Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 18
March 9, 2016
Thoughts from the Train (and the Magic of Books)
Since moving to New Haven, I have become one of the faceless masses on the public transport system. For those of you who have only ever commuted by car (or vice versa), let me describe the differences to you (at least, for introverted me).
In the Car
I come from a long line of mechanics, racers, and car enthusiasts. As much as I love to say I’m helping the environment by taking the train, the truth is: I’m saving the mileage on my 16-year-old baby. (But two birds, right?)
In the car, it’s you and the machine versus the other anonymous automobiles. While you have to jostle for position on the interstate, you get to enjoy your isolated, little bubble, filled with your music or audiobooks, or delicious silence. No one sits next to you uninvited. No one’s obnoxious phone conversations intrude. No strange bodily odors invade (and if they do, that’s on you).
On the Train
Your hands are free and the stress of traffic is but a distant memory. If you can snag a seat or a pole to hang on to, the ride is relatively smooth. When listening to music, daydreaming out the window, or reading, the time flies. But…you have to deal with the people. The flirty train conductor. The fast-talking business man. The snoring college student.
While prolonged, close contact with strangers isn’t my favorite experience, I’ve learned to deal. But there’s one aspect of ‘train culture’ that continues to get under my skin. It’s an attitude most Americans (and I daresay, most people) share, but I’ve never felt it quite as strongly as when I am immersed in a crowd of disgruntled souls.
It’s like ‘the Mondays,’ only everyday.
People on the train are freaking miserable. While talking on their phones, they complain to their loved ones about their jobs. While waiting for the doors to open, they grumble with fellow commuters. While getting their tickets stamp, they bemoan another day at the office.
And I sit there, with my computer on my lap, and I grow smug. After all, I’m going to escape the day job grind – one day – and until then, I actually enjoy my job. But the smugness never lasts. It is quickly replaced by empathy. Not everyone has the shiny dream of entrepreneurship to keep them going. Some people have failed in their goals and given up. Others never dare to imagine a more fulfilling career for themselves. I had those days, too.
This is why, among a thousand other reasons, I write books.
The happiest people on the train? From their wide, absorbed eyes and the faint smiles playing on their lips, my guess is the readers. And I know, I’m one. Books make the commute fly by. They provide temporary relief from stress (seriously – science backs this up), and offer an escape from our reality.
As women’s fiction author Fia Essen said in her review of The Cogsmith’s Daughter:
“Fiction, at its best, should take you away from your own reality. It should make you forget about your daily grind. It should keep you thinking about it, making you want to go back for more, as you stand in line at the supermarket, bank, or the post office.”
Or on the train. Knowing that I could offer Fia a temporary retreat, even for a few hours, is one of my proudest accomplishments as an author. And I hope I can do that with my life.
But it’s selfish, too.
My books don’t just provide my readers with escape. They allow me to escape, too. How can I possibly worry about the catalog spreads I have to crank out when I’ve got to help Aya avoid King Archon’s clutches? Or Dellwyn chase down a mysterious stalker?
Whether writing or reading, books are magic. In a single page, they allow us to fall in love, solve a murder, or swim in the ocean. They are movies playing out in our minds, and while the words we read are all the same, the images and emotions they conjure are completely our own.
If that isn’t magic, I don’t know what is.
The catch? As wonderful as books are, they are only ever a temporary escape. I’ll say to you what my introverted personality would never let me say to the strangers on the train – reading is great, happiness is better, and together they are sublime.
Figure out your passion. Write down goals that will fulfill you. Then work your ass off until you meet them.
It may take days. It may take years. It may never happen. But take it from someone who is there every morning…
Working for your dreams is a thousand times more fulfilling than giving up on them.
And achieving them? Well, I’ll let you know.
What books have rescued you from the daily grind? What dreams are you working toward? Share below!
Filed under: Musings & Fun Things Tagged: amreading, author, book, books, commute, day job, desertera, indie author, public transport, reading, science fiction, the cogsmith's daughter, train, trains, writing
March 7, 2016
Guest Post: Security Tips for Self-Publishing Authors by Cassie Phillips
Today, I’m excited to bring you a guest post from professional blogger Cassie Phillips. Cassie writes for Secure Thoughts, a website dedicated to helping everyday people manage their personal internet security. Here, Cassie provides her tips and tricks for securing your self-published work, as well as protecting yourself and your copyright.
Security Tips for Self-Publishing Authors
It’s an exciting day for you. You’re ready to publish that novel you’ve been writing for months, if not years. Perhaps you’ve taken a shot at non-fiction and want to share the knowledge you’ve put together in a single tome. You may even be writing about something brand new and exciting.
You could go with some big publisher, but the costs are high, and you risk making very little money on your book as the publisher will be taking most of it. So here you are. You’ve decided to self-publish. Maybe it’s your first book, or maybe you’ve done it a few times before.
