Sian B. Claven's Blog, page 3

Monthly Review - The Undead Possession Book One

Author: Justin Boote.

Rating: 5 Horrific Skulls

My thoughts:

I think a threw up in my mouth a few times, but man was I hooked.This is my first book by Justin Boote, and I have to admit, I've never read anything quite like it. I have bought the rest of the series one time because I need to know where this is going and how it's going to end.Boote has a rather straight forward writing style which I appreciate because it makes for a spooky telling and makes the gross scenes... well... super gross.The descriptions were on point and like I said, I threw up a little. Here's to full on hugging the bowl with book 2.

Grab your copy now by clicking on the image below

Interview - Justin Boote

Today we welcome Justin Boote as our first featured horror author. I recently read the first book in the Undead Possession series and can I say... terrifying and sickening. Let's get to know this talented author.

P.S Before we get into the questions can I just say I LOVE Justin's cat!

Right

1. What sub-genre of Horror do you write?

Under my own name, Justin Boote, I’ve written over 200 short stories and 10 novels and I guess there’s a diversity to them, although I suppose ghost and demonic possession is the most recurring theme. I also write extreme horror under my pen name, J. Boote.

2. Which is the best book that you’ve written (in your opinion) and what’s it about?

Ooh, that’s a tough one. I guess book 2 of my trilogy of the same name, The Ghosts of Northgate, as it my most ‘personal’ one to date. My fictitious hospital Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane features in nearly all my stories and novels so to write a book actually set there was special!

3. What advice would you give budding horror authors?

Read a lot in your favourite sub-genre, see how other authors build suspense, use twists, red herrings, etc. Also, always try and finish each new story you start. It’s very easy to want to start another, better idea than finish the current, and believe me, there’s a very good chance they’ll sit there forever unfinished!

4. Tell us about your background. Where you grew up and what life was like.

I grew up in a small village near the east coast of England. Back then in the early eighties, no internet, cell phones obviously, our time was spent exploring the woods near my home which later in life has helped enormously when it comes to crafting stories! At nineteen, I was offered the chance to come to Spain and I’m still here, some thirty years later!

5. Who is your favorite author in the horror genre?

I have two right now. Ronald Malfi and Ania Ahlborn. Both are awesome authors who write in the sub genres I like, reasonably fast-paced which I like too and have amazing endings to their stories. Haven’t been disappointed yet.

6. You’re stuck in a haunted underground mansion for the night, how do you survive the ever-changing passages and deadly ghosts?

That’s an easy one! Find the wine cellar, somehow figure a way to open the wine bottles and get drunk and sleep until the morning. Ghosts can do what they want, I don’t care!

7. Who is your favourite villain? What book are they from and what was your favourite thing about them?

That’s a tough one. I don’t really have a favourite villain. I guess there are the usual suspects like Pennywise from IT but there has never been one that really stood out. Now, give me creepy, possessed kids and I’m sold!

8. Where can we follow you? (3 links)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457222379195724

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Justin-

Boote/e/B073Q44SZP

Bookfunnel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/b00dfjcobx

Just Released

Detective Inspector Ronald Henderson is appalled when not one but two bodies are found, both practically reduced to ashes. It seems impossible for such devastation without burning their homes down as well. And yet, the immediate surroundings of both victims are virtually unscathed. And to add to the mystery, both were firemen—one the boss of the other.

Little Sam Turner’s dad was one of those victims, and Sam saw it happen. But from that moment on, something changes in him. Now, he is not a grief-stricken son, but someone who appears indifferent to everything. Because what caused his father’s death may not have been natural, after all; his father unleashed something and it has taken over Sam as well. Something that wants to continue where his father left off…

To grab your copy Visit Justin Boote on Amazon today.

The Farm

The Farm is in the opening scenes of Ensnared. It is the main location for everything that happens and where Amari moves into with her parents while she tries to figure out her life.

Following a dirt road, you drive past a boundary wall made of stones. A little girl sits on the edge of the wall, banging her feet against it and staring straight ahead.

