Tracking Your Universal URL

Happy Friday, everyone! Ohhhhhh, snap! It's weekend time. Hope you all have amazing plans! Today, I'm gonna show you a quick trick to track those links we made a couple weeks back.

So, pull up this post. Go through the steps there, and then come on back here to add a bonus level.

Ready? Great! Get those clicking fingers ready and let's get going.

So, you have a link now that looks a little like this:

http://a-fwd.com/asin=B00HQHF7PI

and will take folks in every country to the correct page on Amazon. Win!

Now, you throw it into the big, wide world that's the Internet, and pray someone clicks it, right?

Wrong.

You're likely taking that link and adding it to the back of books you've written, putting it on your website or blog (or the blogs of others), posting it on Facebook, or Tweeting it to every bird that follows you.

But how the heck can you know which one of those avenues is working?

Easy. You shorten that tiny link with something like bit.ly, that allows you to track all your clicks. You'll know where the clicks came from, and that will help you determine which marketing avenues are doing what.

Start by taking that cute link above and heading over here: https://bitly.com

Sign up for an account and log in, please!

Now, pull up a blank Word document or blank Notepad. Make a couple of headlines:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• In the back of (title of book) [make one of these for each book you have]
• Website
• Blog 
• Anywhere else you may market

Back to bit.ly! On your main page, you'll see a cute little puffer fish up in the top, left hand corner. He looks like this:

Take the link from a-fwd and paste it in the puffer box.

You'll get a pop-up on the right hand side of the screen with a shortened link in it. Looks like this:

Copy that one and paste it under the first headline in your document (Twitter).

Now, go on back to bit.ly. Click the tiny icon that looks like a price tag:

Type in Twitter (title of book) and click the checkbox to create new.

Click apply. Go to the search box at the top of the page and type in Twitter (title of book). You'll get something that looks like this:

Now, see that tag?

Click the text inside the tag:

Voila! You get all the links tagged with that exact title:

Now wash, rinse, and repeat until you have a separate link for each marketing avenue.

You can reuse tags on other shortlinks:
Back of book 1 Mystic Series (for each book you link there)
Website
Blog

Stuff like that. Then, when you want to find all the results on all your bitlinks for your website, you click the tag and poof! You're in the money! Alllll that data at your fingertips!

Yes, it's going to take you a minute to set it all up the first time. But you'll get better, and faster, as you go along!

Did this help? Got questions? Ask 'em!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

7 Cover Reveal Monday and How We Wrote the Book

Good morning, and happy Thursday, everyone! I'm so excited I can't stand myself. In just four days (on Monday) the cover reveal for 7 happens. It's completely different from anything I've seen on the shelves today, and the story inside is along those same lines.

BUT!

Today, I'm gonna tell you all how we wrote the book(s). That's right, there's more than one. Yes, they'll be released as a set, because we feel you can't read one without having the others IN your hands.

As we created the story, we nearly drove one another nuts. *grin*

Why? Because of the process we used. So, if you're ready, sit back, relax, and let me regale you with a story on how this novel was conceived and written.

As you may know, the five of us, Casey L. Bond, Tia Silverthorne Bach, Kelly Risser, N. L. Green, and myself, all go to the author event Utopia. During the con, we set aside time to brainstorm new collectives. Our first attempt was Fractured Glass, which released at the end of 2014. It was so well received, and we ladies loved working together so much, we decided to write something else together. This will become a tradition. Every year, you'll get something new and different from us.

Anyway, we met in one of the rooms at the hotel with journals in our hands (surprisingly, we all brought the exact same journal) and started talking. Idea after idea was tossed around until we all said "oooooooh, yes!" at the same time.

Hours passed as we fleshed out our tale, and suggestions were received and added to the journal pages. In time, we had a plot that left us all with our bottom jaws swinging. We decided to all write in third person, past tense, with no restrictions on POV, and we fleshed out the main character.

Then, we gave it a title. Because of restrictions, we've taken to calling it 7. Not the word, but the number, because it's represented by this:

It was decided that we'd use our own names in the story, but we wouldn't write about ourselves. That task was assigned to the lady sitting to our right. How fun is that?

This novel has the following construct:

Part One was written by Casey.
Part Two, by Jo.
Part Three, by Tia.
Part Four, by Kelly.
Part Five, by N. L.
Part Six, by all five of us at once.
Part Seven (a bonus short story), by all five of us at once.

Yep. It has seven sections. But, until the conclusion (Part Six) was completely written, we didn't get to see what any of the other women had done.

It made for the most interesting construct I've ever seen.

We used Google Drive to write Parts Six and Seven, and we all penned it at once, like programmers do when writing code. Rapid fire questions and answers happened, and we've been blown away by our ability to pull it off.

I hope you're as excited about this book as we are, because I can guarantee you've never seen anything like it before.

And the story... Well, none of us knew what would happen in the end, so we hope you're as surprised by it as we were.

There will be a Goodreads giveaway that will start right after the cover reveal. Keep an eye out for that, and for the FACEBOOK launch party! YAY!

What do you think? Gonna try it? Eager to read the book? Tell us what you think in the comments.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Chasing Destiny Release Party

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Yay! I know you're all super excited about this one. I won't mess around today. Let's get going!

Join the Chasing Destiny release party over on facebook here.

