Today is one of those days where I'm going to write a lot and work on a cover design for a friend. I am leaving you all in the very capable hands of my rafflecopter to ease your mind and give you something to do. :)
Enter to win!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember, The Abigale Chronicles - Book Three releases officially tomorrow. Read more about it here. I may have some goodies up my sleeve for the release, I may not. You'll just have to come back tomorrow to find out!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Monday, September 24, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
100 FB Page Like Giveaway!
Easy to enter, easy to win!! One printed copy of each of the books below, signed. Plus! One printed copy of Bronya, signed.
You have 1 week to enter as many times as you wish. GO!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here are the fabulous prizes:
A copy of Mystic ~ Bronya
Synopsis:
Bronya Thibodeaux is a senior at Houma High School whose life is about to be changed forever. She's always felt like an outcast, but thinks she may have found a friend when a strange, new girl named Markaza who has blue hair, a number of tattoos, and a strange way of dressing appears. She accepts Bronya for who she is and the two hit it off.
Markaza isn’t around long before she moves away. Bronya goes back to feeling lonely and different. Trouble arises when Bronya's love interest - a girl named Cecilia - is accidentally revealed to the entire student body. Bronya’s life choices make her a pariah in her small town. After getting thrown out of school, not being able to find a job, and being subjected to ridicule and cruel treatment, Bronya chooses to leave her old life behind forever when she receives a compelling invitation from a mysterious company named WSTW.
What Bronya doesn't know, is the mysterious company is owned by Markaza; a mystic who knows the end of the world is coming and is gathering together the only people who can stop the evil that's threatening to take over. Bronya is just the first. But going to New York is only a baby step toward her true journey. As Bronya races against the clock to unlock a power she never knew she had, Markaza races to collect the others: Lily, Sheila, Melody, and Coralie.
A PRE-RELEASE copy of Mystic ~ Lily
Synopsis:
Lily Conyers is a twenty-year-old who had it all going for her until a car crash left her with terrible scars, no modeling job, and an addiction to pain killers. When she meets a strange young woman named Markaza, Lily begins to re-build her life with encouragement from her new friend.
Problems arise when Lily leaves the safety of her apartment for the first time since her accident to venture back into the world she used to know. Her so-called friends shun her and her boyfriend recoils at the sight of her face; leaving her standing in the road alone - crying. She rushes home with thoughts of suicide only to find a letter on her step from a company called WSTW; promising her a new life.
Lily packs her bags, bids Markaza goodbye, and sets off for the city. But going to New York is only the first hurdle Lily must jump. She must learn to use the power inside herself to help defeat an evil that is threatening to destroy the world. Once there, she meets a girl named Bronya and the two help one another re-build what was so negligently broken.
As Lily is boarding the plane bound for New York, Markaza boards another headed to Tennessee so she can collect the next young woman on her list: Sheila.
Good Luck to you all!!
That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
You have 1 week to enter as many times as you wish. GO!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here are the fabulous prizes:
A copy of Mystic ~ BronyaSynopsis:
Bronya Thibodeaux is a senior at Houma High School whose life is about to be changed forever. She's always felt like an outcast, but thinks she may have found a friend when a strange, new girl named Markaza who has blue hair, a number of tattoos, and a strange way of dressing appears. She accepts Bronya for who she is and the two hit it off.
Markaza isn’t around long before she moves away. Bronya goes back to feeling lonely and different. Trouble arises when Bronya's love interest - a girl named Cecilia - is accidentally revealed to the entire student body. Bronya’s life choices make her a pariah in her small town. After getting thrown out of school, not being able to find a job, and being subjected to ridicule and cruel treatment, Bronya chooses to leave her old life behind forever when she receives a compelling invitation from a mysterious company named WSTW.
What Bronya doesn't know, is the mysterious company is owned by Markaza; a mystic who knows the end of the world is coming and is gathering together the only people who can stop the evil that's threatening to take over. Bronya is just the first. But going to New York is only a baby step toward her true journey. As Bronya races against the clock to unlock a power she never knew she had, Markaza races to collect the others: Lily, Sheila, Melody, and Coralie.
A PRE-RELEASE copy of Mystic ~ LilySynopsis:
Lily Conyers is a twenty-year-old who had it all going for her until a car crash left her with terrible scars, no modeling job, and an addiction to pain killers. When she meets a strange young woman named Markaza, Lily begins to re-build her life with encouragement from her new friend.
Problems arise when Lily leaves the safety of her apartment for the first time since her accident to venture back into the world she used to know. Her so-called friends shun her and her boyfriend recoils at the sight of her face; leaving her standing in the road alone - crying. She rushes home with thoughts of suicide only to find a letter on her step from a company called WSTW; promising her a new life.
