Sydney Winward's Blog, page 16
July 17, 2020
5 Common Mistakes Self-Published Authors Make and How to Fix Them
I’ve read, critiqued, and edited plenty of books, including self-published and traditionally published works. Although not all books have some of these points I’ll make below, I’ve noticed self-published books often do make these mistakes. The good news is that if you’re aware of them, you can avoid them!
Here are five mistakes self-published authors make and how to fix them.
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#1: Unprofessional Cover
This is #1 for a reason. If a cover is unprofessional, and you slap basic words on a basic stock photo, I’m going to assume the rest of the book is unprofessional as well. Not well-written. Poorly edited. Etc. Thankfully, you can avoid this pitfall! If you are a whiz with Photoshop or Gimp (the free version, also very good), then you can make your own cover. Don’t know how to do something you want to do on the cover? You can Google how to do it and a video will often pop up.
Not everyone knows how to work photoshop, and in that case, you can hire someone to make the book cover for you. I’ve heard great things about Fiverr from authors, who have gotten a professional-looking cover for a great price.
#2: Lack of Editing
Editing costs a lot to hire someone! I should know. I once hired an editor for 500$ (that was on the cheaper side), and I only had a horror story to go with it. That’s why many self-published authors edit their own books or (from what I’ve seen), don’t edit much at all. Editing. Is. A. Must! A poorly edited book can lower your rating on sites like Goodreads and Amazon, and lower your credibility as an author.
But what if you can’t afford an editor? Edit the manuscript the best that you can (yes, this means going through it multiple times until you are sick of it ;)). Also have someone else look through it who will offer an unbiased critique/edit. This can include friends, family members, other authors, etc.
Keep following my blog for an upcoming post on great editing tips for authors.
#3: Publishing Without an Extra Set of Eyes
Someone other than the author NEEDS to look at the book before it’s published. Whether that be an alpha/beta reader, an editor, or someone else. This helps catch grammar mistakes, plot holes, inconsistencies, and more.
#4: Publishing Too Soon
I get it! You’re excited. You just created something so wonderful and you want to share it with the world. This excitement gets many self-published authors to jump the gun and publish the book too soon. Why is this bad, you ask?
One word: SALES.
You want to hype up your book before it’s published! Tell the world about it. Put the book on pre-order a few weeks before its release date to help get you more interest in the book. Create a few teasers to get others excited to buy it.
#5: Not Working on Getting Reviews
This might seem like a strange one, but it’s true. When a book only has a few reviews on sites like Goodreads or Amazon, it can scream “self-published”.
ALSO! If your reviews are only five stars, it can be suspicious to readers and discourage them from buying the book! (Wait, what??) Either your book is really, REALLY good to have only five star ratings, or it was only reviewed in a biased light by family and friends. Here are a few review sites you can look into to get reviews even before the book is published.
Booksprout ~ Netgalley ~ Voracious Readers ~ Hidden Gems
If you avoid these five pitfalls, your self-published book will do a lot better than it would otherwise. I hope these tips helped, and good luck with your book!
July 16, 2020
New Release from Mona Sedrak
From the Author
Gravity is a heart-warming story of two individuals from remarkably differing backgrounds that are inexplicably drawn to one another, forming a strong friendship and falling in love–– despite the odds against them. The story depicts the beautiful Middle Eastern culture I was raised in and its many traditions as well as some of its challenges. Readers will identify with this story, no matter their background because it speaks to and awakens the human heart.
Gravity is about tolerance, acceptance, understanding, and forgiveness. Finally, it is a story of love and hope. When I started writing Gravity several years ago, I couldn’t have predicted how relevant it would be today. At the end of the day, I want readers to understand that although we may be different, as members of the human race, our similarities out-weigh our differences and love is the universal language that binds us.
What was your favorite scene to write and why?
Ooh, this is a difficult question to answer because I enjoyed writing this book so much. If I have to pick one scene it would be a scene half-way into the story where the hero, Aiden, has to apologize for making a terrible mistake and hurting the heroine, Leila. The scene takes place on a rainy morning on the beach. It is early in the morning and the beach is empty. The waves are angry on her behalf and the rain is steady. Aiden sits in the sand, head down, shoulders hunched, contemplating how to explain to her his actions. Leila steps out onto her deck and finds him sitting there and she can sense how distraught he is. Despite her pain and anger, she makes her way to him with her heart aching unable to stay away ….Gravity!
To find out what happens, you must read the book __
How old were you when your wrote your first book/story?