Friday, November 13, 2015 from 3pm-10pm EST

There's an amazing lineup of authors! Plus, it's Friday the 13th! Helloooooo!

If you're not familiar with this series, let me give you the 411:

Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Chasing Memories is the first in the series (and is FREE on Kindle). It was released June 5, 2013. Here's the blurb and cover: 

There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you…

Seventeen-year-old Reagan has a problem: She can’t remember what happened the night her brother was taken. Now, the dreams haunting her from the incident are becoming more intense by the day. All the while, the lines between what’s real and what’s a product of her paranormal-obsessed mind are becoming blurred.

Is she losing her mind or has she just stepped into a world she thought only existed in books?

Caught in a web of worried parents, competing boys, Wiccan relatives, protective amulets, and psychiatrist babble, Reagan must determine the truth before it’s too late.


Chasing Shadows is book two, and it came out May 4, 2014. Here's the blurb and cover:

2014 Reader's Favorite International Book Awards Finalist in Young Adult Paranormal

Reagan thought one night changed her life forever, but her fate was written long ago.

Merging creature and white blood,
One of flame, one of night,
At eighteen years it will commence,
Spiritual warrior and power,
Will bring an end to the lawless ones.
A war looms: One that pits brother against brother for werewolf supremacy. Angels and demons will each have a say before a victor is chosen.

With her eighteenth birthday only six months away, time is running out. Reagan must find a way to harness the two powerful, ancient bloodlines coursing through her: Werewolf and Wiccan. Then, she has to figure out her role in the century-old prophecy foretold by her great-grandmother.

However, if Reagan can't save her family from her most vicious rival, Rafe, the forces of Hell will be unleashed and the war will be over before it starts.

Chasing Forgiveness is a companion novella, and tells the story of two sisters. It released April 11, 2015. Once again, the blurb and cover:

2015 Utopia Award Nominee Best Companion Novella

When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

Now, we get to celebrate Chasing Destiny, book three of the series. It will release November 12, 2015. Here's the blurb and cover:

An ancient prophecy set forth her ultimate destiny:
Destroy the lawless ones or Hell’s gate will burst open.

So much has changed since Reagan shifted for the first time. She found the grandfather and brother she thought were dead, reunited with her grandmother and aunt, met a twin sister for the first time, discovered a powerful magic pulsing through their family’s veins, fell in love, and became part of a pack.

Evil also came into Reagan’s life in the form of Rafe, a madman who commands a demon-werewolf army. He’ll stop at nothing to destroy everything good.

Destiny may have determined Reagan’s fate, but she refuses to allow it to define her path. To save the world, she must:

Gather powerful allies.
Call forth a team of angels.
Form an unholy alliance.
Discover an angel sword.
Survive devastating losses.

Along the way, Reagan will discover that strength comes from faith, from believing in the unbelievable, and a new battle cry emerges…

With Faith, We Fight

How amazing does that sound? 

Yeah. So come on over and join the party!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Reap is FREE - Resist and Reclaim on Sale

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Wow, have I been busier than a one-armed paper hanger! Today is playing catch up. But, I ran across this amaaaaazing sale I have to clue you in on. Ready? Get your clicking fingers ready and let's get going!

Today is award-winning author Casey L. Bond's two year authorversary. (HAPPY AUTHORVERSARY, CASEY!) To celebrate, she's offering a sale on the second two books in the Harvest Saga series. Just 99 cents each! That's right, for the low price of $1.98, you can read all three books right now!

It's a good day for readers everywhere. Rating?

4.7 Happy Stars on 79 customer reviews.

Yeah, it's that good. As an added bonus, it's YOUNG ADULT dystopian. That's right, it's a clean read.

So, here are the links you want:

Reap - FREE on Kindle
Resist - $0.99 on Kindle
Reclaim - $0.99 on Kindle

What are you waiting for? Do you need to see the cover? Okay, here it is:

Now get off your bums and get on over to Amazon!

HAPPY READING!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Giveaway on the IBGW Blog Today

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, I'm just giving you a heads up about the giveaway going on over on the IBGW blog.

If you love to win free books, be sure and sign up for our newsletter! We ONLY e-mail out giveaways when one of our authors publishes a book. That's right, we don't nag you any other time or fill your inbox with crap.

Sign up here!

Here are the details:

Title: The Selection (Sapient Salvation, Book 1)
Author: Jayne Faith with Christine Castle
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 196 pages
Buy Link: Amazon $0.99

Synopsis: Twice a year, the alien Lord Toric demands a selection of human women between the ages of 18 and 20 to compete in the Tournament of the Offered for a place in his harem. Maya must get through just one more selection and then she can marry the man of her dreams. She should have been safe, but when a young woman who was supposed to compete dies the day of the selection, Maya is forced into the Tournament. '

Now she must compete against women who have been training for the Tournament for years to hone their skills of poise, charm, cunning, and seduction. And there is only one winner in the Tournament. The losers will be sacrificed.

Thrown into the fight of her life with no preparation, Maya must shed her innocence and win Lord Toric’s favor. Will she survive the first round, or will she pay the ultimate price for her inexperience?

Next in the series: Sapient Salvation Book 2: The Awakening

Head on over there to enter via Rafflecopter!

