Reviewers Wanted!

My latest work is a collaboration with thirty-six other amazing moms. We have put together our stories to shed light on the fact that no two moms stories are the same. What's so amazing about this project is that 20% of book proceeds will be going to an organization and that helps crisis pregnancies.

If you'd like to review the book, blog about it, share the giveaway, or join us for the facebook event we'd be eternally grateful!!!! Please - push the word out and email me @ jenniferdaiker(at)gmail(dot)com. Together we can push for this amazing cause!

Visit our Facebook Page: Like the Page!
Visit our Twitter Feed: Follow us!

Some really exciting things planned for 2014! Join us!

Craplandia - I know you've missed me... at least I hope someone is still reading

So Unedited has been empty for sometime.

Though I love this space and cherished all whom I've met, the recent visitors (both old and new) prefer to read about writing. Though I adore talking about writing I don't want it to define me on the blogs.

I have learned and taught a lot about writing and grow more each and every day.

For those who would still like to witness the weird I've started a blog on Wordpress expressing just that - All of me.

I'd love for you to stop by Craplandia to say hello.

Don't feel pressured to visit, stay, or even grab a cup of tea to go. There is no pressure, I just want everyone to know that though I will still leave this blog open it won't be a constant part of me.

Writing is still alive, my words still need to be heard, at this moment Unedited just isn't calling my name to share advice with you.

Let the struggle continue for all of us and I look forward to celebrating the triumphs everyone reaches.

So hop on over to Craplandia if you wish.

Enemies of a Sort

ENEMIES!

Query Results in 7 Days!

And then there was...

Who needs sexy when quirky is done so well...

-Jensylvania

Moving On

I've been distant from the blogosphere but it doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it. Not wondering how my peeps are doing and the wonderful things they're accomplishing. Some things just come in our lives that are bigger and need to be handled first. I hate when that happens.

This morning is one of those moments and I feel the best way to handle it is, well, to right about the situation.

Friends come and go. I've had several throughout my life and each one has blessed me in some unique way to where they're always memorable and have a place in my heart. I've always been a huge believer in that you have several friends that come and go and you have few who stay forever. This past week I lost what I thought to be a forever friend.

The argument, or lack of an argument has me dumbfounded when I was given the news by this person. I had apologized for the behavior, agreeing that I may have been slightly out of line but no more than usual. I took their feelings into account and they chose, in the end, to not accept my apology and decline being friends from that moment on.

We've never fought like this. What's sad, is I don't even think it's a fight. I don't understand what made this said person change their mind about me entirely. I've been the same way for five years. Why now would I be considered anything different? My personality was something they'd always love and in two seconds it worked against me.

I write this as just a way to let go of the emotions I'm harboring. I am saddened that they no longer want to continue what I thought would have been a blossoming friendship, but also know they need to decide what's best for them and at the moment I am not it.

Moving on is hard. Especially when the feelings sit so fresh in our hearts. This will be a person I hope can feel they are able to come back and be friends again.

Dangerous Warriors - Task #2

Thank you for all who entered the first task!!! I will be showing off some of them later this week but without further ado - your next task!!!!!

The Breakfast Dilemma!

The only rules… to fill in blanks USING ONLY BREAKFAST FOODS. Be creative and send it to me in an email so I can be the first to laugh and the first to share!

 There were three reasons right off the bat why I should go through with this ridiculous _______________ idea. The first, you can’t hide a _______________  in your house. Second, it is in the 101 Create a _______________ Handbook that the being will end up gaining a _______________ and decide they like the most popular person in _______________ School, leaving you once again alone in a friendless _______________ endeavor. And third, I’d be programming someone to be a _______________. Super pathetic.

On the other hand this is a _______________ project and I would get an A in _______________ class no questions asked. It was settled. I would create a cute _______________. _______________ would become my friend and I would no longer be without a _______________.
I grabbed my lab coat, slipped my arms through the arm holes and placed _______________ glasses on my nose and slid them back to cover my baby blues. A box of x-small gloves sat next to the _______________. I took two and slipped the blue gloves over my bare hands.
My _______________ was a birthday gift. My grandmother gave it to me. I guess it was sort of a _______________ sort of gift.
I walked to the door and saw her in the _______________. I pressed the blue _______________ button and watched my grandma walk to the _______________.

