Sabrina's Blog

Thank you to Kate OMara over at  When Kate Blogs  for awarding me The Versatile Blogger award for my post  What Makes A Novel YA?  I am so honored.  Instructions for the Award 1. Thank the person who gave you the award. 2. Include a link to their blog. 3. Paste the award on your blog. 4. Share 7 things about yourself.  5. Pass this award on to as many as 15 blogs you enjoy reading and let them know about the award. Seven Things About Me 1. When not writing, I enjoy being a mom to the most beautiful 5 year old boy.  2. My favorite flavor combo is coconut and chocolate. (Almond Joy...yummm!) 3. I like to happy dance when things go my way. 4. My theme song is Anything But Ordinary by Avril Lavigne...and yes, sometimes I am so weird I freak myself out...hehehe.  5. I enjoy making those around me laugh. 6. I blame God for my blessings...and thank him for them everyday. *grin* 7. I am afraid of having my rece...

With the relocation of the Young Adult section from the back to the front of many bookstores, I find myself wondering what exactly it is that makes a book YA. I have been told by not a few people to not be surprised if a publisher wants to turn my novel YA. What does that mean exactly? Yes, my two main protagonists are under 18, but I wrote my book for adults. In researching the meaning of YA, I came across this on Wikipedia: Young-adult fiction or young adult literature (often abbreviated as YA), [1] [2] also juvenile fiction, is fiction written, published, or marketed to adolescents and young adults . The Young Adult Library Services ( YALSA ) of the American Library Association (ALA) defines a young adult as someone between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Authors and readers of young adult (YA) novels often define the genre as literature as traditionally written for ages ranging from twelve years up to the age of eighteen, while some publishers may market young adult litera...

I have decided to try my hand at multiple projects at one time, and I find that it is very hard to pay attention to the project that is in the revision process when the other is in the creating process.  I love the creating process. When I start a new project, I first draw a map. I'm a fantasy writer, so being able to see my world is a must. How can you create characters without first having a world to put them on? I do usually have a type of character or story in mind before I create said map, but that character or story is no more than a type until that map has been drawn out. (Don't ever ask to see my maps. I can't actually draw, but my maps do the job as best they can. *grin*) After drawing my map, I move on to the basics: creating the religion, magic, weather, geography, animals, cultures, economics, government, etc. Then, I start choosing specific names for specific places on my map and main characters. Here is where I must plug one of my absolutely most favorit...

I have 'The Writer's Calendar' hanging on the wall behind my computer so that every time I look up from the laptop's screen I see it. What is a writer's calender, exactly? Well, let me tell you about it.  Last summer, I attended a writing workshop put on by an amazing writing instructor, William Bernhardt. I learned a ton about the craft that I never heard anything about in college. If you are in the market for a good writing workshop, I would encourage you to check out his website:  William Bernhardt Writing Programs . If you decide to attend this fabulous writing program, I should warn you that the homework is intense.  At the end of the seminar I attended, Bill handed out what he labeled 'The Writer's Calendar'. It is a week by week breakdown that helps you stay on track to finish a top-quality manuscript in six months.  Yes, I said six months.  I don't have this amazing calendar stuck on my wall where I can always see it because I ...

As writers, we spend many hours behind a desk at our computer sitting on our backsides. The only thing that gets a workout is our brain and our fingers...and a foot if you're like me and tap your toe along with the music playing in the background. *grin* We often forget that the health of our body determines the quality of our writing as much as the knowledge and imagination in our minds. When thinking of a fit and healthy body, we often think of our physical appearance. All of us would love to have a nice figure, but don't deem it important enough to take time away from our writing to get to the gym. We tell ourselves that what we look like doesn't matter as much as the quality of our writing. But what most of us forget is that health and fitness is more than the way we look and has much to do with good quality writing. Besides making our joints, muscles, and bones feel healthier, a healthy body promotes a healthy mind. This means that we are better at dealing with s...

The value of writing conferences never ceases to amaze me. This weekend I attended the OWFI Conference in OKC and can I just say....What. A. Blast!!!! I volunteered to shepherd. Since I have been informed that this is something that is not done at every conference, I'll explain.  OWFI provides a shepherd/personal assistant for every visiting speaker/editor/agent. The shepherd picks them up from the airport, makes sure they get checked into their hotel, makes sure they get to each each event within the conference they need to be, fetches them water/hot cocoa/coffee/Tylenol etc, takes them to lunch if they are not asked by anyone else, takes them sightseeing if there is time, and then gets them back to the airport when it is all over. A shepherd also makes an invaluable contact and if they are lucky, a new friend. I had the honor of shepherding Tor editor, Melissa Frain at this year's conference. This is her and me at one of the banquets. I really think I was the lucki...

For the last post in this 2012 A to Z Challenge, I thought I'd share a little scene from my WIP starring my MC, Ruark and his father, General Zanderi.. *** The General rolled his shoulders as he said in disgust. “I should have killed you at birth. You have always been and continue to be nothing but a disappointment.” Mad laughter threatened to burst from Ruark's throat. He had only ever wanted this man’s love, but his father was incapable of such an emotion. He let a small smile lift the corners of his lips. “At one time those words might have hurt, but I am well past caring what you think of me, Father. At the same time, I do not wish to kill you. Please do not force me.” “I will see you dead and the girl sacrificed to the dark flame,” his father said with a sneer. “I thought you might say that,” Ruark sighed as he accepted the inevitability of this day. He would not kill his father if he could help it, but he would distract him long enough for his high queen...