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

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

Flashbacks

Perhaps this should be titled Flashbacks, Flashforwards, and Flashing in General? Today, good people of the blogosphere, we will be discussing memories, dreams, and thoughts. Read on and enjoy!

There are a ton of ways to do a flashback when writing a novel. But you don't want to take your reader out of the tale and inundate them with backstory. You'll find they skip over those parts; that's bad. So let's discuss ways to make your flashbacks and such important as well as give a few ideas on how to work them in.

Leading up to the flashback, there should be some reason it's about to occur. This could be the character standing immobilized with fear or could be that he/she sees something that sparks a memory. It's the words leading up to the flashback, dream, or inner-dialogue that will keep your reader engaged.

Explain, don't tell. Flashbacks, dreams, or inner-dialogue could go in italics to remind your reader that they're in the head of the character. Some people prefer to put an extra space before and after and just leave them in regular type. I, personally, prefer both reading and writing these scenes in italics. But there must be good transition in order to keep my attention.

I'll use examples from a couple of my books.

In Yassa, when young Genghis Khan has a dream, they are almost always telling the future and are usually terrifying. So, instead of writing that he fell asleep and is about to have a dream about it, I write that his head hit the pillow and he was seized by the terror of a nightmare. Then the dream sequence begins and I put it all in italics. To make it relevant, later on I tell that happenings occur just as they did in his dream. Those dreams are never boring and always leave my hero either with residual feelings or a call to action when he wakes up. This is what I call a flashforward. Unless you're writing about someone who is clairvoyant (as Genghis believed he was), this won't work.

I do the same with Markaza in Mystic.

I don't use it at all in The Abigale Chronicles series for two reasons: 1. I begin book one at the beginning of all the craziness and 2. I don't want the reader to know if Abigale is dreaming or not - the mystery is half the fun!!

Inner-dialogue also goes into italics in my books; just to let the reader know this isn't something that's being said, rather something that's being thought.

Flashbacks work the same way. If you're going to give a flashback, the reader should understand why, who it's about, and what time period it takes place in.

A good example would be if a character is remembering something traumatic from childhood. This memory could be sparked by him/her smelling a rose and having a flashback of a friend who died and had roses on their coffin that smelled the same way. This character may close their eyes and remember every detail of that funeral (including at what time it took place) but it should be no more than a few paragraphs and there should be an emotional reaction in the present that justifies the memory's significance. Perhaps the rose they smell is then ripped to shreds and the character cries for their loss while babbling about it to a stranger. It must be relevant in that it shapes an action or explains something about the character's behavior in the here and now.

Flashbacks should be short and are different from a step-back through time which can be whole chapters with no need for italics.

Inner-dialogue should be treated the same way. If the character is thinking something, don't pull the reader out of the here and now to deliver it. Work it in with the current happenings.

I hope this helps explain a few things about flashbacks, dreams, and thoughts.

Any questions? What's your take? How do you work in flashbacks, dreams, or inner-dialogue?

On a totally unrelated note, my daughter used a word incorrectly yesterday that made me correct her a couple of times. She used the word ideal instead of idea when she was talking about a thought a character in a book we were reading had. Granted she's only six, but better to squash that word butchering out of her now. It's difficult being my kid!!

Tomorrow, we discuss those pesky things known as adjectives!! To use, or not to use? Come on back to find out how to delete them with zero consequences!!

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

Jo

Week 13: The Next Big Thing

Welcome to The Next Big Thing Blog Hop! By hopping through the blogs on my page, you’ll have the opportunity to discover some great new authors and read about some great new books coming soon. I encourage you to visit as many as possible.

I was tagged by Mr. Robert Chazz Chute of Chazz Writes.

Without further ado, let’s get going!

My ten questions and answers:

What is the working title of your book?

There are two: Mystic ~ Lily and The Abigale Chronicles – Book Three. This is a doubly special blog post because it's also a cover reveal for The Abigale Chronicles.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea for Lily came from the idea for the whole Mystic series. I wanted a strong woman with values that were solid. When she breaks down and betrays those values because of her situation, it gives me an opportunity to show how one can recover from a fall. All my characters in this series are strong women who fight through tough times and make a pact to change the world. I want to speak to people and make them consider a different point of view for once.

As for The Abigale Chronicles, my six-year-old daughter gave me the idea. I write the series for her and she requested (very politely) that there be dragons, fairies, princesses, and knights. So, for the third book in the Abigale series, I gave her exactly what she asked for. She giggled a lot while we read it.

What genre does your book fall under?

Lily falls under the genres paranormal and urban fiction while The Abigale Chronicles are chapter books for young readers.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Wow! What a great question! I would have to say, for Lily, she would be played by either Sara Paxton or Hayden Panettiere (of course, if Hayden, she would need some way to look much taller, perhaps) and Markaza would be played by Hailee Steinfeld because she has that edgy look. Elisabeth Moss for Shelia and Cobie Smulders for Bronya. For Abigale, Emma Furhman and for Emmett, Max Records.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Mystic ~ Lily: The second of six women, one battle to save the world.

