Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 24
October 12, 2015
What the Heck is Steampunk Dystopian, Anyway?
Here’s the first stop on the blog tour, where I explain my novel’s genre(s) and what drew me to such a wild mash up!
Originally posted on Writing Ourselves Well:
This week I am very happy to host a post from my fellow writer, Kate M. Colby, who resides in New Haven, USA. Kate’s first novel is being published by Boxthorn Press this month – grab an early copy and get money off (see below). Her book, ‘The Cogsmith’s Daughter’ is a steampunk dystopian, and (being over fifty) I had to ask, what the heck is that? Read on for Kate C’s response…
Picture this: after nearly fifteen years of dreaming about writing a novel, you finally finish your first one and decide to publish it. You’re thrilled—nay ecstatic! You can’t wait to tell your friends and family about it. The moment comes. Someone asks you, “So what’s your novel about?” Your eyes light up, you lean over and say, almost conspiratorially, “It’s steampunk without steam.”
And all you get in return is a “deer in the headlights” look. This, dear…
View original 966 more words
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: blog tour, book launch, dystopian, fiction, steampunk, steampunk dystopian
October 10, 2015
Indie Book Review: Rise of the Storm by Christina Ochs
Rise of the Storm by Christina Ochs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Rise of the Storm by Christina Ochs is an epic fantasy novel that follows the lives of several characters in an empire increasingly devastated by war and rebellion. With a full cast of characters, political intrigue, romance and a dash of violence, it has everything sword-wielding fantasy lovers crave.
In Rise of the Storm, the chapters rotate between the perspectives of four characters: Prince Kendryck, Princess Gwynneth (Kendryck’s wife), Braden (a military general), and Janna (a commoner). This structure allows the reader to see the empire and its battles from multiple perspectives, which works well for both delivering information and creating strong emotional experiences. The reader will be rooting for characters on opposite sides of the war, which elicits fantastic tension. Likewise, the chapters are rather short. Personally, I enjoy short chapters as a reader – it makes me feel like I’m moving along in the story and encourages me to read “just one more” before putting the book down.
All of the characters and their relationships are well-developed. Ochs provides enough background to give the reader a sense of the characters’ worldviews, while also allowing them ample opportunity to grow in the face of challenges. Seeing the characters develop (even when I don’t agree with what they’re doing) is satisfying. They feel like real people, flaws and all.
From a thematic standpoint, Rise of the Storm deals with several serious themes. Much of the driving force behind the war is related to changing theological views within the empire, and Ochs explores religious freedom, persecution, and religion as a reason for war. Moreover, Ochs deals with feminist issues, such as violence against women and women’s roles in this society. Obviously, this theme is explored from the society’s matrix, but Ochs does a great job of developing strong female characters and helping them overcome adversity. Last, Rise of the Storm introduces political themes as it shows where characters allegiances lie and why.
My only critique of the novel is that I feel like the reader is thrown right into the action without much explanation. For example, there are plenty of characters that are never met but that are mentioned by main characters. Often, the reader is left wondering who these people are and how they are connected to the characters. Similarly, I felt the governmental and theological structure of the world could have been better explained. While pieces were revealed throughout the novel (which is preferable to an information dump in chapter one), I still feel like I don’t fully understand who is in charge of what and how the hierarchy of power works. That being said, this confusion did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel or comprehension of its plot, but I do feel like I missed a little depth.
Overall, Rise of the Storm is a captivating epic fantasy that will transport the reader to an empire filled with rebellion. The characters are complex, the themes are thoughtful, and the novel is steady-paced and never dull. As I said in my introduction: with a full cast of characters, political intrigue, romance and a dash of violence, Rise of the Storm has everything sword-wielding fantasy lovers crave.
If you are interested in reading Rise of the Storm and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through 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: Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: amreading, book, book review, books, epic fantasy, fantasy, fiction, reading, self-publishing
October 8, 2015
I’m Going On Tour!
…virtually, anyway!
I’m pleased to announce that, starting Monday, October 12th, I will be going on a blog tour in support of the launch of The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1). The tour will last until Friday, October 23rd (I’ll be taking the weekend off) and will be a series of guest posts on the blogs of some of my favorite indie authors and fellow writers. Even though all of you know the book is coming out, I highly encourage you to follow the blog tour. I’ll be revealing new information about my inspiration behind TCD, my writing process, and so much more! There may even be a giveaway involved (hint, hint)!
Below is the schedule. It is also be posted on my Events page so it isn’t lost in the blog sea.
