Alice M Fleury

FREE WRITING

2015-05-03T11:23:00.000-04:00

Recently I read Wild Mind, Living the Writer's Life, by Natalie Goldberg. It's a book you'll need to read more than once. Possibly use as a reference to remind yourself to take ten minutes and free write.

MS Goldberg explains steps to become a fluid and bold writer, which she refers to as writing practice. Unlike journal writing which is personal, writing practice frees your mind and pulls out your passions silencing your monkey brain, (inner critic).

When first beginning to free write you may be stumped where to start. Her suggestions are to begin with I remember, or I'm thinking of, or I want, I don't want, I feel or don't feel. There are many ways to begin. Soon words begin toppling from your mind onto paper (or computer screen) like someone pushed that first domino.

There are a few rules:

1. Keep your pen moving. (in the case of computer your fingers.) However, I find it freeing to write with pen and paper.

2. Don't hold back anything. Whatever pops into that writerly brain get it down.

3. Be specific. Name the car, fruit or bird.

4. Don't think. OH MY GOSH I LOVE NOT THINKING.

5. No punctuation. (however, I have a hard time with this one.)

6. You are free to write garbage. (YAY!)

7. Go for it.

There is much more guidance in her book. You can purchase it here:

B & N Amazon

Now set your timer for ten minutes. GO!

Log-Line, splain it to me in 25 words or less

2012-05-30T15:22:00.000-04:00

photo from findstuff22

Composing a sentence in 25 words or less is a great way to procrastinate writing your novel. It certainly has helped me put off writing more than ten times.

Let’s try and analyze this. A log-line, elevator pitch, and premise are all names given to this most difficult string of words I’ve tried to write.

Describe your story in twenty-five words or less. Huh?

First we must understand this sentence consists of the hero, the antagonist, both preceded by adjectives, and a conflict that your hero finds himself in.

You could compose this sentence before you start writing, and it would be the premise of your story. Using what if? What if a short teen has to battle a tall man over who has the most guts? Bad example, but still. Are they actually battling about bloody innards or do they both have a need to be braver than the other? The writer knows, but what if the reader doesn’t. The reader plops down a twenty to purchase thinking it is about a contest to win a trophy when in actuality really is about bloody guts. However, if it’s your premise, than you are the only one who has to understand the sentence.

The thing is the only time you will really need to use this sentence is at a live conference. In case you run into an agent in an elevator ~~or bathroom stall.~~ Perhaps during a scheduled meeting with an actual agent, you will want to be able to state what your story is about with eloquence.

But, if you’re like me, you’re never going to meet an agent or editor in person. So quit procrastinating and just write. If you don’t believe me, click on Ms. Reid’s Query Shark and read what she has to say about a log-line in a query letter. Scroll down the page, she made me say ahhh.

Besides that log-line is only what the outer perimeter of your story is about. What your story is really about is the character arc of your hero. But that’s another post.

So, here's my latest:

When her guardian is abducted by a vengeful ghost, a psychic teen must escape from Social Services and battle the evil presence, her father.

Yeah, I know. It sucks.

Story Structure and Misnomers?

2012-05-07T14:06:00.000-04:00

The pic above are books I own on the craft. Of course, I also have some on my Nook:
The Writer's Compass by Nancy Ellen Dodd
Write Great Fiction by James Scott Bell
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby
Outlining Your Novel by K. M. Weiland
Screenwriting Tricks for Authors by Alexandra Sokoloff

...and several others. But these are the ones on structure.

Must be many writer's stories lack structure with all the blogs I've read recently seem to be talking about it. Larry Brooks blog is about his seven competencies you need to write, although it seems structure is a big part of it. In the next few weeks he's going to break down Hunger Games for us. K. M. Weiland has just finished a series on structure on her blog Wordplay. It's a great series, I recommend reading it.
Some instruct us referring to the three acts, others call it the beginning, middle and end. Some even divide the middle into two parts. Probably because the middle is the longest and everyone seems to agree on that. Then there's terminology, hook, inciting incident, point of no return, rising action, mid-point, climax, and denouement. To name a few. Some refer to the hook as the inciting incident. The inciting incident could be the point of no return, which means you need a hook at the beginning to keep readers reading. So the hook and the inciting incident must be separate and not the same. Its a wonder most of us would like to throw it all out the window.
John Truby talks about 22 steps. He thinks the three act structure is too simplistic, albeit easy to understand. Three acts, in his opinion, will make your story boring and have no depth.
I'm not saying not to educate oneself by reading any of these fine specimens. Just keep an open mind. Try not to get too hung up on terminology. And when you're ready to dive into that tray of cupcakes, write. Because the only way any of us is going to learn is to write. So here's a link to Joe Bunting at the Write Practice because that's what his blog is all about.

