Ginger Li's Blog, page 2

Preview Chapters 1+ 2 from Haven of Smoke and Shadows!

Haven of Smoke and Shadows is coming out in a month! To whet your appetite for this next installment of the Light and Fire Series, I've included the first two chapters here!

*Note: This is from an advanced copy of the novel. The final draft will most likely be slightly different.*

Chapter 1: Lia
Even though it was Lia’s second time traveling between worlds, the sensation of walking through something solid into that amorphous between-space was still rather jarring. All around her, the portal resembled translucent melted glass. She reached out, slipping her hand through the cool, dense surroundings. Did all portals feel like a thick wall of fog? Were there other exits to different worlds? She peered around, straining to see, but only one patch of light beckoned brightly up ahead. Warm, humid air greeted her at the other end. Overhead, an achingly familiar sky sprawled out, where a lone sliver of moon ruled over its starry court. “So this is the Dark World?” Griffith eyed the forest of trees. “It looks nothing like I imagined.”“Because it’s not some barren, desolate place?”“You said it. Not me.” He grinned. “Despite missing a moon, your sky seems oddly brighter. But besides that, it looks exactly like Solair.”What about her powers? Would they work the same here as they did back there? “Can I try something?”“Sure.”Lia reached out and took Griff’s hands in hers. “I want you to think of a memory. Any one. I’ll try to see it.” She shut her eyes tightly.Nothing. She tried again. Still nothing. Lia’s eyes fluttered open. Her abilities were gone. She dropped his hands and gave him a hug. Finally, she was well and truly home.“I’m glad you’re here with me,” she murmured. “It means everything knowing that someone here understands.”  Griffith returned her embrace. “I wouldn’t have let you come back alone. Besides, it would destroy Kieren if anything happened to you. No matter what he said. He still cares about you.”Temper flaring, she pulled out of his arms. “Sure. That’s why he couldn’t even come with us to say goodbye.” Not only had Kieren made it abundantly clear that he didn’t care for her romantically, but he had also accused her of liking his best friend. Griffith’s expression softened. “Oh, Lia, you couldn’t be further from the truth.”“Come on.” She made a point of looking away so that he wouldn’t see the way her expression wobbled. “Let’s head out.” “Of course. I look forward to seeing your village.” As they made their way through the woods, Lia tried her best to forget about Kieren and the heartbreak that she left in Solair. Walking faster than she normally would, the muggy air soon caused the back of her tunic to stick uncomfortably to her skin. She rolled up her sleeves, desperate for a breeze to cool her overheated skin.Beside her, Griffith unbuckled his cloak. “It’s much warmer here this time of year than in Solair.”Lia was about to tell him about the joys of air conditioning when a loud roaring sound filled the air. “By the moons, what sort of beast is this?” He whipped out his sword and warily eyed the airplane that flew overhead, its white and red lights blinking in unison.“It’s not alive. You’re looking at a machine.” Realizing that he had no idea what she was talking about, Lia racked her brain, trying to figure out how best to explain what they’d just seen. “That’s an airplane, and it’s manmade. People here travel in them.”His eyes remained glued to the blinking lights in the sky. “Your people fly?”“Not all the time. And planes are only one of the ways we travel.” Sensing his eagerness to learn, she launched into a list detailing all their different modes of transportation. By the time Lia had finished, they’d left the forest and were approaching the road. Griffith’s eyes grew as round as saucers when he saw the cars race by the traffic light. “I think I’ll like it here.”Lia may have grown up in this world, but even she couldn’t help but feel like she was seeing everything through new eyes. His excitement was contagious. “That’s nothing. Wait till I introduce you to the internet and cell phones. Prepare to have your mind blown.”He stopped mid-step. “And having your mind blown is a good thing?”“Definitely.” She linked an arm through his. “Come on. We’re almost home.”
