Colleen Houck


“I took hold of that scourge -filled ship and crushed it between my limbs, hurtling it into the second sun, the red one that gave me strength. But I was too late." Terraformer

Colleen's blog


  • MODERN INK SOCIETY

    October 23, 2014


     FEATURING GUEST CJ Redwine

    A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Being Published

    Welcome to the eighth session of

    THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!

    at-vintage-typewrite


     

    Introducing CJ Redwine!

    cjredwine2.md

    A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO BEING PUBLISHED.

    “I failed.

    You heard me. I failed. Multiple times. I failed so often on the road to publication that I started cringing when people asked me lovely things like “What have you sold?” or “When is your book coming out?” or “Do you really think you can make a living writing stories?”

    Side note: If you know an aspiring writer, stop asking them things like that. Instead, give them cookies and encourage them to binge watch Supernatural on Netflix.

    So, how did I fail? Let me count the ways:

    1. I wrote my first book, a romantic suspense that had every cliché in the book. (Haha … book. See what I did there? Right. Moving on.) Heroine with amnesia for convenient plot reasons? Check. Insta-love with no basis in any kind of real connection? Check. Villain any idiot could see coming 9387234 miles away? Check. Stray cat who attacked the crotch of the hero’s pants? Okay, that was actually kind of cool. That might be the one salvageable scene from that entire 140k monstrosity. Oh, I didn’t mention that it was 140k instead of the 90k the industry demands? Yeah. That.

    2. I wrote another book, this time an adult urban fantasy, and pitched it at a conference long before it was finished. The agent requested it. I’m sure you see the problem. I had no idea how to quickly finish a book. Also I had no plan. None. I was flying by the seat of my pants as I wrote. In fact, the seat of my pants was wearing super thin at that point. I wrote myself into corners and threw things out. Gave the agent excuses for why the manuscript wasn’t ready. Wrote some more. Finished in what can only be described as a Hail Mary of epic desperation and sent the manuscript WITHOUT RE-READING IT OR REVISING IT AT ALL. Unsurprisingly, the agent passed.

    3. Once I did sign with an agent, the first book we sent out on submission was rejected by everyone in publishing who had a pulse. And possibly a few who didn’t. Meanwhile, what had I been writing? The sequel to that doomed book because I didn’t know any better. Flash forward to a year or so after the book first went on sub, and the truth hit that it wasn’t going to sell.

    4. I wrote another book, another adult urban fantasy, but this time one that was kind of a comic romp with some grit thrown in for fun. I loved it. We sent it out on submission, and this time it was rejected by everyone in publishing with a pulse AND their cats. Dogs. Roommates. That weird guy who always sits in the same corner booth of the local coffee shop. Basically, everyone who had any power to publish it said no.

    5. I can’t tell you how often I sat in front of my computer after I realized the latest book wasn’t going to sell and stared at the screen wondering what to write next. Every idea I had seemed prone to failure. I seemed prone to failure. In the two years I’d been with my agent, she’d signed new clients and sold books for them—sometimes multiple deals!—while I sat there unable to sell a single thing. Some days, it felt like all I had going for me was my abiding belief that I was meant to tell stories and my stubbornness that wouldn’t let me quit even though all I seemed to do was fall flat on my face.

    I didn’t quit. I decided to switch genres once again and try something completely different. I sat down and wrote a YA post-apocalyptic fantasy, turned it in to my agent, braced myself for the inevitable slew of rejections, and started the next idea. My agent called a week later to tell me the book was going to auction with four houses bidding on it. I just sat at my desk and cried.

    You see, the truth is that I never actually failed. Long before I sold the Defiance trilogy at auction, I’d succeeded. I succeeded in finishing my first book, 140k cliché-ridden monstrosity though it may be. I’d learned how to write fast by making the foolish mistake of pitching an unfinished manuscript, even though the end product was a mess. I still write fast, and the end product isn’t a disaster anymore. I’d figured out that I needed more of a plan, and more world building, by writing myself into corners. I’d uncovered my voice while typing in the unpublished trenches. I’d honed my belief in myself and become satisfied with myself as a writer regardless of whether anyone in publishing ever bought one of my books. I’d gained valuable perspective on my projects—I’d learned to let go of them emotionally once they were out of my hands and to let rejection roll off of my back without leaving a mark. Those are essential skills to have as a published author.

