CJ Carmichael: The “Ugly Duckling” Heroine

I’m sure you’re familiar with the fable where an ugly duckling is rejected by the farmyard geese, only to emerge as a graceful and beautiful swan at the end of the winter. From this fable has sprung one of the most enduring character archetypes used in both movies and novels alike. Whether labeled a misfit, a nerd, a wallflower or a dork, these characters have been forced into situations where they are unable to tap into their full potential. The end result is a rather sad and lonely existence.

A terrific example of the ugly duckling archetype is the “Joan Wilder” character in the wonderful romp of a movie Romancing The Stone. Joan begins the movie as a nerdy, timid writer, whose restrained hair reflects the tight rein she keeps on all of her passions.

By the end of Joan Wilder’s adventure with the unscrupulous, but sexy Jack T. Colton she has emerged as an unfettered, beautiful and confident woman, ready to take on the world.

There are plenty of other examples of the ugly duckling character. In The Charm School by Susan Wiggs, the main character, Isadora Peabody, is an awkward misfit from an accomplished Boston family.  There’s also Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady, Harriet from Harriet the Spy, Vivian from Pretty Woman, and maybe the most famous misfit of all...Harry Porter.

I’ve written over fifty novels and never yet tackled the ugly duckling archetype, but for some reason I’m being drawn to it this spring as I contemplate plotting my next novel. I have in mind a young woman who has been looking after her sickly parents since she was eighteen years. As a consequence of never being able to focus on what she wants in life, she’s become rather...dowdy. She’s only twenty-five, yet feels as if life is passing her by. And it is.

Through the course of my novel, this young woman will learn how to engage with the world again. She’ll figure out who she is and what she cares about. And yes, her transformation will include a new hair style and some updated clothes. But the improvements that really matter will be the interior ones.

I’m hoping this will be a story that my readers will engage with. But I suppose only time will tell! If you want to keep updated on the progress of this and my other writing endeavers, please sign up for my newsletter. While you’re visiting my website make sure you enter my Grab-bag contest. I’m giving away a great custom totebag and a stack of ten autographed books. 

CJ Carmichael: How Harry Porter helped with my New Year Resolutions

Christmas is a chaotic time of year at our house, mostly because we (Mike would say I) choose to make it that way. I love to decorate our house, to buy and wrap gifts, and to bake special treats (even if everyone is cutting back on sweets these days). This year Mike and I made it even more crazy by deciding to get married on December 27.

We had our reasons for picking this date—mainly because Mike’s daughters from Nova Scotia and Montreal, and my father from Saskatchewan, were going to be coming to Calgary for the holidays and this way they wouldn’t need to make a special trip—but I don’t think either of us were prepared for just how exhausting it would be to combine two such momentous events into less than a week!

I’m happy to report that everything went well, both Christmas and the wedding. (Check Facebook for photos. I’ll be posting more soon.) But once the last out-of-town guest left town, we were ready to veg. We decide to combine an afternoon cross-country ski in the Rocky Mountains with a marathon session of watching Harry Potter Movies. Tonight we just finished Movie Four: The Order of the Phoenix, and when it was over, I realized that thanks to Dumbledore and Sirius Black I had found my three resolutions for 2016:

Resolution #1:

 Every year I make choices about what stories I’m going to write. Sometimes these choices have been driven by book contracts, market trends, or other such external factors. This year I’m going to write stories that stretch my abilities. I’m going to strive for excellence, for honesty, and at the same time let my imagination soar.

Resolution #2:

Sometimes I am too much swayed by my desire to get along with others, to be helpful and, yes, liked. This year I want to focus on standing up for what is important to me. More than anything, this means spending my time on activities and people that matter to me, rather than taking on projects to please others.

Resolution #3:

I admit I’m someone who loves to dream. Reading and writing are extensions of this love...but it is possible to live too much inside your own head. I want to pack this year with my beloved hiking and skiing adventures...and this year I want to start journaling these adventures, as a way to truly focus on each unique experience.

Resolved...to keep resolving

I’ve always enjoyed making resolutions and setting goals for myself at the beginning of each year. I realize not everyone does. But I feel, even if I make 80% of my goals by the end of the year, or even 50%, at least progress has been made.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. And if you’re the sort who likes to make resolutions, I’d love to hear what they are. Share below and I’ll choose one random commenter to receive a $10 Starbucks gift card. (Cause if we’re going to keep our resolutions, we’re going to need coffee...)

Happy 2016!

C. J. Carmichael

Rediscovering a genre - Lee Hyat

Last November I fell in love with the young adult genre all over again. I thought I'd left that love behind a long time ago but I was wrong. I'd never felt tempted to pick up the Harry Potter books like so many of my online friends did. I watched the movies, enjoyed them thoroughly and left it at that. I'd never felt compelled to want to know more.

Then the Twilight mania hit. My daughter and I watched the movie and I "had" to start reading the first book that very night! I'd forgotten how much I really enjoyed young adult novels. I felt again the thrill of discovering a new genre (only this time, it's REdiscovering one). You know, that awesome feeling that you've hit the genre jackpot and there's soooo many new books/authors out there to discover?

It's been fun. Maybe more so because I'm not alone in this. My daughter and I are doing the discovering together and it's just helping to make our bond stronger. Once we were done with the Twlight Saga, we discovered the world Rachel Caine built in the Morganville Vampires series. Last week an author friend recommended Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series so that's next on our list.

