R.G. Porter's Blog, page 4
January 6, 2012
"Last Way Station" Virtual Book Tour
Good morning everyone and happy Friday! Sorry I've been MIA, but with the holidays, things have been hectic. I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas Holiday Hop we had going on. Tons of prizes were to be found and everyone seemed to have a bang up time. Now we are into 2012 and it proves to be even more exciting. Lots on tap this year. More releases and a huge amount of writing will be happening. First thing I want to bring up for today is a great tour I'm going to be a part of. "Last Way Station" Virtual Book Tour". Here's a bit about it from the official site.
Compete for Prizes ... Including a Kindle Fire!
In between trips to our various book blogger "ports of call," where you'll compete for ebook giveaways and signed paperback and hard cover books, you'll have opportunities to increase your odds of winning a series of major tour sweepstakes prizes: bundles of ebooks and a Kindle Fire! We also hope you will take time to get to know as many of our featured authors as possible. Visit their sites, read their writing samples and books, and let them know what you think. They value your comments, so share them one-on-one. Who knows, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Visit Our Intrepid Book Bloggers
Our ship will be making 30 stops at 15 exotic book-blogging destinations. (We'll stop once at each port-of-call on our way out to sea and then, again, on our return trip.) At some of these stops, you'll learn more about my book, The Last Way Station and me, but at others, I'll be joined by groups of our 'resident' authors, who will regale you with personal tales and adventures, engage you in lively discussions and take part in topical round tables, live webinar panels, contests, games, Q & A sessions and much more.
Check Out 60 Up-And-Coming Indie Authors
As an 'indie' writer (which simply means a writer who either 'self-publishes' or works with non-traditional publishing firms), I've discovered that the Internet supports many lively communities of fascinating writers, and I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few. As a group, we offer a broader, more diverse range of works than has ever been available through booksellers before. Why? Because thanks to the economics of our 'virtual," online world, we do not have to write books strictly for mass-market appeal. We can be successful while appealing to narrower tastes and preferences -- in ways similar to the more specialized nature of cable TV programming vs. traditional, network television. We're also highly accessible, fun and eager to engage with you.
Get All the Details
So, welcome aboard! To learn more about the cruise (its destinations, schedule, and key events, etc.), our 'resident' authors and the book tour sweepstakes (prizes and rules), just click on the link below.
Blog Tour official site also you can visit Mega Book TourTM
I look forward to seeing everyone wandering around and visiting all the great authors.
Happy reading and writing everyone!!
R.G. Porter
Compete for Prizes ... Including a Kindle Fire!
In between trips to our various book blogger "ports of call," where you'll compete for ebook giveaways and signed paperback and hard cover books, you'll have opportunities to increase your odds of winning a series of major tour sweepstakes prizes: bundles of ebooks and a Kindle Fire! We also hope you will take time to get to know as many of our featured authors as possible. Visit their sites, read their writing samples and books, and let them know what you think. They value your comments, so share them one-on-one. Who knows, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Visit Our Intrepid Book Bloggers
Our ship will be making 30 stops at 15 exotic book-blogging destinations. (We'll stop once at each port-of-call on our way out to sea and then, again, on our return trip.) At some of these stops, you'll learn more about my book, The Last Way Station and me, but at others, I'll be joined by groups of our 'resident' authors, who will regale you with personal tales and adventures, engage you in lively discussions and take part in topical round tables, live webinar panels, contests, games, Q & A sessions and much more.
Check Out 60 Up-And-Coming Indie Authors
As an 'indie' writer (which simply means a writer who either 'self-publishes' or works with non-traditional publishing firms), I've discovered that the Internet supports many lively communities of fascinating writers, and I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few. As a group, we offer a broader, more diverse range of works than has ever been available through booksellers before. Why? Because thanks to the economics of our 'virtual," online world, we do not have to write books strictly for mass-market appeal. We can be successful while appealing to narrower tastes and preferences -- in ways similar to the more specialized nature of cable TV programming vs. traditional, network television. We're also highly accessible, fun and eager to engage with you.
Get All the Details
So, welcome aboard! To learn more about the cruise (its destinations, schedule, and key events, etc.), our 'resident' authors and the book tour sweepstakes (prizes and rules), just click on the link below.
Blog Tour official site also you can visit Mega Book TourTM
I look forward to seeing everyone wandering around and visiting all the great authors.
Happy reading and writing everyone!!
R.G. Porter
December 27, 2011
And the winners are.....
Okay, sorry for the delay. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I've loved reading everyones stories. They were wonderful and made the season that much better!
So, I'm sure you are all wondering who won the books. I went through Random.Org to keep things on the up and up and this is what we've been given.
3rd Place: Bookaddict
2nd Place: Tressa Oliver
Which gives us our grand prize winner of a copy of both Shadow of the Wolf and Kiss of the Wolf. Without further delay....
Grand Prize Winner: Meghan Page!
I will be reaching out to each of you in the next day. Again, congratz!!
I hope you all enjoyed the blogs and hops that we've had out for you. I've enjoyed everyones stories and am so blessed to have met you all! Here's to a wonderful remainder of the year and an even better 2012.
So, I'm sure you are all wondering who won the books. I went through Random.Org to keep things on the up and up and this is what we've been given.
3rd Place: Bookaddict
2nd Place: Tressa Oliver
Which gives us our grand prize winner of a copy of both Shadow of the Wolf and Kiss of the Wolf. Without further delay....
Grand Prize Winner: Meghan Page!
I will be reaching out to each of you in the next day. Again, congratz!!
I hope you all enjoyed the blogs and hops that we've had out for you. I've enjoyed everyones stories and am so blessed to have met you all! Here's to a wonderful remainder of the year and an even better 2012.
December 24, 2011
#SampleSunday Dec. 25th. Horror and the things that make you jump
First, Happy Holidays to everyone out there. Okay, so figured I would try this out. My first delving into SampleSunday and thought it would be great to bring you the first part of my new horror novel, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS. This story rides the line between life and death and all that could happen in between. Hope you enjoy!
