There are a couple cool book trailer contests online. I just discovered that my trailer’s been nominated for Best Sci-Fi/Distopian over at Parajunkee. There are some cool prizes, so I’m calling upon my awesome army to go HERE to vote for CassaStar’s trailer. (Be sure to check out some of the other categories as well.) Spunk on a Stick’s Tips is also hosting a book trailer contest. Many of you have some cool trailers, so be sure to enter before December 31st.
Now for the final round of naked answers…
From Vicki Rocho - With all that manic writing, are you brushing and flossing like you should be?
I always brush and floss!
From Susan Fields - How many revisions of CassaStar did you go though?
Dozens upon dozens…
From Powered Toast Man - When you were younger did you ever worry about getting an erection when you went to the doctor for a physical?
No, more to the point, I worried about the 65-year-old doctor getting an erection…
From Talli Rolland - What has been the most helpful thing anyone has said to you about the whole publishing process - after you've been published?
Don’t stop promoting.
From Lynda Young - How'd you pick your names for your characters?
The names of the two main characters were from the original manuscript, so I don’t remember their origins. For the others, I spent an hour brainstorming unique but simple names and then matched them to characters.
From Abby Minard - How long did it take you to write CassaStar?
The first draft – almost a year! Revisions took another six months.
From Ali - Byron is a very complex man with a lot of internal history and cause & effect. How did you build him as a character? Did you model him after someone you know (or yourself)? Or did you build him layer by layer through revisions?
Byron is definitely not me! I just took the original character, created his background, and filled in other details until I felt I knew him well. Most of his layers came before I began writing the story.
From Enid - How do you find twists in a story?
I look for the shouts. (Don’t twists and shouts always go together?)
Don't forget to go HERE to vote for CassaStar’s trailer!
oooh, I hope my revisions don't take very long! Aaaah! I hate editing. Oh well, there's always something we don't like about our "job", right?
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday and New Year!
Oh yes, revision... dozens and dozens and dozens. I know where you're coming from.
ReplyDeleteI'll go over to Parajunkie and vote for your trailer.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who's done dozens and dozens of revisions.
voted! But you are already leading with 50% of votes so we may as well celebrate the victory now :)
ReplyDeletepS that Powdered Toast Man is even naughtier than me :)
ReplyDeleteI love to discover characters as I write the book. I "know" everything about them, but I find if I write down too much before I write the actual story, I lose the character. It's more like one would get to know someone over a period of time.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you!
Just voted for CassaStar! So far you're in the lead. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, Alex!
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to find where to vote for you because there was not a pic of the book with next to the bubble. Glad you are still whooping up.
ReplyDeleteTwist and Shout - LOL. Love it. Now I'm going to vote.
ReplyDeleteLOL, being female never thought about you manly, men fears of doctors. Wonder if this why my Dad won't go? :D
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
hahahahahAHHAHAAA!!!
ReplyDeletethe twists go with the shouts!
love it! :)
You are quite the clever one, mister. You look for the shouts? Ha!
ReplyDeleteI'll go vote now.
Remember Hannah, I'm a slow typer!
ReplyDeleteDezz, I never count votes until they are all cast! And isn't PTM terrible?
Thanks, Jeffrey!
Chris, I know - can't control that.
Jules- maybe!
Great answers! Twist and shout, perfect. I'll have to remember that next time I'm plotting. Maybe if I shout loud enough the twist idea will come to me??
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find these shouts?
ReplyDeleteCool. Off to vote!
ReplyDeleteMy twisted mind comes up with the twists.
ReplyDeleteI've voted!! Good luck!!! Personally I've never tried twisting AND shouting so maybe that's where I'm going wrong with my writerly ambitions! LOL! take care
ReplyDeletex
Ha ha! LOL @ your doctor erection comment.
ReplyDeleteLove the doctor-erection question and answer!
ReplyDeleteI've lost track of the number of times I've edited my manuscript - dozens upon dozens sounds about right - but I do know that I have nine distinct drafts on my computer. Each one just goes through a million changes before I decide 'oh, this isn't the same draft anymore, time for a new file!'
Writing never stops.
Congrats on the nomination, having the wicked sense of humour that I have I loved the question about the 65 yr old doctor. Kept me laughing for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh.
Yvonne.
"Don't stop promoting"
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly said.
Wow, I'm impressed by my questions, particularly as I have no recollection of asking it, haha! Great answer, too, btw! :)
ReplyDeleteFlossing is important.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have the twist and shout song in my head all day now.
Merry Holidays!
Lydia, it's worth a try.
ReplyDeleteNotes, with the twists, of course!
Kitty, just don't hurt yourself. And thanks for voting.
Cheeseboy, hopefully it wasn't too much...
Sangu, I have about a dozen printed copies as well.
Yvonne, glad I could make you laugh.
Talli, you've been a little busy lately!
Merry Christmas, Lola!
Cast my vote in for you, Alex :) Good luck with the contest.
ReplyDeleteCold hands and an erection on a 65 year old physician are not a good mix...
