Rolling Out The Red Carpet

I wanted to hop on the blog this morning and talk about all the lovely things I am working on in the upcoming year for my faithful readers.  I was eager to roll out the red carpet and run through the streets shouting "I'm back...I'm back...uhhhh...anyone still out there?  I'm BAAAACCCCKKK!!!"

I've missed my blogging friends.  I've missed working on my posts but I was forced to take an unexpected break from blogging during the month of November.  Fortunately the issues I was dealing with have been addressed with a new lifestyle initiated and thankfully I'm back to something I love doing.  My goal was to spend this first year in the blogosphere posting at least one message per day for a total of 365 blog posts.  My one year blog anniversary is coming up on Dec 6th and my Wednesday post will be shining a spotlight on how my first year ended up.  Some goals were met, others almost, and still more yet to be determined but all in all a wonderful start to my new writing career as you will see when hopefully you come back later this week to read all the juicy details.

Now for a teaser about what the new year has in store for my blog.  2013 will bring with it a new posting schedule, a new writers series, and a new invitation for my readers to join in the fun. 

In order to best  serve both this blog and my commitment to creating the best stories I can, I will settle into a Monday, Wednesday, Friday blogging schedule which will leave me time to also focus on polishing stories I have begun this past year.   I need time to complete my YA mystery, Lacey's Bridge, and my YA fantasy, Lunadar: Homeward Bound, while finishing the revisions to my chapter book, The Warriors Three, and a host of other picture book stories in various stages.

On Mondays my readers will find the types of motivational posts I have always tried to provide.  Wednesdays, starting in January, will showcase a new series called WRITERLY WISDOM where guest authors and established writers will address a number of topics covering the many different areas of the writing process.  My wish for this series is for it to become a type of "how-to" resource for newer writers, as well as readers who want to have a better understanding of the hard work and effort going into those wonderful stories we find on the bookshelves every day.  Fridays will be FLASH FICTION with a twist.   I will put up a picture prompt and begin a flash fiction story, but I'm hoping readers will join in the fun and add to the story...whether just a sentence or another paragraph.  I think it will be exciting to see just what we can create together!

There you have it...a look into the future of this blog and I hope you are as excited about the new year as I am!  I will be talking more about my WRITERLY WISDOM series in the coming weeks and will let you know the names of the guest bloggers as well as some of the topics that will be covered.  

Thank you to all my faithful followers who chose to stick around while I got my life back on track.  You will never know how much your love and support means to me.  I can only hope and pray that one day I will be able to somehow return the favor.  Until then, let's raise a glass and toast to another great blogging year...

GUTGAA Query Blog Hop

If you are a writer, you know what it feels like to try to put together a query for your latest manuscript.  On GUTGAA this morning there was a chance for some people to get critiques from Deana Barnhart.  While I was not one of the lucky people to get a critique, there is a blog hop for any one who wants to come visit and critique my query and first 150 words in my own blog.  Since it's MY blog, I thought I would put up TWO queries.  Feel free to take a shot at either one...

Soooo...here it is query ONE:

Donna L Martin

Oh No, Moe!

Picture Book

397-word count

Moe, the mouse, tries every year to win Tarry Town’s annual Halloween costume contest so he can ride in the parade.  He just wishes his costumes would stop playing tricks on him.  One year his dragon tail gets caught in the door and he misses the judging.  Another time his mane is too long and he tears his mask.  He even tries going as a monster but he is too scary.  This year Moe has the perfect plan to win first prize!

Oh No Moe! Is a 397-word holiday tale for children ages 4 through 8 about one mouse’s journey in his search for the perfect Halloween costume.

All the mice in Tarry Town scurry around, squeaking with excitement.  The

annual Halloween party is just three days away.  The winner of the costume contest

will ride in the town’s Halloween parade.  The mice know what they are going to

wear.  Every mouse that is, except Moe. 

Moe digs around in his closet looking for the perfect costume.   He really wants

to win this year.  Three years ago, he was a dragon.  His brother, Teenie, said, “Oh no,

Moe! Your tail got caught!”  

Two years ago, he was a lion.  His sister, Queenie, said, “Oh no, Moe! Your

mane’s too long!”

Last year he was a monster.  His other sister, Mary, said, “Oh no, Moe!  You’re

too scary!”  Moe doesn’t know what to do.  How will he ever win the costume

contest? 

Finally, the day of the party arrives.

Here is query TWO:

Donna L Martin

The Warriors Three

Middle Grade Boy Adventure

9,500-word count

Nine-year-old Nathan wishes he were brave like his friend Billy or outgoing like Alex. All three boys want to compete in their school's martial arts tournament. But Nathan doubts himself and is afraid his friends will tease him if he loses. When Nathan and his friends devise a plan to earn the entrance fee money by delivering books to their library's annual book drive, they soon run into trouble being able to make good on that promise. Teamwork finally gets the books delivered and the day of the tournament arrives. But as each of Nathan's friends miss out on first place, his fledgling confidence is shaken until Master Hargis, his instructor, reminds him the value of believing in himself. The only thing standing in the way of victory is Nathan’s inability to unleash the warrior within him.

THE WARRIORS THREE, a 9,500-word middle grade boy adventure, is loosely based on real events and tells the tale of friendships, competitions, and the power of believing in yourself.

Chapter One: Krutch Park

Large oak leaves swirl down, showering the three boys with bursts of red, yellow,

and brown as they race each other to Krutch Park.  Reaching the monkey bars first, Billy

lets out a shout of victory before pushing his shaggy blond hair out of his eyes.  He

glances over his shoulder at the others as they run to catch up to him.

           

“I told you I would beat you guys!"

           

“Awww, you got a head start, otherwise I would have left you in the dust,”

replies Alex.  His hair matches the rust on the monkey bars.

           

“But, Alex, he always wins this race,” Nathan says as they scramble to the top.

The three boys started coming to Krutch Park on Saturdays ever since the

summer Billy convinced the others there was buried treasure at the bottom of the sandbox

dominating one corner of the park.