Sky Purington's Blog, page 44

The Power of a Book Cover

Hello all! I hope you kicked off the first day of summer in style. I spent mine poolside with my son. Day one of summer 2012 was all about the steamy heat wave sweeping over New Hampshire and my silly attempt to enjoy an orange creamsicle before it melted. Let’s just say the heat wave won. *winks*
But my summer also kicked off with yet another fabulous Tamra Westberry cover. I’ll tell you what, the woman ‘has my back.’ She NEVER lets me down. I tell her I love a cover, she says okay then sends me another version which I love even more. I tell her “This is perfect!” she silently shakes her head and adds more to it. By the time she’s finished my jaw has officially dropped.
I love her work.

Then again, I’m a sucker for a great book cover. After all, there’s power in a book cover. If there are people on it they should engage through emotion. If there’s scenery, it should make you stare and stare. A good book cover should capture a potential reader. That is the face of an author’s story, the selling point.

But you know that.

So I’m sharing another book cover with you. It’s a remake of an older cover. It's also a rewrite of an older story. But the cover is fresh and striking and the story is longer. In fact, Darkest Memory is the first tale in one of my new series titled Forsaken Brethren. It follows a lineage of vampires who are shunned from their fellow vampires because they broke an ancient code. I can’t wait to tackle this series over the years!

In addition, I’m continuing on with my Scottish books in The MacLomain Series: Early Years. All of those characters you’ve come to adore who didn’t have a love story told before do now. Upcoming romances include Adlin's love story as well as Isabel's. Then there's Alan Stewart. Did you really think he died in Destiny's Denial? *grins*

And just wait until you see those sexy Highlander covers!

Before I say goodbye I hope you have your calendars out. Why? A Writer’s Mind HOT SUMMER NIGHTS blog event launches July 9th! The itinerary is top-notch with many best-selling authors scheduled to appear. All will be dishing out prizes so be sure to swing in for a chance to win.

See you soon!

Hugs,

Sky

To Blog or Not To Blog?

The countdown is on. It’s officially one week from the beginning of summer. Woo hoo! 
I feel like every time I post I’m saying sorry for not blogging more often but truly I am. Between finishing one novel, editing another novella and starting a new novel, my time is swamped. On top of that I have a six-year old son whom I love to spend time with. Which brings me to my latest topic, which I’m sure applies to many…
Should I worry about blogging right now?
For me, the answer is an inequitable YES.
Life can get super busy but my blog readers are just as important as my book readers and I’m sure some of you are one and the same. Either way, this blog is my passion and the past five years of chat have been a blast. Yep, A Writer's Mind blog is coming up on an anniversary in October but that’s better left for another post!
This go around I thought to keep the subject simple… to blog or not to blog?

How important is it to readers and writers alike? Does it make or break us? I tend to think it’s a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the ‘real world.’ I think… no, I know… that I’ve picked up an author’s book not because I found her novel at Amazon or Barnes & Noble but because I popped into her blog and read a post.
Funny thing about posts?
THAT IS AN AUTHOR’S REAL VOICE!

It’s a place on the net where he/she is letting down their guard and being genuine with readers. There’s less pressure than you’d find in publishing forums. It’s one on one and vulnerable… real. Chances are, if you hit your favorite author’s blog, you will finally hear who they really are, not their characters! I know it might not be your cup of tea. After all, you’re risking disappointment.
You should take the risk.

I have and loved it. Then again, I didn’t have a bad experience. What about you? Have you gone to an author’s blog and went “Whaaaa? Oh no she didn’t just say that!” And it totally burst your bubble, essentially crippling you from reading more of her work.
Feel free to share your take on blogging in general. I’m a fan of both writing and reading blogs. I enjoy the whimsy bloggers whip out when they have their own little writing nook in the cyberworld. But some feel blogs are a waste of time.

What are your thoughts? Blog or don’t blog?

What's Your Perfect Ending in a Book Series?

That’s right. I got it done. I rock. Check me out. Party time!