If you’re extra creative and feeling it, draw, print and paste, or go have breakfast and take the place mats and cut-out the best parts for paste-y goodness!!! Just be crazy about all breakfast items that inspired you!

World Better Prepare

Today I decided to take the twist of one very popular song and put it to what my current mood was... Waiting for the perfect agent to arrive on my doorstep. So watch out world, the world better prepare for this....

I want to be agented so freakin bad.

Show off all thing I’ve always had.

I want my character to be on the cover of her own book

Smiling next to the forest and her best friend

Oh every time I close my eyes.

I see my name in big bold letters, yea.

A different book store every night oh I, I swear.

The world better prepare for when I’m agented.

Yeah I would have a launch party

I would be the host and pass out cupcakes

Give some lucky person a signed gift

I’d probably pull a Lauren Oliver

And adopt the practice of sitting cross-legged on the table

Give away a few boa’s like Lissi Harrison

And last, but no least, tell my readers to keep being inspired.

You can call me a Book Goddess minus the flashy sparkles

Hehe, get it, I’d probably stick with wearing bright colored pants

Yeah, sure do a lot more than wear my clubbing outfits

Yea, can’t forget about me peepettes

Everywhere I go Ima have my own theme music.

Oh every time I close my eyes

I see my name in big bold letters.

Yeah-eh

A different book store every night oh I, I swear.

The world better prepare for when I’m agented.

And published.

Note: No one was harmed in the making of this remix. Thank you Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars for making this an overly addicting song and allowing me to add my own twist.

Dangerous Warriors - Task #1

Welcome! I'm so glad you've opted to join in on the experiment! The posts will be simple. Read the instructions (if any) and determine your own interpretation of what's being asked.

There is no right or wrong answer.

You are not being judged on accuracy or how quickly it is done.

THIS IS JUST FOR FUN.

So.... Here, We, Go!

Task #1

Write a letter using magazine letter clippings and give it to someone.

Notes: Be sure to take a picture of the completed result and email it to me at jenniferdaiker(at)gmail(dot)com.

RANSOM LETTER DEADLINE: ONE WEEK (May 9, 2013).

BEGIN!

New SPRING/SUMMER WTF ALL SEASONS Project

I am jumping off the blogging bridge and refreshing my tactics. The world is such a wild place and rather than sitting on the sidelines I decided I'm going to dive in feet first.

How am I going about this, you ask?

I'll tell you.

I'm going to write my own adventures and allow you the chance to join me.

I've titled my own self-help book - Love Notes and other Random Notes to Pass out to the World.

Every once in awhile I'll add a template, an idea, an illustration on this here blog and I'd like you to take the week, weekend, month, blah blah blah to complete the task! Once completed I'd love an email and when a bunch of us have completed a task I'll share our stories, pictures, blah blah blah on this here blog.

THIS IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP OUT OF THE BOX. IF YOU ARE A PERFECTIONIST I IMPLORE YOU TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN.

This perfectionist is looking forward to the opportunity to live her life a little more carelessly.

Are you ready to join me? Expect the first task to happen in the next couple of days.

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

 

When to Change - Side Boob beware

So recently I've gone through a lot of changes. This here blog has suffered. Well not anymore *pumps fist in air*

I've neglected several things in my life lately, the main thing being those things I used to not be able to live without... my wonderful blog friends and working on my fabulous stories.

So hide your side boob, put on some pants, and grab your cup of joe because we're about to get real.

1. I was promoted at my job. It's fancy and deals with Microsoft Word which is exciting, since writers have this ability to know lots of things inside that wonderful application.

2. I'm still searching for the perfect agent. Revisions were in full force, my character Lucy Grim is in tip top middle school chaos shape and ready for someone to love her as much as do.

