Maria Savva's Blog, page 39
January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
Just wanted to wish all my followers a very happy 2013.
Thirteen is traditionally thought of as an unlucky number, for example, many people dread Friday 13th as they fear something bad might happen on that day. Did you know that there is an actual phobia called "Triskaidekaphobia", meaning fear of the number 13? I've been having a bit of a read about the number 13, as we've now entered the 13th year of this century, and I've discovered some interesting things.
Oddly enough, More road accidents occur on Friday the 13th than on any other day of the year.
It has been estimated by various sources that U.S. businesses lose millions of dollars because of canceled appointments, absenteeism, etc. on Friday, the 13th.
The ancient Hebrews thought 13 was unlucky because the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter M, which is the first letter in the word "mavet," meaning death.
There is a superstition that if 13 people gather, one of them will die within a year. Some French aristocrats would hire themselves out as the fourteenth diner at an event, because it was believed that when thirteen diners sat together, one of them would die. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was quite fearful of the number 13, and he took great pains to avoid hosting a meal for a group of that size.
Scandanavians believed that the number 13 is unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th evil one.
Eerily, 13 turns make a traditional hangman's noose. Anything less would not snap a neck...
A witches coven consists of 13 members.
Streets or housing estates in several countries skip house number 13 as the number is omitted completely.
Hotels will not have a floor 13 and skip from floor 12 to floor 14 due to the universal superstition of bad luck.
Vehicle License plates in the Republic of Ireland are such that the first two digits represent the year of registration of the vehicle (i.e. 11 is a 2011 registered car, 12 is 2012 and so on). The Irish Government last year were considering scraping the number 13 car registrations for cars sold this year, as they feared that it would put people off buying cars. They instead proposed that cars registered between January and the end of June will have a '131' registration. Those from July 1 to the end of the year should have '132' on the plate. I'm not sure whether this proposal finally went ahead, but it was certainly seriously considered.
In a tarot card deck, XIII is the card of Death, usually picturing the Pale horse with its rider.
In Formula One, the number 13 is not used. As such, the numbering goes 11, 12, 14, 15 under the current numbering system.
So, it appears that there is a lot of superstition surrounding the number 13. It's not all bad, though. In some cultures 13 is actually considered to be a lucky number. For example, in Italy. Some people even have 13 tattooed onto them to represent the lucky number. (Although in Campania the expression 'tredici' -- meaning 13 -- is said when one considers their luck to have turned for the worse.)
Several successful sports figures have worn the number 13. For example, basketball great Wilt Chamberlain wore the number 13 on his jersey throughout his NBA career.
In rugby league, each side has 13 players on the field at any given time.
In Judaism, 13 signifies the age at which a boy matures and becomes a Bar Mitzvah.
The number 13 in the Coperos religion (small culture in Brazil) is like a God number. All coperos must know that this number can save humankind.
American country-pop singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was born on December 13. She considers 13 her lucky number due to lucky events happening to her when the number appears (her first album going gold in 13 weeks, being seated at awards shows in the 13th seat, row or section). She also wears the number written on her hand at her concerts so she has it with her everywhere she goes.
So, it appears that people around the world cannot make up their minds about this number. It certainly is a number that has somehow captured people's imaginations.
I hope 2013 will be a lucky year for all of you!
Thirteen is traditionally thought of as an unlucky number, for example, many people dread Friday 13th as they fear something bad might happen on that day. Did you know that there is an actual phobia called "Triskaidekaphobia", meaning fear of the number 13? I've been having a bit of a read about the number 13, as we've now entered the 13th year of this century, and I've discovered some interesting things.
Oddly enough, More road accidents occur on Friday the 13th than on any other day of the year.
It has been estimated by various sources that U.S. businesses lose millions of dollars because of canceled appointments, absenteeism, etc. on Friday, the 13th.
The ancient Hebrews thought 13 was unlucky because the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter M, which is the first letter in the word "mavet," meaning death.