Lily packs her bags, bids Markaza goodbye, and sets off for the city. But going to New York is only the first hurdle Lily must jump. She must learn to use the power inside herself to help defeat an evil that is threatening to destroy the world. Once there, she meets a girl named Bronya and the two help one another re-build what was so negligently broken.
As Lily is boarding the plane bound for New York, Markaza boards another headed to Tennessee so she can collect the next young woman on her list: Sheila.
Good Luck to you all!!
That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Author Interview Paul Dorset
Today, good people of the blogosphere, I bring you an interview with author Paul Dorset.
Biography:
Paul Dorset was born in Poole, Dorset in England in 1960 but has been living in America since 1995. He has been writing for many years and some of his early works were published in 'teen advice' columns. He has also had many technical articles published, mostly in the field of Computing.
Paul currently lives in the Pacific Northwest but has traveled extensively and worked many times with teens and youth groups. It is this background combined with a vivid imagination that has enabled him to weave a tapestry of magic into complete novels. His first epic fantasy series, aimed at young adults, is entitled 'The Southern Lands'. However, the storyline is more than exciting enough to keep adults turning pages as the story unfolds.
Paul is a father of five who has worked as a computer consultant for more than 30 years. His publications include fantasy novels for ages 12-plus, how-to books for adults, and dark paranormal thrillers for ages 16+. He incorporates his extensive experience in computers - and his insightful perspective on the possibilities therein - in novels that include layers of contemporary intrigue, romance and mystery.
You can find Paul Dorset by either visiting his website or reading his blog.
Now, on to my interview!
Jo: You write Fantasy and Paranormal. Why did you choose those particular genres?
Paul: The fantasy question is really easy. I write fantasy mostly because I love reading it. It’s a kind of escape into a world that could be, with wonderful things that are possible, given a little magic. Then as for the paranormal, it’s a little of the opposite. The world of the paranormal is one you hope actually doesn’t exist. It’s pretty scary really!
Jo: Your books are priced at $0.99. What led you to this decision and do you believe it has helped sales at all?
Paul: Some of my books are priced at $0.99; the ones that are the first in a series. I want to make it as easy as possible for people to try my books and to see if they like them. Once they do then hopefully they don’t object to paying a little more for the others in the series.
One such book by Paul:
Just $0.99 on Kindle.
Buy it here: Xannu The Prophecy
Synopsis:
Would you wake up in a hot sweat if you lived your night’s dreams as a soldier battling un-earthly creatures, witnessing powerful magic and fighting to save your own life on a daily basis?
English schoolboy Terry West does. Frequently. After digging up some rune coins near a roman road, he has been living in another world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy. There Terry is a soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who has been tasked with finding the Xannu - 'he who will lead the people into deliverance.'
If only it wasn’t real; but it is. Very real. When it all began it was even enjoyable, but now Terry’s life is getting very complicated. Somehow he involved his best friend Joe and although it had seemed a good idea at the time, the consequences had been dire. Then there is Susan, the leggy sister of klutzy school-friend Brian. Why does she keep sending him messages?
Terry is struggling to balance the two lives he leads and every day he is losing his grip on reality just a little bit more. He’s been forced to kill enemies; his companion, the magical woman Maria, is scaring him half to death with her abilities; and his parents are on his back about his school work.
How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!
Jo: As a Scrivener user, would you recommend it to other authors? Why/why not?
Paul: I discovered Scrivener earlier this year and I love it! I wish I had found it years ago, although that would have been difficult as it’s only been available for the Windows platform since late last year. For a full list of reason why I love Scrivener I would suggest reading my blog, but I guess the best thing about Scrivener is that you no longer have to work in an 80,000 word MS Word document. Just writing and plotting and editing suddenly become something so much more manageable.
A link to Paul's posts on using Scrivener: http://blog.pauldorset.com/search/label/Scrivener
Jo: Your non-fiction works The Ten Hour Project Manager and How To Write & Self-Publish Your First Novel are available on Amazon. Can you tell us a bit about these books and how they would help authors?
Paul: My How To Write book came about as a result of two things: First, questions from other authors about different writing topics, and second, as the result of a series of blog posts. The blog posts got so much attention I decided to publish them (and include extra topics) as a book. The book is written as a series of essays that can be dipped into time and time again. Many authors have written to me and thanked me, so I guess I did an okay job of it all. As for the project management book, it was something I really wanted to write as it’s all about my day job for the past 15 years. As for its use to authors, I’m not so sure about that one!
Just $3.99 on Kindle!
