Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Book Event

My husband and I arrived early. The only people there were the librarian who had set the event up, and her college-aged daughter, but I wasn't worried. Yet.

We set up the snacks and the computer, so we could show the book trailer.

But 7pm came, and we only had four people. Oh well. I can practice my reading, at least. Several more people came in rapid succession, and we broke double-digits. Whew!

People got cold drinks and mini-cupcakes. We started with a showing of the book trailer, then I read a short bit of chapter six of Minder. We had a SWAG giveaway using Zener cards--people had to "sense" which symbol I had in-hand to win the t-shirt. This worked really well for the giveaway, and I plan to use it again.

I have to say, my favorite part of the evening was the discussion with the audience. We had such a great group! The conversation ranged from the writing process and character development to some of our favorite YA and paranormal books, such as Twilight, Harry Potter, Anne Rice, etc. Ninety minutes passed in a flash, and suddenly I was signing a bunch of books and packing up.
I want to say a huge

THANK YOU!
to everyone who came out last night. I especially want to single out Leigh, for arranging everything at the library; Carolyn, for helping set up; and Heather, for making the mini-cupcakes. Thank you!
My next book reading will be next week in Boston at ReaderCon. I'll be with the Broad Universe contingent (I simply LOVE that name for a group of female sci-fi writers!). We have a reading session scheduled, and I'll also be selling and signing copies of Minder at their table in the bookseller's room.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

My First Book Reading

It's tonight. Like many "first times," it has the potential to combine nervous inexperience, anticipation, and excitement. It also might be uncomfortable, messy, or over too quickly.

I'm talking about my first time riding a roller coaster--where did YOUR mind go with that?

Anyhoo, wish me luck! Please also check out the book trailer, if you haven't already. We're close to 1000 views at this point, and I'll be sending the donation to Nothing But Nets this week.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Hip-Deep in Edits


Hi folks,

I'm wicked busy with revisions to the third Ganzfield book today, so this is a short post. Who's your best critic? Who gives you the best comments--the ones that help you see the flaws and ultimately make your work stronger?

Friday, June 25, 2010

Literary Pilates

I'm trying to tighten up the saggy middle of my current MS. I've gotten some feedback from a couple of family members, and need to improve the pacing before I let others lay eyes on it. So, today I'm asking--what's your process for editing and revising? When do you let others see your work, and who gets to see it?

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Creeping Sludge

Wanna see something scary?

If It Was My Home

Bar Harbor ME to Albany, NY--where does it cover for you?

If this makes you want to help, please donate to one of these BBB-approved charities, such as the National Wildlife Federation.

Post your pledge to give to one of these charities in the comments section by midnight (EDT) on Monday, June 28th. I'll randomly pick one person to win a query critique, a first 5 pages critique, or a signed copy of Minder. Everyone is eligible, even those who've won previous Disgruntled Bear contests.

Share this post with others through your blog, Facebook, and/or Twitter--let's really start some giving!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Best Thing on YouTube

When I lived in Istanbul, I couldn't watch YouTube. The Turkish government blocked access to the site because of a few anti-Ataturk videos. BTW, if you're ever in Turkey, NEVER disrespect Ataturk. Aside from the fact that the guy was a war hero, single-handedly saved his country from the colonial predations of England and France, founded a modern nation, and therefore deserves respect, it's really, REALLY illegal.

Turkish prison illegal.

Anyway, at least once a week, a US-based friend would make a comment in email or Facebook about a cool video on YouTube--a cool video that I couldn't see.

So, what did I miss? What's your favorite YouTube video? Links, please!

Of course, mine is:

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What's Good Here?


People keep commenting on how much I rag on New Jersey in Minder. There's even a line in the jacket copy. I can't help it--the zinger lines keep coming to me when I write.

When I was down south about six years ago, I saw a great shirt:

ALABAMA: At least we're not Mississippi.

Some places are simply worthy of insult. And, if you're from the location in question, you're allowed to make the jokes with impunity, right? So, what do people say about your place in the world?

