VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

I was sent this link today about bookstores. The Wall Street Journal discusses if bookstores are doomed like the record stores 10 years ago. The debate over weather eBook readers are going to be the way of life or will people still want to hold a book between there hands is on. I for one think bookstores maybe on their way to downsizing, but being wiped off the map like the record stores of old . . . no! Why? Because too many people still like to curl up in bed, in front of a fire, or under a shady tree while they read. I know I love turning the pages of a book, feeling it in my hands, and dogearing the corner to mark my spot. Think about a child trying to sit on mommy's or daddy's lat reading an eBook. I just don't see it. Plus you can' see the full spread of a children's picture book on an eBook reader. At least not from what I've seen. Yeah, eBooks are cool, hot and part of our life-style. My hubby loves getting a chapter a day sent to his smart phone to read...

Many of my writing ideas come from my childhood. Not the kind of memories from growing up in the same house, friends, and school . . . no, my memories are from moving around a lot. In fact, I have moved so many times that I’ve finally caught up in age to the count I’ve been keeping . . . 35! So this week’s writing prompt couldn’t be more appropriate to my life style. Moving from one place to another and one house to another, is a big task. Write about one of your most memorable house moves.

This week’s show is going to be entertaining as well as educational. Carmela Green Foster will be discussing how being on YouTube can make your dreams become reality. There’s several thing that need to be done that will help sell more books., but book trailer videos which have become very popular seem to be what writers find a very important way to promote yourself. Also Carmela will discuss the two films she has produced "Tell me a joke and I will laugh". Also on the show we will have April’s Pick which is always one of her favorite TV shows and a discussion, Freda’s favorite old movie FUNNY GIRL and Virginia’s perspective on writing. There’s a new addition to the show. Every show will showcase an author who will be calling in and sharing their new book and briefly talking about their career. Fran Lewis will be giving a mini preview on her new book, Sharp As A Tack. Leave your stress behind and join in every Monday night. You’ll have fun. There's something...

One of my writing buddies sent me this. Of course, I'm sharing it because I feel it is something we can all use. Enjoy! Subtitle: a writer’s guide to crafting killer sentences By June Casagrande Ten Speed Press (2010) ISBN: 9781580087407 Nonfiction/How-To (Writing) Contact Reviewer: hojoreviews@aol.com Buy Link: http://budurl.com/GrammarSnobs Publisher's Site: www.tenspeed.com New Book May (Should!) Replace Your Stunk and White! Grammar Guru Offers Advice Like None You’ve Ever Seen—All in One Place! Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of This Is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, a chapbook of poetry and the How To Do It Frugally Series of book for authors Rules. Rules. Rules. I didn’t realize how tired I was of the same old writing advice until this little black book landed in my mailbox. I promised to review it fast, but this It was the best of sentences, it was t...

My heart is trying to break out of my chest. I can’t hear due to the loud thumping sound ringing in my ears. My eyes try to focus, but tears keep coming. What am I going to do? Time is speeding up and my legs can’t keep up with Father Time. Help! I shout, but nothing escapes my mouth. The words stop in my throat. Beads of sweat cover my brow. Is this all really happening? Can I seriously survive this? I stop, take a deep breath, and close my eyes. I let the calm darkness enfold me. “Okay, I can do this,” I softly say to myself. “Bye . . . Mommy!” I look up into to see my five-year-old daughter disappearing through the glass doors on her first day of school. Yep, I am down to one child at home. Now you would think after sending one child to school for the first time fourteen years ago I would be totally okay. Nope, I cried like a baby when I got home. My hubby laughed at me because I was so upset about my daughter not wanting me to walk her into the school. She just jumped ...

Sorry everyone this is a couple of days late. I've been so busy with a lot of exciting things I will be sharing with you all on tomorrow's post, but until then . . . Here is your writing prompt for this week. Write about a weird day in your workplace, home, on a vacation, or anywhere else. Keep in mind that your perspective on what is considered weird may vary from another.

Different motivational factors are required to inspired people into taking actions they may otherwise not take. Some people may not be motivated to maintain a fitness routine while others can be compulsive about doing so. On the other hand the same people who display a lack of motivation towards fitness may be more 'career driven' than a fitness enthusiast. The point people get motivated for different reasons and these reasons can as much as personality types. No matter what it takes however everybody including even the most unmotivated amongst us however has something that can stimulate them into taking action. Here are three of the most common motivation factors any of which has the capability to stir a reaction out of even the most unmotivated. Fear This factor is probably the most influential of all others due to the fact that it is deeply rooted in a very primal emotion. Fear has the ability to make even the most lackadaisical people get motivated, and in a hurr...

This is going to be an exciting show. Special guests this week are Jan Britland and Mike Swaim. Jan is the author of the Rodger Doger series and Mike is the illustrator. They are a great team and they will each be taking about their careers and how they met and created such a colorful series of children’s books. Audience participation is always a plus. Please feel free to call 646-595-4478 with your questions. Also on the show we will have April’s Pick which is her favorite TV show and a discussion, Freda’s Favorite old movie and Virginia’s perspective on writing . There’s a new addition to the show. Every show will showcase an author who will be calling in and sharing their new book and briefly talking about their career. Leave your stress behind and join in every Monday night. You’ll have fun. Join us at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/08/24/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, editor, and reviewer. She is on the team of DKV Writing 4 U; manager of VBT – Writers on the Move; co-moderator of a children’s critique group; and an acquisitions editor intern. You can contact Karen at: karenrcfv AT yahoo DOT com. VS : I want to thank you, Karen for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. I know being a parent and writer can be hard, but you do more than just write and raise a family. You also host authors on your blog and run a virtual blog tour group, so to start here is the first question . . . how many children do you have and what are their ages? Karen: Hi, Virginia, thank you for featuring me; it’s certainly an honor. As far as question #1, I have two grown daughters, 30 and 34. And, I have two grandsons, 4-years-old, and 20-months-old. I babysit them two days a week, so I’m still in the trenches as a writing grandmamma. J During the summer, my 10-year-old great nephew is in the mix...