Date
Host
Topic
Blog URL
Mon. 10/12
Kate E.
What the Heck is Steampunk Dystopian, Anyway?
http://writingourselveswell.co.uk/
Tue. 10/13
Ula
How I Wrote My Novel’s First Draft (and How it Differs from the Final Product)
https://broccoliaddict.wordpress.com/
Wed. 10/14
Zach
Desertera: Conception and Construction
http://zachchop.com/
Thu. 10/15
RELEASE DAY!
Charles
How I Became a Writer (and Stumbled Upon the Idea for My Novel)
https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/
Fri. 10/16
Chris
Author Hall of Fame Introduction
http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/
Mon. 10/19
Jonas
Video Interview
http://jlfiction.com
Tue. 10/20
Helen
A Virtual Tour of Desertera
http://journeytoambeth.com/
Wed. 10/21
Amanda
What It “Really” Takes to Write and Publish a Novel
https://richteramanda.wordpress.com/
Thu. 10/22
Teri
Desertera’s Religion and Themes
http://teripolen.com/
Fri. 10/23
Kevin
The Pros and Cons of Using an Invented Word in Your Title
http://kevs-domain.net/
And, don’t forget – The Cogsmith’s Daughter is only available for the special pre-order price of $0.99 for one more week! Reserve your copy at any of these fine retailers:
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, etc.
Filed under: The Cogsmith's Daughter Tagged: book launch, book tour, desertera, dystopian, novel, reading, steampunk, the cogsmith's daughter, the desertera series
October 7, 2015
Indie Book Review: Echo by Lorena Glass
Echo by Lorena Glass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Echo by Lorena Glass is a time-travel fantasy romance that follows two cursed lovers as they battle through time to be together. The novel opens with Karissa, who travels from the early 2000s back to ancient Roman times to reunite herself with her deceased soulmate, albeit in one of his previous lives. Due to the curse, each time they are together, Karissa and Adregin (her lover’s name in his life as a Roman soldier) are separated by death and must continuously search for one another in their other incarnations.
If you love romance for the sake of romance, you will adore this novel. Karissa and Adregin have an inexplicable bond, and they love one another with a passion akin to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (including both the praises and critiques of that relationship). While at times this love may seem foolish, their devotion to one another is admirable and is, of course, the driving factor of the plot.
The characters are well-developed and complex. Their personalities are understandably different in each of their lives, but they still have defining traits that span their incarnations. Personally, I did not find all of the characters likable, but I do not hold that against the author. It just goes to show that Glass has crafted realistic, flawed characters.
As to the plot of the novel, I felt like Echo was two or three books in one. It carried over into multiple lives of the characters, and each segment felt like a different book. The ending, while somewhat of a cliffhanger (to set up the next in the series), does not have the dramatic effect the author intended. After all, Glass shows us the basic idea of what will happen earlier in the novel, when the lovers are separated for the first time. I would have found the work much more effective if more detail and time had been spent in developing the characters’ relationships and the book split in two. In addition to this high-level/structural revision, the novel could also do with a copy edit.
I cannot comment on the accuracy of the historical elements of the novel, as I am not a history buff. However, nothing jumped out at me as being hugely inaccurate or unrealistic. As far as the time travel element is concerned, I wish that had been better explained. It is still unclear exactly how the time travel works, and given the element of danger Glass implies, it seems unlikely that a normal, 20-something like Karissa could have gotten her hands on the technology. That is an element I hope will be explained further in subsequent novels.
Overall, Echo by Lorena Glass is a captivating love story that does the work of two books. If you enjoy relationship-driven plots and intense romances, you will really like this novel.
If you are interested in reading Echo and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through 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: Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: book, book review, books, fantasy, fiction, reading, romance, science fiction, self-publishing, time travel, time travel romance
October 3, 2015
Month-End Update: September 2015
Personally and professionally, this September was wonderful. Daniel and I celebrated our one-year anniversary as well as the three year anniversary of the convention at which we met. Also, I began the month with two blissful weeks of “you have a job…but you don’t have to start it yet.” This meant I got a lot done without the distractions of financial worries and job searching. To that end, I am officially a professional writer — in both my “day job” as a copywriter and in my “second job” as an independent author. I can’t even begin to describe how gratifying it is to finally see my hard work paying off in my reality. If only the two would learn to get along better. Being employed again sure takes a lot of time!
