Writers are Worry-Warts

Or maybe it's just me because my mom used to call me a worry-wart. I have two books out on submission. One for five months. I would consider it a rejection but others have already received email rejections so I worry and wonder. Even though others are going through the exact same thing with the same publisher. I can't help wondering if mine is actually being held for consideration or did they trash it and fail to email me? Do I write for status and risk making an unwelcome prod or wait, wait, wait?
The other one went out this morning. First worry? Did they even receive it? Did I include what they needed? Did they like it? How long before I know? It hasn't even been three hours.
If that's not enough I find myself having to invent things to worry about. While I wait for the next phase of an accepted novel, I know that the revisions are finished and the editor is pleased, but I can't help worrying whether something will throw a wrench in the works and prevent publication.
Luckily I'm working on a new novel and life in general takes my mind off of these worries, but then there are those days when the Inbox remains empty and off I go.

Are you a writer who's a worry-wart?

 

Congratulations to Ingrid for winning a copy of Gilda Herrera's novel: 'Dinary Thumb and the Purple Danger!

You are going to love it!

'DINARY THUMB and the PURPLE DANGER by Gilda A. Herrera

 

'DINARY THUMB and the PURPLE DANGER is a new, middle grade, science fiction novel by Gilda A. Herrera. I was so excited about this novel coming out that I asked her if I could interview her and she graciously agreed.

 

Full of excitement, adventure, and an unusual mystery that kept me guessing and looking for clues, I fully enjoyed this novel.

 

The e-Book is available now at Smashwords here. And the paperback is available here. The e-Book will soon be available on Amazon.

 

CONTEST:  All those who comment will have their name put in a bowl for a random drawing to win a print copy of 'Dinary Thumb and the Purple Danger.

 

Gilda A. Herrera, is a fiction writer based in Texas. Her background is in non-fiction having been a newspaper print writer in her hometown and in Washington, D.C. She graduated from the School of Communications (Journalism) at the University of Texas (Austin). She writes science fiction, fantasy, mystery, paranormal and general fiction, in short fiction and novel-length for both youngsters and adults

 

Q: Is ’DINARY THUMB AND THE PURPLE DANGER (Alban Lake Publishing) your first published middle-grade, science-fiction novel?

 Yes. The main characters, Darby Dawson, and Bernie Flores are eleven and in the fifth grade.   

Q: So, who is ’Dinary Thumb?

 ’Dinary Thumb is a great uncle of Darby’s who the young boy becomes aware of when he turns eleven. In the course of the story Darby learns that ’Dinary was an exceptional inventor, and had disappeared years ago.  ’Dinary has some unusual talents. 

Q: What talents?

 Super powers. ‘Dinary Thumb is the world’s noblest super hero, who travels the universe helping others. After reading one of ‘Dinary Thumb’s journals, Darby learns ’Dinary is supposed to be able to turn invisible, heal others, and invented gadgets that allow for super hearing, seeing through solid objects. ’Dinary also invented a early form of the Internet, years before the Internet of today.   

Q: Does Darby believe the journal entries? Especially, although they communicate with each other, Darby never actually meets ’Dinary Thumb in this novel.

 Darby loves reading about ‘Dinary’s adventures but true belief comes when he begins having similar talents. His throbbing right thumb allows Darby to heal a sick boy, and get out of some dangerous scrapes when his thumbnails fall off and grow to form a knife, and a small tub-sized boat.

Q: What is the purple danger?

 The color purple is the color and omen of evil in this novel. Eerie purple mists, a ghostly dog with a purple head, purple insects running amok reflect evildoers.

Q: A lot of modern-day science fiction is set in other worlds. But this novel is set in a fictional, small town in central Texas. Why?

  I like writing about characters who are living ordinary lives where exceptional events occur. Harlan, Texas is called “the weirdest town” in Texas. Mostly, because of all the unusual, often paranormal, events which happen there. Also, by using this setting my characters are more rounded out. They contend with normal, everyday problems such as class work, difficult classmates, as well as, the extraordinary problems. 