You've got nowhere to run.Screams, cries and a loud crash of doors slamming shut echoed behind her. Death was on her heels and she wasn't about to stop and ask questions. Everything around Lisa kept changing. Rooms were gone, friends had vanished and hallways were longer than before. No matter where she turned, she couldn't get out. She had been dropped into a labyrinth that didn't end."There's got to be a way out!" she cried.Not stopping to listen, she kept going, running further and further down the hall. Her feet were going as fast as possible, but it didn't feel like enough. She was moving in slow motion or so it felt, stuck in a movie that was drawing to a close. Lisa slammed her fist against the nearest wall. She wanted out.A sharp turn to the left, and she found another long hallway sprawled out ahead of her. This wasn't right. She had been running for hours but hadn't made any progress. She had been careful to not run in circles, but the place had morphed into a maze that didn't end. Every turn she made led into another, none of them leading anywhere useful. Stopping to catch her breath, she tried to calm her mind."Where did we end up?" Thunder cracked from outside, the walls shuddering in response. The place had turned into a warped version of a fun house. "House of horrors is more like it," she muttered.You won't get out.The voice continued to haunt her, its bone-chilling monotone ripping straight through to her soul. The voice wasn't coming from around her; of that much she was sure. No, it was sent directly into her mind. People would say she was going crazy. Right now, she would prefer that than the hell she now found herself in. If this thing hunting her wanted to drive her over the edge, it was doing one hell of a good job.Stop and accept your fate."Go away!" Lisa shouted, her breath coming in gasps. "Leave me alone! I've done nothing wrong."Her cries fell on deaf ears. Over and over the voice kept hounding her. She wanted to scream, to give in and make it go away, but she couldn't. Deep down she knew she had to find a way home. Stubbornness ran thick in her blood, and she wasn't about to stop now. Adrenaline pushed through her body in response. She had survived this long; she would find a way out.Biting the inside of her lip, Lisa drew a deep breath. "No, I won't let you win," she cried out. "You can't have me."Her eyes raked left and right, looking for her tormentor, searching for something she might have missed. The hallway was vacant, except for her. At least, that's what it wanted her to think. She had learned quickly that nothing was as it seemed in this place. In the distance she heard a growl, the same sound that had hunted her for the last twenty-four hours. Every time she looked for the source she found nothing. Now, in the distance, she sensed movement that hadn't been there before. Shadows began to crouch closer but never more than that."Go away," she whispered. "Let me go home."Silence was her only reply. She was beginning to hate the quiet creek of the old place. She had come with her traveling companions, now they were missing. The screams she had heard over the last few hours had been more than enough to make her want to get out. Getting out had proved to be much more difficult than she had first expected. This place was determined to keep her put.Another growl made her turn. She felt a cold wind rush across her and shuddered at the touch."It's not real," Lisa called out. "It can't be."Many doors led from the hall but none had helped her. Her body pressed against one after another. None budged."Come on, please," she begged, every part of her body feeling weak. "You can't all be locked." One of them had to be unlocked. Still each one held fast, the thick wood rebuffing her. As she came to the end of the hall, a window faced her with one door on either side. It was like a mirror image of the rest of place. She peered through the dusty glass only to find the same view as all the rest. As with the other windows, shutters were secured against the window pane. From the small slits, she caught sight of faint grey fog outside. It was all she could see through the tiny cracks."Dammit." It was the same thing she had seen since coming to this place. "I swear I never want to see fog again."Another stomp and she turned to find something approaching from the far end of the hallway. Darkness and shadows cowered in the corners. She tried to focus on what was approaching but found she couldn't. Her stomach knotted at the small glimpses she caught. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be real.Deep growls filled the air, louder than before. If she screamed she wasn't certain. Her heart pounded in time with the knocking of the wind outside. She had to find somewhere to hide and quickly. The thing that faced her wasn't something she could fight and win. Given the chance, it would rip the flesh from her skin if she remained; that was a death she didn't want.Her arms pushed against one of the doors. It didn't budge. Turning, she held her breath as she pressed with all her remaining strength against the opposite one, the wood softly creaking beneath her weight. She felt hope spring within her. "Please God, let it open."It would give, she knew it, she had to believe it or else all was lost. Another push or two and it creaked even more. Backing up a step, she closed her eyes and kicked out with her leg with every bit of strength she had left. The door gave just enough for her pry it open and squeeze through the crack. Rushing inside, she could still hear the sounds of hell approaching. Slamming the door behind her, she bolted the lock and placed a chair in front of it, leaning her body against the dark wood."Thank God!" she exclaimed. A hard slam against the door made her jump. Whatever had followed her wasn't happy. She prayed with everything in her that it would go away."Hey there, what are you hiding from?"A deep voice startled her. Turning she found her guide, Drax, staring back."What are you doing here?" From what she had heard, he had been one of the first that had gone missing. Her head felt clouded the closer he got - a buzzing that had come and gone many times before that she had learned to ignore. "Where were you hiding?"His face held no emotions. "I'm fine. Can't you see that? I just took off for a bit." He moved closer. "You seem scared. Relax. Everything is going to be fine. Here, come with me. I've found a great place to hide. Nothing can get us there." He motioned to her to follow. Part of her wanted to run, but the pounding on the wood was a stark reminder of what waited for her outside the door. Glancing about the room, she tried to find another alternative but there was none. Two doors were available. One in the direction that lead away from this room, the other back the way she had come. The latter wasn't an option. She turned back. "Fine then," she whispered. "Lead the way."He was gone as soon as she spoke. How he had moved so fast was unsettling. Nevertheless, she could still hear him in the adjacent room. She could hear him speaking, but she couldn't understand his words. From what she could tell, the area he had gone into looked brighter than the rest of the rooms she had been in. Torn as to whether to follow or not, she found her feet taking her forward of their own accord. Lisa tried to stop but found she couldn't. There was a compulsion she couldn't find the strength to resist.As she entered the room, she looked up to find Drax facing her. "You're fine, now come on." His hand reached out to her, but she hesitated. "Why are you afraid of me?""You seem different," she answered without thought."Now stop it. Everything will be fine. I promise." His thick accent hadn't lessened since she had met him before the tour."How can you be sure?" she asked.His smile faded. "I know more than you know. You are right where you need to be.""What do you mean, right where I need to be?""Trust me. The answers are perfect."Curiosity as well as concern pushed her forward. She didn't stop, didn't try to this time. He might have the answers to where everyone had gone. She was tired of trying to find out for herself."Hey," she began, "do you know where the rest went?""They are where they need to be as well," he answered, not once turning to face her. "Now let's go."Through the doorway and into another room, she could feel her skin grow cold even with the warmth that the room appeared to hold. Turning to look back into the room she had just left, her body shook. Darkness crouched and waited for her. Never in her life had the shadows taken on a life of their own as they had in this place. A flicker of something in the darkness caught Lisa's eye. There was a familiarity to it she couldn't place."There is something very wrong with this place," she whispered. "Why were we brought here? It doesn't make sense." Confusion filled her mind with unanswered questions. More than that, she just wanted to go home. Gwen would make sense of it all, she always could.Turning, Lisa found Drax was back in front of her. She noticed that his skin was torn around his neck, stretched with strange patterns. Biting her lip, she was too scared to ask what they were. As she tried to recall where she had seen it, he drew his arms around her and pulled her close. The coldness of his skin felt odd in the warmth of the room. Nothing seemed right, but she couldn't pull away; his embrace was too strong. Leaning back to ask him a question, her words died before they were formed.Soulless eyes stared back at her, his skin no longer a healthy tone but pale blue and lifeless. The spark of humanity she had seen previously had been replaced by something else, a vision more sinister that now held her in its grips. She tried to turn away, to get out, but found she couldn't. His strength was greater than hers. In the seconds that followed, the cold and darkness began to wrap around her, sucking the life from her soul."Your turn has come." She recognized the monotone voice she had been hearing in the hallway. "All comes in time."The memory of all that had happened before came rushing back. How had she forgotten?Drax had killed himself, or so they had thought. Hung from the rafters from what the others had said. Why hadn't she remembered? Around her, the room began to darken, shadows taking what remained of the flickering light.Reap what you sow."Oh God, Gwen, I'm so sorry." Her whimpers barely escaped the darkness. "Forgive me."The doors opened and slammed back shut, her screams lifted high into the air only to be silenced by the wind.
