Denise's Motto: Life Is Fodder for Writing
Writing Gives Purpose to Bad, Good, and Indifferent Events
Denise and Cinnamon the Snooty
I've wanted to be a writer since I was 3. So I became one. By day, I'm a technical writer. At night, I write fiction. After working for many years as a writer for publishing companies, associations, and corporations, I hope to be published as a fiction writer. Soon.
Fiction News
Finished First Firma Sisters Book (or Firma Twins Book)
In February I finished writing a middle-grade science fiction children's book (35,559 words) called The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death. Here's the first page: FirstPage.pdf. By the way, the word stake-a-tine rhymes with guillotine.
A Quick Plot Summary
Identical twin sisters in Arlington, Virginia, must prevent alien vampires from feeding on the blood of human schoolchildren.
My first juvenile reader, Richard (see following review), is an identical twin boy who lives in Arlington, Virginia. I made a couple of clarifications to the book based on his comments. He told me that a picture of the stake-a-tine should be on the cover.
Reviews of The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death
"Denise, I have to let you know that Richard (my 10-year-old) just finished The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death. He absolutely loved it. He read through the whole book in what was basically one sitting--he just couldn't put it down. (In fact, the only reason he didn't read straight through is that I didn't print out the whole book at first and he had to wait while it printed.) He's a big fan. Now he wants to know when your next book is coming out."
Judy Schramm, JMR Consulting
"Timpko loves to spring the unexpected on her readers whether it’s a character with a surprising name, a treasure hunt in an exotic location, or just a wry bit of humor. Check out this author’s first book where a squirrel is calling the shots and identical twins find out there’s more to their family than they ever dreamed."
Glenda Zahller, a fellow writer
"It's a very suspenseful, 'what's going to happen next?' story with lots of dramatic action in each chapter, an intricate, well-developed plot, lots of description so I can really picture Isis, Electra, Kelly, nice little Willoughby, the evil rats."
Etta Johnson, a fellow writer on my critique group
"I finished reading your Stake-A-Tine novel. I LOVED it. I didn't realize you were so creative!!! You especially did a wonderful job with your chapter endings. The cliffhangers are amazing. I really liked it, and I'm sure any child who reads it will, too."
Felicia Ansty, a fellow writer
The Firma Sisters (or Firma Twins) Series
I plan more books about the Firma sisters and their adventures, each book told in first person by one of the sisters. Isis and Electra Firma have very different personalities. Isis tells the story about the stake-a-tine. In the first book, the sisters discover their unique family history and develop fascinating skills that provide room for many adventures.
Electra narrates the second book, The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment in which Electra discover the effect of the Squrlons on her in particular. The third planned book, The Firma Sisters and the Paisley-Colored Egg, is in Isis's voice. She helps Willoughby and the Squrlon learn their destiny. Further books are in the planning stage.
First Page of The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment: FirstPageFlute.pdf.
Starlight and the Flute Player: In fall 2009 I wrote Starlight and the Flute Player, a 495-word story that not only is key to the plot of The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death but appears in the book verbatim. The story also provides background information to The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment. Think of the legend of the Pied Piper as, not an old story but an ancient one, with paleo-Indians, an alien Pied Piper, and alien rats as characters. Of course, Starlight and the Flute Player never directly states such things. The stake-a-tine novel provides the interpretation.
The Orange Ice-Cube Witch: In fall 2009 I wrote The Orange Ice-Cube Witch, an inspiring 816-word story about a young child who needs to stop having "accidents."
Chez Timpko Newsletters
I wrote my first newsletter when I was 13 and wrote many newsletters at various places where I've worked. Every year I write and publish a newsletter for my husband's and my holiday party in December. It reports on our activities for that year. Chez Timpko isn't the normal family newsletter most people publish. The following are ones I have in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) form:
Preview of Possible Stories in Chez Timpko 2010
Timpkos cancel holiday party!!! Snowmageddon versus the Goddess and where was Chuck? In Puerto Vallarta for the entire week! How Denise fell in love with the Orkin man and two teenage boys. And her neighbor. Denise goes to New York. Don't they teach geography in schools anymore? The Goddess celebrates the loss of her appendix. And who knows what more?