What do you think? Sound interesting?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Asking for a Like

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, I'm asking you all for a HUGE favor :)

Would you please go here and like the comment with my page listed. Don't comment, please; just click like. :)

And, this isn't necessary, but would be appreciated by all the bloggers taking part, would you head on over and give a few likes to the participating blogs' facebook pages as well? As authors, we all need book bloggers in our lives. Can't hurt to connect with them, right? Here are the links:

1. A One-Click Addict's Book Blog
http://on.fb.me/1OV8baz

2. Ab Fab Book Blog
http://on.fb.me/1PJVeRF

3. Amazeballs Book Addicts
http://on.fb.me/1kxrxYh

4. Artsy Book Lovin Sisters
http://on.fb.me/1PJVsZ6

5. Bad Boy Book Addicts
http://on.fb.me/1PJVy2V

6. bloggin with m.brennan
http://on.fb.me/1jX9gmz

7. Book Crazy Friends
http://on.fb.me/1Xng2AP

8. Book Fancy
http://on.fb.me/1hYpXwB

9. Book Lovers Hangout
http://bit.ly/1NWSnFO

10. book review virginia lee
http://on.fb.me/1MW3367

11. Bookhooked
http://on.fb.me/1Gl1q0L

12. Books and Bindings
http://on.fb.me/1GXJGTF

13. Books and Warpaint
http://on.fb.me/1Lqx3Vn

14. BookSkater
http://on.fb.me/1Lqx6k2

15. Cupcakes and Vodka Book Blog
http://on.fb.me/1RZS8YW

16. Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog
http://on.fb.me/1PJWe8o

17. Harlie's Books
http://on.fb.me/1Ksa1tl

18. Hellmouth's Bookblog & Reviews
http://on.fb.me/1QYMGVx

19. Here is what I read
http://on.fb.me/1hYr6o0

20. Jazzy Book Reviews
http://on.fb.me/1hYra7h

21. Jazzy World of E's Bookshelf
http://on.fb.me/1LJb35V

22. Love Danielle's Escape
http://on.fb.me/1OV8HVY

23. Loves 2 Read Romance
http://on.fb.me/1NWSTU9

24. Marebare's Book Shelf
http://on.fb.me/1PEosSX

25. My Book Filled Life
http://on.fb.me/1LQ6WIM

26. My Book Obsession
http://on.fb.me/1QYNj1m

27. My Girlfriends Couch
http://on.fb.me/1GtTs53

28. Obsessive Compulsive Divalicious Books Pimps and Promos Blog
http://on.fb.me/1W7rQoa

29. Sassy Book Lovers
http://on.fb.me/1kxu84j

30. She's a Lip Biter
http://on.fb.me/1MHiWsH

31. Sinfully Hot Book Promotions
http://on.fb.me/1jxqeYm

32. Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
http://on.fb.me/1GXKDLS

33. Sweet N Sassy Book A Holics
http://on.fb.me/1KsaP16

34. The Book Disciple
http://on.fb.me/1NWTaX5

35. The Book Fairy Reviews
http://on.fb.me/1LQ7s9K

36. This Mom Loves Alphas
http://on.fb.me/1kxuJ65

37. Twisted Sister's Book Reviews
http://on.fb.me/1XnhwLq

38. Under The Cover Book Lovers
http://on.fb.me/1GtTMkb

Not a lot. Just needing a favor :)

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

BOD Zombie Crawl 2 Blog Party - Origin of the Zombie

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Short intro today; we're going right into the fun (I figured the title of the post and the next section were sufficient).

Zombie Crawl 2 - Blog Party

October 22 - 31, 2015

by Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans

How it works: Each day, the scheduled authors and bloggers will post awesome zombie-tastic content for your enjoyment along with a giveaway on their site/blog/page. You can hop around to all of the participating sites and enter as many giveaways as you like! If you would like to be emailed links to the new posts each day, join this Zombie Crawl Daily Digest list which will ensure you don't miss a post (or join the party on Facebook to get notifications). Make sure to leave comments and interact with the participating sites. Thanks for joining the party!

Origin of the Zombie

From Wikipedia:
The English word "zombie" was derived from the original form "zombi" that first appeared in a story written by Robert Southey.

Okay, well, that's where the word came from. But, the idea of the zombie goes way, way back. A zombie was not, traditionally, walking dead that feasted on the flesh of other humans. Voodoo rituals that turned a person (living or dead) into a mindless slave is where the premise for the "creature" comes from. In the Haitian rituals, these creations were called thralls.

Those slaves did whatever they were ordered to do by the person that performed the ritual. In pictures, the zombies were depicted as regular looking humans with purely white eyes. They did not speak, and they tended to move slowly, traits the modern-day zombies retained.

In literature, zombies have played a major role. As far back as 1818, when the original Frankenstein was published by Mary Shelley, you see various forms: patched together beings, those controlled by magic, people who've been brainwashed, the literal living dead, virus born illnesses causing insanity and rot, and many more.

In film, zombies have been sensationalized. From Night of the Living Dead to World War Z, there are plenty of full-length movies out there that all depict zombies in various ways.

Because zombies have been around so long, there's a small chance of them falling out of favor anytime soon. Who knows what form the creatures will take over the next two hundred years, but I'm intrigued!

Here's the article on Wiki if you want to take a look at it.

Now, we get to the fun stuff! First up, the list of the participants! Everyone will have prizes, so be sure you visit them all!

