Set The Tone

July 27, 2015July 27, 2015 / legreene515 / 2 Comments

As you might know, this Southern Literature writer (I’m talking about me!) attended #MWW15 (Midwest Writer’s Workshop) this week. I’m currently sitting in the Atlanta airport with a three hour layover before I can wrap my arms around my kiddos and squeeze. My brain is processing all the information crammed into my head this weekend. Valuable information. Life-altering information.

First of all, if you’re a writer, and you’re thinking about going to a conference then you should absolutely go. Those who have been following my blog for a long time know I’ve been writing since I was a little girl. What you may not know is I have no technical training in writing. Sure, I sat through English classes in high school and college and loved them, but I don’t have a Creative Writing degree. I don’t have a MFA. What I do have is the love of writing. I love the craft. I love how I feel like myself when I write. I feel happy and content, and I’m nice to others around me when I’m doing what I love.

So how amazing to go to a conference with TONS of other people who feel the same way. Not only authors, but editors, agents, teachers of the craft: people who want to succeed and want to write just like I do. And if you’re starting out as a writer but are unsure of what to do, then attend a conference so you can meet other people who can help guide you on your writing journey. You will not be sorry. I promise.

The first day at #MWW15, I took an intensive class with Martha Brockenbrough (rhymes with “toe”). Her intensive was aptly named the “Writer’s Survival Kit.” And boy, doesn’t every writer need this? A way to get through. A way to finish. A way to revise. She spoke about her YA book, The Game of Love and Death (I had her sign it! I might be a groupie now since she’s a wonderfully fantastic human being.) and how the idea came from one question: Can love survive death? Simple, right? Every good book starts with ONE question. That’s all it takes. Sometimes plucked from nowhere, and the author’s job is take it, shape it, revise it and turn it into something that transcends time. Something to leave behind. Probably the biggest idea I zoned in on when Martha spoke was the concept of tone. Tone is the protagonist’s voice. Each protagonist’s voice is unique. Having a unique voice builds trust with the reader, because it shows the writer knows how to reflect a tone that meshes with the characteristics of the character (age, race, location, gender, etc.).

I thought about “tone” through the whole weekend. The word echoing in my head like a silent whisper. In my current work-in-progress-not-yet-named, my character is a thirteen year old girl from rural Alabama in the 1920s. She is a tenant farmer’s daughter. Her tone and voice would be vastly different from a businessman, say in Atlanta from the year 2015. Tone can make or break your work. It’s important to make sure the proper voice is representing each protagonist in each novel.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to share my key takeaways from the Midwest Writer’s Workshop.

Are you a writer? Do you plan on attending a conference in the near future?

Midwest Writer’s Workshop Here I Come!

July 23, 2015 / legreene515 / Leave a comment

I’m busy trying to write this blog from the slowest connection known to man! The WiFi is free though, so who am I to complain? Yesterday, I left home at 4 AM and flew to Indianapolis, Indiana. On my way from home to Atlanta, I sat next to a guy who works for the Sister Schubert people–you know those little rolls with the sausages in them. Yum. He talked to me all about Disney and his life, and now I know how to plan my vacation next year. The next stint of the trip, the guy sitting next to me put in earphones and read. He looked like a pilot, or definitely someone who worked for an airplane company, but he looked concerned when the plane landed and it felt like the wheel was coming off too!

All and all, my flights were great. Then I had to pick up my rental car from Hertz. I had called the week before trying to confirm my pickup, and they told us, “Just come here and do it. You can’t check-in online with this type of pickup.” Okie dokie. So I catch a cab (my plan) to the Hertz place. And it’s closed. And I call Hertz from said-cab, and they tell me to come back to the airport. I come back, and they tell me they don’t have a car for me there so I need to go to the Brownsboro Hertz. The guy at Hertz said Brownsboro was 15 minutes away–try 20! I was upset by this time, but Mike at Brownsboro made it all okay. He comped my car $75 (I spent $130 on taxis yesterday). Then when I told him my phone was dying he gave me a car-charger some poor schmuck had left in his rental car. He upgraded me–to a Corolla (I wonder what I would have been driving if that’s an upgrade?). And then I drove to Muncie which is pretty damn far from Brownsboro. I have to say, I kept my cool the whole time. I wanted to cry several times, but I just pushed forward. A few years back, I would have had a major meltdown, but there’s no use wasting energy on something I can’t change.

