Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 13

Indie Book Review: Checkmate by A.M. Offenwanger

Checkmate by A.M. Offenwanger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Checkmate is the third novel in A.M. Offenwanger’s Septimus series. You can read my reviews of the previous books, Seventh Son (Book 1) and Cat and Mouse (Book 2) by clicking on their titles.

While this review does not contain spoilers for Checkmate, it does contain spoilers for the first two novels. I should also note that Seventh Son is FREE at the time of this writing, so if you haven’t read it yet, download your copy from Amazon today!

Thus far, Checkmate is my favorite novel in the Septimus series. It takes place several years after Cat and Mouse, and shows Guy and Cat’s growing family fully settled in the Ruph community. The main action revolves around the return of Bina’s (formerly Bibby’s) cousin Rhitha and her family to Ruph, as well as the two girls’ growing friendship.

As with the other books in the series, Checkmate was well-written in what I have come to recognize as Offenwanger’s distinctive narrative voice: a balance of playfulness and poetry. My only criticism is that some of the chapters would start in present time, then jump back to the past-perfect tense for a scene or two. I would have liked to be “in the moment” with the characters (especially Rhitha) as some of that action unfolded.

Since I don’t want to risk spoiling anything about the plot of Checkmate (it’s that intricately tied and well-developed), I’ll touch quickly on the aspects that made this novel my favorite in the series so far:

– Meeting new characters to love (or love to hate), who fit into the story as if they were always a part of it.

– Reading from the perspective of new characters.

– The complex and realistic relationships between the characters (both loving and hate-filled).

– The development of Bina’s powers and how she learns to control them.

– Seeing Andy and Ben advance in their prospective fields.

– The themes of family and friendship, with the moral message that family can be chosen and friendship should be steadfast and loyal.

– Learning about new traditions in the world (such as trade/economics, other countries, and Ruph’s Solstice festival).

The ending of Checkmate? Perhaps one of the most fun and cleverly executed magical climaxes I’ve ever read. I adored it.

Overall, Checkmate is a heartwarming addition to the Septimus series that comments beautifully on family, friendship, and the importance of both. A fun and magical tale, it will delight readers of fantasy and young adult fiction.

REMINDER: As I said at the beginning of this review, the first novel in the Septimus series, Seventh Son, is FREE for a limited time. Download your copy now, then leave your own review for Ms. Offenwanger!

View all my reviews

If you are interested in reading Checkmate. and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it at my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.

Filed under: Book Reviews Tagged: book, book review, contemporary fiction, family, fantasy, fiction, independent publishing, indie author, indie publishing, magic, romance, self-publishing, young adult

Classic Writing Advice: Write Every Day

In this new series, I want to explore some of the classic writing advice given to authors and provide my opinions on and experiences with them. I don’t do this because I think I’m some brilliant writing authority – far from it. Rather, I’ve learned the most valuable writing lesson of all, one that you’ve probably heard, but that takes a long time to sink in:

There is no magic secret to writing. You just do it, and every writer does it differently.

BUT, even if you (logically) know this to be true, chances are you’ve Googled anyway (don’t be embarrassed – I still do it, too!). In those well-meaning search results, you’ve likely seen the golden nugget of writing advice: write every day.

A literal interpretation demands that you type/hand write/dictate new words every single day.

In theory, this is great advice. After all, even if you just write 250 words a day, over the course of a year that’s 91,250 words (about the length of my first novel).

If you are a beginning writer – without a finished manuscript – then I 100% agree with this advice. Your No. 1 priority should be practicing your craft and generating content. In fact, why don’t you go bang out your 250 words right now? It’ll be more useful to you than reading this post.

Now, what about us non-beginners? Those of us who have a completed book (or several)? Here’s where I start to disagree with “Write every day.”

I don’t know about you, but as a human, I have a demanding day job, a husband and cat, an active social life, and an apartment to upkeep. Finding time to type out those words can be really damn difficult. In any given day, I have between 45 minutes and 2.5 hours free to work on my author business.