The Schedule:

OCTOBER 22 - Thursday

Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans (Party & Grand Prize Host)
Jo Michaels Blog (author)
Rissa Blakeley (author)

OCTOBER 23 - Friday
Claire C. Riley (author)
2 Girls & A Book (blog)
Emily Shore (author)

OCTOBER 24 - Saturday
Kathy Dinisi (author)
Us Girls & A Book (blog)
The Voluptuous Book Diva (blog 18+)

OCTOBER 25 - Sunday
Casey L. Bond (author)
THE KATY blog (blog)

OCTOBER 26 - Monday
Saul Tanpepper (author)
Warren Fielding (author)
The Leighgendarium (blog)

OCTOBER 27 - Tuesday
Kody Boye (author)
Rhiannon Frater (author)
ER Arroyo (author)

OCTOBER 28 - Wednesday
Allen Gamboa (author)
Armand Rosamilia (author)
Ethan @ One Guy's Guide to Good Reads (blog)

OCTOBER 29 - Thursday
Kate L. Mary (author)
aftershockzombieseries (author)
Eli Constant (author)

OCTOBER 30 - Friday
Aria Michaels (author)
Brian Parker (author)
Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps (blog)

OCTOBER 31 - Saturday
Cindy Carroll (author)
M. R. Pritchard (author)
Toni L.H. Boughton (author)
Digital Dirty Girl (blog)

To learn more about Band of Dystopian and/or to enter our Grand Prize Giveaway, visit BandofDystopian.com and don't forget to join the group on Facebook!

Now for my giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck to you all!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Get Ready - BOD Zombie Crawl 2 Starts Tomorrow

Happy Wednesday, everyone! EEP! Tomorrow is the super fantastic launch of the Band of Dystopian Zombie Crawl 2 Blog Party. Thought I'd warm you all up in preparation and give you the deets. Without further ado, here ya go!

Zombie Crawl 2 - Blog Party

October 22 - 31, 2015

by Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans

How it works: Each day, the scheduled authors and bloggers will post awesome zombie-tastic content for your enjoyment along with a giveaway on their site/blog/page. You can hop around to all of the participating sites and enter as many giveaways as you like! If you would like to be emailed links to the new posts each day, join this Zombie Crawl Daily Digest list which will ensure you don't miss a post (or join the party on Facebook to get notifications). Make sure to leave comments and interact with the participating sites. Thanks for joining the party!

The Schedule:

OCTOBER 22 - Thursday

Band of Dystopian Authors & Fans (Party & Grand Prize Host)
Jo Michaels Blog (author)
Rissa Blakeley (author)

OCTOBER 23 - Friday
Claire C. Riley (author)
2 Girls & A Book (blog)
Emily Shore (author)

OCTOBER 24 - Saturday
Kathy Dinisi (author)
Us Girls & A Book (blog)
The Voluptuous Book Diva (blog 18+)

OCTOBER 25 - Sunday
Casey L. Bond (author)
THE KATY blog (blog)

OCTOBER 26 - Monday
Saul Tanpepper (author)
Warren Fielding (author)
The Leighgendarium (blog)

OCTOBER 27 - Tuesday
Kody Boye (author)
Rhiannon Frater (author)
ER Arroyo (author)

OCTOBER 28 - Wednesday
Allen Gamboa (author)
Armand Rosamilia (author)
Ethan @ One Guy's Guide to Good Reads (blog)

OCTOBER 29 - Thursday
Kate L. Mary (author)
aftershockzombieseries (author)
Eli Constant (author)

OCTOBER 30 - Friday
Aria Michaels (author)
Brian Parker (author)
Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps (blog)

OCTOBER 31 - Saturday
Cindy Carroll (author)
M. R. Pritchard (author)
Toni L.H. Boughton (author)
Digital Dirty Girl (blog)

To learn more about Band of Dystopian and/or to enter our Grand Prize Giveaway, visit BandofDystopian.com and don't forget to join the group on Facebook!

How fun and exciting is this?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Is This Me? and Prep for Doom - Sales and Freebies!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I have a freebie and a sale for you all. I know you're excited, so I won't waste time with a long intro. Let's just dive in, shall we?

First up, a FREEBIE!
Title: Is This Me? (Being Me Vol 1)
Author: Tricia Copeland
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 382 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle FREE (as of this posting)

Blurb:
Have you ever chosen a path that led you astray?

Amanda has no trouble choosing a college or picking a major. What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?”

Can Amanda find her way out of her contrived world?


Now, a book on SALE!
Title: Prep for Doom
Authors: E.R. Arroyo, Laura Albins, Amy Bartelloni, Brea Behn, Casey L Bond, T.K. Carter, Kate Corcino, Harlow C Fallon, Kelsey D. Hancock, Casey Hays, Kate L. Mary, Jon Messenger, Yvonne Ventresca, Megan White, and DelSheree Gladden
Genre: Dystopian Anthology
Length (print): 390 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $1.99 (as of this posting)

Blurb:
From the imaginations of twenty authors of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction comes PREP FOR DOOM - an integrated collection of short stories that tell the tale of a single catastrophe as experienced by many characters, some of whom will cross paths.

What begins with a seemingly innocuous traffic accident soon spirals into a global pandemic. The release of Airborne Viral Hemorrhagic Fever upon New York City’s unsuspecting populace brings bloody suffering within hours, death within a day, and spreads worldwide within a month.