UPDATE: there's a LOL list here.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Googlegangers

Who *else* is "you" online? What are your googlegangers (like doppelganger, but less German) out in the rest of the world?

Kate Kaynak's a unique name, as far as I know--it helps to have an English-Turkish mash-up name. But I was born Kate Alton, and my googleganger's a choreographer in Canada.I'm now the top Disgruntled Bear on the internet--thanks! But I'm not the only one:
Ganzfield isn't unique--I intentionally named the series after a parapsychology experiment. But Minder's kinda funny, since the former top-listed book of that name on Amazon was gay sci-fi erotica.
There's also a straight sci-fi erotica version:
What's up with the Minder-erotica thing? I'm bit embarrassed on Maddie's behalf, and I'm REALLY hoping that their readers and mine can figure out which is which. In case you're wondering, mine's right here--and it's NOT erotica. If I wrote erotica, I'd publish it under an appropriate pen name. *

Apparently there was a British TV show called "Minder," as well.



So, who else is you?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Thanks for Coming by!

And the final winner of the giveaway is...Leah (aka Mary_not_Martha)!

Congratulations, Leah!

Prizes include your choice of TWO of the following:
* A signed copy of Minder
* A Minder t-shirt (S, M, L, XL)
* A signed Minder poster (11"x17")
* A query letter critique OR a first five pages critique (warning: I'm wicked blunt). I prefer YA and/or urban fantasy, but I'll give you feedback in any genre of fiction.
* A pack of artisan-baked cookies or brownies from Dancing Deer Baking Company.
* A Ganzfield character named after you (whom I may or may not kill off).

Please send me your preferences through the Ganzfield contact form.

Thanks to everyone for making my very first launch party such a success!

Friday, June 18, 2010

You Don't Have to Go to Your Home Page...

...but you can't stay here.

Okay, sure you can. Just fold out that futon and we'll all go to IHOP in the morning.

Today's the LAST DAY of the Virtual Launch Party--thanks for stopping by this week. It's official--as of today I'm a (cue angelic choir)...PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

Next step: Bestselling Author. Dare to dream.

Since one of my life's dreams just came true, I'll throw that question out to the rest of you:

What's your life's ambition?

Do you want to write a novel? Sing in Carnegie hall? Prove that vampires actually exist? Raise children who'll actually visit you in the nursing home? World domination? What do you want to do with your life?

Post a comment below--either a serious one or an amusing one. Each post will give you a chance to win today's giveaway--your choice of TWO of the following: a signed copy of Minder, a Minder t-shirt, a Minder poster, a writer's critique, cookies, or a character in a later Ganzfield book named after you. Details are spelled out in the Virtual Launch Party post from this past weekend.

You can earn additional chances by linking your blog, website, Tweet, Facebook page, etc. to any of the following (or three chances if you link to all three):

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com
or
http://www.ganzfield.com
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv6eC3E-9k

Just put a link to YOUR link in the comments below. I'll pick the winner from the comments received by 7am (EDT) Saturday, June 19th.

Happy Friday!

UPDATE: The winner of Thursday's giveaway is...glacierlilies! Let me know what you want, Jenny, as well as which charity I should support.

BREAKING NEWS: My interview at Para-fanatics will go up at NOON today at: http://para-fanatics.blogspot.com/. I'll count comments over there toward the giveaway here, so stop by!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Making a Difference (Party Day 4)

The world is full of problems, and I want to rule it I'd like to find a few ways to make it a better place.

I've pledged support for Nothing But Nets for each view of the Minder book trailer:



They give antimalarial nets to kids in sub-Saharan Africa. I also think it's cool that, despite being a nonprofit, they're a dot-NET, not a dot.org (get it?). So, today's question is:

What's your favorite charity?

