October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so I'd like to share this article I came across today... I was the extremely introverted child and I was also very shy. I always thought introvert and shy were the same until I read another article. Anyway, the shyness is still there but I'm not as painfully shy as I used to be and I am still an introvert.
I'm not real good in social settings, never have been. Back in the day when I hung out with other girls, going to parties or whatever, I did my best to fit in but I was never comfortable on the inside. I am trying to work on my social skills. I have to admit that Choices (my way of reaching out to young people) has helped me with this because I'm being forced to talk to people so someone else will know about my book. Each time I leave the house I put promotional pens and business cards in my pocketbook and then whenever I see a woman or teenage girl who looks approachable (friendly face) I ask if I can give her a pen and/or a card. Oh, if the teenage girl is with her parent(s) I ask their permission.
So, I'm learning to open my mouth more even if I'm nervous about speaking up. My hairdresser told me once that God's trying to get me out of my comfort zone. Well, I can't say the zone I've had myself in for so many years is all that comfortable, but change would be good.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Choices: Young Adult Fiction for Mature Readers. Haven't read it?
Choices is an intense, emotional read - mostly because of the domestic violence scenes. I didn't like writing them but that's the world Shauntice lives in; the world I lived in growing up. I didn't like writing the acquaintance rape scene either, but there is a lesson there. So, if you like intense, emotional, oh, and fast-paced... if you like stories that evoke just about every emotion (I laughed, got angry and even cried at times as I wrote it), Choices will satisfy.
If you're a parent who isn't quite sure how to talk to your teen about sex, Choices could spark that much needed conversation. And if you're a teen looking for a book with believable characters you can relate to or you'd just like to see how Shauntice, Angel, LaKeeta, Bridgette and Hope deal with the whole 'boyfriend/sex thing', then Choices is a good book to read. I do believe you will be entertained, even uplifted at times, and you will also learn something. In fact, there are messages for both parents and teens, however, the most important message I wanted to send to teenage girls is this: When you mess up (and we all do) it's never too late to begin again.
As a Christian, I could not write a story that did not include the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Shauntice, LaKeeta, Bridgette & Hope are Christians), but with some of the content in Choices I didn't think I should label it Christian Fiction. Still, others have tagged it Christian Fiction. (Feel free to check out the APOOO BookClub review on Amazon) So if you are a reader who enjoys Christian Fiction (the genre I most prefer, by the way) and you don't have a problem reading a book that steps 'outside the box' of what some people believe Christian Fiction should be, then I believe you will enjoy my book. Just so you know, if you haven't figured it out already: This is not a goody-goody story, it is in no way preachy, and, yes, some of the teen characters engage in sex just like teenagers do in the real world; whether non-Christian or Christian. I leave the consensual sex to the reader's imagination but, sadly, the acquaintance rape is vivid because I figured teenage girls who read this book wouldn't get the particular message I wanted to send unless they felt this character's pain.
This is young adult fiction for mature readers. I received an email from an adult reader a while back who described it something like this: It's not a teen book, it's an adult book about teens. I'm thinking it was a pretty deep read for her. So if you like 'deep' teen fiction, then this is a book you should read .
Choices has also been tagged as Urban Fiction (I'm thinking because the story takes place in the city of York, PA) so if you enjoy that genre you may want to give my debut novel a try.
If you've read Choices, thanks very much. And if you'd like to email me to let me know what you thought of the story -what you liked or didn't like, who you liked or didn't like, who you could identify with, which part of the story you liked best, what you learned from it, your favorite character -I'd be glad to hear from you.
If you haven't read my book, I'd like to invite you to stop by my website where you can learn a bit more about the story and even enjoy a few music videos - http://www.kapribooks.com/. If you decide to purchase a copy of Choices once you have more information, your support will be greatly appreciated!
If you're a parent who isn't quite sure how to talk to your teen about sex, Choices could spark that much needed conversation. And if you're a teen looking for a book with believable characters you can relate to or you'd just like to see how Shauntice, Angel, LaKeeta, Bridgette and Hope deal with the whole 'boyfriend/sex thing', then Choices is a good book to read. I do believe you will be entertained, even uplifted at times, and you will also learn something. In fact, there are messages for both parents and teens, however, the most important message I wanted to send to teenage girls is this: When you mess up (and we all do) it's never too late to begin again.
