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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

A to Z Challenge - K (and Critique Partners)

For the A to Z Challenge, I am featuring some awesome bloggers. These individuals have offered so much support of my book, CassaStar, and me on my blogger journey. Of course, I’ll be keeping up with the world of movies, music, and pop culture stuff as well! Ninjas are just talented that way...


Kelly Polark
Kelly is a delight! In every picture, there’s that big, beautiful smile, and her joy bubbles over into every post and comment. Need a shot of happiness? Want to hear her sing? Visit Kelly today!


I want to thank everyone who answered my call for critique partners. Clarissa, Ellie, Stephanie, and Matthew, I really appreciate your offers. And any of you who need a first chapter critique – Clarissa is powerful! She’ll whip your work into shape in a heartbeat.

After much debating and deep Ninja thoughts (those hurt!), my new critique parters are Jeffrey at World of the Scribe and Rusty at Blutonian Death Egg. Jeffrey has a great sense of where I’m going with my words, and Rusty knows how to catch things I miss. Plus the dude has a great sense of humor – I about died laughing while reading his critique comments!

And Anne at Piedmont Writer will be helping me with the relationship stuff. (Translation – the man/woman stuff!) She’s a fantastic writer – I’m in awe of her use of language in her Regency romance. (And yes, this Ninja DOES know the difference between Regency romance and the Hyatt Regency.) Thanks guys!
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59 comments:

  1. Anne GallagherApril 13, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    Thanks Alex. And hey, we all have our niches. I don't know the first thing about warp speed.

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  2. RHYTHM AND RHYMEApril 13, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    Pleased you have people to help ,
    you're spoilt for choice.

    Have a good day
    Yvonne.

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  3. Mary@GigglesandGunsApril 13, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    You know I'm not Sci-fi but with a name like Blutonian Death Egg..... How can I not check the guy out.

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  4. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 13, 2011 at 5:29 AM

    congrats on your new crit partners :)

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  5. Jeff BeeslerApril 13, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    I am proud to be in the service of the captain ninja!

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  6. The Words CrafterApril 13, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    Congrats on your crit partners!!! *waving at Anne*

    I'll have to come back this afternoon and 'meet' the others you've linked....

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  7. Elizabeth Spann CraigApril 13, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Sounds like a great critique group, Alex!

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  8. N. R. WilliamsApril 13, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    It sounds like you have everything lined up. Good luck with critique.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

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  9. Alex J. CavanaughApril 13, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Anne, all I know is it's fast!

    Yvonne, spoiled or blessed!

    Jeffrey, proud to have you!

    Thanks, everyone!

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  10. Liz PApril 13, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    Congrats on your new crit partners! Sounds like a good team you got there. :)

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  11. Laura PaulingApril 13, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    Glad you found some crit partners! That's def. important and sounds like a good balance too.

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  12. Laura EnoApril 13, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    Congrats! Finding the right crit partners can be challenging!

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  13. JulesApril 13, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    Congrats on the partners and Yes Clarissa rocks! :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  14. SharleneTApril 13, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    I can imagine what a tough decision that was -- congratulations on finding your crit partners. So much fun! coming up; no?

    Hello, fellow A-Z Challenger! Here's my latest entry. Come visit either of my blogs when you can
    and leave some comment love:

    K is for Kitchen Konvenience - http://bit.ly/hU4v0h

    Twitter: @SolarChief

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  15. baygirl32April 13, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    sounds like a great team!

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  16. TaraApril 13, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    Great critique partners make our books so much better. Glad you found yours :)

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  17. Chris PhillipsApril 13, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    I think it's important to have crit partners who play different roles/have different strengths.

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  18. Sarah AhiersApril 13, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I will vouch for Anne too, since she beta'd for me and was AWESOME, AMAZING and FAST!!!

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  19. Author Joshua HoytApril 13, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    sounds like things are coming together good luck with it all.

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  20. L.A. ColvinApril 13, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    Congrats on finding critters you like. Good luck and I hope it all comes together.

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  21. Kelly PolarkApril 13, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Thank you for featuring me today, Alex! A big smile for you!

    Good crits are good to have!

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  22. Hart JohnsonApril 13, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    It's so interesting what different partners bring to the table, isn't it? I've got Legacy with it's 3rd round of people, and have had fabulous advice from many different folks, yet there isn't that much overlap--everyone spots different kinds of things.

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  23. Talli RolandApril 13, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Yay for all these awesome people. We're so lucky to have such great bloggers around us.

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  24. LeoviApril 13, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Masterful, not to miss any detail of this beautiful blog POLARK KELLY

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  25. Bish DenhamApril 13, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    Looks like you found yourself some excellent crit partners.

    (Kelly and Anne have been/are good friends to me!)

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  26. DafeenahApril 13, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    Congrats on the critique partners! Best of luck!

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  27. LTMApril 13, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Critters are the best, and you've got some great ones listed there. Yay for you guys~ :o)

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  28. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Its great to have friends. I know most of these people. Rusty's great and gives deep thought provoking feedback and comments. Best wishes on your second book, you busy guy you.

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  29. mshatchApril 13, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    I'm impressed you know the difference between Regency Romance and Hyatt Regency.

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  30. Matthew MacNishApril 13, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    I didn't know you were working with Jeff, that's very cool!

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  31. Scarlett ClayApril 13, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Sound like you are one serious writer!