There is a superstition that if 13 people gather, one of them will die within a year. Some French aristocrats would hire themselves out as the fourteenth diner at an event, because it was believed that when thirteen diners sat together, one of them would die. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was quite fearful of the number 13, and he took great pains to avoid hosting a meal for a group of that size.
Scandanavians believed that the number 13 is unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th evil one.
Eerily, 13 turns make a traditional hangman's noose. Anything less would not snap a neck...
A witches coven consists of 13 members.
Streets or housing estates in several countries skip house number 13 as the number is omitted completely.
Hotels will not have a floor 13 and skip from floor 12 to floor 14 due to the universal superstition of bad luck.
Vehicle License plates in the Republic of Ireland are such that the first two digits represent the year of registration of the vehicle (i.e. 11 is a 2011 registered car, 12 is 2012 and so on). The Irish Government last year were considering scraping the number 13 car registrations for cars sold this year, as they feared that it would put people off buying cars. They instead proposed that cars registered between January and the end of June will have a '131' registration. Those from July 1 to the end of the year should have '132' on the plate. I'm not sure whether this proposal finally went ahead, but it was certainly seriously considered.
In a tarot card deck, XIII is the card of Death, usually picturing the Pale horse with its rider.
In Formula One, the number 13 is not used. As such, the numbering goes 11, 12, 14, 15 under the current numbering system.
So, it appears that there is a lot of superstition surrounding the number 13. It's not all bad, though. In some cultures 13 is actually considered to be a lucky number. For example, in Italy. Some people even have 13 tattooed onto them to represent the lucky number. (Although in Campania the expression 'tredici' -- meaning 13 -- is said when one considers their luck to have turned for the worse.)
Several successful sports figures have worn the number 13. For example, basketball great Wilt Chamberlain wore the number 13 on his jersey throughout his NBA career.
In rugby league, each side has 13 players on the field at any given time.
In Judaism, 13 signifies the age at which a boy matures and becomes a Bar Mitzvah.
The number 13 in the Coperos religion (small culture in Brazil) is like a God number. All coperos must know that this number can save humankind.
American country-pop singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was born on December 13. She considers 13 her lucky number due to lucky events happening to her when the number appears (her first album going gold in 13 weeks, being seated at awards shows in the 13th seat, row or section). She also wears the number written on her hand at her concerts so she has it with her everywhere she goes.
So, it appears that people around the world cannot make up their minds about this number. It certainly is a number that has somehow captured people's imaginations.
I hope 2013 will be a lucky year for all of you!
December 30, 2012
"Coincidences" featured in Top 10 books of 2012!
I was thrilled to see that author Susan Buchanan included my novel, Coincidences in her top 10 reads of 2012! This is a great compliment, as I know Susan reads a lot of books, and she is a talented author.
Here's a link to her top 10 list:
http://susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk/...
Here's a link to her top 10 list:
http://susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk/...
Five Albums I'm Loving Right Now...
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited by Simon Sweetman, of "Off the Tracks" blog, to write a guest post for his series, "Five Albums I'm Loving Right Now". As a music lover, I could not resist this.
Here's a link to my post:
http://www.offthetracks.co.nz/five-al...
Here's a link to my post:
http://www.offthetracks.co.nz/five-al...
December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas!
I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to all of my readers and fellow authors. Thank you for following my blog this year and making it lots of fun.
I will be bringing you more interviews with great authors and other artists next year, more giveaways, as well as publishing at least one more book, so I'll have news about that.
Have a wonderful Christmas, everyone!
December 23, 2012
Meet author Justin Bog & enter to win a copy of Sandcastle and Other Stories!
My guest today is the talented writer, Justin Bog. I fell in love with the cover of his short story collection, Sandcastle and Other Stories, and just had to read it. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case I'm glad I did, because the stories are well worth reading. This is an author who has gone from being self-published to being offered a publishing contract recently. I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who loves great storytelling.