Post as many times as you like in the comments section below. If you have a link, please include it. . Each unique post (by 7am EDT Friday, June 18th) will you one chance at the prize of your choice: a signed copy of Minder, a Minder t-shirt, a Minder poster, a writer's critique, cookies, or a character in a later Ganzfield book named after you. Details are spelled out in the Virtual Launch Party post from this past weekend. As a bonus, given today's topic, I'll also give $10 to the charity of your choice, provided it's a legitimate charity and not a Hitler Youth summer camp or something.

You can earn additional chances by linking your blog, website, Tweet, Facebook page, etc. to any of the following (or three chances if you link to all three):

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com
or
http://www.ganzfield.com
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv6eC3E-9k

Just put a link to YOUR link in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by, and please come back tomorrow for the final giveaway of the week.

UPDATE: Wednesday's winner is...Vicki Rocho! Vicki, please pick your prize and send me your info through the Ganzfield contact form. If appropriate, please tell me your shirt size or favorite kind of cookie.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Really Lame Superpowers (Party Day 3)

Perhaps by now you've read the headlines. In my defense, he had it coming.

Slapping a guy in Florida isn't exactly a superpower. But sometimes that bar is pretty low. So, today's question is:

In your opinion, what is the lamest superpower?

I've got a few that top my list:

"Form of...an ice bridge!"

Telepathic communication that's limited to fish.

Deja vu

An invisible jet that doesn't make the things inside invisible.

The ability to moisten things.

(you can tell I've thought about this for a while, huh?)

Deja vu

Being a token minority (don't get me started on Apache Chief again).

Rich won Tuesday's GIVEAWAY. What did you win, Rich?
The list of options is here, along with the details for TODAY'S GIVEAWAY WHICH IS GOING ON RIGHT HERE! In the immortal words of David Letterman, "Call the neighbors, and wake the kids!"

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Superpowers (Party Day 2)

Superfriends. Heroes. X-Men. Fantastic Four.

Regular folks need not apply. Even Batman had the powers of ridiculous wealth and excessive angst to help him clean up Gotham.

If you could have any single
super-ability, what would it be?

Please post in a comment below by 7am EDT on Wednesday, June 16th. I'll award extra chances in this contest for each character name and/or catch phrase you provide.

I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning. The prize is the winner's choice of: a signed copy of Minder, a Minder t-shirt, a Minder poster, a writer's critique, cookies, or a character in a later Ganzfield book named after you. Details are spelled out in the Virtual Launch Party post from this past weekend.

You can earn additional chances by linking your blog, website, Tweet, Facebook page, etc. to any of the following (or three chances if you link to all three):

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com
or
http://www.ganzfield.com
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv6eC3E-9k

Just put a link to YOUR link in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by, and please come back tomorrow for ANOTHER giveaway.

UPDATE: Monday's Contest is now closed, and the first winner of the week is...SiNn!
Please send me your choice of prize (see Saturday's Virtual Launch Party post for details) and your mailing address (if I'm shipping something to you) through the contact form at Ganzfield: http://www.site.ganzfield.com/Contact.html. If appropriate, please tell me your shirt size or favorite kind of cookie.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Coma Heroines (Party Day 1)

Back in the day--the day being pre-1970 or so--female Main Characters (MCs) tended to be sweet, pretty, and passive. SO passive, in fact, that many of them spent a significant chunk of the story hanging out, waiting to be rescued--or ASLEEP.

Snow White: coma
Sleeping Beauty: coma
Rapunzel: her sole contribution to her own rescue was her HAIRSTYLE. I hope the upcoming Disney movie Tangled will change this up a bit.

I'm not going on an anti-Disney rant--Disney has some GREAT female characters. Mulan kicked butt! But I notice she's not on a lot of the sparkly pink merchandise that my 4-year-old covets.

Maddie Dunn doesn't do pink-and-sparkly much. She's the MC of Minder, and, in honor of her non-passivity, today's posting topic is:

Who's your favorite strong, female character?

Post as many comments as you like. Each unique post (by 7am EDT Tuesday, June 15th) will earn you one chance at the prize of your choice: a signed copy of Minder, a Minder t-shirt, a Minder poster, a writer's critique, cookies, or a character in a later Ganzfield book named after you. Details are spelled out in the Virtual Launch Party post from this past weekend.