What you may not realize is how important security can be for publishing your book. It may be your idea and your hard work, but it doesn’t take much to lose that. Unsecured work can suddenly turn into a disaster as you watch your effort turn to nil (or even identity theft). Using a publisher you thought was trustworthy could leave you just as broke as having gone through a big time company.
Here are some things you should consider as you’re publishing that next book.
Protect the Devices You Work On
First and foremost, you need to be sure the PC, tablet or mobile device you’re working on is properly secured. If you’ve been doing work from a device that can access the internet (and honestly it would be stranger if you weren’t), your work is always at risk. It’s safer to work offline, but reasonably you should feel safe using any device.
Make certain you have a working anti-virus program at all times. They can be acquired for free for any platform you use, from providers such as Avast, AVG or Panda. You can pay for the extra service if you want, but I don’t feel like its necessary most of the time. These programs usually help you avoid getting a virus.
Use Malwarebytes Anti-malware to remove anything that does get through. It’s easily the best program for removing hard to eliminate viruses. It too is free, with premium features (which I usually don’t think are necessary).
Much of writing takes place on the go, so you may want to consider investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. It will save you trouble on public WiFi, as you’ll be able to access the internet securely with an encrypted connection. This is a paid service, but additional perks include access to geo-restricted services (such as Netflix and Hulu) anywhere and an anonymous IP address (keeps you from being tracked).
Keep Your Accounts Safe
Maybe you’ve opted to save your work online. I personally backup my data on services such as Dropbox and Google Drive in case of disaster. There are some risks to using these services, but they’re entirely avoidable.
Make sure your accounts have strong passwords containing a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. You should avoid using real words or things that could be associated with you or your work, as those are easy guesses for anyone trying to steal your work.
Most of all, use unique passwords. If you have 5 different services, it only takes one being compromised to ruin the others if you don’t have different passwords for each. There are a few different problems that can arise from stolen accounts.
Your work may be deleted or altered without you knowing. At the worst, your identity may be stolen and your hard work used to someone else’s gain. Imagine seeing the book you spent weeks on with someone else’s name on the title and no way to prove you were the proper author.
Read Contracts
When excitement sets in, the first thing you may want to do is sign here, click confirm there, and be done with it. You absolutely can’t afford to take shortcuts with your publication. Whether you’re planning to try to sell your book on Amazon, through your website, or some other seller, you need to be sure you’ve read through contracts thoroughly.
Understand who has the rights to your book in each avenue. You may find yourself buying copies of your book to sell, yet owing a royalty to the printer if you didn’t go through the contract properly. It’s easy to lose control of your book, even if you’re self-publishing.
Copyrights
There are a few things to know about your publication’s copyrights. While you do own your work by default, it’s still necessary to register your copyright and include a page in your book about it for safety purposes. It helps if someone tries to steal your work or use it to profit later because you have a legal avenue to pursue.
Just be careful you aren’t treading on anyone else’s copyrights. If you’re writing a book that focuses on non-fiction (or realistic fiction), try to avoid using brand names. A character in your book might want to be depicted as drinking an ice cold Coca-Cola™, but that may be an issue if Coke decides they don’t like how you’re depicting their product.
Be sure any images you use are original and that you have permission to use any trademarked or copyrighted words. It’s better to invent a fictitious brand for your book than to deal with legal proceedings with a big corporation who decided they don’t like your book.
Don’t Get Discouraged
While there are plenty of problems you need to deal with before you can publish yourself, don’t get discouraged. Publishing is easier than it’s ever been, and if you’re taking the right steps, you can at least avoid problems on the security front.
Of course there’s no guarantee your book will be a hit. But it certainly won’t do well if it never reaches the press because you got bogged down by some hacker or lost data. Do yourself a favor; be safe, and be successful.
Thank you Cassie for reaching out to me and helping the indie author community learn more about this important topic! If anyone has any questions for Cassie, please leave them in the comments or contact me, and I can put you in touch with her.
Filed under: Author Business, Guest Posts, Indie Publishing Tagged: contracts, copyright, independent publishing, indie author, internet security, legal issues, online accounts, password protection, self-publishing, staying safe online, web security
March 4, 2016
Indie Book Review: The Earl and the Artificer by Kara Jorgensen
The Earl and the Artificer (IMD #3) by Kara Jorgensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free, electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
SPOILER ALERT: While this review does not contain major spoilers for The Earl and the Artificer, it does contain spoilers for The Earl of Brass, the first novel in the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series (you can read my review of The Earl of Brass HERE).
The Earl and the Artificer by Kara Jorgensen follows Eilian and Hadley Sorrell to Brasshurst Hall (Eilian’s family home) in Folkesbury following their marriage. Both characters are struggling with their newfound roles as Lord and Lady Dorset. Eilian fears that he will never live up to his noble role, nor be a proper husband for Hadley, and Hadley is concerned that she will never succeed as a proper society lady and always be viewed as an opportunistic upstart.
Jorgensen’s character development with Eilian and Hadley is logical and all-too-relatable. Their fears and concerns tap into the deeper fears of rejection and desire for acceptance that all humans feel in one realm or another. Yet, despite their insecurities and a few incompatibilities, they manage to stay supportive of and caring toward one another. Their relationship is not perfect, but through their dedication and devotion, it remains a relationship the reader will admire.
