Tag Archives: Renee Pace

Secrets – Why Teens Should Tell

Posted on June 4, 2012 by | 3 Comments

Good Morning Monday readers:

Growing up I devoured fantasy and science fiction books but the one book that stayed with me the most was something I read in grade 4, The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. That book seemed realistic and I could picture myself running away and hiding out in a cool rail car. When I started writing YA I found I was leaning toward contemporary hard hitting issues and I wasn’t sure why. I haven’t plotted out any of my nitty gritty YA stories so I wasn’t sure what journey my characters were going to take me on but what a therapeutic rollercoaster of a ride. My teen years weren’t the best.

Growing up in a small fishing community there were a lot of issues I turned a blind eye to. One of those issues was molestation. My good friend’s step-father sexually abused her but because we didn’t openly talk about that we pretended it wasn’t happening. But the scars that she kept hidden became major issues as our high school years progressed and tragically our friendship ended. Looking back I realize I wasn’t much of a friend and I think writing Off Limits was my way of wishing things had turned out differently.

Megan and Lindsay don’t like each other and in the beginning they are using each other for their own purposes. But as they spend more time together they each realize the façade of what they’re wearing is just that. What surprises them both is a true friendship forms; one that can withstand the brutal secrets that scar each of them. Together they are stronger and once secrets get revealed the power they hold quickly diminishes. I wish more than anything I had known that as a teenager. I certainly know it as a mother of four and tell my children, even my teens that secrets can destroy a family and an individual. Secrets hold power but being brave and telling someone makes that person even braver.

Off Limits is a journey for both my main characters and writing it was a journey for me. I hope readers will understand the hard hitting subject matter and show empathy for both Megan and Lindsay.

Stay tuned for my next nitty gritty book Off Stroke, which tackles prejudices and once again it’s hard hitting. Off Stroke will debut in June on Amazon.

What I’d like to know is if you kept a secret that did more harm than good? Should teens tell? We talk about bullying but is keeping a secret just the same?

 

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Off Limits is a .99cent read in the Indie .99cent Blow out sale!

 

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Posted in adults reading YA, Indie authors, insecurity, mother's writing ya, Renee Pace, secrets

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Writing Contests – do they work for you?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Over the past month or so I’ve had the pleasure of being a judge for a YA contest. Now, this isn’t the first time I’ve judged written material for YA but what blew my mind was the caliber of material I was critiquing and judging. About three years ago I was also a judge for a YA contest and five years ago part of a panel of published romance authors judging romance. I’m not sure if it’s the fact more people are self-publishing, or more on-line groups are helping “newbie” writers but the difference was night and day for me as a judge.

Talent, yes I discovered that. I read one story as a judge and didn’t want it to end. Of course all of the entries are anonymous but what drew me in was this writer’s POV. In fact, two of the three had very strong POVs and when you’re writing YA that’s crucial. Now, POV is key for romance but since a lot of YA is written in first person narrative either in past or present tense, getting an authentic YA voice is key.

I’ve entered a number of writing contests over the years. What do I look for in a writing contest? One, I want to know who is reading my material. Is it published or unpublished authors? Are there tiers to the contest? Once judged does it then go to an agent or editor? Do judges give comments that will help me with my manuscript? I don’t usually look for monetary gains because I’m looking for feedback and I will only enter a manuscript if there’s a chance of my material getting directly to an editor. I also always do my homework. If a contest lists agents or editors I check them out because I want to find out what they’re looking for.

The contest that helped me the most was the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest because once my book, Off Leash, made it to the semi-finals I knew I was going to publish it no matter what.

I want to find out from writers, especially new writers, if they have entered writing contests and if they’ve found them helpful. Don’t be shy. Let us know what contests have helped you.

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Posted in Contest, Renee Pace, Uncategorized, Writing YA

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Sunny Weather Equals Good Time to Review Writing Goals

Posted on May 21, 2012 by | 3 Comments
Hirtle’s Beach, Nova Scotia

It’s Victoria Day weekend in Canada which means we’re celebrating Queen Victoria’s b-day. She’s now deceased but us Canadians like to keep with our royal traditions. In truth, most Canadians are celebrating the great May long weekend. We always try to hit a beach with the children and today loaded up the van for our discovery of Hirtle’s Breach which is in-between Lunenburg and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

I swear the heat was about 30 degrees and that’s weird for May but I’ll take it. Our children enjoyed the beach hike while I sat to enjoy the new YA book I picked up about a month ago. The book is called Above by Leah Bobet and it’s very different. It takes a while to get into the poetic-flow of the book but I’m so hooked. I love the world building, the hint of the mental institute where the children who are odd are kept and the world below and above. What I realized as I sat there on the beach, absorbing the hot rays and trying not to get burnt, is this is usually the time of year when I re-examine my annual goals for writing.

So I made a list of things. Here’s what needs to be done.