But, okay, enough feelings. Let’s look at the facts of what I accomplished this September:
Writing/Drafting
Blog Posts Written — 13
Fiction Words Written — 10,501
# of Days I Wrote Fiction — 5
Outlines Written — 1 (dabbling with a nonfiction idea)
Editing/Revising
Drafts Revised — Completed the second proofread of The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1)
# of Days I Revised — 4
Misc. Editing — N/A
Books
Books Finished
Oak and Mist (The Ambeth Chronicles #1) by Helen Jones
The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes
Self Publisher’s Legal Handbook by Helen Sedwick – review on Goodreads
The Dream Walker (Land of Mystica Series #1) by Michelle Murray
Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz
Self-Help Made Simple: Straightforward Tips on How to Make the Most of What You Have and Start Working on Getting What You Want by Fia Essen – review on Goodreads
Echo by Lorena Glass – review to come
Books Begun/In-Progress
Rise of the Storm (The Desolate Empire Book 1) by Christina Ochs
Books Reviewed
The Slapstyx by Annabelle Franklin – read review
Oak and Mist (The Ambeth Chronicles #1) by Helen Jones – read review
The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes – read review
The Dream Walker (Land of Mystica Series #1) by Michelle Murray – read review
Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz – read review
Author Business Activities
Added another vlog to my YouTube channel, this one on line editing
Took new, brand-appropriate author photographs
Revealed the cover for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1)
Had business cards designed
Made The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) available for preorder!
Distributed advance review copies to my newsletter subscribers
Began working with my print-on-demand distributor to create the paperback version
Organized a blog tour to support my book launch (more information to come)
Goals for October
Officially release TCD in both ebook and paperback formats
Have a fun and successful blog tour
Finally finish my book review queue and transition my author platform away from it
Continue writing Desertera #2
Continue working on this nonfiction idea
Decide whether or not I’m doing NaNoWriMo again
What have you accomplished this month? What are your goals for October? For the rest of the year?
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, dystopian, editing, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, revising, self-publishing, steampunk, writing
September 30, 2015
The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) is Available for Pre-order!
You read it right — The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) is now available for the special pre-order price of $0.99. After the official release on October 15th, the price will triple (to a whopping $2.99), so snag your cheap copy while you can!
Currently, The Cogsmith’s Daughter is only available in ebook format. Long story short, I’m waiting for my printing company to approve the final paperback files. When it does, the paperback will be available as well. Don’t worry paperback lovers, I’ll let you know when you can grab your print copy!
Here are all the places you can pre-order the ebook. More retailers will be available after the official release.
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, etc.
After you pre-order your copy, make sure you shelve it on Goodreads! Once you’ve blazed through it, don’t forget to leave a review on Goodreads and the retailer from which you purchased it.
To be the first to hear exciting news like this (and receive free advance review copies of my future publications), sign up for my author newsletter.
Thank you all for your encouragement and the wonderful community you provide! This journey would not be nearly as fun or rewarding without you. And, of course, happy reading!
Filed under: The Cogsmith's Daughter Tagged: book, book launch, books, desertera, dystopian, indie author, indie book, indie publishing, novels, preorder, reading, self-publishing, steampunk, the desertera series
September 28, 2015
Indie Book Review: Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz
Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this short story in exchange for an honest review.
Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz is a horror/suspense short story in which Jessica, a college student, begins receiving threatening text messages from a blocked number. The story only takes around half an hour or 45 minutes to read, making it a fast-paced thrill.
Given that the story is short and relies on a few twists, there is not much I can say about the plot without revealing spoilers. However, I will say that it was quick-paced, suspenseful, and kept me hooked all the way through. While I do feel a college student and university setting is a bit overdone in horror and suspense novels (and movies especially), the twist at the end provides a refreshing spin and saves the story from becoming too cliché. My one criticism of the story is that I feel it would benefit from being a bit longer, not only for my own enjoyment, but for there to have been more development leading up to the end, as the conclusion felt a bit rushed.
The writing is strong and concise. Likewise, Lanz’s characters are well-developed, especially considering how little space he gives himself to craft them. The characters play well with each other – the relationships are multi-faceted and believable.
Overall, Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz is an enjoyable and quick horror/suspense short story that will keep fans of the genre captivated until the end…and wishing the end didn’t come quite so soon.
If you are interested in reading Unknown Sender and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through 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: Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: book, book review, books, fantasy, fiction, horror, mystery, reading, self-publishing, suspense, thriller
September 26, 2015
Feeling Philanthropic? Join My Blog Tour!
Hello, everyone. I will keep this post short and sweet (and only live on the site for a short time!).