You can earn additional chances by linking your blog, website, Tweet, Facebook page, etc. to any of the following (or three chances if you link to all three):

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com
or
http://www.ganzfield.com
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv6eC3E-9k

Just put a link to YOUR link in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by, and please come back tomorrow for ANOTHER giveaway. I'll be here all week, folks. Try the veal, and don't forget to tip your waitresses!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Virtual Launch Party!

Hi folks!

Starting Monday, we'll have daily giveaways right here all week long!

Sign up at Ganzfield if you want daily email reminders. Put "Virtual Launch Party" in the comments section for an extra chance in Monday's giveaway.

Prizes include your choice of ONE of the following:
* A signed copy of Minder
* A Minder t-shirt (S, M, L, XL)
* A signed Minder poster (11"x17")
* A query letter critique OR a first five pages critique (warning: I'm wicked blunt). I prefer YA and/or urban fantasy, but I'll give you feedback in any genre of fiction.
* A pack of artisan-baked cookies or brownies from Dancing Deer Baking Company.
* A Ganzfield character named after you (whom I may or may not kill off).

I'll ship the shippable prizes anywhere in the US or Canada (cookies can only be shipped in the continental US). Daily winners will be chosen by a random number generator. Feel free to comment multiple times--each day's posts will remain open for comments for at least 22 hours. Followers of the blog get an extra chance to win with their first comment--sign up as a follower if you haven't done so already. I'll also give people an additional chance to win for every mention and link to:

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com
or
http://www.ganzfield.com
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv6eC3E-9k

that you post on Twitter, Facebook, your own blog or website, comments on other people's blogs (please don't spam them--just post to people who might like to win this stuff). Comment on Disgruntled Bear with a link to your "mention" to qualify for each day. Daily winners will not be eligible for additional prizes for the rest of the week, but may enter future contests.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Mash-Ups

"You got chocolate in my peanut butter!"
"You got peanut butter on my chocolate!"

(BTW, who walks down the street eating peanut butter directly from the jar?
But that's not important right now.)


Mash-ups are one of the trends in books these days, starting with the classic:


Pride and Prejudice and Zombiesby Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith

If you know the original, this book is hilarious. But where is this headed? Now we have Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Android Karenina, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, etc.

What mash-up should be next?

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Day Job

I'm in an all-day training session today, so, in the immortal words of Linda Richman:
Talk amongst yourselves.
I'll give you a topic. The Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy nor Roman. Discuss.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Best Villains Ever

Who's the best villain in popular culture?

Voldemort? Hannibal Lechter? Cruella DeVille?

Why do I feel like I might not be spelling any of those names right?

What makes a really great bad-guy?

Only five days until the launch party!

Elie won yesterday's contest. Congrats, Elie! I'll send your shirt out today.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My Report Card

I admit it--I was a grade junkie in school.

Lisa Simpson:
Look at me! Grade me! Evaluate and rank me! I'm good, good, good and oh so smart! [drops to her knees] Grade meeeeee!!

(I can't believe this clip isn't on YouTube. The quote's from Classic TV Quotes).


So the first reviews of Minder have been making me bliss! Check 'em out:

http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2010/06/ya-review-minder.html

http://www.readingteen.net/2010/06/arc-giveaway-of-minder-by-kate-kaynak.html

http://rorreviews.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/minder-by-kate-kaynak/

I'm wicked happy right now and feel like sharing. Who wants a book or a t-shirt? Sign up as a BFF (click "Follow" at the top or the right) and post a comment below. *

* Details:
The winner will be selected at random from the comments received by 7 am (EDT) on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010. The winner needs to be listed as a follower of the blog as of June 9th, 2010. S/he will have his/her choice of a
Minder t-shirt or a signed first edition. I'll announce the winner in tomorrow's post (June 9th, 2010). I'll then need a mailing address in the U.S. or Canada, a prize preference, and a shirt size/inscription name submitted through the Ganzfield contact form.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Link-O-Rama

Hi folks!

