KOMF Winners!

The Knights of Micro-Fiction (KOMF) are steadily growing in their ranks.  If you missed this month, that's ok, join us next month (the last Monday of the month), click here to add your name to the linky list. We'll send an email reminder to everyone on the list.  

We had some great entries this month and it was hard for Jess and I to narrow it down to only two winners but in the end we chose:  

T. Z. Wallace from One Year Until Book Launch    

Aldrea Alien from Thardrandian Thoughts

Yay ladies!  You did a fabulous job!  You two will be getting an email from Jess and me so we can feature you on our blogs!

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us.  

Also Rosalind Adam has a great post about Plotting and Life Lessons.  Head over and check it out.

Blog Make-Over

In other news you probably have noticed a different look to my blog.  Jess made my new header and helped me give it a more clean look.  I'd love to hear what you think about it now.  And if you have any other suggestions for making it look even better I'd love to hear them.  Do you change the look of yours often or has it stayed the same since the beginning?  

Kathy :)

Catch Fire!

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. See Alex’s site for details:http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

I found Alex's blog last year just before the A-Z Challenge.  I hesitated to enter but he inspired me to do it anyway which has taken my blogging to a whole new level!  He also started the Insecure Writer's Support Group which has helped a lot of us realize we're not alone in our fears.  Thanks Alex for all you've done!! 
His blog tour runs from Feb 27- March 9.  Anyone who comments on his posts during that time has a chance to win a copy of CassaStar and CassaFire and some other goodies, so head on over today and check it out!

CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities. 

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today!

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

You can visit the author’s site at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Watch the book trailer here:

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassafire-alex-j-cavanaugh/1034742568

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/CassaFire-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/0982713940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329417150&sr=1-1

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaFire-ebook/dp/B007A2TSNG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329663355&sr=1-1

Knights of Micro-Fiction

Today is the last Monday of the month which means it's time for the Knights of Micro-Fiction prompt! :)  

Here it is:
Write a micro-fiction/flash fiction story of 250 words or less beginning with these words:
After all this time, there it was...

Remember you have until Tuesday night to post your entry.  Jess, from Write. Skate. Dream., and I will choose 2 winning entries who will be interviewed by us later this week.  I can't wait to read what you come up with!  If you haven't signed up yet, click here, to join the linky list so we can check out your entries.

Here's mine:

After all this time, there it was.  "Look Shen, on the wall." Nakyte saw a small opening between two carved panels.  She passed through this hall every day but had never noticed the gap in the carvings.   Maybe there was a latch.  She handed the torch to Shen.

"Be careful, it might be rigged," he whispered.

"So you do care?" She asked.

"Hey, if you set off a trap I'm going to be stuck too."  He hoped she couldn't detect his true feelings for her.  It would never work between them.  It couldn't.  Their worlds were too different.  It was much easier if she didn't know. 

"Hey, I think I got it!"  Nakyte whispered.  There was a loud click and the wall opened to a dark passageway.  Nakyte and Shen peered into blackness.  Shen stepped in and held the torch high to illuminate their way.   A rush of cold moist air filled the space around them. 

"Come on," Shen motioned.  A maze of passages appeared before them.

"Which one do we take?"  Nakyte asked.

"It's the propehcy…we must choose the 'glowing path in the darkness to find answer which lies in the inner chamber.'  Shen remembered the prophecy that old Lorian had taught him so long ago. 

"That doesn't help Shen, I don't see a glowing path.  And doesn't the rest of the propehcy say we die if we pick the wrong one?"

"Yeah, well I have a good feeling about this one, for now that will have to do."

Hope you enjoyed it!  And check out the other entries.






Kathy :)

Dreams

First of all I want to say a huge Thank you! to all my new followers.  I can't believe I'm almost to 200!!! Yippee!

In other news, a few days ago I was awarded the Dream Launcher Award by Jess over at Write Skate Dream.    Rena over at Dr Faerie Godmother created this award in order to thank the people who have helped you become the writer you are today, the people who have helped launch your dreams.

I love getting awards but to me this one was extra special.  I'm honored that Jess gave me this award.  It isn't every day that a 15 year old shouts out to the world that her mom has helped inspire and launch her on the path to her dreams.  But we have quite a special relationship and I feel truly blessed.  I remember teaching her how to read when she was 5.  The word "the" always gave her problems, but we sat together on the couch and read "Go Dogs Go" over and over again until she got it.  I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to homeschool her and as we worked on her writing she helped reignite my passion for it which I had put on hold.  Now we wake up early and sit at the table together noveling and drinking our tea/coffee before the school day starts.  So while I may have helped launch her dreams, she has fired up my engines again and relaunched my own.  Thanks Jess!

I'm lucky I don't have just one awesome daughter I have two!  So I'm passing this award on to Alyssa from Life is Good, who is always encouraging me to reach new heights in coaching and writing.  Thanks Alyssa its such a pleasure to work with you on the ice and off! :)

I'm also passing this on to PK-Hrezo who was my first real follower.  I was ecstatic that I had actually met someone who thought my writing was worthy enough to follow and even comment on!  Thanks PK for being there for me!

And to Talli Roland who is always there with an encouraging word.

Thanks so much ladies!  I hope I can give as much to others as you have given to me.  :)

I'd love to hear who helped inspire/launch your writing dreams.  And what are you working on now?

Kathy
 
And don't forget to stop by on Monday to join in the fun for the Knights of Micro-Fiction! (If you like flash fiction that is!)

First Campaign Challenge!

