Writing for the Love

Which Line Hooks You? The Book: Little Angel Helper 1) A recently fired, down-on-his-luck accountant prepares to gamble the last of his savings in a desperate bid to pay off a loan shark. Meanwhile, a woman helping his special needs sister arrives in the wake of their parents’ death. She has limited time to persuade him to become his sister’s guardian. OR 2) After losing his job and his parents, a gambler must choose between abandoning his special needs sister or putting her in harm's way when loan sharks call in his debt. The first example was my first attempt, and the second example is where I ended up after reworking the line and receiving feedback from other writers. On a side note, if you're interested in the inspiration behind the book, here is a BLOG POST about how I originally wrote the story live on my blog and based one of the characters on my sister with special needs. The Evolution of the Logline for Little Angel Helper What is a Logline? Ph...

A Broke 30-Something Guy A Sister With Special Needs A Teacher Who Will Do What it Takes to Help Them At the 2016 Royal Palm Literary Awards, Little Angel Helper won Third Place in the Published Novella category. Awards Don't Get Old It was an exciting evening where friends walked across the stage to receive their awards and the chocolate dessert begged to be finished while politely asking to be kept pristine at the same time. Do I eat you or just admire you? My category fell near the end of the ceremony, but I had a great group at my table. They encouraged me and almost convinced me not to be nervous. Love these ladies! Almost. Every year, I talk myself into not being disappointed when my name isn't called. After two First Place RPLAs, it might sound silly, but I convince myself that I haven't won anything every time. Which is why I'm so shocked when the presenter reads the logline of my book. "Thirty-something Bradl...

Book Signing with Award-Winning Author Print Edition Released 12/19/15   2015 Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist What: Author Bria Burton Signing Books Little Angel Helper ~ Print Edition Released Lance & Ringo Tails ~ Collection of Pet Stories The Prometheus Saga ~ Science Fiction Anthology When: Saturday, December 19, 2015 6 - 10 PM Where: Gulfport Art Walk Beach Blvd S in Gulfport, FL RSVP ON FACEBOOK   Shop Local CHRISTMAS SPECIALS! Little Angel Helper Print Edition will be officially released at this book signing. Get your signed copy at a discounted rate and purchase copies as gifts just in time for Christmas. Lance & Ringo Tails and The Prometheus Saga will also be discounted for the holidays. Award-Winning Science Fiction Anthology Featuring my short story, "On Both Sides"   Fellow author John Rehg and I will be sharing a booth and signing books at this event. Enjoy a casual strol...

At this year's RPLA Banquet, I listened as each category winner was announced, and the joy of writer after writer swept over the room. As a contributor to The Prometheus Saga , I was equally thrilled for my fellow Alvarium Experiment authors who won awards, including some of the Saga stories: Jade Kerrion, Antonio Simon, Jr., Parker Francis, Ken Pelham, Daco, and Elle Andrews Patt (not pictured). When the novella category came up, I waited as 3rd, 2nd, and 1st places were announced. Finalist Little Angel Helper was not among them, and I admit I had a brief moment of disappointment. I'm really proud of that little novella, but as in all contests, we cannot all be winners. And I quickly realized that being a 2015 RPLA Finalist is still a thrill, too. The very last genre was Women's Fiction. As 3rd and 2nd Place were announced in the Unpublished category, my shoulders slumped and I found myself giving up hope. If anything, I thought I would get 3rd Place, may...

Addendum (8/18/15): I just received word that "Tight Pants," a short piece that Page & Spine accepted about a year ago, will be published on August 28, 2015 (yay!) I've been overwhelmed with all the blessings that have been coming my way in the writing realm. God is so good. It's difficult to know where to begin since I've neglected the blog and can hardly remember the last thing I posted (before yesterday's post ). Upcoming Publications A short story, "The Empty Girl," will appear in Revisions: Stories of Starting Over in October. This will be Collection #7 from the Florida Writers Association. Out of that number, I've had four previous pieces appear. I'm very excited to be featured this year after not making it last year. A reprint, "The Mute Girl," will appear in Youth Imagination magazine. Date TBD. The fantasy piece originally appeared in eFantasy. I'm also still in line for publication on a short s...

Another short story published! And this one, anyone can read. " Ticket to Heaven " is now available online at Faith Hope and Fiction . I wrote this piece in 2005, a year or so out of college. It sat in my computer files getting digitally dusty, but I've always had a difficult time figuring out what I should do with it. The story is about a college-aged drug addict in-denial who encounters an old man handing out tickets to heaven. After she accepts the ticket, a miracle happens and leads her on a path to redemption. The story includes, among other things, drug use, a Bible-quoting drug dealer, and the Gospel message. Why has it been so difficult for me to find a place to submit the story? It's not because of the drug use or real-world scenarios, but because most of the magazines accepting spiritual/inspirational/Christian themes want non-fiction. I've had a really hard time finding places that accept Christian fiction. The word count was a litt...

Now Little Angel Helper is not only available in the Kindle Store, but you can request a personalized and signed ebook from the author (me) through Autography. Request your signed ebook by clicking HERE Once you click on the link, you'll be directed to my author landing page at Autography. There, you can select the type of ebook file you prefer. From there, you'll be directed to the secure checkout page.   This one-of-a-kind technology inserts the signature page after the ebook cover page. Here's an example of the ebook I'm sending to my mom. I don't have the best handwriting. You'll have to forgive me for that.

Kindle Edition Released today $2.99 in the Kindle Store A novella about siblings, special needs, sacrifice, unfortunate circumstances, and faith in things unseen. Bradley Hunter lost his job, his rent's due, and he's up to here in gambling debt. His sister, Marie, shows up at the worst time, before he has a chance to call Paulina, the lady from her adult special needs program, and stop her from bringing Marie to New York. Now he has to tell her in person that he can't become Marie's legal guardian after all. Paulina, a "guide" at TACA (Topeka Action Center for Adults), loves her job as a helper for those with special needs. She cannot accept that Bradley would back out on his sister when she needs him most. With little time left, she'll do whatever it takes to convince Bradley to sign the guardianship papers. This novella was inspired by my sister, Aunie, who has a lot in common with Marie, the special needs character in the story....

Little Angel Helper hits the electronic shelf in less than one week. Next Saturday, the novella will be available in the Kindle Store. Here's the first preview of the book cover. The book is about siblings, special needs, sacrifice, unfortunate circumstances, and faith in things unseen.