IWSG Review: Rattlesnake

 

February is here already. It is a month of love, presidents, human rights, groundhogs, and ice & snow. First Wednesday is kind of late this month, but it is here, and so is another Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) post. This month, I am going to forego the question and jump right into my post.

I had the pleasure of reading fellow ISWG member C. Lee McKenzie's latest young adult offering, Rattlesnake.

I always look forward to Lee's books because she can elevate a story by adding an out of the box twist. Rattlesnake is no exception. The story of Jonah, his sister Allie, and his aunt Margaret are pulling up stakes and moving from New Hampshire to his deceased uncle's silver claim in Rattlesnake, Nevada.

Needless to say, Jonah and Allie are none too pleased to uproot their old lives for the unknown. Their aunt is trying to treat it all like a grand adventure and hopes the experience will be beneficial for all (there is the promise of an inheritance that includes a silver mine). When Rattlesnake turns out to be an unfriendly, God forsaken, dust bowl and the inheritance fails to materialize, everything goes from bad to worse.

I enjoyed the whole premise. McKenzie elevates the entire story by weaving in the story of a girl from the 1800s named Catherine. You won't believe how her story impacts Jonah's and vice-versa. When those two plotlines unexpectedly intersect, the book goes to a whole new level.

I think teens will enjoy the mystery and suspense. I know I certainly got caught up in the two plots, which to me were perfectly paced. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes young adult, mystery, and historical fiction.

About the Book

The desert town of Rattlesnake isn’t a destination. It’s a last resort. Seventeen-year-old Jonah Guthrie’s aunt sold their home in New England and fled to this place to escape the humiliation of his dad’s indictment for embezzlement and subsequent disappearance.

While their late uncle left them a house and a silver mine, the house is a shambles and the mine is defunct. They’re almost out of money, so they have no choice but to stay in Rattlesnake. And then Jonah discovers they’ve inherited something else. Her name is Catherine, and she’s been dead for over a hundred year. Now, she needs his help.

About C. Lee McKenzie

I always have free gifts for visitors to my Blog, so stop by. Sign up and get your gift today, and you can see all of my work on Amazon. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram, too!

In my other life--the one before I began writing for teens and younger readers--I was a teacher and administrator at California State University, San Jose. My field of Linguistics and Inter-cultural Communication has carried me to a lot of places in the world to explore different cultures and languages. I can say, “Where’s the toilet?” and “I’m lost!” in at least five languages and two dialects. Go ahead. Pat me on the back.

My idea of a perfect day is one or all of the following: starting a new novel, finishing writing a blockbuster novel, hiking on a misty morning trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, saying Namaste after a great yoga practice, sipping a cappuccino topped at a bustling café, reading in front of a fire with snow outside, swimming in an ocean someplace.

Where to Get It

Amazon

Smashwords

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Inklings: Can't Live without My Journal

 Last month, I shared some methods I use to come up with story ideas. In that post, I mentioned that you should always carry a pen and a notebook with you. I really can't stress how important that is.

This week, I thought I should expand on that thought and talk to you a little bit about keeping a journal. Now, some of you out there might be groaning a bit, because you might have to keep a journal for school. Let's face it, it's not as much fun doing some things when it's "schoolwork".

In this case, though, you might be surprised. Keeping a journal can help you become a better writer. Here are a few ways it can do that:

• First, a journal is a great place for you to capture your observations of the world around you. Did you see a great sunrise? Did your friend tell you a killer joke? What was it like building tunnels in the snow after a blizzard? You can record all these moments and others during your day in your journal.
• Journals are also fantastic places to jot down ideas as you think of them. I use a journal for writing down story ideas, different information about the worlds I write about, and interesting people and situations that could be used as the basis of events and characters in future stories.
  
• The more you write, the easier it will get to write. Journals are great places to practice all sorts of writing tools--dialogue, description, storytelling to name just a few.

Last month, I shared some methods I use to come up with story ideas. In that post, I mentioned that you should always carry a pen and a notebook with you. I really can't stress how important that is.

This week, I thought I should expand on that thought and talk to you a little bit about keeping a journal. Now, some of you out there might be groaning a bit, because you might have to keep a journal for school. Let's face it, it's not as much fun doing some things when it's "schoolwork".

In this case, though, you might be surprised. Keeping a journal can help you become a better writer. Here are a few ways it can do that:

• First, a journal is a great place for you to capture your observations of the world around you. Did you see a great sunrise? Did your friend tell you a killer joke? What was it like building tunnels in the snow after a blizzard? You can record all these moments and others during your day in your journal.
• Journals are also fantastic places to jot down ideas as you think of them. I use a journal for writing down story ideas, different information about the worlds I write about, and interesting people and situations that could be used as the basis of events and characters in future stories.
• The more you write, the easier it will get to write. Journals are great places to practice all sorts of writing tools--dialogue, description, storytelling to name just a few.

My journal has become a place for me to work out parts of my stories when I get stuck. If I'm away from my computer, i use my journal to write a quick chapter. I draw little maps in my journal to give me an idea of the world the characters are exploring in my Deliverers series. 

The picture to the left shows a page of my journal. I apologize for its messiness. Sometimes my thoughts need some rearranging. This page shows the first map ever made of the Dragon Islands where the third book of the Deliverers, The Golden Dragon of Ang, takes place. This is the book I'm currently working on.

So, journals are excellent tools to capture all sorts of cool stuff that you can use to either practice different types of writing, or all the ideas that come to you any time of the day or night. If you're not keeping a journal, you might want to consider starting one. You never know where it might take you!