I started writing academic text books in my thirties and then fiction in my forties. I first wrote very spicy fiction under a pen name and then turned to women’s fiction with romantic elements shortly after. I am much more comfortable writing stories that require deep characters and stories that tug at the reader’s heart and leave a lasting impression. No book I write is like the last. Each is unique and captures the reader’s heart and mind.
Excerpt
Aiden
He smiled, took a step back, and met her gaze. “I’m a fairly easy going guy, but I have my quirks. One of them is my persistence. When I see something I desire, I go after it with relentless tunnel vision and focus. I chase the elusive. Often, others can’t see what I do, or they’re simply not brave enough to take risks, defy gravity, and uncover and unleash what’s hidden. But do you know what I find each and every time I trust my gut, put in the time, and do the work?”
“What?” she whispered, entranced by his voice and his molten eyes.
“Heart stopping, raw, wild, and unimaginable beauty.” Aiden grinned. “I’m a landscape photographer. Photography is not only what I do. Photography is also who I am. Through the lens of my camera, I see what others think only exists in dreams and
movies. I believe. I commit. If you decide to come inside, I’ll show you what I’m talking about.” He spun and strode the door.
Aiden said his piece and issued a challenge. Leila could walk away or cross the threshold and take a chance, praying this time her heart wasn’t trampled. She chewed on her lower lip. Even if she walked away, Aiden wouldn’t. The man would track her down.
Standing, Leila paced. She was out of her element––stuck between two worlds. Too Americanized, she didn’t fit into the Egyptian culture. Yet, she wasn’t American enough.
Blurb
Gravity: A force pulling together people and hearts.
After being shunned by her Middle Eastern family, medical assistant Leila Solomon struggles to build a life for herself and her child. Landscape photographer Aiden Stone built a career seeing what others miss, and the second he meets Leila, he is drawn to her unassuming beauty and fragile strength.
Leila cannot defy the gravitational forces pulling her toward Aiden and to the family who cast her out. To build a future with Aiden, she must face the past but is she strong enough to resist being pulled back into the family fold?
About the Author
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Mona Sedrak lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works as a university administrator and professor. Although she has co-published two academic books, she is now writing mainstream fiction and women’s fiction. She is an avid reader and is probably Audible’s best customer.
Writing and reading fiction is her escape from reality.
Mona lives with her husband of 30+ years, a geriatric maltipoo, and an Amazon Parrot named Pretzel. She binge watches too many shows to count and she loves fine brandy.
Website ~ Amazon ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram
July 14, 2020
New Release from Patricia McAlexander and My Book Review of Stranger in the Storm
My Review
When happily-ever-afters only exist in fairy tales and romance novels, is it possible for Janet to find the man her heart was meant to love?
After Janet Mitchell flees a previous relationship and encounters the fierce rain and wind of a hurricane, fate steps in, or rather a trees falls, and smashes the bed of Wes Corbett’s truck. The incident brings them together, fate tying a lasso around them even in the face of terrifying danger.
This book was seriously awesome! The author did an incredible job at coaxing the reader into the story and keeping them there. The details were amazing, the story intriguing, and the suspense kept my eyes glued to the story, flipping page after page until I lost track of time. I loved that Janet is a romance writer, and the way she met Wes was just like a romance novel in real life.
Looking for a suspense novel with an interesting storyline and great romance? Stranger in the Storm ticks all the right boxes. Highly recommend!
My rating: 5 Stars
Favorite Quote
“You should have let me pay,” Wes said, back in the car. “It was my fault you lost your phone and laptop.”
“It was not,” said Janet and touched his arm. “Stop blaming yourself for everything your brother does.”
Interview with Patricia McAlexander
Welcome to my blog, Patricia! I’m excited to have you here. Let’s talk about your latest release. Where did your inspiration come from while writing Stranger in the Storm?
Some of the inspiration comes from my own experience. Although my MA was in English, not “fine arts,” Janet, my major female character, is in part autobiographical, an earlier me. The novella begins in New York City, where she has just earned a masters of fine arts (creative writing) at NYU. I drew on my time as a graduate student in the City, with its bustling streets, exotic restaurants, and innumerable museums, to paint that setting. Jack, the professor she is involved with there, is based on a type of male I have observed over the years—charming, brilliant, but so above others that he can be condescending, often autocratic. As for Wes, I admired a family who owned an upstate New York dairy farm near my parents’ lake house—an intelligent, strong, practical father and his sons. I am sure I based his character at least in part on them.
The heroine is a writer. Why did you choose that as her profession?