Chapter 2: LiaThe familiar neon glow from the Two Moons Diner’s sign shone in the distance, beckoning them like a beacon. She pointed. “That’s where we’re headed.” A feeling of happiness bubbled up inside.This was it. Home. “No magic, eh?” Griffith stared at the sign in disbelief. “And how exactly is everything glowing? I don’t see any candles anywhere.”“Electricity, my friend. It was a wonderful invention.”“Electricity? More like elec-trick-ity.” He smiled and his dimples made an appearance. “Whatever this is. It’s amazing.”Lia grinned. Feeling lighter than she had in weeks, her steps quickened as she navigated her way through the diner’s packed parking lot. But she didn’t get very far. Every couple of steps she had to stop and wait for Griffith. Like a kid in a candy store, he paused several times to admire the vehicles. Question after question poured from his mouth the entire time. Lia tried to answer them as best she could, but her knowledge of car mechanics was rudimentary. Not caring, he kept asking anyway.“And what is this one called?” He pointed to a sleek red motorcycle. “It’s a motorcycle. My dad actually--” She paused mid-sentence, remembering that the last time she rode one was with Kieren. At the thought of the silver-eyed warrior, a soft pain filled her heart.“Your dad what?” Griff asked.“Never mind. Come on. We’re almost there.”Determined not to cry, she kept walking. As they reached the entrance, she spied the advertised meatloaf special and the karaoke machine set up in the main dining area. Laughter and a blast of cold air escaped through the building’s double doors as a group of customers exited. She watched them leave, frozen in place.For so long, Lia had dreamed about coming home. But fear kept her from stepping inside. Would Gabby forgive her for leaving? Would her godmother believe Lia about Solair?  And how could she adjust to living a ‘normal’ life after everything she’d gone through?Seeming to notice her hesitation, Griffith placed a hand on her shoulder. “This is where your family lives?”Lia nodded. Gabby, Holly, and even Billy weren’t related to her by blood or DNA, but they were her family now.“Then they’ll understand.” She gave Griffith a small smile and opened the door. A familiar bustling sight greeted her. Everything was just as she remembered, and Lia felt herself relaxing at the predictability of it all. Marge, the middle-aged blue-haired hostess, stood by the door, writing something down on a seating chart. Looking up, her mouth spread into a warm smile. “Well, if it isn’t a sight for sore eyes!” She pulled Lia in for a tight hug and then let go, eyeing her up and down. “You look thinner, Lia-girl. Have you been eating enough?” Before Lia could explain, there was a flash of movement beside her. The sweet smell of vanilla perfume filled the air and two sturdy arms held her tight.“Mija, it’s a good thing that you’re alive. Because if anything bad had happened, I would have killed you.” Judging from her godmother’s tone, Lia knew she was in deep trouble. But she couldn’t help smiling anyway. This was finally happening. She was home. Gabby gave a small grunt before pulling away. “Marge”—she motioned to the hostess—“watch the floor. My goddaughter and I have some catching up to do.” Warning bells rang in Lia’s mind. “Listen, Gabby; I’m so sorry.”Her godmother held up a hand as she took a long look at Lia’s outfit. Lia crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly realizing that her tailored black pants, boots, and leather harness, while slightly odd in Solair, were definitely out of place in New Jersey.“I am so angry at you, I could scream.” Gabby took a deep breath and exhaled. “But I’m not going to because we run a family establishment.” Her godmother then eyed Griffith. “And who is this?”“This is my friend. Griffith.” Lia shoved him in front of her like a shield, hoping his presence would cool her godmother’s temper.Gabby’s furious expression morphed with a radiant smile. “It’s so nice to meet you. My name’s Gabby. I’m Lia’s godmother. Welcome to my restaurant. Any friend of my goddaughter’s is a friend of mine.” She shot a glare in Lia’s direction before beaming at Griffith again. “Why don’t you both come upstairs so we can catch up?”“Of course.” Griffith gave a slight bow. “It’s such a delight being here, in your world.” What was he saying? Lia elbowed him. Hard.“I mean, your fine establishment,” he quickly corrected himself.Gabby’s eyebrows shot up for a moment, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she turned and led them through the dining area. The din of the restaurant faded as they walked up the worn stairs to Gabby’s, and now Lia’s, home. Stepping inside, Lia’s godmother motioned toward the robin’s egg blue living room filled with colorful knickknacks. “Please, make yourself at home.”Awkwardly, Lia and Griffith sat side by side on the ancient leather couch.“Would you like anything to drink? Water? Tea? Juice?” Gabby gave Griffith a long glance. “Ale?”Lia’s jaw dropped. “What? Didn’t think I’d know about the customs of your Solairan friend here?”This time Lia didn’t miss the knowing look in her godmother’s eyes. How could Gabby possibly have known about Solair?“Water is fine, ma’am,” Griffith responded, eying both women warily.“And you, Lia?” Gabby’s angry gaze met hers. “Will it be water for you too? Or have you developed a taste for ale?” Lia shook her head, still stunned. “Water’s fine. Thanks.”Gabby left the living room and soon the sounds of clinking ice and the humming microwave filled the air.“How does she know about my world?” Griffith murmured.