And as an independent author, I mean B–capital IZ–ness. There’s a lot to do. I’m currently editing my second novel, plus writing and publishing a series of nonfiction booklets. Add in this blog, my author newsletter, social media, organizing promotional opportunities, emailing my cover designer … you get the point. There’s a lot of shit to do (I say “shit” lovingly – being an author really is the best job in the world to me).

So, can I find time to write every day? Yes. And you can, too. If you really simplify your schedule and overcome your laziness, you can write every single day. And we absolutely should. Every word we write makes us better.

But do you HAVE to write every single day to be a successful author? I don’t think so. As long as you are editing, revising, writing your book description, or in some way putting art into the world and moving your project forward, then I say that’s A-O-K.

It all depends on your definition of success. When I defined success as writing new words every day, I considered myself a failure. Even while I was revising my first novel for publication, I kept saying, “Damn it, Kate! We have to start writing a new book! We suck!” I was blind to the fact that I WAS succeeding, because my end goal is publishing the fiction I write.

If your goal is just to write for fun or betterment, then please write every day. No exceptions. No excuses.

But if you have a finished book sitting on your hard drive, your goal is to publish said book, and you have very limited free time, for the love of Hemingway give yourself a break and do this instead: Move forward every day.

Editing counts. Revising counts. Outlining counts. Writing that dreaded book description counts.

The only thing that doesn’t count? Ignoring your book and denying the world your art.

There you have them, your marching orders. Now go move forward today.

Do you write new words every single day? How do you balance multiple projects at once? What are your daily writing or author goals?

Filed under: Writing Craft & Tips Tagged: advice for authors, advice for writers, indie author, self-publishing, write every day, writing, writing advice, writing craft, writing tips

What Can You Do in A Year?

So often, we gauge the passing of a year by the calendar, a birthday, or a wedding anniversary. Today, I want to mark a different kind of anniversary. One year ago today, I wrote a reflection post on my recent move to New Haven, Connecticut (I’d lived there eight days at the time). In it, I shared my initial impressions of the city, my concerns about living in a new place, and my hopes for the year to come. Now, I’d like to look back and share what wisdom I’ve gleaned for others.

When it comes to New Haven itself, I’ll be brief. My first post talked about the beautiful architecture, the (seemingly) tasty restaurants, and the various tourist attractions. They’re all still there, and all still great. I also mentioned the potential new friendships Daniel (my husband) and I had started growing, and I’m happy to report that they are strong and thriving. The drivers are still idiots. And most importantly, Thomas still loves his life as Supreme Ruler of the Apartment (see below).

A few new things? The divide between the Yale elite and the homeless is shocking and heartbreaking. The amount of street harassment I’ve faced is alarming (my formal apologies to any urban women I ever doubted on the issue). But there’s also a new ice cream shop that has the best farm-made ice cream I’ve ever tasted. So, you win some, you lose some, I guess. No city is perfect.

My biggest concern moving to New Haven was that I would lose my sense of self, that my identity would be pared down to “Daniel’s wife” and nothing else. Hey, Past Kate: We’re so much more than that. Yes, to some Yale acquaintances I’m just “Daniel’s wife.” But, to those same people, I’m very often “Daniel’s wife, the wine expert” (because expert is easier to grasp than copywriter). What else? I’m Thomas’s mother, a loyal friend to many new people, a budding wine enthusiast, a small business owner, and yes, an independent author.

A year ago, I was putting the finishing touches on The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1). I was thrilled about (and terrified of) what my indie publishing journey might bring. Now, I’m pretty much in the exact same place with The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2). Only this time, I’m thrilled for a new reason (the first novel I wrote wasn’t a fluke!) and scared for new reasons too (what if everyone who liked book one hates the sequel?!).