Buy it here: How to Write & Self-Publish Your First Novel: Writing for Success
Essays Included:
1. Don't Start the Story at the Beginning 2. Become a Successful Writer in 2,000 Hours 3. Poems and Short Stories 4. Creating a Good Plot 5. How Long Should a First Novel Be? 6. Writing in the First Person 7. Writing in the Third Person 8. Dialog Versus Narrative – Show Versus Tell 9. Writing Your First Novel: Words & Routine 10. Conflict and Its Importance 11. Plot Pace 12. Creating Believable and Well Rounded Characters 13. Writing Dialog – Or ‘He Said, She Said’ 14. Creating a Page Turner 15. Letting the Book 'Cook' 16. Self-Editing Your Novel 17. The Process of Pre-Reads 18. Creating a World of Fantasy 19. How to Write & Self-Publish a Novel: The End-To-End Process Checklist 20. Creating a Writing Environment without Interruptions 21. Reading to Write 22. Encouraging All Would Be Authors 23. The Self-Publishing Process: The Complete A-Z Instructions 24. Marketing Your Novel - The Relevance of Social Media, ARCs and Book Bloggers.
Jo: Your blog, Utterances of an Overcrowded Mind, has a ton of useful information. You’ve been blogging since February, 2011. Why did you choose then to begin your blogging journey?
Paul: I’ve actually been blogging for many years on different sites. In February 2011 I decided to start a dedicated Paul Dorset blog to go along with my new determination to spend more time writing and helping others to write.
Jo: What made you decide to do a round of indie author interviews on your blog?
Paul: I think as an Indie Author it’s important to give back to the community. We are all in this together.
Jo: I couldn't agree more! Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up?
Paul: I grew up in England and lived in my hometown of Poole in Dorset until I was 18 years of age. I’ve always had a bug for traveling, however, and since that time I have been fortunate enough to have found jobs and opportunities all over the world. Now I try to use a lot of those traveling experiences in my writing.
Jo: How long have you been writing?
Paul: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I have books of old poems and song lyrics stored away. I started writing stories nearly 20 years ago and my first fantasy novel was published in 2003. It took until 2010 until I became more serious about my writing and since then I have tried to write two or three books a year.
Jo: What kind of books do you like to read?
Paul: I read mostly fantasy; although I also like to read some Sci-Fi, thrillers, and comedies. From time to time I also read other books that just take my fancy. As an author I believe it’s important to read a lot. I try and read (or listen to) at least 12 books a year.
Jo: How often do you write and how did you come to this decision?
Paul: My writing goes through cycles (novel writing as opposed to blogs and other projects). When I am writing a novel, I try and write about 1500 words a day for the duration of the book (60-90 days). Of course this writing time comes after a period of plotting and planning. I try to be strict with myself about writing as it’s important to actually finish the book. But that’s just me. I’m sure my methods wouldn’t work for everyone.
Jo: Tell us what a good writing day looks like for you.
Paul: Like I said, I don’t really have writing days. On days when I am writing I just have to find an hour or so to fit the words in. I prefer to write in the mornings but a lot of weekdays it’s not until the evening that I get my hour. The good news is that because I plot, at least I generally know what I am writing about!
Jo: When you get negative feedback, how does it impact your writing? How about your ego?
Paul: Even Vincent Van Gogh had detractors (lots of them actually). The secret is not to let them get to you. I know I can write. I also know I can’t please everybody. Therefore I don’t try to. And usually there is a little truth in a negative review. The secret is in finding it without letting the whole thing get to you. You need to have a thick skin to be involved in the arts!
Jo: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?
Paul: Keep at it and find what works for you. Oh, and don’t skip on the editing!
Jo: You have a lot of Twitter followers (58k+). Did this happen over time or did you make it happen with marketing?
Paul: It’s something I’ve worked on over time. I have also blogged about it. Never take your followers for granted although they are going to experience churn as well. I wish I had more time to spend on marketing and then maybe I could get my follower count up to 100k.
You can follow Paul Dorset on Twitter here.
Jo: What book of yours is your favorite? Why? Give us the synopsis?
Paul: Tough question. My books are diverse and all have a special meaning for me in different ways. So instead I’d prefer to answer that question with what is my favorite book (not mine). The book that had the most impact on me growing up was a book called Mister God, This Is Anna, by Fynn (unfortunately not available on Kindle). I read it as a teenager and it has stayed with me all my life. Children have an innocence about them and that is what this book is about. It’s a sad story too, and well-written sad stories tend to stay in your memories longer. I like to write stories for the Young Adult (teen) market and I try to rekindle that certain innocence in my readers. Anything is possible in a book!
If you missed any of the links above, here's a recap:
Author Website: http://pauldorset.com
Blog: http://blog.pauldorset.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pdorset27
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jcx27
Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Dorset/e/B004OEFF80
I hope you've all enjoyed getting to know Paul Dorset! He's a wonderful addition to the indie author community and I suggest you check out his blog and his books.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON! As a parting shot: Live a little, live on fire
Jo
Paul Dorset was born in Poole, Dorset in England in 1960 but has been living in America since 1995. He has been writing for many years and some of his early works were published in 'teen advice' columns. He has also had many technical articles published, mostly in the field of Computing.