Last night I met a fellow writer friend, Michael Simko, and his lovely family for dinner at an Egyptian restaurant. They tried new things. I had the gyro platter. Then I came back to the hotel to get ready for this lovely day to begin. I’m beyond excited about meeting new writers, learning new tidbits, and generally having a great time at this conference. Maybe these mid-westerners can learn a thing or two from this Southern Gal too.

I’m A Winner!

July 21, 2015 / legreene515 / 5 Comments

Last week I wrote Xs and Os for Mid-Week Blues Buster 3.07, and I found out today I won. For those of you who write flash fiction, you should try your hand at MWBB. They use a song prompt, and it always makes my mind spin a story. 3.08 is going on right now! I was super excited to win, since this was the first flash piece I’d written in some time. I’ve been so busy this month.

Here’s the cool badge I won:

Not only have I gone on a semi-second Honeymoon with my husband in Punta Cana (you have to go there), but I published a book, The Devil Within. My mother-in-law came in town, and we took the kids to Stone Mountain. And this coming week I’m going to the Midwest Writer’s Conference. So much going on!

And today, I’m celebrating another accomplishment. I went for a run and did 2 miles in 11 minutes 44 seconds. This has taken me forever to accomplish. And now I can work on increasing my mileage over the next few weeks and speed. I’m intending to do a 5K sometime later in the year (because you know, I don’t have enough on my plate). I mostly run because it helps keep the weight off and I’ve struggled with weight for some time. I also do it so I can organize the thoughts in my head. Running is great for planning and plotting out works-in-progress. Today, I worked on figuring out the next steps in the new Southern Lit novel I’m working on. More details on that later, when I’m at a point where I feel like I can share.

Why Choose Fear?

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 / legreene515 / 2 Comments

My whole life I’ve been afraid of heights. I’ve been actively working to rid myself of this fear. This summer, I went to Punta Cana and did the zipline, then I went up a skylift at Stone Mountain, and did the Skyhike (a high ropes course). On the Skyhike, as I climbed to the second level I felt my heart steady and I concentrated on the task, and I wasn’t scared. I can’t say the same about the skylift–it shook when it went through the tower and I screamed!

Caden and me on the bottom level of the Skyhike ropes course.

Even with writing, I’ve had fears. For years, I didn’t let anyone read my writing. I doubted myself. Finally, I overcame that fear and with it I created the goal that, not only would I let people read it, but I would go above and beyond and publish my work. I would literally put myself out there for other people to read my work. People I don’t know. People I’m not related to who might leave scathing reviews of my art. How much fear did that insight within me? A ton. But I did it. Because I think in life, the way to succeed is to overcome your fears. If you live your life in fear then you’re paralyzed. If I hadn’t ridden to skylift to the top of Stone Mountain on Saturday, then I might not ever have this rare photo of my whole family together:

I might not have realized that it wasn’t so scary at the top. I wouldn’t have been able to see the Atlanta skyline shrouded in haze from the heat. And I wouldn’t have been able to walk down the mountain with my three billy-goats by my side.

Pushing aside my fear has allowed me to accomplish things I never thought I could. I wrote a book. I published it. I had people read and review my book. Fear holds you back like a tether, but overcoming that fear allows you to climb to new heights.

Follow Lauren Greene:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/laurenegreene

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurengreenewrites

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bo4ILP (If you sign up before July 31st you’ll be automatically entered to win a free signed copy of The Devil Within)

Google+:https://plus.google.com/u/0/109867402293227201728/posts

Amazon Central: http://www.amazon.com/author/laurengreenewrites

Xs and Os

July 17, 2015July 17, 2015 / legreene515 / 1 Comment

I haven’t shared my flash fiction in awhile, because I haven’t been writing it as much. Between promoting The Devil Within, editing Little Birdhouses, and writing my no-name work-in-progress I haven’t had time. But this week, I decided to write for Mid-week Blues-Buster.