When you look ahead you see the farmhouse, in need of some real fixing up. But first, you must pass the dead forest in order to get there. The bare trees swish by ominously and you can almost sense something running through its winding paths, keeping up with your car.

Parking in front of the farmhouse, it’s cold looking from the outside and desperately in need of a paint job. The door falls off when you first open it. Everything is covered in inches of dust and it looks worse when you finally manage to fling some windows open.

There’s leftover furniture from the previous tenants, covered with white sheets, while your stuff that was brought from the movers is in-between.

There are three floors technically. The ground floor is where the kitchen, laundry room, living room, dining room and guest bathroom are. If you go upstairs you reach the landing where you will find the master bedroom, a smaller bedroom. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom while there is a small shabby bathroom for the smaller bedroom to utilize. The other floor is the attic that can easily be turned into a bedroom, which is what happens eventually in Ensnared. Grab your copy now to fully experience Amari’s new home.

P.S. Don’t go into the basement.

To visit the farm, click on the above picture and purchase your copy of Ensnared today

Character Interview - Amari

Amari is the lead character in Sian B. Claven's first YA horror novel called Ensnared. Here we get to know all about her.

Tell us a little about your life growing up.

It’s always just been myself and my parents. They’ve always wanted me to excel so a lot of my time was spent focusing on schoolwork. As I grew older though, and they pushed me to decide what I wanted to do with my life, I got less inclined to do anything. I have never liked making choices but guaranteed once I have made up my mind I stick by it.

Name five things you love to do when you have the time.

Reading is the absolute first.

I love a long hot shower or bath to relax.

I like picnics and walks in natural places where the air is clean.

I love playing with animals and visiting rescues

I like to bake when I’m not busy.

Name five things you hate having to do.

I hate being forced to make a decision. Cleaning is not my strong point, especially dishes, I find them gross to touch especially if things float in the water.

I hate small talk and forced conversation.

Have never liked disappointing my parents or fighting with them.

I hate running at the best of times.

Who is your best friend? What about them do you love most?

Where we used to live my best friend was a girl called Tatiana. She was like a sister to me. We did everything together and I loved how adventurous she was. Here on the farm I don’t know anyone except the creepy girl who sits on the wall banging her feet against it.

What is your favourite food and why?

Without a doubt it has to be spaghetti bolognaise but the next day after it’s been made with a fried egg on top. It’s something some school friends introduced me to and it’s just such a weird and wonderful combination of flavours.

Do you believe in the Supernatural?

I’m starting to. Let’s just say there are things happening at the farm that have me… questioning everything I’ve ever been told.

What’s the strangest thing that has happened to you?

So far, I keep seeing this woman out the corner of my eye but when I look closely she’s gone. Also, I swear I hear whispers all the time in the woods surrounding our farm.

Click on the image above to purchase your copy of Ensnared now.

Available in Kindle Unlimited

2021: Was it really that bad?

I don't want to recap the horrible things that happened this year, from small misfortunes to people lost. I don't want to end the year on a negative note, because I feel like enough negativity has happened during the year.

For the first time since 2017, I've made a profit. I initially posted that it was almost $100 but I went back to check and it's actually over $120. I'm so pleased. I have never ended the year on a profit, I'm always making a loss. This was due to me actually listening to my bestie about marketing and taking several courses to improve both my writing and graphic skills. And that's probably the biggest thing I'm happy about, I've improved. I've grown as an author and I'm doing well.

I released books. That may seem like a weird thing to be happy about but as someone who struggles with writer's block sometimes, I'm always pleased when I manage to complete a mammoth task such as writing a book. Never mind several of them.

I've also made some really awesome new fans this year and got to hang out with some old ones. It's the absolute best to have people who follow and appreciate my work. The best are the reviews I've been receiving of my books. I hope you know I read every single one!

I'm looking forward to a New Year. It feels like it's going to be filled with good things. And I wish you nothing but the absolute best.

Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter:

www.sianbclaven.com/subscribe

Until Next Year

Always Lock your Door.

Writing Horror Part 6: Choosing Your Tribe

Please remember that the opinions contained in this blog post are just that, opinions. You don't have to take my advice as gold, I'm actually still learning a lot myself. I'm just sharing with the world what has and hasn't worked for me so far.

Now, choosing a tribe.

I'm very fortunate to have a very good tribe. At this point, you might be wondering what a tribe is? A tribe is the authors that you befriend, that surround you and support you and you support in turn. These are a select few authors that worm their way into your heart and don't want to leave. Sometimes it's many authors, or there are different layers in the tribe from author besties to author buddies. I have a few author besties, some author buddies, and a lot of author mentees that I try and help as much as I can by passing along my knowledge.

Recently, events have come to light in my life that show me how picking the right tribe is so important, and how someone, even the holiest of people, can actually be backstabbing rubbish people at the end of the day. Some people will take what they want from you, as resources, knowledge - hell they'd take your brain right out your head if it were free and they were able to - and they use that knowledge to market services to other authors.

Basically, they could send the authors to the free services, advice, articles, and training they received and help them for free (as they were helped) and instead they take that and charge the author to teach them to do it.

This is why it's so important you're careful about who surround yourself with. The author community is a lovely place to reside, but not everything that glitters is gold. You need to find someone who is a 50/50 partner. Someone who gives not just takes. If they were taught for free, they should be paying it forward by offering to help for free.

Yes at some point people study and become industry professionals and may offer to consult for a fee. These people have studied, or been in the industry for ten years. These people have the credentials to do it and let me tell you, I know these people, they still help a boat load of people for free. They are the ones always providing the free resources and advice and offering to help get baby authors set up. I know because I was that baby author, and now I'm one of the mentors who helps baby authors get set up.

And I do not charge.

People can come across as though they are in your corner but in reality, they just want your money. I'm not saying everyone has to do everything for you for free all the time. I'm great friends with my editor who charges me for edits, with a cover designer who charges me for designs, and with a proofreader who charges me per book. That's the services they offer and it's at the GOING RATE or cheaper! They aren't posting they can do something, like professional layouts, which are actually only basic and charging the same amount as another designer who puts in fancy graphics and does proper formatting.

No, it's bullshit.

Your tribe are your people and as I read today, a ship doesn't sink because of the water floating around it but because of the water that gets in.

People, authors, be careful of who you let in cause they can drag you down to the depths while smiling to your face.

Writing Horror Part 5: All the Anxieties

Stress is something most if not all people experience in life. Whether it be financial, emotional, physical, professional - you will undoubtedly encounter stress in your life. Even kids stress about things.

For me there's stress and then there's anxiety. I stress about finances, I stress about my friends' health. I FEEL anxiety, it consumes me and stops me from doing things. And in writing, no one tells you about the different kinds of anxieties and stress that you face as you move through your author career. This is aside from the normal ones you just assume are there.

Writing Hangover

Ever drank so much alcohol that you literally couldn't function the next day. And I don't mean you had a headache and felt ill, I mean COULD NOT FUNCTION.

That is what a writing hangover feels like to me.

It happens when I finish a book. As you approach the end of the book it's so exciting and you're getting all the words out! WOOHOO! Then they're out. Some people will edit, some send straight to an editor (Me - I go over edits afterwards) and then you are ready to move on to the next book - especially if you're doing a rapid release.

But you Can't.

The words are gone.

The words won't word.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON I AM AN AUTHOR WHY CAN I NOT WRITE????

That's a book hangover. You're creatively spent. You need a chance to recharge. I'm not saying all authors suffer from this but I know a fair few that do. And it's horrible. You sit in front of the computer for hours, trying to get the words to go but find everything distracting because you can't word. And the minutes tick by and before you know it five hours have passed and you haven't done anything productive and it's time to go to bed.

