tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45151221236425833012024-03-05T06:36:16.579-08:00A Shortcut to ShrumsBrianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-82380811882134017912017-07-18T17:00:00.000-07:002017-07-18T18:45:52.192-07:00PITCH WARS WISHLIST 2017<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*VERY LUKE SKYWALKER
FACE*</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">I WANT TO BE YOUR MENTOR<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">I am so stoked to get to read your words this year and absolutely cannot wait to dive innnn. SCROLL ON, HUMANS, and let’s see if we’re a good match for each other, and why
you want ME to train you in the ways of the Force.</span><span style="color: #449911; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">PART ONE</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">BIO</span></b></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">So first, a little about
yours truly. I am Brianna Shrum. I’m a YA author from Denver, Colorado. I’m
totally obsessed with gaming (tabletop and video games) and superheroes, and I
love all things dark, magical, and strange. My first novel, NEVER NEVER, a YA
crossover retelling of Peter Pan from Hook’s POV, came out in September of 2015
from Spencer Hill Press. My second, HOW TO MAKE OUT, a YA contemporary romantic
comedy, came out from Sky Pony Press September 2016! I am repped by Steven
Salpeter at Curtis Brown. ^_^</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">MY EDITING STYLE</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I will give you in-depth
critique, honesty (but not brutal honesty; I don't think you have to be brutal
to be honest. I WILL tell you in no uncertain terms exactly what I think needs
to be done and why, and will not shy away from any of that stuff big or small,
but I’ll also gush over everything I love) and ideas on the big and little
things in your book. My specialty is CHARACTER, RELATIONSHIPS, and TENSION.
These things are my greatest loves, and the things I’m best at! Though I’m always
down to help you with atmosphere, world, and plot if that’s what you need! </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I’ve had success with
contests in the past, so I’ll bring that experience to the table to help make
your entry shine!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">PART TWO ~aka~ THE GOOD STUFF</span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">My Wishlist!!</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">So this year, I’m
mentoring <b>YA</b>, and I’ll be looking for TWO THINGS within that category: <b>Fantasy</b>,
and <strong>Contemporary. </strong>N</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">othing outside of YA
fantasy or contemporary this year, folks! There are some amazing mentors who are
looking at those other things! </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">SOOOO, within YA fantasy
and contemporary, there are several things that I just LOVE, cross-genre, and I
will die of happy if I see them in my inbox. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*GIVE ME YOUR “TOO MUCH"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">If you have written
something and said to yourself, “Oh lord. This…this might be too much” I want
it. If it is TOO edgy or your characters are too unlikable or this is a topic that is just TOO wild or controversial or...any number of
things. I want it.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*ANTI-HEROES, VILLAINS,
BAD BOYS, BAD GIRLS, like yes. Puh-lease.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I loooove, more than
anything, characters who are conflicted, who are bad, who want to be good but
don’t know how to be, who are straight-up wicked. Give them all to me,
please. I love me a good hero, too! So don’t count them out, but delicious
villains, and anti-heroes, and grey morality are my crack.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*TENSION</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Give me TENSION. Sexual tension, friend tension, stakes that have the world at its end—what I want, ultimately, is something that makes me feel breathless. Where it’s tense enough I can feel it on my skin.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*SEND ME YOUR QUEER TEENS PLEASE OK</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_85ZUr3iq3SqN22yrToDOa_5kUAVBHMAlD3mJRUPxV47xkPHmVXNFBZdpLITQ94NaP6EVmNcV6okzcy0C0JffzKkaLeltBjK0EEzxfIbrWwL2xXguZOMXgzlcVQG6gqu-eLWoyyjLgGs/s1600/clarkelexa.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_85ZUr3iq3SqN22yrToDOa_5kUAVBHMAlD3mJRUPxV47xkPHmVXNFBZdpLITQ94NaP6EVmNcV6okzcy0C0JffzKkaLeltBjK0EEzxfIbrWwL2xXguZOMXgzlcVQG6gqu-eLWoyyjLgGs/s320/clarkelexa.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">That is all. Please to send them</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*ROMANCE IS AWESOME</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNB3sITRK4davaPV5XzVDNnEg77mBqvgYWBGx_v0c3TIX-9BGcn3B5_4PBkuelkHBUhOuFqJr4K6OVhB9tGfigLTsEWpMYb__5zDwY7KNNOzKqyCXi4GPdjin72N9JdSQyY7tMMWfGCs/s1600/tumblr_ma2o8tBHvG1qzmmj3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNB3sITRK4davaPV5XzVDNnEg77mBqvgYWBGx_v0c3TIX-9BGcn3B5_4PBkuelkHBUhOuFqJr4K6OVhB9tGfigLTsEWpMYb__5zDwY7KNNOzKqyCXi4GPdjin72N9JdSQyY7tMMWfGCs/s320/tumblr_ma2o8tBHvG1qzmmj3.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(The world I like to live in is one in which the 2016 election never happened and ZUTARA SAILED)</span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I’m just a sucker for it.
That is all. PARTICULARLYYYYYY UNLIKELY/IMPOSSIBLE ROMANCE. I’m super into
hate-to-love, also. Or forbidden romance. Or slowwwww burrrrnnnnn. WHEW. SLOW BURN. Honestly most kinds of romance I
love. PARTICULARLY if that romance has some tEeTh. And by that, I mean figuratively,
I love all kinds of romance, but do <strong><em><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;">have</span></u></em></strong> a particular soft spot for those with
an edge. (I mean. Literal teeth are also fine though. Just putting that out
there.) </span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;">(P.S. do you see what I did there? With the word "have"? That is perhaps an important word for a certain scavenger hunt and you should probably mark it down but hey I don't know your life and can't just tell you how to live it.)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><strong>NOOOOOTE, WRITER HUMANS, THAT UNDERLIES EVERY SPECIFIC GENRE REQUEST/TROPE LOVE/ETC.: DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT
TO ME<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I have a very hard time believing worlds (in ANY genre) that are all white, all allocishet, all abled. Like. That just doesn't feel real to me. I would love to see casts
that are culturally, racially, ethnically diverse. Representation
of any number of genders, disabilities, sexual orientations, underrepresented religions, everything. Authentic
experiences of marginalized people, be it *about* a specific marginalization or
about a marginalized character and/or cast where that marginalization does not
drive the plot, are always extremely welcome and wanted here.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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</div>
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</span>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">SPECIFIC GENRE WANTS</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">YA Contemp<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I adore contemp of a
million different types, and tend to gravitate toward it when writing. This
year, I’m looking particularly for contemp on the edgy side of things. I like
things that ask hard questions, that draw out deep emotion, that aren’t afraid
to just smash through politeness and boundaries and hit hard with authenticity. Characters
with grit and heart and lots of voice, whether they’re prickly or loveable,
I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>YA that deals with major social or political issues, I am super here for
as well. So, I am all about the lighter side of YA too, especially if there’s a
stellar romance at the core. And grittier, older, edgier YA is my bread and butter <u>BUT
THAT BEING SAID: IF YOUR BOOK IS QUEER, I DO NOT CARE if it’s edgy or not</u>.
If you’re telling a story about an ace kid or a bi kid or a non-binary kid or
two girls falling in love or or or—I want it. Legit, I am thrilled to read
anything, edgy and gritty or light and sweet or dark and emotional, if it’s a
contemp about queer kids.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">YA Fantasy</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">Fantasy was my first love, and we’re, like, basically in a
committed relationship now, so.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I am<b> <u>NOT LOOKING FOR</u></b>: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal,
or Contemp Fantasy unless that contemp fantasy involves time travel
ORRRRRR a totally kickass setting. Somewhere weird or cool or, idk. Something
with the atmosphere of Maggie Stiefvater a la The Raven Boys or The Scorpio
Races, or something set in Alaska, possibly. Because I love Alaska. SO YEAH,
contemp fantasy ONLYYYYY if the setting is super kickass or it involves time
travel. The rest of these things are great, just not in my wheelhouse! </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">PLEASE SEND ME YOUR:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Epic fantasy</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Crossover YA fantasy</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Historical Fantasy</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Side note:
If someone sent me a fantasy set in the French Revolution I would FLIIIIIP</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Monsters</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Fantasy with humor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Time Travel</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*MAGICCCCCC</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*MAYHEM</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">I’ll list specific comps down below, but basically, give me yo
fantasy, lovelies!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br /><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">BOOKS I LOVE-slash-SEND THINGS LIKE THIS TO ME PLEEEEASE</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf6X1yPEN_R3XRUlCxrvelQw2curScJSZx0gGGzjkrGKLTbTefvzIWCFryCasWim8Ni56j_CM9uoaNlftONaCUUEDQ_ArosVMtLmFjtrMno06tbNDaeoYp3bioIJERY-UgeujEyb8dsY/s1600/200.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf6X1yPEN_R3XRUlCxrvelQw2curScJSZx0gGGzjkrGKLTbTefvzIWCFryCasWim8Ni56j_CM9uoaNlftONaCUUEDQ_ArosVMtLmFjtrMno06tbNDaeoYp3bioIJERY-UgeujEyb8dsY/s1600/200.gif" /></a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><u>EITHER GENRE</u></strong>: A contemp OR fantasy that felt like <em>Stranger Things</em> in any way would be kickass. Man. How great was <em>Stranger Things</em> tho</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></u></b><br />
<strong><u><span style="color: #333333;"></span></u></strong><br />
<strong><u><span style="color: #333333;"></span></u></strong><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">Fantasy</span></u></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*A Darker Shade of Magic/ A Gathering of Shadows/A Conjuring of
Light</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*SIX OF CROWS/CROOKED KINGDOM</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-oooh
yaaaaaasssssss the antiheroes! The world! THE KAZ BREKKER</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-A+++ multi
POV too</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*And I Darken </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*The Scorpio Races </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">
-The Atmosphere. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Outlander</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*The Winner's Trilogy—PARTICULARLY The Winner’s Crime (I believe
that’s book 2)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">
-Fantasy does not necessarily need magic to be fantasy, yo!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Shadow and Bone</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-SPECIFICALLY
THE DARKLING OK</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Zutara is
the ONLY SHIP FIGHT ME</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*DRAGON AGE OMG DRAGON AGE THOUGH I am Bioware trash</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*The Princess Bride</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Red Rising</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-technically
sci-fi I think, but the characters in this, particularly the side characters,
are phenomenal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Star Wars: ROGUE ONE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-GIVE ME
REVOLUTIONARIES and people who change the world or are willing to fight for who and what they love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">Contemporary<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> Literally ANYTHING by Carrie Mesrobian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-The VOICE in her books is
unbelievably great<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Jellicoe
Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">* The
Hate U Give<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">* More
Happy Than Not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-This is technically a spec fic but
the voice and the feel is so contemp that I’m adding it here as an example of a
feeling that I LOVE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">* Far
From You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-The darkness in this was super well
done, but I’m looking for anythingggg that can tell a story with as INTENSE
emotion as the romance and relationship between these girls. MAN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Such A
Good Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*99
Days<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Honestly anything by Katie Cotugno<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*When
Dimple Met Rishi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">* Alex,
Approximately<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">* Simon
vs. the HomoSapiens’ Agenda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Gena/Finn</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Breaking Bad (the show)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">Random Facts About Me/My Interests That Might Help</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*I am a Gryffindor or a Slytherin. I can’t currently decide
which but I dunno, I’m pretty fighty.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*I play the violin (Both acoustic, and this badass electric
viper violin). Music SLAYS ME.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*I will fall just DEAD IN LOVE with a character with realllllll
power and relationships that play with that idea. Destroy me with power dynamics.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*I love twisty politics and intrigue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*I LOVE FIGHTY CHARACTERS. Prickly, harder to love at first but WONDERFUL characters like Ronan Lynch, Cassian Andor, Starbuck (girl Starbuck). LOVE. THEM.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*If I could invite 7 characters over for a fictional dinner, 1
being seated to my left, 7 being to my right, and all the places in between
being situated around the table, I would invite: 1. Nina Zenik 2. Uncle Iroh 3.
Zuko 4. Starbuck (in the newer Battlestar Galactica. I’m completely in love
with her.) 5. Mad Sweeney 6. Sevro 7. Cassian Andor</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*I like spiders, and snakes, and monsters, and worlds with claws.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">*My fave scenes to read and write are one-on-one murder, fist
fights, and the moments just before a kiss. Because they are intimate and
reveal character like whoa.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">That’s about it, friends!
Feel FREE to ask me any questions over on Twitter (my username is
@briannashrum) and HAPPY PITCH WARS-INGGGGG!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;">I will leave you now with some gratuitous gifs of Cassian. May the Force be with you.</span></strong><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLpNnhXJEcWPErBqAfTLI5WuX0-0LUGjODWJZh-t8BFtXe1sgdUOQXeDV7rXLhf6g37PNCq7yJGMSxe740KZJ7uKk3zostMktqV5pig98RSalD19UtBHJJx6-7XDC3ziU1FzlrkAgvXg/s1600/cassian+2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLpNnhXJEcWPErBqAfTLI5WuX0-0LUGjODWJZh-t8BFtXe1sgdUOQXeDV7rXLhf6g37PNCq7yJGMSxe740KZJ7uKk3zostMktqV5pig98RSalD19UtBHJJx6-7XDC3ziU1FzlrkAgvXg/s1600/cassian+2.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx_-HgsYWiMv2AV7ZLDBfYIAK3IRVe2RVlphAewJxAy1yLnbuhWh8gd5A6Xjrd9_JZhft18kUOxeY2V0bbSQ9Ehz9hcCLYE0dm3pkrCrArcP4kwVrc0btiNCzvQT_2QPkvT8FQtf9SxE/s1600/cassian+3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="500" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx_-HgsYWiMv2AV7ZLDBfYIAK3IRVe2RVlphAewJxAy1yLnbuhWh8gd5A6Xjrd9_JZhft18kUOxeY2V0bbSQ9Ehz9hcCLYE0dm3pkrCrArcP4kwVrc0btiNCzvQT_2QPkvT8FQtf9SxE/s320/cassian+3.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvg6uOxP0KXK6Q45704InNnSaQP2ROvhRNwiKp-CJz5vZSV6uo3oztvM0L7s0hyphenhyphenugnLK4T1DdRrNIV8WNdA2bNc0yBrp0Z4pnYv95hcyHms3Xjt5U7dwtYNZ1kobXlTqh2-gKq0kNTMc/s1600/cassian+4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvg6uOxP0KXK6Q45704InNnSaQP2ROvhRNwiKp-CJz5vZSV6uo3oztvM0L7s0hyphenhyphenugnLK4T1DdRrNIV8WNdA2bNc0yBrp0Z4pnYv95hcyHms3Xjt5U7dwtYNZ1kobXlTqh2-gKq0kNTMc/s320/cassian+4.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
</span><br />
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-80879339500595546112016-07-19T17:00:00.000-07:002016-07-20T15:16:20.867-07:00Pitch Wars 2016 Wishlist!!!<span style="color: #bbbbbb;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I VANT TO BE YOUR
MENTOR. (For Pitch Wars, specifically)</span><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/djRJNZqj508sE/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="217" id="irc_mi" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/djRJNZqj508sE/giphy.gif" style="margin-top: 88px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hey there Pitch Wars
peeps and writer friends! It is time for Ye Olde Wyshlyste for Pitch Wars 2016!
I’m so stoked to be able to be part of this contest, and can’t wait to sink my
claws into an amazing manuscript. Maybe yooooouuuurrrs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-ved="0ahUKEwjkn8m_nfTNAhUByWMKHd84C5kQjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjkn8m_nfTNAhUByWMKHd84C5kQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanimatedmoviereviews.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F65356367279%2Fgreatest-animated-villains-7-shere-khan-the&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNE_0h2VIhaJwLj1eJ1o2nJvsgjIjA&ust=1468629509203848" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"></a><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwjkn8m_nfTNAhUByWMKHd84C5kQjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjkn8m_nfTNAhUByWMKHd84C5kQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanimatedmoviereviews.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F65356367279%2Fgreatest-animated-villains-7-shere-khan-the&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNE_0h2VIhaJwLj1eJ1o2nJvsgjIjA&ust=1468629509203848" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" src="http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb0dt3YkPn1rp6dxbo1_500.gif" height="333" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 30px;" width="422" /></a></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri";">PART ONE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">BIO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So first, a little
about yours truly. I am <a data-ved="0ahUKEwiC3bSrnvTNAhVHwmMKHXo8CZoQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiC3bSrnvTNAhVHwmMKHXo8CZoQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inorganicventures.com%2Felement%2Fboron&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNFeorLCS-kV7pA7ar_enDyg9QH3bg&ust=1468629752775445" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="182" id="irc_mi" src="https://www.inorganicventures.com/sites/default/files/B.gif" style="margin-top: 106px;" width="144" /></a>rianna Shrum (see what I did there? With
that B? The giant symbol for Boron? That’s the secret letter for the scavenger hunt. B. Like Bri. But also Boron. Boom.) I’m
a YA author from Denver, Colorado. I’m totally obsessed with gaming (tabletop
and video games) and superheroes, and I love all things dark, magical, and
strange. My first novel, NEVER NEVER, a YA crossover retelling of Peter Pan
from Hook’s POV, came out in September of last year from Spencer Hill Press. My
second, HOW TO MAKE OUT, a YA contemporary romantic comedy, comes out from Sky
Pony Press September of this year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">MY EDITING STYLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwiWyOLhnvTNAhUS72MKHXR9BUEQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiWyOLhnvTNAhUS72MKHXR9BUEQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fgif-challenge-accepted&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNEq4ZOkqdLKo6Cn52ANQ3_qKgqSCQ&ust=1468629863078800" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="365" id="irc_mi" src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/aebeb686a640493b512c8999881d1fb5/tumblr_njzrzaICmG1s3h43ko1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 14px;" width="500" /></a></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I will give you
in-depth critique, honesty (but not brutal honesty; I don't think you have to be brutal to be honest. I WILL tell you in no
uncertain terms exactly what I think needs to be done and why, and will not shy away from any of that stuff big or small, but I’ll also gush over
everything I love) and ideas on the big and little things in your book. My
specialty is CHARACTER, RELATIONSHIPS, and TENSION. These things are my
greatest loves, and the things I’m best at! Though I’m always down to help you
with atmosphere, world, and plot if that’s what you need!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve had success with
contests in the past, so I’ll bring that experience to the table to help make
your entry shine!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri";">PART TWO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My Wishlist!!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So this year, I’m
mentoring <strong>YA</strong>, and I’ll be looking for TWO THINGS within that category: <strong>Fantasy</strong>, and <strong>Space Opera</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-ved="0ahUKEwikytm7n_TNAhVK4WMKHUQ1DhkQjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwikytm7n_TNAhVK4WMKHUQ1DhkQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftendalee.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FViserys-Targaryen-213839278&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNGCytOFr4UNVFBeO0WlHGnceOzmug&ust=1468630059033704" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" src="http://orig09.deviantart.net/e9c5/f/2012/221/3/3/all_i_wanted___by_jroekneere-d5afv4s.gif" height="240" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 77px;" width="245" /></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Nothing outside of YA fantasy or space opera this year, folks! There are some amazing mentors who are looking at those other things ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">SOOOO, within YA fantasy and space opera, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">there are several
things that I just LOVE, cross-genre, and I will die of happy if I see them in
my inbox. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*ANTI-HEROES,
VILLAINS, BAD BOYS, BAD GIRLS, like yes. Puh-lease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-ved="0ahUKEwjl4JX_n_TNAhVE0GMKHfW8AikQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjl4JX_n_TNAhVE0GMKHfW8AikQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthebookwars.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F09%2F20%2Fwhy-am-i-so-bad-at-being-good-on-bad-boys-and-girls%2F&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNHmrUl48SePvCcHE8uRKACtBk5fwg&ust=1468630194798566" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="250" id="irc_mi" src="https://thebookwars.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/tumblr_m0e7yns5nt1rqq1iao1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 72px;" width="500" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I loooove, more than
anything, characters who are conflicted, who are bad, who want to be good but
don’t know how to be, or who are just downright evil. Give them all to me, please.