Jack-in-the-Box Suspense

2011-04-09T11:54:00.000-04:00

Everyone talks about tension in a novel, it’s what keeps a reader flipping the page or scanning along on their e-reader. Tension is suspense. It isn’t mystery. Mystery happens after the deed. Suspense happens before. As in who kidnapped the CEO’s daughter, opposed to threats to kidnap her.

I liken suspense to the Jack-in-the-Box my brother received for Christmas one year.(Yup, it’s the one pictured, it was back in the 50’s) Ever since that red haired, evil jumped out of his box to the tune of round the mulberry bush, my brother hated clowns.

Turn that crank so the tune plays and the clown jumps out to scare the crap out of any kid. We know he’s gonna pop, so we turn the crank one plink at a time, poised on our knees, necks strained, eyes squinty. One plink, two plink, keep going. You know he’ll scare you but just maybe this time we’ll hear the click before he bursts into your face waving back and forth with lipstick smeared all over his mouth. Every time he wins.

When writing suspense we want the reader to feel he’s in the scene. It’s important to set it up using the senses. The touch of the doorknob, creak of the door, scent of a rotting corpse, shadows in corners, and then plink, plink, plink.

Want to read more? Here are some links:

Writer's Digest, 9 tricks for suspense

Fiction Factor

Brandilyn Collins

Nook VS Book and Clarity by Kim Harrington

2011-03-12T09:36:00.002-05:00

Click here to see how I made my cover.

Don't get me wrong, I love my nook. It fits in my purse and is easy to take to the laundromat.

Also, it was easy to add my documents or e-books in pdf format to my nook to read away from my computer. The online classes I'm taking with Bob Mayer and Savvy Authors can be transferred to my nook for reading later.

I love downloading books from Barnes and Noble in a couple of minutes, such fun.

But when I received Clarity, by Kim Harrington in the mail,
it has a dust jacket. Not just a cover, it's beautiful. The
raised letters of the title, the girl with striking blue eyes,
her red hair, sunbursts on her face. Breathtaking.

I see posts all over the internet, how excited authors
and readers are over the graphics for a novel. It's
something that gets the reader excited, it invites you
to open the pages. (The title wasn't available as an
e-book when I preordered, but now I see it is.)

I removed the dust cover. The book is purple with indented title and on the spine the letters are raised and printed in gold.

Yes, there is something about holding a book in your hands, it's romantic. I'm in love.

By the way, I loved the story inside. Clarity is a wonderful character. She does things I wish I had the nerve to do. But wait...it seems in the end we may see Clarity in the future.

My first award

2011-02-28T21:17:00.002-05:00

On February 20th I was surprised and honored by Margo Lerwill, Urban Psychopomp with a Blog Award! My first one. I'm so excited. It has taken me awhile to brag, but I am honored.

This award comes with instruction on sharing. And here they are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. (Thank you,Margo!)
2. Share four guilty pleasures that you have.
3. Pass the award on to six other blogs.

Number 2-- Four guilty pleasures:

1. American Idol. Not even my kids dare to call me during the show unless they want to talk about what's happening...on the show, nothing else.

2. Popcorn: I always eat popcorn while watching American Idol. Oh and sometimes I even eat it for dinner.

3. I love to be alone. Maybe its a strange thing, but after raising 4 kids, I think I deserve some alone time.

4. A good book. I will read till its finished. Don't interrupt me, and you can't eat till I'm hungry.

Number 3--The six blogs I'd like to recognize, okay other than Urban Psychopomp

Wild Thoughts:An occasional Blog by euclid

The Grammar Divas by Darlene Buchholz and Annie Oortman

The Ending Unplanned by Rachel Harris

Meadow of Words by Meadow

Aimee Kaufman, writer buccaneer by Aimee Kaufman

Old Farmhouse Cooking by the OFG Team.....Hey a writer's gotta eat.

