The last month has been awesome! I've begun working for Slice of Scifi, http://www.sliceofscifi.com/in case you haven't seen any of my reviews, and their sister site, popculture geeks, http://www.popculturegeeks.com/.
I've also begun working on their review site for books, http://www.writersafterdark.com/.
This has been a fantastic opportunity for me to write more and to build up a writing resume. Not only that, but I think this group is awesome. They are all hard working and the content is both informative and interesting. Even if my reviews weren't on there, I would recommend them, especially if you have movies, books or television you might be interested in, they can tell you more about whether you might want to see it or read it.
I hope you will check out my reviews because I think I'm doing a great job and I think it's some of my best writing. Certainly, I've gotten some feedback that it's well done and been enjoyed so that's exciting. I know I have many more reviews coming out so all good there.
In other news, I'm once again coordinating the Free Fiction Writer's Workshop for Desert Rose Chapter of RWA, located at the Scottsdale Civic Center on November 5th from 10:30-4:45. If you are a writer, this is the perfect opportunity to learn and if you are a reader, we have many of our presenters who will be putting on a book signing between presentations.
I also will be working hard on my fiction writing. My next job is homework, reading short stories and working on building characterization. Every thing I learn helps me be a better writer.
~“That’s the magic of revisions – every cut is necessary, and every cut hurts, but something new always grows.”
―
Kelly Barnhill
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Sunday, August 14, 2016
More Reviews
I have been super busy the last couple weeks. I have been doing a lot of writing, mostly nonfiction but still working on my novels. I've had a couple reviews come out on Slice of Scifi. If you haven't seen my posts on Facebook or Twitter and want to catch those, here they are:
One is a review of a fantastic novel by Kat Howard, "Roses and Rot" - http://www.writersafterdark.com/review-roses-and-rot-by-kat-howard/
The other review is of the Syfy show Dark Matter, 5 episodes in the 2nd season. There may be minor spoilers but if you want to know what I think of this show, check it out here: http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2016/08/12/5-episodes-in-dark-matter-season-2/
In other news, I am still working on rewriting one of my previous novels. I still like the concept enough to tinker with it, it needs major work but changing from third person to first person seems to have shaken some things loose and I'm going with that, a little bit at a time.
I'm also editing a novel that's been through a couple drafts prior. I think if I can sit down and do a shake through of each scene, I can polish it up enough that it might have a chance. Shadow's Bane has been one of my favorite novels so far and I think I have some good ideas. But still needs some work. I have a couple beta readers ready to go when I finish my draft but if you are interested, I'm always looking for good beta readers. It's paranormal LGBT romance.
I have more nonfiction work to do next week so don't expect to see any interesting announcements in the next week but as soon as I have another review posted, I will put the link up here and spread the news.
I am really loving writing non-fiction and let me tell you, I did not love it in college, so it's a new experience for me! I must love giving my opinion!
Fantasy tells us truths
Andrea Rittschof
One is a review of a fantastic novel by Kat Howard, "Roses and Rot" - http://www.writersafterdark.com/review-roses-and-rot-by-kat-howard/
The other review is of the Syfy show Dark Matter, 5 episodes in the 2nd season. There may be minor spoilers but if you want to know what I think of this show, check it out here: http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2016/08/12/5-episodes-in-dark-matter-season-2/
In other news, I am still working on rewriting one of my previous novels. I still like the concept enough to tinker with it, it needs major work but changing from third person to first person seems to have shaken some things loose and I'm going with that, a little bit at a time.
I'm also editing a novel that's been through a couple drafts prior. I think if I can sit down and do a shake through of each scene, I can polish it up enough that it might have a chance. Shadow's Bane has been one of my favorite novels so far and I think I have some good ideas. But still needs some work. I have a couple beta readers ready to go when I finish my draft but if you are interested, I'm always looking for good beta readers. It's paranormal LGBT romance.
I have more nonfiction work to do next week so don't expect to see any interesting announcements in the next week but as soon as I have another review posted, I will put the link up here and spread the news.
I am really loving writing non-fiction and let me tell you, I did not love it in college, so it's a new experience for me! I must love giving my opinion!
Fantasy tells us truths
Andrea Rittschof
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Writing News
So, if you are on Facebook or Twitter, you already know my good news for the week. I had an article published on http://www.sliceofscifi.com. if you would like to read it, go to http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2016/07/18/50-years-of-star-trek-the-world-of-star-trek/ and check it out. i'm very pleased with how it came out after revision.
