C.K. Robertson's Blog, page 19

Cover Reveal!

The proofing copies of Enmity arrived at my door this weekend and I was SO excited! To be able to finally hold my book in my hand and see all of my hard work in one solid form was really overwhelming, and I'm really excited to be able to share a cover reveal with you.

My cover was designed by Richard Stacey, and we worked really hard to offer as much depth and texture as we could to it. The references I had sent him were all oldschool vintage books with fabric covers and golden embossing and it was important to me that we could replicate this in a new, fresh way.

He created a texture for the green base which offers a worn-in and grungey feel, contrasted by the golden trims which we added gradients to for a shimmery, shiny feel. 


The compass was something I had always envisioned as a sort of emblem to the storyline, and had been briefed in as the central piece for the cover from the start. Richard did a really great job combining the themes of the story into the compass, offering mechanical cogs and astrological symbols for the northern part of the design and then waves, leaves and natural landscape features for the southern part. Stay tuned as this will probably become my next tattoo! (Sorry, dad.)



Overall I am just feeling really emotional and overwhelmed right now to think that it is finally coming together. I can't wait to drink my weight in wine on the 4th of August as it finally hits the golden e-shelves of Amazon.

Love, C x

Enmity Prologue - sneak preview

Photo by Edward Castro from Pexels


PROLOGUE


A light breeze tickled the grass and sent delicate tufts of dandelion petals into the air. Maia inhaled deeply, the smell of the fresh morning air filling her lungs and clearing her mind. She smiled lazily as she tied her horse to the post at the edge of the field, brushing it’s fur as it chewed on the grass appreciatively.

The early mornings were her favourite time of day. She spent them alone with her horses preparing them for the day ahead. She worked daily, bringing in crops from the surrounding fields for her parents to sell at the market. It was peaceful and meditative, the landscape serene and the routine comfortable. She hummed an upbeat melody to herself as she worked, pleating the horse’s tail absent-mindedly, her nimble fingers working quickly.

Suddenly the horse spooked, tugging manically at the rope and stomping its feet. Maia leapt back quickly to avoid being kicked or trodden on as it hopped on the spot, snorting and grunting, it’s eyes bulging and nostrils flaring. Maia barely had a chance to turn around before a bag was thrown onto her head, blinding her.

She felt strong fingers gripping her arms and restraining her tightly as she thrashed wildly, her horse whinnying screams of distress. Voices were growling in another language, though she could barely hear over the rustling of the bag and the beating of her heart.

Adrenaline surged through her veins.

“Get off me! Get off!” Maia screamed as she twisted and writhed in her captor’s arms. Her foot made contact with a body.

“Klaviste!” a deep and angry voice exclaimed in pain.

She would have smirked to herself if she wasn’t in such a panic. The Dror was known as a safe haven, boring even, and law-breaking was rare. Deep down in the pit of her stomach she knew that these men must be from the North, and from the Azgad army.

There had been hushed mutterings around Kelvintown recently, news of more Azgad soldiers travelling south and taking Dror citizens, forcing them to pledge themselves to Than and the belief that science should rule over nature. If you didn’t agree with Than’s regime, you would not return home.

She thrashed more violently and the hands tightened on her, holding her wrists together behind her back as her shoulders pulled in sharp discomfort. She began to lash out with her feet again but someone took hold of them, binding her with strong arms wrapped around her knees.


“Help! Someone, help me!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, knowing her house was too far for her parents to hear her. She couldn’t be taken by the Azgadi. If they found out her secret, she would be dead. Something cold and hard pressed into her back.
She heard an electric sizzle, her body seized, and she blacked out.

Where I am now: Future book plans

Hello Readers & Friends,

I wanted to do a post letting you all know an update on the progress of Enmity and what I have planned going forwards!


Enmity
Enmity is finished and good to go pretty much. I have uploaded it for Kindle and it's ready to be launched for pre-orders. The paperback is ruining my life because I used Amazon's template but it removed all my indentations. I don't have time to go through 300+ pages and 85,000 words manually indenting everything that needs to be indented, so have hired a freelancer to do so. Hopefully that will be back in a couple of days and I can upload that and get the proofs through and will be good to go!

So I know you may be wondering : WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO PRE-ORDER?
Well, I have some little envelopes which I am sending out to some influencers and part of that pack is a sneak-preview of the cover. As soon as they receive their sneak-preview I will launch the book for pre-order, but I want them to get it first, before anybody else. So that's what I'm waiting for. But I will be posting them out this week, so stay tuned!



