Two Easy Chicks

I have a special guest here today.  If you have never met Carol Kilgore, from Under The Tiki Hut, you are in for a treat. If you have met, you're still in for a treat. Carol graciously agreed to pen something for my All Things Writing feature. Carol is a wonderful writer and all-around fantastic human being. I hope that you enjoy this as much I did. And here she is...

When Robin asked if I’d like to guest on her All Things Writing feature, I jumped at the chance. I asked if she wanted me to write about anything in particular or if there was anything she wanted me to stay away from. I told her I was easy.

She responded that I had a free hand to write what I wished. And that she was easy, too.

So here we are--two easy chicks, who also happen to be writers, having a good time. You were thinking what? Stop that!

Moving along . . . this is All Things Writing.

I don’t usually talk about writing because each of us is unique. I’m a little weird. Things that work for me probably won’t work for you. And vice versa. Basically, if you know the story you want to tell and write it to the best of your ability, you’re off to the best possible start. Then edit, edit, edit so that readers can experience your vision, too.

Doesn’t that sound easy?

So instead of writing about writing, I decided to talk about another part of the writing process--one you’ll deal with at some point unless you’re a selfish, crotchety old troll. But I think Robin’s bouncers toss all of those back under their bridges. The part of the process I’m talking about is giving back to the writing community by paying it forward.

I’m overflowing with gratitude for all the writers who’ve helped me along the way and those who are still helping me. Some held my hand while I cried. Others showed me how not to tell. Some sat by me at the bar while we moaned together about how unfair the publishing industry was (true or not). I’ve also been blessed with a couple of fantastic editors, lots of critique partners, and many blogging friends.  Like Robin.

I love visiting here, and I especially love Here’s to You Thursdays. I may be a die-hard Joan of Arcadia fan. Ahem J

I’m also easily distracted. Can you tell? So . . . getting back on track with paying it forward, now it’s time for me to return the favor.

Writers do this in all kinds of ways. The way I’ve chosen is to provide other up and coming writers, like myself, a new outlet for readers to discover their work by running a monthly contest on my website at http://www.carolkilgore.net and all of you are invited to enter.

Each month, an author will give away a book, an ebook, a gift card, swag—whatever she chooses. To enter, all you need to do is answer a question about a photo prompt. There are no wrong answers. The winner will be chosen at random on the last day of the month.

I’m starting small by giving away the first prize this month—a Kindle copy of my debut novel, In Name Only.

In the meantime, feel free to pass the word about the monthly contest to all your reading friends. If you’re an author and would like to try my contest for spreading the word about your work, please email me at tikihuttime AT gmail DOT com. I’d love to hear from you!

To return to one other thing about writing, there’s this: The more books you publish, the more non-writing work there is to do. Scheduling and time management become top priorities. My advice is to master these skills early on--preferably before you publish. You’ll be glad you did. I wish someone had told me that.

It’s hard work for an easy chick.

Carol, thank you so much for guest posting here and sharing a bit of what you've learned on this writing journey. 

Note to self: schedule your time better now. Your future self will thank you later.

I hope that you will visit Carol's blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon site, or Goodreads site (all listed below). She is EVERYWHERE. And enter that monthly contest!

This is her newest book. ::thunderous applause::

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.

As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.

Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.

The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.

BIO

Carol writes grocery lists, texts to her family, new lyrics to old songs for her dogs, love notes to her husband, and novels for herself. And for you. In between, she blogs weekly at Under the Tiki Hut and is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.

LINKS

Either/or, please. There are preformatted clickable links or individual links with the full URL included. Your choice – use whichever works for you.

You can connect with Carol and her books here:

blog . website . facebook . twitter . goodreads . amazon

OR

You can connect with Carol and her books here:

Under the Tiki Hut blog:  http://www.underthetikihut.blogspot.com

Website with Monthly Contest: http://www.carolkilgore.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carol.kilgore1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/carol_kilgore

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094110.Carol_Kilgore

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carol-Kilgore/e/B008FRCXQY