The Abigale Chronicles – Book Three: A dragon, a princess, and a knight fight all odds to give the one true gift: kindness to another.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

They will both be self-published.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It took me three weeks to write Lily and a week and a half to write Abigale.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

There are no other books like these that I’ve found. If you see some, point me that way, please.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

My daughter inspired me to write The Abigale Chronicles.

The hate in the world inspired me to write the Mystic books. I feel like I have a voice inside of me struggling to get out and change perception. Tolerance and judgement of others are topics I have strong opinions on.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This installment of The Abigale Chronicles has lots of humor for children. My daughter cracked up when the dragon burped and set things on fire.

Mystic deals with tolerance of people that make life choices that are different. I hope people really pay attention to the unique chance they have to see the world through someone else’s eyes. If you know anyone (or been through it yourself) who’s dealt with being homosexual and hidden, depressed, disfigured, addicted to drugs, anorexic, abused as a child, or anyone who’s made that difficult decision to have an abortion, you’ll “get” this series. It will speak to you.

You can find the first book in the Mystic series here: Mystic ~ Bronya

Now the links for my five fellow bloggers:

Heather Topham Wood of Heather's book Chatter

Sandi Tuttle of An Average Woman in a Superwoman World

Beth Jones of The Hungry Freelancer

Becky Fyfe of Imagine! Create! Write!

Crystal Lee of Crystal Lee ~ Author

I hope you've all enjoyed this blog for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. Keep going and meet some other wonderful authors!!

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

Jo

Pesky Pronouns

Today I'm gonna talk about her. You know, she, him, it. Let's get to it.

A pronoun is a reference to the last person named in the text. If you use the word she after saying Abigale's mother, or her mother, whatever you put after the word she is referencing, not Abigale, but her mother.

Examples:

Abigale flew into her mother's arms and buried her head in the crook of her arm. This is incorrect. Even though it may sound okay in your head, it's wrong.

What you're saying is Abigale flew into her mother's arms and buried her mother's head in the crook of her mother's arm.

What you wanted to say is (and you have to reword or it sounds ridiculous): Louise's arms caught Abigale as she flew into them and buried her head. This is correct.

Now, if you have Abigale and Emmett both in the sentence, it's okay to use he and she because we know who the last gender named was.

Abigale and Emmett were walking through the woods at a good pace when she suddenly stopped and turned to him. She said, "Emmett, stop stepping on my shoes!" This is correct.

Let's throw another boy into the mix now.

Abigale, Emmett, and Mark were walking through the woods at a good pace when she suddenly stopped and turned to him. She said, "Emmett, stop stepping on my shoes!" This is incorrect. If she wanted to speak to Emmett, he either should have been listed last or the pronoun should have been them.

Am I confusing you yet? I thought I might be.

I have a simple trick to examine a sentence (you will thank me someday, I hope):

Wherever he, she, it, them, they, her, his, their, its, etc... appears, go back through the sentence and replace the pronoun with the name of the last person named. If it still reads the way you meant for it to, you are correct. If it doesn't, some rewording is in order.

If I used it on the example above with the three children, it would read like this:

Abigale, Emmett, and Mark were walking through the woods at a good pace when Abigale suddenly stopped and turned to Mark. Abigale said, "Emmett, stop stepping on my shoes!"

It reads wrong. She should be turning to Emmett. See how easy that was to find?

Now, there are times I misplace my pronouns (it's SOOOO easy to do!) but I thought I'd share a little bit of info and maybe a tip to help you in your personal editing journey. Many times, you'll find you have to reword a whole sentence to make it work with your pronouns. But take the time to do that. You won't be sorry.

Tomorrow, I'm participating in a blog hop about the next big thing. You'll get to hear about Mystic ~ Lily, and The Abigale Chronicles - Book Three (and see the cover! yay!). If you don't have a copy of Mystic ~ Bronya yet, you need to go pick one up! If you haven't read The Abigale Chronicles - Book One or Book Two with your kids yet, what are you waiting for? Those little beauties are just $1.99 on Kindle and just $5.99 for the paperbacks!

Thursday, I'm discussing  thoughts, flashbacks, and flashforwards and tips on not confusing your readers when you write those scenes. If you have a topic you'd like to see on Friday, let me know in the comments!

Did this help anyone or did I leave you more confused? What else would you like to see?

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

Jo

Passions

Happy Wednesday, people of the blogosphere! Passion is the topic of the day today. For authors, especially indie authors, passion is something we are allowed in great heaping spoonfuls. Why especially indie authors? Well, we don't have anyone telling us what we can and cannot write about. We don't have anyone saying, "If you write that, we won't publish it!"

Talk about freedom!

There are millions of books out there that have been published by indie authors. Why have I not heard more about books that make a difference in the way people think or see the world? We have the freedom to write whatever we want in our own voices.

I wrote Yassa because I was passionate about the untold love story between Genghis Khan and Borte. I wanted so badly to share that with the world. I had a reason to write it (not a monetary one) and it drove me to start and finish a wonderful piece of work.

