Tuesday, November 17, 2015

UTOPiAcon 2016 Short Story Anthology Open for Submissions

Happy Tuesday! Yes, I know I missed my post yesterday. Funny thing about life, eh? You can't plan for everything. *grin* Anywhoooooo, that's not important! Stay with me here. Today, we're talking about a great opportunity for all you writers out there.

Ever wanted to be part of an anthology?

How about a revolution themed one?

Well, now's your chance! Here are the details:



REVOLUTION
1. a forcible change of a government or social order, in favor of a new system. synonyms: rebellion, uprising.

London-based ebook and paperback publisher, Little Bird Publishing House, has partnered with #UTOPiA2016 on a short story anthology contest, with proceeds benefiting Help Build A Library in South Africa, an organization that donates young adult books to schools and supports mentorships for aspiring young writers.

The upper young adult/new adult, revolution-themed anthology contest launched today. Writers can submit the first 1,000 words (of their up to 11,000-word short story). The submission window is open until Friday, December 11, 2015. The public votes on their favorites until mid-January, and the eight submissions with the most votes will be announced the winners on January 22, 2016, and will be included in the anthology titled #FightForYourWrite, as well as receive their own complimentary copy of it. One grand prize winner receives complimentary Titanium-level admission to #UTOPiA2016, and has the opportunity to get a future work published by LBPH.

More details can be found on the UTOPiAcon website here.

What are you waiting for? Get to writing!

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

Jo

Friday, November 13, 2015

New Release - Chasing Destiny

HOLY WOW! Happy Friday, everyone! *squeals* Today is the release day for Chasing Destiny! You just have to read on to see why I'm so excited. No, I'm gonna start you out with a teaser that'll have you drooling! In this post, you'll find the book trailer, Facebook event information and links, Tia Silverthorne Bach's bio, and information about the BIG release giveaways she has going. Don't leave until you've seen it all! Ready? Grab a cup of Jo, get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!


How about that? *grins* Now, let's get on to the:



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


You simply MUST check out the trailer! SO GOOD!


About that 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Join the Facebook Release Party Here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Starts at 1pm EST Today!

Books in the Tala Prophecy series

Chasing Memories (Book 1) FREE on Kindle 
Chasing Shadows (Book 2) On Sale for $0.99 (regularly $2.99) 
Chasing Forgiveness (Companion Novella) On Sale for $0.99 (regularly $1.99)
Chasing Destiny (Book 3) Available now for $2.99!


About Ms. Tia Silverthorne Bach:

Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in sunny California. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound.

She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar. 

Give her a follow (you know you want to)


OR

Sign up for her Author newsletter








Seven (a novel from the award winning authors of Fractured Glass)
Chasing Eternity - the final installment of the Tala Prophecy series

To celebrate the release of Chasing Destiny, Tia is running 12 Days of Giveaways. Check out the post here, and enter to win daily!



I hope you all LOVE it! Cover was designed by yours truly *grin*

Go get it. Right now. You won't be sorry.

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

Jo

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Goodreads Giveaways!

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm sharing a couple of awesome Goodreads giveaways you simply MUST enter, and the Facebook Release parties that go along with them.

First up, Chasing Destiny!



Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing Destiny by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Chasing Destiny

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Giveaway ends November 30, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway


Join the release party on Facebook here! Happens tomorrow!

Next, 7.



Goodreads Book Giveaway

7 by Casey L. Bond

7

by Casey L. Bond

Giveaway ends January 10, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway


We, also, have a release party going on Facebook *grin* Join up here! This party doesn't happen until January 7, 2016, but get in while it's HOT!

Did you enter? Are you going? I'll see you there!!

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

Jo

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Writing, Thinking About Writing, and Why Both Matter - A NaNo PSA

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Well, we're in the throes of NaNoWriMo, and I figured you could all use a little pep-talk today. If you're keeping up with the daily word count of 1,667, you should be at 18,337 words by the end of the day.

But what if you're not?

Well, I'm here to tell you that it's going to be okay. What you don't hit today, you can make up for tomorrow. Just don't let it go untended for too long (like, say... December 1), because it'll become impossible to catch up.

Let's look at it this way:
1,667 words per day to hit 50k
BUT
If you're a writer who typically hits 3-4k in a day, you'll only have to do 2,381 every weekday in November.
OR
You can write every other day, and set a goal of 3,334 words to hit that 50k.
AND
If you miss three days, your daily word count goal only goes up to 1,852.

So don't stress if you miss a day or two. It's not going to be the end of the world.


But what about that second part: Thinking About Writing?

When you're not writing, you should be creating your novel in your head, ironing out the kinks, and doing research. Basically, if you're not banging on the keys, you should be spending time with your characters and plot. Get to know them. If you figure out what makes your characters tick, you'll have an easier time creating words that help your readers connect.

Even though I'm not participating in NaNo this year, I'm still writing (as we all are). I still have a deadline I have to meet. So, I'm using the quiet time around the web (because it's rather dead out there this time of year) to do just that.