And in other news, I've been asked to write more for the site, so you will see more in the coming months. I'm super excited to be part of such a great team!
I'm currently working on revisions on two different novels as well as a short story. Right now, it's all about perfecting my work and taking more classes on my craft. I have a lot more work to do but I'm positive that I have some great stories that ca only get greater as I revise them.
I also am working on setting up the free Scottsdale Writers Workshop for the Desert Rose chapter of
Romance Writers of America. Look for more news on that on in the coming months. We will be posting on Twitter and Facebook.
Since I am writing more, I will be posting more regularly on here, trying to post at least once a week if I can.
Andrea
“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.”
― Lloyd Alexander
And in other news, I've been asked to write more for the site, so you will see more in the coming months. I'm super excited to be part of such a great team!
I'm currently working on revisions on two different novels as well as a short story. Right now, it's all about perfecting my work and taking more classes on my craft. I have a lot more work to do but I'm positive that I have some great stories that ca only get greater as I revise them.
I also am working on setting up the free Scottsdale Writers Workshop for the Desert Rose chapter of
Romance Writers of America. Look for more news on that on in the coming months. We will be posting on Twitter and Facebook.
Since I am writing more, I will be posting more regularly on here, trying to post at least once a week if I can.
Andrea
“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.”
― Lloyd Alexander
Friday, June 24, 2016
Catching up!!!!
Wow
How long has it been?
If anyone was truly following this, I am so sorry. I randomly post as I feel the need but my schedule has been truly busy and overtaken with the work of writing and so I've not given much thought to this blog.
Honestly, since writing is what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm not upset about that fact.
Work comes first, writing, my desert rose chapter.
My husband's business. Supporting my fellow writers. All these have been things.
How are things, you ask?
Good. Writing more and more.
Current work:
Rewriting an project I worked on several years ago that has potential but needs serious gutting to ve viable. I was going to just leave it alone but the characters came out, hit me over the head and said I wasn't done yet, even while I was in the midst of another project.
I've written a lot....lots of short stories, several novels, mostly rough drafts. Now I need to focus on editing. I finished revising another short story and as I rewrite the current project, I have another novel that needs revising as well. There's no time. I need some more, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.
I will try to write more here, talk to the world a little more.
For now, I will sign off, saying writing is happening. And the next post will be more details about said writing.
Dreams give us reality, we have but to shape them
Andrea
How long has it been?
If anyone was truly following this, I am so sorry. I randomly post as I feel the need but my schedule has been truly busy and overtaken with the work of writing and so I've not given much thought to this blog.
Honestly, since writing is what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm not upset about that fact.
Work comes first, writing, my desert rose chapter.
My husband's business. Supporting my fellow writers. All these have been things.
How are things, you ask?
Good. Writing more and more.
Current work:
Rewriting an project I worked on several years ago that has potential but needs serious gutting to ve viable. I was going to just leave it alone but the characters came out, hit me over the head and said I wasn't done yet, even while I was in the midst of another project.
I've written a lot....lots of short stories, several novels, mostly rough drafts. Now I need to focus on editing. I finished revising another short story and as I rewrite the current project, I have another novel that needs revising as well. There's no time. I need some more, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.
I will try to write more here, talk to the world a little more.
For now, I will sign off, saying writing is happening. And the next post will be more details about said writing.
Dreams give us reality, we have but to shape them
Andrea
Monday, February 10, 2014
Ten influential books....
So I haven't posted in a while but thought I would take some time tonight. I had a friend recently say she had been asked what ten books most influenced her. She couldn't quite narrow it down to ten and she owns less books than me! But I'm going to try.....
Hers was just a list but I'm going to add why or as much as I can tell you from my scrambled brain.
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
I love the concepts and the exploration of both Welsh mythology as well as Native American. In addition, the flying horse is really cool! I like the whole series but this is my personal favorite.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis.
Well, really all the Narnia books but again, this is the one I like the best because of both the wonder and the redemption in the story. Here is the one I read first and the one that stayed with me the most. I always look in closets to see if there might be a doorway.....
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
This one is really the whole series. I can't pick one I like the most, they're all good. I love the rich mythology woven into them, please don't use the movie as a gauge, the books are sooo much better. I've loved them since I was in junior high and had to buy them as an adult to read over and over.
Nancy Drew mystery series by Carolyn Keene
These influenced me to write. Not well, terribly in fact, but my first stories were knock off's of these. I loved the mysteries and they truly were the first I read. I've found better since but I still can't pitch the books I had as a child. And I read these in fourth and fifth grade.
