SOCK WARS by Hannah Christensen

Today I want to dedicate my blog to a special child who has written a book for very special reasons.


Sock Wars is a children's picture book about playing and enjoying every moment in life. The book is dedicated to the memory of Hannah's brother, Jonah, who died suddenly three years ago at the age of six. The book also comes with a song.


All the proceeds go to The Vancouver Sun's "Raise-a-Reader" Program.

The author, Hannah Christensen is twelve years old. I was touched by the article I read about this book and her dedication. It is heart-warming and humbling to realize that one so young could think of such a wonderful way to honor the life and loss of her sibling. 

Bravo, Hannah!

If you would like more information or to order this book, here is the link.

http://www.celebratethechild.ca/

To all the writers out there, keep on keeping on writing and have a great week.



Young pregnant woman abducted by bank robbers, escaped, and then lost in Canadian wilderness! | PRLog

My first Press Release online with PRLog.

Click on the text below to connect to the site:

Young pregnant woman abducted by bank robbers, escaped, and then lost in Canadian wilderness! | PRLog

Visit me at my website: Click here.

WINTER'S CAPTIVE PRESALES AVAILABLE

Publishing Update for "Winter's Captive".

The journey continues. My books arrived and what a feeling. How can I express that feeling in words? Think of the most satisfying, exciting, surreal moment in your life and I guess that would explain it.


My release date has been pushed to November 2011, still out for Christmas. So keep it in mind for that special gift for stocking stuffers, or that special person you think would enjoy it. 


Another first, I had my first Press Release online, here's the link: http://www.prlog.org/11650809-young-pregnant-woman-abducted-by-bank-robbers-escaped-and-then-lost-in-canadian-wilderness.html

"Winter's Captive" is available at great discounted presale prices on various sites such as Chapters Indigo, Canadian Bookshelf, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon. Follow the link below to my website for more details and links to these sites. And don't forget to enter Giveaways on the Goodreads link above. Five books will be given away to randomly picked winners.


At the moment, I am setting up a signing/reading event in my Village for next month. An exciting and daunting venture, it should be a lot of fun as well. My publisher is setting up more for me at book store chains. When I know my events schedule, I will post it here and on my website.


I want to feature as well, a fellow writer who has just released an ebook entitlted: "Agartha's Castaway". If you like young adult, fantasy, past worlds and prehistoric animals, author Chrissy Peebles has the book for you.   Here's the link to her blog:
 

http://chrissypeebles.blogspot.com/

Good luck Chrissy and welcome to the world of publishing.

That's it for now. Off to work on my sequel.

www.junebougoauthor.com

Keep on keeping on writing!

"WINTER'S CAPTIVE" - BOOKS ARE IN THE MAIL

...Just a short post today to share my excitement!

My publisher mailed me a box of books today. I am SOOOOO EXCITED. Can't wait to see the real thing. I have been doing a lot of marketing along with my publisher for the big release date. It was to be October, but was pushed to November.

Meanwhile we are setting up book tours with indie stores, chains, and libraries, and I have been designing  a bookmark and other promotional materials.

Now back to designing a poster and then working on the sequel.

Speaking of which, I have had a problem with voice for a couple of five-year-olds in the sequel and my good friend and fellow writer, Patricia Puddle in Australia, who writes children's books is helping me catch the voice. So glad to have her help.

Meanwhile, to all of you waiting for the book release, won't be long. And for all you writer's out there -

Keep on keeping on writing.

http://www.junebourgoauthor.com/

...THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Did you know that 70% of all people have suffered at least once from the Imposter Syndrome?

Today, I'm choosing to write about the imposter syndrome because the majority of us suffer with what I call this "condition", with mild to extreme reactions that can affect our daily living. It is a very common phenomenon. We are not alone and yes, I have suffered with this syndrome too.


The following is one description of the Imposter Syndrome. 

The impostor syndrome, sometimes called impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome, is a psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments. It is not an officially recognized psychological disorder, but has been the subject of numerous books and articles by psychologists and educators. The term was coined by clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978.[1]


Despite external evidence of their competence, those with the syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved. Proof of success is dismissed as luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be.