I’m going out on a blog tour between Monday, October 12 and Friday, October 23 to promote The Cogsmith’s Daughter.
My fantastic newsletter subscribers (who always get first dibs on fun things like this) and a few outstanding readers (who spied the first request in my September Mid-Month Check-In) are already on board.
I have FOUR spots left on the official tour, and I would love to have one of you fine readers host me.
If you read my blog, you know I’m always willing to give back to the community, so I’m happy to make it a guest post exchange or help you out in any way I can. (To those of you who have already agreed to help with my blog tour, I hope it goes without saying that this applies to you, too!)
So that’s it. If you want to participate, shoot me an email at author@katemcolby.com.
If you just want to hang out and observe the tour, no worries! I’ll have the full scheduled posted in early October, once I finalize everything with my hosts.
And most importantly, have a lovely Caturday!
Filed under: The Cogsmith's Daughter Tagged: blog, blog tour, blogging, book launch, book marketing, book release, dystopian, fantasy, indie author, sci-fi, science fiction, steampunk
September 23, 2015
5 Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Hello, everyone. My name is Kate M. Colby, and I suffer from Imposter Syndrome. Some of you may have heard of it. Many of you may suffer from it yourselves, whether you know the name or not. It’s been called fear, writer’s block, artistic drought, and several other names — depending on the particular strain that affects you. What exactly is it?
Imposter Syndrome is that nagging feeling that you don’t have the necessary skills and/or authority to accomplish your goals. After all, you don’t have a creative writing degree! Who are you to write a novel? You don’t have a publishing contract! Who are you to give writing advice? You don’t have a successful podcast or social media platform! Why would anyone listen to you or read your work? There are already millions of books out there written by millions of talented, educated authors! Why does the world need your book?
Found here
My strain of Imposter Syndrome is the “I’m not _____ enough.” variety. Last year, it was “I’m not creative enough to write a novel. And I’m definitely not disciplined enough to write a novel.” This year, with the novel writing behind me, it has mutated to a strain of “I’m not smart enough to publish this novel. I’m not qualified enough to be a professional copywriter and author. I’m not prepared enough to tackle my business and artistic goals.” In short, I have zero right, zero authority, and absolutely no business being an “author,” “writer,” or “entrepreneur.”
Another variety that affects me is the general, “I’m not artistic enough.” My entire life, I have been one of the more creative people in my family and friendship circles. However, I don’t feel like an artist. Frida Kahlo, with her gorgeously painted expressions of loss, feminism, and Mexican pride, is an artist. Gerard Way, who penned “Oh how wrong we were to think that immortality meant never dying” and a thousand other lines I envy, is an artist. Stanley Kubrick, with his innovative filmography style whose messages I can hardly fathom, is an artist.
Now this guy “looks” like an artist
ME? No way. To be an artist, I’d have to die my hair a weird color (I did do a red streak once), post brilliantly obscure Instagram photos that get 1,000 likes (incense stick protruding from banana anyone?), cover my body in tattoos (I only have 3…and that’s debatable), and be able to spout poetry at the snap of a finger (um…roses are…crimson?). As much as I would love to have that overflowing vat of random, spontaneous, carefree, meaningful artistic juice dripping from my brain 24/7, the truth is…I just don’t.
So, how do you conquer the feelings of inadequacy and sense of “stepping-out-of-bounds” that Imposter Syndrome creates? And, if you have similar strain to mine, how do you overcome the idea that you’re not _____ enough? I don’t know. But here are my best guesses.
1. Savor the credentials you do have.
Okay, maybe you don’t have an MFA. Maybe you don’t even know what MFA stands for (Master of Fine Arts). But, maybe you already have a book self-published on Amazon. Maybe you have 15 (partially or entirely) finished drafts on your hard drive. Maybe you rock the local cafe’s open mic night. Hell, maybe you just make a bitchin’ grilled cheese sandwich (that’s right, I’m looking in you, mirror). Whatever you have on your side, use it for all it’s worth.
2. Acknowledge that you’re not alone.
Research some of your favorite best-selling authors. Several of them won’t have formal education in writing. Look into successful self-published authors — the same will be true. Then, take it a step closer to home. Do others in your critique group or your Twitter feed have a back catalog full of brilliant novels? Are any of them really more qualified than you? Even if they are, do they feel incredibly confident? When push comes to shove and the ugly truth comes out, we’re all insecure and terrified — to different degrees, of different things, in different ways.
3. Remember, no one else is 100% you.
My favorite quote comes from the aforementioned Mr. Way. “Talent can only take you so far. It’s your point of view on the world that makes a difference.” That’s right, folks. Natural ability and, I would argue, fancy credentials only get you so far. If you don’t put them to use, if you don’t combine them with your unique perspective and truth, then what are they really doing for you? No one in the known universe has the exact same personality, experiences, feelings, and perspective as you. Therefore, no one else in the world can write your novel. So get off your ass and write it.
4. Define and redefine what’s stopping you.
What is your “I’m not _____ enough?” Figure it out. You can’t solve a problem if you don’t know what it is. Got it? Good. Now go out and get it. Take an online writing course. Read that book on Amazon keywords. Dye that hair.
Can’t do whatever it is you need to do? No worries. Redefine it. I’m not “qualified” enough? I’m not “prepared” enough? Kurt Vonnegut didn’t have an English degree (In fact, he dropped out of college altogether to join the army). When J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter, she was broke and scribbled the first inklings on a napkin. Surely you can figure out how to make-do, too.
Do you share my “I’m not artistic enough” hang up? Well, why does an artist have to be someone with an outwardly recognizable appearance and a knack for spontaneous bursts of random creativity? Maybe, an artist is someone who generates a consistent flow of creativity and productivity, who learns to marry craft and business, who doesn’t need legions of social media followers to constantly reaffirm his/her genius. You know, I think that definition could work for me.
5. Just do it.
No matter what variation of Imposter Syndrome you have, “you must do the thing you think you cannot do” (Eleanor Roosevelt). It’s as difficult and as simple as this: if you overcome or deny your internal objections and just do the damn thing, you will no longer be an imposter. You will, slowly but surely, become an authority.
And when, as an authority, you feel like an imposter, return to step one.
What is your brand of insecurity and Imposter Syndrome? How do you overcome it? Share your tips below!
Filed under: General Writing Tagged: author, indie publishing, insecurity, inspiration, motivation, publishing, self-publishing, writers block, writing, writing advice, writing tips
September 21, 2015
Indie Book Review: The Dream Walker by Michelle Murray
The Dream Walker (Land of Mystica Series #1) by Michelle Murray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Dream Walker (Land of Mystica Series #1) by Michelle Murray transports the reader to the land of Mystica, where a once-trapped wizard has escaped his magical bonds and is wreaking havoc on the kingdom. Miranda, a seemingly-normal college student from the human realm, begins to have dreams about a distraught king in a magical land. When Miranda goes to a local bookstore to research her dreams, she learns that she is actually a dream walker — a person with the ability to see into other worlds during dreams and even travel to those other worlds. Recognizing her destiny, Miranda transports herself to Mystica and takes on the quest of saving the land from the evil wizard.
The Dream Walker has everything fantasy readers crave in a novel. Mystica feels like a land where anything is possible and offers a captivating variety of fantastical locations, magical acts, and amazing creatures and beings. It features everything from wizards to dragons to chivalrous huntsmen. Readers will easily become enchanted with the world Murray has created and enjoy the twists and turns of Miranda’s journey.
From a plot standpoint, The Dream Walker moves quickly from one part of the quest to another. There is rarely a dull moment, which makes for a fast read. The language is straightforward and a bit simple, and when combined with the steady action, it makes for an engaging, family-friendly story for children and young adults.
At the same time, my main critique with The Dream Walker is that the plot moves a bit too quickly. The book itself is rather short and feels to be written more in summary than in scene. As someone who was intrigued by the concept and adored the land of Mystica, I would have liked to have more detail of Miranda’s adventure and for the novel to have had more room to develop characters and really immerse me in the plot, as opposed to jumping quickly from one bit of action to the next. Likewise, I will say that the language was a bit too simplistic for my taste (but again, that is more acceptable for a children’s novel), and the novel definitely needs the touch of a good proofreader.
Overall, The Dream Walker (Land of Mystica Series #1) is a fun fantasy adventure that takes place in a magical, intriguing land. With a bit more fleshing out of the plot and less summarizing, this could be a fantastic novel. As it stands, it is a quick-paced, light read, perfect for children or young adults looking to embark on a quest.
If you are interested in reading The Dream Walker (Land of Mystica Series #1) and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through 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: Fiction Book Reviews Tagged: book, book review, books, children's lit, childrens book, fantasy, fiction, magic, reading, self-publishing, supernatural, wizard, YA, ya fantasy, young adult