“I can answer that,” Gabby called out from the kitchen. “If my goddaughter had trusted me and sought my permission before venturing to other worlds with strangers, we could have avoided this whole uncomfortable situation.” “I think you’re in trouble,” Griffith mouthed.No kidding. By the time Gabby returned with a tray filled with snacks, Lia felt her nerves wound so tight they were almost to the point of snapping.“Would you like some snacks, Griffith?” Her godmother placed the food on the coffee table.“Thank you.” He took a bite of a chocolate chip cookie and his eyes widened. “These are delicious. How are they so soft and warm? I don’t see a fire anywhere.”Gabby gestured to the kitchen. “I used the microwave.”“It heats the food by zapping it with tiny invisible waves,” Lia explained. Griffith shot her a confused look.“It’s science. Not magic. My dad taught me how they work. He taught me a lot of things, actually.” “Seems like your father knows quite a bit about how the world works. When will I get to meet him?”Lia’s breath hitched as she thought of her parents. “It’s just Gabby and me now. My mother and father both passed away.”Gabby slid beside her and gave Lia’s leg a gentle squeeze. “Lia’s mother, Farrah, was the same when she first arrived.” She eyed the sword on Griffith’s hip. “Without the sword, though.” “I’m so sorry, Gabby,” Lia blurted out. She could feel the prickle of unshed tears behind her eyes. “I should have told you everything in the first place. But I didn’t think you’d believe me, let alone know anything about Solair. How do you know about Solair, anyway?” Gabby took a sip of tea. “I’ll tell you. But first, I want to know the name of your handsome silver-eyed warrior. He seemed very interested in you, if I remember correctly.” Really? That was the first question her godmother wanted to ask her? “His name is Kieren,” Lia muttered before savagely biting into a cookie. “And he’s not mine,” she made sure to emphasize.Gabby gave her a knowing look. “I can tell there’s a story there. But we can talk about that later.” She took another sip of tea. “To answer your previous question, Farrah was always fairly private about her past. But I never minded. It was just her way. One time I saw her waiting on an older gentleman dressed in Renaissance-style clothing. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but it seemed like they got into a bit of an argument. When I approached her about it later, she told me everything—about her life in Solair, her past as a mage, and her having to leave because of some prophecy.”“Wait a moment,” Lia interrupted. “What prophecy was my mother referring to?”“She told me that a monster, the World Eater, was going to hunt down her daughter.”Her mother knew all this time? The cookie suddenly felt heavy in Lia’s stomach. “Why would mom keep something like that a secret from me?”“Please don’t be too angry. Farrah loved you so much. She wanted you to live a normal life. She was trying to protect you by not telling you.”“She also probably assumed you would never be found here,” Griffith reasoned. “Why would you when there’s no magic?”Logically, that made sense. But the betrayal still stung. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this when Sage and Kieren came into the restaurant that day?”“I promised your mother that I’d help keep you away from Solair. That’s why I purposely left things vague. I couldn’t outright lie to you. You’d already lost both your parents, so it didn’t seem right to keep you away from your grandfather too. But I didn’t want to break my promise to my best friend. I was going to tell you everything once they’d left. I just never thought you’d leave with them.” Uh-oh. Lia sat up a little taller as she prepared herself for the scolding that was bound to come. “Mija? What were you thinking? Getting Holly to lie for you?”“I’m sorry, Gabby,” Lia whispered.Her godmother frowned. “I first started suspecting something was fishy when I read your text about learning to surf.”Lia inwardly cringed. It was common knowledge that even though she loved the beach, she hated swimming in the ocean.“And then I had this dream where you told me you weren’t really in California.” Gabby shook her head, furious. “It only took two chocolate muffins to pry the truth from Holly. Dios, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t have gone to the police. What could I have said to them? Told them my goddaughter had traveled to another world and was in danger because of some monster? They would have thought I was crazy.”Lia shifted uncomfortably. Her godmother’s dream sounded oddly similar to the one she had in Solair. “In this dream, did I talk to you at the restaurant?”“Yes.” Gabby seemed surprised. “How do you know?” Griffith and Lia shared a look. “If this world is cloaked from magic, how can you can still communicate with people in dreams?” he asked.“You can talk to other people in dreams?” Gabby stood. “I need to hear this story from the beginning. But I’d better microwave more cookies first. It seems like we have a lot to catch up on.”
Order your copy on Amazon today!