You feel useless, you feel like you have failed. That anxiety that you feel trying to word after a book is finished is real and it sucks. I recently finished a book (Yesterday) and tried to five into the sequel today. Normally on a day off, I can do about 10/15 thousand words. I just edged over 5k. And now my anxiety is killing me. And no one tells you about it until it happens to you which sucks cause if you do know it happens, as I do, you can find ways to push through and not beat yourself up about it.

Writers Block

There is no greater anxiety you feel than when you have writer's block and you're on a deadline. So you put your book up for preorder because the words are flowing and then suddenly you have nothing. The plot is no longer working for you, you want to scrap everything, nothing is where it should be. Some people will say "why don't you have an outline?" Guess what, you've done the outline but now it seems so stupid to you.

I've restarted books four or five times before because I hit writer's block. Sometimes you think you have everything you need and everything figured out only for it to pop out and happen to you. Sometimes I'm lucky and it lasts a few days, sometimes it lasts a week. Last year it lasted months and I was writing maybe 200 words a week and deleting the next week before trying again.

They talk about writer's block like a ho-hum thing. Like yeah, that's what happens. But no one addresses the anxiety you feel when you get it, especially if you're trying to build a career out of writing.

Imposter Syndrome

I wasn't sure if this one fits under anxiety but it gives me anxiety. I've published over 20 books and been featured in several collections and anthologies. I still get imposter syndrome where I sit and look at everything and think... I'm not an author. If I was I'd be selling more, writing more, doing more and being more liked.

My mind spirals from that and if you naturally suffer from some sort of anxiety you'll know what I mean. The thoughts just get worse and worse the more you think, and yet you can't stop them. People tell you it's not true and to stop thinking like that but you can't help it. Some people can't help.

No one tells you how horrible it can get and feel.

General Anxiety

Some people suffer from anxiety on the regular (Hello my name is Sian and I'm an anxious person because of trauma) - and people often ask me why I put so much pressure on myself if I suffer from anxiety.

You see it doesn't matter if you have writer's block, writing hangover, imposter syndrome or general anxiety because you are a creative and you need to write. And when those things aren't holding you back you can fly through books and make all the words. You know it will pass, it's just a case of when and what can you do to make it pass faster. Something that Toni and I do is share all successes with each other, small or big. I also share them with my sister who is a great supporter. That reassurance that I'm doing great no matter how small is epic.

Do you know an author and want to help? Then tell them you love their work. TELL THEM. Send them an email. Do a REVIEW - those are so important. I LOVE reading reviews even the bad ones because my book was read. Participate and engage with them on social media. Share their stuff. It costs you nothing and it makes the authors feel so amazing.

I'm actually anxious write now while writing this which is why I chose this topic. So apologies if my thoughts are a bit scattered but I acknowledge the anxiety in me and I'm going to roll with it.

Always lock your door

Writing Horror Part 4: Events

DISCLAIMER: I am talking from my own experience and from feedback received from other authors. Events are a tricky one and a hit or miss. I don't exclude them completely but there are things I wish people told me.

Less is More

I ordered so many books for my launch, for book signings, for book fairs, for medieval fairs, and for Comic-Con and the first thing I learned was not to over-order books because now I have a lot of boxes of books at my house that I have to hang onto. Since then I've had some of the covers redone and some of them have been re-edited so this old stock is really a pain in my a$$. I wish I had ordered fewer books and sold out, I think I was rather exuberant when I printed my books.

Swag

Having swag is a given because people LOVE free stuff and if you want to attract people to your table then that's what you're going to be doing with some free goodies to give away to potential readers and long-standing fans. Get creative and you'll attract the biggest crowd.

Do Events Work

I would have to divide this into sections and by countries. Some events do work in some countries while in others it's a lost cause in my opinion. Let's start with where I live.