Amity
 Next on my to-do list is to rework the sequel, Amity, and complete the first draft of that. I have about 50, 000 words done but a lot of major plot-points have to be re-worked after some drastic changes to the first book during the editing stage.  I am hoping for this to be released towards the end of this year :)

Another Series?
I have had another idea for an urban fantasy series which I am currently mapping out. It is going to require a lot of resesarch as I can't rely on imagination as much as I could with Enmity due to it's modern-day setting. (London!!)
I want to have the planning done for this and am hoping I can write up the first draft of it during Nanowrimo. 
This will hopefully be releasing next year, following Amity and the closure of the Enmity duology.

Thanks for sticking out this journey with me.

 
If you didnt' know, I'm doing a giveaway over on my Instagram - so head over there if you want a chance to win!

Love, C x

6 Favourite Reads

 
I thought I'd share a post with my *current* alltime favourite reads. In no particular order...

Img Src Harry Potter by J.K RowlingThis series made my childhood. I love the entire storyline, the magical-ness of every single detail, the characters and the villains. It was the first time I read a book and really felt like I was transported into another world and I think that millions of people will agree that it was the first thing I read that made me realise I love reading. The perfect Autumn re-read with a cup of hot chocolate.
Noughts & Crosses by Malorie BlackmanThe first book I read that made me cry. The entire trilogy is great but the first book was my favourite, a really thought provoking story about racism, love and terrorism.

Img Src The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra ClareI'm only halfway through this series currently but am already delving into the fandom. Regardless of negative reviews, I think this series is incredibly imaginative and as strong a magical world-building since Harry Potter. The characters are relatable, complex, and it has everything I would want from an urban fantasy: magic, humour, romance, action, and sad deaths.

The Girl Who Dared by Bella ForrestI loved this series. A dystopian story about a civilization trapped in a tower who are rated in society by how many negative thoughts they have. Of course, there is a corrupt government involved. I loved the heroine of this story and I felt super invested in the characters and the storyline by the end of the series. 
Img Src Everything I Know About Love by Dolly AldertonI really love a relatable, funny memoir but Dolly Alderton's was one of my favourites, overtaking Lena Dunham and any Z-rated celebrity who has written a book. It was witty, SO relatable that I burst out laughing several times, sad, touching and extremely well-written. (No surprise, as Dolly is a literary Godess.) The final conclusion of the book was something that really touched me and I would re-read again and again.
Animal Farm by George OrwellIt's such a short read I think everybody should pick up this classic at least once. It's such a clever story about communism and politics all told through the eyes of some farmyard animals and a less-than-amiable pig called Napoleon. I really think it's a masterpiece.



Note: Images in post (other than the first) are not mine and are all linked back to source

The Problem With Cliche Storylines.

  Harry Potter Img srced from Pinterest & copyright to Warner Bros
Everyone complains about genre cliches, particularly in YA books. And I get it, they can be annoying. But as someone writing a YA book, I've discovered the main problem with cliche storylines:  You can't avoid them.
Everything, pretty much, has been done before.

Let me illustrate using a couple of successful examples.

Here's the theory:

THE PROTAGONIST
1. A young, fiery, independent female. (Hunger Games, Gender Games, Divergent...)
2. A dependant, weak female relying on help. (Sexist!!!!)
3. An orphan, because who cba writing in parents and it gives them a bit of trauma. (Harry Potter, Batman, Oliver Twist)
4. Someone where actually family is key and a strong relationship in the book. (Frozen, Caraval, Fault in our Stars.)
5. Strong protagonist - ('Why are they always so lucky? It's so predictable.' Jace, Shadowhunters, Viggo, Gender Games)
6. Weak protagonist - ('Why are they so annoying? Why can't they do anything for themselves?' Bella, Twilight and Scarlett, Caraval.) 

THE ROMANCE
1. Unrequited love. (Bella and Jacob.)
2. Girl and boy hate each other then fall in love. (Every romcom film ever.)
3. Pair in love find out they are related. (Shadowhunters.)
4. Pair fall in love but can't be together. (Hunger Games, Twilight.)
5. Pair fall in love instantly and work amazingly. (Every insta-love YA book ever. Gender Games.)
6. All about the sex. (50 Shades.)
7. Love triangles. (EVERY YA BOOK EVER. Hunger Games. Twilight. blablabla.)
8. Realizing they are were in love with their best friend all along. (Harry Potter.)
9. Gay couple with one struggling to accept sexuality. ('How dare anybody write about this struggle unless they themselves are gay?' Shadowhunters.)
10. Gay couple struggling with homophobic society. ('How dare anybody write about this struggle unless they themselves are gay?' Shadowhunters)
11. Gay couple who don't encompass any gay stereotypes at all. ('Poorly written gay characters, the writer just doesn't understand.')