Top 10 Quotes from Haven of Smoke and Shadows

With the upcoming launch of Haven of Smoke and Shadows, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite quotes from the novel. So here are my top 10 favorite quotes, in no particular order:

Top 10 Quotes from Haven of Smoke and Shadows











What do you think? Are YOU excited to get your hands on Haven of Smoke and Shadows?

Now, back to writing!
Ginger

Best FREE Graphic Design Websites for Authors

Ever wonder how Indie Authors create all those gorgeous graphics for book promotions and book launches? Want to make professional Facebook and Instagram posts to advertise your books... for FREE? Well, here are my favorite websites to create stunning graphic images for cheap!

Top 3 FREE Graphic Design Websites for Indie Authors

As an Indie Author you're not only a writer. Unless you pay other people to do the countless other jobs that come along with publishing books, you're probably donning a lot of hats.


You're a book promoter. You're a graphic designer. You're a social media coordinator. You're an advertiser. You're a newsletter writer. (And you probably do all these jobs on top of the other jobs you do during the day... like parent. Or clean. Or work.)

I've only just dipped my toes into self-publishing waters, but I've already seen how important marketing and book promotion can be. And while I have yet to figure out advertising (oh boy, those seem like deep, dark waters filled with countless tears and oodles of money), I have dabbled my toes in book promotion and graphic design.

Maybe you're like me and really want to create beautiful images to share your books... but you don't have a lot of money or the super-techy graphic design skills to do it.

I hear you.

3 Awesome FREEGraphic Design Websites for Self-Published Authors (Perfect for all their marketing needs)Here is my list of 3 top FREE graphic design websites that I've used to create book promotion images. Hopefully, this compilation of sites helps all those other self-publishers out there to save a couple of dollars too!

1. BookBrushThis is THE premiere site to create graphics for your books.

It's specifically made for authors, which means it's intuitive and easy to use. There are a ton of beautiful and FREE images. And the site has crucial author-specific features, like the ability to create cool 3D mockups for your books and add bookseller specific stamps (ex: Kindle Unlimited, 5 stars, now on Amazon).

You can use Bookbrush to create professional-looking Facebook and Instagram ads. Personally, I've used it to make these images below:


Notice the 3D book rendering and professional "available at Amazon" stamp!

See the gorgeous background image, cool book tablet image, and "Amazon" / "Kindle Unlimited" stamps?


The only con to this program is that there is a limit of free images that you can make each month. But if you plan things correctly (and use the other websites I recommend in this post), you should have more than enough images to advertise and sell your book!


2. CanvaThis program is like Brookbrush.... on steroids. 
Seriously. It has all the features of Bookbrush, but it also offers so much more. Personally, I enjoy playing around with image creation, so I find the bells and whistles very helpful. But some people might find it intimidating to have so many options. So they prefer the simplicity of Bookfunnel, which was really designed with the author in mind.
Canva is my go-to website because it has so many templates that you can play around with to create cool, eye-catching images. I'm NOT a graphic designer. I DON'T have super-advanced computer skills. And I don't have an eye for design. But with Canva, I look like the cool kid in school by tweaking and adjusting the designs that other artists have so graciously shared with the Canva community.
Here are some examples of images that I've made using Canva:
This Facebook and Newsletter header (including the icon behind my name)

This IG post

Psst- My website header, Author profile image, and this blog's header image and pinnable image were also made in Canva too! Cool, right?
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of Canva:
Pros:Tons of FREE gorgeous images, designs, and layouts for all sorts of purposes (book cover design, recipe creation, brochures, CD covers, etc...)
Cons:A lot of the images aren't free, so you need to search around for free options. Also, some people may become overwhelmed by all the design options offered.