I love me a good hero, too! So don’t count them out, but delicious villains, and
anti-heroes, and grey morality are my crack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*TENSION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-ved="0ahUKEwiZtP2coPTNAhVJ72MKHeLdCqMQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiZtP2coPTNAhVJ72MKHeLdCqMQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fstucky-gifs&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNGy8KfkvXXC4dMt8YQvxNMv3rFIbg&ust=1468630258566326" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="295" id="irc_mi" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/48154daf92a5a397f074c93bcbe0bb8d/tumblr_n4i3p19xAQ1sqfes7o1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 49px;" width="500" /></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(Why yes. Yes I DO
ship the helllllll out of it.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Give me TENSION.
Sexual tension, friend tension, stakes that have the world at its end—what I want,
ultimately, is something that makes me feel breathless. Where it’s tense enough
I can feel it on my skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*SEND ME YOUR QUEER TEENS PLEASE OK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwiDoKuIqPTNAhVD5mMKHfQAD5kQjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiDoKuIqPTNAhVD5mMKHfQAD5kQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autostraddle.com%2Fkorrasami-queer-representation-and-saying-goodbye-to-the-legend-of-korra-270141%2F&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNG7T27PUpyFcxSAhBz4QLTgyVYERw&ust=1468632364215461" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" src="http://www.autostraddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Korrasami4.gif" height="310" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 42px;" width="552" /></a></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>That is all. Please to send them</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*ROMANCE IS AWESOME</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwi_yvqyoPTNAhVX_WMKHZ7iDl8QjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi_yvqyoPTNAhVX_WMKHZ7iDl8QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sharegif.com%2Fyou-like-me-because-im-a-scoundrel.html&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNE2IaE625H2LRUa1J9RDTQYSje2gQ&ust=1468630310816514" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" src="http://www.sharegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/3-star-wars-quotes.gif" height="213" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 90px;" width="500" /></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m just a sucker for
it. That is all. PARTICULARLYYYYYY UNLIKELY/IMPOSSIBLE ROMANCE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">***And just fyi, peeps,
I would hope this goes without saying, but stuff that reflects diversity is
ALWAYS 1000% welcome here***</span></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">SPECIFIC GENRE WANTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">YA Space Opera<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So within sci-fi, what I want SPECIFICALLY is space opera.
I’ll write up a list of my favorite space opera movies/shows/games near the end
of this post. This is the only sci-fi I will take this year. Because I am
OBSESSED with it. Serious, lighthearted, aliens, no aliens, like literally
WHATEVER. GIMME YO SPACE STORIES.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">YA Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fantasy was my first love, and we’re, like, basically in a
committed relationship now, so.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I am<strong> <u>NOT LOOKING FOR</u></strong>: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, or Contemp Fantasy unless that contemp fantasy involves time travel ORRRRRR a totally kickass setting. Somewhere weird or cool or, idk. Something with the atmosphere of Maggie Stiefvater a la The Raven Boys or The Scorpio Races, or something set in Alaska, possibly. Because I love Alaska. SO YEAH, contemp fantasy ONLYYYYY if the setting is super kickass or it involves time travel. The rest of these things are great, just not in my wheelhouse! </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>PLEASE SEND ME YOUR:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Epic fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Crossover YA fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Historical Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Side
note: If someone sent me a fantasy set in the French Revolution I would
FLIIIIIP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Fae (ONLY in a <strong>high fantasy</strong> world, not urban fantasy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Monsters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Time Travel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*MAGICCCCCC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*MAYHEM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ll list specific comps down below, but basically, give me yo fantasy, lovelies!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">TITLES AND CHARACTERS I LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">SEND THINGS LIKE THIS TO ME PLEEEEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Space Opera</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwjhw-GjofTNAhUbHGMKHen7BEwQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjhw-GjofTNAhUbHGMKHen7BEwQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcommunity.com%2Fsharedfiles%2Ffiledetails%2F%3Fid%3D284619745&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNEUuqOa7jrSrLvxQe121Q0iyarZxg&ust=1468630546502722" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" src="http://cloud-3.steamusercontent.com/ugc/53232422656850086/A850F50364039E13B8847CD21867C388BC8836BF/" height="279" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 57px;" width="500" /></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>(BONUS POINTS to whoever can tell me what ship this is ;) )</o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*The Mass Effect Series<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-GARRUS VAKARIAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-I also love the exploration of AI
vs. biological people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-DR MORDIN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-JACK<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">-Ok like just literally everything
about it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; tab-stops: 203.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*The Red Rising Series<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Omg
Sevro though<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*FIREFLY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Best
if your characters aim to misbehave ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*ILLUMINAE</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Guardians of the Galaxy</span></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fantasy</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwjAqI-FovTNAhUPxGMKHbJSD3sQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjAqI-FovTNAhUPxGMKHbJSD3sQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fgif%3A-princess-bride&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNGfWrC-z8HWW7nExZzS-YMjjbvJOw&ust=1468630727089905" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="186" id="irc_mi" src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/17759abf7b748a816efed446cf00acd5/tumblr_o426q5apIA1rgpgw0o1_400.gif" style="margin-top: 104px;" width="268" /></a></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*A Court of Thorns and Roses and ESPECIALLY A COURT OF MIST
AND FURY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-omg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-OMG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Throne of Glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-MANON
BLACKBEAK sweet lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-ROWAN
SWEET LORD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*A Darker Shade of Magic/ A Gathering of Shadows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-oh
Lila, oh Kell, oh Rhy, oh Alucard—this series is me at my most bi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*VICIOUS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*SIX OF CROWS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-oooh
yaaaaaasssssss the antiheroes! The world! THE KAZ BREKKER<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-A+++
multi POV too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*The Wrath and the Dawn </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*The Scorpio Races </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> -The Atmosphere. PLUS most of my heritage is Celtic, so I love ALL THINGS CELTIC</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Outlander</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*The Winner's Trilogy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p> -Fantasy does not necessarily need magic to be fantasy, yo!</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Shadow and Bone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-SPECIFICALLY
THE DARKLING OK<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-Zutara
is the ONLY SHIP FIGHT ME<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*DRAGON AGE OMG DRAGON AGE THOUGH I am Bioware trash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*The Princess Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*Shatter Me series, specifically WARNER.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Random Facts About Me/My Interests That Might Help<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*I am a Slytherin.
Hissssssss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*I play the violin
(Both acoustic, and this badass electric viper violin). Music SLAYS ME.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*I will fall just
DEAD IN LOVE with a character with realllllll power. Destroy me with power
dynamics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*I love twisty
politics and intrigue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*My number one
fictional crush is the Darkling. Loki, Rhysand, Irial, and Zuko are close behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*If I could invite 7
characters over for a fictional dinner, 1 being seated to my left, 7 being to
my right, and all the places in between being situated around the table, I
would invite: 1. Nina Zenik 2. Uncle Iroh 3. Zuko 4. Alistair (Dragon Age) 5.
Lila Bard 6. Sevro 7. Rhysand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*I like spiders, and
snakes, and monsters, and worlds with teeeeeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">*My fave scenes to
read and write are one-on-one murder, and the moments just before a kiss.
Because they are intimate and reveal character like whoa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">That’s about it,
friends! Feel FREE to ask me any questions over on Twitter (my username is
@briannashrum) and HAPPY PITCH WARS-INGGGGG!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here are some
gratuitous gifs of Zuko.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwib58ToovTNAhVaHGMKHdsZDWAQjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwib58ToovTNAhVaHGMKHdsZDWAQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcomicvine.gamespot.com%2Fforums%2Fbattles-7%2Fkorra-vs-zuko-read-op-1628039%2F&psig=AFQjCNHqo9xne6ZYCXxny1MQL9SnYA2NlQ&ust=1468630960697005" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" src="http://data3.whicdn.com/images/20850169/large.gif" height="265" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 64px;" width="500" /></a></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwjos9T2ovTNAhVJwWMKHRpCBSIQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjos9T2ovTNAhVJwWMKHRpCBSIQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2FZuko-gif&psig=AFQjCNHqo9xne6ZYCXxny1MQL9SnYA2NlQ&ust=1468630960697005" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="295" id="irc_mi" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/c431b08a31b1799e9e6d77a13f3fbd42/tumblr_mngh01TblA1s6lywfo1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 49px;" width="500" /></a></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a data-ved="0ahUKEwi6-8yRo_TNAhUO8mMKHZ9mDcUQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi6-8yRo_TNAhUO8mMKHZ9mDcUQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fzutara-gif&bvm=bv.127178174,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNG66p9tNtsEXk-YLpGJHj4TFm302w&ust=1468631039896236" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="240" id="irc_mi" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ee017648dc55b69e559e75e5a16cf7ac/tumblr_ne58g4Ks391qbbbvio1_400.gif" style="margin-top: 77px;" width="320" /></a></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><insert gifs=""><o:p></o:p></insert></span></b><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Happy writing.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Happy pitching.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>And FIND THE AVATAR.</b></span></div>
<!-- beginning of export. owner: brenleedrake, postid: 05Jul2016a, columns: 3, mode: link --><br />
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" class="blenza-td" valign="top" width="33%">1. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865067.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://philstamper.com/pitchwars" target="_blank">Phil Stamper</a></div>
<br />
2. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865111.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.jennilwalsh.com/news/pitch-wars-2016" target="_blank">Jenni L. Walsh</a></div>
<br />
3. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865141.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://linseymiller.tumblr.com/pwmentorbio2k16" target="_blank">Linsey Miller</a></div>
<br />
4. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865197.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://jenniferblackwood.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/pitch-wars-time/" target="_blank">Jennifer Blackwood</a></div>
<br />
5. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865226.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://wp.me/p2aC2P-25C" target="_blank">Amy Trueblood</a></div>
<br />
6. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865229.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://wp.me/p6oaGY-gO" target="_blank">Laurie Elizabeth Flynn</a></div>
<br />
7. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865272.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://khopkinswriter.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/headline-pitchwars-mentor-seeks-ya/" target="_blank">Kelly Ann Hopkins</a></div>
<br />
8. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865297.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.kipwilsonwrites.com/pitchwars-wishlist" target="_blank">Kip Wilson Rechea</a></div>
<br />
9. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865320.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.kristinbwright.com/blog" target="_blank">Kristin Wright</a></div>
<br />
10. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865321.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://amandafoody.com/pitchwars/" target="_blank">Amanda Foody</a></div>
<br />
11. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865407.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://yabookcase.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-wish-list_19.html" target="_blank">Fiona McLaren & Dionne McCulloch</a></div>
<br />
12. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865441.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://karenfortunati.com/?page_id=171" target="_blank">Karen Fortunati</a></div>
<br />
13. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865473.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.martymayberry.com/" target="_blank">Marty Mayberry</a></div>
<br />
14. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865518.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.sarahglennmarsh.com/pitch-wars-2016-mentor-bio-wish-list" target="_blank">Sarah Glenn Marsh & Shana Silver</a></div>
<br />
15. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865520.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.mmhoffmanbooks.com/?p=490" target="_blank">Monica M. Hoffman</a></div>
<br />
16. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865521.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://heatherezell.com/2016/07/2016-pitch-wars/" target="_blank">Heather Ezell</a></div>
<br />
17. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865526.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://katekaryusquinn.blogspot.com/2016/07/ive-got-blank-space-baby-and-ill-write.html" target="_blank">Kate Karyus Quinn and Demitria Lunetta</a></div>
<br />
18. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865530.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.rosalyneves.com/pitch-wars/" target="_blank">Erin Summerill & Rosalyn Eves</a></div>
<br />
19. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10865741.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://jamiehowardauthor.com/2016/07/19/2016-pitch-wars-mentor-bio-wishlist/" target="_blank">Jamie Howard</a></div>
<br />
20. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866028.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://ashleyhearn.com/books/2016-pitch-wars-mentor-bio/" target="_blank">Ashley Hearn</a></div>
<br />
21. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866229.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://myselfaswritten.blogspot.com/2016/07/its-time-for-pitch-wars-2016-my-mentor.html" target="_blank">Charlie N. Holmberg</a></div>
<br />
22. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866269.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.isabelibanezdavis.com/blog-1/2016/6/30/pitch-wars-wish-list" target="_blank">Isabel Ibañez Davis </a></div>
</td><td align="left" class="blenza-td" valign="top" width="33%">23. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866272.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://pintipdunn.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Pintip Dunn</a></div>
<br />
24. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866319.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.rachelsolomonbooks.com/blog/pitch-wars-2016" target="_blank">Rachel Solomon & Kit Frick</a></div>
<br />
25. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866324.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://scribblebabble.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mara Rutherford & Joan He</a></div>
<br />
26. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866328.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.kimgraff.com/pitch-wars-wishlist/" target="_blank">Cat Scully & Kim Graff</a></div>
<br />
27. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866333.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://labelleseditorialservices.com/blog/lynnette-labelles-2016-pitchwars-wish-list-and-bio/" target="_blank">Lynnette Labelle and Destiny Cole</a></div>
<br />
28. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866375.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.natashaneagle.com/2016-pitchwars-wishlist" target="_blank">Natasha Neagle</a></div>
<br />
29. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866429.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.soniahartl.com/-pitchwars.html" target="_blank">Sonia Hartl</a></div>
<br />
30. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866686.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://trishaleaver.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Trisha Leaver & Kelly Calabrese</a></div>
<br />
31. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866889.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://jessiedevine.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/pitch-wars-mentor-bio-blog-hop" target="_blank">Jessie Devine</a></div>
<br />
32. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10866919.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.ayeshapatelwrites.com/" target="_blank">Ayesha Patel</a></div>
<br />
33. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10867183.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.helenedunbar.com/blog/our-pitchwars-2016-wishlist" target="_blank">Helene Dunbar & Beth Hull</a></div>
<br />
34. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10867189.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.emilymartinwrites.com/2016/07/19/pitch-wars-2016-wish-list-and-bio/" target="_blank">Emily Martin</a></div>
<br />
35. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10867419.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.karenmcmanus.com/" target="_blank">Karen McManus</a></div>
<br />
36. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10867443.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://mariemeyerbooks.com/" target="_blank">Marie Meyer</a></div>
<br />
37. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10867918.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.jeanmariewrites.com/blog/2016/7/20/pitch-wars-2016-bio-wishlist" target="_blank">Jeanmarie Anaya</a></div>
<br />
38. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10868025.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://smjohnstondotcom.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/pitch-wars-mentor-wishlist/" target="_blank">Sharon Johnston</a></div>
<br />
39. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10868719.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://naomiedits.com/pitch-wars-2016.html" target="_blank">Naomi Hughes</a></div>
<br />
40. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10868919.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.summerspence.com/?draft=true#!2016-PITCH-WARS-MENTOR-WISH-LIST/l6l8b/57841f630cf2289b33ba60f3" target="_blank">Summer Spence</a></div>
<br />
41. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10868972.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://nikkiroberti.com/?p=621" target="_blank">Nikki Roberti</a></div>
<br />
42. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10869463.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://mckellegeorgejournal.com/2016/07/19/pitchwars/" target="_blank">McKelle George</a></div>
<br />
43. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10870434.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://monibw.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Monica B. Wagner & Kerbie Addis</a></div>
<br />
44. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10870546.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.staceytrombley.com/2016/07/2016-pitch-wars-wish-list.html" target="_blank">Rebecca Sky & Stacey Trombley</a></div>
</td><td align="left" class="blenza-td" valign="top" width="33%">45. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10870623.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://mkengland.com/pitch-wars-ya-mswl/" target="_blank">M.K. England and Jamie Pacton</a></div>
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46. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10870645.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://tabithamartin.blogspot.com/2016/07/hey-hey-pitchwars-peeps.html" target="_blank">Tabitha Martin</a></div>
<br />
47. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10870664.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://trippingthewritefantastic.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Brian Palmer</a></div>
<br />
48. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871180.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://shortcuttoshrums.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-2016-wishlist.html" target="_blank">Brianna Shrum</a></div>
<br />
49. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871270.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.mollyelee.com/blog" target="_blank">Molly E. Lee</a></div>
<br />
50. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871525.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://llmckinney.com/pitch-wars/" target="_blank">L.L. McKinney</a></div>
<br />
51. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871562.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://andthenshewaslikeblahblahblah.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-mentor-bio.html" target="_blank">RuthAnne Snow</a></div>
<br />
52. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871706.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://chelseabobulski.com/pitch-wars-2016-mentor-bio-and-wish-list/" target="_blank">Chelsea Bobulski</a></div>
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53. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871804.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://janellaangeles.wordpress.com/pitch-wars-wish-list-team-rocket-edition" target="_blank">Janella Angeles & Axie Oh</a></div>
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54. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10871860.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://meganlallywrites.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-wishlist.html" target="_blank">Megan Lally & Katie Bucklein</a></div>
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55. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10872308.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://jhawks-nest.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitchwars-bio-wishlist.html" target="_blank">Kes Trester & Jen Hawkins</a></div>
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56. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10872468.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://dcmorin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dannie Morin</a></div>
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57. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10872515.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.stephaniescott.net/2016/07/pitch-wars-mentor-bio/" target="_blank">Stephanie Scott</a></div>
<br />
58. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10872763.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.sarahnicolas.com/2016/07/sarah-nicolas-leigh-mar-pitchwars-bios.html" target="_blank">Sarah Nicolas & Leigh Mar</a></div>
<br />
59. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10872909.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://wp.me/p3fZb5-eR" target="_blank">Lizzy Charles</a></div>
<br />
60. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10872996.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.tobieeaston.com/pitchwars" target="_blank">Tobie Easton</a></div>
<br />
61. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10873257.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://lisa-amowitzya.blogspot.com/2016/07/hello-future-mentees-beholdmy-pitchwars.html" target="_blank">Lisa Amowitz</a></div>
<br />
62. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10873288.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://dianagallagher.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-2016-let-games-begin.html" target="_blank">Diana Gallagher</a></div>
<br />
63. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10873408.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.kwebberworld.com/" target="_blank">Katherine Webber</a></div>
<br />
64. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10873453.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://judilauren.com/?p=212&preview=true" target="_blank">Judi Lauren</a></div>
<br />
65. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10873708.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://laustinspace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Austin Aslan</a></div>
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66. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDVqdWwyMDE2YQ==/10873882.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.dawnius.com/blog" target="_blank">Dawn Ius</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-7027737628620932502015-08-03T00:31:00.002-07:002015-08-03T06:58:29.709-07:00Pitch Wars 2015 Mentor Post!<div align="center">
<strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">HELLO WRITERS. LET ME LOVE YOU</span></u></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia;">-aka-</span></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">A NOT AT ALL CREEPY TITLE THAT JUST SAYS "YO, I'M A PITCH WARS MENTOR" IN A N EXCITING, YET TASTEFUL MANNE</span></u></strong><strong><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">R</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hey there, Pitch Wars people!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDAT80D6hRK5dKxQ7414xFlb9WGLODerNUnE6KcP3KsLJaAeHN-numVFXqfgpKozpRDX6lYS8t7IiNpBkPSFMfqE4zKJ543Gl3O7WEubqs_Cxsc6I5DmoZSjB1BxYaESVkufzJhQgHNI/s1600/Muggles.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDAT80D6hRK5dKxQ7414xFlb9WGLODerNUnE6KcP3KsLJaAeHN-numVFXqfgpKozpRDX6lYS8t7IiNpBkPSFMfqE4zKJ543Gl3O7WEubqs_Cxsc6I5DmoZSjB1BxYaESVkufzJhQgHNI/s400/Muggles.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am so, so excited to be able to mentor again for Pitch Wars! I mentored last year, and got to meet some really rockin' people, and read some incredible stories. Pitch Wars is pretty near and dear to my heart, as contests go, because it wound up getting me a contract for my debut novel, NEVER NEVER, which comes out in *gulp* less than two months! I'm stoked to get to be a part of it again. ^_^</div>
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SO. Without further ado, let me try to convince you, stranger, why you want ME as your mentor.</div>
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<u><strong><span style="color: #741b47;">SECTION 1: Hello, yes, let us discuss me.</span></strong></u></div>
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<strong><u><span style="color: #741b47;"></span></u></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Ok party people. A little about me.</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNezEGqbIwE-cijzc_5MtfNfUA9Fe94ST8wowylCjwVwHBGTIYEJm4uVt07-etVpmEEzlIXOqorooDjlXJcOzaLjRbKOHDemGMEwDVFAL4MbCve4L7we_V9htNgfUiBzcpkASZnPxsBhY/s1600/avengersironman.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNezEGqbIwE-cijzc_5MtfNfUA9Fe94ST8wowylCjwVwHBGTIYEJm4uVt07-etVpmEEzlIXOqorooDjlXJcOzaLjRbKOHDemGMEwDVFAL4MbCve4L7we_V9htNgfUiBzcpkASZnPxsBhY/s400/avengersironman.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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((I am not Iron Man. But like, if I was, I wouldn't tell you, unless your were my Pitch Wars mentee, in which case probably I would. So, you know, do with that what you will. *slow, meaningful wink*))</div>
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The Bio: I live in Colorado (good to have a Colorado connection in case of zombie apocalypse. Zombies can't hack it out here) with my two boys and high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband. I am represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary, and my debut YA, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Never-Brianna-Shrum/dp/1633920399/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438109988&sr=1-1&keywords=never+never+brianna+shrum" target="_blank">NEVER NEVER,</a> releases from Spencer Hill Press on September 22nd of this year. My next YA, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25042742-how-to-make-out" target="_blank">HOW TO MAKE OUT,</a> releases from Sky Pony press in Fall 2016.</div>
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I will give you in-depth critique, honesty, (but not brutal honesty; if you have to be brutal to be honest, I think you need to get it together. I'll tell you exactly what I think needs to be done, but also I'll gush over everything I love) and ideas on the big and little things in your book. My specialty is character and relationships, but I'll help you work out things like atmosphere and plot too, if that's what you need!</div>
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I've found some success entering contests in the past, so I'll bring that experience to the table. PLUS, if you sub to me, you will get feedback. I will be responding to anyone who subs me during the contest--some feedback might be a line, and some might be more in-depth, but you'll get it.</div>
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Cool?</div>
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Awesome.</div>
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ON TO MORE EXCITING THINGS!</div>
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<u><span style="color: #38761d;">Section 2: WISHLIST!!!</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I'm mentoring YA this year, and I'll be looking for 2 thangs: fantasy and contemporary.</span></div>
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<strong>THINGS I WANT:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fHCwtuQXDia2KFUx04DDWEidNwRuakD4yK-32OUcM20XvFqb_U5r-jId9UOjqiDkrFQJFHrg67IMsTeuGWHJ7fIPmsKGGbXG4ER9M4a79g_oYCZEslnCCHP1Udz5Eeq6rQoRqUCjAcQ/s1600/MIGHTY+NEED.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fHCwtuQXDia2KFUx04DDWEidNwRuakD4yK-32OUcM20XvFqb_U5r-jId9UOjqiDkrFQJFHrg67IMsTeuGWHJ7fIPmsKGGbXG4ER9M4a79g_oYCZEslnCCHP1Udz5Eeq6rQoRqUCjAcQ/s320/MIGHTY+NEED.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are some things I love overall, no matter the genre. I LOVE:</div>
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GREAT relationships.</div>
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DIVERSITY.</div>
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PASSIONATE characters.</div>
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<strong>In Fantasy:</strong> </div>
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They say you never forget your first love. Mine was FANTASY. And man, am I in super love with fantasy right now. I'm looking for fantasy of the epic sort. Character-driven stuff is my preference. Wit, magic, epic adventure, I wants it all. (The only things that are not gonna be for me here are Urban Fantasy and fantasy that is really, secretly in its heart, Paranormal. I have super loved books in both these genres, but they're just not my area of expertise.) My tastes in fantasy run a tad darker, but I don't necessarily mean that I need a swamp of blood and bodies or anything to love it (though that's just fine with me). I just really want danger. </div>
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<u>Things I Love in Fantasy (with Examples of Faves):</u></div>
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***Villains*** Oh man, I can't even TELL you how much I love villains. Antiheroes? Bread and buttah. And straight up, 100% villains--either as the protagonist or the antagonist I love to hate (OR ESPECIALLY A DARK AND SEXY VILLAIN I LOVE TO SHIP, even though know it's doomed)...give this to me and I am YOURS. </div>
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<em>Villains I Love</em>: The Darkling (Shadow and Bone), The Jackal (Red Rising), Irial (Wicked Lovely), Loki (Avengers/Thor)</div>
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***Romance*** I don't necessarily NEED romance, but I'll tell you, I'd really, really, really like it. It doesn't need to be the A plot or anything, but if you can make me swoon, I AM HERE FOR THAT.</div>
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<em>Ships I Will Ship Until The Day I Die</em>: The Darkling/Alina (Shadow and Bone), Jon Snow/Ygritte (Game of Thrones), Alistair/ME (Dragon Age: Origins), Sharzhad/Khalid (Wrath and the Dawn)</div>
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***World-Building*** Ok so, world-building is not my greatest strength. I'm super easy on it for this reason. But an awesome world, especially with a COOOOL plot, will really make me sit up straighter.</div>
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<em>Favorite Fantasy Worlds</em>: The Wrath and the Dawn (Renee Ahdieh), Fire (Kristin Cashore), The Grisha Series (Leigh Bardugo)</div>
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I love atmosphere, and complicated relationships (See: The Raven Boys or Red Rising), and impossible situations, and unwinnable decisions, and tested loyality, and magic, and mystery, and love, and...*sigh* Fantasy Forever.</div>
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<strong>In Contemporary:</strong></div>
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In contemporary *sigh of adoration for contemporary*, my tastes run the gamut. I love very light and funny all the way to dark and gritty. For me, the key here is that while the number one thing is your character, I really am looking, this year, for plot-driven stuff. Heavy on plot and/or higher concept is gonna be a massive plus for me! Genre-wise, give me rom-coms, thrillers, psychological horror, survival stories, geek fic...I love all of it.</div>
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--On the Lighter Side--</div>
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*Funny, awkward, cringe-worthy, embarrassing stories. YES, PLEASE.</div>
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*Romance! Not a MUST in all YA subs, but if your book is light/funny, I, like, 99% need romance.</div>
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*Fave stuff like this: Anna and the French Kiss, Easy A, Mean Girls, Simon vs. the Homosapiens' Agenda</div>
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--Middle of the Road--</div>
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*Gray, between dark and light, with HEART.</div>
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*Characters I fall in head-over-heels love with</div>
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*Fave stuff like this: Eleanor and Park, The Breakfast Club, Friday Night Lights</div>
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--The DARK Side--<br />
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*Very dark comedies, a la Fargo, Burn After Reading, Grosse Pointe Blank, Heathers, The Big Lebowski. </div>
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*Dark and twisted antiheroes or flat-out villains. Oh my gosh. I LOVE VILLAINS. Send me ALL the villains. Like Breaking Bad.</div>
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*Psychological Thrillers, like Dangerous Girls.</div>
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*Less abuse/bullying/sad dark, more crazy WHAT JUST HAPPENED freaky dark.</div>
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*ATMOSPHERE: Something in a cool setting, like Lousiana in True Detective, or Alaska or something. LOVE.</div>
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I love contemp that makes me laugh, contemp that makes me EXPERIENCE, that freaks me out, that gets under my skin. I love geeks, and gamers, and killers, and the arts, and...I love it all. (And a little note: your book is very likely not going to be too gritty for me. As long as it's realistic, I DO NOT MIND language, sex, violence, whatever. But absolutely don't need it to love a book. Whatever is right for your story, basically, it's not gonna bother me.)</div>
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So I guess that's it! Any questions at all, please let me know! Find me on Twitter and @ me @briannashrum and I'd love to answer your questions or just hang out and chat. :)</div>
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(Yes. You inferred that correctly. Should we pair up as mentor/mentee, not only will we be polishing your book, but we will also be manufacturing and dealing large quantities of methamphetamine. Plan accordingly.)<br />
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HAPPY PITCH WARS!</div>
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Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-74786650738573502862015-06-12T07:53:00.001-07:002015-06-12T07:53:53.313-07:00Domino Project Cover Reveal and GIVEAWAY!<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi guys!! Today I am SO excited to get to reveal the cover for my awesome friend, KT Hanna's, book, Chameleon (The Domino Project #1) and it sounds incredible!!</div>
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*turns reins over to KT*</div>
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Chameleon (The Domino Project #1) is a YA futuristic science
fiction story. It's set in the wasteland of earth after a meteor shower
devastates landmasses, makes seas rise, introduces the psionic gene into the
human race, damages the atmosphere, and gives the gift of an alien parasite to
the world.</div>
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The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25487847-chameleon" target="_blank">goodreads blurb</a> is as
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<em>After Sai's newly awoken psionic power
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training program. The only grades are pass or die. </em></div>
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<em>Surviving means proving her continued existence
isn't a mistake--a task her new mentor, Bastian, takes personally. Her
abilities place her in the GNW Enforcer division, which partners her with
Domino 12, who is eerily human for an alien-parasite and psionic hybrid. When
her assassination duties are revealed, Sai understands the real reason for her
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<em>On a mission to dispatch a dangerous Exiled
scientist, she uncovers truths she never thought possible. Sai is unsure who to
trust as her next mission might be her last, and a double agent seems to be
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Without further ado - here is the cover, by the amazingly
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It's finally here</div>
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<a href="http://www.kthanna.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAMELEON-Domino-Project-Front-with-Text-2.jpg"><img alt="CHAMELEON Domino Project Front with Text 2" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-883" height="640" src="http://www.kthanna.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAMELEON-Domino-Project-Front-with-Text-2-672x1024.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
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Isn't it GORGEOUS!?!?!</div>
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Sit back and bask in this for a moment.</div>
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It's available for preorder for a special price of
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZB9QD42/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ZB9QD42&linkCode=as2&tag=kthanforthelo-20&linkId=RKTTDYP55BR43ZNI" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Link" class="aligncenter
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<span style="color: #339966;"><strong>About the
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<a href="http://www.kthanna.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Me.jpeg"><img alt="Me" class="aligncenter
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KT Hanna has a love for words so extreme, a single word can
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Born in Australia, she met her husband in a
computer game, moved to the U.S.A. and went into culture shock. Bonus?
Not as many creatures specifically out to kill you.</div>
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When she's not writing, she freelance edits for <a href="http://www.chimeraediting.com/" target="_blank">Chimera Editing</a>, interns for a NYC
Agency, and chases her daughter, husband, corgi, and cat. No, she doesn't
sleep. She is entirely powered by the number 2, caffeine, and beef
jerky.</div>
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Note: Still searching for her Tardis</div>
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<span style="color: #339966;"><strong>Celebration!</strong></span></div>
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To celebrate, we're giving away 2 x $10 Amazon e-gift cards
(open to anyone who can receive and use an Amazon e-card) Just click on as many
options as you like and enter!</div>
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<o:p></o:p>Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-22173541836801637882015-05-06T07:00:00.000-07:002015-05-06T08:30:17.345-07:00COVER REVEAL for The Year of Lightning...And a giveaway!!!Hey guysssss!<br />
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I know. You're all thinking, 'Wow, that Bri sure does blog consistently. Yes, "consistent." That's the word. Well, I DO come out of my inconsistent blogging cave when it's to have the opportunity to reveal the awesome cover for my friend, Ryan Dalton's book! (And it's pretttttyyyyyy.)<br />
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I'm not going to keep you waiting. Let's let Ryan do the talking. *sits back with popcorn*<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Hey, book fans! Don</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t you hate it when you
move to a new town and discover it</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s being destroyed by
freak lightning storms? Let me tell you, that makes for a tough year. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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find that, and much more, in my debut YA novel THE YEAR OF LIGHTNING. I am
completely in love with this cover and <i>so</i> excited to share it with you.
After you drink in its awesomeness, keep scrolling down for a brief synopsis,
plus a giveaway contest that you can participate in right here in the comments.
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The house has no doors. It</span><span lang="FR" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s
been abandoned for decades. Yet one night, Malcolm sees a face in the window. Fifteen-year-old
twins, Malcolm and Valentine Gilbert, never imagined an old house across the
street could be so much trouble. A secret machine inside has woken up, and its
power is growing.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Meanwhile, lightning storms are breaking out all over town. They</span><span lang="FR" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">re getting worse every week and seem to enjoy striking kids who
just want to pass science class and mind their own business. Lightning,
however, is rarely cooperative</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">—</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">and when Malcolm and
Valentine discover a connection between the house and the storms, their
situation goes from <i>mysterious</i> to <i>crazy stupid dangerous</i>. As they
hunt a powerful enemy, they</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ll realize that
lightning is only the beginning. Their town</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s very existence hangs
in the balance, and the only clues are written in the sky. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">One <i>huge</i> way you can support authors is by pre-ordering
their books. So if THE YEAR OF LIGHTNING sounds like fun to you, here is a link
to the Amazon pre-order page. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">How would <i>you</i> fight a
lightning storm? In one paragraph, tell us exactly how you</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">d do
it, and don</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t hold back! Get as crazy/silly/stupid/super-tough as you want.
