very well this way. No pressure on us, no pressure on the attendees. Attendees also sent their work to Chuck earlier in the year, so that he could thoroughly prepare. Excellent idea. The feedback he was able to provide due to this was phenomenal, and so I've heard, totally satisfying.

We also had excursions to various places on the island. One particularly interesting one, was to Homer's School, where it is believed, Odysseus' palace was. In addition, there were organized dinners, trips to picturesque villages, by the sea and on TOP of the mountains. And of course, the dance fest. You can see more photos on our Facebook Page.

On Kravoulia Beach, singing like divas.

One night a few of us decided to take a stroll to the beach with Chuck and a guitar. Which just proves, despite the full-looking schedule, there was still time to chill out, and do a few things on the spur of the moment. Which I think is vital too. You don't want to bog people down with too many 'have tos'.

I honestly don't think many got a lot of writing done. But that wasn't the point of this retreat. It was to learn and experience something completely new, to enrich lives, to motivate. And you know what? By the time it was over, everyone was inspired. INSPIRED. Everyone jumped back into their writing on their return home with full force. The positive feedback has been astounding, and I couldn't be any more pleased!

In a nutshell, I think there are 5 things you need to remember when organizing a workshop schedule:

1. Make sure you schedule breaks if you have more than two sessions in a row.

2. Consider the weather. It affects people's concentration more than you know.

3. Allow plenty of free time. But make sure everyone knows what they could do if they don't particularly feel like writing or lazing around, i.e. show them where they can eat, swim, etc.

4. Be available. You never know when someone might need you for something. If you are the organizer, do not expect to get a holiday out it this. It is HARD work. You need to be there for everyone, both teachers and attendees, around the clock.

5. Get to know everyone who you are doing business with, and know your destination like the back of your own hand. Especially for when unexpected things happen, such as someone losing their luggage! Trust me, when most businesses shut at 2 pm, it pays to know people, who know people, who know people. Get my drift?

Check out this video I took, while on Homer's Walk. Sorry about the poor sound quality, but I recorded it on my phone on the spur of the moment:

Got any more questions? Leave them in the comments, and I'll be sure to answer them in my future posts.

The Artist Unleashed: WHY WRITING IS LIKE PRACTICING MEDICINE, by Lydia Kang

Writing is an art. Medicine is an art. I do a bit of both; so how to they compare?

(I’m going to write a list. I’m very list-y; it’s my attempt to feign organizational skills).

1. You have to learn how to take care of a patient.

There was college, and medical school, and residency… and after years of practice, I’m still learning. Writing is the same in that you can’t, de novo, write a perfect anything the first time you type onto a Word document. That doesn’t mean that the first thing you’ve written has no value. But writing is a craft. Constantly striving to improve your craft is a must.

2. Not everyone can be a doctor, but a doctor can come from anywhere.

Okay, so I stole this line from the movie Ratatouille. But it’s true. Same with writers. And genius rat chefs.

3. Good doctors take care of a person, not a diagnosis.

Good writers take care of the story as a whole. They don’t just fix one little plot or character problem, without seeing how it affects the entire feel and flow of the story. Our written work isn’t a piece of meat. It’s a living, breathing thing that’s complex and sometimes difficult to handle; but if you attack it by looking through a microscope without seeing the big picture, you’re in trouble.

4. Never underestimate the benefit of a consultation.

Patients are complicated; novels are complicated. Sometimes we get so close that we can’t see the obvious anymore. A fresh pair of eyes can be truly illuminating. So if you don’t have one, get a crit partner, stat.

5. Doctors need vacations, perspective, and yes, to be silly sometimes.

Forget the pipe-smoking curmudgeon in the little shack in the woods. Writing all day and all night isn’t healthy. Don’t forget to live, to love your family, and to have fun.

Thank you Jess, for having me over. You massively increased my cool factor, which is always helpful!

~Lydia Kang

Blog Tour: Oracle, by J.C. Martin

So, I know I was going to start my Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop posts today, but due to me being absentminded, and forgetting that I had something booked in for this Monday, I'm going to post my Homeric posts on Thursdays. If you asked me a question you'd like to see the answer to, please drop by again on Thursday!