3. Be-Funky Collage MakerLastly, I wasn't sure whether to include this site, but I do find it helpful in creating images, so I've added it to the end of this post.

Currently, these are the two most popular posts on my author website:

30+ Awesome YA Shifter Novels   My reflections on my book cover and diversity in YA Novels

I have some theories on why these two blog posts are so popular, but that's not the point of this particular blog post. I'm just using these two posts as examples where I used the Be-Funky Collage maker to make collages showcasing all these STUNNING book covers.

Oooh, drool-worthy!
Oooh! Gorgeous!

If you ever want to create collages showcasing all YOUR books (or other authors' gorgeous books), this collage making website is the best. It is easy to use and offers so many free options for creating images just perfect for IG, Pinterest, or Facebook.


I really hope this post was helpful to you! What websites do YOU use to create book graphics?

(Oh! One last point- If you're a fantasy author, you should check out my post on how to make FREE maps for your imaginary worlds !)

And now, back to editing the third book of my Light and Fire Series !

~Ginger

Character Art: Lia and Kieren

Ever wonder what Lia and Kieren from my Light and Fire Series look like?



What do you think of character sketches? Some readers are really good at finding different models or actors to imagine as book characters. Personally, I don't picture anyone in particular when I read novels. My brain just doesn't work that way. I usually just get a general sense for how people look.

Maybe that's why I get so excited when I see character boards or character sketches. I love seeing artist's interpretations and admiring their skills.

Light and Fire Character Art:These sketches of Lia and Kieren, the two main characters from my Light and Fire series, were done by my talented author/artist friend, Elena Shelst. Aren't they incredible?

I'm grateful for her skills and the way her art makes my characters come to life!


Want to further immerse yourself in the Light and Fire series?Read the books!Check out this map of SolairListen to these book soundtracksCheck out my character board!
Happy reading, friends!

Tada! A Map of Solair (Also, did you know you can design fantasy maps for free?)

It's confession time. This week I did a tiny bit of editing... and a LOT of map-making. Check out this map I drew of Solair.

Fantasy Map of Solair

Pretty neat, huh? I really enjoyed the process of creating this map. It helped to make the places in my Light and Fire novels come to life.

And can you believe this was my first time drawing a digital map? Yup! There's this super-nifty webpage called Inkarnate that allows you to design and create maps for free. It's super intuitive and easy-to-use.

You can also pay a small fee for fancier designs and more features. I'm debating about trying out the paid option to create beautiful parchment-style maps for the boxset.

Well, alrighty then. I just wanted to pop in and share this lovely image.

Now, back to writing!

Cover Reveal and Reflections behind Haven of Smoke and Shadows

Hi friends! How are you doing?

Our family of four is slowly getting used to the new normal of online life and social distancing. My two boys have really great attitudes. They see this as a fun new adventure. My husband also seems resigned to it all, although he really dislikes Zoom. Unfortunately, it takes me much longer to adapt to new changes. (I know, it's been over 4 weeks... so it's not even new anymore... oy!)

Honestly, it's hard for me to feel hopeful when there is so much suffering and the end isn't quite in sight.

So today I thought I'd pop on the blog and share about something that makes me happy. And that's the cover of Haven of Smoke and Shadows, the 3rd book in my Light and Fire Series.


Here she is- isn't she gorgeous?

Once again, all props go to KD Ritchie from Story Wrappers for designing such a beautiful cover.




Here's a blurb for the book:Sometimes first loves were never meant to be...
Lia reveals her true feelings to Kieren-- only to have him break her heart. Now worlds away, high school and homecoming loom ahead. And somebody new is making a play for her heart.
Kieren almost lost Lia once. Struggling to maintain control over his inner dragon, he believes he's done the right thing in pushing her away. But when he tries to bring Lia back to Solair, Kieren comes to realize he might have made the worst mistake of his life in letting her go.
With the threat of the World Eater growing daily, the distinction between friend and foe blurs. Will Lia and Kieren face the destroyer of worlds together? Or will misunderstanding and betrayal tear them and their worlds apart?
Don't miss this enchanting third installment in the Light and Fire Series.

