Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Chatting with writer Anne Michaud & the Joys of Journals

  My first interview as a writer! 

I loved discussing with Anne my inspiration for writing Deathly Quiet. Revisiting the emotions behind the story - those childhood feelings weaved into a dark tale set on an eerie, historical Montreal street.

Check it out...

Chatting with Lisa Forget


If you haven't seen my mention of it on Facebook, someone broke into our house last week and stole mine and my daughter's laptops, among other things (the list grows whenever we go looking for something...)

Like so many friends and relatives who've also experienced the violation of a stranger's intrusion, I'm sick about it on so many levels. I won't bore you with my innermost feelings, nor will I tell you what I think about the lost soul who busted through our back window. I will say, however, this incident has left me without my most useful writing tool - my old clunker of a laptop.

Without it I've felt disconnected from writing because typing my ideas is so instantaneous and the finished product is so versatile; once you write your piece you can move things around, cut and paste, undo and redo, send it to your writing buddies to beta read, crit, edit, cross your fingers and submit the file to publishers, or you can just store it on your usb for safe-keeping. I loved my laptop.

After a couple of days of not writing (not only because of above-mentioned lack of tool, but because of a recent work-related situation taking up much of my time), my brain felt like it would explode, so I picked up a pencil and a lovely leather-bound journal my husband gave me a while back and I started to jot down the ideas threatening to burst from my head.

Like magic...I immediately felt better.

My newest untitled story has come to life using a plain old HB pencil! How simple...I'm almost embarrassed.

I can write my stories in this way, anywhere. Standing at the bus stop, riding the metro, waiting in the car, sitting on my front door step - and they don't sell used journals at your local pawn shop!

Eventually, I'll transcribe my entries, but for now, I've rediscovered the beauty of thoughts flowing through a writing implement - just like we experienced as kids.

Don't forget, if you have something dark to share, consider submitting it to Bleeding Ink - a Collection of Dark Tales I'm having a blast reading through recent submissions. Looking forward to reading yours.


May your Muse inspire you....

Lisa
aka
One third of The InkBabes

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Daily Flash 2012 - the Leap Year Edition!

Woohoo! It's finally here! I'm thrilled to be a contributor of this anthology. My pieces are entitled: Reclaimed, Thief, Ascension, and The Whispers.

I'm in some mighty fine company as many of my online writing group friends have contributed as well!

Tammy Crosby ~ Pat Hollett ~ Anne C Michaud ~ JD Waye ~ to name a few...

Daily Flash 2012 can be purchased at Pill Hill Press and on Amazon.

I can't wait to get my hard copy of this anthology and have "the gang" sign it!

While I'm on the subject of anthologies, I'd like to remind you about my collaboration with Pat Hollett and Tammy Crosby compiling wonderfully dark and delicious stories from 6 words to 5K for Bleeding Ink - a collection of dark tales. For those of you who love writing dark tales, please check out our INKBABES site for all the juicy info regarding submission guidelines and specifics. We are Ever Yours...

May your Muse inspire....
Lisa

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A Thrilling New Creative Collaboration - Bleeding Ink - A Collection of Dark Tales

I was right into the throes of NaNoWriMo when along came an opportunity...to collaborate with two talented writers -  Patricia Hollett and Tammy Crosby  - compiling deliciously dark, sinfully sinister, eerily evocative, frighteningly funny and though-provoking tales.

The creative collaboration proved incredibly tempting.  The idea of giving writers an opportunity to share their unique voice in a collection I helped create thrilled me to no end.

How could I refuse?

I gently closed the file containing the nano story I'd been working on, "The Guardian of Secrets" - not to be abandoned but to tuck it away for safekeeping for a few days - and began an inspired and impassioned dialogue with my collaborators.

Astonished by their enthusiasm and talent - I have never had the pleasure of working with people so passionate  - those few days produced a wonderful and worthwhile project I'm proud to be part of...

Bleeding Ink Anthology

If you love to write and have tales to share with lovers of all-things-dark, please visit our site and submit to Bleeding Ink. Patricia, Tammy and I - aka the InkBabes - would love to hear from you!

Submissions are open!

May your dark Muse inspire you!

Lisa

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Congratulations to the Winners!

Congratulations to

Sandra Clark and Anne Michaud

who both won an e-format copy of
DEATHLY QUIET!

Thank you all for entering!



November 5th MuseItUp Booksigning and Meet & Greet
Pointe Claire, Quebec

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Lisa

Friday, November 11, 2011

November 11th CONTEST - Enter to win a copy of DEATHLY QUIET

Hi Everyone!

What a thrilling week it's been!

Celebrating my 25th Wedding Anniversary
The release of Deathly Quiet
The MuseItUp Publisher's Book Signing and Meet & Greet
Seeing my little dark tale pop up in Amazon, Smashwords, GoodReads, Manic Readers and of course at the MuseItUp Online Bookstore.
Doing my first reading
Being asked to do a reading for Literacy Unlimited
And now, holding my first Deathly Quiet contest....