I wrote The Abigale Chronicles series as a way to show children they could travel anywhere with a book and have great adventures through the written word. Why does that matter to me? Because I'm a reader and I've had those adventures through books myself. I want to encourage kids to read more. Reading and writing is the basis for all communication (even math).

I'm writing Mystic as a way to try and make a change. I am passionate about the overlying theme of the books: tolerance and acceptance of people no matter what their differences are. Gay rights and equality (Bronya) is a topic I believe strongly in because I see what some of my friends and cousins have gone through just trying to be happy with who they are despite the opinions of others. Seeing past a deformity or heinous appearance (Lily) is close to my heart because I knew some of those girls in high school and saw what people did to them (behind their backs and to their faces). Each of the women in my books have something unique about them that causes people to judge. I'm hoping to either cause just ONE person to stop and think with my words or show just ONE person that, even if they are different, they do have strength.

I have said it before, I'll say it again: THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD. I implore indie authors to try and make a difference through their words. For you, for me, for the whole human race. You have passion for something. Talk about it.

What topics are you passionate about? Are you afraid to write about it? Why?

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

Jo

Holiday Weekend and Triberr

Well, I went out of town for the holiday weekend, as I'm sure many people did, and my brain had a glorious chance to reset itself. I am raring to go on Mystic ~ Shelia and The Abigale Chronicles - Book Three. I can't wait to get back to writing. Looks like a 10am start for me today. Ah well, catching up on e-mails is the fun part, right?

On another note, I checked out a new service called Triberr. I have a few first impressions that I'd like to share:

1. Their UI is difficult to navigate and leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
2. I loved the idea behind the service but, once I got into it knee-deep, I'm a bit disenchanted.
3. They use a currency they call "bones" and you need them to join other tribes. Once again, it all comes down to spending money. Why would I do that if I have a free blog and an RSS feed already? Hmmmm?
4. When I read about their service, I was eager to try it out. It didn't take me long to get lost in the muck. Please understand, I'm a very VERY savvy internet and service user. This was like: I'm supposed to click where for what?
5. Triberr wanted permission to post on my FB wall and update my Twitter feed. I am always hesitant when giving access to my stuff by any app, much less one I know very little about.

So, there you have my first impressions. I'm gonna give them a shot and will update you all later on what I find.

If you entered the contest on my blog for a copy of Soul Sisters, please visit here to see if you won. Thanks to everyone who participated!!

My giveaway for a copy of Mystic ~ Bronya over on Goodreads is now over. If you entered that one, please go see if you'll be getting a copy in your mailbox anytime soon. Thanks to the 775 people who requested it. I am humbled and honored by your zeal.

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

Jo

Interview with Bronya from Mystic

Happy FRIDAY, people of the blogosphere! Today, I bring you an interview with Bronya Thibodeaux from the first book in my Mystic series. I hope you all enjoy the interview today. She's quite a character.

Jo: Hello everyone! Please help me to welcome our guest, Bronya Thibodeaux! Good morning, Bronya. How are you today?

Bronya: I'm okay, I guess. Hey peeps! (waves at audience)

Jo: I'd like to jump right into my questions today, if you don't mind. Waste not, want not, and our time is precious.

Bronya: That's fine. Go ahead.

Jo: Okay, first up: In the book, you seem surly and a little like a loner. Can you tell us what events in your life led you to feel out of place in Houma High School?

Bronya: Yeah, I suppose. I was always bigger than the other girls. At six-foot-one, I'm rather imposing and I like to wear boots, jeans, and tee shirts. I was never really a girly-girl, you know? Well, when you're different like that, people tend to single you out for ridicule or they don't trust you. I just felt better being alone rather than constantly wondering who I could trust.

Jo: I certainly understand that. I had my fair share of cruelty by others in High School. You are very tall... Anyway, when did you realize you were gay and how did that impact you socially?

Bronya: Wow. You just come right out with the questions huh? I realized there was something different about me when I was in the sixth grade. All the girls in my classes went boy-crazy but I never had an interest. My affections were for my neighbor, a girl named Cecilia. We used to play together when we were little but her best friend, Stephanie, was always mean to me and pulled my hair. So, after a while, I quit going over there. We grew apart after that but I've always loved Cecilia as far back as I can remember.

Jo: That's so touching. Stephanie sounds like a real winner. I suppose you can't help who is in your general sphere of being, huh?

Bronya: Yeah. But she never crossed me before that day in the bathroom. I suppose supporting her best friend when they had a falling out wasn't the smartest thing I could have done. I didn't mean to hurt Stephanie as badly as I did.

Jo: You sure whipped her, that's for sure. So, you've been in New York a while now, tell me about your decision to move there.

Bronya: It wasn't a decision, really. I had no other choice because of what happened at home. I couldn't find a job, people threw things at me, and I couldn't be around Cecilia after what she said to me. I had to leave. The offer from WSTW came at just the right time. Meeting Lily really changed my perspective on a lot of things. I thought I had it bad but that girl, ouch.

Jo: What do you mean?

Bronya: Her whole life got ruined because of what happened to her. She lost everything. I had to deal with almost the same thing but I can walk away and pretend and just fit in, you know? She can't.

