Kate Warren

fiction with humor and heart

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Excerpt

The second day.

11/2/2013

2 Comments

 
I've begun this year's NaNo and already done something I haven't done in previous years.  I started over.  Granted it's only the second day, and I'm keeping what I wrote before, but this is new for me.  I had a terrible time trying to write yesterday.  I just wasn't feeling it and this morning I figured out why: I started too early.  Not early for the event, but early for the story.  The title is North Pole: Confidential, but did I start in the North Pole? No.  I started with one character on a train.  Boring!  And if I'm boring myself how are the readers going to feel?

So I started over, after my character arrives at the pole.  And it's going much better.  The words are flowing, and I'm casting characters in my head.  The first beginning will be reworked and included later in the novel so that wasn't time lost either.

Now, a bit about the story for you:  Undercover detective Jackson Frost is posing as a writer planning a piece on the North Pole, but he's really there to investigate a disappearance.  Santa's right hand elf has gone missing just as they're gearing up for their busiest time of year.  Jackson will uncover secrets he never would have guessed about what really goes on at the North Pole: the Claus' troubled marriage, blackmail, union issues, financial problems, a cookie smuggling ring, and possibly even murder!

Just so you know this is a humor novel.  I've created an inspiration board on Pinterest (joined specifically for that purpose) and a playlist of YouTube videos to keep me in the holiday spirit.  I'll post links to these if anyone is interested, and I'll try to keep everyone updated on my progress.

Happy writing, and for those not writing, happy reading!

Kate
2 Comments

The Booker Award

8/28/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
The lovely, talented, and brilliantly fun Angela Quarles has nominated me for the Booker Award.   This award targets literary and book-centered blogs.  The rules are simple: I post my top five books of all time; post the Booker Award icon; and nominate other bloggers to do the same. 

Sounds easy, right?   Well you try narrowing down decades of reading into just five books that have had the biggest impact or your life.  Or just five favorites.  Or just the first five that come to mind.  Well, maybe that last approach wouldn't take me very long.  Anyway, I suppose I'll end out with a combination of those three categories.  Here goes...

1. The Holy Bible.  This book has to be number one because it's been part of my life since before I could read.  No it doesn't have cute illustrations like my favorite children's books.  It's not what you'd call light reading.  And I'm not likely to pick it up for entertainment or a laugh, but it has undoubtedly had the biggest impact of any book on my life.  A large part of who I am is due to the influence of the Bible.  

2. The Complete Novels of Jane Austen.  Is that cheating, do you think?  It's one book but it's six novels plus Lady Susan.  Best combination of human nature observation, wit, and all around brilliance you could find.  My favorites are Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey.  I've always been a fan of stories set in times past, so Jane Austen was a natural choice for my favorite author.  Oh, and I volunteer to verbally skewer anyone who calls Jane Austen the mother or Chick Lit.  Her novels were labors of love and brilliant contributions to literature, not forgettable stories about urban 20-somethings obsessed with sex and shoes--though now that I think of it, Mary Crawford would fit nicely into a Chick Lit novel.

3.  Gone With The Wind.  Yes, I've read all 1,024 pages of this American masterpiece.  A snapshot of a rotten time in the history of our nation that shows myriad things that got left out of the history books.  Margaret Mitchell's talent gave us the most complex and misunderstood main character of all time.  The tendency is to dismiss Scarlett O'Hara as simply a spoiled southern belle, when in fact she is far more layered and fascinating.  Here is a woman who is strong and intelligent in a time when those exactly qualities are frowned upon by the society in which she lives.  She takes on responsibilities that would daunt more experienced individuals, spends so much time in the moment and so little on introspection that by the time she figures out who she is and what she wants, it's too late.  Tragic and all too real.  Of course there's a plethora of other characters as well.  The novel isn't just about Scarlett.  If you haven't read it before, you might want to give it a shot.

4.  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  Douglas Adams is hilarious.  And brilliant.  There's really not much else to say.  Fantastically entertaining book.

5.  The Little House Books.  Ok, if the Jane Austen one wasn't cheating, this probably is because it's not even a compliation.  I loved these books as a child and I still love them now as I read them to my own children.  The stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder's life in pioneer-era America will never go out of style because they are real and highlight the spirit that enabled people to go into the wilderness and carve out an existence when the odds were against them, and they could have been much more comfortable back east.  We struggle against different challenges now, but we still struggle; and those of us who are lucky have our faith and the love of family to see us through, just as Laura did.


Now for the fun part.  I hereby nominate the following bloggers:

Jes Langan 
Donna Cummings
J.M. Blackman
Teresa Cypher
Kate Meader

2 Comments

News in social media.