Hope you all enjoyed it. You can find this novel at all your usual online outlets for only $2.99: Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/When-Darkness-F...Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Darkness...Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-...AllRomanceEbooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
You've got nowhere to run.Screams, cries and a loud crash of doors slamming shut echoed behind her. Death was on her heels and she wasn't about to stop and ask questions. Everything around Lisa kept changing. Rooms were gone, friends had vanished and hallways were longer than before. No matter where she turned, she couldn't get out. She had been dropped into a labyrinth that didn't end."There's got to be a way out!" she cried.Not stopping to listen, she kept going, running further and further down the hall. Her feet were going as fast as possible, but it didn't feel like enough. She was moving in slow motion or so it felt, stuck in a movie that was drawing to a close. Lisa slammed her fist against the nearest wall. She wanted out.A sharp turn to the left, and she found another long hallway sprawled out ahead of her. This wasn't right. She had been running for hours but hadn't made any progress. She had been careful to not run in circles, but the place had morphed into a maze that didn't end. Every turn she made led into another, none of them leading anywhere useful. Stopping to catch her breath, she tried to calm her mind."Where did we end up?" Thunder cracked from outside, the walls shuddering in response. The place had turned into a warped version of a fun house. "House of horrors is more like it," she muttered.You won't get out.The voice continued to haunt her, its bone-chilling monotone ripping straight through to her soul. The voice wasn't coming from around her; of that much she was sure. No, it was sent directly into her mind. People would say she was going crazy. Right now, she would prefer that than the hell she now found herself in. If this thing hunting her wanted to drive her over the edge, it was doing one hell of a good job.Stop and accept your fate."Go away!" Lisa shouted, her breath coming in gasps. "Leave me alone! I've done nothing wrong."Her cries fell on deaf ears. Over and over the voice kept hounding her. She wanted to scream, to give in and make it go away, but she couldn't. Deep down she knew she had to find a way home. Stubbornness ran thick in her blood, and she wasn't about to stop now. Adrenaline pushed through her body in response. She had survived this long; she would find a way out.Biting the inside of her lip, Lisa drew a deep breath. "No, I won't let you win," she cried out. "You can't have me."Her eyes raked left and right, looking for her tormentor, searching for something she might have missed. The hallway was vacant, except for her. At least, that's what it wanted her to think. She had learned quickly that nothing was as it seemed in this place. In the distance she heard a growl, the same sound that had hunted her for the last twenty-four hours. Every time she looked for the source she found nothing. Now, in the distance, she sensed movement that hadn't been there before. Shadows began to crouch closer but never more than that."Go away," she whispered. "Let me go home."Silence was her only reply. She was beginning to hate the quiet creek of the old place. She had come with her traveling companions, now they were missing. The screams she had heard over the last few hours had been more than enough to make her want to get out. Getting out had proved to be much more difficult than she had first expected. This place was determined to keep her put.Another growl made her turn. She felt a cold wind rush across her and shuddered at the touch."It's not real," Lisa called out. "It can't be."Many doors led from the hall but none had helped her. Her body pressed against one after another. None budged."Come on, please," she begged, every part of her body feeling weak. "You can't all be locked." One of them had to be unlocked. Still each one held fast, the thick wood rebuffing her. As she came to the end of the hall, a window faced her with one door on either side. It was like a mirror image of the rest of place. She peered through the dusty glass only to find the same view as all the rest. As with the other windows, shutters were secured against the window pane. From the small slits, she caught sight of faint grey fog outside. It was all she could see through the tiny cracks."Dammit." It was the same thing she had seen since coming to this place. "I swear I never want to see fog again."Another stomp and she turned to find something approaching from the far end of the hallway. Darkness and shadows cowered in the corners. She tried to focus on what was approaching but found she couldn't. Her stomach knotted at the small glimpses she caught. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be real.Deep growls filled the air, louder than before. If she screamed she wasn't certain. Her heart pounded in time with the knocking of the wind outside. She had to find somewhere to hide and quickly. The thing that faced her wasn't something she could fight and win. Given the chance, it would rip the flesh from her skin if she remained; that was a death she didn't want.Her arms pushed against one of the doors. It didn't budge. Turning, she held her breath as she pressed with all her remaining strength against the opposite one, the wood softly creaking beneath her weight. She felt hope spring within her. "Please God, let it open."It would give, she knew it, she had to believe it or else all was lost. Another push or two and it creaked even more. Backing up a step, she closed her eyes and kicked out with her leg with every bit of strength she had left. The door gave just enough for her pry it open and squeeze through the crack. Rushing inside, she could still hear the sounds of hell approaching. Slamming the door behind her, she bolted the lock and placed a chair in front of it, leaning her body against the dark wood."Thank God!" she exclaimed. A hard slam against the door made her jump. Whatever had followed her wasn't happy. She prayed with everything in her that it would go away."Hey there, what are you hiding from?"A deep voice startled her. Turning she found her guide, Drax, staring back."What are you doing here?" From what she had heard, he had been one of the first that had gone missing. Her head felt clouded the closer he got - a buzzing that had come and gone many times before that she had learned to ignore. "Where were you hiding?"His face held no emotions. "I'm fine. Can't you see that? I just took off for a bit." He moved closer. "You seem scared. Relax. Everything is going to be fine. Here, come with me. I've found a great place to hide. Nothing can get us there." He motioned to her to follow. Part of her wanted to run, but the pounding on the wood was a stark reminder of what waited for her outside the door. Glancing about the room, she tried to find another alternative but there was none. Two doors were available. One in the direction that lead away from this room, the other back the way she had come. The latter wasn't an option. She turned back. "Fine then," she whispered. "Lead the way."He was gone as soon as she spoke. How he had moved so fast was unsettling. Nevertheless, she could still hear him in the adjacent room. She could hear him speaking, but she couldn't understand his words. From what she could tell, the area he had gone into looked brighter than the rest of the rooms she had been in. Torn as to whether to follow or not, she found her feet taking her forward of their own accord. Lisa tried to stop but found she couldn't. There was a compulsion she couldn't find the strength to resist.As she entered the room, she looked up to find Drax facing her. "You're fine, now come on." His hand reached out to her, but she hesitated. "Why are you afraid of me?""You seem different," she answered without thought."Now stop it. Everything will be fine. I promise." His thick accent hadn't lessened since she had met him before the tour."How can you be sure?" she asked.His smile faded. "I know more than you know. You are right where you need to be.""What do you mean, right where I need to be?""Trust me. The answers are perfect."Curiosity as well as concern pushed her forward. She didn't stop, didn't try to this time. He might have the answers to where everyone had gone. She was tired of trying to find out for herself."Hey," she began, "do you know where the rest went?""They are where they need to be as well," he answered, not once turning to face her. "Now let's go."Through the doorway and into another room, she could feel her skin grow cold even with the warmth that the room appeared to hold. Turning to look back into the room she had just left, her body shook. Darkness crouched and waited for her. Never in her life had the shadows taken on a life of their own as they had in this place. A flicker of something in the darkness caught Lisa's eye. There was a familiarity to it she couldn't place."There is something very wrong with this place," she whispered. "Why were we brought here? It doesn't make sense." Confusion filled her mind with unanswered questions. More than that, she just wanted to go home. Gwen would make sense of it all, she always could.Turning, Lisa found Drax was back in front of her. She noticed that his skin was torn around his neck, stretched with strange patterns. Biting her lip, she was too scared to ask what they were. As she tried to recall where she had seen it, he drew his arms around her and pulled her close. The coldness of his skin felt odd in the warmth of the room. Nothing seemed right, but she couldn't pull away; his embrace was too strong. Leaning back to ask him a question, her words died before they were formed.Soulless eyes stared back at her, his skin no longer a healthy tone but pale blue and lifeless. The spark of humanity she had seen previously had been replaced by something else, a vision more sinister that now held her in its grips. She tried to turn away, to get out, but found she couldn't. His strength was greater than hers. In the seconds that followed, the cold and darkness began to wrap around her, sucking the life from her soul."Your turn has come." She recognized the monotone voice she had been hearing in the hallway. "All comes in time."The memory of all that had happened before came rushing back. How had she forgotten?Drax had killed himself, or so they had thought. Hung from the rafters from what the others had said. Why hadn't she remembered? Around her, the room began to darken, shadows taking what remained of the flickering light.Reap what you sow."Oh God, Gwen, I'm so sorry." Her whimpers barely escaped the darkness. "Forgive me."The doors opened and slammed back shut, her screams lifted high into the air only to be silenced by the wind.
Hope you all enjoyed it. You can find this novel at all your usual online outlets for only $2.99: Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/When-Darkness-F...Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Darkness...Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-...AllRomanceEbooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
December 19, 2011
IWU Blog Tour Vampires, kilts and the holidays
Hey everyone, today I have the pleasure of speaking with Laura. So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy.
Good morning Laura, so, tell us a bit about yourself. :)
Laura spent her early years in Scotland attending a very old and supposedly haunted Catholic school. The place terrified her but she loved the idea that there was a "Headless Nun" roaming the halls.
In her pre-teens she moved to the United States. She spent her first two years in college writing poetry and managed to lose her entire collection. She knows it's out there somewhere!
Writing is her passion! She is currently working on a psycho-thriller set on the Washington coast, a fully illustrated children's book, and a collection of poems.