My next syndicated piece is up here.

I've got a few random fun things to share today, like the best bunny slippers ever.

A friend of mine sent me a link to a Kids in the Hall sketch because a scene in chapter 4 of Minder reminded him of it:



The VIRTUAL LAUNCH PARTY starts June 14th--one week from today!
Woo hoo! *annoying toot from one of those New Year's Eve noisemakers*
Stop back here at The Disgruntled Bear every day next week (M-F) for contests and giveaways! BFFs double their chances of winning--click "Follow" to become one.
You can sign up on the Ganzfield contact form if you want email reminders of the Virtual Launch party--just fill in the email line and leave the rest blank.

And, just to put you in a positive mood for the rest of the day, listen to this:



Friday, June 4, 2010

Dream Sequence Blogfest 2010

I'm posting this today as part of The Dream Sequence Blogfest.

The setting (warning--this contains mild spoilers! Purists can read the 60 pages that lead up to this scene in a PDF excerpt here): Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn has just started manifesting her telepathic ability at Ganzfield, a secret training facility for people with special abilities. A few days before this scene, three of her former classmates attacked her. She fought them off, but the experience still haunts her.

Mike grabbed me and pulled me into the van. He punched
me in the jaw. Del held me by the arm then ripped my shirt down
the front.
Help!
I bolted upright, jerked awake by the sound of screaming. The
light from the moon cast a blue-grey glow on one side of Rachel’s
face. She sat up as well, wide-eyed and breathing fast, clutching
the front of her nightshirt to her. In Rachel’s mind, I saw Del’s
drunken face as it had loomed over her.
No!
In the moonlight, Hannah absentmindedly rubbed her jaw.
She still felt the phantom sting of the punch to the face.
Oh my God.
I could feel thoughts from other rooms in the house—four
other girls in Blake House were suddenly awake, shaken by the
same nightmare.
My nightmare.
I watched as Rachel and Hannah both settled back to sleep.
Just a bad dream. They hadn’t noticed each other’s reactions. My
heart raced and I felt my hands trembling, although I couldn’t see
them. I hugged my arms tightly around myself, pressing my chin
to my chest and squeezing hard to make the shaking stop.
I’d sent them my dream. I must be able to send thoughts as
well as receive them, like Dr. Williamson did. That would be a
cool thing if I could control which thoughts I sent. The horror of
having my every private thought broadcast to the world filled me
with dread. No wonder Seth lived alone in a cabin in the middle
of nowhere.
I needed my own cabin, and I needed it soon.
Now.
The sudden thought of the empty church had me on my feet
and looking for my shoes. There were even beds there; it’d be
perfect. No one would have to share my nightmares if I slept
there. It was getting colder and I was just wearing a t-shirt and PJ
pants, so I wrapped the blue and green quilt from my bed around
my shoulders. Stepping lightly on the stairs, I tried not to make
any noise as I left the building.
I remembered where to find the path and the moon was
bright enough for me to see where I was going. The white church
glowed faintly to my dark-adjusted eyes. I pushed open the inner
doors to the sanctuary.
My sanctuary.
It was darker inside, but the glimmer of moonlight that fell
through the broken shutter was enough for me to see the outlines
of the empty beds against the wall next to me. I grabbed a sleeping
bag from the pile and unrolled it on the nearest cot. The pillow
had a musty, camping smell, but I could live with it. The silence
enveloped me and I felt the tension drain out of my body. With
the gentle touch of a few nocturnal animals fluttering against my
consciousness, I fell asleep.
Mike forced me down on the floor of the van. He punched me
in the face. Del grabbed my shirt and yanked. Mike reached for
the front of my jeans.
The van door squealed open. Mike suddenly flew backward
through the air, slamming hard against the far wall of the garage.
Shovels and rakes clattered to the cement floor. Del flipped end-
over-end, tumbling against the closed garage door. The impact
of his shoulder cracked the wooden panel. Carl, still huddled in
the corner, emitted a painful “oof” sound as something unseen
pinned him back.
Trevor stood in the doorway of the van, looking at Carl.
Trevor?
What was Trevor doing here? His normally kind, brown
eyes glared at my attackers. They softened with concern as they
focused on me. “Are you alright?”
A wave of conflicting thoughts filled me as my worlds collided
in strange, surreal ways. I no longer felt the terror of the attack.
A dream.
Oh, this was just a dream. Trevor was here and I was safe. I
didn’t like the idea of being a damsel in distress, but having a
white knight come to my rescue kinda worked for me right now.
Trevor tried to gauge my reaction. I exhaled a shaky breath
and nodded. He extended his hand to me. I held my torn shirt
closed with my other hand as I stood.
Behind him in the garage, Del got to his feet. He grabbed one
of the fallen shovels from the floor and rushed Trevor.
“Look out!” I cried.
Mike stopped mid-stride—like he’d hit an invisible wall.
After a quick moment, he flew backward and slammed against
the garage wall with a sickening thud.
A splintering clatter pulled me out of my subconscious. I
had only a second to look into Trevor’s eyes as the dream-world
disintegrated, leaving me breathing hard in a swirl of fading
images.
Something in the church rolled through the blackness with a
hollow, wooden sound, and the dream—my dream—floated half-
remembered in someone else’s mind.
Trevor.
Someone’s in here. I could feel the tingle of trepidation flow
through him.
“I am,” I said aloud, hearing my voice echo slightly. “I’m
here.”
“Maddie?” The threads of the dream revived slightly in his
head as he tried to figure out what was real. For my part, I had a
sudden rush of warmth as I realized that Trevor knew my name,
but it died as soon as I realized now he also knew my nightmare.