While at Brasshurst Hall, Eilian and Hadley do their best to fit in with the wider genteel society. Through these efforts, the reader is introduced to a new cast of characters. Most notably, Jorgensen provides us with a new antagonist, Randall Nash (Eilian’s second cousin) and a few new friends in Nadir Talbot (a romance author) and his cousin, Mrs. Rhodes.
What I liked most about these secondary characters is that they are exceedingly complex. Jorgensen explores their personalities from various perspectives, and the reader can find relatable and despicable qualities in each one. Personally, Nadir was my favorite. Through his character, Jorgensen commented on several social themes (including gender, race, and imperialism), and it delighted my inner sociologist.
Overall, the plot of the novel moved at a steady pace, though I did not find it quite as captivating as the story lines of The Earl of Brass and The Winter Garden. To me, the other novels had higher stakes and more action throughout, which made them more gripping. However, The Earl and the Artificer has a nice elevation to it. The drama, and the danger, grows as the novel progresses, and moments that seemed insignificant before become key parts of the plot toward the end. While I saw some of the twists coming, there were a few that surprised and delighted me.
In sum, The Earl and the Artificer is a fitting addition to the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series. Fans of Eilian and Hadley will enjoy watching their characters and relationship grow. Fans of the steampunk genre will be entranced by the ominous Brasshurst Hall, eccentric Nadir Talbot, and dangerous turn of events. Highly recommend for anyone with a love of steampunk, historical fiction, and mystery novels.
You can find out more about Kara Jorgensen on her website, and you can read more about her inspiration for The Earl and the Artificer here.
If you are interested in reading The Earl and the Artificer 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, Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: book, book review, books, fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, independent publishing, indie book, indie book review, indie publishing, kara jorgensen, self-publishing, steampunk, victorian
March 1, 2016
Month-End Update: February 2016
With the 2016 2K Indie Book Tour over, we’re back to our regular programming on the blog. And since it’s the first of the month, it’s time to reflect on February.
I’m really proud of my February progress. Considering my regular routine was (happily) interrupted by a trip home to Kansas as well as by Daniel attending an out-of-state conference then jetting home to Australia, I think I did a decent job of staying on track with my goals. The first draft of Desertera #2 is still on schedule for its April 1st editing date, and my nonfiction booklets are churning out as planned. While I didn’t read as much as I would have liked, I did squeeze in a few other intellectual activities, and that’s always a bonus.
Writing
Blog Posts Written — 5 (but posted 16 interviews/guest articles)
Fiction Words Written — 16,214
# of Days I Wrote Fiction — 11
Nonfiction Prompts Written — 90 prompts (plus front/back matter material)
# of Days I Wrote Non-Fiction — 6
Outlines Written — 1 (100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts)
Days Without Writing — 12
Editing/Revising
Drafts Revised — 2 proofreads of 100 Romance Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 2)
# of Days I Revised — 3
Reading
Books Finished
The Earl and the Artificer (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices #3) by Kara Jorgensen
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Book Launch Blueprint: The Step-by-Step Guide to a Bestselling Launch by Tim Grahl
Books Begun/In-Progress
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You by Brian K. Vaughn
Books Reviewed
None on the blog
*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.
Author Business Activities
Published 100 Romance Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 2)
Read the second edition of The Curious Tale of Gabrielle by Zachary Paul Chopchinski and hosted an interview with his protagonist, Gabrielle
Co-hosted the 2016 2K Indie Book Tour with Kate Evans
Hosted Sandy on my blog, and had Thomas write for hers
Completed an interview on fellow author Margarita Morris’s website
Participated in the #AuthorLifeMonth Instagram photo challenge
Sent two email newsletters
Made a profit on my first paid advertising for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1)
Attended a self-publishing webinar hosted by Joanna Penn
Watched the Author Publishing Academy video series by Steve Scott
Watched the Six Months to Six Figures video series by Peter Voogd
Watched the Book Launch Blueprint video series by Tim Grahl
Goals for March
Finish the first draft of Desertera #2
Initial edit/clean up of Desertera #2
Publish 100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 3)
Try a different paid advertisement for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1)
Resume vlogging
Deliver my birthday gifts to YOU!
Who else has accomplishments to share from February? What are you working toward in March? Share in the comments!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, creative writing prompts, dystopian, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, nonfiction, revising, self-publishing, steampunk, writing
February 26, 2016
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Archives
First and foremost, I’d like to give a big thank you to all of the talented authors who signed up to be a part of the blog tour and gave thoughtful, inspiring interviews. This whole show was for you, and I hope you found a few new readers and author friends along the way.
Second, on behalf of all the authors, I’d like to express our gratitude to the readers who followed this tour. I hope you all enjoyed learning a bit more about your favorite books.