Scotland? I am so jealous!
So, tell me about your book:
Ahhhhh! Vamps in Kilts! Run for the hills!
Through the misty moors and aching crags, she calls you!
In her manor, on the loch, you'll find her.
Take a leap, lay down to sleep, for you may never wake, your soul at stake.
A dark-haired beauty, with fangs so sharp, lips so red but a human heart.
Alesta! She dares you!
Alesta is a nurse with a secret. When babies start disappearing from her hospital, the police investigation implicates her. The police, however, are the least of her problems, as her past comes back alive. Such is the way with vampires.
Alexandria, Scotland has no idea what's coming!
This tale is fast-paced, thrilling and delivers it all, with a bit of bite, fear, all wrapped up in Scottish humor.
Awesome! Love that idea.
What inspired you to write it?
I wrote this book simply because I love vampires and I wanted to play with the idea of the soul and eternal life.
What's your writing process like?
I write a general outline first, then a more detailed outline as I hit each chapter leaving room for changes.
Do you write at the computer or with a pen and paper? Do you edit as you go or just get it all out and then go back and make changes?
I just get it all out--then make changes. I find my story flows better that way.
I can understand that. I do the same thing. That and the voices in my head yell at me if I stop. :)
What do you do when you're not writing?
I focus on my family and building memories with them. They are so dear to me.
Tell me about your job, your hobbies, your pets...
My main job is my writing. I work from home part time.
Hobbies: Besides enjoying the outdoors, I like aerobics and going to the movies.
Pets: Sadly enough, I am allergic to everything. If I could have a pet I would like to have a cat.
Aww, that is such a bummer! I adore my animals and I am such a cat person.
What made you decide to self-publish your work?
I love writing and I want to do it, so I went ahead and jumped right in.
Have you ever submitted your work to a traditional publisher? Would you consider doing so in the future?
Yes. The process was long and I wanted my books up quicker-- so I went with Amazon.
What has your experience of self-publishing been like so far? Would you recommend it to other writers?
Self-publishing is wonderful and if you are great working on your own, it's a great way to go.
What have your marketing strategies been so far? How successful were they? Any advice for new indie writers?
I put most of my focus into the sites where my book is. It has been successful for me so far. For new indies---I would say, do what works, blogging, tweeting, etc. I think everyone has a different way of doing it and you have to find out what works for your book. Read as much as you can about how to do it.
I agree totally! I know that quite a bit can depend on genre etc as well. Try something, if it works, great if not, keep working at it. :)
How would you respond to those who argue that self-published books are of inferior quality to traditionally-published ones?
I don't feel that they are wrong. I feel we are all entitled to whatever views we want. Some like the color red and some like blue. There's a wide range of books out there.
What type of genres do you like to write and read?
I like to write on the spooky side of life, but I prefer to read tragic romances. My favorite is The Thorn Birds. I can't stop crying after I read it--makes me so sad, but I love it.
What is your favorite Holiday food?
Boy!!!! If it's a holiday food---I'll eat it. Believe me that's all I've been doing since the Holidays came rollin round.
You can find Laura at:
Laura's Blog
You can find her book at:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Good morning Laura, so, tell us a bit about yourself. :)
Laura spent her early years in Scotland attending a very old and supposedly haunted Catholic school. The place terrified her but she loved the idea that there was a "Headless Nun" roaming the halls.
In her pre-teens she moved to the United States. She spent her first two years in college writing poetry and managed to lose her entire collection. She knows it's out there somewhere!
Writing is her passion! She is currently working on a psycho-thriller set on the Washington coast, a fully illustrated children's book, and a collection of poems.
Scotland? I am so jealous!
So, tell me about your book:
Ahhhhh! Vamps in Kilts! Run for the hills!
Through the misty moors and aching crags, she calls you!
In her manor, on the loch, you'll find her.
Take a leap, lay down to sleep, for you may never wake, your soul at stake.
A dark-haired beauty, with fangs so sharp, lips so red but a human heart.
Alesta! She dares you!
Alesta is a nurse with a secret. When babies start disappearing from her hospital, the police investigation implicates her. The police, however, are the least of her problems, as her past comes back alive. Such is the way with vampires.
Alexandria, Scotland has no idea what's coming!
This tale is fast-paced, thrilling and delivers it all, with a bit of bite, fear, all wrapped up in Scottish humor.
Awesome! Love that idea.
What inspired you to write it?
I wrote this book simply because I love vampires and I wanted to play with the idea of the soul and eternal life.
What's your writing process like?
I write a general outline first, then a more detailed outline as I hit each chapter leaving room for changes.
Do you write at the computer or with a pen and paper? Do you edit as you go or just get it all out and then go back and make changes?
I just get it all out--then make changes. I find my story flows better that way.
I can understand that. I do the same thing. That and the voices in my head yell at me if I stop. :)
What do you do when you're not writing?
I focus on my family and building memories with them. They are so dear to me.
Tell me about your job, your hobbies, your pets...
My main job is my writing. I work from home part time.
Hobbies: Besides enjoying the outdoors, I like aerobics and going to the movies.
Pets: Sadly enough, I am allergic to everything. If I could have a pet I would like to have a cat.
Aww, that is such a bummer! I adore my animals and I am such a cat person.
What made you decide to self-publish your work?
I love writing and I want to do it, so I went ahead and jumped right in.
Have you ever submitted your work to a traditional publisher? Would you consider doing so in the future?
Yes. The process was long and I wanted my books up quicker-- so I went with Amazon.
What has your experience of self-publishing been like so far? Would you recommend it to other writers?
Self-publishing is wonderful and if you are great working on your own, it's a great way to go.
What have your marketing strategies been so far? How successful were they? Any advice for new indie writers?
I put most of my focus into the sites where my book is. It has been successful for me so far. For new indies---I would say, do what works, blogging, tweeting, etc. I think everyone has a different way of doing it and you have to find out what works for your book. Read as much as you can about how to do it.
I agree totally! I know that quite a bit can depend on genre etc as well. Try something, if it works, great if not, keep working at it. :)
How would you respond to those who argue that self-published books are of inferior quality to traditionally-published ones?
I don't feel that they are wrong. I feel we are all entitled to whatever views we want. Some like the color red and some like blue. There's a wide range of books out there.
What type of genres do you like to write and read?
I like to write on the spooky side of life, but I prefer to read tragic romances. My favorite is The Thorn Birds. I can't stop crying after I read it--makes me so sad, but I love it.
What is your favorite Holiday food?
Boy!!!! If it's a holiday food---I'll eat it. Believe me that's all I've been doing since the Holidays came rollin round.
You can find Laura at:
Laura's Blog
You can find her book at:
Amazon
Amazon UK
December 14, 2011
Holiday Hop!!!
Hey Everyone!!On behalf of all the amazing authors taking part in the Holiday Hop this year, I would like to welcome you to the 2011 Holiday Blog Hop!
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS DATES
The hop runs from December 15th to December 25th. Winners will be chosen after the contest has ended and the results will be posted on their websites/blogs between December 26th-December 31st.HOW IT WORKS
New to blog hopping? No problem. To begin, go to the HOLIDAY BLOG HOP page in the tab above. Start with the first author and work your way through everyone. Click on the name of the author to be directed to their site. Once there, check out their contest and enter to win. Yes…it's that easy!!!
Each author will post the details of their contest on their site. There are some amazing prizes being given away from these authors including: holiday mystery bag, signed books, gift cards,
To get hopping, click HERE.
Happy Holiday Hopping, Everyone!
For my contest I will be giving away two copies of Destiny's Light to the second and third place winners. First place winner will get book 1 and 2 in my Darkness Unleashed series. All you have to do is comment on my blog about your favorite Holiday memory. I want to know what made your holiday special and everything.
Have fun and get to hopping!
