Genevieve Iseult Eldredge's Blog, page 4

REKINDLED: Now in Paperback!

Amazing news, dear Readers! CIRCUIT FAE 3.5: REKINDLED is now available in paperback!Get it now and get caught up on all the snarky, angsty Syl and Rouen adventures!DescriptionSyl Skye, newly crowned Queen of Fair Faerie, would be psyched to be the ruler of her Summer realm, except for two things.First, her girlfriend Rouen Rivoche became Queen of Dark Faerie, the Winter realm. That would be great except the Winter realm’s always been at war with Summer. By tradition, that makes Rouen Syl’s mortal enemy.That said, love can break past old hatred, right? Especially with a new foe about to attack them both.Ah, no.Which brings us to Syl’s second problem. Rouen’s under a dark spell and doesn’t remember Syl, their lives, their love. Worse, if Syl doesn’t break the spell by the next new moon, Rouen will forget her forever.To defeat their foe, it’ll take two soul-bound queens whose hearts and minds act as one. Trouble is, no one has ever broken the dark spell Rouen suffers from.Good thing Syl isn't the type of queen who gives up easily.Prefer to read in e? No worries. We're like Marrow. We gotchu.AMAZONBARNES & NOBLEGOOGLE PLAYITUNESKOBO

5 Steps to Finish Your Book

I know what it's like. You start out with a great idea, you've got all this momentum, you get halfway through your book, and wham! The words just stop flowing. No matter what you do, you can't recapture the shiny newness of that initial creative burst. I’ve written six books so far in THE CIRCUIT FAE series. Further, I’ve been an editor for a number of small presses, helping authors make their publishing dreams a reality.Today, I'd like to let you in on my secret of why I'm never really bogged down by writer's block. It's not a magical formula and, no, it doesn't require any blood sacrifices.As with all writing advice, your individual mileage may vary, but here are some tips that have helped me slog through the word mines, even when motivation was low.1. Create a habit of writingWe’ve all probably heard the saying “butt + chair = productivity,” and I can’t stress enough how important it is to create a habit of writing.What this means is that you should strive to write every day. By “write every day,” I don’t necessarily mean you’re constantly shoveling words onto a page. That’s great during your drafting phase, but in later revision phases, you’ll want to take the time to think about your story, maybe do some further research, go back and tweak your outline, and really get the details down.It’s the habit that’s important. You need to make time in your schedule. This will mean sacrifice. Do you do your best work in the morning? Set that alarm an hour earlier. Do you find yourself bingeing Netflix at night? Use that time to write.Look for areas of opportunity. Seize them.2. Break bigger goals into smaller goalsHaving daily goals is key. First, because even THINKING about writing a 50,000-word novel is intimidating for anyone. Pro writers alleviate this by splitting that 50,000-word novel into smaller chunks.Want to write your 50K novel in a month, like in NaNoWriMo? That means you need to write approximately 1700 words/day.Break those goals into smaller, more manageable chunks, and the job will seem less daunting.Some examples of good daily goals are: write 500-1000 words, redo my outline, reread and take notes, do research (so long as you don’t fall down any rabbit holes).Let the stage of the manuscript dictate your goals. When drafting, having daily word count goals is great. When outlining, shoot for outlining 1-5 chapters/day.3. Accept that you will miss some goalsAs we all know, no plan survive contact with the enemy. You will definitely miss some of your goals. That’s just life. Work comes up, friends call, family visits, you get sick.Or maybe you just have a bad writing day. It happens to all of us. It’s okay.All these things can really throw a monkey wrench into your daily goals, but guess what? Having daily goals will keep you on track, even when life throws curve balls at you.For every goal you miss, you’ll have those that you exceed, and mostly, it comes out in the wash. If you miss your goal, you can always tell yourself, “I’ll make it up tomorrow.”Plus, writing every day keeps you steeped in your novel, thinking about it, and that lets your subconscious really work on it too.4. Keep inspiration highCreativity is a tricky thing, and the muse doesn’t always come when she’s called. A good writer doesn’t have time to wait for inspiration to strike. It’s important to surround yourself with things that inspire you.I keep pictures of my characters near my desk as I write. I also do Pinterest boards for each character concept. When I feel is connected from the characters, I can go back to these for some visual inspiration.You might also watch movies or read books in a similar vein to your WIP. Or listen to music as you write.The important thing is this: pay attention to what inspires you.Did you just have an amazing writing day? Ask yourself why. Was the sun shining and the music playing, and the words just flowed? If so, next time, grab your laptop and head out into that sunny day with your headphones.Did you have a bad day? Why? Did you keep checking your phone? Maybe put it in the other room or use a Pomodoro app that only lets you access necessary apps.Continuously examine your process and make adjustments based on your findings. Writing is art, but it's also a little bit of science too. 5. Celebrate small successesWriting is hard. It’s isolating. It’s frustrating. And at the end, there’s no guarantee of success, sometimes even for established authors. It’s vital that you celebrate your successes, no matter how small.Did you make your daily goal all week? Celebrate it! Finished a tough chapter? Celebrate! Got 25 words onto the page when all you wanted to do was sleep. You got it—celebrate!Because, really, in your writing career, there’s always something to freak out about. Before you’re published, you freak out about getting published, then after, you freak out about your reviews. Then, you freak because you have to write Book 2, then you freak out about THOSE reviews.It can be exhausting.Enjoying each step, learning from it, and bettering your craft is vital to avoiding jealousy of other authors and preserving your sanity.And remember: every writer is different. What works for someone else may not work for you. Examining your process is key.Best of luck! I’m rooting for you!~GIE