What kinds of things do you record in your journal? How has keeping a journal helped your writing? Let me know by leaving a message in the Comments section! My journal has become a place for me to work out parts of my stories when I get stuck. If I'm away from my computer, i use my journal to write a quick chapter. I draw little maps in my journal to give me an idea of the world the characters are exploring in my Deliverers series. 

The picture to the left shows a page of my journal. I apologize for its messiness. Sometimes my thoughts need some rearranging. This page shows the first map ever made of the Dragon Islands where the third book of the Deliverers, The Golden Dragon of Ang, takes place. This is the book I'm currently working on.

So, journals are excellent tools to capture all sorts of cool stuff that you can use to either practice different types of writing, or all the ideas that come to you any time of the day or night. If you're not keeping a journal, you might want to consider starting one. You never know where it might take you!

What kinds of things do you record in your journal? How has keeping a journal helped your writing? Let me know by leaving a message in the Comments section! 

Inklings: It Starts With an Idea

Editor's note:  This is the start of a series I ran long ago to guide young writers looking to write their first story. I thought it would be fun to republish them.

Every piece of writing--short story, news article, or novel--starts with an idea. But where do those ideas come from? To tell you the truth, an idea can come from anywhere. That sounds easy and hard at the same time.

Here are some things that I do when I'm looking for an idea to write about. You might want to try them, too:

Think about places I've been that would be good settings for a story. The village of Calendria in my book, The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel is based on Mystic Seaport in Connecticut and Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts.

Watch people and how they act. This might spark an idea for a character that will lead to a story idea.

Think of an outrageous situation. What would happen if martians beamed down into a zoo? How about if dolphins could talk, and they started talking to a fisherman?

Try word association. Write down the first noun you can think of. Then write down a verb, then another noun. Here's an example: monkey, steals, snow. Now, that might spark something. What kind of story could you write about a monkey that's stolen snow? If you don't like that one, try it again.

Finally, always carry a pen and a notebook with you. You never know when an idea will strike, so you need to be ready.

I hope this helps get you started. Next week, we'll talk a little about what to do once you have your idea.

How do you come up with story ideas? Let me know in the comments section!

A Writer's Week #127: Feeling Grateful

 Unbelievably it is Christmas Eve once again. It seems like just yesterday that it was Christmas 2022. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone this year! 

I am blown away by what I have been able to accomplish in 2023. I was able to find a fantastic illustrator in Emily Hurst Pritchett. She came up with new art and maps for the three books in the Deliverers Series. Then, I was able to arrange book signings and had great feedback on the books and the artwork. Finally, I was able to complete book 4 of the series and it will be published early in 2024. Completing the final book in the series means that Eric and company will finally have some closure.

It might never have happened if I had not had a talk with my dad on Christmas day. He wondered why I hadn't continued writing. I gave a couple lame excuses, but he would have none of it. I realized that I had been missing writing and feeling like I had some unfinished business.

My dad also suggested doing something that I had been struggling with. He said he thought I should get some new artwork to refresh the look. I had contemplated that several times over the past couple of years. After all, it had been 12 years since the first book had been released, and even Harry Potter had new art.

The next day, I began my search for a new artist. I also reread the manuscript for book 4. It was only 16,000 words at that point. The concept was good, but there were some plot issues. I did not know if I had a plot for one book or two. It took me several months to figure that out. In the meantime, Emily was working away on artwork for the first three books.

So, it's been a really great year on the writing front. Things have exceeded my expectations. Emily is currently working on the artwork for book 4. I've seen the sketches and I'm really excited by them. I'll share everything with you when they are complete.

Looking forward to 2024, I've got some new projects on the horizon. After the final book in the Deliverers Series is published, I am going to publish a collection of inspirational short stories. They are a little like fairy tales and should appeal to young and old alike.

After that, I am kicking around an idea for a book set in the Dragon Islands centuries before Eric and his friends visit. I'm starting to get excited about it. The Dragon Islands have a long history and several things were hinted at in The Golden Dragon of Ang that I am looking forward to exploring in more depth. 

I'm thinking of calling the series Tales of the Dragon Islands or maybe come up with a title and use the tagline A Dragon Islands Tale. Either way, I'm looking forward to exploring that world in more depth.

Stay tuned.

Cal Endria's Journal: Promised Land?

5th November, 4169

This morning we anchored in a secluded bay to take on water and forage for supplies. Every anchorage is a source of hope as our search continues for a plot of land on which to start our new settlement. I hope we find a place soon, for the Captain's behavior is becoming increasingly cruel and barbaric.

Just this morning Thompkinson was caught pouring an extra measure of rum. It was his bad fortune to be caught by Sharky. He doled out punishment immediately by stringing him up on a yardarm high above the deck.

It was not Thompkinson's day. The rope holding him up snapped in the gale and he was blown into the sea. Despite all my entreaties, Sharky refused to stop saying, "We're headin' inta that there harbor, he can catch up to us there."

Of course, he didn't catch up to us. So me and the lads are waiting until we find a likely spot to either jump ship or propose a deal to Sharky. I don't know how much longer we can wait. The way things are headed, it's only a matter of time until he does us all in.

Soon I must go ashore to gather water and supplies. It is my duty as first mate. I have to admit that it will be good to feel land underfoot once more. 

This bay has a pleasing look about it. The land starts out flat, then rises gradually. A large mountain range separates the bay from the rest of the mainland, and a waterfall cascades down into a river that flows into the bay.

Hold on, can it be? Why did I not see it until now? Of course, this is the very place we've been looking for! Oh merciful heavens, could our deliverance be close at hand? I must go and gather the lads. Not only will we go ashore to forage, but we will scout out the lay of the land to see if my hunch is correct! I will record our findings upon my return.