Scenes

2011-01-21T14:42:00.001-05:00

A scene is where the action is.

Growing up in the 50's and 60's we all wanted to be where the action was. How many cool scenes had nothing of significance only that it was a groovy place to be?

Scenes in a novel need to have pertinence to the story and plot. If your protagonist is having a great time and lots of action but not one bit of new information or she's grooving at a stand still, get it out of your manuscript.

A scene has a beginning middle and end. It incorporates character, POV, action, dialogue, plot, and conflict.

It's important to ground your reader at the beginning where the hero is and what POV (if there's more than one) the reader is viewing through.

In the middle, conflict and drama take place. This is where it should get hairy. A complication that causes a struggle for your hero.

The end will give your reader a reason to keep reading. Whether it's bits of information about the plot or a cliff hanger leaving her not able to turn the page fast enough.

To read more, I love Make a Scene by Jordan E. Rosenfeld.

New Year, new Writing Classes

2011-01-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

Fifteen days into the New Year and I still haven't finished a first draft. And my inner critic keeps reminding me that my writing is not up to par. My biggest problem seems to be that during the Christmas Holiday, I didn't write. I can sure see why after a first draft one puts it away and then comes back to edit. I'm lost. I've forgotten what I've written, and where I put my unorganized files.

Catching up on my blogs I read Kristen Lamb's posts. She mentioned Write it Forward workshops. I clicked over there and found the workshop for February is Outlining and Plot, taught by Bob Mayer. AND that the cost is only $20. You can bet I signed up for that. Hope to see you there.

2010-12-19T17:33:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

Where is your VOICE?

2010-12-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

I thought I’d write about Voice for this post. Then I found some wonderful posts on voice HERE.
No matter how many times I read about something, sometimes I still need to read more to understand.
Perhaps another person can explain it one more time, another way for me to get it. So here’s my take on voice.

On Saturday night Narnia, the Lion, the Witch and the wardrobe aired by C.S. Lewis. I have never seen or read it so I sat down to watch it. I was amazed this story was about Heaven and Hell, the righteous and the sinners. It jumped out at me during the battle with the Witch and all her comrades were pretty ugly looking creatures.

Edmond, the youngest brother believed the Witch would make him a king and betrayed the others. When Edmond escapes the Witch, the Lion speaks to him in private, and then tells his siblings there is no need to talk of his betrayal again. His brother and two sisters hug Edmond and welcome him back to the good side.

I was disappointed with the fact the lion killed the witch and not one of the protagonists. After all we are told our protagonist or hero must initiate and do what is needed to correct the problem. In C.S. Lewis’s view of Narnia, only the Lion could save Narnia. That is the writer’s voice telling his belief through the characters.

I googled C. S. Lewis, and lots of links about him and Christianity showed up. (this definitely shows my ignorance about him)

My point here is that your voice is what you believe told through your characters. Not a sermon, but how you see and interpret the world. Everyone has values, ambitions, and opinions. This is how you look at the world, everyone’s truths have an influence on their writing. When your truth comes through your character in a subtle way, it is your voice. And what we all hope is that our truths are unique enough to stand out from the crowd.

What are your ambitions, values and opinions. Whisper them into your characters ears, and create an antagonist who believes the opposite, this will create the tension you need in your WIP.

Premise, What is your story about?

2010-12-07T20:14:00.002-05:00

I have read my how to write books, searched the Internet for premise. It finally dawned on me how to write my one sentence of what my story is about. Maybe what I have realized will help you.

I tried to write my premise from the inciting incident which is at the beginning of the book or the opening conflict. The inciting incident is what happens to cause events leading up to the protagonist's point of no return. The point of no return is what happens ¼ of the way through the novel that changes everything the hero knows. This is where the story begins. The first ¼ of your book is bringing all of the characters together. It is the normal for your character even if the character’s life changes in some way.

Your one line summary would be:

When (point of no return happens) protagonist must do something to stop antagonist or what’s at stake will happen or won’t.

Now I’m trying to figure out through lines, but that will be another post.

Loglines, log-lines, one-line summary GEESH

2010-12-04T17:21:00.001-05:00

Have you tried to write one sentence that sums up your story? I have, and tried, and again and again. Crap.
Let me demonstrate.
A log line should include your protagonist, her goal, and what stands in her way. Let me demonstrate.

