NaNoWriMo is open to all writers, who are in the process of completing a novel. It doesn’t matter if you are planning to seek a traditional publisher, or if you’re … Continue reading NaNoWriMo: Copyright Disclaimers
Tag: books
Do You Know About Worldcat.org?
Let’s say you head to your local public library, in search of a particular book. However, you discover your local library doesn’t own a copy of the book you want. What should you do? There’s a few options. You could try and purchase a copy of the book online, via Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or another website. Or, maybe check with a different library. The best option, may be this one: have your library check the World Catalog.
Most public libraries participate in a program known as Inter Library Loan, or ILL. Some academic libraries participate as well. This allows libraries to receive materials from libraries outside of their city, state, and in come cases, country. Maybe you use the Queens Public Library in New York, and you need a copy of Of Mice and Men, and they don’t have one listed in their catalog. Perhaps a local library in Atlanta, Georgia has a copy to spare. Queens can use the ILL system to borrow the book from the library in Atlanta, so that you can borrow it from Queens. Pretty sweet, right?
This is where the World Catalog comes in. It lists materials available at libraries all over the world. So, if you’re looking for something, but can’t seem to find it at your local library, you may want to ask your librarian to check the World Catalog, to see if its available elsewhere. The borrowing time may differ from that of your local library, but at least you’ll have access to what you need.
Check out the World Catalog when you have time!
November is NaNoWriMo
Hello fellow writers! November is upon us! So is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). This is the perfect time to start a new novel, or perhaps, finish one you’re currently … Continue reading November is NaNoWriMo
I May Host a NaNoWriMo Event
I know, I know: it’s October, and NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) isn’t until November. So, why am I talking about it so early? It’s because I have a bit of good news. My day job is at the Hampton Public Library, and there’s going to be a NaNoWriMo event at the location I work in, in November. Why is this so exciting? Becuase I may be the lucky person who gets to host it!
I don’t have all of the details just yet, but here’s what I can tell you so far:
Event: Creative Nonfiction Workshop
Place: Hampton Public Library Main Location
Date: November 14, 2019
Time: 12pm to 1pm
More details to follow!
The Top 12 Books That Influenced My Writing
Every writer can look back at some point in their life, and recognize the person, place or thing that encouraged them to start writing in the first place. Or, something that had an impact on their style of writing. For me, there have been many, many books which have influenced me. The number one book: Bunnicula by James Howe. My second grade teacher read it out loud to my class, and I was instantly hooked. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was receiving a lesson on personification (giving human attributes or qualities to a non-human object). I was already creating short picture books for myself, but this book made me want to be a WRITER.
The actual list of influential titles is too long to post here, so I managed to narrow it down to 12. I still feel like it should be 15 strong, but we’ll stick to 12, for time’s sake. Here it is, in no particular order:
- Bunnicula and Nighty Nightmare by James Howe (couldn’t have 1 w/o the other)
- Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz (all 3 in the series)
- Hellsing (manga series) by Kohta Hirano
- Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- Revolutionary Girl Utena (manga series) by Chiho Saito, Be-Papas
- The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
- Grey by Pete Wentz
- Just Kids by Patti Smith
- Sailor Moon (manga series) by Naoko Takeuchi
- Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers and Emo by Andy Greenwald
- The Haunting of Grade Three by Grace Maccarone
- Odyssey from River Bend by Tom McGowen
this book made me want to be a WRITER.
It’s a pretty eclectic list, isn’t it? Childrens’ chapter books, Japanese manga, horror stories and fiction. I have to give an honorable mention to Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman as well.
So, which books would make your list? Feel free to share in the comments below!
Celebrate October with “Spooky B”!
October is finally here!!! This is without a doubt one of my favorite months. I have selected one of my characters to be the official W.E. mascot for the month, and its Erin from the Our Lady of Righteous Rage series. To celebrate October, I’m having a sale via the Online Store. If you purchase a copy of Novocaine or The Witch of Fulton Lane, now through October 31st, you will receive a FREE paperback copy of Erin Michaels: Spooky B. So, take a peek at the updated Online Store, and Happy Halloween!
The Witch of Fulton Lane
New Theme For October
With September drawing to a close, and October just around the corner (that corner is literally next Tuesday), I decided it was time to update the theme on this blog and the Woolaston Entertainment site. When most people think of October, they think of Halloween. Businesses and homes begin to display their Halloween decorations, and everything seems to be pumpkin flavored. I’m not a fan of pumpkin flavored anything, however, I will admit the Cheesecake Factory has a pumpkin flavored cheesecake that’s pretty good. But, back to the point of this post…(damn, now I want cheesecake…)
Halloween is one of my FAVORITE holidays. I watch horror movie marathons, wear a lot more black than usual (I wear a lot of black anyway, but during this time of year its more legit), and focus on anything scary. Last year, I released my first holiday inspired book, Erin Michaels: Spooky Bitch, which features Erin from the Our Lady of Righteous Rage series. So, Erin, my little feline Goth queen, is W.E.’s official mascot of the month of October. You’ll be seeing much more of her during the next few weeks.
