Skip to main content

What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
Post a Comment

Poll for the title of my book!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental

Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is The Wedding Caper by Janice Thompson.
My Monday book giveaway is Thanks for the Mammogram! AND Reconstructing Natalie, both by Laura Jensen Walker.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on the blog posts above. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for The Wedding Caper and post the title for another book I'm giving away.

Pick my title! The Zondervan Marketing Department is torn about which title would be best for my debut novel.

So you guys get to weigh in!

Here are your choices:

Solo Sushi
Sushi for One
Single Sushi
Solo Sashimi

Leave a comment about which you prefer and WHY. I’ll run this poll for a couple weeks to figure out which will be the title for my new book!

TMI:

Writing: I posted another "Health and the Writer" post at WriterQuotes, and an agent post at my Story Sensei blog.

And in case you missed it, my review of The Guy I’m Not Dating by Trish Perry is posted at the Fab Four Book Picks blog.

Working on my substantive edits. Please pray for me if you get a chance. I’m feeling stressed.

However, I also have hope! Read Rachelle’s post today on her blog and start praying for me!

Diet: I went running yesterday with the dog. It was a good run except that my surgery knee had a few twinges. Not good. So I think I’ll stick with low-impact aerobics with Denise Austin and my Power Yoga programs.

(Oh and Rachelle, I have Taebo, too, but I haven’t tried it since my knee surgery.)
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
I like "Sushi for One" because it has a nice rhythm to it - it just rolls off the tongue. The others kind of trip up my tongue. :)

Saying prayers for you.
Mon Oct 09, 05:51:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
My vote is for "Sushi for One". It sounds very single chick-ish. I just like it very much. That's my answer. Heh.

Prayers are being sent your way.
Mon Oct 09, 06:00:00 AM 2006
PatriciaW said…
I like Sushi for One too. Could also go with Single Sushi because you've used this as the series title so I think a lot of your friends and fans are familiar with it already.
Mon Oct 09, 06:54:00 AM 2006
Catherine West said…
Hey Friend!
Praying for you!! You will get there. God is doing a completed work - remember - He doesn't ever leave loose ends. Philippainas 1:6.
For your title, I prefer Sushi for One. I think it looks good - Solo Sashimi works as well, but I would wonder how many reader would actually know what Sashimi is?
Most people know what Sushi is I think!
Anyway, that's my cent and a half for ya!
Mon Oct 09, 07:08:00 AM 2006
Katie Hart - Pinterest Manager said…
Had already chosen Sushi for One as my preference - then came here to find out everyone else likes it too! I agree with them - very chick-lit-ish.
Mon Oct 09, 09:32:00 AM 2006
Jennifer Y. said…
I like "Sushi for One" It just appeals to me more and is catchy.
Mon Oct 09, 11:13:00 AM 2006
Southern-fried Fiction said…
Well, Camy, I'm going to be different.

I like Solo Sushi. It's catchy, almost humorous in its ring. It trips off the tongue with a smile, almost singing its way out of my mouth.

Solo Sashimi doesn't make me smile, nor does Sushi For one or Single Sushi. They're Ho Hum in my opinion.
All the others are dull and boring and common. Solo Sushi is unique.
Mon Oct 09, 11:44:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
Camy, I like Sushi for One. The Solos Sashimi makes me go huh? I don't know what Sashimi is.
Mon Oct 09, 12:12:00 PM 2006
Mark Goodyear said…
Well, I like to eat Sashimi, but I figure most people won't know what Sashimi is like Salley said.

My favorite title is Single Sushi. Then Sushi for One.

What did your publisher say?
Mon Oct 09, 12:44:00 PM 2006
Julie Carobini said…
Single Sushi! It's hip and quick off the tongue.
Mon Oct 09, 01:13:00 PM 2006
Sarah Anne Sumpolec said…
I like Single Sushi best because of the lyrical quality of it..
Mon Oct 09, 01:46:00 PM 2006
Anonymous said…
I'm somewhat hesitant about naming a book--at least when it comes down to voting for it. Of the ones listed, I prefer "Sushi for One" especially since I *don't* know what sashami is though I'm guessing it's another Japanese dish.

