Sunday, September 2, 2012

GUTGAA: Meet and Greet!

For those of you who are non-writing friends, this post won't mean much. For the rest of you, I KNOW you know what GUTGAA stands for: Gearing Up To Get An Agent! I'm super excited to take part in it this year. Hopefully the time difference doesn't get me too screwed up...

Today's blog post is the Meet and Greet. First a short bio, and then my answers to Deana's questions!

Bio:
A former journalist, I started writing fiction about eight years ago and haven't looked back. My most recent novel is Young Adult Urban Fantasy, and I think I've found my writing niche. I'm a triplet born on Leap Day, a former Marine wife and current Foreign Service spouse, and the mother of a two-year-old named Jack. Last week we moved to Yekaterinburg, Russia, for our first post in the FS. So far so good!

-Where do you write?
Either on my laptop on the couch or, up until last week, at my desk in our basement. Since we moved, however, that has yet to be seen.

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?
I guess I'll go with my prior writing space! If I looked to the left down in my basement, I'd see the world map I stuck to a cork board. It's covered in multi-colored pins, signifying all the different options on our Foreign Service bid list.

-Favorite time to write?
During nap time, simply by default.

-Drink of choice while writing?
Nothing or water. Although maybe I should try wine. Or vodka.

-When writing, do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?
I don't usually listen to music, but I don't necessarily need silence. Generally the white noise of the baby monitor is my soundtrack.

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?
My inspiration came from the term "Girl Friday," which I've always kind of loved. Somehow my twisted mind turned it into "Ghoul Friday," and I thought about what it would be like for an undead girl named Friday.

-What's your most valuable writing tip?
As an unagented writer, it's hard to believe anyone would find my advice valuable. However, I've been at this a while now, and all I can say is, don't give up! You'll never get published if you don't put yourself out there. I believe successful writers have some combination of talent, passion, persistence, and luck. Now I'm just waiting for my luck to change.

Can't wait to visit the other participating blogs! Thanks to Deana Barnhart for hosting this amazing event!

28 comments:

Kyra Lennon said...

Loving the idea of "Ghoul Friday" - that sounds fantastic!

I hope you get your writing space sorted soon! :D

VikLit said...

"Ghoul Friday!" sounds awesome, good luck with it! Also a triplet! Interesting.

Heather M Bryant said...

It's great to meet you Mara!

Ghoul Friday is a clever title - what an interesting idea. I wish I could travel all over the place, it must help so much with you're writing.

Good lucks with your pitch :)

Kimberly Gabriel said...

Stopping by from GUTGAA. Glad to see I'm not the only one squeezing writing time in during nap time. ;)

Jess Schira said...

I love the idea of Ghoul Friday, I hope to see it on the shelves some day.

Carrie-Anne said...

That's pretty groovy that you're a triplet! And I love how you're currently living in Russia, since one of my family sagas begins in Russia and is still following some of the characters who didn't leave the Soviet Union (yet).

Beth said...

Hello Mara!! *waving*

Anonymous said...

What an interesting life you are leading! I imagine you get lots of inspiration from your new surroundings. Best wishes!

Jessie Humphries said...

Yes Vodka would be the greatest Russian writing drink!!! Let me know how that goes ;)

Aidyl Ewoh said...

A triplet born on Leap Day? How rare is that? Wowzers.

Kelley Lynn said...

You should try wine. Not all the time, but only when you need the extra boost of creativity and don't care what gets on the page ;)

Unknown said...

Ah, fellow GUTGAA-ler, we have stuff in common! My older (adopted) daughter was born in Kopeysk - a small town not far from Chelyabinsk which in turn is not all that far from you (it's all relative Russia being ginormous). Also my recently finished novel stars a dead teenager too, but mine is a boy. I joined your blog, stop by and check out mine. It's only two weeks old :)
http://rhiannwynnnolet.blogspot.com/

Angie Sandro said...

How cool you have a cork board of the places you would like to go to. It sounds wonderful. It's nice to meet you. http://anjeasandro.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

I wish my kids would take naps still! The younger one's only two but she's pretty much given them up (as her brother did at her age). Now I have to struggle through being asked for food/drink/TV/going outside every ten minutes until they're school-aged.

Nice to meet you!

Melissa Sugar said...

Ghoul Friday sonds awesome. What a brilliant idea. I am a new follower of your blog making my meet and greet rounds. It is a pleasure to meet you. Your life and travels sound so interesting. You are a triplet . That is so cool. I have triplet girls. I look forward to getting to know you better.

Alleged Author said...

Vodka! :P So glad you arrived in Russia safely.

Jeannette said...

I think maybe you should skip the vodka... ;) Nice to meet you!

Jessica L. Celaya said...

Ghoul Friday is very catchy. Cool that you are a triplet and born on Leap Day. Nice to meet you.

Connie B. Dowell said...

I love the inspiration! Very catchy!

katherineamabel said...

Lol, love the thought process to get to Ghoul Friday. Good luck with GUTGAA. :)
Kat
http://beyondthehourglassbridge.blogspot.com.au/

Jodie Andrefski said...

Like everyone else, I'm loving the whole "Ghoul Friday" idea! Very nice to "meet you!" I'm in CAGI too!(#24) So I'll be seeing you all over the blog-o-sphere!

G. Donald Cribbs said...

Dear Mara Rae,

I think it's great you can pick up and move halfway around the world and still take writing along with you. Good for you! I enjoyed reading your answers to the GUTGAA questions and your bio. Your WIP sounds interesting. Happy writing!

Warm regards,

Don #138

Heather said...

Wow, what a life adventure you are on! Fascinating - best of luck with GUTGAA, Heather

themysteryofwriting.wordpress.com
midwesternfarmgirl.wordpress.com

PS: If you come across any great Russian recipes I'd love to hear - the menus in Russian novels were always a highlight for me!

AVDutson said...

You sound like you have a crazy life! Looking forward to reading more posts. Enjoy GUTGAA!

Tricia Skinner said...

Great advice for writers!

Nice to meet you!

Trish
GUTGAA

Johana Vera said...

I always wondered what it would be like to live in Russia. Is it cold? I only know there are cold weather because I see it in movies and TV. My country is hotter that the ninth circle of hell, basically.
Well, nice to meet you. Come say hi at my blog when you've got time..

Read you around :)

Dr Margaret Aranda said...

Love your writing, and lovely to see you are in Russia now. Sweet. Enjoying meeting and greeting and I see there is a new bloglist so I'm trying to go through it. So nice to meet you; I'd love you to stop by, too.

Best wishes from Los Angeles, CA!

Dr Margaret Aranda, Author
www.girlpowerinamm.blogspot.com
www.drmargaretaranda.blogspot.com

Stephsco said...

I'm still making the Meet & Greet rounds so I scanned through your more recent blog posts. How interesting about the fashionista mamas in Russia. I noticed that within the hispanic community awhile back, with the stilettos and super cute clothes as they herded their little ones. I agree, while heels aren't for everyone, I know I feel a million times better if I take a little time for myself. I don't have children but I work from home some days which lend to a lack of caring what I look and dress like. Sometimes it gets BAD and I just run out for something and look down at my outfit in horror.

Best of luck on GUTGAA and I saw you are doing the Cupid pitch thing too. A lot of overlapping as I'm doing both as well. Kind of overwhelmed by it... Take care :)