 THE STORYLINE
1. Good against bad. (Every story ever, because the reader always needs a side to root for.)
2. Protagonist thrown into a war as a prophet or unwilling participant. (Katniss, Harry Potter.)
3. Protagonist born and trained to fight against evil. (Shadowhunters, Charmed, Buffy.)
4. Protagonist must find powerful object before evil villain does. (Harry Potter, Shadowhunters.)
5. Protagonist must kill evil villain so their reign ends with their death. (Game of Thrones.)
6. Protagonist must sit back and do nothing and let the villain do as he pleases. (No storyline whatsoever.)
7. Protagonist dies. (Game of Thrones.)
8. Nobody dies. ('So unrealistic'.)

I could go on forever. The fact is, no matter WHAT you write, it's probably been done before in some way, shape or form. Cliche's don't exist anymore becasue every story will end up following a pre-existing  outline in some form.

What makes a book interesting are the characters, the world-building, the themes, the writing style and how the reader connects with the protagonist.

I tweeted the other day saying the reason for one person's 1* review is the same reason for another person's 5* review.

Do you agree?

The North & South Explained

 
LORNELANDSThe northern nation is subject to a strange climate. Humid and hot in the day, but breezy and freezing at nightfall, making it almost impossible for crops and harvest to thrive. It's made up largely of desert space, mountainous terrain and heavily industrial and technologically advanced cities such as Oxpost, Vale of The Iron Hydras and Northcairn. The Lornelands are currently under a coup by the Azgad Army, led by Than who believes that science and technology should be prioritized before anything else.

DROR
The southern nation is much wetter and cooler than the North, with stunning greenery and landscapes. The people of the south favour a simpler life, with farming and communist living something that all the citizens are deeply invested in. Forests, woodland, meadows and farmland make up the bulk of this nation with a few residential cities such as Maplehelm and Mistgate Keep offering alternative career options, but their technology is far less advanced than the north.

Affordable Bookstagram Props List

Hello Readers & Friends!

I'm sorry it's been a while since I've posted, I've been so busy getting marketing schedules ready and finishing the final edit of Enmity! I have some exciting things to share with you all soon, so stay tuned!

For today's post I thought I would compile a list of affordable Bookstagram props for anyone wanting to start an account. I have loved making mine, and for anyone who is unsure about giving it a go or thinks it's expensive, I wanted to pull together some options for amazing props to take your photo's to the next level.

A post shared by C.K Robertson (@byckrobertson) on Jul 1, 2018 at 12:30am PDT

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Sequins - stars and moons work really well and you can get these for dirt cheap at craft stores

Vintage postcards - These can be picked up at old carboot sales or thrift stores for circa 50p and look nice as a backdrop - if they have writing, even better!


 Books! -  Books are actually the most expensive part of Bookstagramming, particularly if you want the pretty hardback versions or limited edition pieces. But don't worry, you can head to your local library and get all the reads for free

Flowers -  Dried or faux flowers are the best prop and add a lovely element to your photos. Either go out picking in nearby parks and dry them out yourself, or buy a couple of stems for a few quid on Amazon.

Bookmarks - Amazon do the loveliest bookmarks for £2 with fringed ends, and they always look great beside your favourite read.

Pinecones, sticks and branches - Pretend you're five again and go out scavenging in your local park or garden.

Fairylights - Primark and Poundland actually have an amazing host of fairylight options for £1-2.50, I highly recommend them for adding another level of hygge to your pictures.

A post shared by C.K Robertson (@byckrobertson) on Jun 20, 2018 at 11:48pm PDT

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Candles - You probably have one already around the house but if not places like TK Maxx do lovely ones for around £5. 

Glasses - If you don't already have these because you have 10/10 eyesight, you can get clear lensed ones from most fashion stores now for around £10 or even cheaper if you head to Amazon and Ebay.

Chopping Board -  Head to Ikea and pick up a chopping board for around £5. The granier and prettier the wood, the better. Use this on your bed as a mini-tabletop for your books and props. 

Artificial plants - Again, Ikea is the best for these. At around £7 you can pick up lovely artificial plants - I like the hanging ones best for draping around my photo's like a frame.

Enamel Pins - A lot of bookish pins are around, and you can find lovely ones for around £7 on Etsy. Primark are also currently doing a host of Harry Potter ones for £3.