    It takes a lot of “failure” to succeed. The trick is to learn whatever lesson there is to learn, pick yourself up, and write the next story.”


    If you’re reading this blog and you have the desire to write, I encourage you to take time to expand your knowledge, enlighten your soul and develop your talents. Teachers always say that if you want to be a writer, you must read! Creative writing is not one I have the fortune of spending much time on, but I love reading the works of others. Whether its reading Shakespeare, Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Dr. Suess children’s books, a novel by a novice author, or the National Geographic magazine, I am partaking in someone’s art. Whether I decide that art to be beautiful, amateur, sloppy, or insightful to me is my opinion but it is also an exciting experience that can teach me something or even change the way I see the world.

    The art of the written word has the ability to illuminate the heart, mind and soul of the composer. When words are carefully chosen, the effect it can have on the reader is limitless. That is why stories and poetry have the power to change a single soul or even entire nations. The written language is a magical tool we can use to communicate our thoughts. It is limited only by our ability to masterfully orchestrate and manipulate the words.

    So, once you’ve accepted and acted on my first challenge, I then encourage you to take some time out of your day to create something from your heart. It can be keeping a journal, writing a poem or story, drawing a picture, molding clay, composing a song, anything really. There are so many ways to express ourselves and everyone of us has a story to tell. CJ Redwine didn’t give up, along with so many others. Imagine the world if J.K. Rowling had given up after being turned down!


    Stay tuned for CJ Redwine and Colleen Houck’s LIVE CHAT!

    Join Colleen Houck and C.J. Redwine for a live chat on October 27th, from 5-6pm (pacific time) on Goodreads! 

    For fun there will be a GIVEAWAY during the live chat! Colleen will be choosing one luck participant on the live chat to win a complete set of the Defiance trilogy!! You won’t want to miss this one!

    ~Till next time,

    Linda Louise Lotti

    This entry was posted in Featuring Authors, The Modern Ink Society.

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    Linda

    I’m Linda Louise, one of the bloggers on this website and Colleen’s little sister. I’m just a girl in her mid-thirties who feels thirteen when I play outside with my boys, fifteen when I sing my heart out listening to tunes while driving by myself, and sixty five when I go out past ten at night. I have a thing for junior mints, Mt. Dew, shrimp and kale (though not all at once) and I have a crush on Superman. I still get girlish butterflies when I read Twilight, cry when I read These is My Words, and smile from ear to ear when I read Anne of Green Gables. I have nightmares about aliens on a regular basis and I have a bad habit of midnight snacking. I love everything sports, except golf (although can that honestly be considered a sport??), and I hate anything that slithers, hisses, or stings. I have a problem with giggling at inappropriate moments and I sometimes wish life was a musical. I love science, hate math, love Dr. Seuss, and hate olives. My family is my world and my joys come from their happiness. I’ve learned I don’t know much about anything and I live for a good adventure, naps, cuddles, stories, exceptional food and The Shire.

  • Double Feature Movie Review: The Maze Runner & Dracula Untold

    October 20, 2014


    The Maze Runner

    I always give spoilers so consider yourself warned. =)

    Colleen’s Movie Review

    Romance: There wasn’t really much of a romance going on in this movie. The characters felt more like friends than anything else.

    Special Effects: Loved the maze, the grievers, and the layout of everything. My favorite shot was when they were in a helicopter flying over the maze.

    What I Liked: The actors. They all seemed to fit the parts really well. The cool things they added to the maze. The grievers.

    What I’d Change: Some things didn’t make sense with the movie. In the book they disappeared over a cliff where in the movie they went through a secret griever tunnel. Seems like they might’ve figured this out without Thomas. They said they tried to climb to the top of the maze to look out over the terrain and saw nothing which doesn’t really fit with what they saw in the helicopter.

    The Tagline:

    Get Ready to Run

    It’s okay.

    Hunky Hero: Dylan O’Brien as Thomas is pretty hunky. He’s a little bit older than I pictured Thomas but he makes a good action hero.

     

    The Villain: In the book the villain is more the grievers and WICKED but in the movie they gave the villain a face in actress Patricia Clarkson. She does a really good job being creepy and the added bits in the movie that weren’t in the book helped answer some burning questions.

     

    Best Line:

    Thomas: “We get out now or we die trying.”
    Minho: “You don’t get it. We’re already dead.”