WARNING: SPOILERS UP AHEAD!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Now, if you haven't read book 1 or 2 yet, don't read the rest of this post. Because there will definitely be some spoilers revealed...


Why are Lia and Kieren apart... again?And why does this book seem so different from the others?(Some Brief Rambly Reflections on Haven of Smoke and Shadows)I know what you're thinking. "Girl, haven't you ever read a romance novel? Readers want happily-ever-afters! They want their couples to stay couples!" 
And hey- I get it. I hear you. But it's just not in the cards for Lia and Kieren. At least not yet... *wink wink*
I've been married now for almost 15 years. Before that, I dated a small handful of guys because I was an awkward-shy-introvert-nerd who wasn't great at talking to members of the opposite sex... but that's another story for another day....
Anyway, during my dating years, I went through two really serious heartbreaks. Once at the end of high school and the other during my junior year of college.
They were both extremely difficult times in my life. I cried a lot. I slept even more. I doubted myself. I stopped paying attention in classes. I barely made it through the day. And I ate my weight in cheese. 
Basically, I shut down and became an un-washed and cheesy shell of myself. But eventually, my heart healed. And I learned to smile and love again. 
What does this have to do with Haven of Smoke and Shadows? Well, that was just a long way of saying that I wrote the beginning part of this book drawing from my vast wells of suffering.
In the beginning, we learn what happens after Kieren purposely breaks Lia's heart and convinces her to go back home. Kieren remains with the Verdurans learning how to control his dragon. Meanwhile, Lia figures out how to survive her senior year.
Yup. It's sad times for both.
Look, I love my main characters and I genuinely feel sad when they're going through difficult times. But both Lia and Kieren needed this rocky patch. In books 1 and 2, Lia was tossed into a new world and given a new role. She needed this break in book 3 to decide whether or not she wanted to continue on the path to becoming the Light. To do that, she has to see what her life could be like if she lived a normal teenage life. 
And Kieren needed this time apart from Lia to grow. His memories are back. And he has to fully adapt and accept his tainted past and his dragon half.
(And in case you're wondering about Griffith, oh boy! You'll be seeing a lot of him. He is such a fun and surprising character. After writing the first book, I never thought he would wheedle his way into my heart and into this series. But he has. Griffith is funny, highly observant, and loyal. He's not only a wonderful friend to Kieren, but he also becomes Lia's close confidant too. I love Griffith. And I'm so glad that he gets his own romantic happy ending in this novel.... *hint hint* )
Also, I  debated whether or not to label this book as "3" or "2.5."  It's got a completely different vibe from books 1, 2, and 4. It doesn't take place in a fantasy world. There isn't a pressing issue or enemy that the characters have to face. And parts of it are written like a YA contemporary novel. (Hint: Get ready for hashtags and texting!)
I ended up labeling it as Book 3 because I think the story stands by itself. 
I love this odd middle novel. It's my homage to high school. It includes all the things that I really hated about that time of life (break-ups, magnified feelings of social-awkwardness, tests, and emotional angst) and it embraces all the things that I really loved about that time of life (close-knit friendships, endless optimism about the future, and... dances!)
So, dear reader, I really hope you enjoy this third novel too. And get ready for book 4... because Lia, Kieren, and (surprise!) Griffith are finally going to Verdura to kick some World Eater butt.
Thanks for joining me on this creative journey!
~ Ginger Li

5 Reasons You Need an Editor Before you Self-Publish

Hi friends! It's been a while since I've posted here. But I'm stopping in now to share 5 reasons why every writer needs to get their manuscript professionally edited before they self-publish.



5 Reasons You Need an Editor!




Half-Blood Mage and The Lady Thief (the first two books in my YA Romantic Portal Fantasy series) are now officially out! Woo hoo!

Does that mean it's time to rest? Goodness, no! It means that it's time to get my butt in gear and start getting my third manuscript ready. Despite the virus-that-shall-not-be-named,   Haven of Smoke and Shadows  is coming out this July. I'm currently in the midst of going through the suggestions that my awesome editor gave me... months ago... (but better late than never, right?)

Editing Sample:



The image above shows an edited section from my first chapter.

Do you see the red squares on the left side? They're all comments for me. Do you see the blue highlighted portions? Those are repeated words. And do you see the bits in red? They're suggested changes. (Word choice and grammar changes)

Yup.