Minder will be released on June 18th from Spencer Hill Press, although Amazon is shipping them already. There's more info and a book trailer at Ganzfield.com.

Thanks for stopping by for the dream sequence blogfest!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Things That Make You Happy

OK, so yesterday's post was a tad subversive. Subversive is fun!

I have a cool idea for a post half-written, but it's not ready yet, so I'll put out a quick question. What's making you happy today? Your family? Your friends? Your faith? Your work?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Fun in Museums

My family's idea of fun seems to be going to museums. Don't get me wrong--I love museums! But wandering through the galleries of the Art Institute on one day and the Field Museum on another, I began to consider ways to ramp up the experience.

Warning: some of the following WILL get you escorted out by burly docents.

Do performance art on roller skates, a la "L.A. Story."

Bring along small signs to stick on the walls next to the paintings, e.g., "Jackson Pollack, Age 4."

Tape a completed jigsaw puzzle to one of the blank walls. This is why my brother hadn't been back to the Art Institute since his college days at Northwestern.

Wear a blazer. Pretend to be a docent. Wander from room to room, making up random "facts" about the pieces. For example, "Matisse's use of color is particularly impressive when you consider that he was blind from birth." See if you can get a tour group to follow you.

Guggenheim Museum in New York. Bucket of marbles. 'Nuff said.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Currently Syndicated Bear

I'm back. Chicago is SUCH a great city! I hope you all had wonderful holiday weekends.

Today, I'm linking you to my first syndicated article. I love the fact that Google Ads put fire-related links all along the right-hand side. I've also heard that Amazon is already shipping Minder, so if you ordered a copy from them, it should arrive soon. They've also lowered the Kindle price. I hope you'll leave a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads, or Shelfari if you like it! Please drop me an email or leave a comment if you post a review--I'd love to get your feedback.

The Brenda Novak auction ended at midnight. My critique of a query letter and the first ten pages fetched $70 for diabetes research! Thank you to everyone who bid, and congrats to the winner. I'll contact you as soon as the auction folks send my your info. Feel free to contact me directly. So, for the next year, whenever I offer that critique as a prize in a contest, I guess I can say it's "a $70 value."