An online community called Prep For Doom has risen to the top of a recent doomsday preparation movement. Some have written them off as crazy while others couldn’t be more serious about the safety the preppers could provide in a global disaster. But when AVHF strikes, their preparation may not be enough to save them.

What are you waiting for? Go get them right now. *grin*

Happy reading!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Cover Reveal - When Sorrows Come

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, I bring you a cover reveal from the ever amazing Katie M. John! If you're ready, strap in, get comfy, and let's goooooo!

WHEN SORROWS COME by Katie M. John
A Contemporary Upper YA Romance
OUT JANUARY 14th 2016

“When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions!” Shakespeare: Hamlet.

Seventeen year old Ophelia is in love with the tall, dark and handsome Malachi: Mathematical Genius, Poet, Swimmer, and Narcissist. Drawn together by their own self-destructive impulses, they begin a consuming and twisted tango of desire and rejection.

As Ophelia learns to cope with her mother’s bi-polar episodes, she discovers the world can soon become a dark and lonely place when left to face it on your own.

When Malachi’s mother marries his uncle, Malachi’s word turns on a spindle, his previously charmed life invaded by a monster.

With Malachi’s increasing paranoia and anger starting to take over his life, it is only Ophelia who can offer any kind of salvation; only Malachi doesn’t know how to love anything other than his future dream of greatness.

Finding herself caught in an exquisitely bitter-sweet relationship, Ophelia falls in love with a boy who will only realise his love for her when it is too late.

UPPER YA. 15+ Contains more adult themes of sexual relationships, self-harm, drinking, drugs and more adult language. 

Available on pre-order from all Amazon worldwide platforms.

Pre-order it on Amazon here for $3.49

You ready to see that cover? Without further ado, here ya go :)

About Katie M John:
Katie lives in London UK, with two cheeky Mud-puddle fairies, and a handsome giant. She is author of the best-selling YA Contemporary Arthurian series, ‘The Knight Trilogy’ and the Upper YA series, ‘The Meadowsweet Chronicles.’ She writes dark fairy tales, horror and contemporary YA Romance.

Katie is now a full time author after having taught English in a London Comprehensive for over fifteen years. She is founder of Chapter.Con. London, a YA and NA conference for Readers, Bloggers and Authors. She is also founder of Little Bird Publishing, an ethical, indie press house. You can find out more about Katie and her books over at her Amazon author page.

www.katiemjohn.com
@KnightTrilogy
Facebook
Blog

Book Review - Shadows on Snow

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I have a book review for you all! Yay! I know you're excited. I'm still making my way through the list from 12 Days of Review Requests I compiled last year. First, I'll repost my list, and then we'll get on to the review. I have SO much to say about this book! Ready? Get your cup of Jo and a comfy chair, and let's get going!

The Release Club 1 - Misty Provencher - Review HERE
Dry Stories - Kate Baggot - Review HERE
Fragile Creatures - Kristina Circelli - Review HERE
8 Weeks - Bethany Lopez - Review HERE
Moonlight - David Rose - Review HERE
Refuge - Violet Haze - Review HERE
From the Wreckage - Michelle G. Miller - Review HERE
Shadows on Snow (A Flipped Fairy Tale) - Starla Hutchton -  Review Below

Currently reading: Bound by Duty - Stormy Smith - Amazon Kindle $2.99

The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge - Christine Nolfi - Amazon Kindle $0.99
Facade: A Vampire Love Story - R. M. Webb - Amazon Kindle $0.99
Siren - Jennifer Melzer - Amazon Kindle (Pre-order) $3.99 Grab a sample on Drive!
Queen of Someday - Sherry Ficklin - Amazon Kindle $5.99
At One's Beast - Rachel Barnard - Amazon Kindle $2.99
Unseen - Stephanie Erickson - Amazon Kindle $2.99
The Heart Thief - S. Lee Benedict - Amazon Kindle $4.99
Kindling Flames-Gathering Tinder - Julie Wetzel - Amazon Kindle FREE
Kinetic: Book One of the Kinetic Trilogy - C. M. Zimmer - Amazon Kindle $2.99
Destiny Finds Her - Miranda Lynn - Amazon Kindle $2.99
To Get Me to You - Kait Nolan - Amazon Kindle $2.99
The Lady of Souls - Jenn Gott - Amazon Kindle $4.99
Sticks and Stones - Shawn McGuire - Amazon Kindle $0.99
Good Luck With That Thing You're Doing: One Woman's Adventures in Dating, Plumbing and Other Full Contact Sports - Karen Yankosky - Amazon Kindle $2.99
Desprite Measures-The Caledonian Sprite - Deborah Jay - Amazon Kindle $2.99
The Last Guardian Rises - Rebecca Trogner - Amazon Kindle $0.99 

About the book up for review today:

Title: Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale
Author: Starla Huchton
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Length (print): 251 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb:
Once upon a time, a dark evil crept into my kingdom, stealing my loved ones and the happy life I knew. The world turned against me, and I swore to become stronger, to keep myself safe.

Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince, hair dark as ebony, skin as pure as the freshly driven snow, and I became the only one who stood between him and death.

Once upon a time, our stories intertwined, and now, healing my heart may be the only way to save us all from the evil that threatens to destroy what little we have left.