3/7/2012

2 Comments

 
Not really news per se but, I am now on Facebook.  Visit my page and Like me, if you wish.  Kate on Facebook  Can Twitter be far behind?  

Actually, yes it can.  I have no clue what I would do on Twitter or why anyone would want to follow my tweets.  Facebook, the blog, the website, and my writing I can understand.  But what could I have to say in 140 characters or fewer that would be worth reading? 

Speaking of reading, I've been working my way through a collection of Douglas Adams' major works, and having a blast doing so.  I love his writing, and really, who in the 'verse wouldn't?  Adams was a brilliant pioneer in the genres of Science Fiction, Humor, and Humorous Science Fiction.  He's also inspirational in a way.  

I'd like to share with you what I've learned from reading his works: dare to be ridiculous!  This doesn't mean ignoring all the rules of writing but don't be afraid to go out on a limb and just be downright silly, but most of all creative.  The whimsical ramblings of the creative mind can be brilliant.  Without Douglas Adams and others like him, could there ever have been a Firefly?  And where would we geeks be without Firefly?  That's right, we'd be Firefly-less.  And that would just be so sad.

Kate

Note: if you haven't seen Firefly, get thee to a website or rental site that carries it and be thou entertained.  No thanks necessary.  May the Browncoats be with you.


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What is it about spring?

2/22/2012

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The sun is shining, there's a small yellow crocus blooming on the south side of my house, and it's almost warm today.  Of course there's a snowstorm coming in tomorrow, but the accumulation thereof will probably melt within a week.  The birds are slowly returning from their vacations.  The trees and lilacs are budding.  Soon the world will take on that unique sent of earth ready for growing.  In a few weeks that local farmer will get his tractor stuck in the mud in his field by the highway.  Ah, spring!

This time of year has an enlivening effect on me.  I don't know why.  I'm still sleep-deprived, but now I'm feeling optimistic.  I actually managed to do some writing yesterday, which felt great.  I never realize just how much I've missed it until I start again.

I vow here and now to make the most of the time left between now and the last day of school.  I will attempt to write every day.  I will continue to blog every week, sometimes maybe even twice a week.  I will start playing the guitar again.  I'd say I'm going to learn piano, but I don't want to push it.  I WILL finish The DeFord Chronicles, Part II and get Bridging The Gaps out for mass consumption before the year is out.  I am strong.  I am invincible.  I am caffeinated.  (you thought I was going to say "I am woman" didn't you?)

I call on all of my readers to encourage me, hold me accountable, nag me if necessary to keep me writing.  The support of my fans is the greatest motivator there is.  I don't write for fame.  I don't write for fortune.  I write for you. 

Kate
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National Novel Writing Month

10/18/2011

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Many of you already know what this week's topic is all about.  For those who are new to the idea, I shall explain.

Every November is dedicated as National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo.  During this event hundreds of thousands of people all over the world challenge themselves to write 50,000 words in just 30 days.  Why 50,000 words?  Because that is the minimum wordcount required for a work of fiction to be considered a novel.  Why 30 days?  Because you have to have some kind of deadline and there are 30 days in November, which leads us to...  Why November?  

The first ever NaNoWriMo event was actually held in July.  The participants found that July is a difficult month in which to lock yourself to your computer because summer weather frequently uses its siren song to distract you from your novel writing goal.  The weather isn't nearly as enjoyable in November.  Depending on where you live it could be cold, snowing, rainy, certainly cloudy.  Good month to stay indoors and write, right?

Now, you may be asking, "what does this have to do with me?"  If you have always wanted to write, the answer to that question is: everything.  Have you been waiting for the right time to start your writing?   Why put it off any longer?  In just one month you can write your very own novel.  Don't write fiction?  No problem.  NaNo Rebels are writing non-fiction, memoirs, collections of poetry or short stories, cookbooks, graphic novels, and everything you can think of.

In anticipation of your next question I shall tell you why I'm recommending NaNoWriMo.  Two years ago I was in a writing funk.  I hadn't written anything in months.  I'd sit down and stare at the screen and the words just would not come to me.  After months of this some friends (who are also writers) suggested that I give NaNo a shot.  I'd looked at it in the past and thought "there's no way I can write that much in a month" but I was getting desperate.  Story upon story piled on my hard drive with no middles, let alone endings.  So that year I decided to try.  What could it hurt? 

Now, having all those stories I'd started I was having a lot of trouble deciding what to write.  Should I pick one of my starters and work to finish it, or try something new?  I went back and forth until it was finally November 1st.  The first day of NaNo.  I sat down at the computer ready to start typing and just go with whatever came out.  I started a new story that day.   Twenty nine days later I had slightly more than 50,000 words, and a book that was only half done.

