Introductions Are In Order . . .

You know how it is when you stand up in church and welcomed as a visitor and you really don't know what to say?

That's how I feel right now.

I know introductions are in order, but how does one introduce themselves to the world?

Hi world, this is a newcomer coming to the block and no need to know my name? Off.

Hi world. My name is Larissa and this is my blog. Come often! Well that's more spot on I suppose.

Or maybe I'm just overcomplicating things as per usual. I guess some of my fellow readers can attest to that nature. Maybe not. Anyway, welcome to my blog, A Three Way Tie.

Now I know you're wondering: What's this blog all about? Three Way Tie? What in God's green earth is that? Well, to sum it up, I'll be blogging about three things: Teaching, Self-Publishing and books. As you can probably guess, I'm on my way to becoming a teacher. I'm about to graduate Hampton University, Not My Home by the Sea, in a week. I'm still kinda in shock. Unfortunately, I'll be coming back to this place I have to call my home for graduate school. Yippee. Can you feel my excitement? Seriously, can you feel the sarcasm coming through the computer? Good, just checking. I'll be doing that alot: Joke, add sarcastic comments that underlie my annoyance at various issues. Moving right along.

Self-Publishing is a hot topic right now, especially with the recent upset about the bestseller moving from a legacy publishing, as J.A. Konrath says it, to self-publishing. It defintely raised some eyebrows on my end. Five years ago that would never have happened and now it's a completely different story. All I've got to say on that subject is good for him.

Speaking of J.A. Konrath, he has inspired me along with Professor Walker to try self-publishing on Amazon. Right now I'm considering three different young adult novels. Most of what I write is fantasy, paranormal and some thriller stuff in between. Of course, there will be some romance in it as well since I am a hopeless romantic. Maybe after some time I'll write erotica. You never know. If you want to check it out or have a peek before it goes on the shelf, it should be on the side bar. The three novels I'm considering are: V, Angel Diaries: Volume One, and Iwishacana/Acanawishi.

You wanna know the reason why now, why self-publishing? It's very simple. I was completely prepared to go through the traditional process. Fellow writers know it. Finding agents and publishers, line them up on sheets of papers and send them your stuff. I got to the Preditors and Editors website and realized I've had enough of this cycle. It's all catered to them. I have to slave away on a novel, present it to them for acceptance and then get nothing back. I give, give, give and receive nothing in return. Sometimes I don't even get a response from them. And if I do it's usually one simple word: No. Or a form letter rejection. I bought all of these books to help me get accepted by them and what has it gotten me? No where. I'm tired of a simple no when I know that I'm talented.


When I put Angel Diaries on Critique Circle, people have told me that they would pay to read the rest. I had a loyal following every time I posted the story on the website. Not only that but I was offered a publishing contract for it.

Don't look so shocked! I'm not Barry Eisler but I did turn down the contract. Why? Wrong time, wrong place in my life. Other issues as well but that's in the past now. I'm looking towards the future and it's in self-publishing. I know there are some nay sayers wondering what in the world am I thinking, not to mention I use to be one of them. I was in complete denial but it's now time for me to shine. Time for my work to actually be given the chance it deserves. So I'm going to try it.

I'm still coming up with book covers at the moment and editing the heck out of them right now. Mostly grammar and plot line stuff but once I get it straight, it'll be online. I won't say when because it's three novels and one of them isn't finished. V is being particularly stubborn about not being finished. Idk why but I'm working on it. Anyway, the books will be on the web probably during the summer and that's all I'll say about that. At least for today. I'll probably complain or talk about the writing process a little bit.

I fully admit it: I love books. I think everybody who knows me knows that I love books. You would recognize me by looking at my hands before looking at my face. I'll either have a book in my hands or a pen. I've developed this habit very young. I use to walk the halls with a book in my hand back in middle school. I actually started writing in middle school when an English teacher instructed the class to write a poem. Been hooked ever since.

Speaking of poems, I have a whole collection of poems I might publish but I'm debating. Who buys poem collections anymore? I sure don't. I'm open to any suggestions on that subject. Anyway back to my obsession to books. From time to time, I'll probably put up some book reviews since I'll be reading like crazy this summer. Why? That goes back into the whole teaching segment.

Has anyone heard of Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer?

Well, for the people who haven't, basically her book is about how she had her students read any book they wanted for fifteen minutes of classroom time every day of school. By doing this, their reading has improved by leaps and bounds. Some people who claimed to hate reading ended up loving it by the end of the year. I realized once I finished the book that I wanted the same thing in my classroom. I wanted to spread my love of reading and writing to my future students.

Therefore, between this year and the next I'll be building a classroom library for my students which means more reading on my part. However, this is a precautioneary measure to make sure the students have something to read so there won't be any excuses. You can tell I'm going to be a tough teacher already, huh? :) At least I hope I will. Not a mean teacher, just strict in a fair way type of teacher.

So you can already see I'm going to have quite a busy summer between my teacherly duties and self-publishing those books. It should be an interesting adventure and I can only hope you guys and gals will join me for the ride!