Month: March 2012

Since April actually starts on Sunday (and so does the A to Z Blogging Challenge), I thought I’d post April’s monthly observances a little early and give you all time to get into the celebration spirit. If you’re looking to party next month, you should know that April 2012 is official: Emotional Overeating Awareness Month (I’m so happy! Pass the cupcakes…) Global Child Nutrition Month (If your child looks like a globe…refer to observance #1). Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month (A pattern emerges…) Holy Humor Month (Batman!) Workplace Conflict Awareness Month (The Xerox machine keeps jamming because it doesn’t like you.

Starting Sunday, I will be participating in the “A to Z Blogging Challenge,” an annual month-long blogging event. Essentially, participants post a month of blog entries on topics starting with each letter of the alphabet. Many participants (myself included) like to post on a certain theme. This year, I’ve chosen publishing law (and contracts). Starting on Sunday April 1, and continuing through the month, my daily entries will feature publishing terms and concepts. I’ll probably post Tank Tuesday segments as bonus entries, to keep from interrupting the A-to-Z flow, but those posts will appear beneath the day’s A-to-Z entry –

Those who read last week’s Tank Tuesday post tuned in this morning to hear more about Ceti and Ghillie, the small seahorses I brought in to keep Cygnus company. As the title indicates, that post is temporarily delayed on account of wandering starfish. I went in to feed the tank this morning and saw this (and yes, I know the videos are larger than the text box – the subject is small and it makes him easier to see) : The little guy with all the arms is a micro brittle star, a miniature echinoderm (class Ophiuroidea) related to the

Please help me welcome Julie Golden, author of the debut novel Vagilantes (Abbott Press, 2012), in which a group of women find the strength to recover from childhood abuse – and take revenge against the predators who once viewed them as easy prey. I met Julie through her blog (http://www.vagilantes.com) and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a fantastic organization based in Colorado (though you need not live there to join or to enjoy the benefits of RMFW membership). Thank you, Julie, for joining us today and telling us about yourself and Vagilantes! Click here for a free sneak peek at Vagilantes!

Please help me welcome Karen Duvall, author of Darkest Knight, the newly-released second novel in the Knight’s Curse series published by Harlequin Luna. Click here to get a sneak peek at Chapter 1 of Darkest Knight! I met Karen through the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers organization and her blog – http://www.karenduvall.blogspot.com/ Darkest Knight releases today, and I am both pleased and honored that Karen agreed to share her release day by letting me interview here at Spann of Time! And now, on with the interview: 1.  Where did you grow up? I was born in Hollywood, California, but I spent

Please help me welcome Sheryl Steines, author of The Day of First Sun, Book 1 in the Annie Loves Cham series. I met Sheryl through Twitter and her website (http://www.sherylsteines.com). The Day of First Sun releases today, and I am honored that Sheryl chose to talk with us this morning. Thank you so much, Sheryl, for joining me on this very exciting day! And now, on with the interview: 1.  Where did you grow up? The suburbs outside Chicago. 2.  What inspired you to start writing? I was seven and just started reading the Nancy Drew series.  I loved the

Last week’s Wednesday post discussed royalty and sales statements from publishers to authors. This week we’re continuing (and finishing) that discussion. In addition to the major issues covered in last week’s post, an author’s publishing contract may contain some secondary provisions regarding sales and royalty reporting. These include termination rights, detailed descriptions of statement contents, and timing on the release of retained royalties. This week, we’re looking at termination and rights reversion in the event of publisher non-payment. In addition to termination rights when the work goes out of print, authors may want to seek termination rights (and rights reversion!) if

When I received a marine aquarium for Christmas in 2010, I knew little about raising corals and salt-water fish. I knew seahorses required special environments, and that I would need to reproduce those special conditions as closely as possible if I wanted my pets to thrive. Beyond that, the tank was an exercise in learning curves and the speed at which they slope upward. Fifteen months into this experiment, I’m ready to share a little more about my successes and the quirky creatures I spend so many hours watching. (Trust me… I do mean hours.) We’ll start with the (current)

My friend and fellow author Erika Mailman has declared March 19 official “Keep Your Chin Up Day for Writers” – an observance I wholeheartedly support. Erika’s post is here, and you should go read it. Every word. Writing a novel is difficult, but some days it feels like nothing compared to the strength an unpublished (read: not-yet-published) author needs to keep moving forward in the face of rejection. Becoming a published author takes years of practice, patience and perseverance, and many an author has failed to reach the goal because (s)he just didn’t have the strength to rise from one

A strong vocabulary is to an author what a full quiver is to Robin Hood: a sheaf of opportunities to pierce the chosen target. And it’s not just an author’s issue. Precision enhances conversation. Properly selected words sharpen the mind and engage the senses in ways less creative choices do not. They also enhance a conversation’s entertainment value. A few days ago, I was talking with Tesla and used the word “verisimilitude.” (Yes, I use that word in regular conversation.) Without skipping a beat, he replied, “Verisimillipedes?” Thereby proving that my claims to have infused his education with vocabulary lessons