People's people

As we write we try to develop characters who our readers will relate to. We want the reader to cry laugh and worry with our characters right?...... RIGHT! :) So how do you do that? 

I have three ideas:

1- Believable reactions
Allow the teen age girl to wallow a bit after loosing her love-of-the-moment boyfriend, or walk on air when the guy of her dreams asks her out. We can relate to those reactions, we might even remember feeling like that ourselves.
2-Don't over use your emotion words
If they only shrug, feel butterflies and bite their lip to show emotion the reader is limited in feeling that deep down too. (And you wanna make them feel it deep down.)
3-Be True
IF your character arc is from shy to bold don't let the character stand up to the school bully in the first act, work your way there. If it feels outside the characters realm of behavior the reader will notice and be pulled out of the world you're sharing.

Author Spotlight

Molly Cochran

A New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 books, though Legacy is her first for young adults. Legacy is about Katy and life at her new school in the town her never-spoken-of deceased mother is from. As she tries to sort through family secrets, her complicated love life and fitting in at school, all while keeping the  town she's grown attached to from destruction.

To get a copy for yourself and check out her other books click over to B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/molly-cochran?keyword=molly+cochran&store=allproducts&iehack=%E2%98%A0

Or visit her website at: http://mollycochran.com/

Wednesday Spotlight

I know, I'm late. Kiddo #3 turned two and I forgot to post, sorry. But here it is today! :)

ELANA JOHNSON

Her second book SURRENDER came out yesterday! (See I should have posted on time.)

It's set in a dystopian world where the thinkers are in control and everyone follows the directions. Well, almost everyone.

Elana also has some awesome short stories told by characters in the series, so head over to her blog and check those out too!

http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/

Friday Feature

Anyone else feeling this way?

School's out. Seniors graduated. The joy of summer is here. This time of year always feels like a new birth of opportunity to me. My kiddos are little and they are just starting their formal educational careers, ones I hope they'll appreciate and enjoy. Others are near the middle, deciding majors and roommates. Some finished, moving excitedly toward that goal they've word so hard to achieve: a real job.
 The weather is warm, people are optimistic, and I can sleep in--if the kiddos let me. :) Happy summer to everyone!

Friday Feature

A Little Pick Me Up

Since my return from the lovely NYC I've been crazy busy. Or maybe it just feels that way after a vacation, life happens right? Never waits or eases you back in. But busy is good and normal around here. As I was checking blogs this morning I happened upon this in a post from DesignMom she asked if it made anyone else cry happy tears....yes, it did for me. Not only that but it is just the pick me up I needed today. Watch for yourself, did you cry happy tears? Have you ever been a part of something like this?

Friday Feature

I'm at the LDSTORYMAKERS conference this weekend and headed to NYC on Sunday so here's to New York!  :)



And an extra for you're listening pleasure!