HAUNTING JOY

I'm thrilled to be part of the HAUNTING JOY blog tour today! I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of HAUNTING JOY, a novella by the amazing Lena Goldfinch. Not only did I know I loved Lena's writing already, I was excited about a good ghost story before Halloween.

First about the book:

Joy’s new dress has a secret – one with a little supernatural history, one that’s a little more than she expected.

It all starts one ordinary afternoon, as seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes her grandmother gave her. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business. If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections...or calling up her high-school crush, Nick...or getting stuck at a cemetery after dark.

Will Joy accept this ghostly challenge to be "more"? And just how far will she go to uncover the truth?

Light Paranormal Novella

Now, before I tell you what I think I asked the most appropriate *person* I could think of to review the book as well. Please welcome Bertha the ghost.

Bertha: Thank you, Lisa. We prefer the term bodily challenged. Ahem.  Finally I have an opportunity to prove that I'm an intelligent being worth listening to. My opinion counts, people!!

Me: Um, yeah. Of course it does. That's why I asked you here.

Bertha: It's just that it can be difficult being bodily challenged. People seem to assume I'm there to scare them - as if I don't have anything better to do.

Me: Yes, well, Haunting Joy...

Bertha: Of course. I did enjoy the book. I appreciated that the bodily challenged individual wasn't simply a one dimensional stereotype. She had goals, feelings, you know all things that make us human.

Me: *silence* (I'm not going there)

Bertha: It's only too bad we had to hear it from the point of view of a girl blessed with a body. BORING.

Me: Hey! You had a body once too.

Bertha: *eyes turn black* *teeth sharpen into points* *hair floats around head*

Me: Sorry to interrupt. Please continue.

Bertha: That's all.

Me: Thank you, Bertha and good luck.

As for me? I loved it!! It was a fun story, nicely balanced and well written. I give it 5 stars even if it wasn't written from the ghost - er, bodily challenged individual's - point of view.

In honor of the release of Haunting Joy, Lena Goldfinch is giving away a few spooktacular prizes! The giveaway is open internationally, and there will be three winners (randomly drawn) – one winner for each of the prizes listed below:

·         glass heart necklace (like Joy’s!)

·      A signed copy of Haunting Joy (paperback)

·      An e-book copy of Haunting Joy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online at www.lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.

You can find Lena at any of the following places:

Website: http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lena_goldfinch

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenagoldfinch

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4412038.Lena_Goldfinch

Newsletter sign-up: http://lenagoldfinch.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d20c77e0f3ef8dff993ecfcf7&id=6b1c2994d1

Don't Be a Ghost

Today I am going to answer a very important question. What can Ghosts teach us about writing? Well, the answer is what NOT to do...

1. Selective Apparition

Ghosts are known for showing themselves only when they feel like it. And even then, most people are left with the question - did I really just see that? Don't do that if you want to succeed as a writer. Be seen. Be heard. Be more like a poltergeist. Use blogs and Twitter and other social media. Go to conferences. Do reviews for other authors. You don't have to sell yourself, just BE yourself. Get to know people. I've learned so much and I keep learning more all the time because I put myself out there as much as possible.

2. Monosyllabic Speech

Ghosts aren't notoriously good with verbalization. I'm sure there are exceptions, but as a whole they really ought to work on their grammar. Now, I know what you're all thinking, if you're a writer then you are probably pretty decent with words. But here's the thing, if you don't keep working on it, you will end up losing it. Writing evolves. You improve at your craft no matter what level you are at with practice and education. If you get to the point where you think you know it all, well, unless you're J.K. Rowling, that probably means you still have a ways to go.

3. One Dimensionality

This is a very simple one. Ghosts lack substance. Your characters should NOT.

4. No Spector Handbook

Ghosts are thrown in to their new state of being with little to no help. That's why most ghostly encounters are so different from each other. There's no general consensus on how to haunt properly. Luckily for us, there are industry standards. Rules (or as I like to think of them, guidelines) to help us behave in a professional manner. If you are querying for example, you ought to know what agents are looking for. If you don't, do some research. There's so much information available. That holds true for any stage of the game.

5. Predictability

Lets face it, ghosts are predictable. Scary perhaps, but if I had to choose between the dilapidated mansion that even the strays cross the street to avoid and the new hotel on the corner... My point being, never settle for common. Writing a vampire story? Shake it up! Make it something new. Put in a twist we've never seen. Our imaginations are unlimited. So don't put limits on them.

6. Ghosts don't scare themselves

We should. I think I've mentioned before that I heard Libba Bray speak at a local writer's conference and what she said really hit home for me. Write what scares you. If you aren't then you aren't growing as a writer. You can always go back and change things later, but don't get stuck in a rut. Scare yourself!

And there is one thing that ghosts get right.

Perseverance

That's right. Those buggers don't go anywhere. Dead? Pheh. That's not gonna stop me from hanging around. We should take a lesson in that. Stick it out - no matter what. Don't give up. Don't throw in the towel. No matter how tempting it seems sometimes. Keep plugging away and that's how you will succeed.

Don't forget to check back in on Monday for some HUGE Monday Madness...