I want to take a minute to reach out to all the aspiring or small-time authors out there. While I hope beyond hope that you get the coveted “lucky break” and reach instant bestsellerdom, chances are, you won’t. And that’s okay. Everyone’s journey is different, and you can only do the best you have with the resources available to you. But, if you’re sitting at your computer, considering hitting PUBLISH on that first novel, here are just a few things that could happen to you in one small year, based on my experiences:

Meet dozens of new author friends and readers
Earn your first (of many!) five-star review
Earn your first (hopefully not of many) one-star review
Sign a book for a new fan
Have your book nominated for an award (more info to come)
Have your book selected for a monthly subscription box (more info to come)
Earn a few hundred dollars from book sales
See your book in a library or bookstore
Participate in online events
Have someone say, “Oh, right. You’re the author!”
Have your book taught in a university class
See your book proudly displayed on your parents’ coffee table
Write your next book

Maybe some of these will happen to you. Maybe you’ll reach even greater heights. But if one year ago you’d told me all this (and more!) would happen to me, I would have laughed in your face. It just goes to show, you never know what can happen in a year.

Stay focused on your goals. Work those extra hours. And most importantly, keep writing.

Aspiring authors: what is one goal you have for your first year of publication? Published authors: what is one awesome thing that happened within your first year of publication? Share your experiences in the comments.

Filed under: Writing Craft & Tips, Writing Updates Tagged: independent publishing, indie author, indie publishing, self-publishing, writer life, writing, writing advice, writing tips

Desertera #2 Title Contest Results

After much delay and hoopla, I am pleased to announce the long-awaited title of Desertera #2. Presenting…

Congratulations to everyone who guessed correctly (there were eight of you!). However, the first correct answer came from author Whitney McGruder (who runs the super-inspiring witandtravesty.com with her husband Travis, also a writer).

Congrats, Whitney! You’ll be receiving your copy of The Courtesan’s Avenger when it publishes in September.

Before I sign off, I wanted to share a few of my favorite incorrect answers:

The Courtesan’s Abductor – what possibilities this has!

The Courtier’s Daughter – definitely a good line of thinking

The Courtesan’s Lover – this is very close to another title I considered

Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest! I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and I look forward to hosting more like it in the future. Stay tuned for more news next week!

Filed under: The Courtesan's Avenger, The Desertera Series, Writing Updates Tagged: contest, desertera, dystopian, fantasy, free books, indie books, steampunk, The Courtesan's Avenger

Month-End Update: July 2016

Wow. As I recap July, I feel like these mere 31 days were two months instead of one. For the first 20 days, Daniel was in Australia visiting his family. I eased my loneliness by working my ass off, putting in extra hours to write, revise, and do all the little things that come with being an authorpreneur. And then I got on a plane to Australia to join Daniel…

…and promptly did zero author work for the final 11 days of the month. A much-needed rest that has left me feeling a bit disoriented as I head into August (aka the final march toward the publication of Desertera #2!). Here are my notes on what I accomplished in July and my goals for the coming month:

Writing

Blog Posts Written – 7 (and two reblogs)
Fiction Words Written – 0
# of Days I Wrote Fiction – 0
Nonfiction Prompts Written – 100 prompts (plus front/back matter material)
# of Days I Wrote Nonfiction – 8
Outlines Written –  1 (100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts)
Days Without Writing and/or Editing – 13 (thank you, Australia!)

Editing/Revising

Drafts Revised – Line Edit of Desertera #2
# of Days I Revised – 10

Reading

Books Finished

The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
Cat and Mouse by A.M. Offenwanger
The Successful Author Mindset by Joanna Penn
How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis by Bryan Cohen




Books Begun/In-Progress

American Gods by Neil Gaiman




Books Reviewed

Cat and Mouse by A.M. Offenwanger – read review

*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.

Author Business Activities

Published 100 Crime Fiction Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 7)
First round of line edits for Desertera #2 (and won Camp NaNoWriMo!)
Started cover design process for Desertera #2
Hosted the Desertera #2 title contest (winner will be announced on Friday!)
Author interview on Kate Evans’s website
Participated in the Indie Pride Day Book Blast
Participated in the Fire & Lies Goodreads takeover

Goals for August

This month is all about getting Desertera #2 ready for publication in September!

Finish line editing and proofreading
Finish cover design process
Format for ebook and paperback
Set up preorder on online retailers

I also plan to write and publish 100 Science Fiction Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 8).