Gemstones - Super cheap most places and you can always find them in museum giftshops, I love Gemstones as pretty weights to hold down the pages of a book for a photograph. Circa £3 each.
Mugs - You definitely already have mugs in your home, but if you want bookish themed ones you can get Harry Potter ones in Primark for £5 or a host of cosy-looking mugs on Amazon. If you feel like treating yourself, Urban do beautiful ones for around £12.

A post shared by C.K Robertson (@byckrobertson) on Jun 16, 2018 at 3:12am PDT

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Noble Collection Props - The creme de la creme if you have £40 to fork out on Harry Potter memorabilia.

Throws - Nothing adds a little hygge like a supersoft, cosy throw. Fringed ends are a bonus. You can get cheap(ish) ones from places like TK Maxx, but they will still set you back around £20. On the plus, you'll have a cute blanket to snuggle up in for Winter film nights!



 

Marketing: Self Published Authors

Hello Readers & Friends!

A few of you have been asking about how I've been marketing my book so I thought I'd write a blog post of a few options I've personally tried out in the lead-up to my book launch. (August 4th, the date is set!)

If you watched my video on self-publishing you'll know that one of the down-sides is that you have to have a budget for marketing, and this can definitely get really costly. I've found that the closer to the launch date and the more invested and excited about the project I am, the more I want to throw money toward pre-launch marketing and generate hype. (My bank probably hates me.)

Here are some of the things I've invested into so far, and which I recommend the most.

1. CHARACTER ILLUSTRATIONS
If you saw my blog post on the illustration process you will know this was a really fun side-project for me in making my characters come to life. Whilst the illustrator I found wasn't too expensive, I would not say this piece of marketing should be a priority. I wanted artwork to share on social channels and for my own personal use, but this is easily a step you can skip.

2. SOCIAL CHANNELS
Having a presence on social media is free, and I would highly recommend being on at least one platform. For my book, Twitter and Instagram is key but I also launched a Youtube channel to help get my name out there. Social media is simple in the sense that you get back as much as you put out - and it can be extremely time consuming. You need to set time aside to create as much content as possible, to interact with all your followers and reach out to new potential followers and also, if you're going down Instagram or Youtube, to edit. There is an entire community of book enthusiasts on social media called bookstagrammers which I've discovered. It's a super welcoming community to be a part of, but it does require a huge time investment. Building relationships online is very rewarding though, not just for getting word of your book out there but also on a personal level and I would absolutely recommend it.


3. FANTASY ILLUSTRATIONAs you will know from my past blog post, I also paid a fantasy map illustrator to create a map of my world. She worked off a sketch which I provided her with and I would absolutely recommend this to anybody writing a fantasy where locations are an integral part of the plot. I paid additionally for all commercial rights to the map, which meant I have been able to print it onto mugs and posters cheaply which I can then use in social media giveaways, which is a cheap way to gain more followers and build hype for the book.
4. COVER ARTEverybody judges a book by the cover, regardless of the old saying. Investing in a strong cover design is key, and this is one of the most expensive parts of the marketing. Don't scrimp on this - you want someone who can convey the themes of the story beautifully, capturing people's eye as they walk past and encouraging people to snap the book cover and share it on social media.
5. GETTING OUT THERE One of the best things you can do is to just get out there! Speak to local bookshop owners, get some cards printed off (MOO.com do them super cheap!) and hand them out when you see people reading a book of your genre. Talking to people is hard, but the best way to get yourself a good reputation. I have bought tickets to the Young Adult Literature Convention in London which is conveniently a week before my book launch. Whilst authors pay nearly £400 for a table, I just bought the day ticket and am getting some cards and bookmarks printed off to let people know the release date and with my social media links. I'll hand them out to anybody I speak to - book conventions are filled with long queues and tons of book-lovers on their own and wanting to chat about literature, so it's a great opportunity to meet potential readers!
6. INFLUENCER MARKETINGI actually used to work in influencer marketing which has taught me a lot. My market which I chose to hit was the Bookstagram community, but specifically Young Adult Fantasy readers who take beautiful images, because for my book imagery is key. I got in touch with a bunch of girls asking if they were interested in hearing more about my book, and around 8 responded out of 20 with their addresses. Before my book launch I plan on creating a little pre-launch pack filled with Enmity-based goodies and an exclusive preview of the book cover, so they get to see it before anybody else. This should get them excited, but also gives them a reason to share a picture of the pack with their followers - they have the insider info first! If all of them posted, which they may not, it would reach well over 100,000 book-loving followers, who are all super engaged. (Typical influencer engagement rates are only 2%, these girls are all hitting around 8% which shows their followers really trust their opinion and love their content!) Creating and sending the packs out isn't going to cost too much, and will hopefully be paid off by any excitement generated. Of course it's key to remember posts are not guaranteed, even if you send them out merch. But it does help to build relationships with key bloggers in the industry.
7. ARCAdvanced Reader Copies are printed versions of the book sent out before the release date to specific influencers or reviewers in exchange for Amazon reviews and a build-up of hype. It's actually super expensive to get books printed out in small quantities though, so I've not yet decided if this something I'm going to do yet depending on my budget. But you can always email it to willing friends and family in exchange for honest reviews on Amazon or Goodreads - reviews are key for getting your book up in the Google SEO rankings and helping people make a decision on whether or not to purchase the book - particularly key for debut authors.
8. EDITORDespite the fear that your editor is going to rip your baby apart limb from limb... it's for the best. They're professionals and are able to take a step away from your story and characters and look at it with a critical eye and provide you with the non-emotional information for how to make your book a best-seller. It's seriously not advised that you do not use an editor, despite the fact that they are extremely expensive and will be the biggest spend on your project. They will also be the biggest investment with the best pay-off though. Find an editor who specializes in your genre and who you get on with, don't take anything personally and take their suggestions seriously. They're working with and for you after all, not against you. 
I hope this helped and gave some ideas for what you can do to help spread the word about your book. Self-publishing is an expensive but extremely fulfilling way to go about a project, and if you choose to self-publish it's absolutely key to market your book so everybody knows about it and can share in the excitement!
Love, C x