3. VEGAS TRIP - This party animal is about to be in the ultimate party place. Friends who want to witness the madness are welcome to join in - or stalk me on facebook. This girl needs a much needed vaca to spend money, make money, and drink fantastically.

4. Color me multi-tasked. I've been tackling both middle grade stories and my sitcom. Both are a ton of fun to write and take me to entirely different worlds. MG to fantasy land, and the sitcom to familiar, scandaly-clad situations.

After all, we mimic our stories after ourselves a lot of the time.

5. Terribly Awful but Delightfully Spectacular at Golf. My husband and I have become those snooty individuals who enjoy a lovely golf outing every Saturday or Sunday morning. I wear my visor, golf skirt, white and pink striped polo with my adorably fashionable golf shoes and am almost to Tiger Woods league -- without his trampy lifestyle.

Truth - I wear jeans and my coke shirt, and awesome totally Jenified golf shoes and swing and miss the ball 9 times out of 10. When I do make contact the golf ball doesn't even get off the ground. Yet I still have a wonderful time... though that may be the off roading I do with the golf cart.

What's new with you???? Tell me you missed my, my confidence isn't full size yet.

What a Gem, Pearl is.

Pearl is breathtakingly beautiful and Jo Knowles is a knock-out.

The cover is perfection. A pearl is so perfectly imperfect. The object itself has part drama, mystery, and romance, much like this beautifully woven novel.

Knowles tales have me rushing from page to page to finish the story. The grip she has on you holds even past the novel. The characters are so pure, rich, and original they are easy to relate too. The ultimate gift to a reader, a story that seals its envelope and doesn't release you from it's binding even after you've finished.

This book reminds us what it means to keep a secret, the trouble that finds us and the painful truths all when it comes to love. A story about love, loss, and the ultimate gift of friendship. With the complicated characters like Pearl (aka Bean) and Henry's moms this tale will hit home for several teens who have or are currently struggle with the same heartache and frustration of what it means to have to grow up to fast.

I urge all teen book clubs, librarians, bookstores, to make this a part of your reading material. It will keep teens captivated and engaged. If you have yet to read this novel I only ask that you put it at the top of your list.

Pieces that move you

I love when a film or book moves you so deeply you feel the need to talk about it to everyone you know.

Each time I feel that sort of sensation it renews the passion and honor for having the ability to have such a creative mind.

The bad never seems so rough.

The ugly side of revision seems worth it.

The criticism from those who don't quite understand our path don't stab our hearts as much.

That feeling of brilliance is something we hold onto for as long as we can because when it ends we calm down and feel a little less brilliant.

I thank everyone who has ever written a book, screenplay, poem, etc. You've touched someones life more than you could eve know. We thank you for your brilliance and yell ENCORE waiting for your next piece to woo us.

Sweet-tastic Celebration

BLOG HOP DAY!

Beth and Kelly put together such a SWEET-TACULAR idea and I'm glad I had time to participate!

The objective - TO SHOVE SO MANY SWEET STORIES (subliminal messaging, I think SO) IN YOUR FACE YOU'LL HAVE TO RUN TO GOODREADS TO ADD THEM.

Don't worry, you'll love me for it...

It's about to be all BOOKED UP in HERE!

First Up - ME (I'm a cheap date, my e-books will run you 99 cents to a mere $2.99)

Snowbound Hearts (it'll warm your heart through the Spring and Summer months)

Valentine Delights (It's not too late to grab a secret admirer)

When Love Aligns (A little bit of love and spice is great during all seasons)

Second Up - For the Love of My Peeps! (This is where I go insane naming and listing off all the amazing writers I adore. I am refraining from using any cover art because I'd like to not be sued by people. (I learned on Beverly Hills Housewives friends do in fact sue friends)...

Author note: I realize my buddies would never do this but if I bombard you with cover art you'll never make it to all the wonderful links I have planned for you. And seeing as I'm incapable of choosing just ONE book, I'll be SHARING SEVERAL!!!

