Karin Shah's Blog - Posts Tagged "ya"

Find out what probing questions I was asked by Bookswagger at http://bookswagger.com/2013/02/27/in-...

Looking for a YA Editor to be a final judge for my RWA Chapters contest. I keep calling, but I've only left two messages. I'm hoping my persistence is impressive not annoying.

And in Chimera 2 (still thinking of titles-- suggestions to do with ghosts most welcome) lions frolic in New York City's Central Park.

Also, my cover is in the finals at http://www.indtale.com/cover-contest please stop by and vote! You have to subscribe, but it's free and it's a great site!

My friends, there comes a time when you must give back to your RWA chapter. To that end, i am running our contest this year. Please forward, tweet, RT and x-post 
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Central Ohio Fiction Writers announces the 2013 Ignite the Flame Contest
Let us feel the heat of your first meet! (or just the spark:-) )
Who can enter? Anyone with an un-contracted Romance manuscript interested in getting great feedback and possibly on the desk of these fabulous final reader/judges:

*Romantic Suspense — Rebecca Strauss literary agent Mckintosh and Otis Inc
*Historical — Julie Mianecki Junior editor Berkley
*Single-title Kate Dresser editor HQN 
*Paranormal Alicia Condon editor Kensington 
*Young Adult Annie Stone associate editor Harlequin TEEN 
*Erotic Romance Nicole Fischer Editorial Assistant Avon 
*Category-length contemporary Allison Carroll editorial assistant Harlequin Desire 

First round judges RWA PRO or Published

Contest Deadline: May 11, 2013
More details http://www.COFW.ORG
Questions Karin@shahs.com

Shiny Things January 7, 2015

Things that are distracting me this week...

Galavant on ABC. With music by Alan Menken, a pretty cast, and hilarious lyrics and one-liners, this irreverent cross between Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Once Upon a Time is not to be missed by musical fans! And we Psych and Supernatural fans get the bonus of Timothy Ormundson as the bad King Richard. He sings, he dances, he hugs. 'Nuff said!
More TV. Josh Gates from Destination Truth returns in a new Travel Channel show called Expedition Unknown! If you don't know him, you should. I love his tongue in cheek sense of humor. I wrote a ode to his old show Destination Truth (too ten reasons you should watch Destination Truth) and I listed him twice.
Still more TV. (I think we know what my Kryptonite is) American Haunting on Amazon Prime. This, new to me, ghost show fits the low bar I've set. It's about ghosts, but the first episode was very satisfying, as instead of just investigating and leaving the family to their haunted life, they end up ghost free.
Edits for my new YA Fantasy Romance HALFLING. Technically, since this is my actual work, it's not a distraction, but it's certainly concerning me. I actually love this part. Unfortunately, I love it a little too much and spend waaay too long thinking of the perfect word, simile, or metaphor! :-)

What's distracting you this week?

Shiny Things 1/13/2015

Things distracting me this week–

Congratulations, Ohio State Buckeyes on winning a true National Championship!

I’m not really a football fan, but the Buckeyes are special to me for more than just geographical reasons (I live in a suburb of Columbus).

The last time the Buckeyes won a National Championship was the 2002 season. I remember it very well, because I was in the hospital having my first child.

(Warning labor story) she wasn’t due until February 6th, so it was quite a surprise when my water broke on January 3rd! I’d just been to the doctor the day before and been told everything seemed fine for her original delivery date, for goodness sake! But at seven am it happened. Because it happened so early, I acted like a total moron. (Me: It can’t be my water! It’s too early! DH: Call the doctor. Me(the moron): but no one will be there yet!) I finally got my brain together, called and was told to come to the hospital, back then it was called the Ohio State Medical Center, or OSUMC.

Skipping ahead, I am not a hero and was soon drugged up and attached to so many devices I told my sister over the phone that I felt like a Borg. Twelve hours later, around ten, the serious work began, but no luck. Meanwhile, OSU was busy playing in the Tostidos Fiesta Bowl.

I swear to this day, my doctors dragged their feet getting the OR ready so they could finish watching the game. My proof? At one in the morning my daughter was delivered and as the OB handed her over he said (and we have this on DVD), “and by the way, OSU won.”

So when you say, O-H and my kids return I-O, they come by it honestly.

Anybody else have kids born on “special occasions?”

Other things–

(Warning excessive whining) I’ve been fighting a cold/sinus attack from Hell/migraine since Saturday, so my edits for my New YA Fantasy Romance are going very slowly. Part of me says, “come on, push through you wimp!” But the other professional writer part says, “you’ll start to skim and miss things.”

Have you seen that commercial where the guy opens the door and says, “I’m really sorry, I’m going to have to call in sick tomorrow and he’s talking to a baby in a crib?” I feel the same way about edits, unfortunately, NyQuil (or any number of drugs) hasn’t made any difference.

My tree is still up. Yes, it’s artificial. You don’t have to picture a pathetic stick, dropping needles all over my hardwood floor. We always keep our tree up until after my daughter’s birthday, but I’m pleading edits. I have a history, though of getting it down late. One year, it was still up when my Mom came to visit in February (she’s never let me forget it!) Still, as I get older I’m trying to do better.

What’s the latest you’ve had yours up?

Wish me luck!

Karin

I have Digital (PDF) Advance Reader Copies of my new YA Romantic Fantasy HALFLING which goes on pre-sale from Soul Mate Publishing in the next few weeks, if anyone is interested (or know someone who might be) in reading and posting a review on Amazon (if moved) just email me at Karin @ shahs . com (no spaces)
Blurb: The crippled reject of a scorned people, seventeen year-old Valayan wanderer, Deyna has never eaten, owned or used, anything she didn't scrounge or steal. She's used to life at rock bottom, but when her father sells her to be the annual Sacrifice to their enemies, the winged darklings, she discovers a new low.
Marked for death at the hands of the darkling king, only the discovery that she's half darkling saves her life.
As a servant in the darkling palace, Deyna thinks she's landed on her feet. She has fresh, clean food, a real bed, and people, like young Lord Ahran, handsome captain of the king's guard, who might actually care if she lives or dies, but all is not well in the darkling lands.
The mysterious Jackal-Wolf is stealing grain shipments and raiding armories. A civil war is brewing, the gods have plans for her, and Ahran may not be exactly what he seems. Will the girl who's spent her whole life running take a stand--even at the cost of her own life?

The book will be added to GR as soon as it's on pre-sale.:-)

I'm at Daphne finalist Abbie Roads' awesome blog today!

Comment for a chance to win a free e copy of my YA Romantic Fantasy HALFLING

The tweet I posted is below:

I get my head shrunk by @Abbie_Roads http://abbieroads.com/2015/04/author-... #amwritingfantasy #yalitchat #amreading #readers #authors #giveaway