After reading his book, I was keen to interview Justin. He has generously offered to give away one e-book copy of Sandcastle and Other Stories to one lucky reader of my blog. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below or simply 'like' this blog post. A winner will be picked on 15th January 2013.
Here's my recent interview with Justin:
Sandcastle and Other Stories, is your first published book. Did you write the stories intending them to be a collection, or are they stories you wrote at different times and just put them together in a collection?
Some of these early stories harken back to one-page wonderings back in my grad school days, stories I didn't even submit anywhere because they were too raw and unformed. Over the years I would revisit some of them and revise, add, cut, mold, deepen character motivation and emotion, but I never felt like self-publishing. I did not submit them for publication the traditional way either. I told myself I was writing just for me or to amuse the occasional friend who said they would love to read my writing. These friends were few and far between. If you want to clear a crowded beach or cafe just yell out: 'I have a manuscript!'
After someone taught me what a blog was, I created my A Writer's Life blog to share my writing that way, and I put these stories up on my blog throughout 2011, polished them to my too-rigid standard of perfection. Being a perfectionist was the main block holding me back from sending the work out: when could the story possibly be perfect? As 2011 turned into 2012 I found that my confidence in my own work grew, that other readers and writing pals began to enjoy the stories as well. I hit the publish button in early May and the book found a readership and I am humbly grateful for everyone who has read them and let me know the stories stuck in their heads.
Most of your stories are written in the first person. Is that your preferred style? If so, what is it about writing in the first person that you like?
Well, I love writing in the first person if I can channel the voice or mind of that specific character. For the length of a short story, the first person point of view is easier for me to wrangle. I do like trading off between first and third person, beginning a story in each. Sometimes, when a character is very different from myself, with a separate philosophy, upbringing, age, gender even, the first person point of view allows for a vastly different voice to speak. I tried to alternate stories by point of view in the collection. The beginning and ending stories are told by older characters, bookending the collection. That being said, I also love the third person point of view, especially when writing suspense, where the tale becomes almost journalistic, a conveying of action, someone watching all the characters wander about. My first novel, Wake Me Up, is in the first person, but I also tried a few of the chapters in the third person just to see if that had the same urgency.
The theme of twins crops up in more than a couple of the stories in Sandcastle and Other Stories. I know you are a twin. Did you deliberately set out to write about twins, or is this something that makes its way into your stories due to your life experience, do you think?
Being a twin, having a fraternal twin brother, and a younger set of twin siblings, a brother and a sister this time, definitely is of interest to me. It's what I knew growing up. Twins are a part of three of the ten tales, and the use of twins is very different in them. In one, The Virtue of Minding Your Own Business, the narrator is a twin living a life filled with regret. The narrator in Mothers of Twins, is a new mother of twin boys, and she has her hands full, as my own mother and father did. I have an older sister of two years, and four years after my twin brother and I were born, the younger sibling twins were born -- I don't know how my parents handled five kids under the age of six, but they managed it. The most autobiographical twin tale is On the Back Staircase, where there is a family like my own, five kids, three pregnancies, two sets of twins, and parents who were teachers. I changed the gender of the twins, the main character, and these kids are not my brothers and sisters in the story, but I did use the old rambling 1895 red farmhouse with two staircases as a setting. The memories I have of playing hide and seek and "vampire" in that old dark house, when our parents were away, are wonderful.
I enjoyed the stories in Sandcastle and Other Stories, very much. I think they are all thought provoking and entertaining. Many of them also seem to have the power to surprise or shock the reader, especially the story Sandcastle. There is a dark side to most of the stories. Where does your inspiration come from for your writing?
Usually an idea hits me out of the blue: wouldn't that be interesting if . . . Or, a character, the image of someone, appears and I write about him or her, follow that character where he or she leads. My mind tends to drift toward darker themes, life moments, conflict between characters. Making a shock moment natural is the hardest task of any writer. It can't be gimmicky. I've read too many horror and suspense stories where something odd happens, but it isn't "true" to the tale or character; I don't believe it and I'm taken out of the story. The writer has to make me believe it. I hope to reach that state in whatever I write. Inspiration comes from so many different sources, films I love, books I read more than once, and these are usually in the suspense and horror genres. I love the scary books and films of the sixties and seventies best. Psycho, Rosemary's Baby, Carrie, The Shining, Marathon Man, The Auctioneer, Burnt Offerings, The Other, and many many more tales.
