Tag Archives: tour

Writing Life

May accountability & the last contest clues!

Today I’m a featured author at the Barnes & Noble Nook Mystery forum! Come visit & comment!

After a huge month in April, May tried its darnedest to outdo its predecessor. Hard to beat having a baby (on my birthday!) in April, but May did see me presenting and having my first booksigning at the LDStorymakers Conference, prepping for my book’s launch and coordinating some coming events—and buying a new house for our growing family.

Have you ever seen those stress tests where they’re like “have you done any of the following big life events in the last year?”? Yeah, I’m pretty sure just about all those are high on the list. My heart’s probably at risk right now, LOL.

May accountability

So, last month I set goals to:

  • Practice for and give my LDStorymakers presentation. Check! Very happy with how it went.
  • GET. THOSE. WORDS. DONE. For real, finish this novel. Ugh. I did make progress, but launching this book and moving had to take precedence. 10,000 words to go.
  • Business: finish the last couple steps for the publication side of I, Spy. Check!
  • Plan & prep for launch party (more on this as it gets closer!) Check! It’s tomorrow at the Orem Public Library!
  • Finish edits on novella. Check!
  • Prep the first part of my novel for critique Check! Sending this to my critique group today, then I’m attacking that last little bit to finish this novel.
  • Read! There’s always something on the TBR! Check!

Wow. I thought it would be a lot more depressing than that with everything that’s going on. I also added another specific goal:

  • Contact 100 book bloggers about I, Spy. Check!

It’s funny—if I don’t get my words, I feel like I’ve failed, no matter what other stuff I’ve done. (Like, I don’t know, move my entire life into another city last weekend?)

June goals

All right—I’m publicly setting some goals for June and I’ll report back on the first Friday in July. Thanks for being my accountability!

  • Launch party tomorrow!
  • FINISH THIS BOOK. I wanted to finish it in March, folks. I’ve written books in the time that’s passed since my deadline. I’ve written three books in that amount of time!
  • Edit two more sections for critique
  • Read.
  • Plan and prepare for upcoming events (don’t worry—I’ll keep you posted!)
  • Unpack, eh?

Wait, did I just put a manageable and realistic writing-related to-do list up there? Whaaaat?

And of course . . .

Today’s clues

We have the final stops on our launch tour today—and the final clues in our inspiration song contest!

Emily Gray Clawson – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: figuring out whodunnit)

Lindzee Armstrong – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills while in labor!)

Andrea Pearson – Mr. Nice Spy

Christy Dorrity – I, Spy

What are your goals for June?? Have you come to say hey at the Nook forums yet?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests

Word for writers

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Last year, I blogged about Scrivener vs. Word. The number one complaint about Word in the comments was problems with Word’s Styles.

Today I’m honored to be guest posting at Jami Gold’s fantastic blog about making Word more friendly for writers!

And of course, we have more stops on our launch tour!

Today’s clues

Today, you’ll collect your clues for the inspiration song contest from:

Me, at Jami Gold’s blog – I, Spy

Tressa’s Wishful Endings – I, Spy (Also: a giveaway!)

Lisa Swinton – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: spy skills to escape from . . . a cat?)

Chris Jones – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: the spy skills of a dad!)

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Reading, News & Contests

TBR Tuesday: A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver

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This Saturday, I’m throwing a launch party along with fellow debut author Donna K. Weaver at the Orem (Utah) Public Library. Come join us! We’ll have reading, signing, books, freebies & prizes—and a self-defense demo with Sensei Kim and Sensei Kristi! (And don’t forget: today’s song clues are at the end of the post!)

a-change-of-plansBut today, I’m part of the blog tour for Donna’s book, A Change of Plans! (Remember the cover reveal?)

When twenty-five-year-old Lyn sets off on her cruise vacation, all she wants is to forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a diversion uncomplicated by romance. What she gets is Braedon, an intriguing young surgeon. He’s everything her fiancé wasn’t, and against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world, her emotions come alive.

Unaware of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship-on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget. Lyn’s painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.

But it’s hard to get away from someone when you’re stuck on the same ship. Things are bad enough when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise’s snorkeling excursions. Then paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped, and Lyn’s fear of a fairy tale turns grim.

I received an ARC of A Change of Plans, and I got to read it last week. As I read the first part of the book, following Braedon and Lyn on the cruise, I enjoyed the romance so much that I really wanted to write a romance (which is funny, because I don’t particularly like writing the warm fuzzy stuff, and that’s exactly what I wanted to write). Donna reminded me of how much fun the first phases of a romance can be.

And then, just when you think the story’s over, you find one twist after another. She definitely kept me guessing!

The publisher provided me with a free copy of A Change of Plans in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There’s also a giveaway as part of the blog tour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Rhemalda Store

Today’s clues!

You’ll find today’s blog tour stops—and clues for the inspiration song contest!—with:

Donna K. Weaver—I know, right?! – I, Spy (Also: using spy skills on a desert island!)

Bonnie Harris – I, Spy (Also: an I, Spy extra inspired by Bonnie!)

Jinky is Reading – I, Spy (Also: a giveaway!)

