Yearly Archives: 2014
Dear Teen Me
Dear Teen Me, The first thing you must know is that there is a fabulous guy waiting for you to find him so don’t worry about the drama of missing out on having a high school boyfriend or a date to the prom. Those things are not as important as meeting the right guy. I have to add that your guy is awesome. He’s the handsome prince you were always hoping for—a friend you can rely on who will support you and love you. Someone you have so much in common with, you’ll wonder how you got so …
On Writing the Tiger’s Curse Series: A Reflection
On Writing the Tiger’s Curse Series: A Reflection By Colleen Houck In Tiger’s Voyage, the Indian goddess, Durga, says to Kelsey, “You will discover that if you hadn’t stretched, you would have drowned in the deep, never to blossom or share your gifts with others.” This statement is a theme for my writing journey. In the beginning, I never would have thought I could write a book at all, let alone a series, let alone a published, New York Times Bestselling one. It was a mighty big stretch for me to go from a reader who took a few …
Characters That Live Long and Prosper
Characters That Live Long and Prosper Author Guest Post: Colleen Houck Talks Characters that Live Long and Prosper! Hey all! Colleen’s guest post is an awesome one. She talks about some of the influences that helped to create one of her favorite characters, Mr. Kadam. Lots of wonderful fantasy and sci-fi references in here! I have to give you a warning: if you haven’t seen the Star Trek movie The Wrath of Kahn and don’t know what happens in the film, there’s a major spoiler in here. You might want to read with caution. But other than that, read away! **** I’ve often been asked …
Why Time Travel, Wormholes, Parallel Universes & Alternate Dimensions Just Makes Everything Cooler
Why Time Travel, Wormholes, Parallel Universes & Alternate Dimensions Just Makes Everything Cooler By Colleen Houck You know what I love? Seven layer cookie bars. Why, you might ask? There’s a simple answer. SEVEN LAYERS. Not only do you get the chocolate chip and peanut butter but there are usually fudge brownies, nuts, butterscotch, and whipped cream, too. Even salad, which I don’t normally like, just looks so much more interesting when placed in layers in a glass bowl. I’ve always liked the idea of getting more. Advertisers really suck me in on the buy one get one …
My Top Twelve Time Travel Movies
My Top Twelve Time Travel Movies By Colleen Houck #Honorable Mention: The Final Countdown Summary: A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. My Thoughts: This one is to honor my dad who passed away this year. He was all about battleships and military movies and while that’s not so much my thing, I did enjoy the time travel elements of this film. With Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen this movie is a fun one to watch and it’s a good example of time …
Why YA is Just so Darn Better Than Everything Else
Why YA is Just so Darn Better Than Everything Else By Colleen Houck I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “But there are so many good adult and kid books out there,” and if you know me really well, you’re thinking, “But you often list adult books as your favorites.” Both of these thoughts are true. I love books of all kinds. Books about aliens. Books about dystopian societies. Books with animals as characters. Books with paranormal creatures. Books with romance. So, you see, I am somewhat of a book fanatic, but I think YA books are special. Even …
Book Trailer for Tiger’s Curse (Self Published)
Book Trailer Mr. Kadam voice-over Note: all the characters should be either in profile, darkened, shadowed, or viewed from behind (Haunting music, Picture of a young Indian man wearing robes from centuries ago. Profile, dignified, walking on sand or desert. Same man in different places, ie jungle, modern city wearing a business suit again in profile, music changes from old to modern style of India) “We had sought her for centuries.” “There were times I believed it was my fate to fail. The answers…eluded me.” (Man kneeling before a deathbed or at the foot …
Query Letter
This is my original query letter that I sent out to agents after I wrote Tiger’s Curse. Dear Editor, Kelsey Hayes, an orphan, is a recent high school graduate working for the summer at a small circus. She has no idea that the totally non-glamorous job of sweeping up popcorn and cotton candy sticks would lead her towards her destiny—a perilous new destiny that whisks her away to the far off continent of India where she encounters dangerous mythological creatures, supernatural beings, and booby-trapped caves. However, it will also lead her to magnificent ancient ruins, handsome princes …
Book Trailer for Tiger’s Quest (Self Published Edition)
Quest Book Trailer Images—dungeons, prisons, a red dress, woman’s long dark hair, man in a cage, hand touching forehead, rope on fire, water or ice putting out fire, man embracing woman, smiling woman’s face fading to darkness as if a picture dropped in a fountain of water fades, still want a tiger in there somewhere. Sound effects—a woman saying “Mujhe Tumse Pirari, Ren.” Torture screams? Evil laugh, tiger roar. Scary sad music interspersed with love music. Voice is Ren so need to find a strong young male Indian with a barely discernable accent with maybe a girl voicing for …
Book Trailer for Tiger’s Voyage (Self Published Edition)
Voyage Book Trailer Voice-Kishan, young man Indian accent but speaks English well. A bit rough, rugged voice. Strong and deep toned. Images-Stymphalian bird, bear, girl in profile or silhouette, man carrying woman, man holding woman in his arms, man listening to woman, arrow, smiling woman, warrior in armor, girl with cupped hands. Sound effects-bear bellow, tiger roar, birds screeching, laughing or giggling women, music. Script What do you do when the girl of your dreams is in love with your brother? And why do women always seem to go for the brooding poet types anyway? I fought a bear for …
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