Paul currently lives in the Pacific Northwest but has traveled extensively and worked many times with teens and youth groups. It is this background combined with a vivid imagination that has enabled him to weave a tapestry of magic into complete novels. His first epic fantasy series, aimed at young adults, is entitled 'The Southern Lands'. However, the storyline is more than exciting enough to keep adults turning pages as the story unfolds.
Paul is a father of five who has worked as a computer consultant for more than 30 years. His publications include fantasy novels for ages 12-plus, how-to books for adults, and dark paranormal thrillers for ages 16+. He incorporates his extensive experience in computers - and his insightful perspective on the possibilities therein - in novels that include layers of contemporary intrigue, romance and mystery.
You can find Paul Dorset by either visiting his website or reading his blog.
Now, on to my interview!
Jo: You write Fantasy and Paranormal. Why did you choose those particular genres?
Paul: The fantasy question is really easy. I write fantasy mostly because I love reading it. It’s a kind of escape into a world that could be, with wonderful things that are possible, given a little magic. Then as for the paranormal, it’s a little of the opposite. The world of the paranormal is one you hope actually doesn’t exist. It’s pretty scary really!
Jo: Your books are priced at $0.99. What led you to this decision and do you believe it has helped sales at all?
Paul: Some of my books are priced at $0.99; the ones that are the first in a series. I want to make it as easy as possible for people to try my books and to see if they like them. Once they do then hopefully they don’t object to paying a little more for the others in the series.
One such book by Paul:
Buy it here: Xannu The Prophecy
Synopsis:
Would you wake up in a hot sweat if you lived your night’s dreams as a soldier battling un-earthly creatures, witnessing powerful magic and fighting to save your own life on a daily basis?
English schoolboy Terry West does. Frequently. After digging up some rune coins near a roman road, he has been living in another world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy. There Terry is a soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who has been tasked with finding the Xannu - 'he who will lead the people into deliverance.'
If only it wasn’t real; but it is. Very real. When it all began it was even enjoyable, but now Terry’s life is getting very complicated. Somehow he involved his best friend Joe and although it had seemed a good idea at the time, the consequences had been dire. Then there is Susan, the leggy sister of klutzy school-friend Brian. Why does she keep sending him messages?
Terry is struggling to balance the two lives he leads and every day he is losing his grip on reality just a little bit more. He’s been forced to kill enemies; his companion, the magical woman Maria, is scaring him half to death with her abilities; and his parents are on his back about his school work.
How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!
Jo: As a Scrivener user, would you recommend it to other authors? Why/why not?
Paul: I discovered Scrivener earlier this year and I love it! I wish I had found it years ago, although that would have been difficult as it’s only been available for the Windows platform since late last year. For a full list of reason why I love Scrivener I would suggest reading my blog, but I guess the best thing about Scrivener is that you no longer have to work in an 80,000 word MS Word document. Just writing and plotting and editing suddenly become something so much more manageable.
A link to Paul's posts on using Scrivener: http://blog.pauldorset.com/search/label/Scrivener
Jo: Your non-fiction works The Ten Hour Project Manager and How To Write & Self-Publish Your First Novel are available on Amazon. Can you tell us a bit about these books and how they would help authors?
Paul: My How To Write book came about as a result of two things: First, questions from other authors about different writing topics, and second, as the result of a series of blog posts. The blog posts got so much attention I decided to publish them (and include extra topics) as a book. The book is written as a series of essays that can be dipped into time and time again. Many authors have written to me and thanked me, so I guess I did an okay job of it all. As for the project management book, it was something I really wanted to write as it’s all about my day job for the past 15 years. As for its use to authors, I’m not so sure about that one!
Buy it here: How to Write & Self-Publish Your First Novel: Writing for Success
Essays Included:
1. Don't Start the Story at the Beginning 2. Become a Successful Writer in 2,000 Hours 3. Poems and Short Stories 4. Creating a Good Plot 5. How Long Should a First Novel Be? 6. Writing in the First Person 7. Writing in the Third Person 8. Dialog Versus Narrative – Show Versus Tell 9. Writing Your First Novel: Words & Routine 10. Conflict and Its Importance 11. Plot Pace 12. Creating Believable and Well Rounded Characters 13. Writing Dialog – Or ‘He Said, She Said’ 14. Creating a Page Turner 15. Letting the Book 'Cook' 16. Self-Editing Your Novel 17. The Process of Pre-Reads 18. Creating a World of Fantasy 19. How to Write & Self-Publish a Novel: The End-To-End Process Checklist 20. Creating a Writing Environment without Interruptions 21. Reading to Write 22. Encouraging All Would Be Authors 23. The Self-Publishing Process: The Complete A-Z Instructions 24. Marketing Your Novel - The Relevance of Social Media, ARCs and Book Bloggers.