Elfquest by Wendy and Richard Pini
Before you exclaim that these are not books, I will point to the fact that I have the graphic bound novels. The art I fell in love with when I was ten and the stories compelled me when I grew older. They were truly rich and beautiful stories and I still love them to this day. And squealed when the authors were at a comic convention. They had to go on my list because they are what propelled me into loving fantasy and elves.
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
I read this in high school or possibly earlier. The adventure and the knights I fell in love with. I'm still a sucker for adventures like this and the three musketeers by Alexander Dumas. I am putting these two together as I needed room on my list and they are a similar type of story and the same reason for enjoying them.
The short stories by Asimov
While I may not read much science fiction, he made me fall in love with his robots and I have loved science fiction since even if I don't always follow the science. And I love my scifi shows!
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
I really shouldn't have to say why I like this one but the language, the beauty, the tragedy and the joy. And the unicorn...
God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell
I read this in college, it stayed with me twenty years and even when I half forgot the name of the book and the author, it stuck with me enough to make me track down the book and buy it. I love the characters, their imperfections and their struggles in an imperfect dark world. And yes, I highly recommend the series.
Prince of the Godborn: Seven Citadels by Geraldine Harris
Again all about the characters and the journey. Also I read it in high school and had to find it twenty years later. Still haven't bought it but I discovered tonight they have kindle versions and the prices are much lower than the limited editions I saw a couple years ago when I was broke so that may change.
So that's ten and I bet you thought I was done...Well, there is more.
Shakespeare for sheer language and because there is Puck
Anything by Pratchett for humor and Neil Gaiman for whimsy and a certain darkness and sometimes humor.
The Last Herald Mage series by Mercedes Lackey.
This one gets an honorable mention because I loved the character and her character influenced me in ways I am still discovering but mostly because it showed me there could be stories about people who were different than the norm and I needed that and I think so does this world. Most of the stories I favor are about being different, so all of these have that in common.
I could go on, there are so many but those are some of the ones that influenced me the most. Now, make your own list. Don't think too hard and it can be for better or worse. I picked better but that's me. Tag, you're it!
Hers was just a list but I'm going to add why or as much as I can tell you from my scrambled brain.
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
I love the concepts and the exploration of both Welsh mythology as well as Native American. In addition, the flying horse is really cool! I like the whole series but this is my personal favorite.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis.
Well, really all the Narnia books but again, this is the one I like the best because of both the wonder and the redemption in the story. Here is the one I read first and the one that stayed with me the most. I always look in closets to see if there might be a doorway.....
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
This one is really the whole series. I can't pick one I like the most, they're all good. I love the rich mythology woven into them, please don't use the movie as a gauge, the books are sooo much better. I've loved them since I was in junior high and had to buy them as an adult to read over and over.
Nancy Drew mystery series by Carolyn Keene
These influenced me to write. Not well, terribly in fact, but my first stories were knock off's of these. I loved the mysteries and they truly were the first I read. I've found better since but I still can't pitch the books I had as a child. And I read these in fourth and fifth grade.
Elfquest by Wendy and Richard Pini
Before you exclaim that these are not books, I will point to the fact that I have the graphic bound novels. The art I fell in love with when I was ten and the stories compelled me when I grew older. They were truly rich and beautiful stories and I still love them to this day. And squealed when the authors were at a comic convention. They had to go on my list because they are what propelled me into loving fantasy and elves.
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
I read this in high school or possibly earlier. The adventure and the knights I fell in love with. I'm still a sucker for adventures like this and the three musketeers by Alexander Dumas. I am putting these two together as I needed room on my list and they are a similar type of story and the same reason for enjoying them.
The short stories by Asimov
While I may not read much science fiction, he made me fall in love with his robots and I have loved science fiction since even if I don't always follow the science. And I love my scifi shows!
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
I really shouldn't have to say why I like this one but the language, the beauty, the tragedy and the joy. And the unicorn...
God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell
I read this in college, it stayed with me twenty years and even when I half forgot the name of the book and the author, it stuck with me enough to make me track down the book and buy it. I love the characters, their imperfections and their struggles in an imperfect dark world. And yes, I highly recommend the series.
Prince of the Godborn: Seven Citadels by Geraldine Harris
Again all about the characters and the journey. Also I read it in high school and had to find it twenty years later. Still haven't bought it but I discovered tonight they have kindle versions and the prices are much lower than the limited editions I saw a couple years ago when I was broke so that may change.
So that's ten and I bet you thought I was done...Well, there is more.