I suppose because, again, she is in part autobiographical, and right now, in my retirement, I am writing fiction. Also Janet’s romances help reveal her character: she portrays a kind of happily-ever-after love in her novels that she has growing doubts about finding in real life.
Are there any scenes you took out from your first draft?
Surprisingly, no. Often I do remove scenes. I think this novel was so compact that I didn’t do that. In fact, I added scenes to the first draft.
Are you a pantser or a plotter? Were there any scenes that took you by surprise?
I am more a pantser than a plotter. It makes writing much more fun. The final scene at Janet’s parents’ cottage took me by surprise, but I can’t tell about that—it would be a spoiler!
The bond with another twin waxes strong in the story. Tell us more about Wes and William’s relationship. Did they grow up close? Did they ever get into any trouble together? Do you think William got what he deserved by going to jail, or do you think he’s a misunderstood character?
As Wes tells Janet, he tried to be close to his brother, but William seemed sociopathic from childhood, once even setting his parents’ house on fire. Wes suspects that depletion of oxygen due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around William’s neck at birth caused some injury to his brain. Neither Wes’s attempts to help his brother nor his parents’ sending him to a special school changed him. When William is an adult, they feel safe only when he’s in jail. Although I have to admit some sympathy for William, his actions are self-centered and destructive except perhaps at the end—but I’ll have to let people read that and decide for themselves.
You wrote the hurricane so well that it felt like I was right there in the story. Did you do a lot of research? Or have you experienced a hurricane first hand?
Thank you. I’m glad those scenes worked for you. I did some research, but I’ve been in storms and hurricanes—some on lakes—and drew mainly on those events. On Facebook and Instagram I’ve posted photographs of stormy lakes—some I’ve taken, others I “shared” (with the permission of the photographer), but they embody my “lakeside” storm experiences.
We know that Janet is a romance novelist. I’m very curious to know the story she’s writing? What is it about?
At her parents’ lake house, Janet is writing her second novel—a romance set in the early twentieth century. The main character, roughly based on one of her ancestors, undergoes hardships but ultimately finds and marries the man she loves.
Do you believe in love at first treefall? Because I’m certainly a believer now!
I’m not sure Janet fell in love with Wes at first treefall, though she is on the way! She feels tremendously relieved and grateful when he gets her car out of the mud and drives her back to her cottage through the storm. And I admit that she does notice pretty quickly that he’s handsome. But I think he really wins her heart when he helps her rescue her father’s boat from crashing on the rocks in the storm.
Thanks for visiting my blog today, Patricia! It was fun to get to know the story on a deeper level.
Excerpt From Stranger in the Storm
The doors on each side of the patrol unit opened. Two uniformed men with badges and guns burst out. They aimed their guns at Wes and shouted an order at him. He raised his hands. The one with the sheriff’s badge grabbed him, and pushed him against the side of the car in spread-eagle position while the other, a deputy, covered them with his weapon. Wes was patted down, then handcuffed with his hands behind his back. The covering deputy lowered his gun and walked to the truck. Reaching in, he turned off the ignition and took out the keys. He picked up Wes’s wallet and phone and returned to the sheriff.
Janet jumped out of her car and ran up to her side of the fallen tree. “Stop!” she cried out. “There must be some mistake!”
“No mistake, miss,” the sheriff said, sounding grim. “You’d best get away from here. This is one of the escaped convicts.”
Blurb
After she discovers the abusive side of his personality, Janet Mitchell leaves the professor who has swept her off her feet. Is she about to discover the same darkness in Wes, the handsome young man who rescues her during a hurricane?
Wes Corbett has vowed not to get romantically involved again, fearing anyone close to him might be harmed by his brother William, now an escaped felon. But when he finds himself riding out the hurricane with Janet and their mutual attraction becomes clear, will he be able to keep that vow?
About the Author
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Patricia is from upstate New York, the setting of Stranger in the Storm, but she’s also lived in Colorado, Texas, and Wisconsin. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of New York at Albany, a master’s from Columbia University, and a doctorate from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in English. Patricia now lives in Athens, Georgia, with her Southerner husband, whom she met when they were graduate students in Wisconsin. After retiring from teaching at the University of Georgia, she’s had had more time to garden and travel while renewing her interests in photography, history, and, most of all, writing fiction.