The sky is literally the limit. We</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">’</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ll pick a winner from
each participating blog, and I will send each winner a package containing an
awesome secret clue to the central mystery in THE YEAR OF LIGHTNING. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Thanks so much for stopping by to see the cover!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Ryan Dalton</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-40008142232382109552014-08-02T05:00:00.000-07:002014-08-07T08:16:57.693-07:00Pitch Wars Mentor Post!<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: purple;">O</span><span style="color: blue;">H</span><span style="color: red;">A</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">I</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">W</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">A</span><span style="color: magenta;">N</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">N</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">A</span> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">B</span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">E</span><span style="color: purple;"> Y</span><span style="color: red;">O</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">U</span><span style="color: blue;">R</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">M</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">E</span><span style="color: lime;">N</span>T<span style="color: #cc0000;">O</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">R</span><span style="color: magenta;">!</span><span style="color: yellow;">!</span><span style="color: lime;">!</span></span></b></u></div>
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<b><u>Totally Professional Pitch Wars Mentor Bio/Wishlist</u></b></div>
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Hey, Pitch Wars 2014 peeps!</div>
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What. Is. Up. I am SO stoked for Pitch Wars this year. Pitch Wars is super close to my heart, mostly because this is the contest that got me my publishing contract for <a href="http://briannashrum.com/books" target="_blank">NEVER, NEVER</a> with Spencer Hill Press. It's an amazing contest where you get to meet unbelievably awesome people, become part of a community, and get a real shot at finding an agent or editor. That rocks, right? And you probably already know that, which is why you're here. So let's get this thang started by me pimping myself out and telling you why you want ME to mentor you.</div>
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<u>SECTION 1: <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Y</span><span style="color: magenta;">O</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">!</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: blue;">P</span>I<span style="color: #a64d79;">C</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">K</span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">M</span><span style="color: orange;">E</span><span style="color: purple;">!</span></span></span> -or- Hello. My Resume.</u></div>
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So. The bio. I'm from Colorado, where I live with my husband, two little boys, and two awesome hound dogs. I am represented by the fabulous Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary, and my debut novel (did I mention that? Ya know? My Captain Hook POV Peter Pan retelling, NEVER, NEVER that you can coincidentally conveniently find out more about right <a href="http://briannashrum.com/books" target="_blank">HERE</a>? Did I? Okay cool) is coming out in September of 2015 from Spencer Hill Press.</div>
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I taught writing classes for a couple years, and I'm in the middle of getting a bachelor's degree in Writing, so that's kinda fancy. Plus, I just started freelance editing, and I've been beta-ing and CP-ing for peeps for quite a while.</div>
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You want me if you want to get a DETAILED crit. I'm gonna go in-depth into your manuscript, and figure out where it shines (and I'll tell you everything I love. I love to freak out over amazingness in a manuscript), and where it could use work, on a major plot/character/world level as well as in the little things. My specialty is character and relationships, and I'm good at making those suckers deep. I'm also a total grammar freak, and will be going in looking for those things as well. I'm constructive, and I love to make you feel good about the things that are working in your ms, but I'm also a Candor, and I'm gonna tell you what needs to be done on a surface level as well as in-depth to get that MS in SHAPE.</div>
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I've been pretty successful in the past with contests; they are my bread and butter. So I'll be able to help you not only to get your ms shining, but also to sharpen that pitch.</div>
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Further, EVERYONE who submits to me is gonna get personal feedback. Might be in-depth, might be just a line or two, but you're gonna get feedback for sure.</div>
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Cool? Cool. Let's not talk about me anymore. Let's talk about BOOKS.</div>
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<u>SECTION 2: <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">W</span><span style="color: magenta;">I</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">S</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">H</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">L</span><span style="color: purple;">I</span><span style="color: blue;">S</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">T</span><span style="color: magenta;">,</span> <span style="color: purple;">B</span><span style="color: red;">A</span><span style="color: blue;">B</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Y</span><span style="color: orange;">!</span></span> -or- Things I'd Like to Find in My Inbox</u></div>
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I'm mentoring YA and NA this year. There are a few things that transcend what I want in each genre, things I want to find no matter what:</div>
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*Passionate characters: I want characters that care about something, someone, characters with stakes.</div>
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*Give me diversity, guys! Of all types. Diversity is awesome and stuff.</div>
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*Did I mention characters? I want to care about your character. That's it. Make me care and we're good.</div>
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Now, down to the nitty gritty.</div>
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Let's talk about genres I want, then we'll break it down into some more specifics in separate category-wants.</div>
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<b><u>GENRES I WANT:</u></b></div>
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*Realistic (And a million sub-genres of this): I'm into Contemp right now, in a major way. So I'm gonna prefer realistic stuff, generally. Within that big genre, I'll probably love a lot of stuff. Thrillers, straight-up contemp, psychological horror (character-driven), geek fic (yeah I just made that up, but I love ALL THINGS GEEKY), survival stories, retellings.</div>
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*Fantasy: I'm in a fantasy phase right now--I'm very much into it. But I AM going to be super picky here. I'll do fantasy if it's a retelling, magic realism or a VERY character-driven, close POV fantasy like Game of Thrones, Graceling, Anansi Boys, American Gods, Vicious, the show LOST, or a realistic fantasy/sci-fi like Jurassic Park or Outbreak or, ya know, that kind of stuff.</div>
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*Retellings: Hi, I'm Brianna, and I have a retelling problem. I love them hard.</div>
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<b><u>GENRES I DON'T WANT:</u></b></div>
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* I love sci-fi. Like LOVE it. But for this particular contest, I'm not looking for it. (Unless it's barely sci-fi, as mentioned above.)</div>
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*No hard sci-fi OR fantasy, especially distant POV, dryer-voiced, etc.</div>
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*Paranormal</div>
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*Genre Mystery</div>
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*Light NA Contemp Romance</div>
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*Cancer stories (Personal issues. Can't do cancer stuff. If your story has a strong cancer A plot or subplot, PLEASE don't sub to me. If I decide to mentor your project, then figure out halfway through someone is dying of cancer or has recently and it's a big thing, I'm gonna be unhappy. And cry. And not in the way you want me to.)</div>
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<b>Now, let's break it down further. Specifics by category and books/movies I love/would kill to see. Please remember, I am only mentoring YA and NA. If your ms is MG or Adult, awesome, but sub to one of the amazing MG or Adult mentors! Thanks!</b></div>
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<b><u>YA</u></b></div>
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In YA, I love extremely dark to extremely light and everything in between. (I know. So helpful, right?)</div>
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In anything, dark to light, I love geek fic, foodie stuff, the arts, and travel/bucket list stories.</div>
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--On the Lighter Side--</div>
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*Funny, awkward, cringe-worthy, embarrassing stories. YES, PLEASE.</div>
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*Romance! Not a MUST in all YA subs, but if your book is light/funny, I, like, 99% need romance.</div>
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*Fave stuff like this: Easy A, Mean Girls, How to Love, anything Sarah Dessen, The Beginning of Everything</div>
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--Middle of the Road--</div>
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*Gray, between dark and light, with HEART.</div>
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*Characters I fall in head-over-heels love with</div>
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*Fave stuff like this: Eleanor and Park, Jellicoe Road, The Breakfast Club, Friday Night Lights</div>
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--The DARK Side--</div>
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*Very dark comedies, a la Fargo, Grosse Pointe Blank, Heathers, The Big Lebowski. </div>
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*Dark and twisted antiheroes or flat-out villains. Oh my gosh. I LOVE VILLAINS. Send me ALL the villains. Like Breaking Bad.</div>
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*Psychological Thrillers, like Dangerous Girls.</div>
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*I don't care if there's romance or not. </div>
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*Less abuse/bullying/sad dark, more crazy WHAT JUST HAPPENED freaky dark</div>
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Most of what I want in NA is dark. Like, crazy killer dark rather than abuse, similar to YA. This list is gonna be similar. There is SOME light stuff I'd be VERY interested to see in NA though. </div>
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--The Lighter Side--</div>
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*Geeks. Bring on the GEEKS. I play D and D, I cosplay, (you can find photo evidence of this on Twitter ;)) I game, bring me anything geeky and I will LOVE IT OK.</div>
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*Foodie Stuff. Especially in NA. Culinary school? UH YES.</div>
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*The Arts: Give me something set in film school, a dance company, an orchestra (I'm a musician, and have been in orchestras. I can totes help with this.), anything like that. (But oh man please film school.)</div>
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--THE DARK SIDE--</div>
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*Lots of repeats from the YA list to come here*</div>
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*Psychological horror/survival: Especially, like, something in an abandoned ski lodge or something. Or the wilderness.</div>
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*Give me screwed-up, disillusioned characters in dark situations, like True Detective. Freaking Rust Cohle. Freaking True Detective.</div>
*Weird stuff. I want bizarre, dark, weird, awesome stuff.<br />
*Stuff where the setting is crazy, atmospheric. Think Louisiana swamps, Alaska, that kind of thing.<br />
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*Very dark comedies, a la Fargo, Grosse Pointe Blank, Heathers, The Big Lebowski. Anything the Coen brother would do, I WANT THAT YESTERDAY.</div>
*Dark and twisted antiheroes or flat-out villains. Oh my gosh. I LOVE VILLAINS. Send me ALL the villains. Breaking Bad kind of stuff? AW YISS.<br />
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SO, that's about it! Any questions at all, let me know! Find me on Twitter and @ me (@briannashrum) and I'd totally love to answer any questions you have! </div>
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Let me be your </div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Ben_Kenobi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Ben_Kenobi.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes. I did just intend to subtly imply that if you pick me, you can become Darth Vader.</div>
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HAPPY PITCH WARS.<br />
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(Head <a href="http://brenda-drake.com/" target="_blank">here</a> for more info on how to submit!)<br />
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And back to your previously scheduled programming. Or, ya know, bloghopping.<br />
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<script src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/easylink.php?owner=brenleedrake&postid=31Jul2014e" type="text/javascript"></script>Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-44420405229717122682014-04-29T18:59:00.001-07:002014-04-30T08:12:25.693-07:00GIVEAWAY in Honor of We Need Diverse Books<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">SO, have we all heard of "We Need Diverse Books?" Here. Let me link you if you haven't. Check it out, yo. http://weneeddiversebooks.tumblr.com/post/83943947418/we-need-diverse-books-campaign</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Back? Excellent. Cause I want to give you free stuff. In honor of this campaign, on May 3rd, I will be buying a couple diverse books I have never read.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE by Benjamin Alire Saenz </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-and-</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">POINTE by Brandy Colbert.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So, I figured, I'll be reading these books for the first time, and I want YOU to read with me! I'll be picking 3 winners, and giving away ARISTOTLE AND DANTE to one, POINTE to another, and one of my favorite diverse books, OCD LOVE STORY by Corey Ann Haydu, to another. Sorry, international peeps. This giveaway is only for those residing in the U.S., because postage, and because I have no clue how to give away ebooks...Enter below and check back on May 3! #WeNeedDiverseBooks</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ADDENDUM: If you are chosen to win a book you already have, you are welcome to choose a different one of the three to receive. For instance, if you are drawn to get OCD Love Story, but you already own it, I would be happy to get you Aristotle and Dante or Pointe instead. :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/093a0d1/" id="rc-093a0d1" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span><br />
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Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-43903731354597013102014-04-24T20:38:00.000-07:002014-04-24T20:38:22.940-07:00Can We Talk About Consent for a Second?So. Let's talk about consent. Cool?<br />
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Just fyi, TRIGGER WARNING HERE.<br />
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This post is gonna deal with some frank stuff, involving sexual harrassment, assault, rape. So. Forewarning.<br />
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Still here? Okay. So, we've been teaching our toddler son about the idea of boundaries lately. Obviously not like, "Hey, 2 year old, you ever wanna make out with a girl and she says no, you back off, yo." Because that would make no sense whatsoever to a 2 (almost 3) year old. But about things that are like, "Kid, don't put your hand over my mouth. Don't jump on my back. Don't squish your baby brother's tummy until his innards beg for mercy."<br />
"Awww, but why not?" he asks.<br />
"Because," we tell him, "you need to ask before you put your hand over my mouth or jump on my back. You need to ask before you squish your small sibling with enthusiasm. We are people, and you ask, and when I say no, you say, 'Okay.'"<br />
The two year old responded with, "I hafta ask before I put my hand on you mouf, move you arm, push you foot, or squeeze Baby Brother?"<br />
Yup. Pretty much. My two-year-old gets it. So why can't the adults?<br />
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This whole thought process started with this stupid GoT Episode Seen Round the World. (GoT SPOILERS AHEAD.) I'm not gonna delve into it too deeply, because likely, you have heard of it. There are some fabulously written articles on it upon which I cannot improve. Basically though, after what was very obviously a rape scene in the show in every sense of the word, the director came out saying that it was, in fact, consensual...by the end.<br />
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Um. What? The justification here is that Cersei wraps her legs around the guy at one point (let's just forget about how she is saying NO the whole entire freaking time.)<br />
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So. Consent. Consent is NOT:<br />
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1) The word No. Even one no means....drumroll....no.<br />
2) But s/he kissed me! Obvs. s/he wanted to bone! Nope. Still not consent. Someone can want to kiss a person one minute and change their mind the next. For any reason. Literally any reason is acceptable. Someone can not want to kiss someone for any reason at all and that's IT.<br />
3) Being drunk. Listen. If someone is totally drunk (not talking a little buzz here. I am talking unable to consent.) and you are not, you don't get to sleep with them. Sorry. No sex for you. Deal.<br />
4) GoT SPOILER------------Cersei freaking wrapping her legs around Jamie after he had already initiated sex without her consent.<br />
5) Dressing in a provocative way....She was TOTES asking for it. Cause she was standing there with BOOBS. Don't. I can't even discuss this it's so unbelievably ridiculous.<br />
6) Saying no, but you can tell s/he secretly wants it. Nope. Nopenopenope.<br />
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Consent is someone wanting to do whatever it is you want to do, being fully capable of consenting to it, and you mutually agreeing that, yes, this is something we are both into.<br />
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This stuff is important. I have read stats that say 1 in 4 or 1 in 6 (depending on the study) women experience some sort of sexual assault in their lifetime. I don't know the stats for men, but they do experience it too, fyi.<br />
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I have never experienced sexual assault. I have, however, experienced sexual harrassment. I have a very vivid memory of being 13 years old, fresh from homeschool, entering a public school in the middle of 8th grade. There was this one guy, also in the 8th grade, who was super hot. Popular, charming, on the football team...anyway, he started kind of paying attention to me. Flirting, winking, talking to lame, nerdy, wears-shirts-with-puppy-dogs-on-them ME. I was SO excited.<br />
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Then one day in this bio class, miracle of miracles, we were grouped together. He started talking with me all cute and charming with his bedroom eyes and bad-boy YA love interest lopsided smirk. SCREW BIOLOGY. I'm gonna flirt. WITH A BOY.</div>
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But then, the conversation got weird. He started talking about what I'd done with a boy (hint: nothing. Ever.), how I liked it, did I like them long and hard, did I like to go all night....a bunch of super vulgar stuff that got more and more vile the longer it went. When the conversation went there, I asked him to stop. To please be quiet. Then to shut up. (Something I never said. I was the most innocent 8th grader on the planet.) I may have even called him a dick. I don't know. What I do know is that the stuff he was saying to me was making me shake, scaring me, and that I made it as clear as I possibly could that he NEEDED to stop. Bad enough that the second he left the table his best friend and another boy at the table, eyes wide, looked over at me and said, "I am SO sorry. He isn't usually like this. But this is messed up. I'm really sorry," and when he got back and started in on me again, both of them told him to knock it off. He didn't.</div>
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I left the classroom. My best friend (who was a dude) was waiting outside my class, and I clearly remember walking up to him, trying to keep it cool, and saying, "Hey, man, I had the worst--" then just bursting into tears in the middle of the hallway. Like, weeping, gasping tears. I told him what happened and he was PISSED. Rightfully.</div>
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I told my mom but begged her not to tell my dad because I didn't want Gary to get in trouble. (What the crap?) The next day, I walked to bio like I was walking the Green Mile, knowing I was in for another scary, vile hour, but he was packing up all his stuff and moving to a different class because he had been forced to switch out of mine. Mysterious.</div>
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I don't know, to this day, who told the teacher what happened. I suspect, though, that it was either my best friend or his. Whoever it was, THANK YOU FOREVER.</div>
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I should have told. I should have walked out. I didn't because he was hot and popular and cute, and I was the nerdy new girl. One of the only devoutly Christian people I knew, and what if I got made fun of for being lame? Too religious? Too conservative? Too sensitive? What if he thought I was a loser? Ugh, this is pissing me off just writing about it. </div>
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I hope he learned that you can't just control people like that. Which, by the way, is what rape, sexual assault, harrassment, is about. It's not about sex. It's about domination and humiliation. What I dealt with that day was not even close to rape. It wasn't even physical. Girls get harrassed all the time. But even ifit wasn't physical, the root is the same. The guy got off on embarrassing me, scaring me, on putting me in a mostly powerless situation...I wasn't asking for it in my puppy shirt and too-flat hair and face with not enough makeup to cover my acne. Just like the girl who wears a short skirt and low cut top isn't asking for it. Just like the guy or girl who gets black-out drunk at a party isn't asking for it.</div>
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That harrasssment should not be normal. Should not be something nearly every girl experiences. A couple steps further, assault should.not be COMMON. </div>
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People are PEOPLE, not objects to spout off your sexual fantasies to, or force into acting them out with you. And consent doesn't just mean it "becomes consensual by the end." It is consensual from the beginning or IT. IS. ASSAULT. Always. Every time. The end.</div>
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So I'm calling it out. And by teaching my sons to respect people, respect their wishes, be considerate of other people's feelings, to ask permission before jumping on someone, to stop when someone says stop, I'm doing what I can to make sure that girls aren't harrassed on the subway, on the sidewalk, in an 8th grade classroom, in a bedroom, and that when a non-consensual sex scene is shown on TV, whether or not it was rape is not a freaking question.</div>
<br />Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-54528328021593559942013-12-05T21:29:00.001-08:002013-12-05T21:44:34.875-08:00The Underdog MomentsHey all!<br />
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It's been a while since I blogged. Life's been...a little crazy. BUT HI I MISSED YOU!<br />
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So today I've been thinking. There are a couple big, huge, remember-it-forever moments in an author's life. You get an agent, you get a book deal, you publish your first book. Those are the days all of Twitter explodes and gives you huge congrats and life is wonderful and all unicorns and rainbows and YAYYYYY! And whenever we get those moments, we should totes celebrate them. Cause they are HUGE and IMPORTANT and you should revel in your day.<br />
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But, ya know, I have always been a fan of the underdog. Who (apart from Barney Stinson) didn't root for Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid? I'm Team Damon in TVD because (apart from being Ian Somerhalder) he's the underdog. (Somehow, Ian Somerhalder is the underdog. I know. What?) And seriously if this moment from Rudy:<br />
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<img height="300" src="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/87411/rudy-o.gif" width="400" /><br />
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doesn't make you cry, you have no soul.<br />
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So tonight, I wanna talk about those moments. The Underdog Moments. The moments that mean everything but go unnoticed by most everyone, that don't come with cake and confetti and parties. But they are the moments that mean the world.<br />