Shakespeare for sheer language and because there is Puck
Anything by Pratchett for humor and Neil Gaiman for whimsy and a certain darkness and sometimes humor.
The Last Herald Mage series by Mercedes Lackey.
This one gets an honorable mention because I loved the character and her character influenced me in ways I am still discovering but mostly because it showed me there could be stories about people who were different than the norm and I needed that and I think so does this world. Most of the stories I favor are about being different, so all of these have that in common.
I could go on, there are so many but those are some of the ones that influenced me the most. Now, make your own list. Don't think too hard and it can be for better or worse. I picked better but that's me. Tag, you're it!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
NanoWrimo 2013
Just realized today that I haven't posted anything in quite a while. Isn't amazing how when you're zooming along writing everything goes away? I've had a couple issues, mostly a slow start to the romance on the new story but it is rushing along. I think it's a good story, although the overall conflict will continue throughout at least another book. But the romance will be resolved. I like the characters despite my threats to one to beat him up when he doesn't cooperate but isn't that normal? Isn't there one that drives you crazy?
We have also been busy with life stuff as well. We have an inspection for the place we're renting plus news from work that they're closing down my call center. The company is working with it's employees to find work in other business units but it was a bit of a blow since I love my coworkers. But the good news is I have time and I want to stay so I think it will work out.
Other good news, past the 25,000 mark on new story, 27, 900 total
Have a great day!
We have also been busy with life stuff as well. We have an inspection for the place we're renting plus news from work that they're closing down my call center. The company is working with it's employees to find work in other business units but it was a bit of a blow since I love my coworkers. But the good news is I have time and I want to stay so I think it will work out.
Other good news, past the 25,000 mark on new story, 27, 900 total
Have a great day!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Fiasco and other games
I had a blast this weekend. We dragged my friend and her visitor as well as her roommate and also my friend out to our gamer buddies. We had a board game day with all kinds of games. First, we played Revolution which I did not fare well at. Then we played a card game while others went walking. Again, fun. A break was made for food and when everyone gathered again, the true fun began.
My GM set us up at Fiasco. It was me, Heather, Leah from Australia, and Cassie, Heather's roommate and Patrick the aforementioned GM. Now, Fiasco is a cooperative roleplaying game with no GM. It has settings and dice but you work together to build the relationships. Everyone is related somehow to someone else and you build on those relationships as well adding in a couple needs. Cassie was Patrick's grandfather. Patrick was friends with Heather but it was a thin veneer. Leah and I knew each other in the past, rivals with a bit of something extra involved but now she had been married and divorced from Heather. Last, I was Cassie's apprentice.
It was set in China, Medieval China. And it was a riot. I won't give you all the details but suffice to say we had so much fun playing off of each other. We solved the mystery of Patrick's missing mother who ended up being Leah who was still alive. She and I had been bandits but she'd run off with the tax collector, Heather. I needed to get even and boy, did I. By the end of the game, I died but went down into the legends as the mighty Bandit King (despite Leah being the true brains) and my love for her lived on down the centuries. Cassie died by accidentally eating poison that she had set out for the tax collector. Patrick was a mighty warrior and I was his father. It was very tangled and very amusing. Cassie's character was skimming money off the top on taxes and had hidden it away only to find it stolen. We all were devilish and it was magnificent! I definitely want to play again!
My GM set us up at Fiasco. It was me, Heather, Leah from Australia, and Cassie, Heather's roommate and Patrick the aforementioned GM. Now, Fiasco is a cooperative roleplaying game with no GM. It has settings and dice but you work together to build the relationships. Everyone is related somehow to someone else and you build on those relationships as well adding in a couple needs. Cassie was Patrick's grandfather. Patrick was friends with Heather but it was a thin veneer. Leah and I knew each other in the past, rivals with a bit of something extra involved but now she had been married and divorced from Heather. Last, I was Cassie's apprentice.
It was set in China, Medieval China. And it was a riot. I won't give you all the details but suffice to say we had so much fun playing off of each other. We solved the mystery of Patrick's missing mother who ended up being Leah who was still alive. She and I had been bandits but she'd run off with the tax collector, Heather. I needed to get even and boy, did I. By the end of the game, I died but went down into the legends as the mighty Bandit King (despite Leah being the true brains) and my love for her lived on down the centuries. Cassie died by accidentally eating poison that she had set out for the tax collector. Patrick was a mighty warrior and I was his father. It was very tangled and very amusing. Cassie's character was skimming money off the top on taxes and had hidden it away only to find it stolen. We all were devilish and it was magnificent! I definitely want to play again!
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