Um... really?
*Snorts* C’mon. Seriously? I’m not that author. Never have been. Never will be.
But I AM both pleased and sad to announce that I’ve typed the very last word in my latest Calum’s Curse trilogy novel, The Tudor Revival (Calum's Curse:Ultima Bellum). Aye, I know, I should be popping the cork off the champagne bottle. But I’m not.
I never do.
This is the second such experience that I’ve had with closing up a series.

As it turns out, by popular demand, I will continue on with The MacLomain Series. Great! But my Calum’s Curse Trilogy has consumed my every thought for over two years. That’s a lot of time and heartfelt investment.

Now these characters are being let out into the world in their entirety. Yep, I feel like a mom sending my child off to his first day at school. I’m saying goodbye. Can you blame me for feeling a little freaked out? It’s a terribly vulnerable sensation. But it’s also such a profoundly proud moment. If you’ve written a book, you know what I'm talking about. 

If you’ve ever written a series, you REALLY know the feeling.

Through all of this I continue to ponder… what is the perfect ending to a book series?

As a two-time survivor, I can safely say it’s about finding the ultimate closure. No questions should be left unanswered. However, the reader’s imagination should be allowed a wee bit of freedom at the end. Wrap it up loosely and tidily. Don’t cinch up the series with a magician's knot.

Nothing should ever be final.

I think that when readers are with characters years on end, they deserve to control the outcome within reason. That means two things. First, the author listens to feedback from fans. Second, nothing, not even a book, should have a STOP sign at the end.

The reader should walk away as happy as the author. (Don’t mind me. I get too attached to my characters *winks* Sentimental fool.)

There should be a sense of closure with a pebbled bright road ahead. A shimmering, powerful story should draw in the reader, from start to finish.

But every ending can seem jarring, especially for a series. It takes tact and finesse to pull it off.

Frankly, I don't know if I've pulled it off. Guess time will tell.

What do you think? Are you a book series reader or writer (of any genre)? If so, what sort of ending makes you content? Angry? Sappy? Full of joy?

What's your perfect ending in a book series?

SIDEBAR...Yawning Dark Fissure in the Sun. The Milky Way is Crashing?

Astronomer's Corner Time!
There is a newly formed fissure in the sun. The Milky Way is colliding (AKA- crashing). An iceberg did flip over. An unmapped asteroid appeared three days ago.
Bet the title of this post got your attention. Very good! Astonomer's Corner is part of my quarterly newsletter and always worth the 'check it out!' While I have your attention, (off topic) this summer is going to be smokin’ hot with romance writers popping in to say ‘HEY!’ and offering up some mad giveaways in my Hot Summer Nights blog event. But for now, in these rare few weeks when I’m crunching to finish my latest novel, it’s super laid back at A Writer’s Mind.

It’s all about the latest and greatest and the wha??? That’s right, the eye-popping stuff.

Because I do take what's going on beyond this planet and right here on Earth very seriously I like to share what I come across. There's amazing stuff going on around us folks. Seriously. So worth paying attention to!

First off, my fav, the asteroid that was discovered shortly before it passed Earth two days ago. Yep, you heard me correctly, this little bugger was closer to us than many of our satellites and we discovered it 24 hours prior. Go technology, go! No pun intended. I think.

Here’s the recap…

University of Colorado Prof. Richard Keen has done something unusual. He observed an asteroid flyby with nothing but optics and the human eye.

SMALL ASTEROID BUZZES EARTH: Newly-discovered asteroid 2012 KT42 is flying past Earth today (May 29th) only ~14,000 km above the planet's surface. This means 2012 KT42 will actually fly inside the Clark Belt of geosynchronous satellites. The 3- to 10-meter wide asteroid ranks # 6 on the top 20 list of closest-approachers to Earth. According to the asteroid's orbit, there is no danger of a collision. Even if it did hit, this space rock is too small to cause significant damage. It would likely disintegrate almost entirely in the atmosphere, peppering the ground below with relatively small meteorites.

Awesome discovery. Thank goodness it was small!

Other cool things (Again, I think. Not too sure.) ….

Iceberg flips.

By Eric Pfeiffer

“A tourist has captured some rare and startling video of an iceberg tipping over. The tourist was traveling on a boat near the Upsala Glacier in Argentina and caught the unexpected moment.”