Con Recap: RavenCon 14

It's been an exciting April, readers and fellow sleeper-princesses! It was my first RavenCon in Williamsburg, VA, and I loved meeting and reconnecting with friends and industry colleagues and discussing all topics writing and publishing! Thank you to the RavenCon staff, support, and volunteers as well as to my fellow panelists and all my readers and congoers-in-arms!As usual with my con recaps, today I want to tackle a question I'm often asked: Why don't you sell your books at cons?My short answer? As much as I LOVE meeting readers new and old, I'd rather do that on panels, while leading workshops and helping other writers, or connecting without a desk between us and without any pressure on your part to buy anything. (This is the part of the post where I mention that YMMV, and that, for every piece of advice any writer gives you, there's a very successful author who does the EXACT OPPOSITE, so take my experience with a grain of salt. It may resonate. It may not. And that's okay!)Maybe it's the introvert in me, but I don't find selling at cons terribly effective unless you have a built-in readership that specifically attends to buy your books. Why? Because building a readership isn't about selling. It's about making connections. Being behind that table puts pressure on you to sell and on your readers to buy, and that pressure can easily overshadow and even harm the connection you're trying to make with the reader. For me, cons are about making those genuine connections, and I can't do that effectively from behind a desk. I'd rather spend my time connecting meaningfully with industry pros and colleagues, friends, readers, and other congoers. I want to be an active part of the community I'm asking to support me, and that means being mobile, attentive, and interactive without the looming pressure to buy, buy, buy my books. Now, of course, this isn't to say that authors who sell their books at cons are wrong, unsuccessful, or not part of the writing community. They certainly are! And I've seen at least a few authors who were masterful about making that instant connection with potential readers from behind a table.Sadly, though, I've seen many, many more go right for the hard sell. This weekend, I had an author shove her book right in my face. Reader, she's still alive. But here's the thing: I'm never going to buy her book because the pressure was too high. Plus, she didn't give me any time to look at her book, read the back cover copy, or even interact with her. The truth is: people do business with people they like, and if selling your books makes you unlikeable or pushy, then you're out of luck. In fact, you can even harm a potential reader relationship. A good alternative to getting a table is to sign up for programming.Being a guest panelist is a great way to get in front of a large number of people and promote yourself and your books. Plus, some cons will let you do a signing and/or reading where the people you've spent time connecting with during the con can hear you read, get a feel for you and your work, and buy your books. And if you do try the table route, here are some suggestions from the many "bookseller recons" I've done:1. Get out from behind the deskAs much as possible, remove the barrier between you and the people you're trying to interact with. 2. Be genuine and don't hard sellHard selling can really turn people off, and again, selling isn't the point. Ask your table's visitors how their con is going, compliment them on their costume or outfit, or connect via a shared fandom. Make a true connection, and you may gain a reader for life. 3. In fact, let visitors choose how to interact with youCons are home to so many different types of diverse people. Some are extroverts, some aren't. Some just want to browse, look at your cover, and read a few pages. It's okay to say "Hi" and initiate conversation, but try a softer approach and be attentive to social cues and body language. If you're bad at this, consider asking a friend to be your wingman. This will also let you take breaks from your table and do some more networking. 4. Business cards and bookmarksHave some small printed items that readers can take with them--business cards, bookmarks, postcards. Make sure they have your cover art and DIRECT BUY LINKS (at least to Amazon) on them as well as your website. 5. Remind yourself that it's okay if they don't buy right nowSome readers only read e-books. Others want to "shop the con" before they buy. It's all right to remind people that, "No worries, I'm here till 5pm today," but being pushy/hard selling can chase off a potential reader.Remember: it's not about gaining buyers. It's about gaining readers. Best of luck! ~GIE