Susie wants to sell sea shells. What's standing in her way? She lives in the mountains. She needs money to buy sea shells. How is she going to raise the money to buy sea shells? She'll sell her body. Those mountain men are insatiable. Now she has a shit load of money and sets up a shell shop. Problem is with the economy, no one wants to buy her shells and the hours she puts in standing around are tiresome. She needs to rest.

In struts Johnny Walker. He doesn't want sea shells. Susie has a chance to lay down for 100 bucks and about 20 minutes of her time. Now her goal has changed, screw the shells.

Lets write what this story is about in one sentence:

Susie's shell business is put on hold when Johnny Walker enters her shop and asks for cherry pie.

No, that's not it.

When Susie realizes selling shells is hard work, she lays down on the job and stops shining her shells because she's takin' a shinin' to somebody else.

NO, that's not it either.

When Susie Sunshine opens up a shell shop, Johnny Walker demands more time and Susie feels obligated to give it to him.

No

Oh Wait, Susie's real goal is to earn money. I think she's doing a hell of a job. Do you think an agent will ask for more pages?

My inner Editor...

2010-11-15T20:59:00.002-05:00

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Why I Write?

2010-10-29T10:57:00.000-04:00

There are many blogs with explanations why they write. I'm not sure why I write. I sure don't think its as noble as Sharon Messenger's reason. Who thought this up anyways? At the teaching authors blog , they have all written why they write.

Why do I write?

Have you read a book you have been lost in? You're there, going through every conflict, every laugh, and the life of the Hero/Heroine in the book. Your family is lucky to get dinner. You'll skip your favorite TV program to read farther, you just can't put it down. I'm bewitched. Maybe that's why I write. I want someone to not put my book down. I want them to be so engrossed in the story, my story, that they have no idea what is going on around them or what time it is. (unless their belly growls, they ignore it, but then everyone in the family is growling at you) How dare they interrupt? They're worse then commercials.

I want to bewitch someone.

I want to send my high school English teacher a book with my name on it. Not in it, on it. He never encouraged me much. He could be dead. I don't know.

No, I guess my reasons are not noble, but they're my reasons.

Now that I have been writing, giving my whole being to it. I have learned so much. Read lots of "how to" books and I want to do it right. It's a challenge. I'm not giving up till its done right.

Go, find that book, READ.

Public Stakes

2010-10-27T10:08:00.000-04:00

Raising the stakes for a protagonist is what keeps conflict in the story.

I have had a problem trying to figure out what public stakes are when my protagonist is not going to save the world or stop some horrible interference from a villain that will change the world of my characters. It isn't SF or Fantasy, or some serial killer on the loose. So what would be the public stakes in my novel?

I believe it is family. My character has lived with her mother for 14 years. She knows no other life, and now her mother is going to move her closer to her grandparents. Grandparents she has never met and don't even know she exists. Family is something everyone cares about, whether yours is dysfunctional or not. With this move, she, my protag, will lose everything familiar and meaningful to her. Her life, her best friend and being the only one in her mother's life.

I need to make this family thing so important to her that it is important to everyone. (at least the readers)

She is worried that her grandparents won't like her, that they live differently, that her mother won't only belong to her. These are her personal stakes, I think. Okay so I am going to make them personal.

I think what I am trying to tell myself is that my reader needs to care about the "stakes". Even in a save the world story, the stakes must be personal to the character. The character has to care enough so that I, we, the reader cares what happens.

Donald Maass has a chapter on stakes in his book Writing the Breakout Novel. I read it again.

The writer must ask the question, "So what? Why should anyone care?" The reason anyone cares is we care about the protagonist. We must make her sympathetic. She has to be someone people like.

That's it. Family is universal, no matter what kind of family you have. People will identify with family, with the struggles and the love-hate relationship in the circle.

What's the public stakes in your novel?

Reasons to Outline

2010-10-22T09:24:00.000-04:00

I have been busy outlining my MS for NANO. (Outlining is something I have resisted since I started writing) It's a good thing, because I can't stop and write now or the words don't count for NANO.

Using the scene tracker from the Plot Whisperer, I have filled up a couple of pages. One of the columns is Thematic Significance. If I don't know the theme, I am supposed to write details from the scene in this block. While I did this in several of the blocks, I realized these characters keep secrets. Not every scene has a secret but several of them do. My theme could very well be about secrets, and I would have never seen it without filling out the Scene Tracker.