Connect on Social Media
Website: https://patriciamcalexander.weebly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/patriciamcalexanderwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatMcAlexWriter
Buy Links
ibook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/stranger-in-the-storm/id1510438000?ls=1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Storm-Patricia-McAlexander-ebook/dp/B087Z3PR6C
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stranger-in-the-storm-patricia-mcalexander/1136954997
July 13, 2020
Book Review of My First My Last My Only by Denise Carbo
My Review
I absolutely adored this book! The romance is not only entertaining, but it’s perfectly paced and had me laughing and smiling the entire time. I loved Franny. I loved Mitch. I loved the relationships Franny develops throughout the book.
Franny is the most hilarious character I have read in a long time. She is constantly getting into scrapes because of her clumsiness or lack of spatial awareness. Awful things happen one after the other after the other, and it felt perfectly natural for the character to keep finding herself in an awkward situation.
I enjoyed the themes of family and finding your own self-confidence and self-worth. The characters and events fit perfectly with those themes, and I especially enjoyed watching Franny grow as a character. Ten out of ten would read this book again.
My rating: 5+ stars
Favorite Quote
The man stretches and yanks on a shutter. The flex of muscles draws my gaze downwards towards a well-rounded derriere encased in denim.
Wait a minute, I recognize that butt. Well, what I mean is, I ogled that butt in my bakery a week ago. My gaze skyrockets back up. Yup, the chestnut brown hair teasing the nape of his neck is the same. That’s Mitch on that ladder.
Blurb
Socially awkward and prone to accidents, Franny Dawson has a brand-new project: herself. Owning the local bakery, The Sweet Spot, has taken all her time and energy and she’s neglected the social aspects of her life. The small lakeside town of Granite Cove, New Hampshire is full of quirky residents eager to help and hinder her new plan.
Mitch Atwater, an award-winning director, returns to town. He has an agenda of his own and is wreaking havoc with her goals and her heart.
Can Franny outwit her nemesis, overcome her perfect sister’s surprise return, and escape the cocoon of her own insecurities to take a chance on love and get her very own happily ever after?
July 10, 2020
Book Review of Blueberry Swirl Waltz
My Review
When at first life goes in a different direction than you planned, take a detour.
Katie has always dreamed of getting out of the small town and becoming a ballroom instructor, to later participate in ballroom competitions. When she lands the job of her dreams, fate takes a different turn when her mom breaks her arm. With no one else to take over the ice cream shop, she drops everything to help out her mom’s business. However, fate takes a right turn the moment Chaz Hollander steps foot in the shop.
This book had everything. From heart-warming family scenes to sizzling, romantic chemistry to a strong, feisty heroine willing to go the distance to save her family’s business from foreclosure. I enjoyed every moment of this book. Definitely recommend!
My rating: 5 stars
FAvorite Quote
“You bet. I hope you’ll join me.”
How could she say no to that killer smile? And yes, she did want to join him. She was starving, having worked through dinner, and although ice cream was not the best substitute, Chaz sure was.
Blurb
After a family crisis, Katie Hathaway must return home to help out in the family’s ice cream shop. She leaves behind her dream job of teaching ballroom dance to spend her summer scooping ice cream and mixing milkshakes.
Chaz Hollander, Katie’s high school crush, has also returned to town to work in his family’s business. After Katie treats him to a blueberry swirl sundae, he invites her to the town’s upcoming dance. The only problem is he has two left feet.
When Katie starts giving Chaz dance lessons, their chemistry ignites, and the postponement of her dream doesn’t seem as ominous. But financial woes and a suspicious business deal cast a shadow on their budding relationship.
July 9, 2020
Book Review of Dragon’s Shadow by Allison Morse
My Review
“A great king looks to win the war, not merely the battle.”
Kylie has always been different from her abnormally strong anger to her gut feeling that something more out there exists. Her “visions” of another world writes her off as crazy, and she spends plenty of time in a mental hospital. But she soon comes to find out that she’s not crazy after all, and she has a twin brother in another world, a land full of magic and wonder.
The writing flows very well. I loved Kylie as a character and I especially enjoyed getting inside Jarlon’s head. The author did a phenomenal job at world-building, creating something I have never read about before.
The book ends in a way that felt unfinished, so I’m wondering if there will be a sequel to Dragon’s Shadow. Overall, I did enjoy the book, and I look forward to discovering more books from the author.
My rating: 4 stars
Favorite Quote
Six months ago, when Emrys agreed to take Tryff on as his apprentice, Jarlon had hoped his mentor’s excellent qualities would rub off on Tryff. Looking at the glint of rebellion in Emrys’ eyes, Jarlon wondered if the rubbing went both ways.
