Watch for Magic by Inkaholics IV Writers Group

The long-awaited Inkaholics IV Writers Group book just completed production. With five fun and creative young writers, we put together a fantastic steampunk adventure called Watch for Magic last July. Here's the back cover copy for you:

He can’t hide forever.

Javian is an orphaned boy living as a hunter in a magical forest outside of Ducal, with a flying llama as his only companion. Rumors abound in the city about how magic is disappearing, but Javian is unconcerned until he accidentally traps a mythical dragon named Airimyth.

The giant cogs of his life are set in motion when a run-in with Eylec the gryphon gets them captured by migrating dwarves. Escape is paramount, but Javian’s convoluted past tick-tocks to the present, putting all their lives at risk.

Will the new friends discover the power of three and restore magic to the world? Or will the dwarves and the Duke pilfer everything they have ever loved?


This novella was written as a part of a 6-session Collaborative Writers Group.

Red Ink Club Learns "Show, Don't Tell"

We're been having a grand time on Wednesday nights at The Red Ink Club. A few weeks ago, we were talking about one of the great writers' mantras: SHOW, DON'T TELL.

Telling is like shaking the reader and saying, “Here’s what’s happening.” Example: When the dragon approached, she felt scared.

Showing is giving the reader a visual of what’s going on, letting them picture it well. Example: The dragon stalked forward, smoke curling from its nostrils. The young princess’s eyes grew wide, and a tiny whimper escaped her lips.

See how the second example paints a more vivid picture? Now we have physical cues that help the reader deduce emotions or actions without TELLING that fact. If you’re telling the reader what to see or feel, they aren’t going to enjoy the story or get the point of what you’re trying to say. Replace the “tells” with “shows” and enhance your story and the reader’s experience in your world.

Here's the prompt we tackled: Write a story about Amelie waiting in a public place, about to meet someone for the first time. (You choose who it is.) She’s very nervous about meeting this person. Show her waiting, then meeting the someone. Do not use the following words in any form: Nervous, Scared, Upset, Anxious, Worried, Hopeful.

Show, don’t tell! Use visuals, any or all of the five senses, plus the setting to enhance Amelie’s emotions. Time: 12-15 minutes
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First Meeting
By MangyCat

Amelie tapped the bench with her long, manicured nails. A lump sat heavy in the pit of her stomach. Her heart had been racing since she got here. This would be the first meeting. The only chance she would have to get to know him before she took him home.

Would they like each other? Would she be able to live with him and trust him completely?

The scent of rain carried on the wind that rustled through her hair. Amelie shivered and ran her fingers over her chilly arms. Goosebumps rose on her skin when she heard the shuffling footsteps and the jingling of chains.

"Miss Amelie Tortan?" came a woman's voice to her left.

Amelie stood and extended her hand into the darkness. "That's me. You must be Jennifer."

A warm hand wrapped around hers. "It's nice to see you in person."

Amelie nodded and blinked, then adjusted her sunglasses. The pleasant odor of dog shampoo drifted up to her. She stooped and held out her palms.

Soft fur brushed her fingertips. A wet kiss ran across her wrist.

"And you must be Rusty." Amelie breathed deeply and smiled. "We're going to be great friends, aren't we?"

The dog barked and kissed her face. The weight in Amelie's stomach disappeared as she welcomed her new seeing-eye dog into her arms.

Astounding Kids' Book On iPad

Wowza. Like I needed another reason to covet the iPad. Here's a HUGE one.



Here's the whole story on this Pixar animator's new interactive children's book, designed exclusively for iPad.

Attack of T.G.B. by the Inkaholics III Writers Group

I am thrilled to announce that the Inkaholics III Writers Group has finished their novella and production is now complete. With six incredibly crazy and creative young writers, this was quite the ride, let me tell you! Attack of T.G.B. is now available on Lulu.com. Here's the back cover copy for you:

In a plague-stricken world, trapped in a quarantine zone, Zeke faces the hard questions of life: What does the future hold? Will mankind survive the epidemic? Will he ever find another couch?

After insane, infected victims set fire to the hospital, Zeke and his new friends, Dr. Jo Trishton and her brother Cole, embark on a dangerous mission to find a cure. Instead, they uncover a beary beastly plot by a sweet but malevolent force.

Will the trio overcome their fears and defeat the bizarre battalions? Or will the Rainbow King succeed in his evil plan to rule supreme over Liberty City and then the world?




This novella was written as a part of a 6-session Collaborative Writers Group.

The Epic Quest of the Nodut Islands

Our Inkaholics II Writers Group has officially published their finished book! This novella was written by three guys over the course of 6 sessions in spring 2011 as a collaborative workshop. Between three crazy guys and one crazy cat, it's quite a tale, let me tell you! Here's the back cover copy:

Willy Pete, a hunter of magical creatures, is on a mission to right his wrongs. He'll need the help of a famous mercenary named Quince and his arch-nemesis, the legendary Magical Narwhal Zelda. 

Together, they must defeat the villainous Mr. Whiskers, a mutant catfish pirate captain with a league of sinister shipmates! 

Can Willy pull off his plan in time to destroy the nefarious fish, or will his weakness for donuts become his ultimate downfall?

Summer Stuff is ON!