Jo: Yes, I know. But wouldn't that be like lying to yourself if you pretended to be heterosexual?

Bronya: Yes. I've been struggling with it. Knowing how other people will react once they find out I'm a lesbian doesn't help matters. (turns to audience) Just leave me alone, okay? I don't put you down, don't do it to me. I am who I am. No amount of Holy Water is gonna change me. Just because I'm gay, doesn't mean I'm a sinner or a bad person. (turns back) I just get so sick of people treating me like I have a disease that's catching, you know?

Jo: Yup. I've been sitting here for a while now and I don't feel anything. Wait... No, that's just a mosquito bite. (winks and smiles) Now, tell me what you plan to do with yourself.

Bronya: I plan to work for WSTW when they finally call me in. I've been sitting around this huge apartment, waiting on something. When Lily showed up, I thought perhaps I could start working; but that's not the case. We have been reading those books we were told to read though. Weird things are happening. But, I'm not gonna get into that. If you wanna know, you gotta read the books.

Jo: That sounds like an awesome plan. I hope everything works out for you and Lily, too.

Bronya: Thanks.

Jo: Well, that's all the time we have for today. Thank you for joining us, Bronya. I know this wasn't easy and I appreciate your time.

Bronya: No problem. Glad to help.

Jo: This concludes our interviews. If you have any questions you'd like to ask Bronya, please leave them in the comments section. Thanks for stopping by!

If you'd like to purchase a copy of Mystic ~ Bronya you can do so on Amazon by clicking here. Also, if you'd like to read interviews with some of my other characters, go here for Genghis, here for Kutula, or here for Abigale. Genghis Khan was a riot to interview! Remember that Yassa is on sale until after Labor Day for just $3.99 on Amazon or Smashwords. That's $6 off the usual price of $9.99. Get one today!

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

Jo

Character Interview with Abigale Fontenot

Happy Thursday, people in the blogosphere!! Today, I bring you twelve-year-old Abigale Fontenot from The Abigale Chronicles! Along with Abigale's visit, I'm please to announce her books are available FREE until midnight tonight, the 30th of August, 2012. Only on Amazon.

Jo: Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Thursday interview! Today, I have a wonderful surprise for you: Abigale Fontenot from the children’s chapter book series The Abigale Chronicles is here to answer some questions for us. Hello, Abigale. How are you today?

Abigale: I’m great, thanks. Hi, everyone! (waves enthusiastically)

Jo: That’s a very pretty dress you have on. Where’d you get it?

Abigale: Oh! Thanks! I got it at the mall in the city. I love dresses.Jo: (smiles) Tell us a little bit about your friends, Kristy and Emmett.Abigale: Kristy and me grew up together and she was my BFF before all the trouble started. ‘Till last year, I thought Emmett hated me. Come to find out, that boy likes me a lot and just didn’t know how to say it. Kristy won’t talk to me now but me and Emmett have been goin’ on adventures of some kind. I still ain’t figured it out though. What’s happening, I mean.

Jo: What do you mean by what’s happening? Are you talking about if your adventures are real and what’s causing them?

Abigale: Yeah. We don’t know why we go the places we do. That last time really freaked me out. Those cats were super weird and, when we got back, Emmett was half a mile away. I don’t know if that had to do with the amount of time we were gone or what because we weren’t together when the first one started.

Jo: What does it feel like when you have an adventure?

Abigale: It feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I just black out and wake up somewhere else. This last time, Emmett was right there with me when we arrived. I was thankful for that.

Jo: Tell me about the first adventure.

Abigale: Well, I woke up in a weird place. Come to find out, there were all these Amazon women everywhere. They don’t like boys. My looks had changed and that silly queen thought I was her daughter! She tried to get me to kill Emmett. Even though I didn’t like him, I couldn’t kill him! I don’t even like squishing bugs. So I saved him and we ran away.

Jo: Wow! You were very brave! What happened the second time?

Abigale: We ended up in this weird world full of talking cats. There was one by the name of Theodore who used us to help him get back his noble rights and then, the little booger tried to cook us up for dinner! We came home just in time. It was scary!

Jo: It sounds scary. Now, I hear you like to write poetry. Can you tell us what started that?

Abigale: My love of reading started it but my teachers encouraged me to continue. I have a nifty little notebook I write them all down in. I deal with stress that way and keep up with my memories from life as well. It’s like a little chronicle of my life. But, my notebook is full. I sure hope I get another one for my birthday.

Jo: When is your birthday?

Abigale: October twenty-third.

Jo: That’s really soon!

Abigale: Yup! I can’t wait! I’m gonna be thirteen!

Jo: (smiles) I remember turning thirteen. I hope it’s all you dream it will be. I have one more question before you go, Abigale. What is a traiteur?

Abigale: You mean like Ms. Ada?

Jo: Yes.

Abigale: They’re faith healers based in the Catholic religion. They can fix just about anything with their hands. I’ve seen it, it really works! Ms. Ada is one of the oldest around. Rumor has it, the gift has to be passed from a female to a male to a female and they have to be related. None of her family wants it so I guess the gift is gonna die with her. That’s a sad thing because it’s part of who we are as Cajuns. Part of our legacy, you know?