The song this week is Little Blue One by Cowboy Mouth, which is an upbeat song about a sad subject. When I heard this song, after not having listened to Cowboy Mouth for years it took me back to a crowded concert venue in Atlanta in the late 90’s or early 00’s, where I’d gone to visit my childhood friend, Stacy, at college. I hadn’t heard them before I attended the concert with Stacy and Andrea and a few other friends, and I immediately liked their music.

Fair warning: the subject matter is about divorce or the end of a relationship.

Here’s the song if you’d like to have a listen:

So here’s the Dear Jane letter…

Xs and Os
554 words
@laurenegreene

Dear Jane,

The dream again. Your face. But when I wake up you’re not beside me in the ocean swell of what-used-to-be our king sized bed. The room wreaks of your ghost. I pretend not to think of you. I tell my repetitive thoughts to still the image of you in my mind as I pour two cups of coffee instead of one for the third time this week. Without thought, I pour the second one down the drain. I think about picking up the extra cup and smashing it against the wall, but instead I set it in the sink and think about how you would have told me to “just put it in the dishwasher.”

The photos of you and me in the Caymans eating turtle soup. The smile on your face is eternal. You don’t live here anymore with me, but every waking moment I have to tell myself you’re gone. Today, I’ll take the photos down. It’s been six months, and I know you’re not coming back. I’ll put them in boxes, and I’ll wrap them up, and it will be like our life together never existed. That’s what you wanted.

When your text pinged my cell at 2 AM, I had to stumble from the couch where I’d fallen asleep watching Geraldo. I knocked the half empty bottle of wine onto the rug. You remember that rug, don’t you? We spent four hours debating on whether to get blue wool or the checkered cotton at Pottery Barn. I, like the sales clerk, wanted to gouge out my eyes with knives before you’d make up your mind. Back and forth. Wishy washy. That was always your way. Maniacal laughter erupted from my lips when I thought how ironic it was that this rug, your baby, your precious, had been left in my incapable hands. It’s in the green trashcan waiting for pickup on the curb now. So long sucker.

The laughter turned to tears when I read your text. “I want an annulment.” The words stung. Married for six years and just like that you wanted to pretend we didn’t exist. Well maybe you didn’t exist, but I did. I waited for you, lost in your blue world of depression as you were. I stuck with you when no one did. I made sure they pumped your stomach. I made sure you didn’t die on the pink title floor of our bathroom by sticking my finger down your throat. Covered in your puke and half-digested pills, I helped get you to the hospital. I saved your life…literally. And I helped you find your way. Even if that way was away from me.

So, my little blue one, now that you’ve found your way you want to pretend that none of it ever happened? Move on, put me behind you and that period of your life when you couldn’t control yourself. You couldn’t control your emotions.

The answer is no. I’ll grant you a divorce, but not an annulment. Because not every day was filled with vomit and fights over rugs. I walked on the beach with you. I kissed you under a gazebo. I imagined our life together, complete with babies, and I thought I’d be with you forever. I can’t pretend that never existed.

Xs and Os, the answer is no.

–John

Follow Lauren Greene:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/laurenegreene

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurengreenewrites

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bo4ILP (If you sign up before July 31st you’ll be automatically entered to win a free signed copy of The Devil Within)

Google+:https://plus.google.com/u/0/109867402293227201728/posts

Thought of a Day: The best way to help a newbie author like me is to read, review, and recommend their book!

Here’s What People Are Saying About The Devil Within

July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 / legreene515 / Leave a comment

Sniff Sniff

Sometimes the best books are the worst books. We wish this sort of thing didn’t happen in the world but it does. This book follows the life of young William who loses his mom and siblings in a car wreck. He is left to be raised by his father who you could say is God fearing to the extreme. In his attempts to shape up William he actually breaks God’s laws himself. The writing is strong, emotional and brilliant. I wanted to reach into the book and cuddle that boy, bitch slap his dad and steal him away and feed him pancakes and love. I can’t recommend this book enough, it is gripping from beginning to end.

— Susan J.

An excellent book! I’m looking forward to reading more by Lauren Greene!