I'm from South Africa and in my experience, it's barely okay to do Comic-Con, that's about the only place you're apt to make any money IF you are a good salesperson and have been marketing and hyping people up. Still a lot of authors try and have these book fairs out and around and after doing a few of those I just find that more authors show up than readers and that's such a waste of my time. If I sell ONE book it's a lot. For all the effort that goes into it, it's not worth my time.

There are other fairs or fayres if you will. I've sold at a few and at a few markets and although I sold a couple of books there, it doesn't cover what I spent on the market to be there. Plus the hours lost standing in the sun thinking about how much I want to write.

For me, there isn't enough of a readers market in Africa. Everyone wants to be a writer but few people want to be readers and it's mostly because of a poor education system, especially in my country. Reading isn't encouraged like it once was and children who don't read grow up into adults who don't read. Most of my market is international with America being the biggest one. UK follows that closely. My sales in Africa couldn't touch how many books I've sold overseas.

That being said, are events better in other countries? This would be based on what I've heard.

America, UK, and other Big Market Countries

I've heard a lot about the events that are hosted, especially in America and the UK. Authors generally report back that the American book fairs are quite popular and widely attended which gives me hope. A few of my South African author friends have attended events in America and in the UK and said that it was absolutely amazing and completely different from what you would experience in Africa.

I don't presume that ALL events in these countries are a knockout success but it seems that readers actually travel, and are willing to travel, to get to these events to meet their favourite authors and get signed books from them. It just feels more accessible.

What I Wish Someone Would Have told Me

Having only one book on sale sucks. Rather start doing events when you've got a backlist. This is, of course, my personal opinion but from my experience, I did a lot better and was seen as a more established order when I had a variety of books on my table as opposed to the first time I did a market with just Ensnared on my table. Also make sure you're putting out a quality eye-catching product that will draw readers to your table so that you can engage with them.

And on that note, you will need to engage with readers. Sitting quietly all hermit-like behind a table and just staring at people will do little for sales. You need to bring out that personality, let your freak flag fly and engage with people. This is why they're there after all. They want insider info, they want to say they met you and they talked to you about things. Give them nuggets, discuss the stories and books, or life in general. Be yourself.

Also could someone not have told me about genre, genre, genre. Go where your genre will sell well. As a horror author, I stand out and do quite well at comic-con. Not so much at small markets where the aunties and uncles are looking for gifts for the gran-babies. Yes, seems obvious doesn't it? But let me tell you when you hit publish on the first book you want to give it your all and will go anywhere to punt your book. Have standards! Market your book where it's marketable.

I'm sure there's a lot more I could say aboute events but that's pretty much the key thing I wanted to touch on.

If you have questions or comments don't forget to comment on the post and let me know. Always happy to hear your side of the story.

Always lock your doors

Writing Horror Part 3: Vanity Publishers

DISCLAIMER

I have never and never will publish through a vanity publisher but have had enough close author friends with experience in this field to be able to tell you about this.

I am not dissing traditional publishing at all - if you want to try the traditional route then go for it.

Vanity Presses / Publishers

Sometimes also referred to as Hybrid publishers, Vanity Publishers are publishing houses that may approach you and for a fee (paid by yourself) make you a world of promises and publish your book for you.

Sounds great right? You would be published by a publishing house and make your money back on sales.

This is where you are very wrong. Vanity Presses will charge you and say included in this is the cover, editing, publishing of the books, and author copies of the paperback. You would assume it would also include marketing.

Let me break it down for you.

I have yet to see a Vanity Publisher create a to-market, popular design, or well-designed book cover that will sell your book. You need to see what's trending in your genre and base your cover on that. Yes, sometimes it is good to be different but most times it's not. Your cover needs certain elements and I've never seen a Vanity Publisher do a good job. In fact, let's refer to my friend as Mitch. Mitch's cover was so rubbish and plain I (A) didn't think it was an epic fantasy book and (B) was skeptical about reading it. And Mitch went through a 'popular' vanity publisher.