It's covered in red. I'll admit it, folks. I stink at writing.

Ehhh... maybe I should be a little more gracious to myself. I stink at grammar. And apparently, I like using the same words. Again. And again. And again.

(And again.)

I'm taking a break now and I decided to write this post. If you are thinking about self-publishing a book and you only have a little bit of cash to make your dream happen, spend your money on

An amazing cover that fits the genreAn amazing editor.

Why do you need a nice cover?You want to be seen as a professional, so you need to present yourself as a professional. Unless you have graphic design/book cover design skills, you should really let the pros handle it. People definitely judge books by their covers and that's why you want to make sure yours looks AMAZING. Plus, you can even think of it as putting money away into your first bit of advertisement too. A nice cover that clearly indicates what your book is about will attract the right readers who will enjoy your story.

Alright. Fine. So we can both agree that the cover is important. But what about the editing? Can't you just read REEEEEAAAALLLLLY carefully and consider your editing "done?" Or, better yet, can't you just ask a relative or a friend to reread your work?

No. And No. I mean, both are great places to start, but you also need to send your work to a professional.

Why?

Here are 5 Reasons you Need to get your Work Professionally Edited:1. Editors make your message clear.Clear and well-written prose will allow you to tell your story. Nobody wants to purposely lead their readers into confusing muckity-muck. We want our worlds and characters to come alive. And having good grammar, using the proper words, and writing clear sentences will help!2. Editors make you look professional.Want readers to take you seriously? Take your writing seriously. Don't give them poorly written work that's littered with spelling mistakes, repeated words, and bad grammar. A good editor will help you polish your sentences until they shine. Then you'll present yourself as the professional that you are! 
3. Editors make your story more coherent.Yes, editors can just correct your grammar and give suggestions for word choice. But, they can also do so much more! There are different levels of editing offered. Some will just do the basics. Others will read your work with a keen eye and help you find plot holes in your story, places where your logic doesn't flow, or moments when your characters act... well, out of character! (Since I write fantasy, my editor even made a giant dictionary of all my character names and places so she could better keep track of all the details. Amazing, right?) Editors are extremely versatile. You just need to find the right one that will offer the services that you want.
4. Editors will make your prose shine!We all write with a different voice. How I would describe a scene or character is probably very different than how you would. A good editor won't cut out every bit of personality from your writing. A good editor will be able to identify themes in your work, acknowledge your author "voice," and help you to reword sentences so that they better fit with your story arc and style. So don't worry about an editor cutting out all the bits that make your work specific to you. A good editor will help you while also respecting your individuality too.

And while we're on the topic of shining up prose, don't you want your work to be the very best? If you're thinking about getting editing, it probably means that you've written an entire story. You've put in hours of sweat, blood, and tears. Doesn't your work deserve the opportunity to shine?
5. Editors are SUPER readers.If you're aspiring to be a published author, I'm guessing that you want others to read your work. You want people to care about your characters and immerse themselves in your story. Well, an editor is just that person. They are super readers. They're trained professionals. They know how to really study and care about your story.

Sure, your mom and best friend will probably volunteer to read your work. That's awesome. Use them! But will they care enough to plow through the nitty-gritty details? Will they spend time trying to connect all the dots? Will they examine your grammar, character development, and plot? I'm guessing probably not. Hire an editor and you'll get an amazing reader who will look at your work through fresh, objective, and trained eyes.  They'll provide thoughtful and helpful suggestions to improve your story.


Ok. Phew. I just wanted to let that all out. I'm so grateful for my editor. She really helped me to write clearly and coherently. And all her grammar notes about sentence structure and commas (oh, commas! How I hate you!!!) really do make my story better. 
So, what do you think? Do you use an editor?
Back to writing!Ginger

My 5 Favorite Quotes from The Lady Thief

5 Favorite Quotes from The Lady Thief: The Lady Thief , the second book in my  Light and Fire Series  is finally out! To celebrate, I'm sharing my favorite quotes from the novel today:














Intrigued? 
Check out my  Light and Fire Series  today! 
Happy reading, friends!

Cover Reveal and Reflections on The Lady Thief

Hi friends! Today I wanted to share the cover for The Lady Thief, the newest novel in my Light and Fire Series, and some reflections I had while writing this novel...