    Best Scene: The first time you get to see a griever.

    Recommended for YA Fans: Yes! Read the book first though.

    Compared to the Book: I thought the movie did a decent job keeping true to the book. It had the same action and overall feeling. I thought the casting was great. Liked almost everything they did at the end especially the helicopter scene and the entrance into The Scorch Trials.

    Trailer:


     

    Grandma’s Review:

    Grandma’s Bio: My name is Kathleen and I’m Colleen’s mom. I’m a mother of seven and grandmother of eighteen. They’re all great. None of my kids are duds-you know, like the popcorn kernels that don’t pop. My father taught me to love science fiction and mysteries. I’m a dreamer whose secret wish was to be an actress and sing and dance on stage. I have lots of things I still want to do. A few of my favorite things include-discovering new restaurants, going to movies, traveling, seeing plays, children, my dogs, Elvis, reading books, The Beach Boys, and Rhett Butler because he doesn’t give a damn AND he can carry Scarlett up the stairs.

    Definition of Kicky-providing a kick or thrill, exciting

    Review: Grandma did not see this film.

     


    A Guy’s Perspective

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    Bio: I’m Colleen’s husband, Brad. I’m the youngest of four kids. I’ve been Deaf since I was five so I watch every movie with caption glasses. I love sports and reading (I’ll admit I’ve read Twilight but prefer thrillers like Jack Reacher). My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. I’ll never turn down a taco. I write poetry. My man credentials include: a high school career in wrestling, watching sports every time my wife is too busy to notice, a receding hairline, two repaired ACL’s, and a stockpile of Axe body wash.

    Review: 

    The Maze Runner was one of those rare movies when the film is better than the book. The action scenes are intense and pretty well done, despite the up-close shots that made the fighting blurred and confusing. Since I already read the novel, I expected a few of the numerous plot questions would be answered, but naturally, it follows the book almost to a T, and many elements didn’t really make sense.

    Warning: Spoilers–If the boys have mapped out the maze, then why do they need runners? But wait, the maze changes daily, so how could it be mapped? Apparently, the gang has tried everything to escape the maze, but they don’t have ladders although they have already been to the top? What kind of a name is “Griever” for a maze monster that terrifies the boys? Apparently, the maze is one grand experiment by the Maze creators, but their subjects are all teenage boys and just one girl? Yet the creators have no problem allowing some boys to be killed, which were not really controlled at all but acts of random killings. See where I’m going with this…? Everything just felt…off.

    I can tell you the entire series is shrouded in mystery and questions with very few satisfying answers. Readers/viewers are strung along with the hope that there will be answers forthcoming, but more questions emerge instead, and every plot twist throws in a million more questions. Still, I don’t regret seeing the film which was somewhat entertaining because the premise is interesting and the acting was adequate. I give this 5.5 Hulk Smash Fists.

     

     

    Brad

     


     

    Dracula Untold

    Romance: Well I really, really liked Dracula. His wife, if you disregarded her age seemed to love him well enough. Personally, I couldn’t get past the age difference and preferred ignoring her and pretending Vlad was talking to me. Like how he didn’t even hesitate to jump off the balcony after her.

     

    Special Effects: Lots of fun effects in this film. Especially enjoyed the changing into a flock of bats. Thought the fist of bats battling an army was silly. You’d pretty much just kill the bats and whoever got in their way. The original vampire was creepy. Good makeup. Liked how a vampire sees the world in heartbeats.

    What I Liked: The original vampire. Great acting on his part. Much more interesting than anyone else on screen. Staring at Vlad was fun. I liked that Dracula was the good guy. Excited about the possibility of monster super heroes.

    What I’d Change: I didn’t understand why Vlad had perfect control over his vampiric tendencies where his created children had no control whatsoever. The different vampires were inconsistent in demeanor. Also why could he survive the sun and the rest couldn’t? What gave him super vampire powers? Were theirs watered down? Who does the original vamp want revenge against? Did he get it? I thought the showdown between the Sultan and Dracula was silly. Oh no! Silver coins! The fight should have been very one sided. Maybe give the bad guy a cross instead or make him battle during the day or something. The son was way to old to have a mother that young. The age of the heroine bothered me so badly I couldn’t look at her. I think the movie would have had more impact at least for me if there was an unfulfilled romance going on instead of trying to save his son or his people.