R.G. Porter
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS DATES
The hop runs from December 15th to December 25th. Winners will be chosen after the contest has ended and the results will be posted on their websites/blogs between December 26th-December 31st.HOW IT WORKS
New to blog hopping? No problem. To begin, go to the HOLIDAY BLOG HOP page in the tab above. Start with the first author and work your way through everyone. Click on the name of the author to be directed to their site. Once there, check out their contest and enter to win. Yes…it's that easy!!!
Each author will post the details of their contest on their site. There are some amazing prizes being given away from these authors including: holiday mystery bag, signed books, gift cards,
To get hopping, click HERE.
Happy Holiday Hopping, Everyone!
For my contest I will be giving away two copies of Destiny's Light to the second and third place winners. First place winner will get book 1 and 2 in my Darkness Unleashed series. All you have to do is comment on my blog about your favorite Holiday memory. I want to know what made your holiday special and everything.
Have fun and get to hopping!
R.G. Porter
December 11, 2011
New Release Day!!
Okay, so some might say I should have released this back in October, and if I could have I would have. I am excited to say, that my newest release is now available. WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is my first journey into horror and I must say I had a blast writing it. Horror can be so much different than fantasy and paranormal. Though both have the ability to go beyond reality, the venture into the dark and disturbing was quite an eye opener. You can find WHEN DARKNESS FALLS at all the usual outlets:
Amazon US, Amazon UK , Smashwords and AllRomance Ebooks
Blurb:
A desire to be reunited with her dead twin is about to become very real….
Gwen's had a tough year. With the anniversary of her sister's murder approaching, she finds she isn't ready for the real world. Her friends have another plan in mind. A visit to the mountains, and a weekend of fun, is what they promise. None of them expect it to be the trip to somewhere they didn't plan and one that may cost them more than they could have imagined.
On a deserted road, they collide head on with another vehicle. Certain she is about to die, Gwen never expected to wake up in a strange hotel. With the presence of hotel's caretaker, and a vague request to follow the rules, she begins to wonder just where they ended up. As her friends begin to vanish, Gwen knows her time is running out.
With danger around every corner Gwen searches for a way to escape---
before one wrong choice is made and she loses her soul forever.
Excerpt:
You've got nowhere to run
Screams, cries and a loud crash of doors slamming shut echoed behind her. Death was on her heels and she wasn't about to stop and ask questions. Everything around Lisa kept changing. Rooms were gone, friends had vanished and hallways were longer than before. No matter where she turned, she couldn't get out. She had been dropped into a labyrinth that didn't end.
"There's got to be a way out!" she cried.
Not stopping to listen, she kept going, running further and further down the hall. Her feet were going as fast as possible, but it didn't feel like enough. She was moving in slow motion or so it felt, stuck in a movie that was drawing to a close. Lisa slammed her fist against the nearest wall. She wanted out.
A sharp turn to the left, and she found another long hallway sprawled out ahead of her. This wasn't right. She had been running for hours but hadn't made any progress. She had been careful to not run in circles, but the place had morphed into a maze that didn't end. Every turn she made led into another, none of them leading anywhere useful. Stopping to catch her breath, she tried to calm her mind.
"Where did we end up?" Thunder cracked from outside, the walls shuddering in response. The place had turned into a warped version of a fun house. "House of horrors is more like it," she muttered.
You won't get out.
The voice continued to haunt her, its bone-chilling monotone ripping straight through to her soul. The voice wasn't coming from around her; of that much she was sure. No, it was sent directly into her mind. People would say she was going crazy. Right now, she would prefer that than the hell she now found herself in. If this thing hunting her wanted to drive her over the edge, it was doing one hell of a good job.
Stop and accept your fate.
"Go away!" Lisa shouted, her breath coming in gasps. "Leave me alone! I've done nothing wrong."
Her cries fell on deaf ears. Over and over the voice kept hounding her. She wanted to scream, to give in and make it go away, but she couldn't. Deep down she knew she had to find a way home. Stubbornness ran thick in her blood, and she wasn't about to stop now. Adrenaline pushed through her body in response. She had survived this long; she would find a way out.
Biting the inside of her lip, Lisa drew a deep breath. "No, I won't let you win," she cried out. "You can't have me."
Her eyes raked left and right, looking for her tormentor, searching for something she might have missed. The hallway was vacant, except for her. At least, that's what it wanted her to think. She had learned quickly that nothing was as it seemed in this place. In the distance she heard a growl, the same sound that had hunted her for the last twenty-four hours. Every time she looked for the source she found nothing. Now, in the distance, she sensed movement that hadn't been there before. Shadows began to crouch closer but never more than that.
"Go away," she whispered. "Let me go home."
Silence was her only reply. She was beginning to hate the quiet creek of the old place. She had come with her traveling companions, now they were missing. The screams she had heard over the last few hours had been more than enough to make her want to get out. Getting out had proved to be much more difficult than she had first expected. This place was determined to keep her put.
Another growl made her turn. She felt a cold wind rush across her and shuddered at the touch.
"It's not real," Lisa called out. "It can't be."
Many doors led from the hall but none had helped her. Her body pressed against one after another. None budged.
"Come on, please," she begged, every part of her body feeling weak. "You can't all be locked." One of them had to be unlocked. Still each one held fast, the thick wood rebuffing her. As she came to the end of the hall, a window faced her with one door on either side. It was like a mirror image of the rest of place. She peered through the dusty glass only to find the same view as all the rest. As with the other windows, shutters were secured against the window pane. From the small slits, she caught sight of faint grey fog outside. It was all she could see through the tiny cracks.
"Dammit." It was the same thing she had seen since coming to this place. "I swear I never want to see fog again."
Another stomp and she turned to find something approaching from the far end of the hallway. Darkness and shadows cowered in the corners. She tried to focus on what was approaching but found she couldn't. Her stomach knotted at the small glimpses she caught. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be real.
Deep growls filled the air, louder than before. If she screamed she wasn't certain. Her heart pounded in time with the knocking of the wind outside. She had to find somewhere to hide and quickly. The thing that faced her wasn't something she could fight and win. Given the chance, it would rip the flesh from her skin if she remained; that was a death she didn't want.
Amazon US, Amazon UK , Smashwords and AllRomance Ebooks
Blurb:
A desire to be reunited with her dead twin is about to become very real….
Gwen's had a tough year. With the anniversary of her sister's murder approaching, she finds she isn't ready for the real world. Her friends have another plan in mind. A visit to the mountains, and a weekend of fun, is what they promise. None of them expect it to be the trip to somewhere they didn't plan and one that may cost them more than they could have imagined.
On a deserted road, they collide head on with another vehicle. Certain she is about to die, Gwen never expected to wake up in a strange hotel. With the presence of hotel's caretaker, and a vague request to follow the rules, she begins to wonder just where they ended up. As her friends begin to vanish, Gwen knows her time is running out.
With danger around every corner Gwen searches for a way to escape---
before one wrong choice is made and she loses her soul forever.
Excerpt:
You've got nowhere to run
Screams, cries and a loud crash of doors slamming shut echoed behind her. Death was on her heels and she wasn't about to stop and ask questions. Everything around Lisa kept changing. Rooms were gone, friends had vanished and hallways were longer than before. No matter where she turned, she couldn't get out. She had been dropped into a labyrinth that didn't end.
"There's got to be a way out!" she cried.
Not stopping to listen, she kept going, running further and further down the hall. Her feet were going as fast as possible, but it didn't feel like enough. She was moving in slow motion or so it felt, stuck in a movie that was drawing to a close. Lisa slammed her fist against the nearest wall. She wanted out.
A sharp turn to the left, and she found another long hallway sprawled out ahead of her. This wasn't right. She had been running for hours but hadn't made any progress. She had been careful to not run in circles, but the place had morphed into a maze that didn't end. Every turn she made led into another, none of them leading anywhere useful. Stopping to catch her breath, she tried to calm her mind.
