Message to the Tin Man

 You ever wish you could send a message to a character in a book. Or put that character into a modern story. Well, that is what fan fiction is all about. Personally, I think the whole idea is lame. You can think of your own original character? Seriously?

Truly, there is only one character from a book that I would like to see modernized. That is the Tin Man.

He's the perfect character for some sappy romance novel, for sure.

Think about it.

A modern tin man- tough on the outside, maybe at first comes across as someone who doesn't have a heart. He likes to think he is indestructible and invulnerable. He carries himself like he owns his town. He doesn't put up with games and calls women out on your bluffs. He's independent and likes his own space. The kind of man that doesn't want a clingy woman.

He has a softer side, though, the side he only shows to his girl. The one that when she is at work cuts out paper hearts to make love notes for her. Who will wake up on his day off and make her pancakes and eggs. The one who will watch that goofy comedy show he hates just to hold her. The one who sends her a text every morning before he goes to work. The one who kisses her like the world will end tomorrow.

And like all good characters, he has a weakness. The modern tin man is so good at fronting, he can't admit that he needs the girl in the story, like she needs him.

So, if I had to pick a character to send a message to. It would be The Tin Man.

Message: Thought for a second, I saw you bringing back my heart.
 

Core Curriculum

One of the newest American education trends is to have a set of core curriculum standards. (This is opposed to each state having their own.)

I'm taking this in consideration as I create classroom worksheets for Dog Breath. Though, I feel the book is an adult comedy, it may just be suitable for the liberal classroom.

If you are an English teacher or a home-schooling parent who would like me to send them the worksheets I develop free of charge, contact me at jolenefine@yahoo.com with a subject line of: Dog Breath worksheets. This is a limited time offer. Moreover, if there is a standard that you would like to specially request a worksheet be made for, feel free to email me.

Meet Desire, Meet Me

Authors are known to put themselves into stories. Generally this an inadvertent and probably subconscious way of manifesting and dealing with our dreams, fears, and personal issues.

I've spent a lot of time lately, talking about Dog Breath, the comedy  novel which I just published. However, the best novel/series that I have written is undoubtedly The Lambient Series. Book One is called Fostering Worlds, Book Two is Mists of Despair, and Book Three (well, it hasn't been written or named.) And within the series, there are two main characters. Desiree and Zach.

Today, I'd like you to meet Desiree.
* A foster child who wants to be loved but is so afraid to be hurt that she pushes everyone in her life away. "Don't let them in," she tells herself. Despite all her efforts, she seems to love despite herself.

This is a character that I feel most people can relate to. At some point in our lives, we are afraid to put ourselves out there. No one wants to be rejected. But, we put ourselves out there anyway, wearing our hearts on our sleeves, because -in truth- being alone is scarier for most people than having their heart broken.

As a foster child myself, I went through many homes before the age of nine. The picture above is me on the day that I was sent to my last foster home. Of course, I didn't know then that it would be the last. You always think: "This could be the one." But, then there is also: "Is today the today that they get rid of me?"

When I finally had a family want me, I found it hard- so hard- to let them in. I wanted to. I needed to. But, like Desiree in Mists of Despair, my problem has always been "not knowing the mechanics of how to swim toward my goal."

I didn't know how to love.

I didn't know at nine, and sadly at thirty-four...I still find it hard to let people into my life. Pushing people away comes natural. It's a protective instinct that I hoped to out grow. Truth is, I didn't even realize I did it until I created the character, Desiree. After all, I hadn't set out to make Desiree resemble me at all. But, half way through book one- when I am writing the scene where Desiree's foster mother tells her that she is adopting her, and the character feels completely inadequate and undeserving of this woman's love- I realize...

I am, forever and a day, Desiree.


 

Recommended Short Story

Robert C. Frink's 'Reflection' is the best short story I've read since my high school studies of Nathaniel Hawthorn and Edgar Allan Poe. Immediately intriguing, thoroughly engaging, and ends with an unexpected bizarre twist. It's a must read for the thinker, the artist, and the student of literature. It's a story that should be read and analyzed in the classroom and a story that reluctant readers of any middle school, high school, or college age-group will enjoy. This is a story worth reading over and over again.

This short story can be found in Robert C. Frink's book of short stories: Bizarre Travel Book: Volumer 1: Ten Plus One. Available on e-book and print on Amazon.com.

Interview with Voice Narrator of Dog Breath

My voice narrator for the audio recording of Dog Breath is Jason Hueber. Here's the video interview I conducted with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsJcTItNMkc

Print is not Dead, Yet

I'm one of those people who HAVE to hold my books. I read them by the beach and the pool. I love that they get water and food stains, are highlighted and underlined, and the pages are all bent. That's the mark of an appreciated book.

