Author Celise Downs » Dance Jam Productions

Archive for the 'Dance Jam Productions' Category

March 16, 2011 | Dance Jam Productions,Draven Atreides, Teenage Informant Series

Road Trip Wednesday is a “Blog Carnival”, where YA Highway‘s contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question and answer it in on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

You’re more than welcome to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog, and leave a link to it in their comments.

Topic #58:Who have you written into a book? Be honest.

My niece and my BF: The DA series. I created the series for my niece. She is Draven.

My BF during my senior year in high school: Dance Jam Productions. Click on the link to read The Story.

After I’m done with the series, I’m taking a step back from the YA genre to delve into the adult arena. With all the jobs I’ve had and the people I’ll meet as I open my nonprofit, I have a feeling I’ll be writing some of the outside world into my inner world. LOL

Posted by Celise @ 11:34 pm | Criticisms

February 18, 2011 | A Royale Pain,Dance Jam Productions,Road Trip Wednesday,Secrets and Kisses

You’re more than welcome to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog, and leave a link to it in their comments.

Topic #56:How do you pick our titles?

When I write books, I normally have a title and character names chosen. Titles always come to me first and then I write around that. Kinda weird, but it seems to work for me.

Simplistic as it is, if you read SECRETS AND KISSES and DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS, you really will be reading about secrets, kissing lessons and a dance show. LOL. My stories tend to be like that. Now, the DA series is a little bit different. Kate Hart mentioned that her titles tend to have more than one meaning. I’m finding that the titles in the DA series are going to be like that. Book One, A ROYALE PAIN, refers to Draven’s first case involving a spa called The Royale Treatment Day Spa. But it also refers to what happens if you end up using a particular product from there. Book Two, THE FAMILY JEWELS, sounds like a porn movie—or an erotica novel—about male genitalia, doesn’t it? Yeah, no. In this case it’s just about a family of jewel thieves.

I think one of the best things about being writer is coming up with a title. What’s funny is that I have a list—somewhere—of book titles! They’re either a song title, a song lyric or a phrase I overheard that just stuck with me. But they all resonated with me somehow, so I wrote them down to use for later.

Now, if writing the actual story came just as easily, I’d be golden.

Posted by Celise @ 5:36 pm | Criticisms

September 22, 2010 | Book One,Book Two,Dance Jam Productions,Draven Atreides, Teenage Informant Series,Life in General,Road Trip Wednesday,Secrets and Kisses

You’re more than welcome to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog, and leave a link to it in their comments.

Topic #46: If you went to high school with your characters, would you be friends?

Hells to the yeah!

For the simple reason that each of my characters has a little bit of me in them, they’re “inspired by” someone I know, or they’re someone I wish I could be. In my first book, SECRETS AND KISSES, I would be Skylar Knight. Actually, I was her. I was shy, I crushed from afar, when I was her age I worried about not knowing how to kiss—okay, let me rephrase that. I didn’t worry about not knowing how to kiss until I actually started dating. Which was right around the time I entered community college. Back in high school, I just crushed from afar and didn’t worry about the kissing part because I was attracted to white guys and knew that no white guy would be interested in a black girl. That’s just how it was at my school. Especially when the ratio of minorities to whites was pretty slim. And, being the bookworm that I was back then (and currently still), I so would’ve checked out a kissing how-to book from the library. Skylar’s best friend, Ellie, kind of reminded me of Six. You know, Blossom’s best friend on that show “Blossom”? She’s funny, she’s bubbly, and knows when to give you a kick in the pants for being stupid. Or when you need to suck it up and put your Big Girl panties on.

Mataya Black Hawk in DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS, my second book, is not so much shy as reserved (because of the secret she carries), and slow to trust people she first meets. But once you’re in her little circle (and it’s little. Tiny, really), you’re there forever and the loyalty is ironclad. Her two best friends, Mici and Ren, sort of balance her out. Ren’s a tomboy skater chick (but still a girly-girl) and Mici’s the feminine one, who wouldn’t be caught dead wearing baggy pants. There are differences, but the dynamics work.

My current series, DRAVEN ATREIDES, TEENAGE INFORMANT, Draven was inspired by my then 16-yr-old niece (she’s 21 now). She’s witty, independent, has a good head on her shoulders, and resourceful. She’s got to be because she’s leading a double life (Draven, not my niece). Her best friend, Rico, was inspired by an old high school friend of mine who “came out” during our senior year (luv ya, Michael). And OMG, he was hysterical. Hy. Sterical. He always had me crackin’ up, so I hope I’m able to do him a little bit of justice in this series. Draven’s other best friend, Poe, is a little wild and looking forward to that rocker musician lifestyle. LOL.