I was asked to watch the office yesterday for a few hours. I took a book with me. It was Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress. I took this book because I have a hard time writing characters thoughts. In one way it's a good thing, I don't write much backstory, but it can be bad when I can't seem to write what the character is doing or thinking during a stint of dialogue.

After I sat and read for a while I wanted to write. (a writer writes, right?) I can't write any of the novel and I only have scraps of paper, so I tried to write a query. I know it is much to early to write a query, but hey practice makes perfect. In trying to sum up my story, it took me several sentences, crossed off etc. No the query is still not perfect, but secrets came out in my description for my query. So now I'm thinking secrets must be some sort of theme for my book. I haven't thought of a title yet, but I am sure Secrets is taken.

How are you doing preparing for NANO? My head is spinning with dialogue, comments and sentences that sound absolutely ingenious in my head. But we'll see what they read like on paper on Nov. 1.

Get Your First Draft written and never get out of your Sweats.

2010-10-18T08:54:00.001-04:00

I attended the most awesome online writing conference this past week. The workshops I participated in were valuable with professional instructors. If you haven't heard of or atteded The Muse Online Writer's Conference, you're missing out. I worked on character, scenes and description. Ann Hite, Devon Ellington, and Margaret McGaffey Fisk. These workshops taught me STUFF. There are many more informative classes too. Like, horror, suspense, dialogue,book trailers, villains, I can't name them all. I've already signed up for next year. Lea Schizas and her mods are wonderful and this had to be a large undertaking behind the boards! A big thanks to all of the creators. And a big thanks to the participants, the bravery they have to put their writing out there to be critiqued, analyzed and read by strangers so we can all learn something is amazing.

And that is why I am participating in NANOWRIMO this year. I had come across it in my travels on the internet, but never thought that I would be able to write 50,000 words in a month. I am damn gonna try.
I think a little preparation will go a long way to reach this goal.

I am going to apply what I have learned at the Muse Conference:

Interview my cast of characters and find out what really makes them tick.
Outline, oh drat. It must be done. I'm going to use the plot line I learned from Martha Alderson.
Write descriptions of the places my scenes will take place in.

So, Thanksgiving is in November. If you want to join me and many others, get invited somewhere for dinner, get your significant other to make dinner, volunteer at a soup kitchen for a few hours, purchase your dinner from a grocer for heat and eat, or remember what it's really about. Being thankful. I'm thankful for my family although they all live far away from me. I am thankful for my hubby, who works, so I can do what I want, and right now it's writing.

Leave me a comment who you are over at NANO so we can be writing buddies. You still have time to get ready...NOW

Plot

2010-09-27T09:21:00.000-04:00

In my neverending blog reading I have found informative links for writing. I have so many bookmarks and favorites that my menu bars are covered with them.

Today I want to tell you about another great source I have found. Martha Alderson. Also known as the Plotwhisperer.

Don't ask how I found her, I'm sure it was in a round about way. I purchased a DVD she made of a workshop for children's and YA fiction. (I will add that it was a fast ship too. Always nice to know.)
This workshop teaches you about plot and has great direction on tools to use BEFORE you start writing.
She uses the MG novel Al Capone does my shirts as an example. If you haven't read it, read it. It is a great, fun middle grade fiction by Gennifer Choldenko.

I have finally decided after writing for several months. A person really needs to do the stuff I hate. Outlining your novel. There may be some of you that can sit down and write from start to finish and get a rough draft of a story. But to me writing 50,000 words seems like a daunting task that I will never reach.
Martha also has a series on You tube that I think may be of interest to new and seasoned writers. So check her out.

And now, I must do my 10 minutes of freewriting and go on to outlining.

A website for writers

2010-09-23T10:27:00.000-04:00

In my procratination to do something, anything, but write, I found a website! One that I think will help me with my unthoughts. Maybe, none of you have "unthoughts" but I sure do. It's when your brain thinks of a thousand things (or more) and none of them is what you should be thinking.

This website is in its infancy? However, the owner is not. She, Barbara Baig, is a writer, teacher, and a cheerleader to people she doesn't know that want to write. Me.

I decided I need lessons. I need some sort of organization to my writing thoughts.