As a Christian, I could not write a story that did not include the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Shauntice, LaKeeta, Bridgette & Hope are Christians), but with some of the content in Choices I didn't think I should label it Christian Fiction. Still, others have tagged it Christian Fiction. (Feel free to check out the APOOO BookClub review on Amazon) So if you are a reader who enjoys Christian Fiction (the genre I most prefer, by the way) and you don't have a problem reading a book that steps 'outside the box' of what some people believe Christian Fiction should be, then I believe you will enjoy my book. Just so you know, if you haven't figured it out already: This is not a goody-goody story, it is in no way preachy, and, yes, some of the teen characters engage in sex just like teenagers do in the real world; whether non-Christian or Christian. I leave the consensual sex to the reader's imagination but, sadly, the acquaintance rape is vivid because I figured teenage girls who read this book wouldn't get the particular message I wanted to send unless they felt this character's pain.
This is young adult fiction for mature readers. I received an email from an adult reader a while back who described it something like this: It's not a teen book, it's an adult book about teens. I'm thinking it was a pretty deep read for her. So if you like 'deep' teen fiction, then this is a book you should read .
Choices has also been tagged as Urban Fiction (I'm thinking because the story takes place in the city of York, PA) so if you enjoy that genre you may want to give my debut novel a try.
If you've read Choices, thanks very much. And if you'd like to email me to let me know what you thought of the story -what you liked or didn't like, who you liked or didn't like, who you could identify with, which part of the story you liked best, what you learned from it, your favorite character -I'd be glad to hear from you.
If you haven't read my book, I'd like to invite you to stop by my website where you can learn a bit more about the story and even enjoy a few music videos - http://www.kapribooks.com/. If you decide to purchase a copy of Choices once you have more information, your support will be greatly appreciated!
Friday, August 28, 2009
High School Student's Blog
Please take a moment to visit this young lady's YA book blog. Ari is supporting me and I'd like to do what I can to support her: http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Pleasantly Surprised
Choices was featured on Thea's BC Book Review Talk Show on Sunday, August 23, on Live 365! I didn't even know until I checked my email today and, let me tell you, it was a nice surprise. Thanks so very much, Thea. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
I've Been Encouraged!
Every now and then I google Choices by Katrina L. Burchett to see what shows up. This evening I was pleasantly surprised when I found my debut novel listed as a 2009 Summer Read in the August/September issue of a digital magazine. Thanks so much for the support Goddess Magazine!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Character, Randy
I had a dream that someone told a guy I used to have feelings for waaaaay back in the day that the character, Randy, in Choices was him. Now, I believe that some dreams are just dreams - a subconscious, images in the mind thing. But I also believe that some of my dreams come from God. I've had dreams where I thought God was trying to tell me something, and then something happened and I thought, "That's what that meant!" I really need to work on how to interpret the visions God gives me in my sleep... Anyway, I have no clue what's up with the dream I mentioned, but just in case someone out there does believe I was thinking of a particular guy when I created Randy, please get that thought out of your mind because it is not true. Just like it states on the copyright page of Choices, any resemblence to actual persons is entirely coincidental.
Randy... well, he's an insensitive, selfish, conceited guy who doesn't know how to treat a female. Yes, I've dealt with guys like that, but not one of them crossed my mind when I wrote my debut novel. There are so many guys like Randy out there that it wasn't difficult at all to make the character believable. Here's the thing, though. I know Randy's story and I kinda feel bad for him and his brother, Roscoe. I don't excuse their actions in Choices - they had me angry as I wrote the scenes - but I understand why they act the way they do. Readers will learn more about these guys in the next book. But, in the meantime, if you haven't read Choices yet, it'd be great if you'd give serious thought to purchasing a copy. I'd really appreciate your support!
Randy... well, he's an insensitive, selfish, conceited guy who doesn't know how to treat a female. Yes, I've dealt with guys like that, but not one of them crossed my mind when I wrote my debut novel. There are so many guys like Randy out there that it wasn't difficult at all to make the character believable. Here's the thing, though. I know Randy's story and I kinda feel bad for him and his brother, Roscoe. I don't excuse their actions in Choices - they had me angry as I wrote the scenes - but I understand why they act the way they do. Readers will learn more about these guys in the next book. But, in the meantime, if you haven't read Choices yet, it'd be great if you'd give serious thought to purchasing a copy. I'd really appreciate your support!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Goodbye Michael
On the day Michael Jackson died the text messages on my phone just kept coming. I cried a bit; yes, I did. This man was so gifted, so unique, so special. And the way he was attacked by so many people when he was alive, that was so sad to me. And now I turn on the television and I see the media talking about his will and his debt and his skin color; whatever they can think of to keep the controversy going. The man is gone, people. He is dead. His family will never see him on this earth again. The world will never see him on stage again, moving in his unique way and singing the songs he wrote. Although there are a lot of good music artists out there, I don't believe anyone will ever be able to take the place of the King of Pop. I am so sorry he's gone and my prayers go out to his family.
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