Talli Roland - The Pollyanna Plan, Build a Man, The Hating Game (some are a series and are just as delectable as any standalone). She's a must read for an author. You will not regret her work!!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips - It Had to be You, Match Me if You Can, The Heart is Mine (her companion novels are INSANELY good).

Justine Dell - All American Girl and Recaptured Dreams (You aren't reading anything by her? SHAME ON YOU! Get started!)

Leigh Talbort Moore - The Truth About Faking, The Truth About Letting Go (THIS GIRL IS INSANE! To say I'm obsessed with her would be a huge understatement. Go, like now...)

Amy Hatvany - Best Kept Secret, Outside the Lines, The Language of Sisters (She's amazing, her writing is spectacular. She is worth spending $100 on one book - she's affordable, calm down).

Jennifer Shirk - Georgie on His Mind (She has a ton of ridiculously good tales and I love her personality!!)

Janet Evanovich - Love in a Nutshell (I'm late to this girls party but she is so worth a read! I am in love with her novels and devouring them left and right!!!)

Nora Roberts - The Bride Quartet Series (Total knockout!)

Beth Fred - The Marlow Girls Series (She's our host and an awesome and thrilling writer!)

Kelly Hashway - Love All (Our second host! I haven't read her yet but she's now on my radar!)

Tracie Bainster - Blame it On the Fame, In Need of Therapy (She is amazing!!! If you want to chat with her she can also be found on thursdays on twitter at #chicklitchat)

That's enough of my babbling. Spend time reading bios, excerpts and more delicious pieces from these wonderful people!!! Oh, and to properly hop around the blogs in this fest, go HERE!

Let's Talk Sweet

I am a sucker for a great blogfest or blog hop. It's been at least a year since I last joined one (my how time flies) but I've decided to partake in a delicious tasty idea by Beth and Kelly!

SWEETS BLOGFEST

They keep it SUPER simple. It's so easy to join and I know you all have had a love story or two that you've liked (OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO PIMP YOUR OWN, that'd be fine as well!!)

Facts you'll want to know...

When the awesome goes down: MARCH 6TH
Talk about: Your favorite sweet treat, your favorite memory involving a sweet, OR a sweet love story you enjoyed.

See how easy that is?? So stop by, SIGN UP, and join us on March 6th for a super fun, super sweet DAY!

Love in a NUTSHELL

Listen. We all know this thing called love. People love to love.

Which is why I've chosen to read Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly's Love in a Nutshell!

And I must say if you've yet to read it... PLEASE jump on the bandwagon. My heart fluttered and the smile stayed on my face through the entire thing!

Now most of you know that I also am a part of Afterglow Book Reviews, and though this tale was a total AFTERGLOW! Those reviews are for Middle Grade and Young Adult. That being said this novel could not go unnoticed!

During this revising and querying time, along with waiting to hear adoption news, it kept my mind at ease!!! So lets get to the fun of it all! The review!!!

Review:

Kate Appleton is a hot mess and from page one that will entice you.

Fact - She's lost her job.
Fact - She lives in an old broken down house that she'd like to make into a bed and breakfast.
Fact - She has no money.

This hard headed female doesn't let that stop her. She marches right to the gentlemen who got her fired in the first place. The hottie who owns a very popular brewery and who will soon own her heart, Matt.

He gives her a job - To spy on his employees. Some strange things have been happening and he wants to find out who's behind it. Kate agrees only after they negotiate a 'finders fee' for when she finds who did it. $20K to fix up the dilapidated house she currently resides in.

Danger brings them closer together and Matt falls heavy for Kate. She falls heavy for the money, and together they are both in harms way if they don't solve who's behind the bar fires, leaking of the beers, and various other dramas that reach them both.

This tale was AMAZING! Janet Evanovich is a rockstar and I have a new favorite author - Dorien Kelly. I give this novel five BRAVOS well done!

--

What delicious reads have you been reading? Tell me! I'd love a new read!

Also I wanted to share that a wonderful friend of mine thought I was a great choice for the best book blog and nominated me over at Jeff Goins' blog! I'm honored and feeling totally appreciated! Feel free to stop by the BLOG and vote for your favorite!!!