Yesterday, I took a much needed break to have coffee with other authors, and I ended up working out some of the issues I was having in my MS by talking out my thoughts. It was a 3k word day after that.

Why is thinking about writing important? Because it helps you solidify where your story is going and how your characters are going to get there. This makes anything easier to write.

What's been your biggest NaNoWriMo challenge this year?

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

Jo

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Moon Crossed Season One Omnibus Giveaway

Happy Tuesday! I have an awesome announcement for you all today. Back in April of this year, I wrote a review for Moon Crossed - Crescent Hunter - Episode One by Bella Roccaforte. I gave it 4.5 rocking stars. You can read the review here. But that's not the point of this post.

Nope.

Not even close.

Today, I'm sharing with you all a giveaway from INDIE Books Gone Wild for a chance to win the complete first season of the Crescent Hunter series. So, without further ado, I give you the details:

Title: Moon Crossed - Crescent Hunter - The Complete First Season
Author: Bella Roccaforte
Genre: Upper Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Length (print): 570 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $3.99

Blurb:
★★★★★ 6 Incredible stars!!! This werewolf hunter series has it all! Wolves, magic, dark twists, humor, love, hate.... This story is a crazy roller coaster with all the twists and turns to keep you hanging on until the end." K. Solomon

"For Though we dwell in the same darkness our song will forever be a discordant symphony, barely perceived."
The first six books in the Crescent Hunter Series!

Claire O'Conlan is a hunter, her kind were created to protect humans from feral werewolves. She's desperate to find a cure for the moon-touch. Until she does, the hunt won't stop.

Despite being raised among supernatural creatures, Claire is determined to make college as normal as possible. But childhood habits die hard. She can't seem to stay away from the wolf-borne, and worse, she's falling in love with Cole Jackson, the big bad wolf.

Claire can't resist the undeniable fire Cole ignites within her. They are falling headlong into a forbidden love affair. Hunter and wolf, a dangerous combination inciting war between factions, action from the council and the biggest risk of all, Claire fulfilling her duty and being the hunter that kills Cole.

Will Claire find the cure? Or will their love end in tragedy?

UtopYA 2015 Nominee for:
Best Kiss
Best Serial Series

***This book contains some adult language and violence and is PG13***

Ready for that giveaway widget? Here ya go!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think? Did you enter? How exciting is this?

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

Jo

Monday, November 9, 2015

New Release - Abby and the Mystic Dancers


Anchor Group Publishing is proud to present

 L. C. Miller's debut novel, 

Abby and the Mystic Dancers.



Title:  Abby & The Mystic Dancers


Author:  L. C. Miller


Published November 9, 2015By Anchor Group Publishing


Genre:  Middle Grade/Young Adult Fantasy

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

Meet The Author




I have loved reading since I was old enough to do it. I started writing in my down time in 2006 and have been doing it ever since.

Reading, writing, and hanging out with my family are some of my favorite things - along with hot chocolate and pizza (not together, of course).

With a bachelors in Accounting, writing has been a great way to unwind and let my imagination fly.


Stalk L. C. Miller on 
Anchor Group Fan Club

Lovely! You read about it, now go get it!

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

Jo

Friday, November 6, 2015

Reaching Out - Why Author Buds Matter

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm talking about author circles. You know, those folks you rely on to help you through the good times, bad times, and times in between. Grab a cup of Jo, and let's get going!

I have two circles of authors I talk to: Online - those folks I communicate with primarily via Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and e-mail, and Offline - people I see in person.

I think it's equally important to have both.

Why?

Because, the first kind, the online folks, are easy to reach out to and ask questions or get advice. I never have to worry if one of my author friends online have my back, because I know they'll be there if I need an ear. It gives me a safe place to vent frustrations, get encouragement, and find knowledge. In return, they know I'm there, too.

But the second kind, the offline authors, are the ones who force me to get out of the house, see and interact with people, and actually use my voice. We swap author war stories, opinions, and advice on all things authorly. These are the ones I know on sight, and these are the ones I hug each and every time I see them.

We schedule get-togethers because we realize the importance of interacting on a larger scale. Oh, and the place we go has amazing coffee. Because all writers need fuel.


I always leave my coffee days with a new burst of energy and tons of ideas on marketing, plots, and other things. There's a spot on my calendar every month with a giant X over top of it. This means I don't schedule anything else on that day. It's my day off to spend with people who are in the same line of work as I am, and those folks I can bounce ideas off of.

I went all the way to Utopia (400 miles) to meet them the first time, but it was worth every minute in the car.

So, I urge you to reach out. Find those people nearby that you can get out of your writing cave with and have some human time.

It matters. You'll have a whole new sense of self afterward. My group of ladies are the best, and I wish you luck in finding a small tribe that means as much to you.

Do you have a nearby tribe of writers? Have you considered looking for them?

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

Jo