Q: Darby and his best friend Bernie help a kidnapped boy who also has an unusual talent. Tell us about Adolfo and the insects.

 Adolfo is writing a graphic novel about a super hero named Olfo. Olfo communicates with insects. Soon it is apparent Adolfo, himself, can communicate with insects in real life. 

Q: Insects scenes have them doing all kinds of eerie things. Comments on this?

 Ants form giant, scary anthills, but also lead Darby and Bernie in the right direction to save Adolfo, Cockroaches infest Harlan Elementary, and other Harlan places; bees attack pupils making them ill, spider-web threads demolish a school shed and attempt to squeeze a boy. Other insects eat words off written material.

Q: So some insects are helpful while others run amok?

 Right. Insects have been experimented on by evildoers who have turned the insects purple.

Q: Who are the evildoers the boys contend with?

 An evil substitute teacher and her husband travel to Harlan through portals from another dimension. They intend to exploit and control insects using Adolfo. Their ultimate goal is to find a Diamond Star which has powers they need to take over their own world..  

Q: This comes across as a boys’ book. Did you aim for that audience?

 I think both boys and girls will enjoy this adventure. There are girl characters in this story. But yes, I chose to include lots of action, the opportunity for young boys to face challenges, help others and work together to save their school.

Q: Why did you choose to use cliffhanger endings for chapters?

 The usual response to this question is to keep the reader turning pages and continue reading -- the goal of writers. I love reading cliffhanger endings. And I didn’t keep readers in long suspense as to the solution of the cliffhanger. The answers are immediately addressed in the following chapter.

Q: Give us some other science-fiction plots you’ve used in other written efforts.

 I wrote a short story (The Man In The Top Hat) where a man wearing a top hat leads three college students to discover tunnels where supersonic underground travel is available but only for the elite. Another short story (No One Will Believe You) has a college co-ed witness a microbiologist scientist whisked away on a beam of light and into a spaceship. Another short story (Earning An Encounter) has three space alien boys test three earth boys with a secret inside some small meteor rocks. All of these have been published.    

Q: Any other science-fiction novels in the works?

 Yes. I am working on the second ’Dinary Thumb adventure with Darby and Bernie. And I have recently finished another young-adult novel, also set in Harlan, Texas, about a schoolboy who not only keeps getting challenged by ghost after ghost, but does some time traveling as well.

Thank you, Gilda, for a great interview!

Please comment for your chance to win a print copy of DINARY THUMB and the PURPLE DANGER! 

Seriously? 97 degrees?

The unusual cool days and a few good rains ended yesterday when it hit the 90's. Even though we all knew it would happen it was not supposed to happen this early. Normal temps for May are supposed to be in the 80's. Lower is okay, higher is yucky.

Today started in the 70's with high clouds that will burn off. I decided the smart thing to do was to get all my much-neglected-because-I've-been-writing housework done early so I could laze around with iced tea and a good novel.

Just as I put away all my cleaning supplies, the sun came out. I showered and dressed in shorts and matching tee. And then my AC, which is set on 80,  kicked on and it wasn't even ten o'clock. Not a good sign. I checked the weather and the prediction is that it will hit 97.

Iced tea brewing? Yes
Plenty of ice cubes in the tray? Yes
Kindle charged? Oops.

Okay, after writing this, I'll watch a soap while eating a light lunch and then I'll take a long nap. Later on this afternoon I'll get to that book.

What is your weather doing this spring?

My Kind of Chili

A cold front came through last night, it may bring more rain. Just yesterday I had the AC on and today I had to switch to heat. Love this Texas weather!

Because it's chilly, I decided to put on a pot of homemade chili to simmer while I revised some chapters of a rough draft.

In Texas, so I've been told, chili is not supposed to have beans and must be fiery HOT. My chili doesn't even come close to Texas tradition. Along with a mild seasoning mix and ground beef, I add two cans of diced tomatoes and one can of pinto beans. When served, I top it off with mild shredded cheddar.

That's my kind of chili. So, I've been wondering, how do you like your chili?