First of all, here's the cover reveal:
Isn't she gorgeous?

I gave the awesome K.D. from Story Wrappers this Pinterest board filled with images of mysterious and beautiful thieves and she made this beauty.




When I showed my family this cover, I couldn't help but repeat, "I love this so much" over and over again. My eldest thought I was going bonkers. My youngest just thought I was being silly. My husband thought I was just super happy. In truth, I was probably feeling a mix of all three. I always feel excited, slightly crazy, and exhausted after completing a big project. 
I really, really love the cover. I think it perfectly captures the spirit of the story and Lia's new role as a warrior.


My Reflections on Writing The Lady Thief:Warning: Spoiler alert here! So if you haven't yet started the series (or you don't want to know any details about what happens in books 1 and 2), don't read below!
********
Half-Blood Mage  was my first attempt at writing a full-length fantasy novel. I'd started a couple novels when I was in high school and college, but I never actually finished any of them. School always came first and I also found it challenging to write a satisfying ending. (Actually, I still find it challenging even now. Book 4, the last novel in the series, has been quite a wiley beast to capture and tame...)
At the end of the Half-Blood Mage, we see find Lia and Kieren in this really beautiful and difficult situation. They've beaten an awful and villainous king, stopped Kieren from completely turning into a dragon, and finally shared their feelings for each other. Together they've journeyed through all the wild and magical bits of Solair, but now they have to take their next steps alone. Only Kieren doesn't know it yet. Out of love, Lia makes a decision that impacts both of their lives. She sacrifices her feelings for Kieren in order to save him.
Then, at the beginning of The Lady Thief, we find out what happens to both Lia and Kieren after Lia's difficult decision. Kieren's physically healed, but his memories are gone and his heart is, for some reason unknown to him, broken. For the first time, he's no longer a dragon hunter and he must find his place in a new Solair. Meanwhile, Lia's hiding amongst the Verdurans and struggling to live up to the expectations placed upon her because she is the last magic-wielding mage and the prophesied Light. 
As their stories progress, we see both characters forced to stretch their own definitions of themselves and their understanding of the world. And in the midst of their individual journeys, Lia and Kieren find each other again... on opposite sides of the law. 
Despite his memory loss, Kieren still feels an attraction for the masked Lady Thief. I kind of likened his situation to muscle memory. (Our bodies still remember how to do physical actions like riding a bike or swimming even if we haven't done those actions in a while. Although Kieren doesn't actually remember Lia, the romantic in me believes that his heart still remembers loving her. Memories of loving her are written on his heart.
And despite Lia's determination to stay away from Kieren, her heart longs to be near him. Her longing to be with him and the connection between both characters is so powerful that it awakens yet another magical power in her.  (I won't share what it is, but you'll find out when you read the novel.)
As you could probably guess, I'm a big-time romantic. I believe in happy endings. And I believe that our love for others has the ability to make us (and the ones that we love) stronger, braver, kinder, and more hopeful. 
Love can and does change the world.
I really hope you enjoy seeing how both Lia and Kieren (and some of their close friends too!) grow and change and love in this second novel. 
Thanks for joining me on this creative journey!
~ Ginger

30+ Awesome YA Shifter Novels

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If you're visiting this post, chances are you love shifter novels! 


Want to know a secret?

Me too! Who wouldn't want to fly like a bird? Destroy buildings like a dragon? Or run like a wolf? It makes sense that we're captivated by stories where human beings hold the ability to transform into animals. 
Personally, I find shifters to be super sexy. I also love reading about shifter characters using their abilities to protect the people that they love. It's no coincidence that my debut novel,  Half-Blood Mage , stars Kieren, a reluctant dragon hunter, who is cursed to become the very creature that he hates: a dragon. 
In this novel, Kieren's whole story arc involves him trying to get rid of his curse...
but what if his curse was actually a blessing in disguise?


To celebrate the launch of my debut novel, I asked other readers to list their favorite YA shifter novels. Here's what they suggested:
30+ Awesome YA Shifter Novels(Click on any of the images below to find out more about each novel!)

I've only read about 1/5 of them, so I look forward to sinking my teeth into some new favorites!
What do you think? Are there any that I missed? Let me know! 

Happy reading, friends!Ginger