Fast forward 11 months.  I've written about two paragraphs to continue my 2009 NaNo.  It's getting close to November.  It worked last time so I thought "why not?"  I wasn't trying to win so much as trying to finish the novel.  I ended up doing both.  The result will be available for purchase next year.  Bridging The Gaps is a NaNoWriMo novel.

If NaNo could help me with my crazy, complicated, chaotic life to get my writing done, what could it do for you?  1,667 words each day.  Think it over. 

National Novel Writing Month

Kate
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On the subject of inspiration.

10/11/2011

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Greetings fellow readers.  I am posting from my new writing desk.  So far so good.

My fourth grade son has an interesting writing assignment this week that requires imagination.  The prompt is that there is a secret door in the bathroom (Lost in Austen, anyone?) and the students are supposed to write about where it leads. 

This got me thinking about where I'd like a secret door to take me. 

Personally there are places I'd like to visit: Ireland; Hawaii; Williamsburg, VA.  Professionally, a secret door would be a huge research bonus.  Would I want my door to take me back in time to the middle ages?  Perhaps to Regency England?  Or the old American west?  Maybe I'd have it lead to a huge library, which would be awesome not only as a writer but also as a reader.  Also as a reader, the possibility of going into a book would be hard to resist. 

Back to the point...which is that inspiration can really come from anywhere.  A news story.  A history book.  A fourth grade writing assignment.  Pay attention to the little things that resonate with you.  You made find a story there.

A question for my readers:  where would your secret door lead?

   Kate
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Nasty Writer Tricks

5/27/2011

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Actually, probably not that nasty.  Tonight I'm going to attend a family get-together the likes of which only happen once a year.  In addition to the colorful adults in the family there will be more than half a dozen kids running around.  I've noted before that children are wonderful for writing.   This could be fertile ground for the creative mind to harvest ideas. 

My biggest problem will be remembering any of the stuff that happens, because I won't be able to take notes.  That would be way too obvious, and I don't need to alert my siblings that there's a slight chance their actions will turn into fodder for my career.  Did I mention I have a devious streak?

But really, every writer needs to be an observer of human nature and interaction.  That's how we get three-dimensional characters and realistic dialogue.  I'm not advising copying from life verbatim, but anything can inspire you to create similar situations in your work. 

This happens to be Memorial Day weekend and a lot of people will be gathering with friends and family.  Keep any high (or low) points in mind next time you sit down to write.  Also, for any of my readers who are travelling, I wish you a safe and uneventful commute to your destinations and home again.

Kate
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The Royal Wedding

4/29/2011

1 Comment

 
I am one of the few people I know who got up at 4 AM this morning to watch Prince William marry Catherine Middleton.  I know the film will be replayed and pictures will be everywhere for weeks to come, but there is something special about the idea of watching the wedding as it happened that I couldn't resist. 

The bride was stunningly lovely, the groom looked dashing in his Irish Guards uniform, and everyone looked happy.  The music for the ceremony was also very nice.   Being musically inclined, I always notice things like that.  The readings and prayers were moving.  Classy and elegant all the way--a royal wedding at it's best.  William and Kate have shown the world how it's done.

Like many I've watched the courtship play out over the last years and looked forward to this day for quite a while.  It's my personal opinion that the groom couldn't have chosen better.  He and his wife (now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) are well-suited to one another and could not be accused of rushing into marriage.  They took time to get to know one another, and the bride has had the opportunity to learn about the kind of life she will lead as a member of the royal family before committing to such a daunting venture.  They married with their eyes opened, and they married for love.  This is how a royal marriage should be. 

I hope all of my readers will join me in wishing this lovely couple a long and joyous union.

Kate
1 Comment

International Women's Day

3/8/2011

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Are you a woman?  Do you know a woman?  Are you perhaps related to a woman?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you may now join in celebrating International Women's Day.  Now I hadn't really heard of this before last week, but I'm willing to bake something delicious anyway and raise a cupcake (or perhaps a cookie) to my fellow women.

Women face unique challenges.  We harbor new life, we give birth to said new life, we often raise the new life (a frequently thankless task),  all while maintaining our homes and selves.  Some of us work outside the home.  All of us work inside the home.

Take a look at the women around you.  What do you see?  Friends, family, a few rivals?  Misunderstandings and sometimes perfect understanding can get in the way of sisterhood.  This is a day to let go of any grudges and respect the challenges we all face everyday, a day to support each other and lift each other up.  Celebrate International Women's Day.    If nothing else, be glad you're not a man.

Kate
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