"Where did we end up?" Thunder cracked from outside, the walls shuddering in response. The place had turned into a warped version of a fun house. "House of horrors is more like it," she muttered.
You won't get out.
The voice continued to haunt her, its bone-chilling monotone ripping straight through to her soul. The voice wasn't coming from around her; of that much she was sure. No, it was sent directly into her mind. People would say she was going crazy. Right now, she would prefer that than the hell she now found herself in. If this thing hunting her wanted to drive her over the edge, it was doing one hell of a good job.
Stop and accept your fate.
"Go away!" Lisa shouted, her breath coming in gasps. "Leave me alone! I've done nothing wrong."
Her cries fell on deaf ears. Over and over the voice kept hounding her. She wanted to scream, to give in and make it go away, but she couldn't. Deep down she knew she had to find a way home. Stubbornness ran thick in her blood, and she wasn't about to stop now. Adrenaline pushed through her body in response. She had survived this long; she would find a way out.
Biting the inside of her lip, Lisa drew a deep breath. "No, I won't let you win," she cried out. "You can't have me."
Her eyes raked left and right, looking for her tormentor, searching for something she might have missed. The hallway was vacant, except for her. At least, that's what it wanted her to think. She had learned quickly that nothing was as it seemed in this place. In the distance she heard a growl, the same sound that had hunted her for the last twenty-four hours. Every time she looked for the source she found nothing. Now, in the distance, she sensed movement that hadn't been there before. Shadows began to crouch closer but never more than that.
"Go away," she whispered. "Let me go home."
Silence was her only reply. She was beginning to hate the quiet creek of the old place. She had come with her traveling companions, now they were missing. The screams she had heard over the last few hours had been more than enough to make her want to get out. Getting out had proved to be much more difficult than she had first expected. This place was determined to keep her put.
Another growl made her turn. She felt a cold wind rush across her and shuddered at the touch.
"It's not real," Lisa called out. "It can't be."
Many doors led from the hall but none had helped her. Her body pressed against one after another. None budged.
"Come on, please," she begged, every part of her body feeling weak. "You can't all be locked." One of them had to be unlocked. Still each one held fast, the thick wood rebuffing her. As she came to the end of the hall, a window faced her with one door on either side. It was like a mirror image of the rest of place. She peered through the dusty glass only to find the same view as all the rest. As with the other windows, shutters were secured against the window pane. From the small slits, she caught sight of faint grey fog outside. It was all she could see through the tiny cracks.
"Dammit." It was the same thing she had seen since coming to this place. "I swear I never want to see fog again."
Another stomp and she turned to find something approaching from the far end of the hallway. Darkness and shadows cowered in the corners. She tried to focus on what was approaching but found she couldn't. Her stomach knotted at the small glimpses she caught. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be real.
Deep growls filled the air, louder than before. If she screamed she wasn't certain. Her heart pounded in time with the knocking of the wind outside. She had to find somewhere to hide and quickly. The thing that faced her wasn't something she could fight and win. Given the chance, it would rip the flesh from her skin if she remained; that was a death she didn't want.
December 2, 2011
IWU Blog Tour Tacos, Pantser and Neo :)
Today I want to welcome Mike to the group. Hey Mike, grab a chair and relax: Mike: Hi everyone! I'm Mike Cooley (no, not the guy in Drive By Truckers… the other one). I've been writing for many years in one form or another and really enjoy storytelling. I grew up reading every science fiction and fantasy book I could get my hands on, so I tend to write mostly "genre fiction."
Fantastic, love Fantasy and Scifi. So, tell me about your book:
Mike: Which one? I'll start with the novel. It's called Crystal Warrior and it's a very action-oriented sword and sorcery style book. It was fun and hard to write since it's the first full length novel I ever attempted. Previous to that I considered myself more of a short story writer.The main character in Crystal Warrior is a teenage girl named Larissya. The book is about her struggle to survive and how she fits into the Legend of the Crystals. It was a fun book to write because it has lots of different races, characters, and monsters—all of which I got to make up. There is also a great deal of back-story I had to invent in order for the novel to be written properly. Although the crystals give Larissya powers, the powers are not without a price. At its core the book is about the characters, good and evil, and triumph and loss. Love the name! So, what's your writing process like?
Mike: I'm supposed to have a process? Dang!
Actually I do have a process—win! I write in Scrivener (which is a super cool application I've been using for years). I don't edit much as I write, instead I keep notes in a ToDo file about things I'm going to fix later. Once I'm done with the first draft I do consistency checks on every character mentioned, fix my ToDos, and fix any typos or other problems I find as I go. I don't typically go through and rewrite chapters very much. Once I think the manuscript is close enough to done I enlist my horde of Beta Readers to find any problems I didn't see. Then once those changes are implemented (or mocked) I send my manuscript to my copy editor for final spelling and grammar checks. Once all of that is done and editorial changes are implemented, I'm ready to publish (I trained my cat to hit the publish button for me).
I really need to look more into Scrivener, especially now that it is available for Windows J
Okay, so, what do you do when you aren't in the writing cave?
Mike: Saying I'm always busy would be a huge understatement. Besides writing fiction I am in a couple of bands (I have a recording studio in my basement [I don't play live much but I do record and release CDs]). I also work full time, and have one wife and one kid (he's 12). I like Mountain Biking through the woods and hills for exercise, but I don't get out as much as I would like. I do a lot of social media things (have my own blog, participate in writing-oriented groups on Facebook, use twitter,…). I also read—on my Kindle 2—when possible.
Bands? Music… ohhh busy man. Love music, couldn't write without it.
RG: What made you decide to self-publish your work?
Mike: I have a lot of reasons for self-publishing (a full list is in my book Traditional Publishing Is My Bitch!). The two main ones for me would be: control of my work, and time to market.
RG: Have you ever submitted your work to a traditional publisher? Would you consider doing so in the future?
Mike: I have submitted short stories to various magazines over the years (all rejected). But I wasn't very diligent about it and the six month turnaround on responses wasn't working for me. Many of the rejections concerned my stories not fitting properly into the little "genre boxes" that they had decided on. I got tired of being rejected because my fantasy story had a little SF in it (or vice-versa). The story IS the story. I'm not changing it to meet some arbitrary rule based on a business model that is obsolete.
RG: I think a lot of us have come to that conclusion. I know I have. J
RG: What has your experience of self-publishing been like so far? Would you recommend it to other writers?
Mike: I love it. I would recommend it to other writers. It's not for the faint of heart. It's a lot of work. But there are a lot of positives: control of your work, ability to write in many genres, interaction with other indie writers, direct interaction with and feedback from readers. I'm not selling a ton of books, but I am selling books. That makes me smile.
RG: And that's what matters. In the end we are selling books and selling the ones we WANT to write.
RG: What have your marketing strategies been so far? How successful were they? Any advice for new indie writers?
Mike: I've tried a lot of different strategies. Some of them have been more successful than others. My advice would be: produce the best book you can, get it edited, get a great cover, write a great blurb, and then advertise it intelligently (don't piss off people with constant spamming).
RG: How would you respond to those who argue that self-published books are of inferior quality to traditionally-published ones? Mike: There are a lot of terrible books out there. There always have been. Proper spelling and grammar doesn't make a book good. Sel-publishing didn't invent "terrible."
Yes, I agree that the ease of self-publishing means that more books will be published that shouldn't be. But it also means that more books will be published that deserve to be (even if they would have been rejected by traditional publishers). That's a fair trade-off for me. It's very rare that I have to read more than one page of a book to tell if it's worth reading or not. The terrible stuff will be obvious.
RG: What type of genres do you like to write and read?
Mike: I used to mostly read just science fiction, fantasy, and horror. When I bought a kindle and started self-publishing, my reading list expanded into other genres. I don't care much for formula books in any genre (mystery tends to have a lot like that) but I'll read anything good.