I like the Solo bit and wonder how "Sushi Solo" would work. I guess this comes from turning around suggestions for titles for another book, e.g., "Yours Always" or "Always Yours". One seems to have a better *ring* than the other. I know it could be confused with solo singing but the I'd say "A Sushi Solo".
Mon Oct 09, 06:36:00 PM 2006
Tyora Moody said…
I like these titles the best:

1st Choice. Sushi for One
2nd Choice. Solo Sushi
Mon Oct 09, 08:23:00 PM 2006
Ruth said…
I'm gonna vote for 1) Single Sushi (very catchy, and as some other people mentioned, has a chick lit sound to it) and 2) Sushi for One.
Tue Oct 10, 04:39:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
I like Sushi for One. It rolls off the tongue better than the others.
Tue Oct 10, 04:47:00 AM 2006
Domino said…
Solo Sushi!!! I can't think of a better title.
Tue Oct 10, 07:43:00 AM 2006
Carolynn said…
Hey Camy, I think 'Solo Sushi' has a great ring to it, very catchy....
Tue Oct 10, 09:17:00 AM 2006
Trish Ryan said…
I like either "Solo Sushi" or "Single Sushi."

Going off-track, you could invert the words:

"Sushi, Solo"

But that might just confuse things. Here's to God leading you to the perfect title!
Tue Oct 10, 01:48:00 PM 2006
Anonymous said…
Apparently, I'm going to totally rock the boat and say I like "Solo Sashimi" best. I love the way I feel saying it.

Also, rather than the word "Sashimi" turning me off to the title, I think it adds that litte bit of exotic flavor that makes me feel like I'm going to be in safe hands while you tell me a story about a culture different from the ones I'm familiar with.

"Solo Sushi" feels really abrupt. I probably wouldn't just pick up a book with that title unless it had something else going for it (like, maybe, I knew the author's name ;-)).

"Single Sushi" trips me up every single time. I just can't get the words to come out right.

"Sushi for One" captures the chick-litty kind of feel, but doesn't give me the instant "ooh, what's this now?" reaction that "Solo Sashimi" does.

But that's my opinion, I'll buy the book no matter what the title is. :-) And I'll keep praying that God leads you to the perfect title for this book.
Wed Oct 11, 08:28:00 AM 2006
Pfingston said…
I like the Solo Sushi, its spanish, it's english, its got double meaning and more. Only susui, or just sushi, or . . .yeh. I like it.
Wed Oct 11, 11:24:00 AM 2006
Malia Spencer said…
I like Solo Sushi personally but Sushi for One has a certain ring to it. So either one would work.
Thu Oct 12, 03:16:00 PM 2006
Anonymous said…
I like Sushi for One.
Mon Oct 16, 04:48:00 PM 2006
Anonymous said…
I like Sushi for One. It rolls off the tongue and in my opinion, it says what the book is about. It's short, to the point and not confusing. Solo Sushi and Single Sushi make me think one piece of sushi. And I just don't get Sashimi.

If I was walking through a store and saw the title Sushi for One, I would be intrigued and inclined to buy it. It's simple and I think it will appeal to more people.

That's just my thoughts.

Shauna
Tue Oct 17, 09:57:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
I'm so excited to read your book!! My first one is "Solo Sushi", my second pick "Sushi for one"
May this book be Blessed!
Rebecca
Wed Oct 18, 09:20:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
Solo Sushi and Sushi for one are my favs. (Probably in reverse order though).

Lara
Wed Oct 18, 09:51:00 PM 2006
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...
10 comments
Read more

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...
18 comments
Read more

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...
21 comments
Read more

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...
2 comments
Read more

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter
4 comments
Read more

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...
39 comments
Read more

A List of my Free Blog Reads

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, novella) Click here to buy the FREE ebook on all retailers Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both? Fantasy short stories: Pixies in a Garden in Kyoto There were pixies in the garden. Since she was in Kyoto, she was certain they were not called pixies, but she didn't know what they would be called in Japanese, and they certainly looked like what she imagined pixies would look like. The King’s Daughter The trees in the King's garden were full of colored pixie lights. The...
Post a Comment
Read more

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...
64 comments
Read more

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and...
32 comments
Read more