Blog Post
A Review of Wings Unseen
Wings Unseen by Rebecca Gomez Farrell My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an early copy from NetGalley for a fair, honest, review. Wings Unseen got off to a slow start with a first chapter that almost made me put the book down. However, I am glad I kept reading. I loved watching how…
Read MoreProblems with Word Count Quotas
While writing my first two books, I didn’t pay too much attention to my word count until after I finished the first draft. My first draft of Song of the Forest came close to 200,000 words and my first draft of Power Surge was around 130,000. When I revised, I went through a cycle of…
Read MoreFlash Fiction:The Purrrfect Crime
Generally, when I write cat stories for Cracked Flash Fiction Competition, they don’t win. Sometimes, I write cat stories anyways. The Purrrfect Crime By Sara Codair “I taught you to pick locks and this is how you use that skill?” Grandma gaped at me, gourd-shaped eyes enlarged by her glasses. I shrugged. “Our family has…
Read MoreMicro Fiction: What Comes Out of the Ground
Here is another bit of micro fiction inspired by Cracked Flash’s weekly prompt. This one was a runner up. What Comes Out of the Ground By Sara Codair “My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt,” I said, shuddering on the doorstep. The open door loomed over me, black and peeling, like…
Read MoreDon’t Judge this By Its 1st Chapter: A Review of How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days
How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days by Megan O’Russell My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you enjoyed Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon, you will probably enjoy How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days as they both feature a snarky, sort of whiny, self-aware narrator…
Read MoreBook Review: The Dying Game
The Dying Game by Asa Åvdic My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars This one is going to be hard to review without spoilers, but I’ll do the best I can. I received an ARC of The Dying Game through the First to Read program. I initially chose it because I thought it might eventually be…
Read MoreNew Micro Fiction: Padded Walls
Note: As some of you know, I often participate in a weekly writing contest called “Cracked Flash Fiction Competition.” The following piece won this week. I owe this weeks judge, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, a big thank you for catching my typos and still choosing my story in spite of the,. Padded Walls By Sara Codair…
Read MoreRoom for Discovery in Planned Novels
When I was taking a creative writing workshop in college, my professor (Andre Dubus III) told me he never planned novels. He encouraged us to avoid outlines, claiming they would make our writing feel forced. He said if we outlined, our characters wouldn’t feel real, and they wouldn’t come to life on the page. Shortly…
Read More4 Down, 496 Left to Go / 7 Standards for Publishers
Last night I launched my first Publishizer campaign. I received four pre-orders ranging from $8 to $45. I thought that was good night, but my experience selling online is with jewelry, not books. When selling on Etsy, I was thrilled if I had four orders in one evening. While I’m happy with the orders I have…
Read MoreCats and Email Apps = Bad Combination
I’m pretty sure my cat just spammed my entire gmail contacts list — meaning everyone I’ve corresponded with on gmail. If you got an email from me you didn’t want today – I apologize. If your curious how Goose managed to spam my contacts, read on. Earlier in the year, I wrote a detailed…
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