Jo: Your blog, Utterances of an Overcrowded Mind, has a ton of useful information. You’ve been blogging since February, 2011. Why did you choose then to begin your blogging journey?
Paul: I’ve actually been blogging for many years on different sites. In February 2011 I decided to start a dedicated Paul Dorset blog to go along with my new determination to spend more time writing and helping others to write.
Jo: What made you decide to do a round of indie author interviews on your blog?
Paul: I think as an Indie Author it’s important to give back to the community. We are all in this together.
Jo: I couldn't agree more! Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up?
Paul: I grew up in England and lived in my hometown of Poole in Dorset until I was 18 years of age. I’ve always had a bug for traveling, however, and since that time I have been fortunate enough to have found jobs and opportunities all over the world. Now I try to use a lot of those traveling experiences in my writing.
Jo: How long have you been writing?
Paul: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I have books of old poems and song lyrics stored away. I started writing stories nearly 20 years ago and my first fantasy novel was published in 2003. It took until 2010 until I became more serious about my writing and since then I have tried to write two or three books a year.
Jo: What kind of books do you like to read?
Paul: I read mostly fantasy; although I also like to read some Sci-Fi, thrillers, and comedies. From time to time I also read other books that just take my fancy. As an author I believe it’s important to read a lot. I try and read (or listen to) at least 12 books a year.
Jo: How often do you write and how did you come to this decision?
Paul: My writing goes through cycles (novel writing as opposed to blogs and other projects). When I am writing a novel, I try and write about 1500 words a day for the duration of the book (60-90 days). Of course this writing time comes after a period of plotting and planning. I try to be strict with myself about writing as it’s important to actually finish the book. But that’s just me. I’m sure my methods wouldn’t work for everyone.
Jo: Tell us what a good writing day looks like for you.
Paul: Like I said, I don’t really have writing days. On days when I am writing I just have to find an hour or so to fit the words in. I prefer to write in the mornings but a lot of weekdays it’s not until the evening that I get my hour. The good news is that because I plot, at least I generally know what I am writing about!
Jo: When you get negative feedback, how does it impact your writing? How about your ego?
Paul: Even Vincent Van Gogh had detractors (lots of them actually). The secret is not to let them get to you. I know I can write. I also know I can’t please everybody. Therefore I don’t try to. And usually there is a little truth in a negative review. The secret is in finding it without letting the whole thing get to you. You need to have a thick skin to be involved in the arts!
Jo: Do you have any advice for other indie authors?
Paul: Keep at it and find what works for you. Oh, and don’t skip on the editing!
Jo: You have a lot of Twitter followers (58k+). Did this happen over time or did you make it happen with marketing?
Paul: It’s something I’ve worked on over time. I have also blogged about it. Never take your followers for granted although they are going to experience churn as well. I wish I had more time to spend on marketing and then maybe I could get my follower count up to 100k.
You can follow Paul Dorset on Twitter here.
Jo: What book of yours is your favorite? Why? Give us the synopsis?
Paul: Tough question. My books are diverse and all have a special meaning for me in different ways. So instead I’d prefer to answer that question with what is my favorite book (not mine). The book that had the most impact on me growing up was a book called Mister God, This Is Anna, by Fynn (unfortunately not available on Kindle). I read it as a teenager and it has stayed with me all my life. Children have an innocence about them and that is what this book is about. It’s a sad story too, and well-written sad stories tend to stay in your memories longer. I like to write stories for the Young Adult (teen) market and I try to rekindle that certain innocence in my readers. Anything is possible in a book!
If you missed any of the links above, here's a recap:
Author Website: http://pauldorset.com
Blog: http://blog.pauldorset.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pdorset27
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jcx27
Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Dorset/e/B004OEFF80
I hope you've all enjoyed getting to know Paul Dorset! He's a wonderful addition to the indie author community and I suggest you check out his blog and his books.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON! As a parting shot: Live a little, live on fire
Jo
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Fact or Crap
I'm probably going to raise some eyebrows with this post but, it is what it is. Open your mind for me here and just read, m'kay?
Dragons exist.
Fairies exist.
God exists.
Magic exists.
Unicorns exist.
Heaven exists.
Aliens exist.
Love exists.
Potions exist.
Other worlds exist.
Witches exist.
I bet you went through that list and scoffed at most of those, right?
Let me get your mind working. If you believe in God, why do you? Because the Bible tells you he's there? But have you ever seen him?
By default, if you believe in God, you should believe in dragons, fairies, and unicorns. By the traditional definition it seems if you read about it in a book, it could be real.
Have you ever seen a dragon? How about an alien? Love? Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there or not real. I've never seen God and I've never seen a dragon. But I know the possibility of both existing is very good.
After all, I've read about them both in a book.
Do I believe everything I read? It's not that simple of a question. My mind is always open to the possibility. To deny one would be to deny them all.