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For me, as a writer, here are mine. (In chronological order, not order of importance)<br />
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<b>1) When I first decided I wanted to write a book.</b><br />
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I remember vividly walking out of The Hunger Games movie, and going O_O OMIGOSH I HAVE THE BEST IDEA EVAR. And...you know what? I'm gonna freaking write it. Cause maybe it'll suck. But I CAN write a book and I am going to.<br />
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<b>2) Finishing that book.</b><br />
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Yeah. Typing "The End" on that first book ever (or any book really) is huge. And so important. And it feels awesome. That, my friends, is a moment.<br />
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<b>3) The first contest I ever made it into.</b><br />
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Sometimes, I miss entering contests. I mean, it's agonizing, but in a "Hurts So Good" kinda way. I've been rejected from contests, and that was lame. Really, just mustering up the courage to ENTER a contest is a moment. But this one is one I won't forget.<br />
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My first book was a YA cyberpunk called "Corrupted," and I entered into a couple contests, the first being Pitch Madness, held by the fabulous Brenda Drake. And Erica Chapman picked it out of the slush. And I will NEVER forget the feeling when I found I made it in. That someone liked my book. Erica, dude, thank you so much for making me believe in myself and giving me one of my best moments as a writer ever.<br />
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<b>4) Giving my book to my first beta (now CP) ever...and she actually liked it</b><br />
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Ok peeps. I cannot stress the importance of CP's enough. For my first book, I didn't have any. So...gonna rewrite that sucker. But by my second, I had discovered them. And the lovely Nazarea Andrews offered to read my book. Never had anyone who wasn't A) related to me, or B)an agent I queried with Book #1 read anything I'd read. So that was freaking terrifying because she was awesome and OH NO WHAT IF I SUCK WHAT IF MY BOOK SUCKS WHAT IF SHE SAYS I SHOULD QUIT WRITING FOREVER<br />
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But, she said none of those things. Cause that's mean. In fact, she liked it. She had critiques, of course, but she really liked it. That. Meant. Something. Nazarea, I LURVE you.<br />
PSA: Get a CP. Get a beta, It's terrifying but worth every bit of the risk.<br />
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<b>5) When I Tweavesdropped on someone who said I'd given them a book hangover</b><br />
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This was a huge one. Someone I hugely respect on Twitter beta'd my book, and talked about it to someone and used that phrase. And I died.<br />
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Summer, I can't even. Giant flying tackle hug cause you'll never know what that meant to me.<br />
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And last,<br />
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<b>6) When someone wrote fanfic for my book</b><br />
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This one made me cry. Like real tears. Cause man. One of the best moments of my writing career. EVER.<br />
Darci, -insert giant heart cause blogger won't let me write one-<br />
<b>Here's the thing.</b><br />
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It's easy sometimes to get caught up in someone else's published book, or deal, or agent news, or TV deal, or whatever. Or to read a bad review and wanna go drown in chocolate and wine. But sometimes, it's those little moments, those small things that meant EVERYTHING to you, that really matter. And sometimes, all you need is to remember that little tweet someone wrote about your book, or the fanfic or character sketch or...whatever those moments are for you, when you get into a funk, I hope you can remember them. Cause they mean something.<br />
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And keep giving, cause you never know when you might be giving someone one of their Underdog Moments.<br />
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I'd love to know what some of YOUR Underdog Moments are. Comment 'em below!<!--3--><!--3--><!--3--><!--3--><!--3-->Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-73570921560438150512013-08-08T06:26:00.000-07:002013-08-08T06:26:19.522-07:00If Ever There Was A Totally Unlikable Antagonist, That Guy Is Cancer...Hi guys. So. This is my dad.<br />
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Not the one in the wedding dress-that's me five years ago. (Look how adorable and young I was. 18. Dawww. Now, look back at my dad.) He is not a tiny guy. Note the broad shoulders and such. And if he wasn't wearing a jacket, you'd be like, "Woah. Look at those muscles." And they are Hard. As. Rocks. Basically, whenever I had boyfriends in high school, they would come in, and be like this: -_- Then they'd see my dad and be like this: O_O I think I have some exes who are actually STILL a little afraid of him, and I've been married for five years (tomorrow, actually, will be five years.)<br />
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Anyway, I'm super close to my dad. SUPER close. Probably because we're basically the same person. He's a tough, strong guy. Healthy, active, in his 40's. Never gets drunk. Doesn't smoke. No drugs. Nothing. And yesterday, we found out that he has cancer. So that sucked,<br />
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5 tumors on his liver. 5. One that's BIG. That's not good.Today he goes in for a biopsy and we'll find out if it's colon cancer that spread to the liver (HOPING that's not it. Cause that's no good. That would mean Stage 4.) or if it's primary liver cancer. Feels weird to be hoping that anything is any kind of cancer. But that's the one we're hoping for, cause it's easier to treat/cure. Stage IV colon is still possible to survive. Just, well, we'd very much like the higher odds, if possible.<br />
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So the thing is, yesterday freaking blew. It kind of felt like, not even real. My entire family is extremely close, and we're just sitting there blinking, like What? How is this possible? Are we gonna go, like, get one of those ribbons now? And start doing cancer walks and stuff? It doesn't feel real.<br />
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I very rarely have nightmares. But when I do, the one I've most frequently had throughout my life is about my dad dying, cause it's like one of my biggest fears. And those dreams are so awful because they feel real. And I went to bed thinking about cancer, and woke up thinking about it. (Strangely, I didn't have my recurring stress dream last night. I actually dreamt about this guy:<br />
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Which was certainly preferable. (I really did dream about Tudors-style Henry VIII. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers version. Which was kind of weird. *shrug*)<br />
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Anyway, I still woke up thinking about cancer. Cause my dad and I, we like the same movies, root for the same sports teams (except in baseball. I just can't make myself give a crap about baseball.), and whenever I tell him a book idea, he's like "That's awesome! You know what you should do with this scene?? And he's ALWAYS right. Seriously, in Never, Never, the one chapter that pretty much every single beta reader/CP I had commented on or said "This is so perfect! Whoa, I didn't see that coming!" was completely my dad's idea. (So, reader friends, pray about this if you plan on reading my stories. They're better when my dad is around. I promise.)<br />
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So yesterday we were basically all just freaking out and panicking and then researching allllll the things and alllllll the hospitals and allllll the doctors, and yeah. And all these possibilities start racing through your head. Like, what if he dies? What if they give him no time and he dies? He'd better be able to meet Elias when he comes at the end of November. And if he dies, what the crap am I gonna tell my 2 year old son, when he keeps asking "Where Poppy go?"<br />
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I can't handle that. I can't. I'm not ready to lose my dad. So screw that. None of us is ready for that. So we're gonna do everything we possibly can to beat this thing. Everything any doctor says to do. And beyond that, we're praying hard. We've got lots of people praying. That would be rather nice of you, dear reader, if you're the praying sort, by the way. We've seen impossible things happen because of prayer. Impossible things. And we're Christians. Ones who truly care about their faith, all of us. And it would be super awesome if God was like "Ok. You're right. Not his time yet." If He doesn't say that, well, it's not in His plan, and we will just figure out how to deal with it.<br />
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But right now, we are hoping and praying and gearing up to fight whatever we find. Cause SCREW. CANCER. Cancer is that kid who gave you swirlies every day at school and didn't even have, like, a screwed-up childhood to justify it. Cancer is that little fox-guy from Dora who swipes everything and then doesn't even take it; he just hides it to be mean. Cancer is the guy who shot a bunch of people in Aurora for no. freaking. reason. THAT'S cancer. The ultimate unlikable antagonist. The mustache-twirling, evil-for-the-sake-of-being-evil and ruining everyone's day butt hole. A likable antagonist can win, and we're cool with that. But NOT this guy. Screw that. They say every antagonist is the hero of his own story. Well, pray about everything if you would, and rec a doctor, or whatever. Cause Cancer does not get to be the hero of anyone's story. Nope.Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-29111921434889329032013-08-06T06:25:00.000-07:002013-08-06T07:24:23.378-07:00Guest Post by Rachel O'Laughlin- Coldness of Marek Blog TourHello lovelies! I've missed you all in this little blogging hiatus I've had going. But what better way to return to cyberspace than to host the awesome Rachel O'Laughlin! A fantabulous author and all around great person. (Who decided to include some Damon gif's in this post, which should make all of us love her even more. Cause come on.) She's here to give some rockin stuff away AND talk about my all-time favorite thing: Anti-heroes. Sit down, people. Here. Have some popcorn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPukPd3ofFtPb9SU8i7xdaQdwnFGMia8o-J18jib-PijPPYAS54HlVLUr7RaNKMiJAN5osMZnRJmBW9xsWIy_PPUzXEJWaCKZsUlTFfwDjCdVY6avAC1xebH3lZ-KcjrRW62K0F02Zqs/s1600/blogtourbanner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPukPd3ofFtPb9SU8i7xdaQdwnFGMia8o-J18jib-PijPPYAS54HlVLUr7RaNKMiJAN5osMZnRJmBW9xsWIy_PPUzXEJWaCKZsUlTFfwDjCdVY6avAC1xebH3lZ-KcjrRW62K0F02Zqs/s320/blogtourbanner2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7699">Guest Post: Anti-Heroes: Good Guys With
Issues</strong></div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7701">
I’m uber thrilled to be guest-posting on
Brianna’s blog today! She just happens to be a person I admire and love, and is
also the author of a novel featuring THE BEST Young Adult anti-hero I have ever
had the honor of reading. For real.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7704">
<br />
I love rogues. Not when I meet them
in person, but when I see them in fiction? Instant love. Why do I love them so?
Maybe because they’re all bad boyish and clothed in black and generally
swoon-worthy? Um, it probably is the main reason, but then I would have to end
this blog post right now, so I’m just gonna ignore that. I also love old movies.
I could watch Jimmy Stewart forever and ever. At a young age I also discovered
Errol Flynn — wait, does anyone else in my generation actually recognize that
name? (Okay, I admit it, I’m a dinosaur in a mid-twenties body. Or I could be a
Salvatore, in which case all of this should make complete sense.)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1wla4mOfd1rn2b2d.gif" /></div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7707">
ANYHOW, Errol Flynn acted in a string of
movies based on the adventure novels by a long-forgotten writer named Rafael
Sabatini, best known for SCARAMOUCHE and CAPTAIN BLOOD. (The movies were not
very true to the books, I might add.) Sabatini filled his pages with
alpha-in-their-own-mind-sometimes-total-jerk lead characters, and frankly, that
doesn’t sound appealing, does it? These dudes had issues. They had dark
obsessions, anger management problems, control freak tendencies, struggles with
addictions. They could be very hate-able, and sometimes very lovable, but they
always had their dark side.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7708">
<br />
Agatha Christie, another writer whom
I love, made use of the anti-hero every chance she got. Her typical setting is a
murder mystery, but in some of her stories we’re actually hoping the sleuths do
NOT uncover the murderer, because the suspect is a better person than the one
who got offed. Her anti-hero is often someone quirky and damaged, but when it
all shakes out, they were doing the best they could to fix a broken situation,
and something went wrong. They were the hero of the moment, even if they hadn’t
always been one.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7709">
Since I love them so much, I shouldn’t
have been surprised when my main character hit the page as a completely
misguided and selfish being. I really wanted to write a heroic character full of
strength and morality. No lie, I truly did. I fought it for awhile, in
revisions, trying to make Trzl lovable and dear. She just wasn’t. And DANG. I
LIKED HER THAT WAY. That’s who she is, and that’s who she has to be in order to
do the things she does.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7710">
As writers, though, why the rogues? Why
the disrespectful, stubborn, chip-on-their-shoulder rebels? Why can’t all main
characters be good-hearted and honest?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lspgj8DLRd1qkeqgxo1_500.gif" /></div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7711">
We all have baggage, experiences that
make us who and what we are. Anti-heroes have various reasons for living the way
they do, too. Their actions may be more violent or more cruel or more unsavory,
but haven’t we all done little awful things that weren’t okay? Anti-heroes take
that to the next level. They explore what inside of us could be horrible if we
didn’t keep it in check. But they have one thing in common: they have integrity.
Whatever their moral code, their brand of honor, their version of ethics — they
set standards for themselves, and they uphold that standard as best they can,
even if they slip now and then.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7712">
<br />
It’s that streak of selflessness,
that moment of heroism, that line they will not cross no matter the
circumstances that makes my heart beat fast. Therein lies a glimpse of
redemption. It gives us a connection to people we might see as wrong, evil, or
delusional. Their stories are different from the truly heroic sort, but they are
a sampling of humanity, and I’m infatuated with them. Because they’re damaged.
They’re hurt and haunted. They’re real.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7713">
<br />
And totally worthy of
story.</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7714">
</div>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7715" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Book Info:</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMSGHvL53Jsms9pugqclnpoiyqBS51oQVHuyQtdnCwpMPKAk6VK2_YI8y49jzYbyMqaMrgHRgzdapm7MJtH5dkZJdgS27E2L6Od-tT8n-DwVJybtPEq2IG-KVqvkRie0QuuLSwSYWSnc/s1600/ColdnessofMarek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMSGHvL53Jsms9pugqclnpoiyqBS51oQVHuyQtdnCwpMPKAk6VK2_YI8y49jzYbyMqaMrgHRgzdapm7MJtH5dkZJdgS27E2L6Od-tT8n-DwVJybtPEq2IG-KVqvkRie0QuuLSwSYWSnc/s320/ColdnessofMarek.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
COLDNESS OF MAREK</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Epic Fantasy<br />
The First in the Serengard Series<br />
Release Date: August
6, 2013</div>
<br />
<div>
Serengard has been under Orion rule for centuries—centuries of insufferable
adherence to laws and traditions that its people no longer believe in. Raised by
her scholarly grandfather in the fiery southern city of Neroi, Trzl is dedicated
to turning the monarchy into a free society where knowledge is king and no one
has to be subject to the whims of an Orion.</div>
<br />
<div>
As the rebellion escalates, her choices have an eerie impact on the
revolution at large, elevating her to a position of influence she has only
dreamed of attaining. But there are downsides to her new power that entangle her
in a dangerous web of emotions, appearances and alliances. Even as she plays to
the attractions of Hodran, a rich nobleman who wants to aid her cause, she is
drawn to Mikel, a loyalist farmer who hates the rebellion but just might be
winning her heart.</div>
<br />
<div>
By the time Trzl realizes she is in too deep, she has an infant son and a
dark mess of betrayal and lies. She runs to the furthest corner of the kingdom
in hopes that she will be left alone with her child, but she has created too
many demons. A figure she once trusted will take her captive in the chilling
Cliffs of Marek, throw her back into the political upheaval she helped create,
and leave her at the mercy of a man she never wanted for an enemy.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Author Bio:</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKMmRwLOs2nXI3BO8eDYYyZcbc09C1e31iG0AVtXlBXqzIassk33UWFZQAflPEszuVwNRTSn8nPfUyWldhKU13oLoaple5ZFkYWZP-dGd4LMae-IOL6aYGVA2keSeAd9MJQrX7dxm3Z8/s1600/AuthorAvi13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKMmRwLOs2nXI3BO8eDYYyZcbc09C1e31iG0AVtXlBXqzIassk33UWFZQAflPEszuVwNRTSn8nPfUyWldhKU13oLoaple5ZFkYWZP-dGd4LMae-IOL6aYGVA2keSeAd9MJQrX7dxm3Z8/s320/AuthorAvi13.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div>
Obsessed with all things history, Rachel O’Laughlin grew up writing
adventure stories and only recently fell in love with fantasy as a genre. She
lives in New England with her husband and children, grows roses and tweets
often. She adores lattes, The Fray, long drives in the country, and any dark
story with a good twist. Coldness of Marek is her first novel.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>Goodreads:</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17968606-coldness-of-marek" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17968606-coldness-of-marek</a></div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>Website:</strong> <a href="http://rachelolaughlin.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://rachelolaughlin.wordpress.com</a></div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>Twitter:</strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/rachelolaughlin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/rachelolaughlin</a></div>
<br />
<div>
<strong>Facebook:</strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/r.k.olaughlin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/r.k.olaughlin</a></div>
<br />
<div class="yiv5441372866gmail_extra" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7720">
<div class="yiv5441372866im" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7719">
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7718">
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7717">
<div>
<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: garamond,serif;">Rachel
O'Laughlin</span></strong></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;"><em>Writer of some things
epic and some things fantasy.</em></span></span><a href="http://rachelolaughlin.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;">http://rachelolaughlin.com</span></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7721">
<a href="http://twitter.com/rachelolaughlin" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7744" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7743" style="font-family: garamond,serif;">http://twitter.com/rachelolaughlin</span></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7716">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/r.k.olaughlin" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7742" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_7741" style="font-family: garamond,serif;">http://www.facebook.com/r.k.olaughlin</span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<strong>Where to Buy the Book:</strong></div>
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19223">
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1375794556_0">Amazon</span> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coldness-Marek-Serengard-Rachel%20OLaughlin/dp/0984919414/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19222" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19221" style="color: #0066cc;">Coldness-Marek-Serengard-</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">Rachel OLaughlin/dp/</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">0984919414/</span></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19232">
Amazon US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coldness-Marek-Serengard-Volume-1/dp/0984919414/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19231" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1375794556_1"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19233" style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.amazon.com/</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19230" style="color: #0066cc;">Coldness-Marek-Serengard-</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">Volume-1/dp/0984919414/</span></span></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19254">
Barnes & Noble: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coldness-of-marek-rachel-olaughlin/1107918434?ean=2940148509899" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19253" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1375794556_2"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19252" style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">w/coldness-of-marek-rachel-</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">olaughlin/1107918434?ean=</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">2940148509899</span></span></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19257">
Signed from Author: <a href="http://rachelolaughlin.wordpress.com/novels/coldnessofmarek/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19256" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1375794556_3"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19255" style="color: #0066cc;">http://rachelolaughlin.</span><span style="color: #0066cc;">wordpress.com/novels/</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375792237091_19259" style="color: #0066cc;">coldnessofmarek/</span></span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="yshortcuts"></span> </div>
<div>
<span class="yshortcuts"><strong>And nowwwwwwww, a shiny giveaway!!!</strong></span></div>
<div>
<span class="yshortcuts"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div>
<span class="yshortcuts">Rachel is giving away a couple signed paperbacks of Coldness of Marek and some swag! This giveaway is open to U.S. and international residents, though if you live outside the U.S., the prize will be 3 ebooks of Coldness instead. So, get entering, peeps!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="yshortcuts"></span> </div>
<div>
<span class="yshortcuts"><a a0d0="" class="rafl" display="" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" id="rc-093a0d0" rafl="" www.rafflecopter.com="">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/093a0d0/</a>" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sooooooooooooooo, to round this whole thing out. Buy it. Read it. Damon and I are.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="vampdiaries1034-5" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14699" height="281" scale="0" src="http://fandomania.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/vampdiaries1034-5.jpg" title="vampdiaries1034-5" width="500" /><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=07UVKartsyPeUM&tbnid=sE2lOxffafJqWM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifebeginsnowdamnit.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F09%2Ftv-things.html&ei=_gABUqXBMs6CyAHF5IHAAQ&bvm=bv.50310824,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFqSail1Hj6Sj3QMe2NK7Ofl8tURA&ust=1375883887640925" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"></a></div>
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</div>
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><br />Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-52573723674100584622013-05-10T07:07:00.000-07:002013-05-10T07:07:17.210-07:00Cover Reveal for THIS LOVE!!!Hey folks! So, I'm SUPER excited to get to reveal the cover for This Love, a great read by one of my amazing CP's. (And the cover is awesome, in case you were wondering ;-)<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Love<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nazarea Andrews <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mel Stevens of The
Illustrated Author created the cover art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkL3Chmtn_insTCILiMtOdiezXx_Yh4B5IlMpFPXs-QI9aE9KpH4OE6tL_To9Hq1IQQZYfBRFm9kfEDPa0L__9v8miLYeIaxv5F294RtuUDak4tgw2yH5rQAkhePDJk7IFUCrFF0p9ec/s1600/This+Love+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkL3Chmtn_insTCILiMtOdiezXx_Yh4B5IlMpFPXs-QI9aE9KpH4OE6tL_To9Hq1IQQZYfBRFm9kfEDPa0L__9v8miLYeIaxv5F294RtuUDak4tgw2yH5rQAkhePDJk7IFUCrFF0p9ec/s320/This+Love+Final.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She wants a summer
job and a ride to a wedding.<br />
He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess his life has become.<br />
They didn't know they needed each other.<br />
<br />
Avery Emili needs two grand. Two grand and a plane ticket--her sister is
counting on her to get to Jamaica for the wedding. But the semester is over,
and tutoring college freshman and high school students has dried up until the
fall.<br />
Atticus Grimes needs help--the messy split with his wife left the twenty-eight
year old professor scrambling to keep things together as the semester winds
down. Now he's got a research grant he has to actually do research for and all
he wants to do is drown himself in a tall bottle of bourbon.<br />
When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she's thinking is a summer job.