GIE at RavenCon!

Dear Readers,I'm thrilled to be a guest at RavenCon 14 on April 5-7 in Williamsburg, VA! It's my first time at this con, and I'm looking forward to all the exciting panels and discussions we're going to have. Here's my schedule:Saturday10 am (Panel) Focus on Dialogue / Room 811 am (Panel) Crutch Words and Verbing Adverbly / Room F12:25 pm - 12:50 pm (Reading) Room 46 pm (Panel) Small Presses: How They Work... / Room LMidnight (Panel) Smut, Gore, and More: 18+ / Room 8Sunday1 pm (Panel) Career Management for Writers / Room F / ModeratorHope to see you all there, my pretties!xoxo,~GIE

REKINDLED: Giveaways!

ENTER TO WIN!CIRCUIT FAE 3.5: REKINDLED is launching with tons of goodies and giveaways, interviews, sneak peak excerpts, Top 10 Lists, and more! Plus, for a limited time only, all your CIRCUIT FAE faves are on sale!

REKINDLED: Meet the Bloggers!

CIRCUIT FAE 3.5: REKINDLEDis finally here!Woohoo!As always, we're launching with TONS OF GOODIES for you, including: GIVEAWAYS & PRIZES, BOOKS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, TOP 10 LISTS, SNEAK-PEAK EXCERPTS, AND MORE!Check it out, and who knows? You could find your new fave blog!MARCH 25thAll the Ups and Downs >> Top 10 listBookish Looks >> ExcerptMARCH 26thI Smell Sheep >> ExcerptValerie Ullmer | Romance Author >> InterviewMARCH 27thUnited Indie Book Blog >> ExcerptMovies, Shows, & Books >> Excerpteverywhere and nowhere >> Guest postMARCH 28thI’m Into Books >> Guest postPort Jericho >> ReviewMARCH 29th Rockin’ Book Reviews >> ReviewNo Genre Left Behind >> ExcerptJazzy Book Reviews >> ReviewAPRIL 1st4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ >> Top 10 listMy Life Loves and Passion >> ReviewAPRIL 2ndCheyenne Reads >> Guest postLisa Loves Literature >> InterviewAPRIL 3rdThe Cover Contessa >> InterviewAdventures in Writing >> ExcerptAPRIL 4thPaulette’s Papers >> ExcerptOn My Kindle Book Reviews >> ReviewThe Avid Reader>> ReviewAPRIL 5thA Dream Within A Dream >> ExcerptSo Many Books, So Little Time >> ReviewDon't have REKINDLED yet! Lock in your copy and see why readers are saying, "REKINDLED is a roller coaster ride of plot twists, f/f romance, and awesome Fae magic--don't miss it!"xoxo,GIE

Happy Book Birthday: REKINDLED!