Today is the first day of Rachael Harrie's Fourth Campaign! Stop by Rachael's blog for all the official rules. Here's the prompt for today:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

• end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)

• include the word "orange" in the story

• write in the same genre you normally write

• make your story 200 words exactly!

Here's mine in 200 words exactly:

Shadows crept across the wall as my eyes shot open.  Faint guttural sounds of the Durgan people echoed around me.  Where am I?  Damp musty air filled my lungs.  I was in a cave.  I tried to sit up but searing pain shot through my shoulder.  I slumped back on the hard ground hoping to remember what happened but nothing came.  It didnt' matter now.  I was a captive of the barbaric Durgans.  I had to find a way out.

A campfire's orange glow seeped around the large rock blocking the entrance.  I crept to it and peered outside into the darkness.  15 Durgans slept around the fire.  Others busied themselves with their weapons.  Two guards approached.  I hurried to where I'd been laying and pretended I was asleep.  This was my chance.  With ease the two hulking creatures pushed the stone aside and entered.  Their primitive language was unintelligible but I knew they were fighting...over me.  One leaned over me, his hot breath caustic against my neck.  The other pulled him away angrily.  Before they could react I bolted into the night.  I ran through the forest until I couldn't breathe.  I lay down hidden from view and everything faded.  

Hope you enjoyed it.  Vote for me if you liked it! I'm # 30.  Check out all the other great entries here
And if you love writing flash fiction check this out.

Kathy

"Oh Great, I Shrunk!"

My son is a skinny little guy.  He's one of those kids that doesn't even think about eating until he's famished.  He would rather do just about anything other than eat.  When we do get him to the table he takes a bite of food then runs off to get a Lego piece, takes a few laps around the table, and finally returns to his food only when I've told him to sit down.  (Oddly enough this trait must run in the family, because my little brother used to do the exact same thing!)  We tell him he has to eat to be big and strong but he just isn't interested.

But a couple of weeks ago he went swimming at the gym with his dad.  He put on his swimsuit from last summer.  It hung loosely around his protruding hips.  I had to pin it tighter with a safety pin so it wouldn't fall to his ankles.  "Oh great, I shrunk!" He said with frustration.  Then we both laughed at the predicament.  I didn't tell him that the elastic had lost its effectiveness.

He came home after swimming and the first thing he wanted to do was eat!
And he ate and ate and ate like the Hungry Caterpillar.

He's swimming almost every night now and though it's still hard to get him to sit down at dinner and he occasionally runs around the table, he is eating lots of food.  The shrinking has finally reversed!  Oh and we did buy him a new swimsuit.


Hope you have a great weekend!

Kathy :)

Sweet Treats and Awards

 Hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day.  After 17 years of marriage my husband and I have gotten pretty lax on celebrating.  I used to make him a special dinner and he used to make me a card, but last night I decided to take it easy and make a big pot of chili and a spinach salad (ok that is his favorite salad).  And he said, "Oh yeah, that's right today is Valentine's Day."  Ahh men!  But don't worry I'm ok with that because throughout our marriage he has supported me in all my crazy endeavors and opened my mind up to even more wonderful possibilities.  I've come to believe the every day stuff is more important than the once a year events!

Our daughter Alyssa had special plans for us though so she enlisted the help of my son Ryan. They made Red Velvet cupcakes, got out candles, picked out a pink cyclamen (flower) from the store and made little paper heart decorations.  Alyssa also spent time cleaning up the kitchen so it would look sparkly clean for dinner.  It was a wonderful treat!  Thanks Alyss and Ryan! and Happy Valentines Day Sweetie.



Other sweet things:  Awards!  Yeah!


 A few days ago,  Nick Wilford bestowed the Kreativ Blogger and the Versatile Blogger Awards on me.  Thanks so much Nick!  So here are 7 random facts about me:

1.  I love fishing.  I used to go fishing every weekend with my Gramps, we'd sit in the boat talking and watching the sunset and we'd even catch some big fish sometimes. Now I try to go with him at least once a summer, he's 90 and still fishin'.  Wish I could make it to Michigan more often!

2.  I used to be a terrible cook, but now after 17 years of cooking for my family I can actually devise my own recipes that everyone loves.

3.  I'm a nut about eating organic or home cooked foods.  I totally believe in the healing power of fresh fruits, veggies and yogurts and dark chocolate.

4.  I get overly sentimental when I see a delicate rose opening its petals, a sunset painting the heavens pink,  or a soft blanket of snow sparkling like crystals in the sunlight.

5.    I'm terrified of spiders and sharks but snakes and bats are ok.  I even had to save my husband from a bat once.

6.  I love traveling with my family!  We've been to lots of great places including: Japan, India, Mexico, Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and some great Canadian cities- Whistler, Toronto, and Quebec.

7.  Last Fall we "moved" from Ohio to Seattle.  We drove the entire 2600 miles and saw Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and Devil's Tower and all the corn in between.  Then we decided Seattle wasn't quite right and drove the 2600 miles back to Ohio seeing Sun Valley, Id, Craters of the Moon.  We got stuck in a snowstorm at the Grand Tetons and saw a bear and a moose!

And a bonus number 8 because my son says I have to add this.
8. My son says, I'm the worst at playing video games--even his grandma is better; but one day I beat a level in Mini Ninjas that no one else could! :)


I'm passing these on to the following wonderful blogger buddies:

Julie at Rosewood Pencil Box

Jess at Write Skate Dream

 Fair Betty at Fair Bettys World

Melissa Sugar at Fiction Tool Box

Rena at Dr Faerie Godmother

Alyssa at Life Is Good

Have a great day!

Kathy :)