    The Tagline:

    The Legend Is Born
    Every Bloodline Has a Beginning

    Hmm I like the use of Bloodline so I guess I prefer the second.

    Hunky Hero:

    Woah there. Even vamped out this guy is a hunky hero. My eyes were glued to him the entire time. There’s something compelling about him.

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    The Villain: The villain was supposed to be the Sultan, Dracula’s boyhood friend/conqueror. But honestly, he wasn’t much of a villain. Much more interesting was the original vampire who make Dracula. He was one hundred times creepier than the Sultan. Would love to see a movie with that character and actor again, which, they teased was a possibility at the end of the film.

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    Best Line:

    Ingeras: My father was a great man, a hero, so they say. But sometimes the world doesn’t need another hero, sometimes what it needs is a monster.

    Best Scene: When the master vampire shares his story with Vlad. 

    Recommended for YA Fans: Yes. A little dark for YA but I love the character of Dracula.

    Compared to the Book: This story wasn’t even close to the story of the original Dracula by Bram Stoker but it wasn’t meant to be.

    Trailer:


     

    Grandma’s Review:

    Grandma’s Bio: My name is Kathleen and I’m Colleen’s mom. I’m a mother of seven and grandmother of eighteen. They’re all great. None of my kids are duds-you know, like the popcorn kernels that don’t pop. My father taught me to love science fiction and mysteries. I’m a dreamer whose secret wish was to be an actress and sing and dance on stage. I have lots of things I still want to do. A few of my favorite things include-discovering new restaurants, going to movies, traveling, seeing plays, children, my dogs, Elvis, reading books, The Beach Boys, and Rhett Butler because he doesn’t give a damn AND he can carry Scarlett up the stairs.

    Definition of Kicky-providing a kick or thrill, exciting

    Review: Grandma did not see this movie.

     


     

    A Guy’s Perspective

    Bio: I’m Colleen’s husband, Brad. I’m the youngest of four kids. I’ve been Deaf since I was five so I watch every movie with caption glasses. I love sports and reading (I’ll admit I’ve read Twilight but prefer thrillers like Jack Reacher). My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. I’ll never turn down a taco. I write poetry. My man credentials include: a high school career in wrestling, watching sports every time my wife is too busy to notice, a receding hairline, two repaired ACL’s, and a stockpile of Axe body wash.

    Review: 

    “Dracula Untold” is a retelling of how Dracula, perhaps the greatest and most well-known supernatural creature, came into existence. I think this was an untimely release of the film, particularly since the TV series Dracula on NBC endured a quick death after the first season. Perhaps the filmmakers thought that a cinematic, larger-than-life Dracula experience would draw out fans out of their caskets. I’m afraid, however, that Dracula fans will be disappointed with this retelling.

    In only 85 minutes of a retelling, I felt the film was a bit rushed and so much was left undeveloped. The premise was intriguing but the characters surrounding Vlad (Luke Evans), were depicted shallowly. For instance, Sultan Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire and Vlad apparently had a close brotherhood, but we never see this relationship. Mehmet eventually becomes the antagonist, but his screen time is too brief and fails to impress. As we know, every great story needs a great villain, but this opportunity was lost.

    Despite the film’s flaws, Luke Evans, carried the film admirably. He is a confident actor with an aura such that is easy to believe his transformation to Dracula. However, we don’t really get a sense of the monster he had to become in order to save his family and kingdom. This was a premise the film did not bother to explore, and they didn’t give Evans much to work with.

    The best scene is when Vlad calls forth an intimidating colony of bats to defeat an army of 10,000 Turks. Though it was awesome to see, like the rest of the film it was still too short to leave an impression. It was as though the filmmakers didn’t care if they made an unforgettable film, which is a shame. I would give this film 5 Hulk Smash Fists.
    Brad

     

    This entry was posted in A Guy's Perspective, Movie Review.

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    Colleen Houck

    New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she's not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

  • Beauty Blender: The little egg shaped make-up miracle

    October 15, 2014


    What is a Beauty Blender?  I asked myself that same questions and started to research it,  watch videos, and read testimonials about how this little pink egg shaped make-up sponge applicator gives you an airbrushed finish to your face.

    beauty blender beauty blender out of package

     

    I’m a skeptic, but I also love to try things out see if all the hype is true.   I ordered mine on Amazon with some free shipping from Prime, and it was on my door in a couple days.