I understand that although you initially self-published Sandcastle and Other Stories, you've now been offered a contract with a traditional publisher. How did that come about?
Back in April I had yet to hit the publish button at Amazon, and I was spending every free moment editing and revising, writing the different sections of the book, putting the pages together, sending the book to beta readers, when the publisher contacted me. She had been reading my blog, and wanted to know if I had a book she could take a look at. I told her I was about to publish Sandcastle and Other Stories as an original ebook, and she wanted to read it so I sent her a PDF copy. Two weeks after I published Sandcastle and Other Stories she called and we met in a local coffee shop. A fun fact: She loved the story Mothers of Twins, and she herself is a mother of young twin boys; she and I share the same July 23rd birthdate, and we both love the color green. She told me that in addition to Gemelli Press, the publishing company she started years ago, she was about to launch a new publishing imprint to focus on Pacific Northwest authors and handle Adult and Young Adult fiction. She wanted Sandcastle and Other Stories to be one of the first books she published under the Green Darner Press name. She loved the book's cover, and she could see how well received the book was through Amazon. There would also be very little cost for the publisher to put the book out -- a bonus. It has taken a long half year to get the book to this next stage in publication, but it is nearly ready for its debut. The trade paperback will be published by Green Darner Press next month and I've seen the proof copy and I am stunned by how beautiful and playful the book has turned out to be -- inside and out. I can't wait to see the book in a bookstore.
At the end of the collection of stories, you have included the first chapter of your debut novel, soon to be released. Will that be published traditionally or self-published? And can you tell us a little bit about the novel.
Right now, I hope Green Darner Press continues to publish my books. They get first look under the contract for each title. Next, though, we are in talks to publish my new suspense novella, The Conversationalist, as a Green Darner Press ebook single. I will hear back in the new year about this. Then, after I tweak Wake Me Up, go through it one more time, I'll send it to them to decide. Wake Me Up is a psychological crime novel, a family drama, centered around the fall-out from a brutal beating in Missoula, Montana.
Who were your favourite writers when you were growing up?
Alexandre Dumas, Stephen King, Joan Samson, Ira Levin, Rachel Ingalls, Margaret Atwood, Richard Matheson, Peter Straub, Cris Freddi
When did you start writing?
Before I was a teenager. I wrote on an old typewriter, and loved it.
That's just reminded me! I had one of those old typewriters when I was about 7. They were great!
Apart from the new novel, do you have any other projects that you're working on?
I've finished a very rough draft of my first horror genre novel, something I'm tentatively titling The Shut-Ins, and it's centered around a virus, defensive in nature, that infects a small Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountain logging town. I also find myself at around page 100 in a new suspense story that has the requisite dread.
You've been busy!
Do you prefer e-books or print books?
I love both. I read about ten books at once, both ebooks and print. The ease of the ereader, with print size changeable, the built-in light, is a big plus. There is nothing like turning real pages though, and I get lost in so many great stories.
Do you have any tips for someone who is thinking of self-publishing their first book?
Love your work. Be the first to really love it, and make it into the best book you possibly can before hitting the publishing button. Don't rush the process. Just keep writing. Write, publish, and then write something new and publish that. Rest a bit, and then write some more. Become obsessed. Love your work.
Where is the best place for readers to connect with you online and find out more about your writing?
I am on Twitter @JustinBog, and I have an Author Page at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustinBog1
I also have A Writer's Life blog, www.justinbog.com, and I try to always have free fiction up there for readers. I now have this year's short holiday story up, Bracelet http://justinbog.com/bracelet-holiday... as well as last year's tale, Seducing Santa, unused novel excerpts, and other recommendations in pop culture . . . I also have dozens and dozens of photos of my pets, two long coat German shepherds, Zippy and Kipling, and two barn cats, Ajax The Gray & Eartha Kitt'n.