Very cool. Click HERE to read more and view video! (Worth the watch. You'll probably never see this again. Hope you don't.)


The Milky Way is doomed to crash with Andromeda…
“Our Milky Way is bound for a head-on collision with the similar-sized Andromeda galaxy, researchers announced today (May 31). Over time, the huge galactic smashup will create an entirely new hybrid galaxy, one likely bearing an elliptical shape rather than the Milky Way's trademark spiral-armed disk.” Says Mike Wall.

Click HERE to read more!

And of course, I saved the best for last (until the Venus transit of course).

According to my favorite site, Spaceweather.com…

CORONAL HOLE: Spewing solar wind, a yawning dark fissure in the sun's atmosphere is turning toward Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the "coronal hole" during the early hours of June 1st.

Awesome! I love all of it. Label me odd but I adore all things nature and outer space. Lots of stuff in the news lately!

Be in touch soon with more from the wicked world of romance writing and unusual star gazing. Until then, be good my friends.

xo

An American Male? Heck Yeah!

I’m luvin'-life proud to announce that I’ve nearly finished the third book in my Calum’s Curse Trilogy titled, The Tudor Revival . This novel has been a long time coming and it’s surprised me at every turn. Why you ask? Well, frankly, I never knew an American hero could be SO FREAKIN’ HOT!
I know, odd thing for an American female romance writer to say but seriously… who knew? I’ve lived in the land of sexy highland Scots for so long that when I came up for a breath of air (that sounded dirty, but you know what I mean) it turned out the series had led me to a male born and bred on my very own soil.
A Boston guy to boot!
But the fact of the matter is I do love my New England boys. In fact, I married one. Perhaps it was because we shared a local, traditions, viewpoints, but mostly because I thought he was so damned fine.
Back to the point of why I posted this article. I’ve published over ten titles and all have had foreign heroes. Scotland, England, Ireland, France, Italy, you name it. Without doubt it’s because I've traveled and dated men from other countries but more than that it had to do with the country’s wonderful heritage and my extreme passion for the foreign experience. And c’mon ladies, those international loves keep on keepin’ on!
Now that I’m writing about an American guy, I’ll admit that there's a wicked freedom to it. Not only is he USA born but Seth is into the paranormal. He’s the dare-devil of ghost hunters. Almost like a sexy, supernatural warlock version of Zach from Ghost Adventures… you know the type. *winks*

I don’t have to worry about an accent with Seth. After all you can’t read how we ‘get tha butta out of the fridge’ here in New England. *hee hee* I can blissfully leave Goodwill Hunting’s attempt at our accent OUT of my book. Phew! I’m just saying it like I see it… like I know it.

I’m finally writing about a male who I know drove down F'ing 93 at rush hour. He dealt with traffic on Storrow Drive when the Red Sox were playing. And yep, he was RIGHT THERE when the New England Patriots were welcomed home after too many Super Bowl wins to count. Heck yeah, he sure as hell gloated!

Not gonna lie… all of this gives me the warm fuzzies. It’s super comfy writing about the American male. He’s nothing short of dish-me-up-sum-more wonderful. A truly tantalizing hero!

Truth told, I'll continue to travel the seas in my writing but this whole American hero thing is intoxicating and fun. No doubt about it, I’ll be back.

What are your thoughts? Does nationality really matter? In my world it always has, specifically that tasty breed out of the UK. But name the male, name the country, I’d bet he deserves his hay day…even my very own super delicious American males.

xo

Author Apps. Are They For You?