But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to
realize something is there. Something that can't happen--he's a professor and
she's a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can
two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coming JUNE 2013<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></o:p></u></b><br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add it to your to-read list on </span></u></b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17706171-this-love"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Goodreads!</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIlWadT8w07pzrr6acCBzLEY1i_g9QCoW_uOD3AgZiunSdCUeUMX8cmBVkjAT6HH3cjp5fEyuUOhZKNJyQJVPDtjQevtav-NnCMMqOYMJWZ1a3Wiw_DqUG-EDukwZRViGNXlCh7EtsOI/s1600/Nazarea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIlWadT8w07pzrr6acCBzLEY1i_g9QCoW_uOD3AgZiunSdCUeUMX8cmBVkjAT6HH3cjp5fEyuUOhZKNJyQJVPDtjQevtav-NnCMMqOYMJWZ1a3Wiw_DqUG-EDukwZRViGNXlCh7EtsOI/s320/Nazarea.JPG" width="297" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About the Author: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nazarea Andrews is an avid
reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves
chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much
as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters,
and overgrown dog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can follow her on </span></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Facebook</span></span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Twitter</span></span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enter to win an ARC of This Love <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78a5/" id="rc-4cf78a5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-46228311636568214332013-04-28T18:21:00.001-07:002013-04-28T18:21:36.924-07:00On Writing and IntegrityHI BLOG FRIENDS!!! *waves frantically* I've missed you all terribly, but I've been SO SO sick that I just haven't written, well, anything, for a hundred years. I'm going to slowly crawl out of my infirm cave, however, because I've been wanting to write this forever. And it's worth it to me to risk death to do so! *coughs, sputters, dies from hacking up a lung*<br />
<br />
So. Integrity. Writerly integrity means totally different things to different people. To some people, they don't want to use language in their books. To some, it might mean not writing about sex. To some, it might mean they don't believe in censorship, and authenticity matters most, therefore censoring anything in their writing would be wrong.<br />
<br />
Here's the thing: we ALL have different lines. If it's your faith, your religion, your general moral compass that directs it, I don't know-it's different for everyone. But we all believe something. For me, and the way I make my faith coexist with my writing, it means I don't use swear words when I write. I also choose not to write graphic sex. Does this mean I'm judging anyone who does? Absolutely not. My line is different than your line, because likely, my beliefs at least somewhat differ from yours. I'm cool with writing non-graphic sex, whereas someone else may draw the line at kissing. And that's okay.<br />
<br />
The fact of the matter is, whatever your beliefs are, whatever that line is for you, even if it's something someone else finds ridiculous, don't cross it. If you believe that writing about tuna fish is wrong, DON'T DO IT. If you believe that using language, or writing sex, or censoring writing in any way is wrong....you get where I'm going with this.<br />
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At the end of the day, it's about you, and can you be proud of your work? If you can, awesome. But if you believe something strongly, selling a book isn't worth breaking that belief, whatever that belief may be. I have a book I want to write, and I have written some of it, and I strongly believe that because of the setting and characters, it would be a better book if I included swearing. But I'm not gonna write it that way, because that's my line. And if I believe the book sucks without it, I'd rather not write it. Or sell it. <br />
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Do I judge people who do swear in their books? NO. It doesn't phase me; most of my betas and CP's do; it's totally their choice. And I absolutely respect that everyone has different beliefs about what they personally will and won't right. But whatever it is you believe, if there are things you don't ever want to write about, or things you want to always stand for when you write, stick to that belief, no matter what people say. Cause ultimately, it's about you and YOUR story. And being proud of what you've written will feel a whole lot better than having a check in your pocket, if it comes down to that.<br />
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Keep calm, and write on, peeps.Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-25632402000935582032013-03-08T06:33:00.002-08:002013-03-08T06:33:24.230-08:00Pitch Madness!!!Check it out! I'm a <b><big><big>slush zombie</big></big></b> for
<b><big><big>Pitch Madness</big></big></b> and will be diving into the slush to
pick out the most tasty pitches. We zombies like brains so hopefully your entry
is smart. If you don't know what Pitch Madness is, it's a contest to showcase
the top pitches to some fantabulous agents. You can get more details here: <a class="yiv1054723015moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/2013/02/pitch-madness-details.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/2013/02/pitch-madness-details.html</a>
<br /><br /><b><big><big><big>Here's the Pitch Madness
schedule:</big></big></big></b>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">M<span style="font-size: small;">arch
1<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Submission windows announce<span style="font-size: small;">d.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March <span style="font-size: small;">8</span>: <span style="font-size: small;">Introducing the
<span style="font-size: small;">slush
readers</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 1<span style="font-size: small;">2</span>:
Introd<span style="font-size: small;">ucing the <span style="font-size: small;">blog hosts and their
teams</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March
13: Introducing the
agents</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March
15<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> Submission w<span style="font-size: small;">indows
open</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 15<span style="font-size: small;">-18<span style="font-size: small;">: <span style="font-size: small;">1st round - slush
reader<span style="font-size: small;">s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ma<span style="font-size: small;">rch 18-23: <span style="font-size: small;">2nd round - <span style="font-size: small;">60 winners chosen for<span style="font-size: small;"> the
game</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 24: Rules of the Game
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 26-28: <span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_136275292420465" style="font-size: small;">Pitch
Madness Agent <span style="font-size: small;">Games</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">March 28<span style="font-size: small;"> @ noon: Agent bids
released<span style="font-size: small;"> (all ti<span style="font-size: small;">es go to a sudden death ro<span style="font-size: small;">und)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<br /><br />
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Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-68391834840144809612013-03-07T07:27:00.001-08:002013-03-07T07:57:50.193-08:00In Which We Discuss "The Culture That Cried Misogyny"<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NON-WRITING-RANT
BELOW<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This post is gonna piss some people off. Which is
why I never post these kinds of things. I’m a peacemaker, as a rule. But I’m
also a little obsessive. So, when an issue comes up that’s been bugging me
forever and always and pushes it over the edge, I can’t NOT say something about
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This might seem like a blog post about Taylor Swift.
And at first, it’s gonna be. But that’s not what’s really been making me
insane. We’re gonna talk about this Taylor Swift-Amy Poehler-Tina Fey nonsense
for a bit, and then get to the heart of the issue, which has nothing to do with
them. (I also wanna preface this by saying I am NOT a T. Swift hater, or a
hater of women. I love her music; I rock out to it, sometimes for days on end,
to the dismay of my husband. I like the girl. So. Not bashing here. But…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">critiquing</i> in a snarky way.) But first,
the thing that set me off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THE
INCIDENT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=k2RNckdgcbjpzM&tbnid=APz67oSq_LeDDM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimgfave.com%2Fsearch%2Fforeboding&ei=tJ44UfHhNcGgyAG7uYCgBw&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNF0dfmlOhKkSX6K5bM7Ws6x5oCvxg&ust=1362751537190177" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="200" id="irc_mi" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqj9hdgmpI1qhrr12o1_400.gif" style="margin-top: 165px;" width="400" /></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, basically, it went down like this. Tina Fey and
Amy Poehler do a hilariously fab job hosting the Golden Globes. They do kind of
a roast, wherein they make amusing little jabs at bunches of celebs there.
Examples: “When it comes to torture, we trust the woman who was married to James
Cameron for 5 years.” *Burn* “Anne Hathaway, in Les Miserables! Wow! We haven’t
seen someone so alone and abandoned since you hosted The Oscars with James Franco.”
*Franco Burn* “Quentin Tarantino is here, the star of all my sexual nightmares.”
*Burn* You get the picture. Then came the infamous joke: “Taylor Swift, you
stay away from Michael J. Fox’s son. You need some “me” time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All the other celebrities’ responses to the burns
they received? Bahahahahaha, polite chuckles, riotous laughter, etc. Taylor
Swift’s response? ~paraphrased. But not loosely. Look it up~I’m not some
insecure, clingy, needy, desperate insane girlfriend. There’s a special place
in Hell for women who don’t help other women.~ Yup, she wins this Zing battle. “Stay
single.” “You guys are going to Hell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And whatev. Celebrities gonna celeb. I understand,
all celebrities are crazy. What set me off was the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">response</i> to this whole thing. Now everyone is all “Ermagersh why
does everyone hate Taylor Swift? Why is everyone so SEXIST and MISOGYNIST?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And I’m like:</span><span style="color: blue; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=lrjrfd5xUFHy5M&tbnid=j-Q9jS2I0-dNBM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fraised%2520eyebrow&ei=p6Q4Uc-DNoXWygG1ooGYBg&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNH9G8npTMfjLkA1T1DiJ38gmJH11Q&ust=1362753009573662" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="165" id="irc_mi" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6mdaaToiB1ranhnao1_250.gif" style="margin-top: 118px;" width="220" /></a></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=8CXFJcx_gLt4xM&tbnid=ymHjP9nDrwNenM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fyou%2520keep%2520using%2520that%2520word&ei=EaU4Uc3XG7T_yQGkjYHQBg&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHBWbI6XRtzup3DY0RVtMQ9bYmJvg&ust=1362753162050853" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="200" id="irc_mi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrq5kmwVOp1qfff9p.gif" style="margin-top: 130px;" width="300" /></a></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1) No
one is being “sexist” and slut shaming Taylor Swift.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do we really think that people are
always making fun of T. Swift just because she likes to play the field? No! We’re
like “Get your date on, T! You have a good old time.” Taylor gets attention
drawn to the fact that she’s dated every guy ever because SHE draws attention
to it. Now, before you tune out, let me explain. Jennifer Aniston has dated a
lot of guys. And nobody cares. Does anybody make fun of her for it? Nope. Why?
Because she hasn’t made an entire freaking career out of bashing her exes. And
not only does Taylor write bunches of music about her exes (which would be
fine) she calls them out specifically in her songs. Dear John=John Mayer. Duh.
When people weren’t sure who “Never Ever Getting Back Together” was about, she
did a British accent so EVERYONE would know it was Harry Styles. Here’s the
thing. When you date a bunch of guys, you don’t deserve to be identified by
that or made fun of for it. BUT when you date a bunch of guys and make a career
out of publicly shaming those guys specifically, you are asking to be made fun
of for that. And it’s only fair, people. IT’S NOT SEXIST. Which brings me to
the real point of this whole rant.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2) STOP
declaring that everything is sexist and misogynist and that everything means
that everyone hates women. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I hate sexism. I hate misogyny. It’s stupid and it sucks.
But at this point, we throw around that word so often <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that the word “sexist” now has about as much
power as the word “popcorn.” For whatever reason, people have taken to
declaring that all things are now misogynist. When a guy holds open the door for
a girl? MISOGYNIST. I’ve heard a couple stories about women actually yelling at
guys for holding open the door for them. ??? If a guy was holding open the door
for you because he truly believed that you, as a woman, were too weak to do so
herself, that would be sexist. But NEWSFLASH. Guys hold open the door for a
girl because they want to be freaking nice. I, for one, happen to love that.
When someone is considerate and respectful, it’s not freaking sexist; it’s a
compliment! Someone makes fun of a girl for writing derogatory songs about all
the guys she dates? SEXIST. Someone doesn’t support abortion? The only
explanation as to why MUST be because they hate women. I drank orange juice
this morning. Probably it’s because I hate women…Not everyone hates women.
There are other motivations for doing things.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3) Last
sexist thing: Women are always objectified, and that’s sexist! Frick guys, why
do any of us watch The Vampire Diaries if not to objectify the guys on that
show? Look.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> <a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=QPUcNOwpkFAhuM&tbnid=J2gcFc-Ujr17VM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.malecelebnews.com%2F2011%2F04%2F12%2Fian-somerhalder-shirtless-on-the-vampire-diaries%2F&ei=37A4Uf6iH4mxyQHQmIC4Bg&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNH7OcxE_NCEmlSFPL2OkgvMUBiPiw&ust=1362755906833754" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="285" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.malecelebnews.com/wp-content/images/2011/04/iiiansomerhalder_thevampirediaries_s2e17_knowthyenemy_20110407_001.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=KmCJ4siCiC7iLM&tbnid=TO5eWN6iExjeDM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.thenest.com%2Fcs%2Fks%2Fforums%2Fthread%2F59984437.aspx&ei=ULE4Ue_kLIKVygG6wYHQCQ&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNH7OcxE_NCEmlSFPL2OkgvMUBiPiw&ust=1362755906833754" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="239" id="irc_mi" src="http://cdn02.cdn.socialitelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/paul-wesley-ian-sommerhalder-shirtless-vampire-diaries-photos-12142009-07-430x239.jpg" style="margin-top: 146px;" width="430" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=i5nVipNn3QYRcM&tbnid=Ht2mVuWGyAKUDM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanforum.com%2Ff328%2Fmichael-trevino-tyler-lockwood-13-because-were-waiting-more-shirtless-tyler-scenes-season-3-a-62999008%2Findex2.html&ei=hbE4Ud-QCeemygHN9oC4Bg&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHmbOEWdD-DlAuCddykSzD9_OXT5A&ust=1362756337905514" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="266" id="irc_mi" src="http://images.buddytv.com/the-sexiest-scenes-f/btv/1/600034527/1/590/-1/0.jpg" style="margin-top: 65px;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When you see those pics, are you
thinking “Dannnnng, he must have nice personality!” No. You’re thinking things
I can’t post on this blog, just like I am. Every David Beckham commercial=Take
your shirt off, David! Are women objectified on TV? Yup. Are men? Yup. Equal
Opportunity Objectifiers. I objectify dudes. And frankly, unless someone is
being gross or *only* thinks of me as a physical object, I really don’t care if
someone thinks I’m hot and doesn’t immediately think of my winning personality.
Whatever. I do the same thing to Hot Guy #2 walking down the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The point of all this: When you use
“sexist” and “misogynist” to describe everything, the words lose their power.
And they are important words. But if their meaning is gone, then important
things that REALLY ARE misogynist, like women being unable to vote in Iran, or
when people say women should not be allowed to work, or when men casually refer to women as "my b****es, go
unnoticed, and piled into the “Guys holding open doors is sexist” pile. Let’s
stop assuming everyone is sexist and hates women, and get back to the stuff
that really matters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">END RANT. Hope I didn’t piss too
many people off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-76475431898567518062013-02-28T07:13:00.000-08:002013-03-13T18:31:01.803-07:00~On Writing Villains: Part Two~<br />
So, a little while back, I did a blog post on villains.(Here's the link the <a href="http://shortcuttoshrums.blogspot.com/2013/01/on-writing-villains-part-one.html" target="_blank">Part One</a> And I promised a Part
2 because, well, I just couldn’t finish the whole thing in one non-tome-length
blog post. So, here ‘tis. Writing Villains: Part Two. We last left off at
villain sub-types…<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
C. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Villain Everyone Wants to Hang
Out With, Cause They’re Charming or Hilarious</b><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=8dgsulXXh94OaM&tbnid=H8hdSyZY6mCPuM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.psu.edu%2Fpotterheadsforlife%2Ftag%2Fseverus-snape%2F&ei=c3YvUeWJAoKUywGRl4CQAw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGsk-IaqJUVBcIox9hkyr8HmpyDBg&ust=1362151379076763" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="208" id="irc_mi" src="http://sites.psu.edu/potterheadsforlife/files/2012/12/tumblr_mc043vsZXm1rtuhqho1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 136px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
So, calling Snape a “villain” is kind of innacurate, and I bristle at anyone
who calls him such, because I’ve had a love for Snape ever since book 1. Even
when everyone hated him, I maintained my undying love for the man. But, no
matter your Snapey persuasion, he was most definitely an antagonist to Harry.
The thing about Snape is, he’s a jerkface. But he’s charming. And most of all,
he’s hilarious. I’d say Scar falls into this category. The intellectual, witty
villains who you’d kind of like to hang out with for an hour just to see what
horribly hilarious things they’d say to. And then, you could go home and cry,
but it would be worth your tears. Yeah, this is them. (My personal favorite
type of villain, by the way.)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">D. The Villain who’s such a Bad-A
That You Love Them for Being Awesome (or Terrifying.) <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div align="center">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=_X0kveU7zxXy7M&tbnid=nIZagLTIaqYZaM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimgfave.com%2Fsearch%2Fi%2520was%2520so%2520in%2520love%2520with%2520him&ei=M3MvUZWLOOfuyAGlsYGwCw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEm8EFvbe3C5XfKuOYYOpc2E3fv9Q&ust=1362150526209753" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="282" id="irc_mi" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m31vgylP0m1qlpotuo1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 99px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=MMLsX7IOXRMygM&tbnid=LEVjS6uofPaZUM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanpop.com%2Fclubs%2Fklaroline%2Fimages%2F32683459%2Ftitle&ei=EHIvUczJOKSVygHYxIG4Aw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHW4Dfp0ydFA4y43UmFe02ae0x2dw&ust=1362150179291453" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"></a></o:p></b> </div>
<br />
When we first met Klaus, who wasn’t shaking in their seats? I know I was.