    20140530_123836[1] 20140530_124144[1]

     

    I followed the instructions and rinsed it out first saturating the sponge and then squeezing as much water out as possible.  Look how big it gets!   I have always used  up & up™ Latex Free Cosmetic Rounds from Target to apply my foundation.  They are inexpensive and you get a whole pack of them for just a few dollars.  So the $ 19.95 price for a single pink Beauty Blender seems a little hard to swallow. But…I’m a little addicted to trying out new things.  So I threw away my circle sponge, which needed to be replaced anyways, and opened the little canister excited to test it out.cosmetic roun Before shot (below) with all my 40 years, sun spots, redness, and wrinkles taken in the sunlight so you can see each and every flaw.  Ugggh!

    Before

    Before

    I applied my favorite foundation on the sponge for one side of my face, and directly on the skin in polka-dots on the other side of my face (think chicken pox with Calamine lotion) to see if either technique made a difference. calamine-lotion-for-chicken-pox-776

    I didn’t think so.  Next, I stippled (bounced gently) the Beauty Blender all over my face (like they tell you to) and blended it down on my neck lightly to avoid the harsh make-up line at my jaw like I used to as a teenager just learning about make-up.  The Beauty Blender is very soft (apparently the knock-offs aren’t), and the wide base make it easy to apply my make-up with speed.  I really to like the shape and the pointed tip is great for getting under my eyes to cover up the dark circles.   I also notice that I used less make-up than normal.  So there’s a few pennies in my pocket.

    After

    After

    1 Week later...getting the hang of it.

    1 Week later…getting the hang of it.

     

    1st excuse my big nose it’s hard to avoid.  2nd I think you could see the difference a little better with a HD camera, but my fragile pride is glad I don’t own one.  Whew!  The original “after” pictures was taken right as a cloud covered the sun which gives me a faded out look, like Lois Lane in the original Superman movies when they softened her as she aged.  I think it was by putting Vaseline on the camera lens.   So I took another one a week later with my  weeks worth of experience in my pocket.  I’ve decided the Beauty Blender does do a much better job of buffing out imperfections, and it soft on my face.

     

    So…yes, it lives up to the hype.  Is it worth $ 19.95?  Well, that depends on if it lives up to the next test.  These little pink eggs are rumored to last for 3 months.  Some of the videos say it last even longer is you wash it regularly.  Which you should to keep it hygienic anyways.  The company actually recycles them when you send it back to them.  You can get them in white, black, pink, and sometimes purple.  The little package they come in are designed to be a pedestal to hold the Beauty Blender when it’s drying and not in use. I let it dry laying down on a clean shelf in my medicine cabinet to avoid sink clutter.  You can use it for liquid foundation, concealer, cream blush, eye shadow, etc.  I think I’ll stick with just using it for foundation and concealer though.

    There is a short video from the creator of the Beauty Blender on this link that explains how to use it, why she created it, and how to care for it. Here are some other videos. They all have different opinions which I love.

    Make 101:Beauty Blender

    Beauty Blender vs. Sonia Kashuk from Target

    How to clean the Beauty Blender

    If you have tried one of these magic pink eggs let me know.  Did you love it? How long did yours last?   Let me know Tweet me@CollenHouck and @shara_lane.

     

    *Now they have super cute little Beauty Blenders.  Micro Mini Beauty Blender at Sephora so help make you make-up application even more precise.  I haven’t tested them but I can tell you after 3 month my original pink Beauty Blender is doing great and I love the way it feels and how even my foundation and concealer is blended.

    This entry was posted in Beauty.

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    Shara Lane

    I'm Shara, a wife, mother, bargain shopper, and I love to critique everything from food to mascara. I'm a sister of Colleen who lives in the desert of Arizona. My favorite time of day is when I pretend my kids are asleep upstairs, and I can catch up on my favorite shows with my handsome husband. Once Upon a Time, Dr. Who, Mythbusters (husband's choice), Big Bang Theory, Sherlock, and Castle. I turned 40 but feel around 30ish, and wonder where the time has gone. I love new clothes, new make-up, new food, and anything new to try out and critique. It's not mean, I promise, I just really like to figure out how to make things better :-)