The Endless Adventure of Waiting

I'm here.

Where is here you ask?

Sitting in front of a computer screen composing this post. My inbox is of course to my left, in which every word I write I'll stop, peek over, and see I've yet to miss anything except for the ongoing Kohl's sale.

To my right sits my owl coffee cup, he keeps asking me 'Owl I'm doing' and I want to tell him I'M FREAKING OUT. Too bad I can't because the cupcake I decided to have for breakfast is still being devoured and a giant piece is shoved in my cake hole unable to tell him.

He knows. I don't know why he asks. I share my stats with him daily. We talk over the delicious cup of tea each morning. He knows when I'm sad, happy, or in that dreaded place of the in-between.

Waiting is such a vicious place to be stuck. And for this TYPE A (points to self) personality, losing any amount of control seems to kill a piece inside of me. Hence the whole pack of cupcakes I purchased this morning, and no, sharing is not on the menu.

So what do I plan to do while waiting for rejections and requests?

Share randomness about myself.

1. I cannot put my face under the covers. I feel like I can't get a good breath, therefor I'd suffocate and I'm not sure I want to die by suffocation of cheap bed sheets.

2. I still wear Christmas socks. They're the only knee-length ones I own so I'll continue to wear them as they keep my legs warm and toasty. Unless you'd like to send me fun ones. I would allow it.

3. In my house everyone has their own theme song. Including my cats. My Siamese (may he rest in kitty heaven) had a Christmas style one, the calico has a cute one about her weight (tastefully done), and my midnight black kitty has an excellent rap.

There you have it. I've wasted a few minutes and chances are if you've read this in entirety I've wasted the same amount of time for you.

You're welcome.

I have no excuse not to read

Monday is upon us and for many, work goes on.

I'm not referring to the lucky ones. Those writers who's job leaves in them in pajamas, zombie-walking to the kitchen to brew a fresh pot of coffee where they mull over what social media site to visit first.

I'm discussing the ones who still work their 8-5 job (or 24 hours of mom-hood), that leave them a day of pondering on their novel before they're actually able to touch the pages and produce magic.

However, rather than shedding a dark shadow over my forty hour work week I'd like to say I'm one of the blessed.

Reading is a hobby, an escape, and research.

For the writers in us it's a chance to tackle the understanding of story-telling and editing to brilliance. For reader in us it's simply a chance to escape. Now, like most of you, I find those little increments of time where I can sneak in a few pages between writing, editing, diaper changing, and report completing.

An additional one I possess is at work. No, I do not read on my kindle or bring a paperback to read during lunch. There is this lovely invention that is sweeping the nation (or that should've have already swept through or should start, like, now).

They are audiobooks. Those precious gems that captivate your work day for hours on end. So, though you may be finishing up last minute details for an upcoming report, you're still traveling to another land in search of a missing artifcat.

I now have no excuse not to read and feel like a lucky one. I may not be able to write or edit during my work day but at least I'm captivated by those who've already finished their novels and are dying for me to read their novel... or in this case, listen to the tall tale they shared with the world.

My current distraction: The Books of Elsewhere - The Shadows

How do you make time to read? What's on your list?

There is No Small Call

Today we have guest Kirsten Oliphant! She’s a fabulous female with a love of writing. She’s dived into the self-publishing pool and has every intention of continuing her writing journey in hopes of a traditional route.

 

Today she has agreed to answer some quirky fun questions I know you all love!!!

1.       Which would make you feel more powerful Superman underwear or My Little Pony?

My Little Superman underwear, best of both worlds.

2.       If you were in Wal-Mart during the Zombie Apocalypse what would be your weapon of choice?

So many great choices… I might use the nearest person who looks like they belong on the People of Wal-Mart site.

3.       If you were a block of cheese, what would you look and smell like?

I am all about extremes, which means I’m torn between being a soft, fragrant cheese like Brie or a hard, stinky one like Parmesan.