(Though now, I'm kind of in love with him, despite the fact that he'd, well, the pinnacle of all evil.) This dude is crazy, and so COMPETENT and terrifying and awesome that you know,
if he intends to kill someone, they’re dead. Period. I love a competent,
terrifying villain. If that doesn’t raise the stakes, nothing will. A villain
who can get the job done, always, and their job is ruining your MC’s life
somehow? Scary times. (Also in this category, Malifecent, Hannibal Lecter in Silence
of the Lambs)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
E. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Baddie Who Gets Redeemed</b> <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<o:p><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=1R6ft26cTKNplM&tbnid=oQQuQZ61RdxVLM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fromheroestoicons.com%2Ftag%2Fstar-wars%2F&ei=pHMvUb-9ArH7yAGK34DYDA&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFKXnM2-y-5GL6xaM1b_UL8peEVZQ&ust=1362150677043403" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="299" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.fromheroestoicons.com/blog/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/VaderFather.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></o:p></div>
<br />
(Do not imagine him pansily yelling NOOOOO in this picture. He didn't so it in the original.) <br />
Okay, I admit, I love a crazy villain who gets redeemed. Good old Vader tops
that list. The one who, in his final hour, shows that he is in fact, a
compassionate human being. I was told once that in a story even your bad guys
should get better by the end. Because everyone wants to see people become
better people. Now, I don’t agree with this in all cases. BUT, it can be a
powerful tool. And who doesn’t love a redemption story? This also serves to
make your villain not just a villainous tool, but a human.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
THERE ARE VILLAINS who do not fit these types. But usually they don’t get
much screen time. Cause you hate them. If I had to see Dolores Freaking
Umbridge one more time in Harry Potter, I was gonna flip my lid. Now,
Voldemort, I can roll with, but look: <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=E0yH2Sw3i20yzM&tbnid=dhzqCroD0f726M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fharrypotter.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FFile%3ADolores_Umbridge_(Promo_still_from_HP5_movie)_10-15-2009.jpg&ei=7HMvUYy8GebkyQG0oIE4&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGgBpKOOtWV7Kgmz4U0836Nk_6b6Q&ust=1362150756447574" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="479" id="irc_mi" src="http://images.wikia.com/harrypotter/images/f/f9/Dolores_Umbridge_(Promo_still_from_HP5_movie)_10-15-2009.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
Just looking at her pisses me off. I don’t know how I survived looking for a
gif of her. And for the love of all things bright and beautiful, if your
villain is as freaking hateable as Dolores, LET YOUR FANS BE HAPPY AND DO
SOMETHING AWFUL TO THEM. PREFERABLY DEATH. Otherwise, they will still be rage-y
about it years later. *grumbles*<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Final Point-Get Into Your
Villain's Head.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Personally, I love villains so much that my favorite thing ever is not
necessarily when people say “Awww, your MC!” I love it when people say “GAH. I
HATE THAT VILLAIN SO MUCH.” Dunno why. I’m twisted, I suppose. But ultimately,
your villain is a character too. He or she is a person, just like all your
other characters, and your goal is to create a person.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
Just as your main character is consistent in the way she thinks and why she
does what she does, so should be your villain. Don’t have him burn down and
orphanage unless that person would truly burn down an orphanage. And if that
messes with your plot, well, fix your villain or fix your plot. But it’s all
about consistency, getting into your villain’s head enough to make him real.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
And that’s all she wrote.<o:p></o:p>Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-26549451614391328562013-02-04T14:17:00.000-08:002013-02-04T14:17:06.639-08:00How I Got My Agent!!!!!!Guys, contests are cool. They're kind of my crack. Brenda Drake got me addicted back with Pitch Madness in August....when I was just a baby with my very first manuscript who didn't know a query from a synopsis, an MS from an MC, and I had no idea what the heck a CP was...fast forward a bit. 1 more contest later. On October 31st, I realized I had about 30,000 words written on my newest WIP. And about 50,000 to go. So, I decided to be crazy and do NaNoWriMo. And, to my shock, I finished! I got in 50,000 words and finished my book (<a href="http://shortcuttoshrums.blogspot.com/p/never-never.html" target="_blank">Never, Never</a>) by the end of November. <br />
<br />
Then came PitchWars a couple days later, where I got a fabulous mentor, known to some as Fizzygrrl and some as Summer, who helped me put all the finishing touches on Never, Never. I had a few requests from that, which was super exciting. Before the Pitch Wars pitches went live, since I was all high on contests, I happened to come across a twitter pitch event called Pitch Bree, and thought Hey! Why not? She requested (Another woooo) and I sent in my manuscript...Fast forward again, to about 2 weeks later...<br />
<br />
So, it was a Monday like any other Monday...I was sittin at my laptop, obsessively refreshing my Yahoo email, like I do, and then, in came an email, the likes of which I hadn't seen. The subject line read..."Re: NEVER, NEVER." And it was from this super fantabulous agent. So, naturally, I assumed, Oh great, another rejection. When I clicked on it, I was all:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bgbjnj9OmYQqUM&tbnid=GBlUMWGcwkTu8M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fbored%2520gif&ei=sjQMUcSlBsStygHij4CgCg&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGKAyGE99LkxRv8dHSvUg-FmyThhg&ust=1359840516761064" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="348" id="irc_mi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/85868246bdddb0539a33eb7464ac2e99/tumblr_inline_mg32xoi5BF1qa3yy9.gif" style="margin-top: 81px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
But thennnn, I read it. And, to my shock 'n awe, it DIDN'T say, "Hey, your book sucks." What it actually said was "I'd love to offer you representation." At this point, I went from this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=jVgCUqSQS3Zh7M&tbnid=He73yc-FSvFuUM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crushable.com%2F2012%2F05%2F10%2Fentertainment%2Fnbc-cancels-parks-and-recreation-30-rock-community-wtf-888%2F&ei=9zUMUd2CN-GzyAHIpYGQDA&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFSA2VXSt7UT_CUhZSBroYSdMtW6g&ust=1359841110926915" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" id="irc_mi" src="http://cdn.crushable.com/files/2012/05/whatthewhat.gif" style="margin-top: 55px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
To this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=z6Y9S2W-cVznDM&tbnid=Nw5QFGxDPj00ZM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fpreach%2520gif&ei=dzYMUYmXHpTYyAHkyoC4BQ&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEAwVnXLlVC3XXDKwN7Pm4OFBucXQ&ust=1359841267820393" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="325" id="irc_mi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m25xjwahGw1qc3wmu.gif" style="margin-top: 25px;" width="495" /></a></div>
<br />
And finally, to this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=wU_Il3k9JB5V-M&tbnid=BjRgxnEZpf2zFM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhellyeah-stevecarell.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F13484414160%2Fdwight-you-ignorant-slut-othergeeks-from-the&ei=rzcMUZrcNMqQyAHC7oGIAQ&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHJ8dIM304ic6OU6iU40jjF0feMSg&ust=1359841520930792" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="225" id="irc_mi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvej0961mj1qcq0ee.gif" style="margin-top: 80px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yup. I cried a little bit. I'm emotional. When I called the hubs, he thought something was terribly, horribly wrong. But it TOTALLY WASN'T. So, we emailed back and forth, and she told me to call her THAT DAY cause she was all excited! After my child finalllly fell asleep, I called her up (after staring at the phone for like 5 minutes) and she said all these fantabulous amazing things about my book, and basically every thing she said was perfect. And I'm pretty sure that all I said during the entire conversation was "Awesome," several times. I mean, I asked her questions and stuff, but basically I forgot all the words. I'm sure after we hung up, she was like, 'Man. That girl used up her entire vocabulary in her book, and now she's forgotten English.' But she was nice enough to not say those things. So, you know, that was good.<br />
<br />
Utilizing much more self-control than I usually possess, I coolly said, "Okay, well, I'll get back to you in a week. Awesome." Cause my mind kept telling me over and over:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=3jDuPHY3RQgCMM&tbnid=0FBgRa4mhvaZxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fhot%2520person&ei=GDoMUcX7FcjMyQH7loGYBA&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHIAkl0mtMKXJbBLziJ6doMia0e7Q&ust=1359842192572225" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="273" id="irc_mi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazqdxKbmj1rufrc8.gif" style="margin-top: 113px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This picture pretty much sums it up...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the left: How I acted like I felt. On the right: How I ACTUALLY felt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=-yP0qpzb1ERGFM&tbnid=9nIN9CaAGZHFlM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Fparksandrec&ei=axYPUZjUIubOyAH-6YGIBg&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEsMJ1gwPdt9DCVtCnAnowd1d1m1A&ust=1360029577344723" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="254" id="irc_mi" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc2m7ivD9B1rwo7hbo1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 49px;" width="450" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
But, about 15 seconds after I hung up the phone, I desperately wanted to call her back and be like:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=x8W7Vmm_alp-dM&tbnid=T2bwdEl63zooUM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.listal.com%2Flist%2Fmost-memorable-quotes-xforeverlove21&ei=u4wNUb_6IabkyQGLkoDICQ&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEiFX63ruvOYoFjilgPi-_Fi6whzw&ust=1359928796005492" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="284" id="irc_mi" src="http://i2.listal.com/image/4753197/500full.jpg" style="margin-top: 102px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't though. I forced myself to wait until the next Monday. I got an offer from one other agent,from Pitch Wars actually, which I really appreciated, and several of the nicest, most encouraging rejections ever, i.e. "bowing out."<br />
But ultimately, I couldn't get that first agent out of my head. She was just soooo enthusiastic and upfront about everything, and so cool. She really *got* my book. Everything about it. And she believed in Hook. At one point, she said, "I hope you sign with me, but even if you don't, I'll totally support you. No matter what you choose, I just wanna see this thing on the shelves." And that kind of awesome is tough to beat, folks. Sooooo, I signed with Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary. <br />
<br />
WOOOOOOOO!<br />
<br />
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=zB7xRNaJ6eADMM&tbnid=GeL4Lvt9cH9rzM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funnyordie.com%2Flists%2F1d2da3358d%2Fthe-best-dancing-gifs&ei=DxgPUeTvN6WzygGm5IHoCw&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHU18e4oRS7-E2uwrQqhFFg92PqOA&ust=1360030007142922" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="320" id="irc_mi" src="http://assets0.ordienetworks.com/images/GifGuide/dancing/tumblr_llatbbCeky1qbnthu.gif" style="margin-top: 75px;" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yup. You can just call us Bri-squared. That concludes that, readers. I have an agent.<br />
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=oexhtD-POBXGwM&tbnid=oneqJZNSdN7u3M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gifsoup.com%2Fview%2F1871013%2Fbreakfast-club-fist-pump.html&ei=axgPUd6sCaT9ygHK-IDwCQ&bvm=bv.41867550,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEt4EnYVBst3bX5NHlhe9Kfz-A0Jw&ust=1360030176808932" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="363" id="irc_mi" src="http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs3/1871013_o.gif" style="margin-top: 152px;" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The Stats, (cause it seems everyone loves stats)<br />
<br />
Queries Sent: 15<br />
Partial Requests: 4<br />
Full Requests: 9 <br />
<em>(Note: A lot of these requests were not from actual queries, so the ratio of queries to requests was a lot lower than the stats suggest.)</em><br />
Offers: 2<br />
<br />
GIANT thanks to my lovely CP's and betas: Nazarea, Rachel, Tabitha, Darci, Carol, Juliana, Stacey, and Chase (my brother, as well as writer/CP :-)) And a couple others who went out of their way to help me out or give referrals, or awesome things: Cat and Steph.<br />
Lastly, HUGE thanks to my lovely and awesome Pitch Wars mentor: Summer Heacock, who has basically been one giant fizzy ball of encouragement and help!<br />
<br />
Bye, all! I'm off to go frolick.</div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-23489898706447347062013-01-19T10:19:00.002-08:002013-03-13T17:25:54.237-07:00~On Writing Villains: Part One~Guys, I'm EXCITED about this post. I've got a thing for villains. (Obviously. I just wrote an entire book about Captain Hook.) But, seriously, I LOVE them. So, when a CP asked me if I had any good resources on writing villains and my answer was 'No," it only made sense that I blog about it. Thus, on to an evil start to the bloggy New Year....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="298" id="il_fi" src="http://www.lifeafterdatingapsycho.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Picture-153.png" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div>
<br />
For the record, most of this blog post will NOT be about my book, 'cause there are some other amazing villains I gotta use as examples. But, I do need to start there.<br />
<br />
So, when I was writing Never, Never, I was tasked with turning James Hook into a sexy heartthrob hero and turning Peter Pan, one of the most beloved little guys of all time into a villain. And not a moustache-twirling, over-the-top evil, wicked baddie. A bone-chilling, believable, <em>real</em> villain. Tricksy, tricksy. Thus, I turned to the following techniques...<br />
<br />
<strong>1) A Good Villain Must Have a Real Character Motivation</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<img alt="" class="image" height="412" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9hf7sXpeM1rnmg3vo1_500.jpg" width="500" /><br />
<br />
Here's the thing. We writers spend countless hours creating character worksheets, doing personality tests (yeah, I sometimes give my characters Myers-Briggs tests. Whaddup.), and obsessing over our MC's. Most importantly, <em>what they want</em>. But, oftentimes, the villain is thrown in just to be an obstacle to the MC. You can do that if the villain isn't a big deal in your story. BUT, if you want to write a truly great antagonist, <u>they need to want something, too<em>. </em></u>That thing cannot be just to ruin the MC's life. Because in all honesty, no one is that much of a tool. No one is so loser-y that the only thing they want out of life is to ruin someone else's.<br />
<br />
Take Loki, for example. I freaking love Loki. His main motivation in Thor was to prove to himself and to his father that he, too, was awesome, though he'd been constantly overshadowed by his all-powerful-golden-boy big brother. In essence, his motivation was overcoming some serious self-esteem problems and daddy issues. In The Avengers, he'd passed through a crazy, life-altering abyss-portal and had pretty much made the switch into ultimate B-A bent on world domination. Even then, that stemmed from the original Thor-Movie-Issue.<br />
<br />
Note that never was his sole purpose in life to stand in the way of Thor. No, it just so happened that their goals were at odds with each others. Give your villain a goal. A real motivator. One just as good and fully fleshed out as that of your MC. That's step one.<br />
<br />
<strong>2) Your Villain Needs to be Somewhat Likeable. (What??? Trust me. I promise.)</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=mgRLTqmKJSZc5M&tbnid=3cpKCeh4kajvEM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsgtr.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F01%2F10%2F8frac12-1963-vs-pulp-fiction-1994%2F&ei=fFMlUc6GCKm4igLB54Ag&bvm=bv.42661473,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNHc0-iywYvb4dKh1c_amw4kGt0KQA&ust=1361487050057838" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="242" id="irc_mi" src="http://sgtr.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dance2_thumb.gif?w=567&h=274" style="margin-top: 76px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When I say your villain needs to be somewhat likeable, I don't <em>necessarily</em> mean that readers need to like your villain. What I mean is that if your villain is going to be a major part of your book, <u>readers need to like it when they are on-screen<em>.</em></u><em> </em>If every time your villain shows up, he's so freaking annoying that your readers roll their eyes and they're like "UGH THIS GUY AGAIN," what does that mean? Check it out. Villain is there in my book all the time + Readers can't stand when he's there=Readers don't enjoy parts of your book. That's no good! We don't want that! We want readers to devour every page of the book, even when Dolores Umbridge is there carving things into Harry Potter's hand. So....how?<br />
<br />
Sub-points. <strong>TYPES OF THESE VILLAINS</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>A) The Sympathetic Villain</strong><br />
<img height="272" id="il_fi" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx577y3FuA1r9seq5o1_500.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="495" /><br />
I picked Magneto for this one. To be fair, he's not really sympathetic until you watch X-Men: First Class, but whatever. When you watch that, he fits. This is one of my favorite villain archetypes because they're relatable. This is the villain who's bad, but darn it, he has a good reason for being so gosh-darn evil. His family got killed or he was dipped in acid or something. <br />
<br />
<strong>B) The Villain Who's Horrible, Awfully Despicable But Some Oddity or Personality Quirk Makes You Kind of Like Them</strong><br />
<img alt="" class="image" height="200" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li9dofSRjN1qgnsnbo1_500.gif" width="500" /><br />
<br />
Basically, this is EVERY SINGLE VILLAIN Quentin Tarantino has ever written. They're fabulous. They're disgusting, awful, unsympathetic human beings, but for whatever reason, you just enjoy when they're talking. (For the record, I think my Peter Pan was probably this one. Maybe with a sprinkle of sympathetic thrown in.)<br />
<br />
Hans Landa (above) is just the worst. I mean, he's a freaking Nazi. And he's just horrible. BUT, he's so bizarre, and so unaware of social etiquette, so oblivious to real life, that when he talks and gestures, you can't help but like when he's on-screen. Same with Bill from Kill Bill. They guy's a contract killer. And he likes it. But he's smooth, he's funny, and scenes with the dirtbag are the best. (Which is why I like Kill Bill 2 better than Kill Bill 1.) Also, ALL the characters in Pulp Fiction.<br />
<br />
The trick to writing one of these villains is to make them <em>real</em>. If their quirk is funny or sad or just bizarre, remember you are writing a person. This person happens to be bad. But show some humanity once in a while, and you've got yourself a Tarantino villain.<br />
<br />
<br />
This blog post is getting really long, because apparently I can't talk about villains in a concise way. I love them too much to shortchange them like that. Thus, there will be a <a href="http://shortcuttoshrums.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-writing-villains-part-two.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>. (Maybe even a Part 3!) But, this concludes Part 1. Happy villaining.<br />
<strong></strong><br />Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-87760644540413803982012-12-07T13:59:00.000-08:002013-02-28T08:43:18.026-08:00The Synopsis, Pinnacle of All EvilCower in fear, people. Cower in fear. It's usually what I do when confronted with the task of writing a *shudder* synopsis. We thought query letters were bad. But, it's okay. Sylar says:<br />
<img height="282" id="il_fi" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazweyStUc1qaqwkmo1_500.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="500" /><br />
<br />
The synopsis is uber-frustrating, partially because it's kind of hard to find concrete info on the internet about it. Some people say 1 pg. Some say 3-5. Some say 1 for every, like, 30 pages. (Don't do that.) For our purposes, we're gonna go with the 1 pager. Cause if you can write a 1 pg synopsis, you can write the higher page ones. I always just assume 1 to 2. Sooooo, the guidelines.<br />
<br />
1) When I say 1 pg, I mean single spaced. Double spaced between paragraphs.<br />
2) No indenting anywhere.<br />
3) Include your contact info and the manuscript title on there, too. Those are important things.<br />
<br />
Got that?<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="image" height="342" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6yh4lh2yv1qj802go1_500.gif" width="500" /><br />
<br />
Next. Some more pointers.<br />
<br />
1) Synopses should ALWAYS be written in 3rd person present tense.(Example of that to follow.)<br />
2) You wanna hit all your main plot points. (If you're not sure what those are, go to Larry Brooks' website. He shall inform you.) So yeah. Main stuff. You gotta cover all the big twists. AND THE ENDING.<br />
<br />
<img height="275" id="il_fi" src="http://c1112.hizliresim.com/s/9/102j2.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="488" /><br />
No. I'm not. ALWAYS PUT THE ENDING IN YOUR SYNOPSIS. Or it's not a synopsis.<br />
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3) Introduce your main characters. We don't need all your side characters, just the ones who play a major role in your story. And the first time (only the first) that you introduce them, put the name in ALL CAPS. Like that.<br />
<br />
4) Put some voice into it. As much as you can reasonably. <br />
<br />
Sooooo, without further ado, here is an example. It's a synopsis I wrote of A New Hope. It's a little less than a page. (If you haven't watched Star Wars, get off my blog and watch Star Wars. Cause this synopsis, like all synopses, gives away the ending. <br />
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<br />
STAR WARS EXAMPLE SYNOPSIS<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nineteen year old LUKE SKYWALKER has
never been concerned with saving the galaxy. Living on a backwater planet in
the middle of nowhere, he is much more concerned with his Uncle’s farm than he
is with intergalactic politics. But, he spends his days dreaming, hoping for
something more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He gets more than he wished for when a
crazy old hermit shows up and claims that Luke is the key to saving not only a
beautiful princess, but the galaxy itself. And he cannot help but be intrigued.