Jo: Yes. I see. That is a sad state of affairs. I hope she can convince one of them to take it someday. Thank you, Abigale, for giving us some of your time today and good luck with your birthday!

Abigale: Thanks! Bye everyone! (waves again)

Well, that's all for today, folks! Come on back tomorrow to read my interview with Ms. Bronya Thibodeaux from the first book in the Mystic series! If you wanna ask a question, now's the time to do it. If you wanna go grab the book, it's available here. If you missed the interview with Genghis Khan, check it out here.

Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Meeting the Characters

This week I'm planning to take a page from other blogs I've seen and do open interviews with the main characters in my books.

Better yet, I'm going to allow my readers to participate in said interviews! How am I going to do that, you ask? Great question! It's easy. I'll give you a list of characters here with their scheduled day to appear. You ask questions and give me your links either on today's post or the post on the day of the interview. I will answer them during the interview and give you a mention and shout out for asking (with links to your stuff).

How frikkin' cool is that?

So, without further ado, here are the characters you will see appearing on my blog this week:

Tuesday: Genghis Khan from Yassa (grown up)
Wednesday: Kutula from Yassa
Thursday: Abigale from The Abigale Chronicles
Friday: Bronya from Mystic ~ Bronya

If there is anyone else you would like to see interviewed, leave me a message. I have enough characters to fill at least nine posts. Here is a list of other people in my books:

Yassa: Borte, Jelme, Bo'orchu, Jamuka
The Abigale Chronicles: Emmett, Kristy, Ada
Mystic series: Markaza, Lily, Shelia

If you want to hear from any of these characters, feel free to ask! I'm hoping we can have some fun with this!

Don't forget, Mystic ~ Bronya is available now at Amazon for just $3.99 (and there's a preview of Lily in the back).

Enter the contest on Goodreads to win a free copy of Mystic ~ Bronya!! The link is right up there on the sidebar.

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

Jo

Empirical Evidence

Happy Wednesday, everyone! If you all remember back on Monday's post, I talked about publishing houses using the Amazon best seller list of indie authors as a slush pile. Spurred on my some of the comments I received, I decided to delve into this a bit further.

Here's what I found:

The first blog has a brief interview with an indie author and then talks about the publishers that are picking up indie titles.

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2012/08/independence_19.html

This next one is linked from the first one and tells about an indie author who turned down a publishing deal to remain indie. From what I understand, it was not pocket change.

http://jeffrivera.com/index.php/for-writers/758-why-indie-author-ruth-cardello-turned-down-a-7-figure-book-deal.html

When you read this one, pay close attention to the paragraph with the bold Traditional Publisher path in it.

http://indiebookwriters.com/2012/08/05/the-4-different-publishing-paths-authors-can-pursue-today/

And, this last one talks of Penguin buying Author Solutions. It's a VERY good read.

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/08/why-self-publishers-should-care-that-penguin-bought-author-solutions229.html

As you can see, I rarely talk out of my ass. I find it heartening to hear stories of an indie author that chose to stay indie and it makes me more confident in my own choices.

What do you guys think about all this? Would you go for it or stay indie?

Don't forget to check out Mystic ~ Bronya over on Amazon. Free to sample, just $3.99 to own!

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

Jo

The Hungry Freelancer Beth Jones

Happy Tuesday, everyone! For any of you that have been following my blog, I bet you remember my blog party and the great list of blogs I posted for you to check out and follow. Today, I'm going to bring back one of those folks I listed on Day 1. Her name is Beth Jones @bethythewriter. You may know her as The Hungry Freelancer from her blog by the same name.

Beth just released a book titled The Hungry Freelancer: How to Break Into (and Succeed In) the World of Freelance Writing and I'd like to take a moment to tell you all a little about it.

Synopsis:

If you've ever dreamed of being a writer but don't know how to get started, this book is for you.

The Hungry Freelancer: How to Break Into (and Succeed In) the World of Freelance Writing walks you through, step-by-step, the process of becoming a freelance writer. You don't need a college degree or years of experience to succeed as a writer, and this book shows you how. For just $2.99 on Amazon Kindle, you'll learn how to get started as a writer, how to write your first article, how to start making money, and how to find new, exciting jobs that will bring in fast cash. Chapters include: 1. The Art of Storytelling; 2. "Writer" VS "Author; 3. Where to Start; 4. How to Find (and Keep) Clients; 5. Making Money; 6. Writing it Down. Whether you're an experienced journalist who wants to jump into online writing or a stay-at-home mom who wants to supplement her income, The Hungry Freelancer will help you reach your writing goals.

Doesn't that sound like an amazing read? Now, a little about the author, Beth Jones.

Author Bio:
Beth Jones is a freelance writer who currently resides in Maryland with her husband, sons, and cat. When she's not busy writing, Jones enjoys spending time outdoors absorbed in a good mystery novel. A military wife, Jones has lived all over the U.S. and has worked as a writer in many different cities.


You can find Beth on Twitter @bethythewriter and you'll love giving her FaceBook page a like. Come on, everyone needs to feel the love!