I once read an article on a local news anchor who suffered for years believing she was an imposter. Here was an educated, competent young woman fully qualified for the position; yet, she feared she would be "found out" and people would see she wasn't as intelligent as they believed her to be. Jody Foster admitted in an interview that when she won an Oscar, she felt like an imposter who had "lucked out". She felt "they" would find out and knock on her door and tell her they made a mistake. A very talented actor, and one of my favorites, I was confused by this admission at the time.


But I was soon to recognize this condition in myself when writing a blog post about my book, "Winter's Captive". It was difficult for me to write about the abuse of my first marriage because I felt like a fraud. My abuse had been mainly mental, with only a little amount of physical abuse. So many women suffered so much more physically than I had. How crazy is that? Abuse is abuse, regardless of its form, or how much more or little one form is over the other.


Then, a publisher knocked on my door and handed me a publishing contract. That old syndrome really knocked me aback. I mean, who was I to think I could fool people into thinking I was a writer? After all, I didn't have any formal education or writing degrees. Nor had I lived the life of the long-suffering, struggling writer. After much soul-searching I accepted the words of one editor who said I was a natural writer and that my education came from life and those who have passed through it.


Georgia Charles is the main character in "Winter's Captive". As her character developed, I recognized that she too suffered from the imposter syndrome as a wife and as a woman. She overcame her insecurities and became empowered. With the editing and re-editing of this heroine, she became my healer and my hope is that my readers will relate to Georgia and draw from her confidence and strength.


Here is the final paragraph of the description above for the Imposter Syndrome:


The impostor syndrome, in which competent people find it impossible to believe in their own competence, can be viewed as complementary to the Dunning–Kruger effect, in which incompetent people find it impossible to believe in their own incompetence.


Hmm...I think I would rather have to deal with the Imposter Syndrome than the Dunning-Kruger effect. I would rather be humble than believe I'm something I'm not.

There's nothing stranger than people! Aren't we though?

http://www.junebourgoauthor.com/

"BLENDED", THE SEQUEL - To Prologue or Not To Prologue Revisited

The great prologue debate....

I have revisited this post and revamped it after more research and added my final decision towards the bottom of this post. Enjoy!

So finally, the muse is back and I'm working on the sequel to Winter's Captive, tentatively called Blended.

The first dilema I came across was,  do I write a prologue or not. There are so many sites on line discussing this subject and none of them agree. I did a lot of on line research on this subject and this is what I found.

Here is the "DON'T use a prologue" reasons list:

1. Can be boring to the reader and lead them away from the actual story if not done right.
2. Decide if it is really necessary, can you fit it into Chapter 1?
3. Newbies use them because they don't know how to backstory in Chapter 1 with set-up information.
4. More than five pages is too long, write a chapter.
5. Under five pages is too short, not necessary.
6. Agents hate them.

Here's the "YES, use a prologue" reasons list.

1. Too much backstory in Chapter 1 is boring and takes the reader away from the actual story, use a prologue.
2. If the timeline is earlier than Chapter 1, use a prologue.
3. If you need to move into the sequel, referencing some details from the first book, use a prologue because
    the sequel should stand alone without repeating too much information from the first book.

This was all very confusing to me and in the end I decided to use a prologue because the timeline is later than the original story but earlier than the beginning of the sequel. After much debate with myself, I decided a prologue was necessary to set up the start of the sequel without conflicting timelines and too much backstory in Chapter 1, which could bog down the story and bore the reader.

Once I decided on using a prologue, I engaged in more on line research on how to write a prologue and became even more confused.

Here is some of what I found:

1. A prologue should not be more than one and half pages.
2. A prologue should be at least five pages or it is too short and redundant.
3. A prologue can be as long as you need it to be to do its job.
4. Just call it "Prologue".
5. Don't call it anything.
6. You can give it a name if you wish.
7. Length and to name or not to name is up to the author (and ultimately, the agent or publisher).

What did I do?