Blurb
Royal twins ripped apart at birth become reluctant champions of good and evil. Kylie, a teenage science geek, has no faith in people. Instead, she relies on what she trusts the most, the facts—what she can see, touch, and hear but never feel. With enough pain to deal with in her own world, she is thrust into another—a kingdom at war whose strange inhabitants fear one thing the most—the return of the dragon. All of this is illogical to Kylie, but even more so, when she discovers she belongs there. Her brother, Prince Jarlon, journeys to kill the dragon who has laid waste to his kingdom. His only hope for destroying the beast is help from his sister, whom he has never met. Will their paths cross before the beast’s malevolence infects Kylie and turns her into his creature or will Jarlon have to destroy her, too?
July 5, 2020
Book Review of The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson
My Review
When a simple peasant steals Adela’s heart, is there a way they can make their relationship work? Can the daughter of a duke and a wood-carver find happiness together when they are from vastly different worlds?
Full of romance, danger, and a conniving advisor, The Peasant’s Dream is a fairytale reimagined that had me turning page after page as I was gripped by the story. The characters are well developed, and I enjoyed peeling back layer after layer as I got to know them better.
I want to go back and read previous books in the series now. I really enjoyed this book!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My rating: 5 stars
Favorite Quote
“I have shoes for you.” He was staring at Frederick critically. “And a hat, very stylish.”
“No. No hat.” Frederick had seen the hats that the wealthier townspeople wore— like giant multicolored mushrooms— and he wanted no part of them.
“Very well. No hat.”
Blurb
In this reverse Cinderella story, a poor farmer’s son, who dreams of using his talent as a woodcarver to make a better life for himself, falls in love with a duke’s daughter and must fight for a chance to win her heart.
Adela is the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim and is never allowed outside of the castle walls. She loves her family, but she sneaks away one day to the market in the town center. There she meets a handsome young man and wonders what it might be like to fall in love with a poor farmer with a kind heart instead of marrying the man her family is suggesting for her.
Frederick earns the income for his family and defends his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He also uses his talent and creativity to carve figures, animals, and scenes into wood, and he’s asked to carve these scenes into cathedral doors when his talent is noticed. Frederick is inspired by the sweet and beautiful Adela, but he has no knowledge of her true identity. When he gets swept up into a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter, both are shaken by what they learn about the other.
With the heartbroken Adela resigned to an arranged marriage with her noble suitor, Frederick must decide what he’s willing to risk for love.
July 4, 2020
Book Review of Praline Dreams by Annette Miller
My Review
Very cute.
I really enjoyed this addition to the One Scoop or Two Series. I loved the characters and I especially loved the relationship between Zaria and her dad. They are so open with each other, even about the handsome man with dark hair that keeps frequenting the ice cream shop. She’s not shy to express her feelings about the man, and her dad is incredibly supportive of all her decisions, no matter what they are.
Plus, a drop dead gorgeous merman captain. Need I say more? A fun read!
Favorite Quote
“Dad and I always get a little sad when the end of the season approaches. Are you here for another ice cream lesson?”
Zale grabbed an apron and snapped it in the air. “You guessed it.” People drifted in behind him. “And it looks like you have customers.”
“Most of them are women, so I think you have customers,” she teased. “Get on with your lesson. They’ll have to do without you this time.”
Blurb
As the summer season ends, Daria Drake and her father prepare to close their ice cream shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk. After Labor Day, they’ll return to the mer-city of Tor, their home under the ocean. When a handsome man enters one day and kicks out a trio of troublemakers, Daria’s captivated but won’t chance loving a human.
July 3, 2020
Box Opening for Bloodbond
Yes, I am the dorkiest of dorks! My author copies for Bloodbond just came in the mail today! Here’s the video of me opening it. Also, points for you if you catch my dorky reference! 
Bloodborn on Sale for 99 Cents!
Capturing Dracula’s daughter may be his last mistake.
If you haven’t read Bloodborn yet, here’s your chance! Through July, it’s on sale for 99 cents! When Adam Degore’s younger brother gets bitten by a vampire, he vows to do everything in his power to try to find a cure…even becoming a blood hunter.
He kills darks creatures for coin in his pursuit to find a cure, but when his brother slips further into the darkness, he takes drastic measures and captures a vampire. Luck would have it that the vampire in question happens to be Dracula’s daughter, a woman that not only gets under his skin, but touches his heart.
In his race against the clock, will he find a cure? Or will Dracula’s vengeance rain upon him?
To get your copy of this exciting and action-packed paranormal romance, click on one of the links below!