    I homschool my 15 yr. old in literature/history and am always tyring to critique her writing in a way that's constructive and not discouraging. Not always easy to do.

    Things got better when I threw away the red pen. :)

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  32. Scarlett ClayApril 13, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    sorry for the spelling errors (on a writer's blog! yikes!)
    I have about 10 minute to look at blogs each day so I'm typing super fasttttttttt

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  33. Alex J. CavanaughApril 13, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    Jules, she does!

    Sarah, she is really good and fast - her critique was the first I received back!

    Kelly, you're welcome!

    Hart, I discovered this! Everyone sees something different.

    LTM, critique partners are critters - I like that!

    MsHatch, Ninjas need to know these things...

    Matthew, I am now!

    Scarlett, that's all right - I wouldn't have even noticed! That's why I need critique partners.

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  34. CheeseboyApril 13, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Alex, you have surrounded yourself with the right kind of supportive bloggers and others. You can only succeed as far as the company you keep. You will only continue to do well in life.

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  35. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    it's nice how your blogs always seem to be thanking people. It's nice to hear & see thanks from people that you help in anyway, sometimes people just forget that now a days and that little word can mean a lot to someone that is feeling a little underappreciated or invisible:-)

    Stop by and give K is for Karma a read:-)

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  36. EllaApril 13, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Nice to meet new Ninjas! lol Sounds like a great team you have lined up~
    Off to check out the new gals!
    I use to work with a Hyatt at a Best Western, poor kid. YOU can hear the jokes now,"Hyatt you should work at the Hyatt"...it was lame~ Good to know you can tell the difference; Some Ninjas can't...

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  37. Ellie GarrattApril 13, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    No need for thanks - getting to read part of your sequel was thanks enough!

    It sounds as if you have the right crit partners set up. I must send something to Clarissa!

    Ellie Garratt

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  38. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    I need a critique partner, she says in a very small voice :(

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  39. Elizabeth MuellerApril 13, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    Hi, Alex! So happy for friends! Looks like you're well loved. :)

    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

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  40. Stephanie LoréeApril 13, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    So glad you found some partners! Best of luck in everything.

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  41. Alex J. CavanaughApril 13, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Cheeseboy, I accept that fortune!

    Up, I wouldn't be where I'm at without my online friends.

    Ella, I'm a clever Ninja.

    Ellie, you should! Wow, she did an awesome job.

    Lauracea, check with Clarissa and Stephanie - they do super critiques!

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  42. The Old SillyApril 13, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    Good use of the 'K' post. :) But - there is a difference between Regency Romance and the Hyatt? Hmm ...

    Marvin D Wilson

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  43. Patricia A. Timms-McGeheeApril 13, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    Congrats on your new crit partners. I agree with you on Kelly. She's awesome! I love her.

    You guys are doing a great job on the blogging challenge by the way. I enjoyed reading the various posts on my phone while I was on Spring Break.

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  44. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Congrats on finding the critique partners. And thanks for Kelly's link I'll have to check her out.

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  45. Michael Di GesuApril 13, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    That's terrific, Alex. I'm glad you found crit partners that will push you into your next published novel.

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  46. Alex J. CavanaughApril 13, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    Marvin, one houses more than just romance...

    Patricia, glad you could check in on us!

    Michael, they will push, prod, shove, fling...

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  47. Old KittyApril 13, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    Yay for amazing Cap'n Ninja's Army of Adorable Angels!!!

    Take care
    x

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  48. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comApril 13, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    You are wonderful, Alex. Thanks for all the kind words and for Thursday's post (in advance).
    xo Robyn

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  49. Denise Covey April 13, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    These are some awesome bloggers you feature.

    Denise<3

    Geech! Just listening to the American deficit as I type here. How many trillions was that again?? One scary economy!

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  50. Alex J. CavanaughApril 13, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    Kitty, the name just keeps getting longer...

    You are welcome, Robyn - in advance!

    Scary isn't it Denise?

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  51. Susan Gourley/KelleyApril 13, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    Alex, you're killing me here. I'm trying to visit hundreds of blogs from the challenge in some semblance of order and you keep giving me suggestions for other great links.

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  52. Rusty CarlApril 13, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    I am honored you chose to go with humor over substance... sigh. Lucky for me my wife made the same choice.

    Seriously, I'm totally jazzed about reading the whole thing. Can't wait to get started.

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  53. Helen GingerApril 13, 2011 at 10:34 PM

    Congratulations of finding compatible critique partners. That's not always an easy thing to do!

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  54. Arlee BirdApril 13, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Rusty and Jeffrey are good choices. I think they will give some great feedback.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  55. Jai JoshiApril 14, 2011 at 12:48 AM

    Have fun with your new critique partners! I treasure my own writing support network so I hope you have as much fun with yours as I do with mine.

    Jai

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  56. UnknownApril 14, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    I'm so glad you found your crit partners. Mine are invaluable and they have whipped my work into shape faster than exercise is whipping my body into shape.

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  57. mymyApril 14, 2011 at 2:44 AM

    i love sci-fi! i should check out your book. now! :)

    mymy
    My bric-a-brac

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  58. Alex J. CavanaughApril 14, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    Sorry, Susan!

    Rusty, isn't that how all wives make their choice?

    Mymy, thanks!

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  59. Will BurkeApril 14, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Glad that you found your right- fits. It's a fine line between "good" and "good for this project," eh?

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