  1. Finish inputting edits for Off Stroke – goal finish by May 30
  2. Send Off Stroke off to editor for June 1st
  3. Send out query letters and sample chapters for Upper YA: The Forsaken –search publishing submission guidelines for Sourcebooks, HQN Teen (might need agent for that) etc – send out June 5
  4. Finish writing YA Sci-fi story – needs 25,000 more – goal 1st draft done end of July
  5. Rework Siren’s Lure – Indie pub ready for August
  6. Complete 5 more chapters in YA The Dressing Room – goal end of August
  7. Romance: Edit Bliss – sequel to Rapture – have ready for Indie publishing September 1
  8. Write Claiming Poseidon’s Treasurer – needs another 10,000 words – ready for Nov 1 st Indie publishing – hire cover artist
  9. November – Start new writing project for Nano month – Contemporary Women’s Fiction? Or romance story?
  10. Map our Celtic story for Romance Anthology with two other romance writer
  11. Map our marketing plan for all books.

The sunny weather always invigorates me. I feel like writing and writing and that’s a good thing. I’m wondering if other writer’s do this? If you’re a writer do you set annual goals? Do you re-examine them at the six-month mark? How do you juggle you’re writing schedule.

 

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The year Indie authors took control of their creative art.

Posted on May 7, 2012 by | 2 Comments

This blog post was recently featured on indiewritersreview but I thought I’d share it again.

For me that was 2011. When I wrote Off Leash it finalled in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest but still I couldn’t find a publisher. Did that deter me? Not really. Why? After five years writing romance novels I had learned a lot about the publishing industry. It’s not all rosy. What did I have to lose if I went the Indie route? Not much. The books I’d written were sitting on my computer and they certainly weren’t doing anything there.

Going Indie was a learning curve but the best thing I discovered is this wonderful, cooperative Indie author community on-line where authors share marketing tips, how to self-publish, and we’re frank about royalty talks. What one author finds to work for marketing we share with the loop. No longer are authors out for themselves instead we know working together helps all.

Was I scared going the Indie route? Sort of. But I have to say I love learning something knew. I like the camaraderie of my fellow Indie authors and I do like the control I have over my books. Like many Indie authors I pay for a professional cover artist and editor.

Off Limits might not have sold millions by the big six but those same big six publishers are certainly paying attention to the power of Indie authors. Indie authors are becoming game changers. If you don’t think that’s the case ask yourself why the big six are courting the most popular Indie authors and getting them to sign on the dotted line. They’re also doing this because a number of authors with those big six publishers are also jumping on the Indie author band wagon to take control of their destiny.

I’d love to hear from other Indie authors. Are you happy being and Indie author? Do you think Indie authors are reshaping the publishing industry?

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Posted in Indie authors, Interviews, Renee Pace, Writing YA, YA Lit

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Are teenage stars allowed to age?

Posted on April 29, 2012 by | 3 Comments

The other night hubby and I went on a date. Had a lovely meal and then we went to see The Lucky One —a movie neither of us knew anything about. The movie started and I turned to my hubby and said, “Gee that guy looks familiar.” He laughed and told me that’s Zac Efron. I did a double-take, because with four children I have sat through hours of Zac dancing and singing, enough to make me cringe. Here’s what my mind was thinking: oh my god I’m lusting after Zac, which makes me feel slightly icky and two, I’m so glad I didn’t know Zac was in this movie because I wouldn’t have wanted to see it and the movie rocks.

And this got me thinking how hard it must be for young movie actors and singers who seem to blaze straight into the spotlight at that pre-teen age and then viola turn into adults. Their bodies are changing, and their voices are changing which is all normal. That transformation from teen to adulthood is so frustrating for non-celebs, I can’t even begin to imagine how it feels for celebs when  a zillion people are watching your every move.

Take Justin Bieber, my Canadian singing hero, and yes, I’m a huge fan of his Never say Never movie because I totally get his message. But lots of people are saying since Justin went through puberty his voice has changed and that’s why he isn’t singing. Well, what did they expect? Of course his voice has changed, but unlike lots I have faith that no matter what Justin will be the one to come out on top.

Much like my young adult characters in my nitty gritty books my characters grow. Some, like Jay in my Off Leash book have to learn to believe in themselves. Others like Megan and Lindsey in Off Limits have to learn to have faith in a true friend. And, Eje in Off Stroke, which debuts next month on Amazon, has to allow himself room to grow into his man shoes and take control when others won’t.

All my characters take a journey and that’s what life is about.  So, I’m okay with the fact that I fell in lust for over an hour with Zac in The Lucky One—it was a delightful sensual romantic movie which surprised me. I’m going to be much more open-minded now about movies featuring young stars. After all they age like the rest of us.

Are we, as fans, too hard on young teenage stars? Do we set unrealistic expectations that they will remain the same forever? Seriously, that would only be true if Zac and Justin were vampires and I’m fairly certain they’re not.

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Posted in adults reading YA, film, Movies

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