And last, I’d like to say a special thanks to my co-host, the ever-inspiring Kate Evans. Thank you for yet another successful blog tour. It’s always a joy to collaborate with you!
The following list contains the original blog tour interviews for all our authors and books. For ease of access, you can always view it on my Events page, under the Past Events section.
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour
Monday, February 8 – The Earl and the Artificer by Kara Jorgensen
Tuesday, February 9 – The Curious Tale of Gabrielle by Zachary Paul Chopchinski
Wednesday, February 10 – Rise of the Storm by Christina Ochs
Thursday, February 11 – Oak and Mist by Helen Jones
Friday, February 12 – A Case of Deceit by J.L. Phillips
Monday, February 15 – The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes
Tuesday, February 16 – The Cogsmith’s Daughter by Kate M. Colby
Wednesday, February 17 – Going Through the Change by Samantha Bryant
Thursday, February 18 – The Trouble with being a Movie Star’s Wife by Z.N. Willett
Friday, February 19 – The Dream World Collective by Ben Y. Faroe
Monday, February 22 – The Dagger and the Rose by Bill Hoard
Tuesday, February 23 – Wandering on the Treadmill by Wendy Ogilvie
Wednesday, February 24 – Lady, Thy Name is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin
Thursday, February 25 – The Art of Survival by Kate Evans
Filed under: The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour Tagged: author interview, blog tour, book, chick lit, crime, fairy tales, fantasy, historical fantasy, humor, indie author, indie books, magical realism, mystery, romance, science fiction, steampunk, superheroes, time travel, womens fiction, young adult
February 25, 2016
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Kate Evans
Our last (but certainly not least!) author on the 2016 2K Indie Book Tour is my co-host, Kate Evans. Check out Kate’s interview below, but be sure to come back tomorrow for a handy archive post with links to all our author interviews.
Kate Evans is a writer of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her book, Pathways Through Writing Blocks in the Academic Environment, was published by Sense Publishers in 2013. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Sussex University and teaches on degree level courses. She is trained as a psychotherapeutic counsellor, and is interested in the connection between creative writing and good mental health. Living in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, she loves walking by the sea and afternoon tea, and has an inexplicable drive to bring a new generation to the poetry of Edith Sitwell.
Here, Kate tells us about her crime/LGBT novel, The Art of Survival (Hannal Poole Mysteries #2):
Little girls lost. DS Theo Akande is investigating the disappearance of eight year old Victoria Everidge. Her mother, Yvonne, is a desperate woman. What is she capable of? Eminent journalist and newspaperman, Stan Poole, dies leaving a filing cabinet full of secrets. As these leak out, his daughter, Hannah, begins to question her own girlhood. She is losing her way. Her best friend, Lawrence, newly an item with Theo, finds it hard to remain supportive. Instead Hannah clings to her work as a trainee counsellor and to her client Julia. Julia is apparently no little girl lost, but appearances can be deceptive. Then a body is found. The intertwining stories unfold against the wintery backdrop of a seaside town in North Yorkshire. This isn’t gritty crime, this isn’t cosy crime, this isn’t police procedural. This is poetic storytelling which peels back the psychological layers to reveal the raw centre.
Prequels/Sequels: The Art of the Imperfect (Hannah Poole Mysteries #1) published November 2014, long-listed for the Crime Writers Association debut dagger in 2015; The Art of Breathing (Hannah Poole Mysteries #3) due out November 2016.
Now, here’s my interview with Kate:
What was the inspiration behind your book?
I wrote a novel in 2004 about my own experience of depression; it was long, rangy and needed a structure, but, I think got at some raw truth. This coupled with my love of the crime genre and of the landscapes around Scarborough have been the inspiration for The Art of the Imperfect and The Art of Survival.
Who is your favorite character?
I love all my characters, but I suppose Hannah is my favourite. She is struggling psychologically, is vulnerable and at the same time strong. I understand from some readers that she is also difficult to like.
What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?
That we all have our vulnerabilities and these will drive some of us to do things which are difficult for others to understand, cruel, hurtful and, sometimes, against the law.
Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?
I hope anyone who likes a good story will enjoy my book, but I guess it is for readers who enjoy character driven, rather than action driven, novels and want to explore the more difficult, shadowy sides of human nature, the bits we might all prefer to look away from.
What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?
(1) Write, write and keep writing, even when you don’t feel like it. Give your writing physical and psychological space and permission to exist.
(2) Read, read and read some more.
(3) Find fellow writers who ‘get’ your writing, who can support you and who you can support too.
Where can readers buy your book?
The Art of the Imperfect on Amazon: http://goo.gl/z7HFgz
The Art of Survival on Amazon: http://goo.gl/MfMBUj
Where can readers learn more about you?
Website: www.writingourselveswell.co.uk
Twitter: @KateEvansAuthor, www.twitter.com/kateevansauthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kate.evans.author
Filed under: The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour Tagged: author interview, blog tour, crime fiction, indie books, LGBT fiction, mystery, psychological suspense
February 24, 2016
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Lori L. MacLaughlin
Today’s interview on the 2016 2K Indie Book Tour (co-hosted by Kate Evans and myself) is with fantasy adventure author, Lori L. MacLaughlin.