Enter for your chance to win an e-format copy of
my dark fiction tale,
Deathly Quiet
by answering the following question:

What is the name of the young female character in Deathly Quiet?
(hint: visit http://www.lisaforget.weebly.com/, MuseItUp, Amazon, Smashwords, or GoodReads)

Send your anwer to lisaforget@ymail.com

Kindly type "Deathly Quiet Contest" in the subject line.

Contest ends Midnight (EST) November 11, 2011

Good Luck!

Lisa

Friday, November 4, 2011

Deathly Quiet PUBLISHED TODAY!

TODAY IS RELEASE DAY!!!!


My tale of dark fiction is now available at:




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Moira Murphy’s fate awaits her in
the
Deathly Quiet
A tale of dark fiction by
Lisa Forget
ISBN 978-1-927361-15-3

When Moira Murphy stops by Sebastopol Row to visit the handsome young Percy Brown–the man her heart desires–she finds nothing but empty stables and a pool of dripping blood. With a large black crow watching her every move while black clouds and rolling thunder suddenly fill the skies above her, fear propels her into the Brown family home.

The moment she crosses the threshold, stepping into the dark and seemingly empty house, Moira knows something is very wrong.  Dread races through her and dark shadows take on a human-like shape and when long, razor-sharp canines glint in the candlelight Moira realizes what lies within the deathly quiet of the house is a fate even her vivid imagination cannot fathom.
Set in a village west of Montreal’s harbor during the age of Victoria, Deathly Quiet is a tale of a young woman’s encounter with a dark and mysterious stranger that changes her life…forever.

Lisa Forget lives in Quebec, Canada with her husband and three daughters. A singer and entertainer by profession, she enjoys writing dark, paranormal, romantic and young adult fiction as an extension of her artistic expression. This fall, four of her flash fiction stories will be published in Pill Hill Press’ anthology - Daily Flash 2012 (The Leap Year Edition). Earlier this year her short story entitled “Hope” was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing LLC and her twisted 50-word story "Writer's Block" was published online at www.fiftywordstories.com.

Deathly Quiet is available November 4th 2011 in e-book formats from MuseItUp Publishing at http://www.museituppublishing.com/ . This 23 page short-story retails for $2.50 and is also available at http://www.amazon.com/ . For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Lisa Forget at lisaforget@ymail.com. You may also visit Lisa’s website at http://www.lisaforget.weebly.com/  or her blog at www.lisaforget.blogspot.com.


 
Book Signing/Author Meet & Greet Event
Saturday, November 5th, 2011 

Lisa Forget will be at the Zellers Pointe Claire and MuseItUp Publishing Mega Extravaganza Book Signing/Author Meet & Greet Event at 195 Hymus Blvd. in Pointe Claire from 1pm to 5pm.

Come out and meet Muse authors from around the world.

There will be four door prizes from MuseItUp Publishing, and Zellers will offer 500,000 ClubZ points to one lucky winner. The draw will happen at 4 p.m. in-store. There will be coffee, cookies, and treats for one and all.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Promoting "Deathly Quiet" and thoughts on NaNoWriMo

November is fast approaching. For me this means putting the "push on" for promoting my little tale of dark fiction, "Deathly Quiet".

My first public opportunity presents itself next week at MuseItUp Publishing Authors' weekend retreat, where a Meet, Greet & Book-signing event takes place at Zeller's in Pointe Claire on Saturday, November 5th from 1pm - 5pm.  Muse authors from all over the North America (and possibly a few from elsewhere...) will be promoting their short-stories, novellas & novels.

Although "Deathly Quiet" comes out November 18th, I'll be there making the most of the wonderful opportunity our publishers have given us, and handing out promo items with the details of how to purchase my gothic tale. I look forward  to chatting it up with readers as well as getting to know my fellow Muse Authors!

I've been working on different items to hand out and I thought I'd share this postcard I created using of the book cover art by Mike Zambrano.

I have a few other items I'll be using, all variations on the above, including a bookmark. For those with experience in this area of book marketing, what items do you find work best to promote your work? 



I'd like to let you know MuseItUp has just released
A collection of ten short stories written by Muse Authors 
Barbara Ehrentreu, Gloria Oren, Lisa J. Lickel, Nan D Arnold, Nathaniel Tower,
Rosemary Gemmell, Suzannah Safi, Tanja Cilia & Vicki Batman.
 The authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties
to help raise funds for cancer research.
This book is dedicated to the memory of Karen McGrath,one of Muse's editors
who passed away from cancer in 2011. 
Click on the link above to purchase a copy.


November also means it's NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month.