The Devil Within was a heart wrenching page turner. Written through the eyes of a young boy dealing with a loss that no child should endure; the story takes the reader through his journey of self realization, acceptance and love. I read the book in one night! I didn’t mean to but I just couldn’t put it down.

— Shanna

Couldn’t put it down

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book. I was impressed with the subject matter and how well it was written. My heart ached for William and all that he went through. By the end I was in tears. Great book and very well written.

–Katrina

Hurry, if you sign up for my newsletter, The Greene Pen, before July 31st you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a free signed copy of The Devil Within: http://eepurl.com/bo4ILP

You can find The Devil Within in paperbook or ebook at the following websites (click the word for link):

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes (Search The Devil Within by Lauren Greene in the iTunes Store)

Chasing Love Cover Reveal!

July 15, 2015July 14, 2015 / legreene515 / Leave a comment

Title: Chasing Love
Author: Laura Pinks
Cover Reveal: July 15
Hosted by: SBB Promotions

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25782451-chasing-love

Estimated Release Date: October 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Jane finds love easily for everyone but herself. Owning the highly successful dating agency, Love Games, she excels in finding the perfect match for every client. Her dedication is unstoppable, or so she thinks… A run of bad decisions will leave Jane’s business crumbling before her eyes. With no way of stopping her empire from falling down around her, Jane is confronted with some harsh decisions.

Falling for her client, the charming Andrew Blake, Jane soon realises she is in deep with no plausible way out. Little does she know that Andrew is the key to re-building her business and her faith in love. Will Jane have the courage to let him? Will Andrew be able to let go of the past in order to move to a brighter future?

Jane’s best friend Libby seems to have it all, steady income, amazing friends and a long term boyfriend, but after an argument with Jane she is left questioning everything. Setting the wheels in motion in an underhand plot to chase her dream job leaves her with some difficult choices along the way. Will she be able to let go of everything she has achieved in order to obtain everything she believes she wants?

Contains explicit adult content.

Coming Soon to Amazon Kindle and Paperback!

Laura Pinks

Laura was born in Coventry in the October of 1986 and moved to the small town of Nuneaton shortly before her first birthday. After marrying the man of her dreams in 2012 she made the big move and relocated to Southampton where she now resides with her husband, son, noisy doggy and two cats.

When she was younger she would always be found with her nose stuck in a book, escaping the realities of the ‘real world’. It has always been a dream of hers to have her work published but always ran into the same problem of never being able to finish anything she began writing. Life always had a knack of getting in the way.

After having her son Charlie her whole outlook on life changed and opting to stay at home to raise him meant she had more time to dedicate to her writing too. Laura hopes that you enjoy reading her work as much as she has enjoyed writing it.

There is not usually much spare time left after looking after Charlie, doing her writing and holding down a part time job working with children, but on the odd occasion she does have she loves anything related to crafting. Loving to be able to see something created out of nothing always makes her happy and gives her a feeling of great satisfaction.

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/LauraAPinks

Goodreads Author Page: www.goodreads.com/laurapinks

The Devil Within is now a hashtag!

July 13, 2015 / legreene515 / 6 Comments

First and foremost, I’m a guest blogger on Tami Lund’s site today! Check it out at http://tamilund.com/?p=2353. Tami is an awesome paranormal romance writer who I met through the Writing Wenches, and I featured her on my blog a week ago when I was in Punta Cana. Check out what I wrote about Gideon, who you all are going to hear a lot about as I work on editing his and Lana’s story.

Today, I registered a hashtag for #TheDevilWithin! Last year, I started using Twitter for the first time to try to promote myself and my work. I heard as a writer that social media presence is a “must have” in this day and age. I fought against it though, because honestly, Twitter? I thought it was silly, but it’s a great way to support authors and have others support you. It’s a great way to meet contact and even pitch work. So send me some love on Twitter by hastagging #TheDevilWithin.

I ordered my books this week, but I haven’t received them yet. Yesterday, I went to my parents’ house, and my dad had my book. I’ve always felt like my dad is my harshest critic (I’m sure my kids will say the same about me when they’re grown). It was great for me to go over there yesterday and the first words out of my dad’s mouth were, “I’m reading your book, about halfway through, and it’s great. The characters are great and it’s extremely readable.” My heart felt happy in that moment. These are the words an author longs to hear from their readers. When their words resonate with an audience. That’s what’s writing is all about. Oh, yes, and sanity too (in my case).