I opted to use a prologue but didn't call it anything. I don't really like the sound of the word "prologue" and I think it was more dramatic to start the piece right at the first sentence and italicize the whole thing.

My prologue is eight and half pages long, what I felt it took to set up my storyline for the sequel.

Then I decided to go straight to the readers and see what they think of prologues. Okay, so most hate them, most skip over them. Sometimes if the book grabs hold of them, they will go back and read it. Most like them short. I thought eight pages was short, but some think that is long. My husband just started a new book with a prologue that is one and half pages. He loved it. Short, sweet, and to the point. I can't see my prologue edited down to two pages. There is too much going on there. So...

Alright, so I have rethought my position and decided to scrap the prologue and start the sequel at Chapter 1 at a later date than the original book. Perhaps the prologue will be rewritten into another chapter further on in a different light. Perhaps it will be scrapped altogether and will become an exercise in writing.

I'm happy with the outcome but I must say, this writing business is exhausting. But now that I have solved my dilema of to prologue or not to prologue I can get on with the sequel.

What did I learn most from all of this? It keeps coming back to the same old thing - you are the author, do what feels right for the story and what you are happy with. If that means breaking "the rules", go ahead and break them. Feels good.

Now its your turn. Do you like prologues or not? Would you use one? What about backstory in a chapter? What do you think the ideal length of a prologue should be?

Have a great writing week and keep on keeping on writing.

WINTER'S CAPTIVE - FINAL PROOF EDITS

Finally...my final proof arrived and it took me a week to proof it and get it back to my editor. I can't believe it is all done. Any mistakes I missed are there forever now LOL. I, also, received my media release and fact sheet for proofing, and my final cover. So exciting. That part is all behind me.

Now, the marketing begins. And, I have been listed on Barnes and Nobel, for pre-orders with an October 15, 2011 release date. So cool!

So much to share this post. I had my first web-based interview. I will copy/paste below so you can read it and get to know me a little better.

I have been getting lots of hits on my blogsite lately so I know you are out there. Please leave a comment or if you have a blogsite leave me a link so I can join you out there.

Here's the interview...

 Interview with June Bourgo, June 27, 2011
Here is the wonderful June Bourgo and her wonderful book Winter's Captive that is due out in October this year.


Hi June, welcome to the Adventures of Molly Mavis Gumnut Blog.


Thanks so much for having me, Trish.


First of all, tell us a little about yourself.


First, I was born and raised in Montreal. I moved west in my late teens. I love BC. Victoria and Vancouver are beautiful cities. I can enjoy the sophistication of the big city and live in the raw beauty of nature not too far away.


That sounds wonderful, and perfect for an author. Where do you write, June? Do you have an office? Or do you sit in your garden?

I have an office to write in, but I like to sit by our trout stream and write. I usually carry paper and pen with me wherever I go, because sometimes I see interactions with people that inspire me to write and I don't want to forget what I saw.


That's like me, I always carry a pen and notebook wherever I go. You never know what might inspire you and it's so easy to forget things. Now, tell us how long you’ve been writing, June.


I always enjoyed writing as a child. I was an average student because I was a lazy student. I did what I needed to, to get through the course. But I always exceled in English and got top marks.


That's great. Have you always wanted to be a writer?


As a teenager, I was very shy and definitely a dreamer. Secretly I wanted to write, be a rock star, and be a stewardess so I could travel the world. I grew up in a loving and protective family but the support to have a career really wasn't there. As a female, I was encouraged to take typing so I could work as a secretary until I met a man and became a wife and mother. The fifties dream LOL.


Yes. I can relate to that. Not all parents see the artistic side of their child. I look for it in my grandchildren and can already see that one is a potential author. He has a great imagination and is great at drawing.


Do you remember your first writing attempts, June?


I do. I remember writing about being a snowman when I was nine and walking down the street and melting away in the hot spring sun LOL. I got an A for that. Then, as a teenager, I tried to write the great Canadian novel about a girl in Quebec in the days of the French Voyageurs (fur trappers). Like I knew all about that! That was my first lesson in writing about what you know. Haha.