And when the evil ruler of the Empire murders his family, he has nothing left
to lose, and follows the hermit into space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The hermit, named OBI WAN KENOBI,
reveals to him that he is a Jedi, a powerful mystic warrior. Not only is Obi
Wan a Jedi, so is Luke. Though Luke has a hard time believing it, he begins to
train anyway, and discovers powers he never thought he had. On their way to the
princess’s home planet, they pick up the jaded and cynical HAN SOLO, a renowned
smuggler and pilot, who charts their course through the galaxy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Upon reaching the princess’s planet,
they discover it has been destroyed by the Empire, the same agency who was
responsible for the deaths of Luke’s family. So, they change course and board
The Death Star, where the princess is being held captive by the ruthless leader
of the Empire, DARTH VADER. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Disguising themselves as members of The
Death Star’s crew, they sneak aboard, intending to rescue PRINCESS LEIA from
certain death. But, their plans go awry when they are discovered, and Darth
Vader challenges Obi Wan Kenobi in battle. Obi Wan fends off Darth Vader, and
when he sees that Luke, Princess Leia, and Han Solo are on their way back to
the ship, he sacrifices himself to save their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Safely on board the ship, but mourning
the loss of Obi Wan, Luke knows that he must truly embrace the teachings of the
Jedi and fulfill his destiny: to destroy the Empire. So, he, as well as
Princess Leia, convince the Rebels, a band of people not allied with the
Empire, that they must fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">On the eve of the planned attack, Han
Solo decides to leave. But, his loyalty to Luke and growing feelings for
Princess Leia compel him to cast off his cynical shell and join with the Rebels
to fight against the Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The attack is successful and Luke, with
aid from Obi Wan from beyond the grave, deals the final blow, exploding the
Death Star, and ensuring freedom throughout the galaxy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There ya have it. We had to leave some favorite characters out, and some plot stuff in the middle, BUT, we got the major players, main point, plot, and a little voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You can DO IT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><img height="250" id="il_fi" src="http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs2/1333548_o.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="305" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And now, because I'm proud of you for writing your fantabulous synopsis, and a lot because I just really wanted an excuse to look up shirtless Ian Somerhalder gifs, a present for you. (Unless you are a straight male, in which case, this will do nothing for you. Apologies.)</span></div>
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<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=W2ekpOPDQO9d7M&tbnid=Hbi2Uc1_vjnZrM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanforum.com%2Ff139%2Fian-animations-gif-thread-2-b-c-hes-so-giftable-63010476%2Findex3.html&ei=EYkvUbrALsnDyQHVrIHwBw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNF5S6sGTrvB0e2lE9nMx99gvEr7Fg&ust=1362156171293057" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="400" id="irc_mi" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lp0i16udXV1r0p7k0o1_500.gif" style="margin-top: 40px;" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
The End.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-61938676889137307782012-12-01T08:11:00.003-08:002012-12-10T11:48:38.695-08:00On NaNoWriMoHoly crap, guys. NaNo is crazy. And all you guys who do it are crazypants.<br />
<a href="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/anigif_the-definitive-charlie-sheen-is-fcking-crazy-gif-22533-1298924636-18.gif"><img alt="anigif_the-definitive-charlie-sheen-is-fcking-crazy-gif-22533-1298924636-18" class="attachment-medium" height="262" src="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/anigif_the-definitive-charlie-sheen-is-fcking-crazy-gif-22533-1298924636-18.gif?w=500" width="500" /></a><br />
(During NaNo, we all look like this, whether we're "winning" or not. Haha. Charlie Sheen jokes.)<br />
<br />
But, whether you won or not, congrats. Writing is freaking hard. If you wrote 500, 5000, or 50000 words in November, those are all words you didn't have before. Which is why anyone who does NaNo (or not, anyone who just writes) wins.<br />
<br />
Congrats to all, and I tip my hat you.<br />
<img height="249" id="il_fi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5vdfjS66O1rqroec.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="500" /><br />
<br />
Anyone who writes a novel is da bomb. (Now, go edit and edit. Don't freaking start querying today. Or all the agents will kill you.)Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-80736289737931245452012-11-19T17:08:00.002-08:002013-01-22T07:34:51.162-08:00Next Big ThingSo0o0o0o, I've decided to do one of these cool "Next Big Thing" posts because the fantabulous Dan Malossi tagged me. (His book, <a href="http://danmalossi.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Fisherman</a> sounds crazy awesome. Go check it out!)<br />
<br />
<br />
Onward to the interview!<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:</strong>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>1. What is the working title of your book?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's called NEVER, NEVER.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>2. Where did the idea come from for the book?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was hangin' out on Twitter in September (as I often do) and I saw this tweet from an agent who said that she would love to see a fairy tale retelling from the villain's POV. I was like, "That's brilliant!" And went through all the fairy tales and classics I could think of. I know Peter Pan isn' really a fairy tale, but it IS a classic. And I loooove Peter Pan. But I love Hook even more. Thus, the idea for writing a Peter Pan retelling from Hook's POV was born. (And seriously, if anyone has read the original Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie...that's some crazy dark stuff. Like, Peter's half a villain already. Just sayin'.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>3. What genre does your book fall under?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Adult Upmarket Retelling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a
movie rendition?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I've been really excited to get to this question!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
James Hook: Ian Somerhaulder.When in doubt, ALWAYS pick Ian Somerhaulder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img height="320" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg651n3tfjBfNl2hUCquiXRfHX4soQuU7IZsGBL1RaRti8KoIRl1kAaL9AWEslE8dEb8fhHc0yfoviaUEmCkotLE_K8lSVKa-cahoD6xitk2WqVl2Sb95rx1Yvy-mlV5xwEOUHt168jt90/s320/ian-somerhalder-Photoshoot-Promo-lost.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="254" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tiger Lily: Roseanne Supernault. (No idea how her acting ability is, because she's pretty new/ unknown. But she looks just like Tiger Lily in mah head.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img height="678" id="il_fi" src="http://cdn.nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Roseanne-Supernault.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="452" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last but not least, Peter Pan: Paul Butcher. Look how cute that kid is. But also, in this book, he's not so nice...so...like...evil cute.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img height="311" id="il_fi" src="http://spa.fotolog.com/photo/10/35/54/famousbdays/1234626275139_f.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="311" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</strong><br />
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ummmm...Imma cheat, mmkay? 3 sentences. Just 3 little sentences...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a boy, James Hook is enticed away to Neverland by Peter Pan, who reneges on his promise to take James back home, and who, when James starts to grow up, (which is against the rules) tries to kill him. James is forced to run to the pirates, stepping naturally into the role of their Captain, and he falls in love with Tiger Lily, a woman who cannot deny her attraction to him, but whose heart belongs to the boy who took James' hand, his family, and his life. He struggles not to let hatred and anger overtake him, and to be a man in a world that hates men<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an
agency?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm determined to go the agent route. Kudos to all you self-pubbers out there! But, agency is the path for me (Hopefully!) ^_^</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong><br />
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your
manuscript?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I edit as I draft, so by the end of all that, it took me around 10 weeks.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>8. What other books would you compare this story to within
your genre?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'd say Wicked (except that the writing style is completely different) because of the villain aspect, and with a whisper of Lord of the Flies. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong><br />
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See the answer to number two...but also, I love the idea of villain backstories, knowing where they came from and what introduced that darkness into their lives. No one is wholly good or wholly evil, and I love the struggle between right and wrong, and the idea that the villain has a life and hopes and struggles and love, too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s
interest?</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmmmm, well, you'll certainly see an angle of James Hook you've never seen before, as well as the darker side of Neverland. I tired to stay as true to JM Barrie's original story as possible, just bringing out the dark bits of Peter that he already introduced. There's also a very central romance in the story, one that ends up being a catalyst for a lot of the changes in Hook. (Gotta love the hot, sexy bad boy love story, right?)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>
Below is a sample from the book. This is a scene involving Tiger Lily (who is of age..no Disney Tiger Lilies here, peeps.) and the Captain...</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’re a fool, James Hook.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James
held his hand out to her, then brought it back. He was at an absolute loss, and
found that he was in something of a panic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Tiger
Lily, I am truly sorry,” he said, the deepest kind of fear washing over his
face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
did not turn, and he stood, breaths shallow, staring at her back in the
clearing. This was ridiculous. Managing a crew of pirates, he did with ease.
But managing a woman was something else entirely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
have you been?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James
blew out a breath. He would not lie to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Keelhaul.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jealousy
flashed across Tiger Lily’s face. She unfolded her arms and walked toward him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Keelhaul?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Indeed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her
voice lowered and she stared up at him, eyes wide and unblinking and pensive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’ve
finally done it, then.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Done
what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Become
a pirate.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
paused. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
have always been a pirate.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tiger
Lily suddenly turned away from him and cocked her head. She was staring at
something through the trees, something that James could not see.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you hear that?” she whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hear
what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
did not answer. She simply walked toward the sound that James couldn’t hear,
and he could do nothing but follow her. It wasn’t long before James picked it
up as well. The sound was haunting and beautiful, like nothing he had ever
heard. He knew in a beat that it was the mermaids.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
lagoon was quite a ways away, too far away for their voices to reasonably
carry, but mermaids had a way of doing impossible things, James found. Their
voices were ethereal and smooth, like they came from the spirits of bells. He
wondered if Tiger Lily was even aware of his presence anymore. She walked
slowly and sat in the eaves, wrapping her arms around her knees. Then, she
closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the sky, entranced and smiling
softly. His breath caught when her saw her that way, and he stopped walking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James
stared at her, the music encasing him. But, he did not fall under the sirens’ spell;
he was too mesmerized by the woman before him. The moons had just risen,
bringing a soft glow to her face, silhouetting her body. James was pulled
toward her, and when he reached her, he held out his hand. It trembled just
slightly as he waited for her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
opened her eyes and stared up into his. The coldness was gone, replaced with a
sort of enchantment. And she gave him her small hand. He pulled her up and drew
her to him, heart racing as he pressed her body to his. He slid his hand down
to her waist and to the small of her back. Then, gaze never breaking hers, he
drew her arm gently out and encircled her hand with his hook. She did not
shrink away from the cold metal; she just wrapped her fingers around it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James
stared into her eyes and stepped. She stumbled a bit and he smiled. Then, he
stepped again, and she followed. They spun in slow circles around the clearing,
moons illuminating everything. James lifted his hook and spun her once, then
brought her to his chest, closer than she’d been before. He could feel her
heart beating against his, and he was at once petrified and at peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was a dark waltz, made of haunting voices and forbidden touches and hidden
desire. James pressed his fingers into her back, and led her in the dance.
Then, he brought his face against her cheek, intoxicated by her nearness,
relishing the sweet scent of her. His long hair fell into hers, and they
tangled together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James did not know why
this pleased him so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Your
hair is longer,” Tiger Lily said, and her voice was hoarse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Long
hair is the mark of a pirate and a fiend,” he whispered low into her ear. “Both
of which I am.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Thus far, those tagged next arrrrrre:<br />
Tabitha Martin- YA Fantasy- <a href="http://tabithamiriam.tumblr.com/post/41143075493/next-big-thing" target="_blank">Song of the Phoenix</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Let me know if you'd like to be tagged! Thanks for reading!</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-53435497421437129092012-11-10T15:29:00.003-08:002012-12-10T11:47:21.717-08:00The Writer Crazy...Combatting ItThis shall be a short blog post. Mostly 'cause I'm doing NaNoWriMo, and I'm worded out. Like all the time. Thus, brevity is the word of the day.<br />
<br />
So, combatting the "Writer Crazy" as I call it. What is this thing I speak of? In my experience, as writers, we are pretty much constantly in a state of:<br />
<br />
<a class="photoset_photo" href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc0z5wcsJ21rnfiv2o2_500.gif" id="photoset_link_33762306244_2"><img alt="As a result this is how I really feel about it." src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc0z5wcsJ21rnfiv2o2_500.gif" style="width: 500px;" /></a><br />
<br />
'Cause we're artists. It's how we roll. I mean, with the craziness of querying, publishing, and actually writing the darn novel, we have a lot to be crazy about. And writing is so scary, because we are completely putting ourselves out there, naked, and being like, "Judge me, world!"<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this comes with some severe writing-related mood swings, aka The Writer Crazy. For me at least, some days (had one of these a couple days ago), I think, 'Dang. This is so good, Ernest Hemingway would fangirl out over it.' (If ONLY there was an Ernest Hemingway Fangirl gif...) But then other days (yesterday) I end up just staring at the computer screen thinking, 'No. There would be no fangirling. My writing would drive Ernest to drinking.'<br />
<br />
The magic cure-all to this? STOP IT. Just keep writing. Write a new, better chapter if you're in a spiral of self-doubt. And if you're on a roll, SWEET. Keep it up writer of awesomeness. The thing is, I'm pretty sure we all go through the crazy. I bet JK Rowling even, at one point, wanted to close Harry Potter and Mischief Managed the crap out of it. Good thing she didn't.<br />
<br />
So, in short, if you're having an "I suck" kinda day, go back and read something you wrote that you LOVE. And have a sangria, or a hot chocolate. And then, tomorrow, get back on it. Cause I wanna see your book on the Barnes and Noble shelves one day, friend.Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-53208165428041739142012-10-22T10:09:00.001-07:002012-12-10T11:46:22.853-08:00Curiosity Quills Query and First Page (Re-Post)Hello, Super Villains and Minions! Below is my re-posted query and first page for the Haunted Writing Clinic and Contest. Thanks so much for taking a look!<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<u><strong>Query</strong></u></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Dear Super Villain,<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Implanted
shortly after birth with a device that tracks her every word and move, Rynn 713
has learned to live a life of quiet rebellion. A Seller in the day, but a Cyber
Hacker in the shadows, she is content with meaningless hacks for the best coffee
and latest hairstyles, hiding behind stacks of illegal books and movies, and
longing for the Book Seller next door, whom she can never have.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
But when
her friend and the disabled daughter she has been hiding away are brutally
executed because of Rynn’s careless mistake, she can no longer blind herself to
reality. And when the Seller’s District is raided and all their treasons are
exposed, she and the Book Seller are faced with a choice: run, fight, or die.
But how do you run when they know everything you say and everywhere you go? And
how do you fight when the only weapon you have is a computer? In one move, Rynn
is hurtled into an underground world where hope and passion are the only ways to
survive and hacking is the only route to freedom.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
CORRUPTED
is a YA cyberpunk with a heavy dash of romance. It is complete at 77,000 words.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>Sincerely,</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Brianna R.
Shrum </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<u><strong>First Page of Corrupted</strong></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The tracker in my forearm began to beep at 3 a.m., yanking me
from a peaceful sleep. I stared at it for a moment, wondering whether the GPS or
microphone had prompted the warning. When the words, “…the gunpowder, treason,
and plot…” came fuzzily through the television, I concluded it was not a
malfunctioning GPS and panicked, leaping from my broken down couch to turn off
the television. ‘How did it unmute?’ I wondered, frantically searching for
someone besides myself to blame. My eyes came to rest on the loathsome remote,
which I had apparently fallen asleep on, forcing the volume to rocket out of
control. I never watched television…edit- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interesting </i>television… with the volume
on, but chose to read subtitles, because any buzzword repeated too many times
would undoubtedly trigger an inquiry and a Screener to monitor me for days,
until The State realized I wasn’t a threat. Or worse, it could trigger a
full-fledged investigation. If my house was raided, I would be dead in a
heartbeat. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
My heart stopped in my chest as, seconds later, my door was
assaulted by heavy knocking. It seemed that someone had wrenched the oxygen from
the room. This was it. I was going to die. The Enforcers would come in, find my
stash of contraband, and shoot me on the spot…if I was lucky. My heart pounded
against my ribcage relentlessly. It felt like little razors lined the inside of
my throat, drawing blood with every ragged breath. I shakily climbed the steps
to the main level, covering the opening to my hidden room with a floor tile and
a rug, in case the Enforcers at my door were less than thorough. The barrage on
my front door continued, and I stopped for a moment at the entry, took a gasp of
air, and opened it.</div>
</div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-76303202249011653772012-10-16T09:52:00.000-07:002012-12-10T11:46:01.316-08:00On Querying<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>The Evil Query Letter</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u></u> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The query letter. About which every writing blogger and his mother have written. But, for whatever reason, when the time comes to write said letter, we're ALL like<a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Darth-Vader-Nooooo.jpg"><img alt="Darth Vader Nooooo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3599" height="265" src="http://bunburyinthestacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Darth-Vader-Nooooo.jpg" title="Darth Vader Nooooo" width="581" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But, it must be done. So, you may panic for a second. </div>
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljryltwS3C1qixleeo1_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" Panic GIFS" border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljryltwS3C1qixleeo1_250.gif" /></a></div>
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Now, stop it. Get thee to thine Scrivener or Word document and begin writing.</div>
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Step 1) Talk about your story. In like twoish paragraphs. Maybe three. But, seriously, agents are busy people. I tend to err on the side of too short if it's a choice between too short or too rambly. (Obviously, the best choice is perfect length. But, for those of us who are human, err on the side of too short.) IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a synopsis. Repeat. This is not a synopsis. Don't sum up your whole story in two paragraphs. No one can do that without sounding ridiculous. All you have to do is get your character, possibly character's age, setting, main event that sets the story going, and super super important events/ characters. That's it. You can do that in a couple paragraphs. I believe in you.</div>
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Seriously?</div>
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2) Go ahead and do some personalization. (By the way, this applies to you, writer of "Dear Agent" at the top of your letter. At LEAST write the agent's name. Come on, people.) Just talk about why you picked this person to submit to. Hopefully, there is a reason, and you didn't just pick 800 random agents to mail your query to. Mentioning you're a blog or Twitter follower, that you are a fan of some book they represented, or something they said in an interview that made you think that this agent, specifically, could be the one for you. It can help you stand out. If you can't do it right, though, don't do anything at all. Odds are, this part won't make or break you.</div>
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3) The author bio. It isn't my favorite, because at this point, I'm unpublished. If you've got nothing, don't worry about it. Just leave it off. Most agents are totally cool with reading first time authors, and there's really no need to point it out in your query. BUT if you have relevant experience: publishing credits, short stories, magazine articles (that have to do with he subject matter in your book somehow), a degree in something pertinent, awards, membership in writing organizations...this is where you list that. NO MORE than a couple sentences, though. You're querying a book, not you.</div>
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4) Last-the stats. This should be short and sweet. Something to the effect of: Memoirs of a Muppet is a YA contemporary complete at 457,000 words and will appeal to readers of Kermit: Getting Froggy, and You're an Animal, Animal. The full manuscript is available at your request. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.</div>
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5) Sign and contact info. (Name, address, phone number, e-mail, website.)</div>
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There you have it! Rejoice, for you have a shiny new query letter.</div>
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<img height="181" id="il_fi" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0f55scWAv1qmwb38.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="236" /></div>
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But wait! DON'T under any circumstances...</div>
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1) Write Dear Agent.</div>
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2) Send out a bunch of crap without researching first.</div>
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3) Send a query for something that isn't complete!</div>
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4) Ignore guidlines. They're not like the pirate's code. They're inflexible.</div>
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5) Pitch a 457,000 YA novel.</div>
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6) Say the words "fiction novel."</div>
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A more detailed post on how to do that ever important pitch section lata. For now, I leave you with this...</div>
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Tobias: So, fill each of these bags with some glitter, my photo, resume, some candy and a note.</div>
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Casting Director or in your case, agent: Ack! The glitter queen strikes again! Never hire Tobias Funke!</div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515122123642583301.post-85346881057751199672012-10-15T21:54:00.002-07:002012-12-10T11:45:27.757-08:00Revised First Page for Curiosity QuillsWell, some wickedly wonderful super villains and minions stopped by and critiqued the first page of my manuscript: Corrupted. I have taken these critiques to heart. Here is the greatly improved result. Thanks to all! Especially to Krystal Wade for a fantastic line by line. All of you rock.<br />
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<em>First Page of CORRUPTED</em></div>
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The tracker in my
forearm beeped at 3 a.m., yanking me from a peaceful sleep. I stared at it for
a moment, wondering whether the GPS or microphone prompted the warning. When
the words “…the gunpowder, treason, and plot…” blared fuzzily through the
television, I concluded it was not a malfunctioning GPS and panicked, leaping
from my broken-down couch to turn off the television. </div>
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How did it unmute?</div>
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I frantically
searched for someone besides myself to blame. My gaze rested on the
loathsome remote, which I had apparently fallen asleep on, forcing the volume
to rocket out of control. I never watched television - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interesting </i>television - with the volume on. I chose to read
subtitles, because any buzzword repeated too many times would undoubtedly trigger
an inquiry and a Screener to monitor me for days, until The State realized I
wasn’t a threat. Or worse, it could prompt a full-fledged investigation. If my
house was raided, I would be dead without question. </div>
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Heavy knocking
assaulted my door and my heart stopped. The oxygen fled the room in an instant.
This was it. I was going to die. The Enforcers would come in, find my stash of contraband,
then shoot me on the spot…if I was lucky. My heart pounded relentlessly against
my ribcage. It felt like little razors lined the inside of my throat, drawing
blood with every ragged breath. I shakily climbed the steps to the main level,
covering the opening to my hidden room with a floor tile and a rug, in case the
Enforcers at my door were less than thorough. The barrage on my front door
continued, and I stopped for a moment at the entry, took a gasp of air, then opened
it.</div>
Brianna Shrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632192014105653102noreply@blogger.com9