So, onto the task at hand. The amazingly talented J.C. Martin is having a blog tour! And she has some amazing giveaways happening at her blog, so do drop by there and check them out!

To celebrate her novel, Oracle, I'm posting about one of her book characters today.

Character Spotlight: Tom Holloway

Fact file:
Name: Thomas Edward John Holloway

Age: 29
D.O.B.: December 24th
Likes: Naturalistic pantheism, philosophy, literature, criminology, natural history
Dislikes: Loud noises, clubbing, untidiness, large crowds

Bio:
Bookish Detective Constable Tom Holloway is the newest member of the Murder Investigation Team. Socially awkward and reserved, his professional relationship with the fiery Sam Blaize starts off shaky. Nevertheless, he is nevertheless eager to please, and works best when left alone to potter away in silence. His contributions to an investigation are often astute, something that Detective Lancer appreciates.

While his seemingly uptight attitude and strange beliefs in New Age religion may not endear him to colleagues, Tom keeps much of his personal life to himself, and seldom talks about his past or his family. Could it be that he is harbouring a dark secret?

About Oracle:

With London gearing up to host the Olympics, the city doesn't need a serial killer stalking the streets, but they've got one anyway.

Leaving a trail of brutal and bizarre murders, the police force is no closer to finding the latest psychopath than Detective Inspector Kurt Lancer is in finding a solution for his daughter's disability.

Thrust into the pressure cooker of a high profile case, the struggling single parent is wound tight as he tries to balance care of his own family with the safety of a growing population of potential victims.

One of whom could be his own daughter.

Fingers point in every direction as the public relations nightmare grows, and Lancer's only answer comes in the form of a single oak leaf left at each crime scene.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

J.C. Martin is a butt-kicking bookworm: when she isn’t reading or writing, she teaches martial arts and self-defence to adults and children.

After working in pharmaceutical research, then in education as a schoolteacher, she decided to put the following to good use: one, her 2nd degree black belt in Wing Chun kung fu; and two, her overwhelming need to write dark mysteries and gripping thrillers with a psychological slant.

Her short stories have won various prizes and have been published in several anthologies. Oracle is her first novel.

Born and raised in Malaysia, J.C. now lives in south London with her husband and three dogs.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Twisted Velvet Chains: Free on Kindle Today!

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The Artist Unleashed: DREAM BIG. OR GO HOME, by Dawn Ius

Mom used to call me Alice, as in the girl from Wonderland. The daydreamer.

That’s me.

My sister’s the logical one, the I-have-a-plan girl, the “doctor” in the house. She watched Silence of the Lambs when she was 13 and decided she wanted to be Jodi Foster – or more accurately, a forensic psychologist. She. Never. Wavered. From that goal.

I’m a waverer.

Oh sure, I always knew what I wanted to be when I grew up – a writer, of course. I wrote my first book at the age of eight, when I figured out writing about monsters was far more productive (and less frightening) than looking for them under my bed. At 16, I penned a romance. That was the start of my genre wavering.

I’ve written short stories, full-length novels, picture books, YA and MG fiction and more Journalism articles than I can count. The genres change and the target audiences range from elementary students to adult thriller fanatics – call it writerly ADD – but I’ve always remained somewhat consistent in the goal: to be a published book author.

Which is why my current aspirations have my family and friends somewhat perplexed.

I’ve just signed a rep agreement with the amazing Anna Archer of Lucas Talent, a film and TV literary agent who represents screenwriters and showrunners.

Weird, right? Agents don’t just sign writers who dream – they want storytellers who understand the world of TV and film. And if I’m being honest, in all of my writing journeys, the path I’ve never taken – never even thought about taking – is this one. But a year and a half ago, I met Judith Graves, a brilliant young adult writer with the same commercial aspirations as myself.

We hit it off, taking our casual critique partnership to a collaborative level, and somewhere along the way, we decided to start writing scripts. We started with a spec script for a major network TV series, and pleased with the feedback, ventured into development of our original ideas. Our new screenwriting agent likes those ideas – and she’s tapped a couple of producers who do, as well.

A voice in the back of my head questioned me, still questions me. I know nothing about writing scripts, the formatting, the differences between narrative and dialogue. I don’t understand the acts, the breaks, the importance of even tighter writing. The pilot scripts Judith and I have written feel sparse, my feature-length screenplay a bit clichéd.