Enmity : Sample Chapter

1 - MAIA
It was pitch black, the metal walls of the truck shook and thundered as it hurtled over a bump. Maia had woken up shortly after being knocked unconscious and had been stood amongst her fellow captives long enough that her legs were beginning to shake with the effort of keeping balance. She reached out to steady herself and as she stumbled into the corrugated metal, her hand grabbed onto another person’s shoulder. She didn’t bother apologizing and the figure reached back out toward her, holding onto her shoulders to steady her. “It might be easier if we sit down?” the nervous male voice offered. “I don’t think there’s space,” she replied. They were crammed up against each other, uncomfortable and blind. Maia tried to fight her anxiety at her inability to tell who, or what, was surrounding her. The person beside her crouched, big hands curled gently around her tiny arms pulling her down onto the floor between legs and feet which parted clumsily around them in confusion. His knees knocked awkwardly against her in the darkness and as she sat pressed up next to him she could tell that despite his young voice, he was much taller than she was, though not bulky.The truck shuddered again and Maia gasped, caught by surprise. The boy beside her squeezed her arm in silent support. Kelvintown was known for its farmland and acres of fields, alongside its traditional and old-fashioned ways of life. Automatic vehicles weren’t something Maia had ever experienced before, though of course, she’d heard of trucks like this, used to transport cattle to lands further than she had ever dreamed of seeing. At the back of the truck a child was crying whilst someone tried to comfort it and one of the captors from the front of the truck banged on the wall irritably, the deafening clash silencing them all in anticipation, but nothing came. “Where are they taking us?” Maia whispered to her anonymous neighbor. “I don’t know,” he mumbled. Something deep in the pit of her belly began to churn and she felt nauseous at the realization that she probably wouldn’t return home. What if they found out the truth about her? About what she could do? Demon, demon, demon.“I’m Maia,” she mumbled. If she was going to die, she was going to die with at least one more friend in her lifetime. Someone else was going to know the name Maia Ellery.“Aldrik Fox,” the boy replied sadly.They sat beside each other, rocking with the movement of the truck as they waited for their destination to be revealed. The air was hot and humid. Maia’s hair clung uncomfortably to her neck; a sheen of sweat covered her like a cloak.  After what felt like hours, the vehicle began to slow to a stop. The crying had ended in defeat a while ago and whispers dulled as the group began to emotionally prepare for whatever was about to happen next.What came was a foreign swaying sensation. “A ship. They have boarded us on a ship. We’re leaving the Dror,” a man’s panicked voice cried. Murmurs began, worried and distressed as the time dragged on slowly. Maia found herself gripping onto her new friend’s leg, which shook with nerves. Leaving the Dror meant leaving her home, her family and the safe haven of the South. She had heard enough town gossip to know that the North was on the brink of a civil war, that families were trying to flee south for refuge and dying in the process. Stories of the Azgad soldiers slaughtering innocent citizens in the streets had burnt her ears and she had told herself that nothing bad would happen to her if she remained in the Dror. The Dror was her homeland, a nation of peace and free will where no government ruled and everybody did their part to keep the community thriving. As of recent years, the Lornelands was a violent nation, filled with corruption and fear-mongering.She tried to swallow but her mouth was dry as stone. She began to hyperventilate. Several of the captives threw up, the putrid stench of vomit stung Maia’s senses. Beside her, Aldrik’s stomach moaned loudly. “When will they let us out? Are they starving us to death?” A woman’s voice from the darkness moaned. The floor vibrated as the engine juddered, starting up again, and the journey continued on.They must have been driven to Stonegate Port before being loaded onto a ship. They would have docked in The Lornelands and now they were continuing the drive. They could be anywhere in the north’s territory. It’s far more difficult to plan an escape if you don’t know the lands you’re in, she thought to herself bitterly.Hours passed and the truck halted once more. Footsteps marched around them and voices shouted orders in a language she recognized but couldn’t interpret - Lore. The back shutters of the truck flew open with a crash and groans erupted as the sunlight momentarily blinded them. She blinked furiously as her eyes began to adjust. Figures cloaked in black, their faces covered, surrounded the back of the truck. Strange rifles were pointed at them from all angles - similar to the type she would use to go hunting with but far more advanced. Small computer screens hovered over the barrel projecting information and graphs. She squinted at the writing but again, it wasn’t a language she could translate.She raised her hands slowly, copying everyone else as they shuffled down the ramp in a single line. She considered using her secret to escape, but it had been years since she had felt her inner powers. She had no control over them, no way to summon them and couldn’t risk hurting any of the innocents. She chewed her lip thoughtfully. Aldrik moved behind her and she took in his messy red hair and kind face. He looked slightly older than her, perhaps nineteen or twenty, but she didn’t recognize him from town. His green eyes darted around warily behind spectacles. She scanned the room searching for a way to escape, for any slight flaw in the Azgadi’s line up. More Azgad guards dotted the gargantuan building, armed