What did you accomplish in July? If you participated in Camp NaNoWriMo, did you meet your goal? What are your plans for August? Share below!

Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, campnanowrimo, creative writing prompts, dystopian, fantasy, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, nonfiction, revising, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, writing

Desertera #2 Title Contest: Final Clue

Thanks to everyone for playing along! There have been some very close guesses (but no winner just yet!), so be sure to submit your final guess ASAP for the best chance of winning. Here’s your fourth and final clue:

For an explanation of the contest, click here.  See bottom of this post for the official rules.

[contact-form]

THE RULES

The giveaway is open to all readers, both domestic (U.S.) and international.
Each reader can submit up to (but no more than) three guesses.
There will be four clues in total, and you can submit your guesses at any time.
The contest officially ends on August 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST.
ONLY guesses submitted through the official contact form on the posts will be considered. Any guesses submitted through comments, direct messages, regular email, or any other form of communication will be disregarded.
The first reader to guess the title correctly will win one signed paperback copy of either The Cogsmith’s Daughter or Desertera #2.
If no one guesses the title correctly, the author will choose what she deems the “closest” submission as the winner.

Good luck and happy guessing! The winner and title will be announced this Friday, August 5th.

Filed under: The Desertera Series Tagged: amreading, bookworm, contest, desertera, fantasy, free books, giveaway, science fiction, SFF, steampunk

Desertera #2 Title Contest: Clue 3

Don’t worry, I’m a bit nicer today! Here’s your third clue in the Desertera #2 title-guessing contest.

For an explanation of the contest, click here.  See bottom of this post for the official rules.

[contact-form]

THE RULES

The giveaway is open to all readers, both domestic (U.S.) and international.
Each reader can submit up to (but no more than) three guesses.
There will be four clues in total, and you can submit your guesses at any time.
The contest officially ends on August 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST.
ONLY guesses submitted through the official contact form on the posts will be considered. Any guesses submitted through comments, direct messages, regular email, or any other form of communication will be disregarded.
The first reader to guess the title correctly will win one signed paperback copy of either The Cogsmith’s Daughter or Desertera #2.
If no one guesses the title correctly, the author will choose what she deems the “closest” submission as the winner.

Good luck and happy guessing! Look out for your final clue in my July Month-End Update.

Filed under: The Desertera Series Tagged: amreading, bookworm, contest, desertera, fantasy, free books, giveaway, science fiction, SFF, steampunk

Desertera #2 Title Contest: Clue 2

Without any ado, here’s your second clue in the Desertera #2 title-guessing contest!

If you have no idea what’s going on, click here for an explanation of the contest. See bottom of this post for the official rules.

[contact-form]

THE RULES

The giveaway is open to all readers, both domestic (U.S.) and international.
Each reader can submit up to (but no more than) three guesses.
There will be four clues in total, and you can submit your guesses at any time.
The contest officially ends on August 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST.
ONLY guesses submitted through the official contact form on the posts will be considered. Any guesses submitted through comments, direct messages, regular email, or any other form of communication will be disregarded.
The first reader to guess the title correctly will win one signed paperback copy of either The Cogsmith’s Daughter or Desertera #2.
If no one guesses the title correctly, the author will choose what she deems the “closest” submission as the winner.

Good luck and happy guessing!

Filed under: The Desertera Series Tagged: amreading, bookworm, contest, desertera, fantasy, free books, giveaway, science fiction, SFF, steampunk

Desertera #2 Title Contest: Clue 1

Full disclosure: I suck at coming up with book titles. Second to writing the book description, it’s my least favorite part of the writing process.

As such, I’ve lovingly referred to my forthcoming novel (the sequel to The Cogsmith’s Daughter) as Desertera #2. With the publication date creeping ever closer, I’ve finally decided upon a title.

Since it took so long, I thought it would be a little anti-climatic to just announce the title. Therefore, I’ve decided to host a little contest.

Here’s the deal: over the next week and a half, I’ll be slowly unveiling the title of Desertera #2. And one lucky reader will receive a signed paperback copy of either The Cogsmith’s Daughter or Desertera #2 (upon its release).