So, it's no surprise that people are asking me: "When does the hardcopy come out?"

For those of you who have never tried to align gutter margins and mirrored pages of their books while trying to keep the cost to your reader down, good luck! It is ALOT easier to convert your word document to kindle format than it is to get your ms (manuscript) ready for the printing press on Create-A-Space.

Great thing about Create-A-Space is that you can review each page and see any potential issues for the book.

Book Cover

A special thanks to Babski Creative Studios for designing the cover to my comedy novel, Dog Breath.

Dog Breath by Jolene Fine is now for sale! You can find it on Kindle. It is available on your Kindle Fire, I-phone, I-pad, and other Kindle compatible devices.

In Kindle look for: ASIN: B00HVMEVV4
 

Editing an Audio Recording

 

I’ve always loved audio books, if they are told well. My favorite one is Long Way From Chicago. It’s a middle school novel that is absolutely hilarious. It is after reading this book that I wished they made funny novels for adults. A novel that was just light-hearted and funny. That’s Dog Breath.

 Unless you have $800 to pay a company to create a mediocre performance…you are going to want to create your own audio recording. But, if you are going to do it. Do it right, people. All the different voices and sound effects. And please no sounds of pages turning!

I hired a voice actor to read the book and do all the male voices. I’m doing all the female voices. (Free!) My three kids…the children’s voices. (Free!) Then, I’m doing all the audio editing myself.

Check it out: The editing has begun…

 

Be prepared to listen and re-listen to each chapter for one to three hours, splitting and cutting the mistakes from the project. And there is a lot of splitting going on!

For example, the rough narration for Chapter 9 started out as one recording of 9.21 minutes.

An hour and a half later, it’s split into 15 good segments. And now…7.10 minutes long.

Granted, editing the narration of each chapter is just the first step in your audio recording. It’s probably the most tedious, as well. However, it is so important that your story flow. So, good luck. You can do it!

Letters to the Dead

Some people visit gravesites to communicate to the dead. I…write letters.

 

Every year since my mother died, back in 2001, I send a letter to her. It usually tells her about how I wish I had appreciated her more when she was alive. It sometimes tells her my hopes and dreams. And occasionally, it asks for advice and questions that I wish I had asked her.

It’s my way of connecting to her.

This year, I included my three girls. I asked them to write down questions they wish they could ask her. In the end, the letters are sent to my Papa, the one who was left behind. The one who loves her still after so many years of separation. I hope the letters help.

 

 

Free Dog Photo Contest

Don’t forget to enter the photo contest for a chance to win a free Kindle digital copy and a free digital audio-recording of the novel, Dog Breath. I want a picture of you getting up close and personal with your dog’s mouth. Snap a picture of you smelling your dog’s breathe. Funniest picture wins.

 

Email your picture to: Jolenefine@yahoo.com, along with your name, your dog’s name, and the breed of your pet. Entries will be taken until the end of January 2014. 

There is no fee to enter. All appropriate entries will be posted on the author’s website: https://sites.google.com/site/finedogbreath. Then, between February 1st through February 14th, post your vote. The winner of the photo contest will be featured on the author’s blog and receive a free Kindle-edition and audio version of her book, Dog Breath. 

Dog Breath is expected to be released in kindle format on amazon.com January 31st, 2014. The audio version is expected to release before April of 2014. 

 

Welcome to my World

Once upon a time, my only writing goal for the week was: Write Chapter 9 of Dog Breath. It seems like such a long time ago. Probably because it was. At the time, writing was a hobby. I had no intentions or aspirations for publication. In fact, I had no idea that there were writing conferences, or literary agents, writing associations, blogs, or critique circles. My only feedback was my best friend, Deanna. (God bless her!)

Fast forward to reality, A.K.A. now.

New daily tasks replace that simple, naïve weekly goal.

Yesterday it was:
* Conference with Dog Breath cover artist.
* Start highlighting ms (that's manuscript for the newbie) for Dog Breath audio recording.
* Begin sound effects sound list.
* Categorize highlighted dialogue into male/ female/ and children roles. Type up.
* Type list of characters & associated chapters in which they are appear in ms.
* Speak with librarian in Marianna library about hanging promotional photo contest flyer for Dog Breath and library's acquisition procedures.
* Send follow-up email to librarian.
* Reread and note improvements for Chapter 21 of M.O.D. (Initials for book title of 2nd book in Sci-Fi/ Fantasy series.)

Today... well...there is a whole new list.

Welcome to my world!