Wordworking: H is for Hyphens, Hogwarts, and Liesl Shurtliff

Happy Book Birthday, RUMP!!!

I met Liesl at my first writing conference (WIFYR) back in 201l. I've blogged about her here. RUMP is a MG retelling that is funny, sweet, and perfect for my third grader (and for me).

She was nice enough to guest blog about hyphens and share the amazing Hogwarts gingerbread house she made last Christmas.

Take it away, Liesl.

H is for Hyphen, a lovely punctuation mark that can be used to bring words together, or to break words apart, as the case may be. It can be glue or a knife. What a magical tool! 

Use a hyphen to join two words serving as a single adjective before a noun: J.K. Rowling is a well-known author.

However, if it comes after the noun, you don’t use the hyphen: Liesl Shurtliff is an author who is not well known. (Yet.)

A hyphen is used in compound numbers: My publisher gave me twenty-five copies of my book.

Use a hyphen to clarify confusion: Re-sign the publishing contract. Don’t resign your day job.  

Use hyphens with prefixes: The ex-editor booked an all-inclusive vacation.  

Liesl's amazing Hogwarts gingerbread creation

Thanks for including me in your A to Z challenge and featuring me on my release day! I really appreciate it. 

Isn't she great guys? Thanks Liesl for taking the time to be on my blog. I can't wait until my copy arrives this afternoon! 

Where you can find Rump: indie, amazon, and B & N

Are you doing the A to Z challenge? Let me know and I'll come check it out. 

Reaching for the GOLD-IWSG

It's the First Wednesday again. Hello IWSG:)

As Olympians reach for the Gold

Hit their targets,

Nail their routines,

And in general look really hot doing it.

I'm getting ready to enter the world of writer competitions and querying. That's right, soon Lovesense will be out there showing the (agenting) world what I can do.

I'm still afraid of the lions (see this post here), but I'm inspired by all these great people and their wonderful news:
Newly Agented Cassie Mae
Liesl Shurtliff's Cover Reveal Guys, there's something about the first book you read pre-published and seeing it (albeit through the internet) as a real live book that makes me feel like I could do anything.
Super Wonderful Newly Agented Ilima Todd. My CP is so inspiring guys. Great cheerleader, great feedback, and her writing, sucks me in every time. I'm so, so happy for her.
Although that means I won't be joining her in the world of online competitions and querying blahs. She's already gotten her medal. But that's okay. She remembers what it was like to be there in the trenches.

While I'm expecting plenty of form rejections and no responses at all, the next step is here. I can't help but dream and work towards one day having my gold medal dream realized.

All those contests (MSFV and Cupid's Literary Connection) that remind us "you shouldn't be entering this contest, much less reading these guidelines unless you have a finished manuscript ready to query" well guys, I do.