The first lesson is to write for ten minutes. OMG. I thought, ten minutes? Not something I can do, sit and write for a solid ten minutes. This morning, I did it. I made a new folder in my documents and labeled it for writing practice. I opened a new word document and dated it. I set the timer on my cell phone for ten minutes. I started typing. The ten minutes ended in faster time than I imagined. She states if nothing comes to your head keep writing the last word until something does. I have four places that my head emptied with a repeated word. But, to my amazement, my mind told me more to write. And now I believe doing this ten minute exercise each morning will help in clearing my head, directing it in the right places and hopefully STOP my procrastination.

Check it out, Lessons, and see if her suggestions help you.

Read

2010-09-14T11:02:00.000-04:00

Trading Faces by Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy

Great MG fiction written in real time. Twins, Emma (the smart one) and Payton (the social butterfly) start 7th grade in a new school. For the first time, ever, they have different schedules. A little scary for these sisters that have been together forever. After Payton has an upset with new friends, Emma offers to take her place. For the day. The girls soon learn trading places is a little more complicated than originally planned.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Fascinating read. Towner Whitney thinks her life has been fine since she moved to California. When her brother calls with the news that her Aunt is missing and possibly dead, Towner goes home to Salem.

At the beginning of her story, Towner admits she's a liar and not to believe what she tells us. But the further I read, I believed.

Her mixed up family, and the death of her twin sister finally comes to light and I wanted to kick myself for believing this girl from a family of women that could read lace.

Write On Con is over

2010-08-13T11:57:00.000-04:00

If you're like me, the three days for this awesome, fun conference kept you enthralled. And now the hosts deserve a rest.
Jamie Harrington,
Elana Johnson,

Casey McCormick,

Sharon Messenger,

Lisa and Laura Roecker,

Jennifer Stayrook

Thanks to all of you.

Anne R. Allen's Blog: THE DORCHESTER BOMBSHELL—How Does it Affect You?

2010-08-08T21:03:00.000-04:00

Anne R. Allen's Blog: THE DORCHESTER BOMBSHELL—How Does it Affect You?

e-readers vs page turners

2010-08-08T10:06:00.001-04:00

Being that I love to read a good mystery this decision may or may not effect me.

I haven't even looked at an e-reader in person. I'm not sure how they work. BUT, don't they need a battery? Does the battery last 10 hours or only 2? Will the battery die when my protaganist is about to
make the biggest decision of her life?

So, I'm from the school of the PAGE TURNER. I like the feel of a book in my hands. The rapid rate that I need to turn the page to see what's happening. The fact that I am so involved my dog has to piss on my leg to get my attention.

As publishing evolves, and there's a lot happening right now. More than I understand. Will I need an e-reader to read the latest best seller? I hope not. I love going into a bookstore and being bombarded by images of book covers, artfully done. The colors, the smell, the quiet. The way the bookshelves hold treasures as I gaze at the spines deciding what wonderful tale will be uncovered when I pull the book from it's shelf.

What will a Page Turner be called on an e-book? A Button Pusher? A Scroll Roller? A Thumb Blisterer?
It sure won't be a Nail-Biter. If your biting your nails you might hit delete.

I read it I loved it The Sugar Queen

2010-07-30T16:30:00.000-04:00

I finished reading The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I went through walmart last week and they had a mess of books for $4. I decided on this one and am so glad I did. It was a good story about family secrets, love, and superstition.

Of course, today when I went back all the discounted books were gone. Damn, I should have purchased a couple of the other ones I had considered too. I haven't wanted to check a book from the library as we are going up to Indy to see our kids in Aug and Sept.

I think I'll read her others. My library carries them, I checked, but I'll have to wait till Sept.

I'd love to know Titles that some of you have read and enjoyed.

Happy Reading

Who is the INTERN?

2010-07-25T19:32:00.003-04:00

I love the INTERN. But who is she? She's written a book published about 3 months ago. Alas, none of her readers, that I know of, know who she really is or the title of her recent published MS. I even sent her a partial ms for her to crit for me. (yes, there is a fee involved) But I don't know who she really is.

She speaks of her hippie roommate, her techie boyfriend. Is this all a ruse. Maybe the INTERN is really MALE.

Alas, I don't care. Some things are better left unknown.

Is she among these debut authors in 2010?