The editing is non-existent and you're going to look like you are a third-grade child trying to write a story. Author's are terrible at self-editing, it is a thing, and they can only self-edit so far. Your book NEEDS to go through a professional editor at the very least but I recommend a proofreader after that. Mitch's book was so riddled with editing mistakes they used to put a disclaimer in the paperbacks asking readers to excuse the editing errors.

They will publish your book, yes they will. With a blurb whether it's rubbish or not, they will not really advise you, and at an exorbitant cost to "make back profits". And let me tell you, authors, cause I've been having to say this a lot, you cannot come onto the scene and charge $49 for a 110-page book and it's your first book. Not even Stephen King does that, come on! And you have no say over it! And you're bound to a contract with them so good luck with that. You would have been better off on your own.

And they don't market your book. They might do a single press release to show you off but for actual marketing - if you think they're going to book you for book tours, and get your books in bookstores, and get you in front of a camera or on the radio - you're dreaming. Especially if you don't reside in America, if you are from the USA you *might* get on the radio. Probably on a station that has nothing to do with books or your genre. YOU will be marketing your own book after paying not $100 dollars but at least $1000 to this kind of publisher. It ranges really.

How do I tell if it's a Vanity Publisher?

Simple rule. If they ask you to pay money upfront. Traditional publishing houses as a rule do not (a) reach out to you and (b) will pay YOU an upfront fee for YOUR work, not the other way around. Yes, it is difficult to get traditionally published but don't waste your money just to say some publishing house (Which probably isn't known anyway) has published her.

That's my post for this week. Questions

Always lock your doors.

Writing Horror Part 2: Branding

Welcome back to my thoughts about what it's like to be a horror author and the things that no one teaches you.

I'm hoping through these blog posts from my experiences you will at least take away some knowledge that can help you be a better and bright author in the future - or in horror's case - more macabre and deadly!

That being said today I want to touch on Branding. When I first started my author journey I was very chilled and decided I need a logo. In a picture below on the very left, you'll see the very first Logo I had created for myself. this became a thing for me and I subsequently decorated my logo for holidays for newsletters, I had a stamp made with it which I still use when I sign books, and I was overall happy.

Good branding right? Wrong!

Firstly, Branding is everything about you. From the font you use to the colours you select, to the way you write your name. Your logo is just one aspect of branding and it should reflect your brand as a whole. I made the mistake of not sticking to a specific font and style, and a specific kind of voice when speaking to my readers, and as a result building my reader fan base was really slow.

Visually people are drawn to things that interest them. That old adage of "Don't just a book by its cover" is bullshit. All the books are judged by all the covers, and so too are the authors who write them.

I had a skull as my first Logo and then decided to create a second one which in the image is in the middle. Still, I hadn't learned to stick to a font or colour scheme and thought, this is a more modern logo and will stand out.

Still no success.

Then I invested in a course with Ashleigh Gianoccaro on how to use picmonkey and created the third logo to the right. I chose my font, my colour palette, and my style. And I'm sticking to it. I use the same fonts on my posts, in my group, I use the colour palette when designing posts. And even though I can't rebrand all my books at the moment, having just rebranded a bunch of them - I will be using genre-specific fonts with my horror books/sci-fi books/thriller books as necessary.

The LOGOS

Don't rush things. I know it's exciting to get things published and on the go and all this admin before it seems tedious. But it's investing in these little decisions now, that will speak for your whole brand later, and will help you build a bigger fan base in the long run.

What do you think of my new logo? Fitting isn't it!

Other things you can look at include catchphrases. If you follow me, or my newsletter, you know I always end it with my famous lines from The Butcher Books - Always Lock your doors. That's a thing that is unique to me and signals to my readers that it's me here, talking to you.

Also, brand your things. Put your logos on videos and posts, so people come to recognize it when they see it. You don't have to be published to start thinking about your brand, in fact, I recommend you do that long before you are published and making cover decisions.

If you have questions about what programs to use for your design or if you want contacts of people who design logos, comment below and I'll be happy to connect you to a few designers I know are amazing.

Until next Time

Always lock your doors