Month: December 2011

IU Writing Contest – The Undiscovered Country

Photo by K.S. Brooks

The entry period for this contest is now closed. Voting for favorite entry is open from now until 5 pm mountain time on Thursday January 5, 2012. The recipient with the most votes wins a feature post and publication at year end.

The coming new year is like an unexplored alien landscape. We stand now looking at this vision of a new place that promises adventure. This wonderful landscape photo by K.S. Brooks depicts a beautiful but forbidding world.

Is this scene from long ago, from a distant future, from here, from a distant planet? In 250 words or less, tell me a story about the exploration or quest you and/or your party must undertake across this frozen plain.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.

On Wednesday morning, we will open voting to the public with an online poll for the best writing entry accompanying the photo. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Friday morning, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Best of luck to you all in your voyage into the undiscovered country – both that depicted above and toward the wonders of a new year.

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Photograph by K.S. Brooks, used here with the photographer’s permission. Copying or reproduction of any kind without express consent is prohibited. All rights reserved.

For a more detailed explanation of the contest & its workings, please see the post called “Writing Exercises Return with a Twist” from 12/24/11.

By participating in this exercise the contestants agree to the rules of the contest and waive any and all further considerations or permissions otherwise required for any winning entries to be published by Indies Unlimited as an e-book, showcasing all the photos and with the winning expositions credited appropriately and accordingly.

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Meet the Author: Yvonne Hertzberger

Author Yvonne Hertzberger

Author Yvonne Hertzberger describes her writing as primarily character-driven. Though plot and description play an important part, she feels they are secondary to creating characters that grow and develop, that readers will identify with and want to spend time getting to know. She says, “I get into their thoughts and emotions, and even often describe the scene through the eyes of a character. I try to use language that is accessible but still literate. I believe that if you need a dictionary beside you to ‘get it’ you will not escape into the story.”

Yvonne says she is a people-watcher and derives many of her insights into the behavior of her characters from seeing how real people interact. “As well, I like to think about social issues and spiritual issues in new ways and play with how that might change how my characters see their world,” she adds. Continue reading “Meet the Author: Yvonne Hertzberger”

Spam Deluxe – with Cheese

To end this year properly and start the new one right, we at Indies Unlimited wanted to break out the Dom Perignon and the Beluga caviar. Unfortunately, due to our budgetary constraints, we will instead be having  a box of Ripple and a can of Spam.

So, grab a red Solo cup, a paper plate, and help yourself to some of my favorite spam comments from the past few months, links deleted, of course. Remember, here at Indies Unlimited, we are sanitized for your protection. Continue reading “Spam Deluxe – with Cheese”

A Serving of Payback.

Lust for Danger by K.S. Brooks
She's ready to dish out payback!

Mean people suck. They really do. But that’s okay, I’m coming to the conclusion that it’s a good thing. Because…honestly…if there were no mean people I’d have no one to passionately torture and kill off in my novels.

Whoever said “Revenge is a dish best served cold” wasn’t altogether with it. Take that quote, add a whole lot of “The pen is mightier than the sword” and you have a winning combination.

Yes, I believe in what goes around comes around…and, if I can help it get around any faster, I’m all for it. And yes, I will go completely out of my way to write a scene that may not be related in any way to my project just to give my enemies their come-uppance. That, my friends, is my right. Continue reading “A Serving of Payback.”