I like writing in every single genre. I'm working on a Culinary Post-Apocalyptic Mystery with werewolves in it (just kidding). I mostly like writing science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I write the occasional parody or non-fiction piece, but fantasy and science fiction are my strength.
RG: Who is one of your favorite characters and which book and why do you like him/her?
Mike: I'm fond of a lot of Phillip K. Dick characters--because they are complex and flawed. I would pick Decker (best known as Harrison Ford in Bladerunner) who appeared in Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep if I could choose only one.
RG: If you could be any character from any book, who would it be?
Mike: Tough question. I usually say Elric from the Michael Moorcock novels. I definitely can't pick a character that lives happily ever after. Today I think I'll go with Seth from The Nature Of Personal Reality by Jane Roberts. He's a non-corporal entity that realizes he's a multidimensional being and speaks through Jane while she's in a trance.
RG: Pantser or plotter? Mike: I started out as 100% pantser and still do that on short stories. For longer work I now plot about 3 chapters ahead on each plot thread (although by "plot" I just mean jot down a sentence about the chapter on a 3x5 card in Scrivener).
RG: What is your favorite food? Mike: Having spent 7 years in New Mexico I got hooked on spicy food. I love Mexican, Thai, Middle-Eastern, and Indian food. If I can only pick one I'll pick Lamb Vindaloo. Yum.
Okay, that makes me want a taco now.. YUMMY! RG: What is your favorite movie and movie hero/heroine?
Mike: It depends on the day. I have lots of favorites. Today I'll say Bladerunner for movie, and Harold from Harold and Maude for hero.
RG: Is there a character you would love to be for a day?
Mike: Myself--although I don't see that happening. Second choice: Neo (The Matrix).
Love Neo. He was made just right in my opinion.
You can find Mike at: Blog, Amazon Author Central and Smashwords
Hope everyone enjoyed the above interview, I know I did. Thanks for visiting Mike and here's to many days of writing, music and fun.
Happy reading and writing everyone!
Warm regards,
R.G. Porter
November 30, 2011
World Building: Breathing life into a story
This is something that every writer/author has had to deal with. Many ask us what is our method, our thought process and how do we go about it. If you've ever read a fantasy novel, you know there are worlds that are created out of the author's mind. It's something I've thought about as I've written and read other works. How does one come up with the world they write in?
First, for me, I tend to watch everything around me. From the people that wander past, to their movements and body language, to the way they speak to each other. I try and get a feel for how I respond to questions and discussions, and how I would try and describe it to someone else. Most take daily interaction as part of life and do not look further into it. I take everything in. Some of my friends tend to think I'm quiet, and I can be, but most times I'm just taking in everything. I try and go over it in my head and pull it apart. Now take that to a different level.
When I am out and about I am still watching everything. (Not when I'm driving of course!) But when I'm walking around the store or outside my house and neighborhood I'm still jotting down what I see and making a mental note of it. Heck, there have been times when I'm at my son's concert and it is a wealth of noises, sounds and sights. Learning how to see the world as more than just something that passes one by helps me, as a writer, become more adept at describing and building worlds based on reality. For instance. When I'm looking out my window during a storm (when we actually get them here in Texas) I think about the movement of the clouds, the texture, the colors and how they float in the sky. Taking in the strikes of lightning that arc across the sky and the resounding thunder as it cracks above. Pull that into a new world. Take the sounds, the visuals and twist them and see what comes about. An example is something that is going to be in one of my upcoming releases KEEPERS OF WATER.
In this novel I took that storm and transformed it into much more than just a life giving moment. This act of nature I've used as an instrument of destruction that sparks off the storyline. It is no longer the simple rainfall that drops to the ground, but storms of energy and lightning that ripple across the lands. It's fierce and it is powerful, something that I was able to use my own experiences to manipulate it into something quite different.
This is just a small part of world building. Taking in everything we see, hear, feel, sense and using it to help formulate what works. From the lands and waters, to the mountains and forests. Knowing how they work and finding the right balance to make it real and then finding the best way to describe to you, the reader, so that you feel what we feel and see what we see. A true gift, and one I strive for, is to have you immersed in a world I create and see it through your mind's eye as if it is real. That is the ultimate goal of world building, to make it as real to you, as it is to the characters that inhabit the new world.
Again, this is my way of doing it. I am sure every author has their own ways and steps they go through when creating the world of their books. None are wrong and only the person wielding the pen (or in my case keyboard) can know if what they tried to create really worked.
As always, happy reading and writing my friends.
War regards,
R.G. Porter
November 27, 2011
New release: Destiny's Light
I'm proud to say, that my first novella is finally released. This is different than most of my other books, but still holds true with the fantasy genre. You can find this novella on sale for $1.49 at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and AllRomance Ebooks.
Love's Light
Love's light, so strong and true;The world of chaos surrounded the two;Paths that crossed after searching lifetimes unseen;Two hearts interwoven as fate has deemed;Obstacles tossed to deter their progression;Broken souls drawn together in an endless obsession;Purity of their feelings they long to be together;True love is their gift to be shared as one forever.
Blurb:
A wish to go back would unlock more than she expected…
For as long as Eutrepe could remember, the Muses had always been sent to help inspire mankind. She longed to go back again, but man had lost his faith. Centuries drifted by and Eutrepe was certain she would never walk among the humans again. The night Zeus summons her for a final task in the mortal world she jumps at the chance. It was a quest she was willing to take, that is, until the interference of a God and her memory is lost.
Ceris is a loner and musician. Stuck at an impasse with a song he needs to complete, but cannot, he wonders if the words will be locked inside his soul forever. Sure he will never release his thoughts, he ventures out into the night in hopes of some kind of inspiration. Never in his dreams did he expect it would come in the form of a woman with no memory who nearly dies at the hands of an oncoming car in the dead of night.
In order to reveal the song that fills Ceris' soul they must first unlock Euterpe's past before it's too late….
Their future is at stake, but first they must beat back the darkness before it time is up.
Excerpt:
Euterpe paced outside the great hall. She had done all she could to learn of the world of men. There had been great changes and she found that her amazement for the ingenuity of the mortals increased with each new thing she discovered. Still, she could not help but wonder where her quest was going to lead her. True, man had created wondrous inventions, but in another way, their creativity seemed to have dimmed over the ages. It broke her heart to know that so many had lost the ability to use their imagination. She knew it was there, hidden deep inside, but they had forgotten how to unlock it. Too much had been lost since the time of the gods. "You may enter now, Euterpe. Zeus is ready to see you." A deep voice she had not heard in years broke through her thoughts. Before the door to the inner chamber stood her uncle, his eyes held hers for a breath or two. Taller than she had remembered, his onyx eyes matched his black untamed hair. He was as stubborn as her father was, but held hardly any of the fairness Zeus possessed. No, he was usually out for only what benefited him, and most of the time, that did not bode well with anyone unlucky enough to be in his path. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she held her head high in defiance."Hades, what are you doing here?" She asked. The last she had heard, Zeus had forbidden him to come up to Olympus. Too many times, he had tried to overshadow Zeus with trickery. "If I remember right, you were told not to return." Hades' hand held fast to his scepter. "That's very cute niece, but unneeded, not to mention far from the truth. I came up here to speak with my brother. For as long as we have existed, I have never been forbidden to enter Olympus. I have chosen to remain below. You would do well to remember this." There was a bite in his words she could not missed it. Hades moved close, his mere presence sending chills across her skin. "I hope you aren't issuing a threat, dear Uncle. I would hate to have to mention this to Zeus, or your wife. They would both be very disappointed." Deep down, Euterpe wanted to push past him, but his body continued to fill the entryway.His finger reached out and brushed the side of her cheek. "Dear Euterpe, we will have a long conversation one day about threats. I will explain them in depth to you, this, I promise." Before she could counter him, Hades' body burst into a dark mist evaporating before her eyes. Every encounter she had had with him always left her feeling out of sorts. He wasn't evil, but he'd always known what to say, or do, to unnerve her and tonight was no different. Just his touch felt tainted with darkness."Don't you hate when they get the last word?" Hestia's voice warmed the area, dispelling the shadows that had crept in. It amazed her how light seemed to emanate from her every pore. Even her golden blonde hair glowed in the darkness of the clear night. How could they be brother and sister when they were such opposites?