to the teeth with advanced weaponry that Maia had never seen before; guns, lasers, and electronic spears. They were indoors, in some sort of giant warehouse. It was gleaming white, nothing but white walls and floors. Clinical lighting illuminated everything and the air smelled strongly of bleach. No windows, no doors - just a giant and guarded metal shutter which was presumably where they were driven in from.Within the walls were small tunnels leading off into other areas. Raised platforms cross-crossed above her, where she could see more guards watching them over the railings. She couldn’t see their faces cloaked in their uniform of black combat trousers, boots, and balaclavas which met at their bulletproof jackets. Six of them stood at the single shuttered doorway, making it all too clear that attempting escape was not an option. She jumped in surprise as a tiny metal drone zipped in-between the group, passing right by her face. “Don’t look at them,” hissed Aldrik behind her. “They have cameras. They’re all around the room.” Maia felt a twist of discomfort in her belly at the thought that her final moments were being recorded. She noticed Aldrik’s head was bent down and she followed suit, eyeing the tiny red camera eyes with her peripheral vision as they darted around the group. Someone was watching them, but why? A security measure, perhaps?Something sharp prodded her in the back and she was pushed onto a slightly raised platform along with the others, their masked captors forcing them all on with strange metal clubs. She felt like the sheep she was so used to herding and knew from experience that a single sheep was no match for a pack of wolves. Armed wolves. They shuffled onto the platform awkwardly until someone shouted an order in Lore. “Mindrahs!” The platform shuddered and began to lower. Some of the others tried to leap back up onto the stationary ground, but were pushed back by guards who knocked them down with their clubs. Maia spread her feet and crouched slightly, steadying herself. She saw Aldrik’s mop of hair on the other side of the platform, swaying as they sunk. She was too close to the center to peer over the edge at their destination. As they sank further they were surrounded by dark and damp cave walls, illuminated by spotlights in the crevices with more drones flitting around them. It was chillier down here, a bleak contrast to the white space they had just left. The platform smashed to a halt and several of them fell from the sudden impact. Maia held her ground and looked around as the group began to disperse in confusion. They were in a huge, underground room and in the center stood a pit illuminated by huge, fiery torches. She gulped. Demon. Guards stood around lazily, chatting and laughing in their mother-tongue. Small tunnels led out of the room into shadows that showed no sure signs of potential escape - it would be suicidal to try to reach one of them without knowing for sure where it led. The platform was controlled by some sort of holographic screen across the room where a guard stepped forward and input a passcode. It began to rise until it sealed itself to the ceiling once more, the bright white from above disappearing into the dingy darkness as it closed them in.Using their clubs, the guards herded the group towards the sunken pit and torches, but kept them back far enough that Maia wasn’t able to peer over into the pit. A huge man strode into the room from one of the dark passages, letting out a guttural roar.  The room fell into frightened silence, with even the Azgad guards ceasing their conversations. He was the largest man Maia has ever seen, his muscles twitched from sheer volume as he moved slowly across the room like a tiger taunting it’s trapped prey. He carried a huge mallet with him, but Maia noticed that it had a bullet-sized hole at the front and electronic wiring at the handle - it probably shot, and she didn’t want to be near it when that happened. He was wearing black leather clothing like all the other Azgadi, but his face was unmasked, revealing a bald and veiny head, teeth which had been sharpened into points and pitch black eyes. He was like nothing Maia had ever seen before, part human, part monster.“Welcome to The Pit. We are here today for a Cleansing. It is time to pledge your allegiance to our living God, Than, and join the northern Lornelands in our fight against Dror infidels.” A young girl with fiery red hair stepped forward. “We will never join your corrupt gang of enslavers and murderers,” she spat at him, her saliva hitting his chest armor. Maia vaguely recognized her from Kelvintown, a girl who used to work at the market selling bread and pastries. She sucked in a cold breath in anticipation of his response. He smiled slowly, his black eyes shining with twisted delight. “Then you will be the first to face Dracul.” He motioned with his hand, slowly curling his finger and the girl was dragged, kicking and screaming by three masked guards. Maia ran to the edge of the pit alongside everyone else, watching in horror as they threw her down, her body crashing onto the concrete floor. Maia caught Aldrik’s eye from across the pit. He nodded toward the guard and she watched him entering information into some sort of computer before drones rushed forward and scanned the red-haired girl who had picked herself up groggily. A huge bell rang out from the darkness and all the drones surrounding the pit flickered. “Are they filming this?” Maia gasped in horrified disbelief.A huge metallic creature emerged from a corner of the pit. It was a glistening black, teeth made of jagged daggers and electronic eyes fixated on the girl. It looked like an alligator but stood on two feet like a human, its long plaited tail fitted with a spiked shot-put ball at the end that it swung around with reckless abandon. The red-haired girl stood frozen against the wall, her eyes bulged.She made to sprint to the left.The creature let out a bloodcurdling scream unlike anything human, it leapt like a wildcat pouncing on its prey. It engulfed her with its bladed jaws and she was torn in half in seconds before it slunk back into the darkness leaving behind half of its victim. Maia stared, horrified, unable to turn her eyes away from the mutilated body. She was drenched in sweat.