Oh, I Miss You Blogfest!

Welcome to the Oh, I Miss You Blogfest. Before we get started, I wanted to thank Andrew, Mathew and Alex for hosting this blogfest.   I felt like I had been slacking too in the blogging department, and I know I'm not alone.

There were many that I wanted to feature today, but I had to keep my choices in check.  The bloggers I really miss and like to highlight today are ones you may or may not be familiar with.  To sum up my feelings...it just isn't fair.  Tell 'em Anne! 

Sarah Pearson / Empty White Pages, was a blogging force at the beginning of the year. Where art thou?

Ainsley Shay I enjoy her posts and love her cool blog..   

Jesse Cohen's Not Worth Mentioning - Cohen's blog is totally worth mentioning, and I miss him.  *sniffle*

C D Meetens/ One Little Spark - a Writer's World - I miss the spark. :(

Please feel free to stop by these amazing bloggers and say hi.  

Perish the thought!  The blogger buddies I'm grateful for and the ones I would die if they ever went away.  

Alex Cavanaugh

David Powers King

Elise Fallson

S.L. Hennessy's Pensuasion

Thanks to all you guys.  You enrich my blogging experience so much.

Fridays with Fred

This was the best I could do this week.  He honestly couldn't be bothered.  Oh well.

Stop by and visit Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too.

Have a great weekend.

Mina B.

NaNoWrMo 2012 - Progress Anyone?

I was off to an excellent start with National Novel Writing Month.  I wrote a little over 10,000 words and mostly ironed out plot issues.  This might not seem very much, but plot issues were killing my progress for my novel.  Now I can think clearer, and the words flow easier since the harmony has returned. 

That said, the progress I had was halted, and I'm not even half way through the month.  Damn!  Sometimes life overwhelms us with its untimely incidents, which is precisely what happened to me.  Both of my kids collided in a freak accident which has led to two trips to the ER, several trips to the dentist and of course, the pediatrician.  No worries, everyone is fine but this cat lost a life or two that's for sure. Between work, missed school and good lord anything else that comes with that, I'm certain of one thing only: minimal progress for NaNoWrMo.  Oh well...  

I decided to write this post to find out if others are struggling with nanowrimo progress.  I think it wouldn't be so bad if it weren't the end of the year.  For some reason, I feel a bit sullen that 2012 is almost over.  I think it's because the remainder of my year is planned out extensively, which gives me little time for editing and probably less for writing.  Oh well...

On another note, I'm curious how others are using NaNoWrMo to network and write.  Has anyone else met with their group?  Or do you have plans to attend a Write In?  Unfortunately, with work and my family, I don't have the time to attend one.  Still, the plan is to keep trying, right?

Have a fabulous week and don't forget to stop by on Friday for I Miss You Blogfest!
Mina B.

Fred Update & other Fun Stuff

Hi, minions.  Happy Friday!  Today I wanted to feature a few things.  First off...Fred!  He's back by popular demand.  I haven't done a post in a couple of months because, frankly, Fred's not as obliging as he used to be.  It seems he's a bit prickly in his senior years, but who can blame him?  That said, I'll post when I can and have placed him on the side of my blog for those die-hard fans to catch the latest glimpse.  For today's Friday, I did capture a shot of him the other day.  We had 60 degree weather, and my JRT got filthy dirty and had to have a bath.  Poor buddy.  Anyway, afterwards, he couldn't stop shaking so I swaddled him in one of his jackets.  

Damn, I'm cute!

Be sure and stop by and visit Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too.

Friday Funny!

And the Friday Funny below sums up how my week went.  I'm betting if more people wore hats like the bear below, we'd be know to steer clear of them, huh?

Cool Giveaway!  

Beth Revis, author of the NY Times Bestselling Across the Universe series, is hosting a wicked YA book giveaway that I just have to scream out to the world.   She's giving away to one (1) lucky winner a fifty...50 of some of the hottest YA books!  Isn't that waaay cool?  How do you enter?  Visit her blog for details at http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/.  Be sure to tell your friends!

Have a great weekend!

Mina B.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group - Adverbly!

Insecure Writers Support Group, brought to you by Alex Cavanaugh, is here today.  I've been editing some of my previous works and thought I'd get your perspective.  Are you a lover or hater of adverbs?  Have you ever watched School House Rock?  If so...Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs here!

To be honest, I'm not too insecure about this topic.  Still, we're expunging demons here with the IWSG post, right?  That said, I have  *clears throat*  misused adverbs before.  *Ducks for cover*  I know, I know.  Stop throwing sh** at me.  I'm not perfect and yes, I use "ly" adverbs.    

I know many writers aren't adverb fans, but kill me for saying this, I actually don't mind "ly" adverbs.  Dare I say, even in dialogue I don't mind them.  The best post I've read about using adverbs in dialogue was written by Nathan Bransford almost a year ago.  For me, I don't identify my mistakes until I'm in the editing phase.  And when I come across a "ly" word, I focus on whether or not I truly do need it in the sentence.  If not, then I do what Twain recommended...I kill it.  

How about you?  Do you like or hate adverbs?  Do you have a trick to keep your adverb use in check?

Mina B.

Creepy Classic: Hansel and Gretel

It's been far too long since I've featured a Creepy Classic.  I'm such a slacker it's embarrassing.  Life happens and that's my only excuse.  The last book I was supposed to post on was H.G. Wells The Island of Dr. Moreau.  I'll get to that at some point but today I want to feature Grimms' Fairy Tales: Hansel and Gretel. 