As a recap, you can find The Hungry Freelancer: How to Break Into (and Succeed In) the World of Freelance Writing on Amazon by clicking the link here. It's just $2.99. Pocket change you can turn into a regular paycheck!

On to some more great news! You can now purchase Mystic ~ Bronya in both paperback and Kindle versions. Also, as you can see on the widget, the Goodreads giveaway has begun! Make sure you enter for your chance to win!

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

Jo

Publishers vs. Agents

So I heard this rumor that publishers are now treating indie titles as the slush pile. If this is true, agents beware!

From my understanding, a literary agent makes money by getting authors signed with publishing houses. If we're skipping the middle man (the agent) what does that mean for them? Are they going to lose their places in society as gurus with the inside track on a publishing house?

I don't know many indies that didn't try to go the traditional route before self-publishing. If their book happens to hit the ebook market and become a best-seller, and the author is then picked up by a publishing house, what happened to the agent's commission? It's gone. There is none.

We all have jobs in the publishing industry; an author's is to write, a cover artist's is to design, an agent's is to sell a work to a publishing house, an editor's is to make sure all the Is are dotted and all the Ts are crossed, and a publishing house's is to get that book into print and sell it to distributors.

But wait! Indie authors do all of the above on their own (except for the cover/interior design and editing in most cases). If they get picked up by a publisher, they do it on their own.

Where does that leave the agent?

Things I don't know:

1. Are agents allowed to choose an indie title and offer representation?
2. Do they watch the market for successful indie published titles and consider it?
3. Is there an agent out there that does this?
4. Why wouldn't they (what are the drawbacks)?

It seems to me that agents may become superfluous if they aren't proactively changing with the market. That's a major loss in revenue for them. Think about super successful indies like Amanda Hocking and what her book may have done for an agent. Did she submit her manuscript and get rejected? Is that agent now kicking him or herself in the ass?

Question for you indies out there: Did you submit your manuscript to an agent? Multiple agents? Did you get rejected? What are your sales like now?

I'm a curious person by nature. Humor me, please?

I have great news! Mystic ~ Bronya, the first book in my Mystic series, releases tomorrow! The print version is already available for sale but the "official" release date is August 21, 2012. Keep your eyes here for the link when it goes live for Kindle and KDP Select. Don't forget to enter the Goodreads giveaway (see the widget on the side of my blogger blog) starting tomorrow for your chance at a printed, signed copy! I'm giving away TWO!

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

Jo

Goodreads Giveaway Mystic ~ Bronya

Keep your eyes open for the Goodreads giveaway that will start Tuesday and run for two weeks. I'm giving away TWO printed, signed copies of Mystic ~ Bronya. As usual, I will put the widget on my blogger blog for the duration. A special preview of Mystic ~ Lily is in the back!

If you can't wait two weeks to read it, you'll be able to pick it up on Amazon Tuesday, August 21, 2012 for the wonderful price of just $3.99. A printed version is gonna cost you a little more, but it'll be worth the $8.99, I promise. Here's a link to my Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/jomichaels

This series, as I've said, has some strong language but is dealing with a strong topic. Tolerance is a big deal to me and I hope to see this series helps you to open your eyes to the damage words can do when hurled at someone with hate behind them.

Love your fellow man. A good mantra to live by.

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

Jo

Tough Cookies

Some days, I struggle with what to write here. Today, I'm giving you all a taste of what my new series Mystic is about, and what message I'm trying to convey by writing it. Disclaimer: This is my author's note from the book. It will appear in every copy. People need to understand my message. If I make a difference in just one person, I'll feel like I did my job as an author.

Without further ado:

I see our world falling apart with hate. I’m not a person who preaches there should be no war or we should share in free love. What I am is someone who understands just because one person is different from another, it doesn’t make them less than human and doesn’t make them less deserving of my acceptance. I don’t hate or judge because I wouldn’t like to be hated or judged myself.

Everyone makes choices. Every single person on the planet is different in their own way. I choose my religion and my beliefs. There are some things I didn’t choose. Those things are what make me different from you, and what make you different from the person next to you.

Maybe you’ve made a choice I don’t believe in or that goes against my strong values. I’m going to try to understand you either way. No one told me it was up to me to shove my beliefs or values down your throat. So, for example, if you’re a Christian person and I’m an Atheist or Agnostic, would you want me to tell you you’re wrong for being a Christian? No. You’d want me to understand and realize your choices aren’t mine and you’re free to do and believe what you want. You’d want me to leave you alone so you can practice your beliefs with security and safety.

I wish for nothing more than a world where people understand the Golden Rule and actually live by it. As you read my Mystic series, try to understand what hate does when brought down upon the head of someone who is different or who makes choices other than what you might have made. Try to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Learn how hate can grow and be nearly impossible to stop. Study how to be accepting to those who didn’t choose the path you did. Discover their reasoning instead of casting them off. I promise you, they are struggling anyway. Don’t make their struggle more difficult than it already is.