I think my group here is a great mix of personalities and ethnicity, with the occasional clash to make it interesting. LOL.

It’s funny, as I look at the break down of each character, I’ve noticed two things: 1) I tend to create an introverted/reserved MC and extroverted/silly/quirky friend(s) and 2) my MC’s have only one or two good friends.

I really am writing what I know. And I’m not just referring to the fact that all of my books are based in Phoenix, AZ. In real life, I’m the introverted/reserved MC and I have two best friends that I’ve known over 20 years each. That’s my tiny, ironclad circle of friendship. But they—and the other friends I have–are so much more than me: outgoing, bold, self-confident, strong. I feed off that and have come out of my shell a lot over the years. I have that “friendship diversity” in real life—and it works for me—and I guess I want that for my characters, too.

Technorati Tags: YA Highway, SECRETS AND KISSES, Blossom, DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS, Phoenix, AZ

Posted by Celise @ 5:43 pm | Criticisms

June 16, 2010 | Dance Jam Productions,Road Trip Wednesday,The 4-1-1 on Me,Writer Moment

You’re more than welcome to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog, and leave a link to it in their comments.

Topic #33: When/why did you start writing?

I started writing in the 7th grade. Me and a friend had just eaten lunch and were bored, so she suggested we write stories. I agreed. I don’t remember if she finished her story or not, but I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to keep going, so I did. By the time I reached high school, I knew my target audience was going to be teens. Back then, I was a bookworm, never rocked the boat at home, and crushed from afar. I lived vicariously through my friends. And boy, were their lives like soap operas. LOL. “You better watch out or you’re going to end up in one of my books” became an ongoing joke between us. And, actually, my best friend did end up in my second book, so I guess I really wasn’t kidding about that. LOL. The cool thing about this writing gig is that for all the people who’ve done you wrong, can now end up in your books as the victim. And all the guys you crushed on from afar, who never even knew you existed, can be the love interest.

Truthfully, I think I was destined to be a writer even before 7th grade. I didn’t have imaginary friends, but I did talk to myself when I was younger. A lot. If I was playing a game with a friend and it required me to be on the phone or something, I would have the best conversations. Seriously. Or if I was playing by myself, I’d have long, drawn out conversations in which I would play both parts. LOL. To this day I still talk to myself, but it’s more of a “figuring things out aloud” type of situation than when I was a child. When it starts that young, I think it’s a sign of creativity. Don’t you think?

Technorati Tags: Road Trip Wednesday, YA Highway

Posted by Celise @ 6:22 pm | 1 Criticism

June 6, 2010 | Dance Jam Productions,Life in General,Sunday Scribblings

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Mess

This is an excerpt from DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS, avail now.

***

“If we’re still going to continue to be partners in this contest, I’m going to have to explain something to you. You have no right to judge my situation when you don’t know all the facts and you sure as hell don’t know anything about Tykota.” She pointed an accusing index finger at him.

Jarek nodded, instantly contrite. He’d overstepped his bounds. He wouldn’t be surprised if she kicked him out, never to talk to him again. He wished he could take the words back, knowing he had broken the already fragile bond between them. He would have to bust his butt to get back to where they had been before he’d opened his big mouth.

“You’re right. I don’t know anything about him and I shouldn’t have said what I did. I apologize,” he said sincerely.

Mattie searched his face for a long moment. “Apology accepted,” she said.

But he knew nothing would be the same. At least, not for a while. She was still wary, probably wondering why she had told him anything in the first place.

“So help me understand,” he pleaded, hands out in supplication.

Mattie glanced at her watch, gave Judah a warning command, stood up, and started moving to the doorway.

“I think we’ve said enough already,” she murmured softly.

Apparently that was his cue to leave, so he got up to follow her. His gaze ran over her, taking in the braid that no longer fell to her waist, but now rested between her shoulder blades.

“Mattie.”

She paused and turned to him. Suddenly she felt so old. Old and tired.

“I don’t want to argue anymore, Jarek. And I don’t want you to be mad at me, either. It’s going to be hard enough to concentrate on this contest after spilling my guts to you, and we can’t afford any mess-ups on Friday. So how ‘bout a truce?” she suggested, holding out her hand.