Tag: story

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Writing, revising, publishing

Kara HartzLeave a comment

My novel revisions have been going a little slower than I’d hoped. However, that’s probably I wanted a little guidance in revising and rewriting such a big project. So I’ve been reading:

and

both have been helpful, but reading is not editing, and that has added time. In the long run, not flailing about on my own, however will hopefully save time, and the ultimate goal is obviously to end up with a better book. So I think I’m getting there. Now that I’ve finished reading, and going the exercises and have a great list of specific things to tackle, the actual revisions are going well. The book is getting better. Should have it ready for my beta readers soon-ish. Heck, if you’d like to offer feedback or a critique, let me know and I’ll send you a copy when it’s ready for that phase.

I am also working on the paperback version of 

I will probably also eventually work on a paperback version of 
but it’s so short I think that’s why I didn’t make a print version in the first place. But I’ll go look at it again and see what can be done. As a reader, I like options. I’d like my work available to people however they best like to read.

I’m excited, and nervous about the whole process, and that’s what makes it fun. Well, the writing and the creations is what makes it fun, the publishing makes it stressful, but that’s life.

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Flash Fiction Friday: First Love

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The slamming of the back door screen and the shrieking of the girl as she tore across the yard woke Bob from his nap. Folding his ears back as he yawned and stretched, his front legs then his back. Reluctantly he slunk to the edge of the yard to crouch beneath the lavender bushes, leaving his warm corner of the patio in the sun. His old joints were stiff and he was on no mood for the crushing hugs and rough play the girl would force on him if he stayed in the open. 
The screen thumped closed again, calmer this time. Bob saw Leigh moving a plastic chair. She sat, and opened a book in her lap, but watched the girl for several moments before looking down to read.
Bob remembered how he and Leigh used to spend the whole day together sometimes. He would sit in her lap as she worked at the computer or pounce on the laundry as she folded. Since the girl had been big enough to move around though, Bob had slept hidden under the bed most of the day. He learned quickly that that was the only way to stay safe from being poked or his ears or whiskers pulled. Now he only came out after the girl was in bed. To get a short precious time in Leigh’s lap again for proper, gentle ear and chin rubs.
He looked at Leigh reading , then at the girl who was now at the far end of the yard screeching some sort of song as she ran in circles. He stuck his head out from under the bush. Then crept a little further. Before he’d thought things through he had covered half the distance to Leigh. He found himself airborn, swinging in a circle. The girl held him under his front legs, his back feet dangling as she flung him around in her dance. 
“Caroline! Stop that!”
The swinging stopped, but he dangled still, his spine screaming for some support. Then Leigh had him against her chest, one arm under him, the other rubbing his ears. She carried him to her chair, and then set him in her lap. He thought about jumping down and back to his hiding spot in the bushes.
“Caroline, come here. You pet him gentle, like this.”
Leigh ran her hand down his spine. Then a smaller hand hit him, pushing him down, and followed the same path. “Gentle, gentle. See, he likes that.” The second time, the small hand was softer, but it plucked at his fur before departing.
“I’m sorry buddy,” Leigh said, scratching his chin in the spot he loved. “She’ll get better. I’ve got you now though.” 
Bob curled up and settled into her lap, purrs overflowing out of him. Like old times.
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Daycare Isn’t Dull now up at Aurora Wolf

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I have a new short story up over at Aurora Wolf : A Literary Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy.
It’s called Daycare Isn’t Dull.

For a time, I took care of my infant niece. She was not a fan of naps and it was a great source of frustration for us both. Later, when she went to daycare, I wondered how the caregivers there managed with so many children all with their own problems. Then I started to wonder how they would handle a child with even bigger problems. . .

So go check out my story, as well as some of the others over there. It’s a free site for readers, but I did notice a ‘Donate’ button if you like what you find.

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Rainbows

Kara Hartz1 Comment

We had a beautiful rainbow here today.
I got to wondering. . . are there any old mythological stories about rainbows? They are so beautiful, so amazing, I believe there must be, but I’ve never heard of one. There are myths from so many cultures about the sun, moon, planets, and even the wind and rain. So there must be some great rainbow stories out there, right?

I just wonder why I haven’t heard any.

I’m sure my curiosity will get the better of me eventually, and I’ll search out some rainbow myths and stories, but I thought I’d ask here first, if anyone wants to share a favorite rainbow story.

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A Reason to Hope

Kara Hartz4 Comments

I used to be an active member of Writing.com. Now I’m just someone with an account there. It’s a great site, but time constraints don’t let me hang out there the way I used to. One of the greatest things I’ve taken from there, however, are a few good writing friends. I didn’t know any other writers when I found Writing.com, so just being around like-minded folks was wonderful, even if it was only a virtual kind of hanging out.

Two of those friends have self-published some of their works, and I think it’s past time for me to send them a little blog love. I’m starting today with “A Reason to Hope” by Andra Marquardt. It’s a Christian Sci-Fi novella with a lesbian protagonist. If that doesn’t spark your interest, then there is no help for you. I don’t read Christian anything as a rule, but that even got my curiosity going.

I was lucky enough to win one of her book giveaways when the book launched originally, and I got through it in about a week. You could probably get through it in a couple nights if you have more time to sit and read than I do. (I hope you do, my reading time is so sad.)

The story starts of with very intense action, but then quiets down into more of an inner battle for the main character, but we get little bursts of action later on to keep things hopping. My understanding is that this book came as a spin off from another novel or story Andra is writing. I think the well developed world, and characters reflect this. It’s clear that there is a bigger story surrounding the events of this story, and we’re only seeing a single crisis as part of a bigger conflict. Yet, at the end, I felt well resolved. Maybe still a little curious about other questions beyond the scope of this story, but left satisfied.

Since gay rights is an issue I’m extremely liberally minded about, I wished that issue had gone even further, but that’s the biggest complaint I can muster. I don’t want to give away too much by saying more. But for anyone like me who may see the word ‘Christian’ next to Sci-Fi, and be turned away, I can promise that you won’t be preached at in this book. Any part that even hints at preachness (and I don’t think that is the right word in this case anyway) is never aimed at the reader, and is an itegral part of the story.

Now I’ve saved the best for last. Recently Andra has started sharing “A Reason to Hope” as a serilized story online. So you can read it for free, but if you read too fast, you’ll have to wait for the next chapter. There a a bunch of chapters already posted though to get you started.

Go read it.