Have you ever sat and thought about it? I mean really considered what I'm saying here? If you read a novel, it's usually based in fact, right? That's what makes a compelling story.
So, by my reasoning above, is everything in every book real? Where is the line? Why was the line drawn there? Says WHO?
Dragons exist. Just because I've never seen one, doesn't mean they don't.
I'm a reader and a writer. In creating worlds with my words I try to instill some moral values here and there; perhaps teach a lesson or two. I read to learn and I write to teach. Teaching some tolerance is the reason for the Mystic series.
Open your mind to the possibilities and let the world become your playground. Believe in something. Write about it, read about it. See the beauty.
I hope this post got you thinking about being a reader and a writer and made you consider why you think the way you do. Don't let someone else tell you how your head should work. Make decisions about your beliefs and hold on to them.
So, is it FACT or is it CRAP?
I leave that to you.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Dragons exist.
Fairies exist.
God exists.
Magic exists.
Unicorns exist.
Heaven exists.
Aliens exist.
Love exists.
Potions exist.
Other worlds exist.
Witches exist.
I bet you went through that list and scoffed at most of those, right?
Let me get your mind working. If you believe in God, why do you? Because the Bible tells you he's there? But have you ever seen him?
By default, if you believe in God, you should believe in dragons, fairies, and unicorns. By the traditional definition it seems if you read about it in a book, it could be real.
Have you ever seen a dragon? How about an alien? Love? Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there or not real. I've never seen God and I've never seen a dragon. But I know the possibility of both existing is very good.
After all, I've read about them both in a book.
Do I believe everything I read? It's not that simple of a question. My mind is always open to the possibility. To deny one would be to deny them all.
Have you ever sat and thought about it? I mean really considered what I'm saying here? If you read a novel, it's usually based in fact, right? That's what makes a compelling story.
So, by my reasoning above, is everything in every book real? Where is the line? Why was the line drawn there? Says WHO?
Dragons exist. Just because I've never seen one, doesn't mean they don't.
I'm a reader and a writer. In creating worlds with my words I try to instill some moral values here and there; perhaps teach a lesson or two. I read to learn and I write to teach. Teaching some tolerance is the reason for the Mystic series.
Open your mind to the possibilities and let the world become your playground. Believe in something. Write about it, read about it. See the beauty.
I hope this post got you thinking about being a reader and a writer and made you consider why you think the way you do. Don't let someone else tell you how your head should work. Make decisions about your beliefs and hold on to them.
So, is it FACT or is it CRAP?
I leave that to you.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Formatting Fun and New Releases
Yesterday and today, I decided to format The Abigale Chronicles - Book Three and Mystic ~ Lily for print and digital distribution. I was so happy when I uploaded my file to CreateSpace and they said there were zero issues. That makes my millennium!
Today, I'm uploading both to Kindle to be sure there are no issues. Call it a pre-flight check. :)
Here's the info:
The Abigale Chronicles - Book Three will release next Tuesday, September 25, 2012, and will be available on Amazon for Kindle for just $1.99 and in paperback for just $5.99. You all know I'll be doing a giveaway on Goodreads for two signed copies at that time. Watch my blog for the widget!! Now for the synopsis:
Abigale Fontenot is turning thirteen. Just when she thinks her birthday couldn't possibly get any worse, a new adventure takes hold. Abigale and Emmett are whisked away to a world of fantasy where knights, dragons, and princesses are the order of the day. Abigale is kidnapped by an evil prince in a nearby kingdom, and it's up to Emmett to rescue her. But Abigale finds that escape is not the most important thing; restoring the evil prince's kindness that has been locked away in a magical book by a wicked sorceress must come first. While Emmett is trying to rescue Abigale, she is trying to free the prince from his curse. Will she succeed in her quest before the evil prince kills Emmett, or will she fail and lose her new best friend? Will death matter if the whole thing is a dream, or are the adventures real and truly dangerous?
Mystic ~ Lily will release October 30, 2012, and will be available on Amazon for Kindle for just $3.99 and in paperback for just $8.99. Again, a giveaway on Goodreads will happen at that time. But! For my loyal followers and readers, I am going to be doing an advanced copy giveaway! I'm not telling you how many copies will be available, nor when the giveaway will happen; just that it's coming. You'll have to watch here to find out!! Now for the synopsis:
Lily Conyers is a twenty-year-old who had it all going for her until a car crash left her with terrible scars, no modeling job, and an addiction to pain killers. When she meets a strange young woman named Markaza, Lily begins to re-build her life with encouragement from her new friend.
Problems arise when Lily leaves the safety of her apartment for the first time since her accident to venture back into the world she used to know. Her so-called friends shun her and her boyfriend recoils at the sight of her face; leaving her standing in the road alone - crying. She rushes home with thoughts of suicide only to find a letter on her step from a company called WSTW; promising her a new life.