“Who wants to go next?” bellowed the black-eyed guard. Nobody moved, eyes fixed on the floor, terrified tears splashing at feet. “Nobody? I can cut a little deal then. Whoever can recite the Prayer of Than can stay, and join us. Anybody who cannot, or won’t, can face Dracul. I assure you, Dracul does not tire,” he said, a small and cruel grin playing across his face.Maia’s heart raced as a new fear overtook her. Maia didn’t know the prayer. It wasn’t taught in the Dror, not at school nor in homes. Temples of Than didn’t even exist in the Dror - prioritising science and technology over nature and liberty was a belief that nobody openly shared in the South. A boy stepped forward nervously, his legs shaking. “I know the prayer.” The huge Azgadi eyed him up and down with interest before another girl stepped forward. “I know it too,” she admitted quietly.A moment of silence followed, but nobody else stepped forward.“Go,” he ordered.They both got down on one knee, bent their heads, and began in unison:
“The power of Than is impregnable,Our leader, our courage, our king,He leads us out of the darkness,Purity he will bring.
A single and unified empire,With only red-blooded to rule,To kill is to cleanse the unfaithfuls,Each death brings to us a new jewel.
A prized dedication to Than,A loyalty none can defeat,I honor and worship him solely,And offer myself to his fleet.”
Maia cringed at the words and understood why they weren’t uttered publicly in The Dror. It wasn’t a prayer, it was a brainwashing anthem. A slow clap began, the guard smiling as other Azgadi in the room began to join in the applause. Then he offered two vials, filled with a luminous cream.“Pledge allegiance to Than. Join the Azgad Army here and now,” he growled.They bowed their heads and two guards stepped forward and grabbed their hands before either had a chance to consent or pull away. They plunged the needles into their arms, the bright yellow serum disappearing into their veins as they winced.“Trackers,” the head guard explained. “You are now forever a part of the Righteous Army.” Cheers from the Azgadi erupted in the room whilst Maia stood still, the blood draining from her face as she self-consciously rubbed her own wrist where the needles had been plunged.Another boy Maia recognized from her days at school stepped forward, defiance and anger shining in his eyes. “I will never join the Azgadi. Your corruption and evil will end eventually - you can never win. You haven’t recruited these people, you’ve entrapped them,” he shouted bravely. He glared at the two transfers and spat on the ground at their feet. “Cowards and betrayers,” he cried at them as their eyes filled with guilt and fear. The guard grinned. “Then you can go next.”With his order, two more guards stepped forward and flung the flailing boy into The Pit. Maia gasped and ran forward along with the other captured, her white hair swayed around her face as she peered over the railings. The boy stumbled in shock at the impact. He stood shakily, eyeing the walls. He scrabbled wildly and clawed at the stone walls, desperately trying to climb up the sides. The rocks were barely cragged, there was no hope for an ascent.In less than a second the creature had leapt onto him, impaling him with retractable spikes from its tail and the boy’s body was flung to the other side of the pit. He was ripped into two as easily as a doll. The creature slunk back into darkness amidst screams and cries from the spectators.Maia was stunned into a horrified silence, her mouth open in a soundless scream. She had no hope. That electronic monster had moved quicker than a fleeing rabbit in the fields and she could feel her heart beating out of her chest as realization dawned that it was to be her fate also, in moments too soon. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, two hands gripped her arms in a vice hold and she was hauled over the railings. “You’re next, princess,” one of the guards sneered as they flung her down. Her mind went into a state of shock - she wasn’t ready. Ready to die. She lay there, frozen in pure and blinding panic. She curled herself up into a shaking ball and felt hot, burning from the inside out. She sucked in a breath. She recognized this feeling, from years ago. She saw the creature’s eyes watching her carefully from the dark edges of the pit, eyes shining a poisonous lime green and flickering with desire.It took a step towards her.Maia’s entire body engulfed in a white hot fire that threatened to burn to her death. She screamed in agony as balls of fire shot erratically from her hands and penetrated the monster, its metallic roar dulled into silence as its body dropped into a charred heap in the corner. Maia lay twitching in the pit, smoke drifting up from her palms. Did I hurt anybody? She tried to move but it was too painful; her body felt raw.Chaos erupted.The guards, shocked into silence, were caught unprepared as the captured Dror citizens began to fight, punching and kicking with desperation. The Azgadi’s laser guns fired but it was too late - they had been caught by surprise and a couple of them had already had their weapons lifted by the desperate kidnapped. Shots were fired everywhere, sending bodies dropping.The smell of death and metallic blood engulfed the room.Alarms sounded, a deafeningly loud screech, and more guards appeared by the dozen. Maia curled up into a fetal position. Before losing consciousness, she saw huge hands grabbing for her, lifting her small, scorched body and dragging her away roughly.
Out August 4th 2018

