"When I'm not writing" with Lois D. Brown + giveaway!

 

Our first post-Paranormal April Fools' guest is Lois D. Brown, author of CYCLES, a YA book that incorporates elements of both urban fantasy and science fiction, though she promises it's not aliens. I hope you'll all enjoy getting to know her. And make sure to stick around for the giveaway for a chance to get your hands on one of her recent releases!

 

 

One of my favorite all-time quotes about writing is from Benjamin Franklin. He said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

I’ve found when I’m not writing I love to do things that will help me be a better writer, and I’m not talking about anything that happens in a classroom. Instead, I love to get outside and hike. Every single time I get out into Mother Nature, I come back to my computer full of ideas for my next scene, chapter, or novel.

One adventure I had last summer was in the desert area of southern Utah. A few members of my family decided we wanted to find a “midget cabin” up in the canyons outside of Kanab, Utah. It was built in the early 1900s by two brothers—both midgets—who ran cattle in the mountains. There are no trails to it, and it is hidden by trees and brush. In addition, we wanted to go to some remote Anasazi Indian ruins just a mountain over from the cabin.

The day was extra hot, we were lazy getting ready for the hike, and our supplies were meager. What we thought was going to be a 4-hour hike turned into a 12-hour ordeal, most of it without water. It was near dusk, after hiking the ridge of a canyon for several hours desperately looking for the drop-in, when I decided what I would include in my latest book: an ill-fated trek through the hot wilderness.

We did get home (obviously because I’m writing this), and even though I was exhausted I immediately sat down and started writing what I feel turned out to be a pretty great couple chapters. All in all, the hike was a success (though my husband wasn’t so sure about that).

So get out, live a little, spend some time in nature, and see what it does for you.

Warning: I started filming while still moving, so the first part of this video is shaky. It does get better. :)

It was after we found these ruins that we got lost on our way back. I sound quite chipper in these videos. Trust me, I didn’t by the end of the day.

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Thanks for visiting the blog today, Lois, and sharing your hiking stories with us!

For more information about Lois and her books, check out her website.

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Here's the scoop on CYCLES:

 

 

When Renee discovers that her neighbor, Dr. Dawson, has bags of his dead daughter’s frozen blood stored in his basement, she decides it’s up to her to uncover the doctor’s mysterious past. What she learns, however, is not what she expects. Now she and her friend Sam Miller are on the run, hiding from scientists who want to use what the two teenagers know to change human life forever.

 

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

 

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Lois is generously giving away two copies of CYCLES: one (1) e-copy and one (1) print copy!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

Print copy: Continental US only
E-copy: Open internationally

Ends Monday, May 1, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favorite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit and share with us? Please email me at jennblogs (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

Posted by jenn at 08:47

 giveaway, Lois D Brown, When I'm not writing  18 People left their mark

Born and raised in the Toronto area, Jenn moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, eight years ago for school. She's still in school (thankfully on another degree!), now trapped in her dissertation. When she's not dissertating, which happens more often than it should, Jenn spends her time reading, watching movies, playing volleyball, travelling, and enjoying the local music scene. Her latest addictions: yoga and Almond Crunch cereal.