***Will not appear in review elsewhere. I freaking LOVE this cover. I'm so glad the author chose to take it in this direction and not put a hot prince on the front. Crazy good work. I'd like to see the Ws kerned a bit closer to the Os, but that's just being nit-picky, and who the hell has time for that?***

On to the review!

I picked up a copy of this book last year during my 12 Days of Review Requests event. Starla pitched the book to me, I downloaded a sample, and I got hooked. So, I ran out and bought it, and I've been waiting to dive in forever as I plowed through my TBR for the year. Ms. Huchton has gained a rabid fan. Anyway, now that you know how I came about it, let's get to the good stuff!

From a Reader's Perspective:
Ever have those titles that you can't stop thinking about/wondering what's going to happen next when you're not in the process of reading? Yeah, this was that book for me. I loved everything about the main character, Rae, and the prince. I'm not a fan of romance, but this book kept it on a real level. I could feel Rae's struggle with her past, and I watched as the prince was kind and gentle enough to help her move past it.

Pacing was bang on. I was never bored while reading.

Character development... Well, let me say you'll be rooting for the good guys and so, so angry with the bad guys. I loved Rae. Just loved her. I felt the spark of her duty and her damaged self so clearly through the pages. Leo was everything Snow White was in the original: Handsome, kind, and a whole lot naive. He was perfection. Secondary characters were there, and in your face, but they weren't overdeveloped to the point that I grew to care too much about what happened to them (this is a good thing).

World-building was beautiful. Author gave me just enough to let me see the scene and insert my own imaginings as to what things looked like. I never panned past a section (you know, those ones that bog you down in flower color and fabric type).

From an Editor's Perspective:
I only found two errors (TWO!). But I did highlight a line I found beautiful, which I'll share: "My strength allowed me to help others while giving me freedom to control my own destiny." How awesome is that?

Rating:
1 Star for hooking me from page one.
1 Star for giving me a heroine I could root for who was damaged but strong.
1 Star for pacing.
1 Star for a sweet fairy-tale that rang true with the original.
1 Star for editing.
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. Recommended for fairy-tale fanatics (like me), or those who love a good story with lots of magic.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Cover Reveal - In Too Deep - A #Hacker Novel

TROUBLE IS ONLY A KEYSTROKE AWAY...

I'm very excited to reveal the cover for book 2 in the #HACKER series,

IN TOO DEEP.

 

About the book:

One talented hacker.

One dead body.

One explosive secret.

When one reckless night leads Farris Barnett to the dead body of a classmate, she’s as willing as everyone else to write it off as a suicide. That is, until cryptic messages start coming in from someone who knows the truth, and they want Ferris on the case. Putting her hacker skills to work, she begins to unravel the life of a victim who might just have been the guiltiest of them all.

Her personal life in turmoil, Farris turns to the only person she can trust to help her get to the bottom of things—a friend on the verge of becoming much more. Together, they confront a killer with a secret not even she could have decoded.

The biggest bombs, the ones that do the most damage, are the ones you never see coming.

You can find the first chapter of IN TOO DEEP inside the first book of the #HACKER series, PLAYING WITH FIRE releasing October 27th!

Grab your copy of Playing With Fire HERE

About the author:

Sherry is a full time writer from Colorado and the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she's on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs. Sherry also writes New Adult fiction under the pen name Ranae Glass and is a contributing writer for fangirlish.com. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin.

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you all enjoyed that! What do you think? Is it super cool?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Worth by Numbers and Stars

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today, I'm just talking. No need for pen and paper, but you might want to bring your inner-voices to the party. If you're ready, let's get going!

So, I saw this image floating around on Facebook this morning, and I shared it because the message was so powerful (see it here).

But, as everything in life, it got me thinking about the author world and how we use numbers to measure our worth. When our books are selling well, we think: Wow, I must be a great author. So many people want to read what I've written!

Then comes the dreaded drop in sales or the horrific one star review.

Just like that, our worth seems to fly out the window on the wings of a fiery demon. We fall into a pit of despair, wondering who we were kidding when we thought we could write a book.

Now, I want you to look at those last five words in the sentence above: "We could write a book."

Rethink your stance right now.

You did write a book. Countless hours of your life were spent writing, editing, re-editing, editing again, formatting, and marketing that book.

Countless hours.

There are so many people in the world who say, "I have a book in me."

Do you know the difference between you and them?

You didn't talk about how you can write a book; you did it. Blood, sweat, and tears flowed from you to the page. Not once did you stop, throw down your pen/close your laptop, and give up.

No. You kept going, pushing through the doubt demons and naysayers. You published that book.

Fast-forward fifty years into the future. Your children are grown and have a couple of kids. Out there, in the book world, your words are still going strong. Even if no one is buying them, they're still existing.

It's your legacy. You've made yourself a little bit immortal. Even if people hate your story, they haven't written a book, and they won't live through the pages forever. Take every opinion with a grain of salt.

So, I leave you with this:

Don't measure yourself against your sales numbers or star ratings. Put it all in a new perspective, and remember, you did it when others wouldn't. Even if you feel like crap about it today, it will still be there tomorrow, ready to carry your words through the millenniums. Be proud (it's okay to celebrate your own accomplishments--that doesn't mean you're narcissistic).