To celebrate the month, I’m having a special sale on copies of Erin Michaels: Spooky Bitch and The Witch of Fulton Lane. Plus, I’ll post some more snippets from the upcoming Age of the Daughter, the sequel to The Witch of Fulton Lane. And if you want to share any info about the things that scare you, feel free!
What Do Your Characters Sound Like?
When you sit down to create a character, whether it’s for a book, short story, or a graphic novel/comic, what comes to mind? Your character’s appearance? Their behavior? What about their voice? What does your character sound like?
Every chapter is an episode, and I’m just watching them and writing all the details.
I mentioned this on a previous post, but I’ll say it again here. I’m a visual person. When I write, I picture the story taking place in my mind, and basically write what I see, the same as you would if you were watching a TV show or a movie and writing down all the events taking place. For me, Fortune’s Wing and Valentine aren’t just books, they’re TV series. Every chapter is an episode, and I’m just watching them and writing all the details. This means, all of my characters not only have a physical appearance, they have voices, too. So, I’m going to share some of the voices I hear, whenever one of my characters speak. This would serve as a potential cast list, of any of my books ever become animated movies or series.
Fortune Oyama
Valentine
Fortune Oyama of Fortune’s Wing: Leonardo DiCaprio. I dunno why, but each time I sat down to work on FW and I wrote Fortune’s dialogue, that’s the voice I heard.
Demetri of Fortune’s Wing: Orson Welles. Yes, I know he passed away in 1985, but he would have made a perfect Demetri. His voice also would have worked for John Rafferty of the Valentine series. Both characters are large men, and they’re both villains. I first heard Orson Welles’ voice in Transformers: The Movie (the animated one from 1986). He provided the voice for Unicron. I was enamored with how deep and booming his voice was, and he actually inspired both Demetri and Rafferty.
Valentine of Valentine: Charlize Theron’s voice has always been in my head for this character. She’s actually the reason I made Val so tall in the series (she’s between 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 10).
Dee Seybrook of Our Lady of Righteous Rage: Taraji P. Henson would HAVE to be the voice of Dee, if this book series became animated! Hands down! Her voice is perfect for Dee: the voice of a petite female who doesn’t take any crap.
Aidan Sirci of Our Lady of Righteous Rage: Ryan Renolds. Period. Tall, good looking, and sarcastic….pretty much describes Aidan, too!
Of course, your characters’ voices don’t have to belong to celebrities. Mine just happen to. Since I modeled Nyda Summit of Our Lady after my mother, I tend to hear my mother’s voice when Nyda speaks. And Erin Michaels of Our Lady? That’s all me.
June E. Parris’s Author Pages
I recently updated my mother’s (and fellow author) author pages on Goodreads and Amazon. She just wrote her third book, A New England Serial Killer, and I’m editing it and preparing it for publication. With that being said, I wanted to be sure all of her pages are up to date. You can visit her Amazon Author Page and Goodreads Author Page to check out her books and follow her!
How Will “Lucia and the Saints” End?
Earlier this year, I released the first four books of a new series, Lucia and the Saints. This series is a prequel to the Valentine series, and traces the begining of John Rafferty’s entrance into the Syndicate. It also tells the story of the woman who hepled him rise to power, Lucia Milazzo. You could play Six Degrees of Separation with the other characters in the Valentine series, and you would end up at Lucia every time.
So far, Lucia has managed to introduce John to some key people, help him secure a few night clubs, and make some money. Plus, there’s some other important issues at play: the Lady Saints in New Orleans trying to maintain the business they started, and the connection between Lucia Milazzo and Lucia Calderon. With all of this, how is the series going to end?
If you’ve read the Valentine series, then you know, Lucia isn’t mentioned anywhere. No one says her name, no one ever brings her up in a conversation. This can only mean, by the time Val goes on her roadtrip to Cali, Lucia is nolonger a part of John Rafferty’s life. So, how did they part ways? On friendly terms, or not so friendly terms? And where do the Lady Saints fit into all of this? The final book in the Valentine series reveals how Rafferty’s story ends, so one has to wonder, if Lucia will have something to say about that…
The final two books in the Lucia and the Saints series will be available late this Fall.
woolastonentertainment.com 