Where can people buy your book?
Right now people can only find Sandcastle and Other Stories at Amazon's many different global locations. Here's the main Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Sandcastle-and-...
It will be available through your local bookstores in January 2013 and through the iBookstore and at Barnes and Noble by early February.
Thank you, Justin! I wish you continued success with your writing, and am looking forward to reading more of your work
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Remember, if you'd like the chance to win a copy of Sandcastle and Other Stories, please leave a comment below! Good luck!
December 20, 2012
December 21st - National Short Story Day
I have discovered that there is a National Short Story Day in the UK, aiming to promote the short story form.
Here's a link to the official website: http://www.nationalshortstoryday.co.uk/
As a short story writer, I am very pleased to find out about this. I love writing short stories and I also enjoy reading them. As my reading time is limited at the moment, I tend to read more short stories than novels, and I am finding lots of new and interesting writers in this way.
Many authors write novels and short stories, so if you like their novels, I would encourage you to also read their short stories. Short stories have never been as popular as novels. Personally, I really don't understand why. I have heard people say they don't like short stories because it doesn't give enough room for character development, they prefer a novel because they can get into the story and get to know the characters. A well written short story will give you everything you need to know about a character in a few pages, and can be just as satisfying as a novel. Don't take my word for it, judge for yourself. There are so many great stories out there, and you are missing out if you only look for novels to read.
Here are some of my recommendations for great stories that will change your mind if you are unsure about the short story form (click on the covers for more details):
I'm currently working on a new collection of short stories. I have three collections available. They are on special offer on Kindle at the moment, just 99 cents/77p each until the end of December:
I also have short stories in each of the BestsellerBound Short Story Anthologies, which are available free in all e-book formats on Smashwords
I hope you'll celebrate National Short Story Day by reading a short story! :)
Here's a link to the official website: http://www.nationalshortstoryday.co.uk/
As a short story writer, I am very pleased to find out about this. I love writing short stories and I also enjoy reading them. As my reading time is limited at the moment, I tend to read more short stories than novels, and I am finding lots of new and interesting writers in this way.
Many authors write novels and short stories, so if you like their novels, I would encourage you to also read their short stories. Short stories have never been as popular as novels. Personally, I really don't understand why. I have heard people say they don't like short stories because it doesn't give enough room for character development, they prefer a novel because they can get into the story and get to know the characters. A well written short story will give you everything you need to know about a character in a few pages, and can be just as satisfying as a novel. Don't take my word for it, judge for yourself. There are so many great stories out there, and you are missing out if you only look for novels to read.
Here are some of my recommendations for great stories that will change your mind if you are unsure about the short story form (click on the covers for more details):
I'm currently working on a new collection of short stories. I have three collections available. They are on special offer on Kindle at the moment, just 99 cents/77p each until the end of December:
I also have short stories in each of the BestsellerBound Short Story Anthologies, which are available free in all e-book formats on Smashwords
I hope you'll celebrate National Short Story Day by reading a short story! :)
December 14, 2012
The Next Big Thing - Again!
Those of you who follow my blog may recall that about a month or so before Haunted was released I did a blog post called "The Next Big Thing" answering 10 questions about the book. Here's a link to that one to refresh your memory: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
I've been tagged in this blog challenge again. This time I will be answering the questions about my upcoming novel, one that I only starting writing a couple of weeks ago, so it's in the very early stages. I have written about twenty thousand words, though, and I have a rough plan as to how I want the novel to progress. It probably won't be in any shape to be published until at least the end of next year!
"The Next Big Thing" is a chain of book and author recommendations.
What happens is an author answers ten questions about his or her work in progress before tagging another five authors who have to do the same thing. And we all Facebook and/or tweet about it.
Jaime McDougall tagged me. Here is a link to her blog post: http://www.inkyblots.com/the-next-big...