Here I am with my book:

My dad said he wanted me to sign it as Lulu. Lulu is a character in the book, a cousin the same age as William. And she has alopecia universalis like me. She does have aspects of my personality, but she deals with alopecia so well. She’s fierce and she doesn’t let anyone mess around her. In essence, she’s the child I wish I had been when coping with my alopecia in grade school.

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to be entered into a drawing for a free signed copy of #TheDevilWithin: http://eepurl.com/bo4ILP

Break From Reality

July 11, 2015 / legreene515 / Leave a comment

Last week, Hubby and I had a break from reality. It was much needed, and even more than I needed it to be. Despite the timing of The Devil Within, once we were away we let everything go. In my writing journey, over the last few years, I’ve become a social media guru. You pretty much have to in this day and age (yeah–I sound like a grandparent). I use twitter, Google+, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to promote myself as an author and promote my work. The nicest part of the vacation was our decision not to use technology while we were there, except to Facetime or message the kids.

Our eldest told us he wouldn’t miss us. Because he’s ten and all. But he did. He tried to Facetime me a lot and then if I mentioned him missing us he’d say, “No, not really.” When we pulled into our garage a week later, he was the first one through the garage door and he flung himself into my arms. It’s nice to be missed.

I recommend a get away like this for anyone who hasn’t done it. I came back refreshed and ready to write again. Now I’m focusing on editing Little Birdhouses and promoting The Devil Within. Fairly soon, I’ll have some swag to give to you. It’s getting real, y’all!

And don’t forget. If you sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bo4ILP you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a free signed copy of The Devil Within! The winner will be announced in the July 31st edition of the newsletter.

Here are some photos from our trip, just because I think everyone should go to Punta Cana. The Dominican Republic is the sixth largest exporter of cocoa in the world. And their chocolate is wonderful, and their people are amazing, and if you haven’t been to a third world country and left the resort you should. It’s an eye opener, and it makes you grateful for everything you have.

Where Have I Been?

July 8, 2015 / legreene515 / Leave a comment

Excuse the cellphone quality photo. I haven’t quite downloaded the camera photos yet. When you come back from Paradise, where you lived for six days without children, it’s hard to get back into the swing of things. We stayed at Paradisus Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and my hubby and I had some much needed alone time. Rekindling, if you will? We also met some great people who seemed more like characters in a book, but as we all know “Characters are only works of fiction, any resemblance to someone in real life is purely coincidental.”

Originally, when we planned this trip I thought The Devil Within would already be out. I anticipated having it published in April or May, but we all know how seldom things go as planned. That’s the fun of life. I was pleasantly surprised to know the paperback came out the day before we left, and guess what? Now the kindle edition is out. For some reason they’re two different links and the Kindle link is hard to find. I’m hoping Amazon gets that sorted out. I’m sure they will.

Click the book below for the link to the Kindle edition:

So let me tell you, the absolute best way to make a book a raging success is to fly to the Dominican Republic for a week the day it comes out. No, I’m kidding. I really wanted to bomb the market with this book. I wanted it to have a fantastic first day out, because I feel like this book is special. And I don’t know if thousands of authors say that. Oh, look at me, I wrote a book. But I didn’t think I would ever publish this book. I wrote it more for myself, the inspiration plucked from the sky somewhere. Writing it took me on an emotional journey through the doorways of youth, religion, hate and love. In this book, William experiences suffering that no small child should feel, but the truth is every day in the “real world” children are coping with the harsh realities of what William’s fictional life: being hurt by the person who is supposed to care for them the most.

When you are young, the world seems so big. Sometimes it seems magical. And other times it’s terrifying. As I wrote The Devil Within I felt horrified for William. My heart tugged for him, and I longed to help him escape. I longed to give him a chance. And so, this book is personal to me because it tells a tale of survival and that’s what we’re all trying to do in this amazing unrelenting world of ours.

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