WSTW (Women Save the World) is not a real company as of the date of this book’s publication. I wish it were. We all have strength in us and the only way we’re going to be able to battle hatred is when we quit hating each other and ourselves. Hate manifests just like the creature in this series. Start looking around and you’ll see it, too.

I’m sure I’m living in a fantasy land, wishing for all of the above; but I am a writer, after all, and if I cannot find solace in my words, I fear there may be nothing left to hope for. What a sad ending that would be…

Pick up a copy of Mystic ~ Bronya when it releases on Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Read it. Come back here and tell me how you felt about what happens to Bronya.

Have you ever been put down for your choices or ridiculed? Did you change your beliefs or did it just make you angry? What did you do in response?

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

Jo

Tough Scenes and Emotional Therapy

Yesterday, I wrote a difficult scene for Mystic ~ Lily and the residual horror of it has yet to vacate my mind. When I spoke with Sandi on Monday, she asked me what the most difficult part of writing is. Listen to the interview here. This is it. I find it very hard to get over the emotional baggage my writing sometimes leaves behind.

Why is that?

Because, like most writers, I experience what my characters do. I am in their shoes or watching the scene through their eyes. It's this situation that I discussed last week on my post about author empathy.

I have to tell you, 9-11 had a serious impact on me. I felt it for months afterward. All those people dying, screaming, running, etc... Then, the people in the US flooded hospitals to donate blood. I felt the pride, too.

I will say it again, writers that cannot feel, cannot write. I believe that with every iota of my being. In order to properly convey love on the page, we have to be able to understand what it means to love. That's not to say we have to fall in love ourselves (though that helps), but we do need to be able to empathize with others and feel what they do. When we must convey pain, it should be something we have felt; if not through our own struggles, then someone we identified with. It's necessary to feel the emotions flowing through our fingers onto the page.

It makes it difficult to move on after writing a particularly difficult scene.

In Yassa, I crafted a scene where Temujin is exacting revenge on some men who stole his wife and sold her at auction. He slaughters their whole families. I shuddered, I got angry, and I felt his satisfaction when he tortured the man who bought her.

Those feelings lingered for days and only faded with time.

So, my question to you writers out there (AND you readers) is this: When you read or write a very emotional scene, do you take those feelings with you? If so, how do you shake them off after?

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

Jo

Branding for Authors Top 5 Reasons to Brand

Any of you that interact with me on Twitter, FaceBook or those who follow my blog, have most likely noticed a recent change in the appearance of my presence.

I have branded. My color scheme is harmonious through all platforms and my logo is clearly visible. If you've read The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book you'll realize branding is something I tout as being very important. Why?

1. Instant Recognition. This may not seem important to a lot of people but you should take it into consideration. This applies especially if you have a common name. I want to know the John Smith I found is the author I'm looking for and not someone with the same name who just happens to be a construction worker.
2. Harmony. Your colors should be pleasing to the eye and your logo should compliment them. You want people to look at your page and think Wow. That looks really nice!
3. Decisions Made Easy. When you mail an official letter or send an e-mail your look and colors will match that of your branding. Never again will you have to choose a color scheme! Plus, how cool is it that your logo can go on t-shirts and mugs and such?
4. Stationary. Your business card will take on a whole new life and so will your letterhead. Bonus, you can put your logo on bookmarks, on the corners of your printed books, and even on the corners of posters and such!
5. Displaying Personality. You have the chance to tell people a lot about yourself in zero words. When someone sees your logo and/or blog, they're gonna have an instant idea of your personality. Your logo and colors should reflect upon who you are and put it out there to the world.

Now, that's just five reasons you should brand yourself as an author. I'm sure you can name many more. Why did you brand? Why not?

If you need tips on branding and ideas on choosing a color scheme, find out all you need to know in The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book. It's pocket change on kindle, just $2.99. I priced it as such so struggling indies have a place they can turn without breaking the bank.

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

Jo

Chatterbox

Good morning, Monday!

I usually don't like you but today you've left me with so much to be excited about. First off, my interview with Merlene Fawdry has been posted over on her blog In the Rough. Thank you for that. Here's a snap of the interview (you'll have to go see her to read the rest):

What writing group/s do you belong to?

I belong to the Indie Author Critique Group on FaceBook. It’s a closed group so authors can feel comfortable ranting or asking openly about things they may not want readers to hear them say. I’m the moderator and an active participant there. I also belong to the Children’s Authors and Illustrators group on FaceBook (another closed group).

What is the structure of this writing group?

It’s an online group where members can go and ask one another for reviews or critique on various components of their books (covers, writing, editing, marketing, etc...). Oddly enough, we’re also a bit of a support group for one another. I find people posting when they’re down and others stepping in to offer words of encouragement and support.

Is this writing group associated with a state or national organisation?

No.

Does this group have affiliations with peak writing associated bodies?

No.

How many members does this writing group have?

There are currently 30 members of IAC and most are pretty active. I’m rather selective about who I approve. CA&I has 1,000+ members.

Does the writing group have a clearly defined goal in writing?

No. If we have a Work In Progress we’d like feedback for...

And you'll have to go to In the Rough to read the rest!! You rock, Merlene!!