Here are the 10 questions I have to answer:
1) What is the working title of your next book?
2) Where did the idea come from for the book?
3) What genre does your book fall under?
4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
8 ) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
My answers will probably be brief and secretive as I don't want to give too much away at this stage LOL.
Here goes:
1. The working title of my next book is: Illusion
2. Where did the idea come from? It's strange because with this book, I didn't have an idea for a novel as such, I just started writing something based on a very loose idea, which shall remain a secret for now. As I am writing it, though, I'm noticing that as with all my other books, lots of inspiration from things in my own life are finding their way into the story.
3. Genre: Ha! I laugh at that word... it's all I can do, or I will cry. I can't stick to one genre at all. It's impossible to make me try. At the moment, it's mostly a fantasy, but also a contemporary romance, and drama.
4. It's hard to think of actors to play the parts of my characters as I don't yet know who the real main players in the book will be. At the moment, there is a twenty-something girl, who could possibly be played by someone like Keira Knightly. There is also her boyfriend who is younger than her. He could maybe be played by someone like, Robbie Amell.
5. One sentence synopsis: (again this is hard because I haven't finished the first draft yet!)
Maybe: "The mysterious is sometimes better left in the shadows."
6. My book will be self-published.
7. I have only written about a quarter of the book. It has taken me about 2-3 weeks. I imagine it will take at least another 4-5 months before the first draft is complete.
8. I would compare this current work-in-progress to my novel, The Dream. It has the same feel and a similar theme.
9. My inspiration for the book? All the strange thoughts that fly around inside my head all day.
10. What else might pique the reader's interest? This book embraces my love of music, as there is a (fictional) rock band that plays a major role.
Okay. Now to tag 5 more authors. Most of the authors I know have already done this challenge, so I am going to tag a few people who I don't usually tag, and hope that they haven't already done it!
Ben Ditmars
Cinta García de la Rosa
Justin Bog
Jay Finn
James Everington
If you haven't got a work in progress or you've already done this challenge you're excused! :)
I've been tagged in this blog challenge again. This time I will be answering the questions about my upcoming novel, one that I only starting writing a couple of weeks ago, so it's in the very early stages. I have written about twenty thousand words, though, and I have a rough plan as to how I want the novel to progress. It probably won't be in any shape to be published until at least the end of next year!
"The Next Big Thing" is a chain of book and author recommendations.
What happens is an author answers ten questions about his or her work in progress before tagging another five authors who have to do the same thing. And we all Facebook and/or tweet about it.
Jaime McDougall tagged me. Here is a link to her blog post: http://www.inkyblots.com/the-next-big...
Here are the 10 questions I have to answer:
1) What is the working title of your next book?
2) Where did the idea come from for the book?
3) What genre does your book fall under?
4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
8 ) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
My answers will probably be brief and secretive as I don't want to give too much away at this stage LOL.
Here goes:
1. The working title of my next book is: Illusion
2. Where did the idea come from? It's strange because with this book, I didn't have an idea for a novel as such, I just started writing something based on a very loose idea, which shall remain a secret for now. As I am writing it, though, I'm noticing that as with all my other books, lots of inspiration from things in my own life are finding their way into the story.
3. Genre: Ha! I laugh at that word... it's all I can do, or I will cry. I can't stick to one genre at all. It's impossible to make me try. At the moment, it's mostly a fantasy, but also a contemporary romance, and drama.
4. It's hard to think of actors to play the parts of my characters as I don't yet know who the real main players in the book will be. At the moment, there is a twenty-something girl, who could possibly be played by someone like Keira Knightly. There is also her boyfriend who is younger than her. He could maybe be played by someone like, Robbie Amell.
5. One sentence synopsis: (again this is hard because I haven't finished the first draft yet!)
Maybe: "The mysterious is sometimes better left in the shadows."
6. My book will be self-published.
7. I have only written about a quarter of the book. It has taken me about 2-3 weeks. I imagine it will take at least another 4-5 months before the first draft is complete.