Why am I self-publishing?

A lot of people have asked why I'm self-publishing and haven't tried going via the traditional route, so I put together a video on my reasons why. For anyone who doesn't want to watch me awkwardly trying to Youtube, here's a quick rundown of the situation:

1. Timing
- Self publishing is set to your own time-frame, and can be as quick or as laboured as you want. As soon as the book is ready to be read, give or take, it can be published.
- Traditional publishing can take up to two years between signing an agreement and hitting the shelves.

2. Royalties
- Self publishing via Amazon KDP you get 70% royalties
- Traditional publishing you get around 10-12% royalties

3. Payment
- Self publishing you get monthly payments
- Traditional publishing you get one large up-front sum

4. Expertise
- Self publishing you do everything yourself, and will have to fund any freelance help for marketing and design-work out of your own pocket
- Traditional publishing you can sit back and let the experts market your book and make tough calls for you

5. Rights
- Self publishing you own all rights and control everything from cost of the book to the very last word.
- Traditional publishing you hand a lot of the rights to your publisher, and they can chop and change what they want, from the title to chapter layouts

6. Ownership
- Self publishing you can dedicate all your time and passion toward marketing your book
- Traditional publishing leaves the marketing to your publishers, who may prioritise other releases over yours, particularly if you are a debut author.

What it comes down to is whether you have the time, resources and expenses to create your own book package, from the proofreading and editing to the design-work and marketing plan. Every writer is different and has different priorities.

Likewise, every writer has a different definition of 'success', which will drive their choice. For some writers it's necessary to be published by a recognized publishing house in order to be considered successful.

For me, personally, if just one person who is not my friend or relative reads and enjoys my book, I will consider it a success. The journey itself is a success for me.

Hope this helps!

Love, C x