Carolyn Frank – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: using spy skills with time travel!)

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News & Contests

The I, Spy inspiration song contest!

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Friday, I shared the story of how a song inspired my novel I, Spy (out this week in case you missed it! 😉 ). This week, as part of the blog launch tour for I, Spy and Mr. Nice Spy, I’m holding a contest to guess the song behind the novel (and novella)!

How to enter

At each stop on the blog tour, I’ll share one clue about the novel or novella’s inspiration song. You will most likely need more than one clue to figure out the answer.

Use your spy skills to piece together the clues to figure out the song and artist, then email me at contest (at) jordanmccollum.com with your answer! Entries must be received by 11:59 PM MDT 13 June 2013.

Every correct entry will be entered in a random drawing—one each for the novel and novella—to be announced on my blog June 14.

The Prizes!

The winner of each drawing (one for the novel and one for the novella) will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Rules, etc.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN GIVEAWAYS. A PURCHASE WON’T IMPROVE AN INDIVIDUAL’S CHANCE OF WINNING.

1. You can’t win both prizes. Sorry.

2. Open internationally—if you can get on Amazon, you can use the prize, so you can win the prize. (Gift card amount is in US dollars.)

3. A limit of one entry is allowed per e-mail address, per contest. You may not enter each contest more than once, whether or not you use a different e-mail address. Subsequent entries determined to be submitted with the same email address or from the same individual using multiple email addresses may be declared ineligible. (So you can enter both contests one time each, but not more than one entry in each contest.)

4. A prize number will be assigned to your entry upon receipt of your entry. A winning number will be generated using Random.org on or shortly after the Entry Deadline Date. If your Prize Number matches the Winning Number, and you meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise comply with these Official Giveaway Rules, you win the prize.

5. I will send the Amazon Gift Card to the address used on your entry within three (3) days after the Entry Deadline Date if you win the prize. (An Amazon Gift Card can be applied to any account, so the email doesn’t have to match the address you use at Amazon.)

6. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

7. Winner may not substitute the prize for any other prize or for cash.

8. Entry in the contest constitutes permission to use winner’s name and prize information for promotional purposes in any medium, except where prohibited by law, without further payment or other consideration. (I’m gonna announce your name on this blog.)

9. The giveaway may be canceled, suspended and/or modified, in whole or in part, if in my opinion any fraud, technical failure or other factor beyond its control impairs the integrity of the giveaway.

10. By entering the giveaway through this website, you release Jordan McCollum from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

Today’s clues!

You can find today’s clues at our blog tour stops! Today’s stops also feature quick, fun vlogs about putting your spy skills to the ultimate test: real life.

Julie Coulter Bellon – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: using your spy skills to enjoy sweets without having to share with your kids!)

Renae Mackley – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills to convince someone the car you’re driving isn’t stolen!)

M. R. Buttars – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills to escape annoying relatives!)

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Works, News & Contests

The inspiration behind I, Spy—Contest!

This is the second most unusual story inspiration source I’ve ever had. (The first was a commercial for a TV show.)

It was the day before Valentine’s Day. I remember this very well because it’s Peter Tork’s birthday I was shopping for valentines when it hit me. Yep, right there in the middle of the Dollar Tree, inspiration struck. (What? Where do you buy your last-minute 50¢ Valentines?)

Dollar Tree

The piped music in the store turned to an old favorite of mine. As I browsed the valentines bopping along, I started thinking more deeply about the lyrics. The story behind the song is about a guy who wanted more of a relationship with this girl, but totally got “friend zoned.”

I imagined a guy sitting in a restaurant, checking his watch, waiting and wondering. Since it was Valentine season, I thought, What if the girl actually did like him? Wouldn’t that be tragic? What would keep this friend-girl from being there like a girlfriend?

And then my favorite what-if question popped up: what if she were a spy?

Bam. A whole scenario popped into my head (that now makes up almost a quarter of the book). I pulled out my brand new smartphone to make a note—and saw the reminder that my son was getting out of kindergarten early that day. As in right then.

With long lines at all the check stands, my only choice was to ditch the valentines and drag my daughters to the car to pick up my son. Fortunately, the Dollar Tree wasn’t far from his school, and I got there a little early. With those spare minutes, I pulled out my phone again and jotted down a note in my Evernote app so I’d have it when I got on my computer (as if I’d forget):

first note

Notice the black bars? The original title of the project came from the name of the inspiration song, and the Evernote folder and the folder on my computer were the initials from that title. (Still are, in fact, though by the time I started writing I, Spy just shy of four weeks later, I’d changed to that title.)

I have never revealed the name of that song to anyone outside my family and critique group. And honestly, most of them don’t know it, either.

CONTEST CLOSED (but you can find the clues if you’re in my readers group!)
So here’s the contest! As part of my launch blog tour, each I, Spy stop will have a clue about the song that inspired the book! Mr. Nice Spy stops, not to be left out, have clues to another song, which I first heard immediately after finishing the first draft, and immediately claimed as the theme song for the novella.Look for the prizes, full rules, and first clues on Monday!

Oh, and since I know you’re wondering, we went back to the Dollar Tree and found my stack of chosen valentines.

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!