The challenge is to  write 50,000 words in 30 days. That works out to 1,667 words per day, my blog-hopping peeps! I participated last year, meeting the challenge and finishing my first Young Adult novel - The Powers Within - in the process.

With only 4days, 12 hours and 10 mins to go...I'm still wondering if I'll participate this year. If I do, I'm thinking of writing the sequel to The Powers Within - thereby creating a duology as I always planned.

Hmm... Plan = Outline. I'm usually a Pantster but with so many things on my plate, I think I'll need one to brave the challenge this year.

What about you? Do you plan to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge?

:) Lisa

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Goodbye New York City!!

Thanks for the memories NYC....

Just about to load the vans and leave the Riverside Towers Hotel

Producer, Director and Driver Stephen!


Oops, this van visited the pound...parking in NYC is a tricky thing!


Au revoir New York City - until we meet again!

Monday, October 10, 2011

NEW YORK - Day 4 Final Performance & Strawberry Fields

Monik leading the way on our walk-about before heading to the theatre

Notice the Cirque du Soleil poster on the left.

The famous Penn Station. What a maze....I got lost in it twice! haha!
Any and all surfaces are used by Producers to advertise in this town!!

Avenue of the AMERICAS

After the positive experience we all enjoyed this weekend, we feel like we could be part of this club!
Bravo la gang de Armadillo Acres!


You are now entering the Fashion District - clever!

During my visit, I realised how much I love steet signs

I wish I had pictures from the show to post but it was such a whirlwind of activity once we entered the theatre, I couldn't concentrate on capturing wonderful backstage moments.



Gillie - sound tech

Susan and Herrick taking a much deserved break.




Closing Party
A beer and an order of fish and chips to celebrate our successful visit to NYC

With Stephanie - our "Pickles"


Pierre (Norbert) and Pierre (the "thief")


Classy choreographer Lorna

Simon - production assistant
After we feasted on pub fare we headed off our separate ways for a couple of hours. Some met up again to see Avenue Q while others - myself included - saw This One Girl's Story. It's part of the NYMF line-up of amazing shows.  I was totally blown away by the magnificient voices of the cast! I was so happy to have been invited to attend as were the rest of our group.

Afterwards, Pierre (Norbert) and I walked over to Central Park and joined the crowd gathered there to celebrate John Lennon's birthday. It was an emotional experience.








The Dakota - directly across from Central Park



IMAGINE
John Lennon 
9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980


Sunday, October 9, 2011

NEW YORK - Day 3 Dress Rehearsal and Opening Night


A big hello from the Big Apple.

Opening night was a blast. Full house, high energy, lots of great memories. When I have a little more time I'll post more pics. We were insanely busy but Pierre, Monik and I made some time to have a hearty breakfast and a little shopping nearby.                   

 
                                Zabars! The official breakfast nook for us Trailer Parkers. Excellent coffee and hearty breakie!!

A little shopping before getting to the theatre

The Barrows Group Theatre
Look up....look waaaay up - TBG theatre

Yes Monik and Pierre, we're here!!
Up please!

Bare stage without our set

Ou rNew York Producer - Hillary Cutter

Betty and Ginny - the very best of Trailer Park friends!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

New York - Day 2

Good Morning!!

For those who've never been to New York City, let me show you what it feels like....
This sums up the "feel" of NYC. High and purposeful energy all day, every day!

After a hearty brunch at Zabars on Broadway and West 80th, running personal errands, taking in a bit of the sights, we all made our way to Carroll's Music Studios on West 55th Street. |Monik, our wonderfully funny Betty, joined us there after producing her morning show on 105.7 Rythme FM in Montreal.
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Carroll Music Studios West 55th St. Manhattan


Studio 3 - we spend most of the day here
The band working through the score with NY bassist Don

Stephen going through the plan for the day
After the meeting with our director, we set to work doing an "Italian" of the show while the band worked in our NY bassist Don. An Italian - for those who might not know - is basically speaking through the show without music, singing or movement. After the Italian, we moved into Studio 3 and began an intense music rehearsal.
Sarah, Eve & Pierre looking through the NYMF program

Monik, Tina, Stephanie and Maxime work through some harmonies

Sweet sound from the Trailer Park Ladies

The Great American TV Show

Yes, I'm really here...I still can't believe it!!

Danica belting out her song

Pierre and I working through "Gardien de mon Coeur"

Ken - Guitar & Don - Bass

Paul on Drums
After a long day we all headed back to the hotel. Monik and I had a couple of giggles in our shared room before the world went dark and I drifted to sleep.

Now, here I am in the hotel lounge typing this out before I'll jump in the shower and then make my way back out to Broadway. We'll grab another hearty breakfast at Zabars and then take the #1 down to Penn Station to the TBG theatre for our first presentation of Ma Femme Ma Blonde et Ma Roulotte!!

Talk to you all later my blog-hopping peeps!!

xx Lisa