Lori L. MacLaughlin traces her love of fantasy adventure to Tolkien and Terry Brooks, finding The Lord of the Rings and The Sword of Shannara particularly inspirational. She’s been writing stories in her head since she was old enough to run wild through the forests on the farm on which she grew up. When she’s not writing (or working), she can be found curled up somewhere dreaming up more story ideas, taking long walks in the countryside, or spending time with her kids. She lives with her family in northern Vermont.
Here’s a bit about her novel, Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble:
Trouble is Tara Triannon’s middle name. As swords for hire, Tara and her sister Laraina thrive on the danger. But a surprise invasion throws them into chaos… and trouble on a whole new level. Pursued by the Butcher, a terrifying assassin more wolf than man, Tara and Laraina must get a prince marked for death and a young, inept sorceress to safety. There’s only one problem — eluding the Butcher has never been done. Aided by a secretive soldier of fortune, they flee the relentless hunter.
Gifted with magic and cursed by nightmares that are all too real, Tara must stop an army led by a madman and fend off an evil Being caught in a centuries-old trap who seeks to control her magic and escape through her dreams — all while keeping one step ahead of the Butcher.
Sequel: Trouble By Any Other Name (coming spring 2016)
Now, here’s our interview with Lori:
What was the inspiration behind your book?
I’ve always been drawn to strong female characters who are more than capable of looking out for themselves and who are accepted as they are. I also prefer fantasy worlds where women and men are treated as equals, places where it’s not unusual for a woman to rule a kingdom or handle a sword well.
I built my story around these ideas and fitted them into the world I’d already created in maps and sketches. Then I dreamed up adventures for my characters that I would like to have.
Who is your favorite character?
I have trouble with that question. My first inclination is to say Tara, because she’s such a part of me. She’s an adventurer, vulnerable on the inside but hard and cold as the steel of her blade on the outside. She keeps everyone but her sister at sword’s length. She’s been hurt too many times to let anyone inside her guard.
However, I think I’d have to choose Captain Natiere, the wolf-like executioner known as the Butcher. He claims the wolves as his kin, though he’s not a werewolf. His traumatic past turned him into the monstrous person he is, but there’s so much more to him than anyone knows. He holds many secrets in the unfathomed depths of his soul.
What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?
My book has a lot of action and swordplay, but it’s much deeper than that. It’s more about the characters and the relationships between the characters, particularly the sisters, and how they grow and change throughout the story.
Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?
With a female protagonist, my book will likely appeal more to women, but anyone who likes an epic fantasy adventure with swordplay, magic, and a little romance will enjoy it.
What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?
1. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or anything else when writing your first draft. Just get the words down on paper (or on the computer). First drafts are meant to be messy.
2. Have others read your work. Find a critique group somewhere that will give you honest feedback. Your book will be so much the better for it.
3. If you’re going the traditional route, make your book the best it can be before submitting it to agents/editors. If you’re self-publishing, hire a professional editor to go through your manuscript before putting it out there. That’s probably the most important thing you can do for your book, along with hiring a professional cover designer.
Where can readers buy your book?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LoriLMacLaughlin
Amazon:
Barnes & Noble:
Kobo:
iBooks:
Where can readers learn more about you?
Website/Blog: http://lorilmaclaughlin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoriLMacLaughlin
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorimaclaughlin/
Google +: https://plus.google.com/116100629272052336875/posts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lori-l-maclaughlin/ba/478/274
Twitter: @LLMacL, https://twitter.com/llmacl
Filed under: The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour Tagged: adventure, author interview, blog tour, epic fantasy, fantasy, indie books
February 23, 2016
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Wendy Ogilvie
Up next on my and Kate Evans’s 206 2K Indie Book Tour is women’s fiction author Wendy Ogilvie.
Wendy Ogilvie lives in Essex with her boyfriend Carl and their two dogs; Chinook and Storm. She has been a Personal Trainer for twenty years and has been writing training books and short stories in her spare time. The office in her new house is her favourite place to write as she can see the fish swimming in the pond and her two huskies digging up the garden! She is currently working on the next novel in the Wanda series called Wandering Among the Stars.
Here’s the synopsis of her novel, Wandering on the Treadmill:
WANDA MIKOS lives in Briford, England but has a dream to live in Los Angeles and become a Personal Trainer to the stars. She finds a way to make her ambition a reality by entering The Main Event competition. Unfortunately, she has a suspicion that her bitchy boss KAREN LESTER has entered too.
At work, Wanda is introduced to the new Health & Fitness Manager, the sexy MIKE DIAMOND, and in the same day she meets GARY. Mike begins flirting with Wanda but she thinks he is hiding something. Wanda finds out that Karen is not only competing in the same competition, but is also competing for Mike’s affections.