E-mail address: denisetimpko@denisetimpko.com
Copyright 1999-2010 by Denise Harlow Timpko
All rights reserved
Fiction News
Finished First Firma Sisters Book (or Firma Twins Book)
In February I finished writing a middle-grade science fiction children's book (35,559 words) called The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death. Here's the first page: FirstPage.pdf. By the way, the word stake-a-tine rhymes with guillotine.
A Quick Plot Summary
Identical twin sisters in Arlington, Virginia, must prevent alien vampires from feeding on the blood of human schoolchildren.
My first juvenile reader, Richard (see following review), is an identical twin boy who lives in Arlington, Virginia. I made a couple of clarifications to the book based on his comments. He told me that a picture of the stake-a-tine should be on the cover.
Reviews of The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death
"Denise, I have to let you know that Richard (my 10-year-old) just finished The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death. He absolutely loved it. He read through the whole book in what was basically one sitting--he just couldn't put it down. (In fact, the only reason he didn't read straight through is that I didn't print out the whole book at first and he had to wait while it printed.) He's a big fan. Now he wants to know when your next book is coming out."
Judy Schramm, JMR Consulting
"Timpko loves to spring the unexpected on her readers whether it’s a character with a surprising name, a treasure hunt in an exotic location, or just a wry bit of humor. Check out this author’s first book where a squirrel is calling the shots and identical twins find out there’s more to their family than they ever dreamed."
Glenda Zahller, a fellow writer
"It's a very suspenseful, 'what's going to happen next?' story with lots of dramatic action in each chapter, an intricate, well-developed plot, lots of description so I can really picture Isis, Electra, Kelly, nice little Willoughby, the evil rats."
Etta Johnson, a fellow writer on my critique group
"I finished reading your Stake-A-Tine novel. I LOVED it. I didn't realize you were so creative!!! You especially did a wonderful job with your chapter endings. The cliffhangers are amazing. I really liked it, and I'm sure any child who reads it will, too."
Felicia Ansty, a fellow writer
The Firma Sisters (or Firma Twins) Series
I plan more books about the Firma sisters and their adventures, each book told in first person by one of the sisters. Isis and Electra Firma have very different personalities. Isis tells the story about the stake-a-tine. In the first book, the sisters discover their unique family history and develop fascinating skills that provide room for many adventures.
Electra narrates the second book, The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment in which Electra discover the effect of the Squrlons on her in particular. The third planned book, The Firma Sisters and the Paisley-Colored Egg, is in Isis's voice. She helps Willoughby and the Squrlon learn their destiny. Further books are in the planning stage.
First Page of The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment: FirstPageFlute.pdf.
Starlight and the Flute Player: In fall 2009 I wrote Starlight and the Flute Player, a 495-word story that not only is key to the plot of The Firma Sisters and the Stake-a-tine of Death but appears in the book verbatim. The story also provides background information to The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment. Think of the legend of the Pied Piper as, not an old story but an ancient one, with paleo-Indians, an alien Pied Piper, and alien rats as characters. Of course, Starlight and the Flute Player never directly states such things. The stake-a-tine novel provides the interpretation.
The Orange Ice-Cube Witch: In fall 2009 I wrote The Orange Ice-Cube Witch, an inspiring 816-word story about a young child who needs to stop having "accidents."
Chez Timpko Newsletters
I wrote my first newsletter when I was 13 and wrote many newsletters at various places where I've worked. Every year I write and publish a newsletter for my husband's and my holiday party in December. It reports on our activities for that year. Chez Timpko isn't the normal family newsletter most people publish. The following are ones I have in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) form:
- ChezTimpkoNews2001.pdf
- ChezTimpkoNews2003.pdf
- ChezTimpkoNews2006.pdf
- ChezTimpkoNews2007.pdf
- ChezTimpkoNews2008.pdf
- ChezTimpkoNews2009.pdf
Preview of Possible Stories in Chez Timpko 2010
Timpkos cancel holiday party!!! Snowmageddon versus the Goddess and where was Chuck? In Puerto Vallarta for the entire week! How Denise fell in love with the Orkin man and two teenage boys. And her neighbor. Denise goes to New York. Don't they teach geography in schools anymore? The Goddess celebrates the loss of her appendix. And who knows what more?
E-mail address: denisetimpko@denisetimpko.com
Copyright 1999-2010 by Denise Harlow Timpko
All rights reserved