Since Halloween is almost here and magic and sorcery continues to have a foothold in my brain, I couldn't resist reading this classic again.  I realize everyone recalls the creepy children's tale, but when was the last time you read it?  Why do I ask?  Well, because most original fairy tales (minus the Disney angle) are disturbingly dark--like I like it.   Who doesn't want to eat little children? Muhwahhhh! Better yet, what parent hasn't thought about dropping their kids off in the middle of the forest to fend for themselves? Heh. Heh.  Like I said, Hansel and Gretel wonderfully paints a freakishly good picture of what witches in classic literature represent: pure unadulterated evil. #lovedit!

Did you know...

Paramount Pictures  is scheduled to release their take on the classic tale--Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters in early 2013.  Check out the bad ass movie trailer below featuring Jeremy Renner (yum!) as Hansel and Gemma Arterton as Gretel.  Damn, I hope Hollywood doesn't disappoint.

Did you love H&G as much as I did? Which tale is your fav from Grimm? Did you like the movie trailer?

Mina B.

2012 Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Boo, minions!  This is my third year participating in the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  Damn!  The Spooktacular hop was one of the first hops I ever participated in -- which is why its so near and dear to my heart.  With nearly 500 blogs participating, you can bet there will be some amazing giveaways.  Thank the Lords for my Free Sh** Fairy.  Once again, he worked his mojo and sourced one spooktacular giveaway.  How so?  Well, this happens to be one of my favs.  

Pick your Poison!

One (1) lucky winner can choose from the these hot YA novels listed above.  There's an insane amount of buzz going on for each of these YA novels.    Pick your poison between Roth's Insurgent, Cole's Poison Princess and Meyer's Twilight conclusion Breaking Dawn.

To enter…

You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries…
+1 For Becoming my Fan/Like on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+1 Subscribing via email to my blog
+1 Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MinaBurrows
+1 if you Retweet this on Twitter (limit 1 retweet)

Again, the giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Oct. 24th - October 31st, midnight. Contest is open to International participants. 

Want to see who else is participating?  Visit I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and check out all the links and hop on by.

Mina B.

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Partners in ParanormYA: Paranormal Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Happy Hump Day, Minions. Partners in ParanormYA are here today!  I repeat...the dynamic duo themselves, Angela Brown and Gwen Gardner are in Mina's mystic house!  Give it up for these rock'n babes. Wahoo!  This entire month they've been scaring up a storm with the release of their YA paranormal tales, Neverlove and Givin’ Up The Ghost.  As a lover of YA lit, I'm super excited to be a deputized paranormYA partner and thrilled to help get the word out about their fantastic YA novels.

Minions...I give you Partners in ParanormYA, Gwen and Angela!

Thanks for hosting the Partners in ParanormYA blog tour today, Mina!

A rather strange partnership you say? You could say we are opposites in many ways. Just look at our book covers.

The cover of Neverlove is photographic, real, in your face. The beauty on the cover has a secret as evidenced by her face being partially hidden. The teardrop adds mystery. You know there’s something dark happening there. Angela Brown writes dark paranormal.

About Neverlove: For Abigail and Basil, there is a choice they both fear making. Duty or love? There can be only one.

The cover of Givin’ Up The Ghost is illustrated. Even though the girl on the cover is clearly running from the goons in back, the cartoon-like nature of the characters takes the edge off the spooky stuff inside. Gwen Gardner writes light paranormal.

About Givin' Up The Ghost: Indigo Eady's life erupts into mischief and mayhem when a ghost enters her teen abnormal life demanding answers for his death.

You can see that paranormal isn't just for the stout of heart. The weak of heart can enjoy it, too.

So what do the Partners in ParanormYA have in common?

We have a secret...

Source

The PIP’s are big fat scaredy cats. You heard right. We are scared to death of things that go bump in the night. We don’t watch stuff on television that: sends us scurrying to lock the doors and check under the beds and in the closets, or dump rings of salt around our homes or burn sage or make holy water or keep guns with silver bullets under our pillows.

The scariest Gwen goes is The Nightmare Before Christmas or Hocus Pocus.

And Angela? Let’s just say that while researching for a tour post, she had to quit reading Ghost Files and wing it.

Yes, we’re quite the anomaly, but we’re looking for a cure. Any suggestions?

How about you? Do you get scared watching movies, or at things that go bump in the night?

***

Thank you both for stopping by.  And no...I would have never guessed you two spook so easily.  

I love it! 

About Angela Brown

Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home. She's a lover of Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate/chocolate covered delicious-ness. Steampunk, fantasy and paranormal to contemporary - mostly young adult - fill her growing library of books. Mother to a rambunctious darling girl aptly nicknamed Chipmunk, life stays busy. Her favorite quote keeps her moving: "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." ~ Mahatma Gandhi 

About Gwen Gardner

Running, writing and reading are my favorite things.  I am also a dreamer.  Have you ever told yourself that "someday" I'm going to travel or write or whatever it is that you are passionate about but can't do right now for whatever reason? You can go for years and years and keep telling yourself that "someday" you'll do it. Too often "someday" never comes. But mine did. I am a former Administrative Manager and Vice President of a successful swimming pool plastering company - until I woke up one day and realized that my "someday" had arrived. I quit my job, moved to the mountains and began to write. Crazy, I know. But even crazier? Is when you get to the end of your life and realize that your "someday" is too late. Life is much too short for that! So the adventure has begun.

These books are creepy good so hurry up and get your copy today!

Purchase Angela Brown’s Neverlove at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Amazon FR, and Amazon DE.

Purchase Gwen Gardner’s Givin’ Up The Ghost at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

But wait...there's more!  There are two giveaways! Visit Partners in ParanormYA for the Big Swag Giveaway and for the Week Two Giveaway.  Enter today!

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