Scream into the ether just once today:

"I am f*ck*ng AWESOME! I wrote a book!"

If you're feeling froggy, I also encourage you to jump like the woman in the image above.

Huge thanks to Chelsea Starling for giving me the first part of that battle cry!

How do you get over the measuring of yourself? Plan to scream today? Tell me about it.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Twitter - Navigating the Billion Tweet Waters

Happy Tuesday, everyone! So, today's post is going to be for all the Twitter newbies out there. I'm planning to give you all a quick lesson in navigating the awesome waters that all start with a little bird. There will be a list of dos and don'ts, as well as some terminology explanation and how to find new followers.

If you're all ready, and you're a Tweetbaby (this won't help you seasoned vets), grab a pen and your notebook and let's get going!

I'm gonna start with terminology so you don't get lost in the next section.
Retweet (often abbreviated as RT): On the tweet of a tweep, you click the rotating arrows so the information is shared with your followers.
Tweet: What you share on Twitter.
Tweep: Your Twitter followers or those you follow.
Follower: Someone who wishes to see your tweets (like a subscriber).
Following: When you click the follow button on a Twitter account.
#FF: Follow Friday. This is used to suggest other people follow a certain account (or accounts).
@XxX: this is someone's Twitter handle. If you tweet "at" a person, they'll be the audience for your tweet, and they'll get a notification.
Handle: Your name on Twitter.
DM: Direct Message. This is when someone clicks the mail icon on your page.
#: Hashtag. This is used to define the content of a tweet.
Favorite: This functions like the Facebook "like" button except it curates all tweets you click the star on in a favorites list you can access from your page.
Lists: You can add certain people to lists you create. When you're on these lists, the tweeps listed are the only ones you'll see content from.
TY: Thank you!
Unfollow: When you stop following a tweep or they stop following you.
News feed: All the tweets from all the tweeps.

Let's go into the list of DOS:
Retweet others.
Be engaging.
Show thanks when others RT your stuff. A shoutout only takes a moment (TY for the RT!).
Follow back the accounts you think you might like the content from.
Thank folks for the follow(s).
Seek out new and interesting accounts to follow.

DON'TS:
Spam.
Retweet the same thing over and over.
Constantly tweet "buy my book."
DM people right away, asking for reviews or buys of your book (see spam above).
Follow a bunch of people and expect them to follow you right back.

How to gain followers, and my suggestion on etiquette:
Follow about ten to twenty new accounts every day (those you actually want content from, please). If you're providing great content, they'll be happy to follow you back. Now, one of the things that makes me NUTSO is a confirmation that I'm a real person before I can follow an account. What I get is that you don't want to follow an account that's from a robot, but why can't I follow you without going through a fifteen step verification process?

I unfollow/don't respond when someone requests this, because it comes off (to me) as arrogance. If I'm asking you to follow me, that's a different story. I mean, come ON, people. Just stop.

There's an app a lot of folks use on Twitter that seeks accounts on your feed that are inactive or people who have quit following you. It actually tweets out a message that announces who you unfollowed.

Yeah... Just... no. Please. I understand, but what does an inactive account really cost you? There's no limit, and they aren't producing content that hangs in your news feed, right? And unfollowing someone because they unfollowed you?

We're older than two. Let's act like it. *grin*

Okay, if you've stayed with me this long, you probably have a pretty good grip on the terms and suggested etiquette.

If you have any specific questions I didn't answer, feel free to pop them in the comments! I'll answer to the best of my ability!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Meet the Utopia 2016 Bloggers - Jo Michaels

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow. I totally blanked on this post last week. Why? Because I was in the throes of interviewing all the awesome people like Stacey Rourke, Christina Benjamin, and BJ Sheldon over on the radio show. *squeals* But here I am, and I've got a bunch of awesome Q&A for you. If you're ready, grab a cup of Jo, sit back, relax, and let's get our interview on!

Get tickets for the event here!

What you do for work outside of blogging?
Wow. I do so many things! I'm a wife, a mother, an author (of course), the Utopia con blogger coordinator, a radio show host, and I own INDIE Books Gone Wild (an editing company that caters to Indie authors).

I find, in each of those roles, I learn a different facet of the book world. Being a wife, I understand what it's like to want to do all the bookish things while also wanting to spend more time with my husband. It's the same with being a mom. So, I can identify with all those authors who feel like they're being pulled in two different directions by life.

Being an author, I feel the struggle other authors go through to produce a great book, get it out there in the world, and market. That's why I'm a blogger, and it's why I hold my big blog event each year. We all need help, and I try to pay it forward as much as I can.

As the Utopia con blogger coordinator, I get a look at what all people have to balance in order to make things happen in their worlds and help where I can/when I can. Because I understand how life can get in the way, I try to make a schedule and give information way before it's needed/due.

A Daily Cup of Jo forces me to relax for half an hour or so each week and just talk with my peers. I've learned so many things from them!

Owning IBGW, editing, and formatting novels has given me a whole new perspective when reading and a great appreciation for a well edited novel.

What you do besides blogging in the literary world (editing, book reviewing, etc…)?
I'm a book reviewer, formatter, and editor.

What's the one thing you feel you've gained by doing the above?
I didn't gain one thing; I gained all the things. Most importantly, the people I've added to my tribe that have changed my life in profound and interesting ways. I've created bonds with other authors that (I feel) are unbreakable unless I choose to break them. That alone is worth more than gold.