Great answers Alex!
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing my little "I voted!" badge...
Those are a lot of revisions! Shouts--I love finding new ones!
ReplyDeleteI voted for you. :)
I too want to know how to identify shouts! :)
ReplyDeleteWhoo! Great answers!! This is fun! I like Q&A stuff! Going to vote....NOW!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week, Alex!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips on the trailer contests. I'll go vote for CassaStar right now. And you should also be happy to know that I'll erase your last naked answer from my memory forever. Yeah.
ReplyDeleteWhat awesome answers (and great questions, too!). Loved that you ended with twist and shout. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteGreat answers. And six month revisions... I've been there!
ReplyDeleteJamie, you said it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat!
Thanks, Golden.
Thanks, Nicki. Sorry, did that song get stuck in your head?
Thanks, everyone!
lol on shouts.
ReplyDeleteVoted for your trailer. :D
I've voted! Thrilled to see you are way out in the lead ;)
ReplyDeleteOMG, I've just read Powdered Toast Man's question!!!
I cast my vote Alex. Wonder who for? Looks like you're on a winner there! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI voted, Alex, and you're way ahead!!!
ReplyDeleteMonti
NotesAlongTheWay
Don't stop promoting, but be wise in how you do promote. I've seen various outfits offering promotional services that while technically legitimate, aren't worth the money.
ReplyDeleteThanks M Pax!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellie. And yes, his question was out there!
Thanks L'Aussie and Monti!
Bob, so far I've been lucky - I've not paid a dime for promotions! Don't intend to, either.
I loved the Cassastar Trailer. You totally deserve to win!
ReplyDelete*runs off to vote*
Cool answers. Thanks :) Heading on over to vote.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex - I love the advice to never stop promoting.
ReplyDeleteAnd, it's always good to brush and floss. LOL
Wow, you're way ahead in the voting, Alex. Great trailer.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tessa!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lynda.
RaShelle, I don't want to give the dentist an excuse to 'pick' any longer than he has to!
Thanks, Susan - and that's good news.
LOL! I can relate to the dozens and dozens of revisions. Going through one more right now. Drafts and revisions are time consuming the first time around but become easier for the sequels. Good luck with your next book. LOL! part deux ... Powered Toast men should have known better to ask.
ReplyDeleteI going to vote. Hope it's not too late.
ReplyDeleteWhat an eclectic bunch of questions. I’ve enjoyed both the questions and the answers in this series and I’m sorry to hear it’s the last round. Now I’m off to vote. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteFun answers - loved the shouts :)
ReplyDeleteOff to vote...
Teresa, I have no idea when the voting ends.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane and Jemi - and glad you enjoyed the Q&A. Yes, they were odd!
Just voted... 77 percent! Congrats Alex...
ReplyDeleteMichael
Great questions. I'll check out the trailer.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Great questions/answers!
ReplyDeleteI voted and you are WINNING!!
Relieved to hear about the flossing...and I'm definitely going to keep my eye/ear out for the shouts!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the trailer award. Wow!! only a 1 1/2 years of writing to come up with a novel? Creative and fast you are.
ReplyDeleteI do the twist,I do the twist ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your trailer nom!
ReplyDeleteGreat answers and I hope you trailer does well because it's awesome!
ReplyDeleteCD
Congrats on the nomination!
ReplyDeleteAngela @ The Bookshelf Muse
all the best... and zoinks on the doctor questions...
ReplyDeleteGideon and Kelly, thanks!
ReplyDeleteCopyboy, it didn't feel like 'only' at the time!
Thanks everyone.
Okay, I feel better - I was starting to wonder if I'm the only one who goes through dozens of revisions. Six months, though? I'm already at a year of revising and still not done.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to Parajunkee to vote...
Great naked response; I'm off to vote. Love the shout comment!
ReplyDeleteVoted! And never say it's the last time you are getting naked... you need to keep the faith, my friend...
ReplyDeleteSusan, I bet you were faster with the first draft though.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ella!
Hart, I'd say I might be willing to get naked for you, but that just sounds wrong, you know?
Hey, Alex. Just voted for you. Looks like you're at %80! Well deserved. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the questions and answers! Oh, and I stopped over and voted. You are rockin' the contest! Awesome trailer by the way...:)
ReplyDeletePk and Jamie, thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove the answers! Hope your trailer wins!!
ReplyDeleteVoted for you. Congrats on the nomination.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I can't read past PTM's question and your response. I am laughing too hard (no pun intended) right now. You handled (no pun intended) that one very well, Alex. xo
ReplyDeleteYou must make your dentist very proud!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your nomination. On my way to vote.
Thank you Abby and Lois!
ReplyDeleteRobyn, I am to please and cause chortling.
Thanks, Missed!
I voted for your trailer, Alex. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a great new year.
And once you've found the shout, and you're twisting, you shake it baby, right?
ReplyDeleteI love Q&A sessions, they always give a real feel for the blogger. Thanks!