Sorry, Monday, but that's just the way it is. I can't be usurping on her idea for my own content!

The second thing I have to look forward to today is my radio interview with Sandi Tuttle over on An Average Woman in a Superwoman World. We go live at 9am Eastern time so you need to go tune in to catch us. You won't be available at 9? That's cool. You can go listen to the archives.

Here's the link to tune in: JO AND SANDI ~ DOUBLE TROUBLE

Sandi is awesome. Don't forget to leave her some love!

Don't forget, Mystic ~ Bronya releases in print and for Kindle in just ONE week! Keep your eyes open for that one!

Well, that's all for today, Monday! See you next week! For everyone else, I'll see you all tomorrow! Until then, WRITE ON!

Jo

I'm Gonna Fire You Up

Mystic ~ Bronya is edited and ready to roll off the presses after some formatting. It's a novelette of just over 17,000 words so it shouldn't take you long to get through it. What I'm hoping, however, is that you do read it and you do take something away from it.

My goal here is to show you what happens on the other side of the wall you're staring at. I will show you what it's like when someone ridicules you or tells you you're a heathen, grotesque, immoral, or that you brought everything that happened to you on yourself when you find yourself in circumstances beyond your control or understanding. This series is intended to let you see into the world of another person who may be different from you, and what the ultimate consequences of not stepping around that wall could be.

If you disagree with my message, that's your right. Many people will. That's okay. Bronya goes through some pretty tough times and experiences a lot in her short tale. Lily is struggling with different issues but they are just as difficult to stomach.

Mystic ~ Lily is currently sitting at just over 3,000 words that have made me cry, shake, get angry, and be sad. Her tale is a lot like Bronya's because Lily's choices also change her life and the people that surround her can't accept her anymore.

I consider myself lucky because I have a voice that speaks loudly and clearly and I'm not afraid to use it.

If you're a writer and you're reading this blog, I challenge you to write something you believe in with all your heart. Buck the consequences, get out there, and fire people up with your message. Books have shaped the world as we know it.

The pen is mightier than the sword. Use your pen and make a difference.

Everyone has an opinion. Yes, they are like assholes in that everyone has one but no one wants to hear them. Make people want to hear yours. Make them listen. Present your case in a compelling way. Show them something they don't already know or give them information they may not have been privy to before.

I double-dog dare you.

I can almost guarantee it'll be the best writing that's ever dripped from your fingertips onto a keyboard. You have passion, use it.

Now that I've gotten you all worked up and your brain going a million mph, I invite you to check out my interview posted over on the Chapter Book Challenge blog. Go give it a read and tell Becky I said, "Hello!"

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

Jo

Empathy in Spades

As you all know, the first book in my new series, Mystic, is due to release this month. I'm thinking sometime around August 21 but that could change depending on the amount of time it takes me to get it formatted and the back cover worked out for the print version. Keep your eyes here for the release announcement!

I've had my usual reader and my usual editor ripping me apart for the sake of everything that's good and forcing me, in their wisdom, to re-write a number of sections. Something that they've both said while reading my series has given me reason to pause and consider.

"I can see you and your struggles in this book."

I have wracked my brain to figure out why in the world they would say that. I've never had to struggle with coming out to my family and friends and I've never lost my looks due to a horrific accident. Then, like a lightning bolt thrown by the mighty Zeus, it hit me: I can put myself in someone's shoes and feel right along with them. As a writer, when I'm crafting a scene, I'm in the body and mindset of the character. I feel what they feel and allow my fingers to relay that to the page.

Writing is taxing, emotionally, some days because of this.

Sometimes, I have to pause and play the entire scene out in my head, thinking about what I would do next and how I would feel if I were experiencing what the character is going through.

Writers have empathy in spades. Writers tend to feel very deeply. Writers must identify.

If you all remember my post a while back about Writers that Cannot Feel... Cannot Write, you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about. We must be able to communicate those emotions effectively to the page. Remember my post about keeping a feelings bible? I practice what I preach and keep one myself. When I need a great sadness or a great fear to come across on the page, I delve into my feelings bible and come out with the mindset to empathize with my character. It gets easier to call on it when I need it with time.

But, I digress.

My point to all this rambling is, I know very few novel writers who are judgmental. They tend to accept you for exactly who you are. Writers listen as well as they talk. It's so rare to have people who are genuinely interested in our life story, when we come across them, we word vomit. It's a safe haven for venting. Sure, you may show up in a book at some point because you spilled the beans to an author, but your name will be changed. Hell, you might even acquire a super-power.

Journalists may be a whole different story. Just sayin'...

I read a post today over on Depression Cookies where Tia talks about meeting writers and how they feel like friends after just a short period of time. It has to be the empathy factor.

But when you tell your life story to someone who writes novels, or let loose with an admission of something you feel badly about doing, you're more likely to get a pat on the hand than a slap in the face. It's because they traveled with you during your tale; they felt what you felt. Hopefully, when your life shows up on the page of a book, other people feel it, too.

After all, that's our job, right?

Have you ever had someone tell you they felt very strongly what your character felt and could identify with them? How did that make you feel?

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

Jo