THE RULES

The giveaway is open to all readers, both domestic (U.S.) and international.
Each reader can submit up to (but no more than) three guesses.
There will be four clues in total, and you can submit your guesses at any time.
The contest officially ends on August 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST.
ONLY guesses submitted through the official contact form on the posts will be considered. Any guesses submitted through comments, direct messages, regular email, or any other form of communication will be disregarded.
The first reader to guess the title correctly will win one signed paperback copy of either The Cogsmith’s Daughter or Desertera #2.
If no one guesses the title correctly, the author will choose what she deems the “closest” submission as the winner.

All right … here’s your first clue. Good luck!

HINT: Remember, this novel is from Dellwyn Rutt’s perspective.

[contact-form]

Once again, good luck and happy guessing!

Filed under: The Desertera Series Tagged: amreading, bookworm, contest, desertera, fantasy, free books, giveaway, indie books, sci fi, science fiction, SFF, steampunk

Indie Book Review: Cat and Mouse by A.M. Offenwanger

Cat and Mouse by A.M. Offenwanger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Cat and Mouse is the second book in A.M. Offenwanger’s Septimus series and the sequel to Seventh Son. (Click here to read my review of Seventh Son.) Please note that this review does contain spoilers for Seventh Son, so if you haven’t read it yet, go download your FREE copy today. Seriously, do it now. It’s only free for a limited time. (Sorry future readers!)

The plot of Cat and Mouse picks up after Catriona (Cat) and Guy’s wedding. At first, all seems to be well for the newlyweds and the land of Ruph. Cat and Guy learn how they operate as a married couple, Bibby is her regular adorable self, and Guy even takes on an apprentice, a mute boy who Bibby names “Andy.” However, their peaceful life is disrupted by a plague of mice…and the appearance of a mysterious rat-faced man.

Back in the regular world, Cat’s best friend Nikky is dealing with her own drama. Sepp (Guy’s brother) has stuck around, and she finds herself slowly falling for him. Likewise, Nikky ends up with guardianship of her step-nephew Ben…who is also plagued by the presence of a mysterious rat-faced man.

I really enjoyed reading Cat and Mouse. As in the first novel, the characters and the world of Ruph stood out as my favorite parts. Offenwanger has crafted realistic, complex characters, with profound and believable relationships in a relatively quick space. As a reader, I got to know the characters from the first novel even better, while still meeting a few new friends. My favorite character arc was Nikky’s, as she moved from being “Cat’s best friend” to taking on an important role in the story. Reading as Nikky played the protective aunt, discovered truths about herself, and braved her fears was incredibly satisfying.

Another great aspect of Cat and Mouse was learning more about the world of Ruph. This happens through Cat, as she explores new parts of the village and takes on an active role in the community. Ruph remains a beautiful mixture between a Renaissance Fair and a fantasy land, with an ever-expanding palate of magical abilities and intricate mythology to inspire the reader. I cannot wait to see what layers Offenwanger peels back in the next book.

As for the plot itself, it moves along at a steady pace. Pieces of the mice mystery, Andy’s quietness, and Ben’s panic attacks slip neatly into place. For the most part, I guessed the respective outcomes. (However, regular readers of my reviews will know that I don’t mind this in a novel.) Although, I will admit that there was one piece of the puzzle that I did not foresee, but very much enjoyed.

Overall, Cat and Mouse is a fitting second book for the Septimus series and continues much of what readers will have loved about the first novel. If you like medieval stylings, family relationships, a dash of magic, and folk tales, you’ll love Cat and Mouse.

QUICK REMINDER: As I said at the beginning of this review, the first novel in the Septimus series, Seventh Son, is FREE for a limited time. Download your copy now, then leave your own review for Ms. Offenwanger!

View all my reviews

If you are interested in reading Cat and Mouse. and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it at my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.

Filed under: Book Reviews Tagged: book, book review, contemporary fiction, fantasy, fiction, independent publishing, indie author, indie publishing, magic, romance, self-publishing