I'd jump on board! Wouldn't you?
I recently indulged in the latest marketing tool because I feel it’s the wave of the future. And what is that you ask? My very own app!
It sounds amazing. In fact, it sounds downright ‘best seller’ aye? I mean seriously, people live on their cell phones now. I know I do. Yep, guilty. In fact, if my cell phone is out of my reach for over an hour I start going all wild eyed.
Am I alone?
Somehow I doubt it. Since the creation of the iPhone and Android, the world has entered the next level of technology. Yee haw! Absolutely LOVE it. And still not sure how I survived my childhood in the Atari and DOS ‘80’s. *winks* (Lots of ‘Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.’)
But we’ve arrived in an era in which I’m super thrilled to call my own. Things are going faster and faster. Every day there’s more and more. As far as tech goes, that’s just fine. A little overwhelming sometimes but still OMG’ish, right?
So now I have an author app. Yep, I took the digi plunge. Was it cheap? Not really. At an average of $400 a year, I’m hoping it will pay for itself. After all, people are starting to read books on their cell phones. In its own way an author app serves two purposes. The first, an instant Newsletter with daily status updates for fans AND a quick ‘click’ for readers to download your books while you’re on their minds. It’s all about quick turnover in this day and age. People want ‘right now quality’ and if it’s not a click away, they’re moving onto the next interesting thing. (No offense, I’m the same way. It just is what it is.)
My concern?
The mad crazy amount of apps out there. My husband looked at me when I started this venture and said, “You do know that there are billions of apps out there, right?”
“Sure,” I responded while secretly cringing.
Now I’m thinking, is this one more thing that needs to be overly promoted or does it fall into the category of ‘found easily by readers.’ Is everyone diving into the same pond at once? What makes an app survive? What makes an app drown?
I’d love to hear feedback on this topic from authors and readers alike. What do YOU think about author apps? Is it just too new to risk right now, writers? And readers, would you be thrilled to find that your favorite author had an app? Would you download it or would other apps take priority? Feel free to check out my recently launched app on Android and iTunes.

I’m excited to see how it does. And, despite my reservations, I’m THRILLED to be part of the future. *grins*

Sky

It's All About YOU This Mother's Day.

I hope that all of you mom’s out there are completely spoiled this Mother’s Day. Luckily the weather here in the northeast is supposed to be fairly nice so I intend to take a break from writing and enjoy some gardening. I know that doesn’t sound very self-indulgent but it really is for me. There’s something about getting my hands dirty (no gloves for this gal!) that I love. Giving plants a new home is so soothing and therapeutic.

This year my Birthday falls on Mother’s Day so I’m even more thrilled by my plans. However, my six year old son is less than impressed. How could I NOT want cake and presents??? I know who really wants to eat the cake! *winks*

So what are your perfect plans for Mother’s Day?

Three lucky commenters will be chosen. The prize? Any book from my backlist! (You don’t have to be a mom to comment)

Contest ends Tuesday, May 15, 12 PM EST.

Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend!

Sky

Want More Readers? HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Blog Event.

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Blog Event
Ready for some hot summer nights at A Writer’s Mind?
It’s been some time since I hosted one of my infamous ‘A Writer’s Mind’ blog events and I miss them. I enjoyed connecting with all of my wonderful co-authors and I miss the fabulous readers who always pop in especially for these events.

So here’s what I’m thinking…

I’d like to feature authors with books that take place during the warmer months of the year. Any romance genre goes. Any publication date, be it ten years ago or tomorrow, is fine. I want readers to buy your books and relate with the setting. Relate with the romance that blossoms when the air is hot and humid and the nights are long and romantic. Naturally, this blog event is an ‘in’ for all authors with settings in the Deep South or warmer parts of the world. *winks*

This blog event will start June 1st and run through the summer. Up to two authors will be featured a week. The guidelines to participate are simple. Please lead out with a brief intro about WHY you wrote your book. Include one book cover, blurb, excerpt, Buy clicks (up to 3) and four links (I recommend your Website, Facebook, Twitter and Blog) but any links are totally fine.

Like my Christmas event, I’m asking that all participants include a giveaway. Anything you like!

If interested, please email me at Sky@SkyPurington.com with your information and I’ll shoot you a date.

Cheers,
Sky

Soar Into Ecstasy then Virtual Passion! Reece Herring

Remember how I said I'd be doing a ‘Sky’s SHOUT OUT’ at this blog now? My own little boisterous way of screeching, “Check this out!!!” Well, here it is again.

This time I’d like to share a truly wonderful author with you. Reece Herring is all about fantasy romance and she doesn’t mess around. Her work makes your mind look twice. Yep, she’s that good.

Reece and I were co-authors in The Song of Muses Series four years ago and like me, she again published her contribution, Soar Into Ecstasy, recently. Reece is a gem. I adore her. She is, without doubt, the best of the best.