At the moment though, we're working our way through Shelley Adina's "US" series. So far, most of my young adult reading has been steeped in the paranormal so I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy these books... but I'm happy to say that book 1 has caught and kept my attention quite well so far!


it’s all about us
may 2008
isbn 0-446-17798-9

Some things you just know without being told. . . .
Like you passed the math final (or you didn't). Like your boyfriend isn't into you anymore and wants to break up. Or . . . you're the New Girl and your junior year is going to be utterly miserable.

Lissa Mansfield is used to being in the "in" crowd--but being accepted by the popular girls at posh Spencer Academy boarding school in San Francisco is a lot harder than she thought. And then there's her New-York-loudmouth roommate, Gillian Chang, who's not just happy to be a Christian herself--she's determined to out Lissa, too. If Lissa can just keep her faith under wraps long enough to hook Callum McCloud, the hottest guy in school, she'll be golden.
But when Callum pressures her to go all the way with him, Lissa has to decide how far is too far. How can she see that line when he's so gorgeous and popular and God seems so far away? Between that and shopping for a knockout dress and booking the hottest celeb for the Benefactor's Day Ball . . . who knew finding a place at Spencer Academy would be so complicated?

“In the first novel of her new YA series, Adina does a good job realistically portraying characters who are not only growing up, but doing so with religion as a huge constant in their lives. Rarely, if ever, are the characters preachy, and Lissa and Gillian are fine role models for any religion.” --Romantic Times BookReviews

the fruit of my lipstick
august 2008
isbn 0-446-17797-0

Top Five Clues that He’s the One

1. 1.He’s smart, which is why he’s dating you and not the queen of the snob mob.
2. 2.He knows he’s hot, but he thinks you’re hotter.
3. 3.He’d rather listen to you than himself.
4. 4.You’re in on his jokes—not the butt of them.
5. 5.He always gives you the last cookie in the box.

New Yorker Gillian Chang starts her second term at posh Spencer Academy boarding school in San Francisco prepared to focus on her studies, her faith, and her friends. She plays a dozen musical instruments and can recite the periodic table of the elements backward. She's totally prepared for everything--except love!

She's falling hard for Lucas Hayes, who isn't even a senior yet and is already aiming at a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford. The problem is, she never seems to be able to measure up and be the girlfriend he wants. He's under a lot of pressure from his parents to achieve--maybe that's why he's short-tempered sometimes. But even a thick-skinned girl like Gillian can only take so much.

With her heart on the line, Gillian conceals more and more from her friends. So when she's accused of selling exam answer sheets, even her girlfriends, Lissa Mansfield and Carly Aragon, wonder if it can be true. Can Gillian hang onto her integrity--and her faith--when she loses her heart to Lucas?

“Shelley Adina hit a perfect balance. Her characters are strong Christians, and their faith is a big part of the story ... but she never really hits you over the head with it. It's just a part of their lives, just like shopping and cute boys are a part of their lives. ...I laughed out loud during many of Gillian's descriptions of her family, actually hearing my Asian husband's aunties' voices in my head. Shelley provides a fantastic glimpse into Chinese-American culture and the struggle of trying to fit into two different worlds.” --Fictionistas.com


be strong and curvaceous
january 2009
isbn 0-446-17799-7

Be careful what you wish for. I used to think that was the dumbest saying ever. I mean, when you wish for something, by definition it’s wonderful, right? Like a new dress for a party. Or a roommate as cool as Gillian Chang or Lissa Mansfield. Or having a guy notice you after six months of being invisible. Before last term, of course I wanted those wishes to come true. I don’t anymore.

After spending spring break in Mexico with her grandparents, Carly Aragon can't wait to get back to school at Spencer Academy in San Francisco. With Lissa Mansfield and Gillian Chang by her side, she's ready for anything ... except a new roommate. Lady Lindsay MacPhail, flamboyant daughter of the Earl of Strathcairn, quickly becomes Carly's worst nightmare. "Mac" not only swoops in and steals Carly's privacy, she's also stealing Brett Loyola--Carly's biggest crush!

But when Mac starts receiving strange, threatening e-mails, she and Carly must come together to figure out who's behind them and why. In the end, the fate of one girl will lie in the other's hands. Will the two learn to trust one another and trust God?

“Reading Be Strong & Curvaceous flooded me with memories of my high school days. While the surroundings and scenes were different, there were certain staples that read just like my life: the close friendships, the longing to be accepted, the desire for my first real boyfriend, and most of all, being introduced to Jesus. I only wish Shelley Adina’s All About Us series had been around in my day. I recommend it for any young adult who wants to escape to another world and find that they are not alone in their feelings and experiences.”
—American Idol finalist Mandisa



So tell me about you - have you discovered a new genre / sub-genre lately? How about a new-to-you author? Discoveries like that are such fun! Especially if the author has a looong backlist to glom! Share your thoughts and I'll pick a winner in a couple of days who will recieve a Starbucks giftcard and a couple of books from My Tote Bag too!

***The Winner is Leslie! Thanks to everyone who left a comment. :) Leslie, please email me at staff@authorsoundrelations.com with your full name and mailing address so I can get your prize to you!***