Hope you enjoyed the blurb and excerpt. You can find this novella at the following locations.
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks and Barnes & Noble
Happy writing and reading everyone!
Warm regards,
R.G. Porter
Love's Light
Love's light, so strong and true;The world of chaos surrounded the two;Paths that crossed after searching lifetimes unseen;Two hearts interwoven as fate has deemed;Obstacles tossed to deter their progression;Broken souls drawn together in an endless obsession;Purity of their feelings they long to be together;True love is their gift to be shared as one forever.
Blurb:A wish to go back would unlock more than she expected…
For as long as Eutrepe could remember, the Muses had always been sent to help inspire mankind. She longed to go back again, but man had lost his faith. Centuries drifted by and Eutrepe was certain she would never walk among the humans again. The night Zeus summons her for a final task in the mortal world she jumps at the chance. It was a quest she was willing to take, that is, until the interference of a God and her memory is lost.
Ceris is a loner and musician. Stuck at an impasse with a song he needs to complete, but cannot, he wonders if the words will be locked inside his soul forever. Sure he will never release his thoughts, he ventures out into the night in hopes of some kind of inspiration. Never in his dreams did he expect it would come in the form of a woman with no memory who nearly dies at the hands of an oncoming car in the dead of night.
In order to reveal the song that fills Ceris' soul they must first unlock Euterpe's past before it's too late….
Their future is at stake, but first they must beat back the darkness before it time is up.
Excerpt:
Euterpe paced outside the great hall. She had done all she could to learn of the world of men. There had been great changes and she found that her amazement for the ingenuity of the mortals increased with each new thing she discovered. Still, she could not help but wonder where her quest was going to lead her. True, man had created wondrous inventions, but in another way, their creativity seemed to have dimmed over the ages. It broke her heart to know that so many had lost the ability to use their imagination. She knew it was there, hidden deep inside, but they had forgotten how to unlock it. Too much had been lost since the time of the gods. "You may enter now, Euterpe. Zeus is ready to see you." A deep voice she had not heard in years broke through her thoughts. Before the door to the inner chamber stood her uncle, his eyes held hers for a breath or two. Taller than she had remembered, his onyx eyes matched his black untamed hair. He was as stubborn as her father was, but held hardly any of the fairness Zeus possessed. No, he was usually out for only what benefited him, and most of the time, that did not bode well with anyone unlucky enough to be in his path. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she held her head high in defiance."Hades, what are you doing here?" She asked. The last she had heard, Zeus had forbidden him to come up to Olympus. Too many times, he had tried to overshadow Zeus with trickery. "If I remember right, you were told not to return." Hades' hand held fast to his scepter. "That's very cute niece, but unneeded, not to mention far from the truth. I came up here to speak with my brother. For as long as we have existed, I have never been forbidden to enter Olympus. I have chosen to remain below. You would do well to remember this." There was a bite in his words she could not missed it. Hades moved close, his mere presence sending chills across her skin. "I hope you aren't issuing a threat, dear Uncle. I would hate to have to mention this to Zeus, or your wife. They would both be very disappointed." Deep down, Euterpe wanted to push past him, but his body continued to fill the entryway.His finger reached out and brushed the side of her cheek. "Dear Euterpe, we will have a long conversation one day about threats. I will explain them in depth to you, this, I promise." Before she could counter him, Hades' body burst into a dark mist evaporating before her eyes. Every encounter she had had with him always left her feeling out of sorts. He wasn't evil, but he'd always known what to say, or do, to unnerve her and tonight was no different. Just his touch felt tainted with darkness."Don't you hate when they get the last word?" Hestia's voice warmed the area, dispelling the shadows that had crept in. It amazed her how light seemed to emanate from her every pore. Even her golden blonde hair glowed in the darkness of the clear night. How could they be brother and sister when they were such opposites?
Hope you enjoyed the blurb and excerpt. You can find this novella at the following locations.
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks and Barnes & Noble
Happy writing and reading everyone!
Warm regards,
R.G. Porter
November 20, 2011
Winner of Cover contest: Micheal Rivers
Hey everyone, tonight I'm featuring Micheal Rivers, the winner of a cover contest. I must say, his cover was fantastic, so I'm not surprised he won. :) So, here's a bit about the elusive Michael.
Bio:
Micheal, born in 1953, is an American author. His writing genres include Fiction, Horror, Thriller and Paranormal. Micheal has been writing for several years. In the past he concentrated on Romantic Poetry. In recent years he has focused on writing Fiction and Paranormal stories.
His book titled "Ghosts of the North Carolina Shores" has been published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Micheal also published the eBook "The Black Witch" which is the first of a series on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Micheal has over thirty years of investigating and collecting stories of the paranormal. He is the lead investigator for the Smokey Mountain Ghost Trackers of Western North Carolina. www.facebook.com/SmokeyMtnGhostTrackers
He served his country as a United States Marine during Vietnam. He is a native North Carolinian. He lived in the Chicago area in the past and furthered his education there. He served the community as an Emergency Medical Technician while living there. Micheal currently resides in the mountains of North Carolina along with his wife and his Boxer he fondly calls Dee Dee.
Now, without further delay, here's the cover that won and a bit about it.
Blurb:
Edward Caulfield was not a simple man. Losing his wife early in their marriage he continued to live his life as a shrine to her. In his twilight years he encountered a troubled young woman. There were lessons to be learned from each other. With the spirit of his deceased wife by his side Edward Caulfield left behind a legacy in his words to ease a troubled heart.
You can purchase Micheal's books at the following locations.
The Black Witch: Amazon Ghosts of the North Carolina Shores: Amazon
Moonlight on the Nantahala: Amazon
Feel free to link up with Michael at the following locations.
Micheal's Website and Blog
Hope you've enjoyed meeting Micheal and delving into some of his writing. I think his books look fantastic and will checking them out myself.
As always, happy reading and writing everyone!
Warm regards,
R.G. Porter
Bio:
Micheal, born in 1953, is an American author. His writing genres include Fiction, Horror, Thriller and Paranormal. Micheal has been writing for several years. In the past he concentrated on Romantic Poetry. In recent years he has focused on writing Fiction and Paranormal stories.
His book titled "Ghosts of the North Carolina Shores" has been published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Micheal also published the eBook "The Black Witch" which is the first of a series on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Micheal has over thirty years of investigating and collecting stories of the paranormal. He is the lead investigator for the Smokey Mountain Ghost Trackers of Western North Carolina. www.facebook.com/SmokeyMtnGhostTrackers
He served his country as a United States Marine during Vietnam. He is a native North Carolinian. He lived in the Chicago area in the past and furthered his education there. He served the community as an Emergency Medical Technician while living there. Micheal currently resides in the mountains of North Carolina along with his wife and his Boxer he fondly calls Dee Dee.
Now, without further delay, here's the cover that won and a bit about it.
Blurb:Edward Caulfield was not a simple man. Losing his wife early in their marriage he continued to live his life as a shrine to her. In his twilight years he encountered a troubled young woman. There were lessons to be learned from each other. With the spirit of his deceased wife by his side Edward Caulfield left behind a legacy in his words to ease a troubled heart.
You can purchase Micheal's books at the following locations.
The Black Witch: Amazon Ghosts of the North Carolina Shores: Amazon
Moonlight on the Nantahala: Amazon
Feel free to link up with Michael at the following locations.
Micheal's Website and Blog
Hope you've enjoyed meeting Micheal and delving into some of his writing. I think his books look fantastic and will checking them out myself.
As always, happy reading and writing everyone!
Warm regards,
R.G. Porter