Just as soon as the last Collaborative Writers Group, Inkaholics II, ended, we have another group starting. On June 6, the Inkaholics III group had their first session. Looks like this one is going to be something special indeed! More details on that later.

The Inkaholics II group novella is currently in the editing/production phase, but we have a cover ready to go. The title is The Epic Quest of the Nodut Islands. I'll tell you more about it once we have the final up on Lulu.

The Red Ink Club kicks off this Wednesday evening, June 8. I can't wait to meet up with the members of this awesome young writers critique group. We're going to do a short writing lesson and 12-minute writing prompt, then we'll delve into each other's stories with personal critiques.

If you or a young writer you know are interested in joining, contact me, and I'll give you all the details.

Summer Offerings for Young Writers

With the school year wrapping up in the next month or so, it's time to start thinking about how to keep your young writers busy this summer. We have a host of great stuff planned, including workshops, groups, seminars, and even a 10-day Creative Writing Conference. Here's a quick list of upcoming opportunities:

May 28: How to Start a Writers Group (1-1.75 hrs.) 
Discover the elements of a good, useful critique group; how to be a good crit partner (without tearing a heart out);  and how to take constructive criticism well (without crying!) Participants will have the opportunity to form new groups or join The Red Ink Club. Optional: Experience a live critique group afterward--with your writing on the table!

June 4: The Art of Journaling (1.5 hrs.) 
Learn how journaling is done--and done right--so you can make writing a daily practice of your own. Personalized journal included.

June 6-23: Collaborative Writers Group 
(JUNE Fast Track; meets 2x/week for 3 weeks; 2-hr. sessions) 
Together, the group brainstorms and writes a novella over the course of 6 sessions. Participants learn to work together to craft a story and contribute their own ideas and writing to the finished product. 

June 7: The Red Ink Critique Group begins (2 hrs./weekly)
Weekly critique group designed for young writers. Meetings open with a short writing exercise before individual critiques begin. New writing applications will be practiced and learned each week.

June 13-24: Inception Syndicate:
Creative Writing Conference
(meets 5x/week for 2 weeks; 2.5 hrs/day)
An incredible experience of building a world with strangers and new friends in this 10-day conworld adventure. We will create a foundation and genesis of a new world's deep history, economy, religion, art, culture, and more, and explore the lives of the people who live in our imagined universe. Includes conference instruction booklet and one free copy of our created world's printed, final, professionally-designed "abridged encyclopedia" and the collection of native stories we write.

June 25: How to Write Flash Fiction (2 hrs.)
Learn how to write dynamic, marketable flash fiction in this hands-on, informative workshop.

July 8-26: Collaborative Writers Group 
(JULY Fast Track; meets 2x/week for 3 weeks; 2-hr. sessions) 
Together, the group brainstorms and writes a novella over the course of 6 sessions. Participants learn to work together to craft a story and contribute their own ideas and writing to the finished product. 

July 10: Teen Writers Survival Guide (3 hours)
First presented at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in 2009, this seminar is a series of three mini-workshops: The 12 Red Flags of Editing, How to Look Like You Know What You're Doing (even if you don't), and Prompting the Muse.

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For details on age ranges and cost of any of these summer opportunities, please visit themangycat.com/events.

If you have questions, feel free to send me an email or use the contact form on the website.

Thank you for investing in your young writer's life and creativity!

Thai Eats Website

My mom is opening a Thai grocery, take-out, and workshops business here in town, so naturally, she asked me to create a website for her. Her signage is almost done, thus making time of the essence in finishing the site.

I opted to design through WordPress, as opposed to creating a full-blown, Photoshop-spiffified design. Her website needs were small, and the main content was to be an informational blog. WordPress fits that prospectus perfectly.

With so many incredible WordPress theme developers out there, I chose to simply modify an existing theme. I found this one by Eric Ulous and customized some of the key background and logo graphics. I rather like the result, and so does my mom. :o) Check it out:

Thai-Eats.com

The Red Ink Club: Weekly Writers Group

Critique groups are essential for the creative development of every writer. Encouragement and insights from fellow members can make all the difference when we're faced with the next blank page.

The Red Ink Club is a weekly critique group designed for young writers, facilitated by an experienced, published author. We'll delve into each piece, line-by-line, to correct, encourage, and spur one another on to even better writing.

Group meetings open with a short writing exercise before individual critiques begin. Our time will be conducted with an attitude of respect for one another in the midst of a fun environment.

Ages: 13-20
Duration: 2 hours per week
Dues: $20 per month (also see Commitment Pricing below)
Participants: 5-7 total

Commitment Pricing:
* 3 months in advance: $49 (2 weeks free)
* 6 months in advance: $99 (1 month free)
* 1 year in advance: $199 (2 months free)

FINE PRINT: Dues are non-refundable, but $5 per missed session may be applied toward future group sessions.

Contact me if you or a young writer you know are interested in getting in on The Red Ink Club.

Google Doodles

I love the look of an old Houdini poster that was created for today's Google Doodle, honoring Harry Houdini's birthday. If you've never seen or heard of a Google Doodle, here's an explanation.

They are usually quite clever, and my artist's heart thrills when I see a new, unexpected Google Doodle. You can find the entire archive of doodles from all countries around the world HERE.