Wanda’s mother (NINA MIKOS) calls to tell her she has terrible news; her father is getting re-married. Nina confesses to Wanda that he is the only man she has ever had a relationship with. This is when Wanda begins to understand a little of why her mum has been so reluctant to move on since the divorce.
During a training session, Wanda injures her ankle and is put on crutches for a week. Gary gets in contact and they have their first date. Karen informs Wanda she is going away so the television crew who will be following them for the competition will be filming her first. Wanda has to hide the fact she hasn’t read the competition contract and was unaware of any filming obligations.
After a couple of encounters with Mike and a weekend away with Gary, Wanda asks Meg’s opinion on who she should be dating. They compile a Pros & Cons list to decide.
Wanda’s dad’s wedding is one week before the competition and when the TV crew turns up in Cyprus to film the event, Wanda worries about Nina’s reaction.
Back home, Mike tells Wanda that Karen has been to a training camp to work with the famous Neil Whettenhall. She freaks out declaring that the competition and dieting are getting too much she will have to pull out.
She eventually decides to keep up with her training and diet. When the competition day arrives, Wanda uses her wit during the interview as she always does when she is under stress. Karen’s routine is flawless and Wanda’s only mistake is a small stumble at the end. And the winner is — Karen Lester.
During the post competition meal, Karen asks Wanda about the guy she is with — Gary. Wanda panics that she will tell Mike about Gary when they get back to work.
Back at the flat, one of the competition judges calls Wanda to inform her they loved her enthusiasm and people skills and, although unconventional, they would like her to join Karen in Los Angeles for one month.
When Wanda tells Karen her news, Karen tells Mike about Gary. Wanda and Mike part ways and Wanda leaves with Karen to Los Angeles.
Sequel: Wandering Among the Stars – Due out later this year
And now here’s our interview with Wendy:
What was the inspiration behind your book?
I wanted to put all my years of gym anecdotes into a story based around a Personal Trainer.
Who is your favorite character?
Wanda, because I think there is a little of her in all of us.
What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?
The main character is a woman who also has to deal with ‘real world’ issues in her journey to becoming the person she wants to be. I am hoping readers will relate to Wanda and laugh as they share in her misfortunes. And maybe be inspired by her determination.
Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?
Female, but I don’t specify an age range. One of my best reviews was from a woman who is 93. She said it lifted her out of a depression she had fallen into. I also think that anyone who has ever tried any sort of fitness routine will enjoy the book.
What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?
Write like nobody is going to read it then edit as though someone else wrote it.
Improve your grammar if it’s rusty.
Get into the mindset of being able to write anywhere at any time.
Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NQOuBG
Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/5448532
Where can readers learn more about you?
About.Me: about.me/wendyogilvie
WordPress: https://wendyogilvie.wordpress.com
Website: http://fit2write.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wendy_Ogilvie49
Filed under: The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour Tagged: author interview, blog tour, chick lit, contemporary fiction, indie books, womens fiction
February 22, 2016
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Bill Hoard
We’re into the last week of the 2016 2K Indie Book Tour (co-hosted by Kate Evans and myself). Kicking off week three is fantasy/fairy tale author Bill Hoard.
Bill Hoard is possessed of two superpowers: he can sleep almost anywhere at almost any time, and he reflexively forms an opinion on any topic within seconds of hearing a single fact. He writes, teaches, ponders, wonders, teaches a little more, and generally makes a nuisance of himself on social media. He suffers from a debilitating appreciation of pipe smoke, old books, and tweed.
Here, Bill shares a bit about his fairy tale, The Dagger and the Rose:
An adopted princess, a dark stranger, and a kingdom of masked souls. The king brought Iris into his castle when she was only days old, but on her sixteenth birthday she will be swept into an adventure which threatens to uncover or destroy her home, her life, and her very identity.
The Dagger and the Rose is a contemporary take on the great fairy tales. Illustrated in striking water colors, it evokes the wonder of the great bedtime stories.
Now, here’s our interview with Bill:
What was the inspiration behind your book?
I have been a reader of fantasy, myth, and fairy tale for a long time. With The Dagger and the Rose I wanted to take a shot at exploring some of the great mythic themes which are present in some of our most archetypal fairy tales. I have also been following the critique that a lot of our recent pop-culture fairy tales, tend to treat the princess as a flat character who is really just there to be rescued by the heroic prince. Some of the most recent fairy tales (particularly from Disney) have tried to get away from that but they often do it by just shifting the princess into a different role. I wanted to see what would happen if I told a classic fairy tale story entirely from the perspective of the princess. What are her motives and how does she grow, change, and direct the story?
So The Dagger and the Rose is a classic style fairy tale but it breaks with tradition by focusing on the motives, decisions, and agency of the princess.
Those old fairy tales are so often beautifully illustrated (checkout Arthur Rackham’s work on the original Peter Pan stories, you won’t regret it!) that I knew I wanted to have The Dagger and the Rose illustrated as well, but as a poor independent writer, there was no way for me to afford full illustrations up front (Dagger has 12 full page, color illustrations as well as number of woodcut style inserts). I ended up contacting a tremendous up and coming Illustrator (Leah Morrison) who was willing to help me run a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund her work as well as the other costs of publishing a fairy tale.
