Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year



I'm taking a bit of a break over the next week or so, but just wanted to wish you all the most wonderful of holiday seasons! I hope you have a perfect celebration, whatever you celebrate.  So until next time...Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all of the best for you and yours in 2013!

Brenda

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

BIG NEWS!

Blue Fireworks by eady - I have...

BIG NEWS!


So I've been dropping a few hints here and there, and it's been killing me to not share what's going on at the Dunne writing factory. A few weeks ago, a critique partner friend of mine (the terrific Tina Moss) suggested I might want to send one of my finished manuscripts to her literary agent. She had lots of positive things to say about the agency, and Tina and I have similar views on the publishing world, so I thought, 'Why not?' and sent it off.

Well, the agent--the lovely Jennifer Mishler--liked my manuscript. She really liked it. She liked it enough to send me a contract...which I SIGNED TODAY!

WOOHOO!

And so...

It is with great pleasure that I announce I am now represented by Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel agency in New York City! How exciting is that? I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of the fabulous team there. Jennifer and Frances Black of Lit Counsel are exactly the team I was looking for. I can't wait to see what the New Year will bring!

Brenda

Monday, December 10, 2012

Snow Day!

Today is our first 'Snow Day' of the school year. In our house snow days are stay-in-your-pjs, playing-games-and-watching-tv, baking kind of days. They're sitting-by-the-fire-and-drinking-hot-chocolate kind of days.

Because travel is unsafe (there's a half of inch of ice on the roads--rather like a skating rink out there), all pre-planned activities are off until further notice. Who doesn't love a free day off?

One of the projects I'm currently working on, a YA pre-dystopian set in rural Maine, opens in a blizzard. A 'weather bomb' as they sometimes call it. What if our beloved snow day was set in a rural area when the world's oil had all but run out? What if there were no plows, salting trucks and snowmobiles to help us get out of the mess? I've tentatively entitled it 'FROZEN' and I'm about 16,000 words in. Here's an excerpt for your stormy-day reading pleasure...


He’s taller than me, almost three inches taller. He looks like Dad in many ways, just skinnier. Tall, dark hair and freckles. He twiddles a piece of timothy in his hands—hands that likely harvested that very piece of timothy. Hands that have seen more work than some of his friends will see in their entire lives.

“Do you think we’ll ever see Dad again?” he finally asks. I should have seen that coming. Of all of us, he understood Dad the best.

I look away, watching as Smoke paces in his stall, then puts his head back down, looking for more hay.

I don’t want to lie to Frankie. I love my little brother, and in some ways I’m the closest thing to Dad that he’s got right now.

“I don’t know,” I say quietly, and that’s the truth. I don’t know if he’ll survive whatever he’s thrown himself into. And if he does survive, I don’t know how he’ll be able to make it back to us. Anything that can cross the ocean needs oil to do it, and the government wouldn’t risk sending its soldiers in a wind-powered ship. At least I don’t think they would.

“You miss him a lot,” I say.

“Yah.” His voice does that pitch see-saw again.

I don’t reply. I miss Dad, but I’ve learned to live without him. Frankie misses him more, needs him more. How can I help a fourteen year old boy find his way? I’m just a mall-queen turned tom-boy. I put my arm around him and rest my head on his shoulder. Instead of leaning away, like a boy, he leans back…like a man.

We sit there listening to the animals chomping and squawking until the wind begins to blow.
 
Brenda :)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Last Days to Order (before Christmas)!

Hi All,

Just thought I'd make a gentle reminder that Friday, Dec 7, 2012 is the last day to order TREASURE IN THE FLAME from my blog (via the PayPal button on the right) for guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve in Canada. Canada Post can be fickle, so better to be safe than sorry! It will still be available from Amazon and many locations across Ontario and New Brunswick, as well as from Smashwords, iBooks, Amazon and B&N in ebook format.

Also, if time isn't an issue for you, you can still use the PayPal method to the right and I'll do my best to get it in the mail ASAP.

For more info click on the 'Where to find Treasure' button on the left above this post.  Thank you so much for your support!

Brenda

NOTE: You can STILL order Treasure, it just may not make it for Christmas.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Christmas is coming!

Christmas preps are in full swing and I've been having a great time sharing my story with others this week! I hired a PR guy (*cough* my husband *cough*) and he has been a huge help in getting the word out to everyone! He even got me a spot in the local paper!

On Thursday morning I was fortunate enough to have a chance to talk to Drew and Diana at Star 97.5 in Kemptville on their morning show! It was a lot of fun chatting about my book and how it came into being. I even left a signed copy for them to give away, so stay tuned if you live in the Kemptville area! You can find out more here.  I also did a taped interview for 1310 news/ Y101 in Ottawa. My PR guy had suggested I call them and set up a time...so I did so from the side of the road on my cell phone. I was completely cought off guard when the call turned into an interview! Y101 covers most of Eastern Ontario...so if you heard it, please know that I was in my truck on the side of the road as I spoke with them. Yeah, I learned my lesson! Always be prepared when talking to the media! I believe they ran it yesterday, and again this morning.

Today, December 1st, I will be signing books from 11:30 to 2:30 at Mirick's Landing in Merrickville as part of Christmas in Merrickville celebrations.  You can find out more here. And tomorrow I will be doing the same thing at the Jack Purcell Centre in Ottawa (just off of Elgin street) as part of the Ottawa Authors and Artisans Fair. Info is here. I'm looking forward to attending both events-- and maybe get some of my Christmas shopping done!

Also a gentle reminder...If you'd like to buy a book off of my website (Paypal button to the right of this post), the best time to do so is before December 7th. I can't guarantee that the books will get there before Christmas if you order later than that, and I'd hate for it to arrive late!

Hope you are all enjoying the build up to the holiday season. I'm really looking forward to spending some time with my favourite people in the world...my family...as the big day approaches. And maybe even read a book that I didn't write! Any good suggestions? 

Brenda