8. I would compare this current work-in-progress to my novel, The Dream. It has the same feel and a similar theme.
9. My inspiration for the book? All the strange thoughts that fly around inside my head all day.
10. What else might pique the reader's interest? This book embraces my love of music, as there is a (fictional) rock band that plays a major role.
Okay. Now to tag 5 more authors. Most of the authors I know have already done this challenge, so I am going to tag a few people who I don't usually tag, and hope that they haven't already done it!
Ben Ditmars
Cinta García de la Rosa
Justin Bog
Jay Finn
James Everington
If you haven't got a work in progress or you've already done this challenge you're excused! :)
December 13, 2012
Special Christmas prices for my books
I hope you're all planning to buy lots of books this Christmas, not only because I'm an author, but because books make the perfect gifts, don't they? There are all sorts of books, on all different subjects; you can't really go wrong with a book as a gift.
With this in mind, I have decided to reduce the price of my books until the end of the month in case you're planning to buy any of them. Christmas is an expensive time of year. All my novels (apart from my latest release, Haunted) will be just $1.99/£1.24 for Kindle, and all my short story collections will be only 99 cents/77p for Kindle.
Here's a link to my author page on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Maria-Savva/e/B...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maria-Savva/e...
Kindle books can be bought as gifts on Amazon.com. As long as you know someone's e-mail address you can send them a Kindle book as a gift. Even if they don't have a Kindle e-reader, they can download a free application from Amazon so they can read the book on their smartphone, iPad, PC, or Mac.
If you prefer to buy paperbacks, I've also reduced the prices of most of my books on Lulu.com: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva
With this in mind, I have decided to reduce the price of my books until the end of the month in case you're planning to buy any of them. Christmas is an expensive time of year. All my novels (apart from my latest release, Haunted) will be just $1.99/£1.24 for Kindle, and all my short story collections will be only 99 cents/77p for Kindle.
Here's a link to my author page on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Maria-Savva/e/B...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maria-Savva/e...
Kindle books can be bought as gifts on Amazon.com. As long as you know someone's e-mail address you can send them a Kindle book as a gift. Even if they don't have a Kindle e-reader, they can download a free application from Amazon so they can read the book on their smartphone, iPad, PC, or Mac.
If you prefer to buy paperbacks, I've also reduced the prices of most of my books on Lulu.com: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva
December 12, 2012
Enter to win a paperback copy of Haunted!
I'm currently running a giveaway here on Goodreads. You can enter to win one of 2 paperback copies of my latest title, Haunted. It's a psychological thriller with a touch of the paranormal.
If you'd like a chance to win a signed copy, enter here: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Good luck!
If you'd like a chance to win a signed copy, enter here: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Good luck!
December 10, 2012
Getting to know you... 4 & 5
The last two questions in my "Getting to know you" video podcast interview produced by Darcia Helle, are now up on You Tube.
In episode 4 find out what inspires my writing, and in episode 5 you can find out my favourite rainy day activities.
Here are the links:
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Znpm...
Episode 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMxweF...
You can check out the whole series as well as other author interviews, including J. Michael Radcliffe and Sylvia Massara, at the BestsellerBound You Tube Channel.
Darcia Helle also produces book trailers on the channel, featuring books by talented indie authors, so if you're looking for Christmas gifts for the book lover in your life, I would recommend you browse through some of those videos for ideas.
Bestsellerbound, You Tube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/QuietFury...
In episode 4 find out what inspires my writing, and in episode 5 you can find out my favourite rainy day activities.
Here are the links:
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Znpm...
Episode 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMxweF...
You can check out the whole series as well as other author interviews, including J. Michael Radcliffe and Sylvia Massara, at the BestsellerBound You Tube Channel.
Darcia Helle also produces book trailers on the channel, featuring books by talented indie authors, so if you're looking for Christmas gifts for the book lover in your life, I would recommend you browse through some of those videos for ideas.
Bestsellerbound, You Tube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/QuietFury...