Who is your favorite character?
My favorite character is Princess Iris. It is her story after all.
What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?
I really hope that readers are able to see themselves in the main character. I would love for them to really enjoy the classic traditional fairy tale plot and themes through a more nuanced lens.
Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?
The Dagger and the Rose is for everyone who enjoys fairy tale fantasy. There is some violence in it which may make it a little rough for readers under 10 or so, but as with any classic fairy tale, it is intended for readers of all ages.
What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?
First, write what you love. I have found that I can get through a first draft of all sorts of writing but unless I really love what I am working on it is tremendously difficult to come back and give it the polishing a good story deserves. This also entails reading a lot. It is incredibly important to expose yourself to a great diversity of writing, classic and contemporary, fiction and non-fiction, literary and popular, because you never know what you might find yourself jiving with so much that it inspires a new project or takes a current one in a fresh and exciting direction.
Second, if you can, write in a community. I didn’t start really writing well until I got involved in a writers/philosophers/lit-crit group called Pints and Prose with some awesome people who could encourage me, throw ideas out, and hold me accountable to finish sections and re-write or polish rough points. We still meet every other Monday night and I feel like my best work happens on Tuesdays just after a meeting. It was also through my writing/creative community that I was able to get an incredible team (Twelvesteed Productions) to produce the promo video for my Kickstarter campaign. And, of course, it was after a Pints meeting that Ben Y. Faroe asked me to co-author the Hubris Towers series with him. Everything just works better in community.
Third, diversify your projects. I write because I love stories. It is really important to me that I always have a project on deck which I can be excited about working on. This can slow you down (and I’m sure the more disciplined folk out there are shaking their heads) but I think it keeps the writing process fresh. I am a firm believer that well executed projects of passion are always better than well executed projects of pragmatism. Keeping several different projects on board (I write fairy tales, urban fantasy, humor, and a little theology), increases the quality as well as the scope of my work.
Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KFRvPR
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dagger-and-the-rose-bill-hoard/1123108369?ean=9781943383092
Clickworks Press: http://clickworkspress.com/book/daggerandrose
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28196843-the-dagger-and-the-rose?ac=1&from_search=1
Where can readers learn more about you?
I’m on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorbillhoard and twitter https://twitter.com/BaztheFitz . I also just started building my own website http://www.billhoardauthor.com and can be found at Clickworks Press http://clickworkspress.com/author/bill-hoard. The Kickstarter page for the book is still available (the campaign has ended) as well https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1526537734/the-dagger-and-the-rose.
Filed under: The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour Tagged: author interview, blog tour, fairy tale, fantasy, fiction, indie books
February 19, 2016
The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Ben Y. Faroe
Wrapping up week two of The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour (co-hosted by Kate Evans and myself) is Ben Y. Faroe. Over to Ben:
I live in Baltimore with my wife and two lovely daughters (aged 2 years and 2 months, respectively).
While I’m technically from New Jersey, I grew up overseas in Turkey, then met my Californian wife in Minnesota before whisking her off to South Carolina for a couple years.
I studied Greek and Latin in college and Bible teaching in seminary, so naturally I’m a data analyst for a health insurance company. I’ve founded a prayer room in the past and a publishing company in the present, and I expect to be writing and adventuring full-time within a few years.
Here’s a bit about his contemporary fiction/humor novel, The Dream World Collective:
The Dream World Collective is the story of five friends who decide to quit their jobs to chase what they love.
Sushi and her roommate Summer are tired of working dead-end jobs for corporate drone bosses. So when their friend Alex quits his job and his roommate Zen proposes a grand experiment, they rope in their geeky friend Otto and move in together to build a life of art and freedom and tea and scheming.
Of course, living each day to the full still takes hard work, especially when, technically speaking, rent still exists.
Sushi, a Japanispanglo firestorm of punches and creativity, pegs her hopes on the prize money from a local art contest. That gets complicated when she discovers that one of her competitors is brilliant, uncannily insightful, and, to make matters worse, gorgeous.
Zen would be dealing with romantic entanglements of his own, if he could only find any. But between his writing, his schemes for a philosophical restaurant, and his admittedly tenuous connection to the real world, he’s at least got enough to stay occupied until the right girl discovers his secret message. Hopefully the right girl.
Alex, meanwhile, is trying to figure out what the good life of freedom and human connection looks like when it turns out what you’re wired for is organizational management. And there’s always the question of how far he’s willing to go to bail out his less responsible friends.
Summer is eager to live out her dreams of communal living and gardening and neighborhood improvement, but gardening doesn’t pay the bills, especially in Minnesota in the winter, and communal living—even with your best friends and great intentions—inevitably has its emotional ups and downs. Especially when you’ve secretly got a huge crush on one of them.