But I’m okay with being new girl on the totem pole because if there’s one thing I do understand, it’s to dream BIG.

So, what are your BIG dreams?

~Dawn Ius

How opinionated is TOO opinionated?

Yesterday, I got into a somewhat heated debate about THIS ARTICLE in a Facebook Writer's Group. The discussion was civil, but I could feel the frustrated undertones of the other commenter. I was also feeling frustrated myself. Because we strongly disagreed with each other. And I began to wonder ... am I too forward?

I asked a close friend of mine whether she thought I was too forward with my opinions before continuing the discussion and letting it evolve into something sticky. She told me that I wasn't. She said that there is overbearing and there is assertive, and that I was the latter. I was relieved. But then I also wanted to kick myself. I realized I was taking it all too personally. And so was the other commenter. (Funnily enough we both ended up admitting to this and cooled off each others' egos. I was so intrigued by her that I ended up purchasing her book! But that's not the point of this post.)

My questions to you are: How do you deal with conflicting opinions on the Internet? Do you hold back? Do you go too far? Do you pretend to be all cool and collected and swear at your screen? Or do you stay away all together because you're afraid of tarnishing your reputation? How do you know when you're straddling the line?

On another note, have you read the article I linked to above? What's your opinion about it?

PS: If you missed Monday's post, go check it out and contribute a question about the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop, for a series of posts I'll be writing about it.

Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop = Success!!!

I'm back!

Wow, what a whirlwind summer. So much to tell you, but let's start with the retreat with Chuck Sambuchino, hey? I'm going to keep it short and sweet today, tell you about it in brief with some photos (below). There is so much to say that I can't quite summarize all my thoughts into one post, so I reckon the way to go is to open up the comments to questions.

Ask me anything you like about the retreat, anything at all, and I'll answer your questions on my blog, along with a link to your blog to get you a little exposure too. I'll answer one or two questions at a time, in a series, which I will post every Monday until all the questions are answered: How To Organize a Writers' Retreat.

BONUS! If you share this post on Facebook or Twitter (tell me so in the comments after your question with the link), I will dedicate a day to showcase you (and your book if you have one) on my blog, on any Wednesday of any week. From now on, Wednesday will be Author Guest Post Day, on The Alliterative Allomorph. (get in quick, as I will only book Wednesdays until the beginning of December)

The Retreat in a Nutshell:

The entire crew eating ice cream in Frikes Bay, after the first dinner together. From left to right:  Rebekah Dedmon, Beccy Hall, Samantha Rector, Cari DeSantis, Chuck Sambuchino (host), Jessica Bell (host), Heidi Tauschek, Nick Deligaris, Marilena Mexi, Paul Cuclis, Karen Bass, Mike Bass.
(Photograph  (C) 2012 Erika Bach)

Sightseeing in Anoghi, which means "on top of the world", so we're pretending to be falling from the top of the world! Great idea, Heidi. Makes for a fabulous shot!
(Photograph  (C) 2012 Heidi Tauschek)

Expressing our enthusiasm.
(Photograph (C) 2012 Heidi Tauschek)

The welcome dinner in Frikes Bay at Rementzo Tavern.  (Photograph  (C) 2012 Erika Bach)

Esther, the guide on the Homer's School walk telling us all about the history of the ruins surrounding us.

Esther, the guide on the Homer's School talking about Odysseus at the Stavros archaeological museum.

Our first excursion to the picturesque village of Kioni. Enjoying a cocktail or two at Spavento Bar right on the edge of the water.

Workshop outside, at Nostos Hotel in Frikes Bay.

Chuck Sambuchino discussing Publishing Today. In the lobby of Nostos Hotel, in Frikes Bay. (Photograph (C) 2012 Erika Bach)

Paul Cuclis talking with his hands like a true Greek. (Photograph (C) 2012 Erika Bach)

A part of the crew soaking up the knowledge. (Photograph (C) 2012 Erika Bach)

FOR MORE PHOTOS PLEASE VISIT THE RETREAT'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

So ... whatcha wanna know? Ask and an answer shall be given ...