Lily packs her bags, bids Markaza goodbye, and sets off for the city. But going to New York is only the first hurdle Lily must jump. She must learn to use the power inside herself to help defeat an evil that is threatening to destroy the world. Once there, she meets a girl named Bronya and the two help one another re-build what was so negligently broken.
As Lily is boarding the plane bound for New York, Markaza boards another headed to Tennessee so she can collect the next young woman on her list: Sheila.
If you haven't read Mystic ~ Bronya yet, you need to get with the program. You can find it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009015NVQ
It's just $3.99.
I have Christmas specials planned as well so go like my FB page to keep up with the news!
Would you like to be able to submit a file and get a zero error report? Get The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book (five star rating) and discover the secrets!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Today, I'm uploading both to Kindle to be sure there are no issues. Call it a pre-flight check. :)
Here's the info:
The Abigale Chronicles - Book Three will release next Tuesday, September 25, 2012, and will be available on Amazon for Kindle for just $1.99 and in paperback for just $5.99. You all know I'll be doing a giveaway on Goodreads for two signed copies at that time. Watch my blog for the widget!! Now for the synopsis:
Mystic ~ Lily will release October 30, 2012, and will be available on Amazon for Kindle for just $3.99 and in paperback for just $8.99. Again, a giveaway on Goodreads will happen at that time. But! For my loyal followers and readers, I am going to be doing an advanced copy giveaway! I'm not telling you how many copies will be available, nor when the giveaway will happen; just that it's coming. You'll have to watch here to find out!! Now for the synopsis:
Problems arise when Lily leaves the safety of her apartment for the first time since her accident to venture back into the world she used to know. Her so-called friends shun her and her boyfriend recoils at the sight of her face; leaving her standing in the road alone - crying. She rushes home with thoughts of suicide only to find a letter on her step from a company called WSTW; promising her a new life.
Lily packs her bags, bids Markaza goodbye, and sets off for the city. But going to New York is only the first hurdle Lily must jump. She must learn to use the power inside herself to help defeat an evil that is threatening to destroy the world. Once there, she meets a girl named Bronya and the two help one another re-build what was so negligently broken.
As Lily is boarding the plane bound for New York, Markaza boards another headed to Tennessee so she can collect the next young woman on her list: Sheila.
If you haven't read Mystic ~ Bronya yet, you need to get with the program. You can find it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009015NVQ
It's just $3.99.
I have Christmas specials planned as well so go like my FB page to keep up with the news!
Would you like to be able to submit a file and get a zero error report? Get The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book (five star rating) and discover the secrets!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Monday, September 17, 2012
Goodreads Group for Indie Authors and Reviewers
I see so many of my fellow indie authors struggling for reviews. I'm hoping to solve that problem.
If you're a member of Goodreads, join us here:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/72232-indie-authors-and-readers-of-indie-books
The idea behind this group is to get reviews for our books. It's not paid reviews. It's reviews by readers who have actually READ our books. As a bonus, they'll be able to interact with us and ask questions about our works.
We will have a place to announce upcoming releases and maybe even get some advanced reviews of our works if we desire.
If you're a reader or book blogger, you have a place in the group as well. I know some indies have tarnished the reputation of us all and I'm trying to bring together people in a safe environment where they can speak their minds and not be afraid of backlash either way. I know some book reviewers have tarnished the reputation of book bloggers everywhere and I'm hoping this group does away with all of that, as well.
I'd like to see indies helping indies and readers and readers helping indies and readers. If we all form a bonded unit, we can help one another drive traffic and sales. A mass of people working together is worth much MUCH more than each person working individually.
So, take off and go read the rules of the group. If you're interested, join us! Invite friends.
Come, drink the kool-aid, be merry!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
If you're a member of Goodreads, join us here:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/72232-indie-authors-and-readers-of-indie-books
The idea behind this group is to get reviews for our books. It's not paid reviews. It's reviews by readers who have actually READ our books. As a bonus, they'll be able to interact with us and ask questions about our works.
We will have a place to announce upcoming releases and maybe even get some advanced reviews of our works if we desire.
If you're a reader or book blogger, you have a place in the group as well. I know some indies have tarnished the reputation of us all and I'm trying to bring together people in a safe environment where they can speak their minds and not be afraid of backlash either way. I know some book reviewers have tarnished the reputation of book bloggers everywhere and I'm hoping this group does away with all of that, as well.
I'd like to see indies helping indies and readers and readers helping indies and readers. If we all form a bonded unit, we can help one another drive traffic and sales. A mass of people working together is worth much MUCH more than each person working individually.
So, take off and go read the rules of the group. If you're interested, join us! Invite friends.
Come, drink the kool-aid, be merry!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Friday, September 14, 2012
-ly
You all know what I'm about to talk about! Those pesky little things we call adverbs! Let's start with a definition:
Ad•verb (ˈadˌvərb): Noun. A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a phrase, expressing a relation of place, time.