As for Otto, he really wasn’t planning to be in on this at all, but with a new basement lair and all the Shasta he can drink, he’s ready to make it work. But soon the outside world starts worming its way in, and Otto finds himself under the tutelage—or possibly in the servitude—of an eccentric British gallery owner, a tutelage-or-servitude whose results will push him to greater heights than he’s ever achieved in a non-virtual world.
And there’s the evil next door neighbor, and the ninja party, and the garage incident, and the other garage incident. But that’s the great thing about living with your best friends. Whatever goes wrong, at least you’ve got each other. And usually pie.
Prequels/Sequels:
None yet, but there’s still lots to explore in this story and I’m planning to extend it into a series.
In the meantime, if you like The Dream World Collective, you’ll probably also enjoy my comedy series, Hubris Towers.
In fact, Zen from The Dream World Collective is a dead ringer for Jimmy Acorn from Hubris Towers. And both Otto and Jimmy have comforting foreign middle-aged salt-and-pepper chef confidantes. Hmm. I sense an impending fan theory…
Now, here’s our interview with Ben:
What was the inspiration behind your book?
This book was a sandbox where I played out some risky dreams and ideas. I wrote it because I wanted to see what happens when you quit your job to have adventures, only without actually quitting my job. At the time I was quite seriously thinking about starting some sort of communal living situation with my friends, but I was newly married and working as a delivery driver and it didn’t seem like a good idea to suddenly stop having an income.
So I started writing to explore what could happen if a few friends lived simply, worked together to make ends meet, and spent the rest of their time doing whatever meaningful, interesting, adventurous things they wanted.
And I was intrigued by what I found. They weren’t automatically happy because they quit their jobs, though it opened up interesting opportunities. They struggled with having to focus even more on money than before, since they didn’t have any reliable source of income. And they had to deal with the fact that relationships are always going to have ups and downs, even with people you love, even—maybe especially—when you can do whatever you want.
As for me, I still have a day job, but since I started writing this book several good friends and I have bought houses within a few blocks of each other. We eat meals together and watch each other’s kids and help each other pursue our dreams and make the world a better place. So it can be done, even if it looks different in every life.
Who is your favorite character?
If I had to pick just one, it would be Otto, the Collective’s geeky, pudgy, massively repressed technomage.* He’s such a cute combination of shy, grandiose, silly, and sweet, and I think he grows the most over the course of the book. I don’t want to spoiler anything, but by the end he’s actually expressing an emotion and everything.
He also, at various points, dons a griffin costume, encounters the Mario, mistakes a Brit for Edward Scissorhands, and teaches a five-year-old about Ninja Santa (or Saito Kurusawa, as he is more properly known). Can’t argue with that.
—
* (Not actually a thing.)
What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?
It’s a cozy and immersive read in its own right, but you can also read this book as a live experiment in community living. The main characters are intentionally quite different from each other, and they won’t necessarily always agree with each other, me, or you. That said, you don’t always have to agree with people to care deeply about them. Reading The Dream World Collective is a fun way to test out the highs and lows of full-time close quarters with real people.
Which, let’s be honest, is just a fancy way of getting you ready for the fact that Otto has imaginary gremlinoid friends, Zen talks with God, and Sushi punches everybody all the time. But they’re cool.
Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?
If you’ve dreamed of quitting your day job, I wrote this for you. Alternately, if you know there’s more out there and you want to find it, if you’re into baking or tea or books, or if you care about creativity and quality and fun, you’ll enjoy The Dream World Collective.
Or we can really drill down. This book’s for you if:
you’re idealistic, optimistic, and/or visionary
you enjoy (or fantasize about) talking to strangers or leaving mysterious notes in public
you enjoy both Star Trek (or similar) and Jane Austen (or similar)
you care about making the world a better place, but not in a boring way
you don’t mind quirky humor and the occasional big (or made-up) word
you want to live like Amelie
What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?
Write more words. The best way to improve your writing is to write more. The best way to build good writing habits is to write regularly. Marketing works better when you’ve got more books. Do make friends, read books, build your platform, and learn new things, but mainly write a lot.
Find good writing friends. If you can find a few people who can give you genuine encouragement and also useful, objective feedback, you’ve struck gold. Value those relationships and make good use of them. If you don’t have writing friends, try checking the internet for local meetups or online communities. Or I can be your writing friend – drop me a line at byfaroe@gmail.com.
Google like the dickens. A year ago I was unpublished with no platform. Now I’ve published a novel, co-authored a series, hit Amazon Top 10 in Humor and in Fairy Tales, built a mailing list and a blog, started a company, built a website, published other peoples’ books, and made some awesome friends. I learned most of what I needed by searching the web and then trying stuff. This is a good time to be alive.
Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes & Noble
Google Play
Apple iBooks
Goodreads
Where can readers learn more about you?
The best way to get in touch (and try my books for free) is to join my list at byfaroe.com/updates. I also love hearing from people at byfaroe@gmail.com.
I’m terrible at social media, but if you still want to find me online, I’m byfaroe everywhere:
Filed under: The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour Tagged: author interview, blog tour, contemporary fiction, fiction, humor, indie books