How did you find Utopia?
Interestingly enough, it was my best friend, Tia Silverthorne Bach, who introduced me to the conference. She asked, "Hey, Jo! Whaddya think about this? Wanna do it with me?" I looked over the website, read all the pertinent information, and agreed to take this leap off the Cliffs of Terror with her. I dove right in and started interviewing authors so I wouldn't feel so dang out of place when I arrived. I haven't looked back.

What did you learn or gain at Utopia that you don't feel you would've gotten anywhere else?
I gained my people. That first year, I sat down with these four amaaaazing women, and made lifelong friends as we brainstormed Fractured Glass. Without Utopia, it would've been an online relationship where I knew them by name and face, but not by the grip of their arms when we hugged, or the way they each light up a room when they enter it. No stories of our lives would've been shared, and we may not have gotten together the second year we were there to create our new novel, 7. It was the energy at this particular conference that fueled our imaginations, and I know it wouldn't have been the same had we been anywhere else. Plus, we did karaoke together that first year, which broke the ice in unbelievable ways. *grin*

What's one thing you’d like to see folks in the literary world do (together or separately)?
I'd like to see more of them get together and help one another. Not just by sharing advice, but by sharing things socially, meeting face to face and sharing ideas, and finding a way to pay it forward more. There's a lot of that going around, but I feel there could be more.

How do you feel you contribute to the writer world at large?
I hold my big 12 Days of Review Requests event on my blog each year to help Indie authors get sales and reviews for their books. I'm also going to start soliciting other authors for backmatter material in the way of previews and buy links for their books in the ones I have that are along the same lines (zombies, fantasy, historical fiction, etc...) so I can (hopefully) help even more.

What's your ultimate blogging goal?
I've already met it. *grin* It was to have that one person who learned something here message me in some way and say, "Your post was exactly what I needed. It saved my forehead from the red mark of shame." I've now heard that numerous times, and it never fails to make me smile. I remember starting out and struggling to find my own footing. All the content on this blog is here to help others navigate the twisty roads of publishing without getting too lost.

If you don't have tickets to this event yet, you need to get them right now!

Go here! Go, go, go!

Be sure and visit the other bloggers this month!
Week 1: Jo Michaels (who actually posted on week two) and Maria Pease Week 2: Shana Benedict and Delphina Miyares Week 3: Toni Lesatz and Ren Reidy Week 4: Ashley Bodette and Kathryn Grimes

Have you found your happy here on the blog? Ever run across a piece of information that made you have an ah-ha moment? Tell me about it below!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Cover Reveal - Abby and the Mystic Dancers

Happy, happy Friday! Eep! Time for weekend awesomeness. So glad you all made it this far so you could join me for an amazing cover reveal! This time, it's for a brand new author!

Please welcome into the blogosphere, L. C. Miller!

I just know you're eager to check out the cover, but how about a little info on the book first? Uh hu, you know I tease you just a smidge before we get there. Here we gooooo!

Title: Abby and the Mystic Dancers
Author: L. C. Miller
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Release Date: November 9, 2015
Blurb:
As the product of a forbidden alliance between the elemental Mystics and the wand carrying Wielders—two distinct, often feuding, magical realms—acceptance is something fourteen-year-old Abby has fought with for the last four years. When an alliance is formed between the Mystic Dancers and the Wielder’s, Abby is given the chance to live with a Wielder’s family and attend Wielders Academy of Magical Arts. In order to do so, she first has make three promises to the Mystic Dancers leader … Tell no one she's half Mystic, that her father is a Wielder who is also a wanted criminal, or that she can transform into anything she wants.

Her day-to-day life of secrets, school work, and dancing is interrupted when her mother’s murder case goes to trial. The Mystics believe they finally caught the killer, who happens to be the father of one of Abby’s new friends. Abby has a choice to make – reveal her secrets, or let a man she knows is innocent go to prison.

How amazing does that sound?

Are you ready for the cover now? Oh, you want to know more about the author first? Okay!

Bio: L. C. Miller is the UTOPiAcon event manager, mischief maker, fantasy writer, and ninja extraordinaire.

Follow her!
Twitter: LCMiller04
Facebook: L. C. Miller Books

Now are you ready for the cover?   I thought you might be! Okay, here you go!

Isn't that creepy and intriguing?!

What do you think? Do you plan to check it out?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Fabulosity on A Daily Cup of Jo

Happy Thursday, everyone! A quicky post for you all today!

Over the last four days, I've had the intense pleasure of speaking with some amazing authors over on the radio show about UTOPiAcon and how the conference changed lives.

I urge you to give these episodes a listen. Every time I do this, I'm stunned by the responses given to me by my guests.

You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll get this funny feeling in your guts that you're missing out on something you need to be a part of.

Listen to all episodes here or search for A Daily Cup of Jo on iTunes podcasts.

Janet Wallace said it best over on the Utopia blog:

You are a dreamer.
You are a doer.
You are a reader.
You are a creator.
You are a storyteller.
You are a teacher.
You are a student.
You are a friend.
You are flawed.
You are perfect.
You are powerful.
You are a hero.
You are an icon.
You are tribe.
You are UTOPiA.

That's what I'm talking about. So listen, learn, and #FightForYourWrite.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo