Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 20

5 Reasons to Follow Tales of the Lonely Sun (Blog Tour + Guest Post)

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Today I’m doing a blog tour … only it’s something different. It’s a blog blog tour. (E.g. a blog tour for a blog launch.) And now that I’ve said “blog” waaay too many times … I’ll swap over to talking about the blog itself!

Tales of the Lonely Sun is the name of the blog – and it’s run by several aspiring writers who love reading, writing (of course), and Jesus! (You can find out about their team here.)

This blog post in particular (OMW THE WORD BLOG LOOKS SILLIER NOW THAN IT DID ALREADY) is a guest post by Merie Shen!

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5 Reasons to Follow Tales of the Lonely Sun

If you’ve been around the bookish community for long, you know that the Internet is filled with websites and blogs dedicated to the art of storycraft. In this day and age, it’s ridiculously convenient to look up writing advice or book reviews anywhere and anytime you wish. So whose bright idea was it to start yet another website for the bookish kind?

(If you needed an answer, that would be mine. And Carlye’s. We had this bright idea at pretty much the same time, but you can for sure credit the others for making it even brighter. Interpret that however you want.)

With that question in mind, allow me to give you 5 reasons why readers and writers alike should follow Tales of the Lonely Sun…

Reason #1: We talk about books.

Book reviews, just book reviews, can get kind of monotonous after a long time. While we do feature those, we like to mix things up a bit– with collaborations, interviews, book lists, etc. You can also expect a couple posts that dig into the rich world of classics in the future…

What qualifies as a “clean” read is an opinion that varies from reader to reader, but we generally keep to average middle-grade to young adult content standards through a Christian perspective.

Reason #2: We talk about writing books.

This website, of course, may be considered as “just another writing blog,” if you wish. Of course, it’s not just a writing blog, but we do like sharing our thoughts and advice on storytelling (both from a reader and a writer’s perspective). Planners (outliners), pantsers (discovery writers), and plantsers (the combo) are all welcome here. From organization help and editing tips to writing rich descriptions and worldbuilding tricks, and basically everything in between… We’re here to offer what we know. You just might find our unusual perspective on some things useful.

Reason #3: We like good, clean, quality stories.

Chances are when you open a Christian fiction book, you’re not looking to be preached at. When you open a young adult book, you don’t want to see gross unnecessary stuff that teenagers don’t need to read. And sometimes you want to find a middle-grade book that isn’t too juvenile for your tastes.

Since we’re all Christian teens who read a wide variety of genres, we’re particular about the kind of books we want to recommend. If you like well-written stories with sensible, tastefully-done content, you will probably like the recommendations we give (or some of them, at least).

Reason #4: We host a short story writing contest every season.

I don’t know about you, but I love entering writing contests (so long as I have the time, of course!). While we don’t personally judge at every contest, we collaborate with other bloggers/writers for each season. Moreover… we have prompts. Fun prompts, if I do say so myself. On Thursday of this blog tour, we’ll be revealing the winner of this fall’s writing contest, and the winning story will be published on the blog.

If you’re interested in the winter story contest, you can take a look here!

Reason #5: We like to collaborate.

Perhaps you’re an author whose stories fit the criteria to be featured on our website, or maybe you’re just a reader who’s interested in what sorts of collaborations we do. As of yet, you can expect interviews and guests posts with/by authors familiar around the writing community.

Tales of the Lonely Sun Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, Dec. 9

INTRO @ Tales of the Lonely Sun

Angela Watts: Blog Spotlight @ The Peculiar Messenger

Jenna Terese: Guest Post by Merie @ Jenna Terese

Kellyn Roth: Blog Spotlight/Guest Post by Merie @ Reveries

Kim: Blog Spotlight @ The Writing Process

Kristen Hogrefe: Guest Post by Jorja @ Kristen Hogrefe

Jennifer Guyer: Interview with Merie @ Fantasy Ordinary

M.H. Elrich: Interview with the Team @ M.H. Elrich

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Sabrina: Blog Spotlight/Interview with Jorja @ Confessions of a Writer

Elizabeth Dragina: Guest Post by Merie @ Elizabeth’s Corner

Mark Borne: Interview with the Team @ The Mark Borne Nexus

Wednesday, Dec. 11

Abigail Harder: Blog Spotlight @ Books, Life, and Christ

Grace: Guest Post by Merie @ Grace M. Morris

Thursday, Dec. 12

~ ANNOUNCING SHORT STORY CONTEST WINNER ~

Friday, Dec. 13

Diamond: Interview with the Team @ I Have 12% of a Plan

Abigail Harris: Guest Post by Merie @ Read Write Breathe

Saturday, Dec. 14

Ash Ronnel: Interview with the Team @ Ash Ronnel

Jo: Blog Spotlight/Interview with Merie @ Pananaw

Maya: Blog Spotlight/Interview with the Team @ Wandering Wordsmith

Isabel Olivetti: Blog Spotlight/Guest Post by Mya @ Chasing Fantasia

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

The giveaway runs from December 8 to the 15th, an extra day before and after the length of the blog tour. (So you blog tour peeps get to enter early!) Please make sure you add these details about the giveaway in your post– you can just copy and paste this.

This giveaway, by the way, is U.S. and Canada only… I’m so sorry, international folks! (Seriously. I feel your pain. Merie lives in China.)*

This giveaway is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nadine Brandes. (But it is with Mya Gray.)*

ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE

A SIGNED COPY of Hide and Seek by Mya Gray (yes, our very own Mya!)
A hardcover copy of Romanov by Nadine Brandes
Bookish & TotLS stickers
A $10 Amazon gift card
Assorted tea bags

Giveaway link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/690be0241/?

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

How is your post-NaNo existence going? (Mine is slloowww!) Are you back to writing? I’m trying to get back into it, but am struggggllinnnnggg … still, I have projects to finish, so, onto it! (I’ll try to update my WIP page, but I haven’t yet, sooo patience?) Will you follow Tales of the Lonely Sun?

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post 5 Reasons to Follow Tales of the Lonely Sun (Blog Tour + Guest Post) appeared first on Reveries.

How do you feel about free books?

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Hello readers! Today I’ve got a special treat for you … almost 300 books that are either absolutely free or $0.99! Four of mine are a part of this sale – and there are hundreds of others from almost every genre.

This post contains a quick highlight of a couple of my favorite free books (including two of my own!) from this sale. I’m doing mostly historical and romance, since those two are my genres, but there are a lot of other genres available here.

Without further ado …

Free Books!

First, let me repeat that most of the free books are available here: https://sale.perrykirkpatrick.com/

The Lady of the Vineyard

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Is it too late for Adele to return to her daughter’s life?

When her ex-husband reappears in her life determined to spend more time with their child, Adele Collier allows him to take Judy to France for the summer. As the summer goes by, an internal battle rages in Adele’s heart. Can she give up her glamorous lifestyle to win her daughter’s heart?

Six-year-old Judy is more than happy to trade Adele’s neglect for her father’s adoring care. She loves his vineyard and wishes she could stay there forever, but someday she must return to England. Can Judy trust her mother again?

Get on Amazon

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Baby Mine

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Amaliya Preobrazhensky lives with her mother in a tiny apartment. They don’t have much except each other … but that’s all right. Every day, God provides.

When Amaliya’s father, who hasn’t been around since before she was born, returns and a custody battle begins, it’s hard for her to understand. Can a man she’s never met really take her away from her beloved mother? Why would God let such a thing happen?

This short story is a perfect afternoon read for both tears and smiles!

Get on Amazon

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Unbroken

Difficulties arise at Triple Creek Ranch when Orlena, Norman Mavrich’s spoiled, pampered younger sister comes to live with her brother and his wife. The move is much against Orlena’s wishes, and she doesn’t hesitate to let everyone know it

Time and again Mr. and Mrs. Mavrich are driven to their knees to find strength to face another day. Join the young ranch boss, Norman Mavrich, his sweet wife, Jenelle, and the rest of the members of Triple Creek Ranch as they strive to be examples of Christ to the unbroken newcomer.

Get on Amazon

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A Sister’s Burdens

There were six of them…

And these six children have an important lesson to learn when it comes to Mr. Hartly and his manor. Is he the scary man that Rees says he is? Or will the children discover something else as they get to know him?

Get on Amazon

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Deep Blue Sea

Jamie Walker has a secret.

And she’ll do anything to keep it that way.

Her missing cousin’s cold case has been reopened at the worst time. And by the worst person: a hot shot detective from New York striving to close his 100th case.

As the detective gets closer and closer to uncovering the truth of what happened all those years ago, Jamie will go to any lengths to make sure this dusty mystery is one he’ll never solve.

Plagued by her guilty conscience, Jamie searches for forgiveness, finding an unlikely ally in a pastor she interviews for her magazine’s monthly cover article. Will Pastor Byron Mitchell let Jamie in on the key to lifelong peace before her dark past drags her to drown in the depths of despair?

Get on Amazon

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post How do you feel about free books? appeared first on Reveries.

More than a Second Chance by Lisa Renee {Blog Tour Wrapup}

And now … it’s time for the wrapup post for More than a Second Chance by Lisa Renee! I’m excited to share all the awesome posts with you.

As of the time I’m writing this (Sunday night), I’m at 55k for NaNoWriMo. Isn’t that exciting?! This book is really coming along.

Okay, now are you ready for the blog tour wrapup?

About More than a Second Chance

Cassie Chambers, a dedicated youth worker, is determined to rescue the troubled youth in the city of Perth, Australia.

Cassie has made mistakes but hasn’t allowed tragedy or divorce to stop her. She devotes every working hour at Youth Connect. But her own needs are neglected.

Chef Chris Evanson offers work experience to young men from Youth Connect. Cassie and Chris’s encounters become more than sassy bantering with a hint of attraction. Chris is a sincere romantic.

How will Chris respond when he finds out her secret? She must tell him before he falls in love. Will he believe she deserves more than a second chance?

To complicate matters, one of Youth Connect’s troubled teens needs rescuing. She’s pregnant and moves in with Cassie, bringing absolute chaos. Chris gains insight into what life with Cassie involves. Does he still want the total package? Is he Cassie’s true soul mate?

AMAZON – GOODREADS – BOOK TRAILER

About the Author

Lisa Ren’ee is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Omega Writers, Australia. With an Australian theme, she wrote the Single Again series featuring More Than a Second Chance and Acres of Promise, to encourage women to heal past wounds and to dare trust again. Lisa adores babies enough to have seven of her own. Recently, Lisa has taken up breeding Ragdoll cats instead of breeding humans. The tribe lives in Australia, where Lisa and her husband enjoy their writing projects, public speaking, and are on the pastoral team at their church

FIND LISA HERE:

FACEBOOK – AMAZON – WEBSITE

Giveaway

The winner is …

Tirzah!

We will contact you shortly about your prize.

Follow the Tour …

Use this schedule to follow the tour from stop to stop!

Monday, October 21st

Kellyn Roth / Opening Post

Kelly Barr / Interview

Thursday, October 24th

Jane Mouttet / Interview

Saturday, October 26th

Abigail Harris / Book Review

Monday, October 28th

Michaela Bush / Spotlight

Thursday, October 31st

Paula Marie / Book Review

Friday, November 1st

Abigail McKenna / Book Review

Saturday, November 2nd

Amie / Book Review

Tuesday, November 5th

Emily Harris / Spotlight

Thursday, November 7th

Chelsea Pennington / Book Review

Saturday, November 9th

AbbyRose / Book Review

Monday, November 11th

Rose / Spotlight

Lori Parrish / Book Review

Wednesday, November 13th

Kellyn Roth / Book Review

Thursday, November 14th

Connie Porter Saunders / Book Review

Saturday, November 16th

Jo A. Ruth / Book Review

Monday, November 18th

Kellyn Roth / Wrapup Post

Isabel Olivetti / Book Review

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TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post More than a Second Chance by Lisa Renee {Blog Tour Wrapup} appeared first on Reveries.

Rescue Road by Gayle M. Irwin (Blog Tour Wrapup)

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Hello, ladies and gents! Can you believe we’re already over halfway through the month? I sure can’t – I’m not sure I’ll ever quite catch up!

Though … to be fair, I’m almost never caught up.

I have a fun post coming for you next Wednesday, but before that happens, I have a couple blog tours to wrap up! Are you ready for this?

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About Rescue Road

Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes.

Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend George left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses.

When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly – and not the romantic kind. Yet their attraction for one another can’t be denied and deepens after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident. Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land.

Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream, or will the fence line of their hearts – and the property – separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

View on Amazon

About the Author

Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults.

She subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including courage, kindness, perseverance, friendship, appreciation of nature, and the importance of pet rescue and adoption. Her first novel, a clean, contemporary pet rescue romance titled Rescue Road, releases November 2019.

A pet rescue and adoption advocate, she volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwin.com.

Follow the Tour

Monday, November 4th

Intro // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Tuesday, November 5th

Spotlight // Jana T. @ Reviews From the Stacks

Wednesday, November 6th

Book Spotlight // Rachel Rossano

Podcast // Where Passion Meets Truth with Raewyn Sangari

Sunday, November 10th

Spotlight // Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up In Writing

Tuesday, November 12th

Spotlight // Emily Yager @ Emily Yager

Interview // Rochelle Melander @ The Write Now! Coach Blogs

Saturday, November 16th

Wrapup // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries (you are here!)

Tuesday, November 26th 

New Release Promo & Author Q&A // Marie Lavender @ I Love Romance Blog

Other Tour Stops

Author Interview // Dee Knight @  Nomad Authors

New Release Promo // Casey Peeler @ Author Casey Peeler

Guest Post // Karen Ingalls @ Karen Ingalls

Author Interview // Jill Hannah Anderson @ SharingYourBook Blog

Unknown // Eliza Boyd @ Eliza Boyd Writes

Guest Post // Kalia Quinores @ Front Seat Ryder

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TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post Rescue Road by Gayle M. Irwin (Blog Tour Wrapup) appeared first on Reveries.

More than a Second Chance by Lisa Renee — Review

Hello ladies and gents! Today I’ve got something for you I haven’t had in quite a while … a review! This review is of Lisa Renee’s More than a Second Chance.

Like I said, I don’t often post reviews anymore (though I will hopefully start doing so again soon), but I really need to because these kinds of amazing books need spotlighted!

In particular, this book contains amazing Christian themes and a unique storyline.

About More than a Second Chance

Cassie Chambers, a dedicated youth worker, is determined to rescue the troubled youth in the city of Perth, Australia.

Cassie has made mistakes but hasn’t allowed tragedy or divorce to stop her. She devotes every working hour at Youth Connect. But her own needs are neglected.

Chef Chris Evanson offers work experience to young men from Youth Connect. Cassie and Chris’s encounters become more than sassy bantering with a hint of attraction. Chris is a sincere romantic.

How will Chris respond when he finds out her secret? She must tell him before he falls in love. Will he believe she deserves more than a second chance?

To complicate matters, one of Youth Connect’s troubled teens needs rescuing. She’s pregnant and moves in with Cassie, bringing absolute chaos. Chris gains insight into what life with Cassie involves. Does he still want the total package? Is he Cassie’s true soul mate?

AMAZON – GOODREADS – BOOK TRAILER

About Lisa Renee

Lisa Renee is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Omega Writers, Australia. With an Australian theme, she wrote the Single Again series featuring More Than a Second Chance and Acres of Promise, to encourage women to heal past wounds and to dare trust again. Lisa adores babies enough to have seven of her own. Recently, Lisa has taken up breeding Ragdoll cats instead of breeding humans. The tribe lives in Australia, where Lisa and her husband enjoy their writing projects, public speaking, and are on the pastoral team at their church

FIND LISA HERE:

FACEBOOK – AMAZON – WEBSITE

One person will win an eBook copy of More Than A Second Chance by Lisa Renee.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow the Tour …

Use this schedule to follow the tour from stop to stop!

Monday, October 21st

Kellyn Roth / Opening Post

Kelly Barr / Interview with Lisa Renee

Thursday, October 24th

Jane Mouttet / Interview with Lisa Renee

Saturday, October 26th

Abigail Harris / Book Review

Monday, October 28th

Michaela Bush / Spotlight

Thursday, October 31st

Paula Marie / Book Review

Friday, November 1st

Abigail McKenna / Book Review

Saturday, November 2nd

Amie / Book Review

Tuesday, November 5th

Emily Harris / Spotlight

Thursday, November 7th

Chelsea Pennington / Book Review

Saturday, November 9th

AbbyRose / Book Review

Monday, November 11th

Rose / Spotlight

Lori Parrish / Book Review

Wednesday, November 13th

Kellyn Roth / Book Review

Thursday, November 14th

Connie Porter Saunders / Book Review

Saturday, November 16th

Jo A. Ruth / Book Review

Monday, November 18th

Kellyn Roth / Wrapup Post

Isabel Olivetti / Book Review

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My Review

I really liked this book! I wasn’t at all sure if I was (for various reasons explained below, but mostly because I’m not a contemporary romance kinda girl), but soon after I started, I realized it was a unique one.

Some of the best parts were Chris (yes, he deserves his own part) and the themes, which ended up surprising me (even though I don’t 100% agree with all the author’s conclusions).

Characters

Cassie, the main character, took a while to grow on me. She just came across as a bit dramatic and whiny for a grown woman – she’s not a teen, so I expected more maturity which means less drama. Still, I came to respect her over the course of time. She was a hard worker with a good heart who was going through some tough stuff (which I of course didn’t know at the beginning, meaning my heart wasn’t as soft toward her as it could be – it just felt like she was whining a ton for no reason!).

Her life story was honestly super inspiring, even though it was like a BBC drama for a while then. (I was going, “Is she the Lady Edith of the modern world? Is Chris her better-suited-for-her Bertie?”) I was glad to see it unfold over the course of the story (and pssttt, glad it ended how it ended!).

Chris is a sweet guy. We all need a guy like him in our lives! At times he seemed a little too perfect, which would be my only complaint. Compared to Cassie, he just seemed like a saint sometimes. I was like, “Do you have any faults, Chris!?”

I’m not quite sure he did – and it felt like his past was a bit glossed over compared to Cassie’s. I would have liked to know more! It felt like there was just one conversation. I suppose that’s because he was so … over it. Which was FANTASTIC and a good example – just made him a little less interesting.

Setting

The Australian setting was unique. Could have used with a bit more description, but there was still of course a foreign atmosphere to it.

I almost wished the author had have spent more time digging into the uniqueness, but of course, that might have annoyed/confused some readers who are just looking for a good romance without worrying too much about the setting.

Themes

The themes were the place where I had hesitated when reading the blurb. I was like, “Oh, no … I’m going to disagree.” But divorce and remarriage after divorce is one of those things that, though I do have some strong opinions on, I have a little bit of wiggle room. I believe that God offers some grace in certain situations.

So I was hoping it wasn’t one of those things where the author is like, “Oh, yeah, she has a past. We’ll mention it twice and then be done because it’s not a big deal, God is love, He doesn’t care, blahblahblah.”

Thankfully … no. Cassie’s past relationships (of which there were two or three depending on what you call a relationship) were discussed in detail and dealt with. I think considering the subject, Lisa Renee did a good job handling some tough topics.

I didn’t necessarily agree with all the author’s conclusions, but I do believe it’s situational. Divorce is a horrible thing, but it’s not always avoidable (if the relationship is abusive, if the spouse cheats and refuses to repent, etc). I believe that it’s safe to assume that understanding God’s will for your life is the main thing in such cases.

Plot

The plot was a little slow-paced, and at times I found myself very tempted to skim as I wanted to get to the next “good part.”

Does Writing Advice Put a Damper on Our Creativity?

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Recently, I’ve seen writers talking about how writing advice, story craft, and other tips and tricks for writing a better novel are useless.

In their way of seeing it, writing advice tends to lead to formulaic stories, sub-parr novels, and writers not seeking a certain “it” factor. Writers don’t need advice — they need to figure things out on their own.

But this “I’m the all-powerful artist” mindset isn’t healthy. In this post, I’ll be discussing why.

The basic question comes down to this …

If you take writing advice, and try to follow all the writing advice you receive, are you ruining your creative experience — damaging the “it” factor writers need to have?

Or rather:

Shouldn’t writers just naturally be able to write the perfect novel?

The simple answer is … no. No to all of that! You need writing advice, you are not ruining your creative experience, and the “it” factor people talk about is much smaller than most people believe.

Writing has some aspects of art to it, and a lot of people do have a certain amount of talent. But in general, it’s a learned skill. There are so many aspects of writing that you have to study!

And yes, you should take advice. You should read books on writing. You should listen to the experts and take criticism.

Take it with a grain of salt — if John Johnson says you should only write zombie thrillers, you might want to think it over before diving on in — but do take it.

Why can’t you just do it your way?

There is a craft to storytelling, and no, it’s not subjective.

Certain structures, certain ways of crafting characters, certain techniques, grammar, spelling … they all matter. They all will help you write better stories.

Much as I, too, would like to write and then ignore anyone who says what I put out isn’t raw genius, it’s not realistic. Though not everyone will like your book, you need to work toward improving so some people will like it.

And even if you choose to keep your novels to yourself, you still want to do the best at your endeavor.

So learning the craft is important — even necessary!

But won’t your book be like everyone else’s?

No, it won’t. Because most people don’t dedicate themselves to writing great books and most people don’t study the craft of writing to understand what makes a great book.

Basic things like story structure and great characters will make your book more unique rather than less.

Following market trends and chasing after the most recent popular trope is one thing … but refusing to learn the basics of good writing and storytelling will have you running around like a chicken with your head cut off.

The more effort you put into studying the craft of writing a good book, the better book you will write. That’s the simple truth of it.

Hard work means more than any “it” factor.

No matter how talented you are, if you don’t study writing, you won’t improve.

No matter how talented you are, if you don’t write, you won’t have anything to improve.

Both of these are important, and they work hand in hand to create an awesome novel that will be a bestseller, will change people, will be something you can be proud of.

It’s important to make something of quality, and if you don’t learn how, you’re sunk!

Consider your craftsmanship.

It makes me cringe inside when writers treat writing like something you just need to do until it’s perfect without actually studying the craft.

You wouldn’t say “to be a doctor, you just have to operate on people until you get it” or “you should naturally know how to do brain surgery.”

Even Michaelangelo wasn’t born sculpting. It was a skill he learned from hours of practice and study.

All good writers, all great writers, learn the writing craft. You have to know the rules to break them.

When I see writers say writing advice is useless, I can’t help but think they’re stuck in their own ego and their own immaturity.

Well, I don’t want you all to be stuck there.

I want you to become better. To study the craft. I want you to learn what makes a good book — and no, it’s not an “it” factor — and what makes a book sell.

So I encourage you today to think about really diving into writing craft. How can you improve your novel? Pick one thing, perhaps, and pursue it.

Don’t overwhelm yourself — just a little at a time will make all the difference. But be sure to breathe in all the great advice out there!

You may not have started out as the next Jane Austen …

But you could be! Who knows? If you’re willing to put the effort out, you have a great shot.

Writing isn’t some elusive unicorn that only a select, privileged few can snare. Nor is excellent writing a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!

Writing is hard work. It’s studying the craft. Writing is grinding your natural talents down to something beautiful — finding the gold hidden amongst the clay.

I believe you can do it. But will you?

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

What do you think of them *ahem* advice? Do you agree that there’s a lot of studying to writing a good novel? What are your thoughts on the “it” factor of writing?

Also, HOW IS NANOWRIMO DOING? Mine was doing horrible until I switched projects, and now it’s coming along. (Current project is the one at the top of this page.)

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post Does Writing Advice Put a Damper on Our Creativity? appeared first on Reveries.

Rescue Road by Gayle Irwin (Blog Tour Intro)

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Today we have a blog tour for Gayle M. Irwin’s first contemporary romance novel, Rescue Road, which features some of my favorite things – mainly dogs and horses. (Also, Rhiann Kelly is such a cool name … not prejudiced at all!)

Be sure to check out all the other amazing posts in the tour as well as give the book a chance! It looks super sweet, and the cover was actually designed by Jessica Greyson, a dear friend of mine and one of our awesome designers at Reveries Co. (If I get it off the ground, she might be working with me on a super secret special project!)

So let’s see what we’ve got …

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About Rescue Road

Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes.

Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend George left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses.

When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly – and not the romantic kind. Yet their attraction for one another can’t be denied and deepens after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident. Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land.

Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream, or will the fence line of their hearts – and the property – separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

View on Amazon

About the Author

Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults.

She subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including courage, kindness, perseverance, friendship, appreciation of nature, and the importance of pet rescue and adoption. Her first novel, a clean, contemporary pet rescue romance titled Rescue Road, releases November 2019.

A pet rescue and adoption advocate, she volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwin.com.

Follow the Tour

Monday, November 4th

Intro // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Tuesday, November 5th

Review // Jana T. @ Reviews From the Stacks

Wednesday, November 6th

Book Spotlight // Rachel Rossano

Podcast // Where Passion Meets Truth with Raewyn Sangari 

Sunday, November 10th

Book Spotlight // Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up In Writing

Tuesday, November 12th

Spotlight // Emily Yager @ Emily Yager 

Interview // Rochelle Melander @ The Write Now! Coach Blogs

Saturday, November 16th

Wrapup // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Tuesday, November 26th 

New Release Promo & Author Q&A // Marie Lavender @ I Love Romance Blog

Other Tour Stops

Author Interview // Dee Knight @  Nomad Authors New Release Promo // Casey Peeler @ Author Casey Peeler

Guest Post // Karen Ingalls @ Karen Ingalls

Author Interview // Jill Hannah Anderson @ SharingYourBook Blog

Unknown // Eliza Boyd @ Eliza Boyd Writes 

Guest Post // Kalia Quinores @ Front Seat Ryder

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TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

What do you think? Does that book look interesting? What do you think of horses and puppies?

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post Rescue Road by Gayle Irwin (Blog Tour Intro) appeared first on Reveries.

Rescue Road by Gail Irwin (Blog Tour Intro)

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Today we have a blog tour for Gayle M. Irwin’s first contemporary romance novel, Rescue Road, which features some of my favorite things – mainly dogs and horses. (Also, Rhiann Kelly is such a cool name … not prejudiced at all!)

Be sure to check out all the other amazing posts in the tour as well as give the book a chance! It looks super sweet, and the cover was actually designed by Jessica Greyson, a dear friend of mine and one of our awesome designers at Reveries Co. (If I get it off the ground, she might be working with me on a super secret special project!)

So let’s see what we’ve got …

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About Rescue Road

Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes.

Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend George left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses.

When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly – and not the romantic kind. Yet their attraction for one another can’t be denied and deepens after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident. Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land.

Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream, or will the fence line of their hearts – and the property – separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

View on Amazon

About the Author

Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults.

She subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including courage, kindness, perseverance, friendship, appreciation of nature, and the importance of pet rescue and adoption. Her first novel, a clean, contemporary pet rescue romance titled Rescue Road, releases November 2019.

A pet rescue and adoption advocate, she volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwin.com.

Follow the Tour

Monday, November 4th

Intro // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Tuesday, November 5th

Review // Jana T. @ Reviews From the Stacks

Wednesday, November 6th

Book Spotlight // Rachel Rossano

Podcast // Where Passion Meets Truth with Raewyn Sangari 

Friday, November 8th

Review // Eva Shon @ Coffee, Classics, and Craziness

Sunday, November 10th

Book Spotlight // Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up In Writing

Tuesday, November 12th

Spotlight // Emily Yager @ Emily Yager 

Interview // Rochelle Melander @ The Write Now! Coach Blogs

Saturday, November 16th

Wrapup // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Tuesday, November 26th 

New Release Promo & Author Q&A // Marie Lavender @ I Love Romance Blog

Other Tour Stops

Author Interview // Dee Knight @  Nomad Authors New Release Promo // Casey Peeler @ Author Casey Peeler

Guest Post // Karen Ingalls @ Karen Ingalls

Author Interview // Jill Hannah Anderson @ SharingYourBook Blog

Unknown // Eliza Boyd @ Eliza Boyd Writes 

Guest Post // Kalia Quinores @ Front Seat Ryder

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TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

What do you think? Does that book look interesting? What do you think of horses and puppies?

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post Rescue Road by Gail Irwin (Blog Tour Intro) appeared first on Reveries.

How to Turn Your Plot Points into Scenes {yes, another outlining post}

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I was going to let outlining rest now and post about something else, but a question a friend commented kept niggling at the back of my head. And I just couldn’t let it go.

In an article a few weeks ago, I discussed my current, complicated outlining method, but I totally neglected to give tips for developing my plot points into scenes. (For a refresher on that method, click here.)

And it doesn’t make sense to not answer that question (how to go from plot points—bare bones—to scenes—flesh and blood and muscles) in another post. Furthermore, you could use this method while writing if you didn’t do a detailed outline, so it’ll be useful for you NaNoers!

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How to Turn Your Plot Points into Scenes

So let’s start with the basic question …

“Hey Kellyn! I’m trying to figure out plotting, so I was happy when I saw you did a post on it! My one question is how do you get from the plot points to the scenes? I see how you described the scenes in your outline, but how do you come up with scenes you know will be important to the story?”

That’s a great question, and one I totally glossed over. So here’s my somewhat step-by-step guide to turning your plot points (e.g. “this next half of the book is all about blank”) into scenes (e.g. “here’s a event-by-event summary of what happens in this next half of the book”).

I start with the main plot point.

Let’s say that’s:

“Ivy, an 11-almost-12-year-old girl who struggles with a mental disability, is feeling abandoned with her mom distracted by the new dad she doesn’t know or care for, Alice growing up, and Nettie being married. She struggles to find her place in the family and to have a purpose in the world.”

Now, you can see I already had a lot of information there. To get that, I had to think about a couple things.

This is my summary for the first half of the first act (e.g. my set up). And in those two sentences (one of which is hugely rambly), I say everything I need to set up (more or less).

To get that, think about your character’s normal world. Though Ivy’s normal world isn’t ideal, that’s exactly where she starts—in this stuck, empty place where she feels unloved by her family.

So spend a bit of time just brainstorming where your character starts (or whatever it is that they’ll need to conquer/get through/experience in this portion of the story) and write it down in a few concise sentences.

Then think about how you could show the plot points.

From that first little point, I got four scenes. I wasn’t sure how many I would get at first, of course, but I just started writing down the things that would portray it.

I started out with questions such as “What would show Ivy’s feelings of abandonment by her family?” and “How can I portray that without making her parents and family the worst ever?” (They’re not perfect, but they’re not trying to hurt her, and I had to show that without making everyone put down the book in complete frustration.)

This is where the brainstorming comes in. I look at the problems I have and think about how I can solve them. Or rather I look at the plot that needs to happen and see how I can show it.

Then I get to things like, “Well, if Ivy’s parents had given her to the care of a maid who verbally abuses her, Ivy is going to be a mess, and it’s going to trigger the rest of the story.” So I start out showing Ivy being verbally abused by this horrid maid.

Once you have an idea, keep going.

The maid gets fired after Ivy’s sister finds out and tells their parents, but now that we had this mini victory, I know I need to get right back into Ivy’s need to seek help for her life.

So of course this means Ivy’s parents need to have guests over at their house which means Ivy will be overwhelmed by their presence which means …

Basically, I keep on thinking of ways to show the plot points through the story. Remember, showing takes up a lot more space than telling, so you can expect you plot points to expand into scenes if you just focus on that aspect.

Another example from later on:

This is a snippet from a plot point (1st half of second act):

“[Ivy] also becomes intrigued by the mystery of Violet Angel but doesn’t believe she can do anything to help.”

How can I show this? Well, Ivy needs to be introduced to Violet. So she needs to “meet” her – though in this case I’m not introducing her to Violet until later on face to face. At first she just learns about her from others, from hearing her screams in the halls (… don’t ask …), etc. I found out a “fun” way to do that.

Next, she needs to become interested. Well, people talk about Violet to Ivy, and Ivy needs to relate to her. And something about Violet’s struggle needs to appeal to Ivy – what is that? I had to find that out, too, and figure out how to show it.

So yes, lots of brainstorming for every snippet. This isn’t something I did overnight! It took me quite a while to come up with all this — and in this case I had a lot of the material laid out for me already. It was still a struggle, though!

But don’t give up! Keep problem-solving.

It’s, for me, just a matter of brainstorming how to show stuff and how to solve problems I know need solved. Having a very basic, bare-bones structure and working forwards from there is always helpful for me.

I personally don’t just start at the beginning and start writing out scenes … I wouldn’t know where to begin.

But once I know where I’m going and the problems I have to solve, I’m more capable of filling in the gaps with scenes. And I don’t stress it if I get stuck! I just move on and think about it later.

Inspiration doesn’t always strike easily, though, so here’s a very important tip:

Don’t go at it alone!

Writing is not as solitary a game as most people would have us think it is. You need brainstorming buddies! Absolutely need. So don’t forget to get them!

I have friends – actually, many groups of friends – who I am randomly saying things like, “Where can I fit in a cute Ivordy scene?” or “Where should I put this scene where Ivy and Violet are talking?”

And of course we talk about bigger picture issues like plot holes, gaps in character development, et cetera. Sometimes just talking it out is enough to get the wheels of my mind turning!

So rely on your friends. You can trust them to give you some of the best ideas you’ll ever have! (And no, that doesn’t distract from your novel’s originality! As long as you’re not stealing ideas they came up with for their novels, you should be fine!

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And those are my best tips for expanding plots points into scenes. I hope these are helpful to you and encourage you to craft the outline you need to succeed (… even if that’s not outline at all).

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

How is your NaNoWriMo going? I’m working on Ivy Introspective! So excited to keep going. And also … what kind of outline are you using? How do you get ideas for what to write next?

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The post How to Turn Your Plot Points into Scenes {yes, another outlining post} appeared first on Reveries.

Lessons Learned from Not Writing

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I haven’t not been writing for more than a few days altogether in a long time. I just write like that — in bulk, pushing myself as far as I can go.

But now I’m not writing. In fact, I’m not doing a lot of the things I have always been pushing myself to do. It’s new, it’s different, but it’s good.

In this blog post, I’ll be exploring lessons learned from not writing and how they have affected my perspective on being an author entrepreneur.

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First, let’s start with the obvious …

Why did I decide to try not writing?

I wasn’t feeling burnt out. Not any more than is normal, anyway. (I’m always semi-burnt-out. It’s my state of being.) Neither does my life-busyness keep me from writing altogether (though I am working a lot more than normal nowadays).

In August of this year, I enrolled in the Young Writer Workshop’s “Author” program. I’ve been working with Brett Harris and Kara Swanson to strengthen my goals and the steps I take to achieving those goals.

And what was the first thing they told me on our introductory video call?

“You have spread yourself way too thin, and you are trying to do way too much at the same time.”

They told me to cut down.

To choose one or two things to focus on.

Specifically, they asked me to list everything I was doing or trying to do — and cut it down to basically nothing.

I prioritized things that were important. This means no working on random projects. No accepting new commitments.

This was my basic list of things that I would not be doing anymore, including steps to implement those changes:

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Added to that were any offers to beta-read, join blog tours, accept ARCs, etc. I just told myself I couldn’t. And I didn’t.

A note on that

A couple things, like Reveries Co., I’m still keeping running. Thankfully, I have my co-manager and the most amazing person in the world, Angela R. Watts, keeping it all going.

But I also trained two blog tour hosts (Abigail Harris and Michaela Bush) to help out so I wouldn’t go crazy with commitments. That has been amazing so far!

We’ve also being trying to implement some steps to make the process flow a bit more smoothly.

What was I doing?

This is my list of priorities.

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So basically, Instagram, my email list, and The Dressmaker’s Secret.

Simple enough. Stick to those three.

And though I haven’t succeeded in that all the time (it took me a while to learn to tuck away all my other stories!), as my mom says, “You’re not telling me you’re dying of stress all the time now.”

But if you were working on TDS, you were writing, right?

Well, there is too much to explain, but to sum up (see what I did there?), I got The Dressmaker’s Secret to its editor in early/mid September, and then there was nothing.

I outlined some. That was okay before it was more of a leisure time activity than a work one for me. But otherwise, until October 10th, I didn’t have anything to do.

When I got the edits, I went through them in three days, did a quick read-over for anything I missed, formatted it, and ordered a proof a couple weeks ago.

Then I just had to wait for the proof copy to arrive and concentrate on marketing the ARC signups and other prep.

So lots of non-writing stuff.

And it is great!

At first, I felt lost. I felt more stressed while not writing (and doing all those other things) than I did when I was stressing myself out doing it.

But then I realized all the other things I could do. I could get up from my writing spot without feeling guilty—but when I was at work, I could really get a lot done for the upcoming publication, for blog tours, and for my social media.

I’ve even found more time for reading!

It’s also improved my perspective on writing.

I’ve slowed down and thought more about my goals, about how I want to write, etc., and I’ve realized a few things …

Like what quality in writing really is. What kinds of books I want to write. How I want to reach people. Why marketing matters. How to combine my various passions without cheapening any of them.

Slowing down is always a good idea, and it’s really helped me focus on what I need to focus on. I still have a long way to go, but I’m excited for that journey!

So do I recommend not writing?

Yes, I think I do!

Not at the start of your career, probably, but when you have a thousand other things going on, doing less is almost always more.

We authors are always encouraged to push, push, push. But quality means more than quantity every time, especially if our quantity means quality is pushed out the window and nothing gets done!

Until next time …

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

Have you ever taken a major break from writing? Or simply focused in on a couple things to improve quality? How did it go?

Are you doing NaNo? What are you writing? It starts next Friday … wow! I can’t wait!

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post Lessons Learned from Not Writing appeared first on Reveries.