It's launch day for CIRCUIT FAE 3.5: REKINDLED! This one was a lot of fun to write, and it let me thank some very kind readers who loved the dark Fae kids and wanted more. As always, to thank you all for your love and support, we're launching with tons of goodies, giveaways, excerpts, interviews, Top 10 Lists, and more!DESCRIPTIONIt’s good to be queen. Except when it’s a total disaster.Syl Skye, newly crowned Queen of Fair Faerie, would be psyched to be the ruler of her Summer realm, except for two things.First, her girlfriend Rouen Rivoche became Queen of Dark Faerie, the Winter realm. That would be great except the Winter realm’s always been at war with Summer. By tradition, that makes Rouen Syl’s mortal enemy.That said, love can break past old hatred, right? Especially with a new foe about to attack them both.Ah, no.Which brings us to Syl’s second problem. Rouen’s under a dark spell and doesn’t remember Syl, their lives, their love. Worse, if Syl doesn’t break the spell by the next new moon, Rouen will forget her forever.To defeat their foe, it’ll take two soul-bound queens whose hearts and minds act as one. Trouble is, no one has ever broken the dark spell Rouen suffers from.Good thing Syl isn't the type of queen who gives up easily.GET REKINDLED!AMAZONBARNES & NOBLEGOOGLE PLAYITUNESKOBOWIN OUR STUFF!ALEX & ANI CHARM: OUROBOROS! ENTER TO WIN!SAVE ACROSS THE SERIES!All your CIRCUIT FAE faves are on saleFor a Limited Time Only!

CIRCUIT FAE: Save Across the Series!

REKINDLED launches today! Save across the entire CIRCUIT FAE series! Book One - MORIBUND - FREE!AmazonBarnes & NobleGooglePlayiTunesKoboBook 1.5 - DERAILED - 99 cents!AmazonBarnes & NobleGooglePlayiTunesKoboBook Two - OUROBOROS - $1.99AmazonBarnes & NobleGooglePlayiTunesKoboBook 2.5 - DETHRONED - $2.99AmazonBarnes & NobleGooglePlayiTunesKoboBook 3 - INIMICAL - $3.99AmazonBarnes & NobleGooglePlayiTunesKobo

5 Stars for REKINDLED!

CIRCUIT FAE 3.5: REKINDLED launches in less than one week on March 26! Eeeep! We're pretty stoked over here in Faerie because the early reviews have been AMAZING! But don't take our word for it. Check out the early reviews below!Tracy, GoodReads: "An emotional rollercoaster, filled with fights, small endearing moments, builds to a thrilling climax, and an emotion-filled denouement."Renee, GoodReads: "This series owes me many hours of sleep, and this book is no exception. There is honestly no good place to say “ok, I can stop here and come back later.” There is so much tension! (Make sure your device can handle when you will inevitably tighten your grasp while reading!)"Laura, GoodReads: "The plot moves really quickly and this book was a lot of fun! I don't want to spoil it, but Chuck E Cheese is involved!"Charity, GoodReads: I was thrilled to learn a bit more about Glamma! If you've been following the series, you won't want to miss out on this book!My heartfelt thank-you to my readers and reviewers. xoxoxo Get REKINDLED on:AMAZONBARNES & NOBLEITUNESGOOGLE PLAYKOBOxoxo,GIE

It's REKINDLED month!

March is REKINDLED month! That's right, pretties! CIRCUIT FAE 3.5: REKINDLED releases on March 26, 2019 with tons of goodies, giveaways, and blog tour awesomeness More on that later, but first, a sneak peak at our badass giveaway! Check out this amazing OUROBOROS-themed Alex and Ani charm in Rafaelian gold!WOWOWOWOWOWOW! ENTER TO WINStay tuned for more awesome REKINDLED launch news, giveaways, and goodies!