While Soar Into Ecstasy totally rocked, be sure to check out Virtual Cat-astrophe. It’ll always be one of my favorites!

SOAR INTO ECSTASY
Beautiful and headstrong priestess, Rheasan, is honor bound to fulfill the virgin sacrifice her temple offers to their Goddess. That sacrifice and her honor are placed in serious jeopardy when Elisaph, a glorious winged man, falls into her life. Despite conflicting obligations to enemy Goddesses, their mutual attraction is undeniable.

Yet their fiery passion seems destined to remain unquenched as Rheasan and Elisaph struggle with their growing love for one another and their obligation to their individual Goddesses. The jealous Goddess, Euphrosyn decides to test Elisaph's loyalty by putting Rheasan in harms way. Elisaph must then decide what is paramount; his newfound love of Rheasan or his love for his Goddess. His life and her future hang in the balance.

EXCERPT:

“Where am I, Rheasan?” Elisaph asked in a low careful voice, his posture rigid.

“My room,” she replied just as carefully, not quite meeting his eyes.

“I meant, where are your rooms located?”

“Oh, well just past the dining hall and several corridors from the servant’s entrance,” she replied, biting the corner of her lip.

“Do not test me, woman! What place is this you have brought me to?”

“The Woodland Temple,” she answered, her voice wavering.

“Of which God or Goddess?” He demanded.

“Teavana.” She murmured.

In a flash of wings and molten limbs, she was pinned forcefully against the wall, preventing any escape from his fury. Her fear and excitement was instantly fueled by his sudden violence.

“You brought me inside the temple of the Goddess Teavana?” He shoved her against the wall.

“Me, the anointed of Euphrsyn, inside the temple of another Goddess? Have you any idea what you’ve done?”

“I saved your life, which you seem not to appreciate.” She flared, a surge of anger burning up all fear. “You are hurting me. Release me. Now.” She tried to push him away, and was alarmed to see that, even in his weakened state, she moved him not at all.

“You do not command me, woman. No one commands me now, for I no longer have any honor. So as you have taken my honor, perhaps I shall take yours.”

Pick up your copy at AMAZON

VIRTUAL CAT-ASTROPHE
When Carrie finds the man of her dreams on an internet playground, she puts aside her fears,and connects with Lorne on a level beyond the physical. Fate deals a wild card though. With her clumsy cat acting as catalysts and a well timed bolt of lightening,Carrie is sucked into cyberspace, forced to come face to face with Lorne. Would destiny be kind or had it thrown her into a virtual catastrophe?
Pick up your copy at AMAZON

Ready to Enter the Debris Field? April 21st!

Ancient Comet Thatcher has sped by and we’re hurdling into her dust!

For my regulars, it’s that time again… Astronomer’s Corner. For those of you joining me for the first time, Astronomer’s Corner is the ‘little extra’ tossed into my quarterly newsletters. As an amateur astronomer, I can’t help but chat randomly about the latest and most fantastical things happening all around our beautiful planet.

This go around I had to share what should be an awesome display in the night sky on April 21st and 22nd. No telescope necessary! So for all you romantic stargazers out there, grab your love and find a cozy spot in the great outdoors for this.

According to Spaceweather.com (one of my all-time favorite sites) “Earth is approaching the debris field of ancient Comet Thatcher, source of the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on April 21-22; a nearly-new moon on those dates will provide perfect dark-sky conditions for meteor watching. Usually the shower is mild (10-20 meteors per hour) but unmapped filaments of dust in the comet's tail sometimes trigger outbursts 10 times stronger.”
This steadfast comet has been providing Earth with an April space shower for nearly 2,600 years. Yep, all those BC folks were able to enjoy this as much as you can tomorrow night. How cool is that??? Yeah, yeah, label me a space geek. But seriously, you might even see a fireball. Who doesn’t like a good fireball? *winks*
And…as it turns out, Saturn is ripe in the skies. She’ll be twice as bright and visible. So amazing. Sky says, "Bring it!"

Guess where I’ll be for this? Virginia Beach. I can’t wait. So excited!

This video on the upcoming event is two minutes long and really good. Gives you the basic FYI's. Provided, of course, by the fabulous talent over at NASA.