Your writing quality will increase ten-fold if you learn to cut out as many adverbs as possible. Why? Because you don't need them to get a point across if you do the job of setting the scene the way you should. I have a few exceptions I'll discuss after I give some examples of adverb removal.
Let's start with an example of a block of text with adverbs intact:
Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt roughly. "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered softly. Her hands dropped off his shoulders quickly and she stuffed them unceremoniously into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut tightly. The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering quickly in her chest. She repressed the urge to scream loudly and swallowed thickly; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. (75 words)
Granted, that's a lot of adverbs. But I'm giving an example here. Too many? You'd be surprised how many people write like that. Let's try again with fewer adverbs:
Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt. "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered. Her hands dropped off his shoulders and she stuffed them unceremoniously into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut tightly. The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering in her chest. She repressed the urge to scream and swallowed thickly; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. (70 words)
Okay. That's better, right? But we can make it even better! Let's remove them all and then I'll explain why they aren't needed in either of the examples above:
Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt. "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered. Her hands dropped off his shoulders and she stuffed them into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut. The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering in her chest. She repressed the urge to scream and swallowed; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. (67 words)
That's EIGHT words out of a paragraph. When an editor asks you to pare your work down, try removing only the adverbs and see how many words you can cut out with that single act. How many paragraphs in a chapter? You do the math.
Why did I remove all those adverbs? Time to explain, huh? Here I go, line by line:
When in doubt, take it out!
Did this help you at all? Come back next week when I discuss sentence construction and rewording! I'll keep using the example of text above and we'll see how far down we can pare it without losing the gist of what it's saying. Sounds fun, huh?
What else about storytelling would you like to see discussed on my blog?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Ad•verb (ˈadˌvərb): Noun. A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a phrase, expressing a relation of place, time.
Your writing quality will increase ten-fold if you learn to cut out as many adverbs as possible. Why? Because you don't need them to get a point across if you do the job of setting the scene the way you should. I have a few exceptions I'll discuss after I give some examples of adverb removal.
Let's start with an example of a block of text with adverbs intact:
Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt roughly. "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered softly. Her hands dropped off his shoulders quickly and she stuffed them unceremoniously into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut tightly. The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering quickly in her chest. She repressed the urge to scream loudly and swallowed thickly; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. (75 words)
Granted, that's a lot of adverbs. But I'm giving an example here. Too many? You'd be surprised how many people write like that. Let's try again with fewer adverbs:
Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt. "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered. Her hands dropped off his shoulders and she stuffed them unceremoniously into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut tightly. The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering in her chest. She repressed the urge to scream and swallowed thickly; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. (70 words)
Okay. That's better, right? But we can make it even better! Let's remove them all and then I'll explain why they aren't needed in either of the examples above:
Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt. "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered. Her hands dropped off his shoulders and she stuffed them into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut. The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering in her chest. She repressed the urge to scream and swallowed; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. (67 words)
That's EIGHT words out of a paragraph. When an editor asks you to pare your work down, try removing only the adverbs and see how many words you can cut out with that single act. How many paragraphs in a chapter? You do the math.
Why did I remove all those adverbs? Time to explain, huh? Here I go, line by line:
- Sarah tugged on Mark's shirt roughly. Does it really matter how she tugged on his shirt? We're going to understand she's scared in this paragraph. No need to tell your reader how to think.
- "Mark! Look! What is that?" she whispered softly. Is there any other way to whisper? However, this is an exception line. If you prefer, you could write she said softly and that would indicate a whisper. But, my thought on that is, why use two words where one will do?
- Her hands dropped off his shoulders quickly and she stuffed them unceremoniously into her pockets before squeezing her eyes shut tightly. Your reader doesn't need to know how fast she dropped her hands. There is no other way to stuff one's hands in one's pockets other than unceremoniously and, I don't know about you, but if I squeeze my eyes shut, it's always tightly. Redundant words. Remove them.
- The thing hovering over the trees was less than fifty feet from them and Sarah's heart began hammering quickly in her chest. Does your heart hammer and not feel like it's pounding at 50mph in your chest?
- She repressed the urge to scream loudly and swallowed thickly; trying to keep her nerves from taking over. Again, to tell someone she is going to scream loudly is redundant. That's like saying I'm a little bit pregnant. Either you are or you aren't, there's no in-between state. If you must, the one adjective I could see leaving in is thickly. But, as you can see in the example without the word, it isn't needed.
When in doubt, take it out!
Did this help you at all? Come back next week when I discuss sentence construction and rewording! I'll keep using the example of text above and we'll see how far down we can pare it without losing the gist of what it's saying. Sounds fun, huh?
What else about storytelling would you like to see discussed on my blog?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
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