That's funny, June. I remember my first story. It was about a miniature person that lived in my pocket. I named her Inchy and she was a right trouble causer. LOL.


What genre do you write the most?

Fiction - women's stories, all about empowerment.


What other genres have you written in, or would like to pursue?


Well, at the moment, my passion lies with women's stories. I love getting into the psyche and I'm very character driven as opposed to plot driven. I enjoy creating plots, but they are there to serve my characters only.


What is the main theme of your latest book? And what inspired it?


Again...empowerment. That shy protected teenager, along with being a dreamer, was extremely niave. I married the wrong person for all the wrong reasons. He was an abusive alcoholic. It took me nine years to finally get the courage to get myself and my son out of that destructive relationship. My first novel, Winter's Captive, is based on the lessons I learned and the growth I gained from that time of my life. It is a fictitious story about a pregnant women who is abandoned by her cheating husband and she escapes kidnappers in the Canadian north. She spends the winter lost and alone in a remote cabin, experiences childbirth solo, and reflects on her life while trying to survive a harsh winter. The book was a healing process for me and my therapy.


That was very brave of you to do. Many women never have the courage to do that as they fear the reprisals, and quite right in some cases. You're also very brave to talk publicly about it too. Good for you, June.


What goals do you set out to achieve when you start writing a new story?


Wow, that's a tough question! I don't write outlines. I loosely write down the main characters name and list all the things I see happening to that character before my preconceived ending. I, also, don't write in any particular order. I know a beginning and an end. I write where the muse takes me knowing only that that piece will be near the end, or in the middle somewhere, etc. I just follow the muse of the moment and sooner or later all the pieces fit together. It is the only way I can do it. To start at chapter 1, go to 2, then 3, etc. sounds so restrictive to me and boring LOL. So after all this rambling, my only goal is to write, no rhyme or reason to it.

Are you a fast or a slow writer?

By some peoples achievements, slow. My first novel took nine years. Well, actually two and a half years. The rest of those years, life got in the way. But the past year I completely rewrote it and found a publisher after three tries.


How long does it take you to write a book

I guess I answered that above partly. I expect my current novel to take me a year. If I could retire full-time, probably six months.


How do you cope with the friends and family that don’t support your writing or believe in your writing?


Generally, if we don't support something a family member is doing, we keep our mouths shut, unless it is somethng destructive. But the rest of us will talk to each other about it. A typical family LOL. I can be a private person and some of my friends didn't even know I write.

That's sensible. I make the mistake of telling everyone I'm an author, leaving myself wide opene for critisism, sometimes, but not always.
What is your next project, June?

A sequel to "Winter's Captive". My main character has more to say and more to share about herself with the world.


Great. Do you ever base physical appearance of your characters on people you know, portraits or actors?


Good question. Portraits or actors - no. Physical appearance somewhat, but I do draw more from personality traits and character of people I know. I use names of my grandchildren for secondary characters that may only appear in the story on one or two pages where we don't need to know anythng about that character. I don't use names of people I know for main characters because first, I can't disassociate their name from their personalities and that gets in the way of the character's development. And secondly, I don't want anyone I know to think a character is based on them, especially if the character's role in the story is a bad one LOL.

I know what you mean. For my characters, I merge a few people I know together, then they can't recognise themselves. LOL.


Introduce the main character from your latest book. Who are they? Let them speak for themselves. What would they like to say?

My name is Georgia Charles. The most important thing I can tell you is to get to know yourself. Don't define yourself by what you do or who you are with. Be your own person. And if life hands you lemons, make lemonade. It's up to you to decide how much sweetness to add to the lemons, no one else. Live for today.


Fantastic, June. Thank you so much for answering all the questions. That was very entertaining.

I enjoyed it too, Trish, and thanks for inviting me to your blog.




June's book, Winter's Captive will be published in October 2011 by Asteroid Publishing Inc, Toronto.


You can follow June at:


http://losingcinderella.blogspot.com/


http://www.junebourgoauthor.com/


Have a great writing week all and keep on keeping on writing!