4.       What makes you love a book?

Voice. Whether it’s a novel with characters who have great voices or a non-fiction book where the author writes with great voice, this is an instant turn-on or turn-off. I can read things that are just so-so, but all the books I love share this in common.

5.       If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?

Elvish

One-Word answers – GO!

1.       E-reader or Paperback? Paperback.

2.       Read on the sofa or read on the grass? Sofa.

3.        Coffee or Coke? Coffee.

4.       How often do you skim a book before reading it? Never.

5.       Favorite book(S)? Franny & Zooey (Salinge), East of Eden (Steinbeck), How to Be Lost (Ward), Sharp Objects (Flynn).

There Is No Small Call is my most recent foray into self-publishing. It is christian non-fiction, a bite-sized book about the big subject of calling. If you have ever wondered about the significance and purpose of your life, this book might provide encouragement. Spoiler alert: you DO have a calling and it is anything but small.

Where can you find this fabulous gal??? Depends on what you're looking for!

$2.99 on Amazon – There is No Small Call
Kiki’s Blog – StillHate Pickles

Twitter it Up - @kikimojo

Why YA?

GUEST POST FUNSIE!!!! Please welcome the adorbs Liesel Hill, whom stopped by for a visit today!

Hello and thank you so much to Jen for hosting me today on Unedited! I’m so excited to be here!

New Adult is essentially the midpoint between YA and Adult. I’ve always heard that it came from people who wanted stories about older (adult) characters but without all the “adult” content that comes with adult books.

Others say it’s simply exploiting the niche between teenage and adult, and many treat NA as “older” teenager, so eighteen or nineteen rather than fifteen or sixteen.

Whatever your definition, we’re seeing this genre emerge more and more.

So why did I go with New Adult?

It wasn’t a conscious decision, at least not in terms of genre. The story I envisioned was simply about adults, so that’s how I wrote it.

My teenaged years weren’t my favorites. I was the kind of teenager that was awkward and introverted. High school wasn’t torturous by any means, but it also wasn’t my favorite time. I immensely preferred college. Doesn’t hurt that I came out of my shell and figured out my calling—writing—which changed my entire outlook. Those two things alone give college brownie points.

I wanted a story where mature, intelligent people have to make difficult decisions about their world. Some of my favorite stories in the world are YA, but I’ve also read a lot of YA I haven’t liked. I didn’t want my story to be centered around adolescent problems. My characters still face major opposition and have romantic encounters, but they will do it with an adult mentality. That’s all. And I prefer it that way. :D

So if you want a story with all the same angst, conflict, and emotion as YA, but with just a bit less adolescent drama, try New Adult. It might surprise you.

 

 

Thanks for stopping in Liesel! I'm super excited about the New Adult trend and look forward to diving into some new original work!!! Any of you diving into the new category? Please stop by her sites and check her out along with her novel!!

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Failed Attempts, Revising, and YOU!

First I should admit that I failed. December I attempted to complete a post a day following the alphabet… I know and you know this did not happen.

My apologies.

What was I doing that allowed me to disappoint my readers?

I was in the editing cave.

Currently I’m working with the fabulous Taryn Albright to make my new MG novel shine. It has not been an easy task but I feel that with her help the revising process has become somewhat enjoyable.

Trust me. I’m just as surprised as you are.

I look forward to the adventure through the editing tunnels and destroying and remaking The Untimely Disappearance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

This piece will hold the place for several more novels in the Grim Series.

Some fun things around the blogosphere I think you should all be aware of…

Kristin Creative landed an agent. Yeah, she’s that awesome.

The fabulous MG writer, Rose Cooper, has made her way into the Whimsy Stamps family! Check out the Doodle Divas you can now add to your homemade cards!

Taryn Albright is offering her editing services for a reasonable fee. Need manuscript help? Or time perfecting your query? She’s your gal.

Still Moments Publishing is thriving and would love to see your work! I’ve had the pleasure of having three wonderful short stories published through them. They are currently accepting work! If you think your work is up to par, stop by their website and take a peek!

Any news you’d like to share? I love to hear amazing news on the blogosphere! For now, I'm crawling back into the editing cave!