P.J. Schnyder's Blog, page 18
October 21, 2011
Cover Love
What is so important about a book cover?
The old adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover," is one many ignore. Let's be honest. People are attracted to awesome book covers. Many a reader has picked up a book and read the back cover blurb or the first couple of pages because a fantastic cover caught their eye.
I've loved just about all of my covers. Don't think I could pick a favorite but every one of them has made me do a little happy dance. They're gorgeous and speak to the themes in my books. Can't ask for much more and I'm thankful to the cover artists responsible for their design.
In fact, one cover is up for Favorite in October over at You Gotta Read Reviews. If you like the cover for Drowning Tides (Love's Immortal Pantheon Vol. 5), please do stop by and vote for it. Stella did an incredible job designing this one.
http://yougottareadcovers.blogspot.com/2011/10/vote-for-your-october-2011-favorite.html
October 19, 2011
Guest Post at Lucienne Diver's
I'm over at Lucienne Diver's blog today, talking about Black Cats and superstitions. Very excited to be hosted by her and hope you'll drop by and leave a few comments.
http://luciennediver.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/interview-and-giveaway-with-pj-schnyder/
October 13, 2011
On Promotion over at Emma Cunningham's
I've got a guest post over at Emma Cunningham's Tumblr site regarding author promotion.
Please stop by and share a few of your opinions too.
October 7, 2011
Why do you do what you do?
Smile. Let the light within shine. ~ self-portrait project by PJ Schnyder on Tumblr
It was interesting to see an old email pop up all over FaceBook, with various reactions from the people posting.
The email itself had an important message: a woman's choice to embrace her curves and that while the media might label her a whale, she was ok with it and why.
Some pointed out, it could put the idea of going to the gym and working out in a negative light. It could be seen as critical towards those who pursue an active and healthy lifestyle working toward a specific physique. It dismissed the lovely as lonely and sad with no sex life, prone to split personality and even smelly.
Others strongly supported the main message – curves are beautiful. It's true that the media promotes an unrealistic, mythical image of extremely thin airbrushed bodies.
What bothered me, honestly, was some of the supporters – people who often posted about the work out they hated to do, but had to, or the latest trendy diet they were going on. The ones who posted in a grumpy way about how it's a f*'n diet, so please stop trying to get them to refer to it as a lifestyle change. The message wasn't for them really, because they're not okay with what they are. They're using the very beautiful message as a defense, an excuse for why they're still not happy with what they see when they look in the mirror.
I work out to stay as healthy as I can, try to get fit to feel good inside – outside is a side effect, and I train in mixed martial arts because I'm a fighter. If someone says, "You don't look sick." It's a WIN.
No defense. No excuse.
I'm not as worried about how I look, but how I feel. And pursuing a healthy lifestyle makes me feel good.
September 28, 2011
Senbazuru – 1000 Cranes for a Wish
There is an ancient Japanese legend with a promise for one who folds a thousand origami cranes. A wish will be granted by a crane. The kind of wish giving long life or recovery from grave illness or injury.
The legend and gifting of 1000 paper cranes has become a symbol of many wishes to cure cancer through Sadako's story. She was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. As a result of the radiation exposure she developed a form of cancer, leukemia, and tried to fold 1000 paper cranes to wish for life. In the book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, the story says Sadako passed away having folded 644 before her death. Her friends and family completed the rest and buried the 1000 paper cranes with her.
Decadent Publishing chooses one book a month for their "Read for a Cure". Buy Red's Wolf in the month of September and all publisher profits on the book will go to Relay for Life (American Cancer Society).
You can purchase Red's Wolf at the following locations:
And learn how to fold a paper crane…(http://youtu.be/82JlG07Rtsw)
September 23, 2011
Hanging with Bells
I've got an interview over at Hanging wit Bells today as part of the Decadent Publishing Paranormal Authors Tour.
http://hangingwithbells.blogspot.com
Not only am I doing a giveaway, but Decadent Publishing is doing a giveaway too. Swing by and check it out. 
September 15, 2011
One Lovely Blog Award
When tapped with this blog award, I was tickled and thought it'd be fun.
Technically, there are two very simple rules that accompany this award:
1. Share "7″ facts about yourself and…
2. Pass this award on to "15″ other deserving blog owners
Similar to chain mails, I'm not one to forward distribution on to others…especially not 15. Instead, I'd invite any reader of my blog to take up the torch and do this meme style. Or heck, any readers, feel free to add 7 facts about yourself in comments on this post. If they are random enough and nifty, I may be inspired to do an impromptu giveaway. 
Without further ado, here's 7 random facts about me:
I have a weak spot for OPI nail polish and gels
Only Swarovski crystals sparkle enough to distract me from good food
Where I train in mixed martial arts, I've been given the nicknames "Beast", "Mule" and "Trebuchet"
StarCraft II – I play Terran
Sweetest thing my boyfriend has said to me: "If I buy you Diablo III, will you game with me?"
I have not played Diablo I or II (obviously this must be rectified)
I really want to play J.R. Blackwell's Shelter In Place and think the Zombie Weekend Reward Level would be EPIC (the other reward levels are full of nifty too)
Thanks to Bea's Book Nook for choosing me for this award.
September 9, 2011
PJ interviews Azunna "Zu" Anyanwu
I'm over at Wicked Little Pixie's this week with an interview of my friend, professional MMA fighter Azunna "Zu" Anyanwu.
Stop by and find out why I decided to sponsor his next fight and what he says about mixed martial arts for women.
http://wickedlilpixie.com/2011/09/08/pj-schnyder-interviews-mma-fighter-azunna-zu-anyanwu/
September 5, 2011
PJ's Birthday Wish
This month I celebrate another birthday.
Join me in celebrating, please. Decadent Publishing has chosen Red's Wolf, Book 2 in the Terra's Guardians series, as the September "Read for a Cure". Consider buying Red's Wolf this month and Decadent Publishing will donate all publisher profits to Relay for Life (American Cancer Society).
You can purchase Red's Wolf at the following locations:
comic from xkcd.com
September 1, 2011
Girls' Got Skillz
Ajarn "Chai" Sirisute, head of the Thai Boxing Association
Over a year ago, I'd finished with wallowing and remade myself. I found mixed martial arts and fell in love. We're not talking about a single discipline, no. Since I walked into Tri-State Martial Arts I've been introduced to Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), Jun Fan/Jeet Kun Do, Kali, Combat Submission Wrestling, and even a little Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
I joined seminars to learn French Savat from Nicolas Saignac and even found steampunk inspiration in a Bartitsu workshop by Mark P. Donnelly. Most recently, I joined a workshop by head of the Thai Boxing Association, Ajarn Surachai "Chai" Sirisute.
These skills have become an integral part of my life, of me, and of course they found their way into my writing.
Kaitlyn "Kat" Darah makes short work of a bar brawl in Hunting Kat. What can I say? She's a kick-@$$ heroine with a taste for scotch. She needs those fighting skills to survive and to do her job as a mercenary. Expect much more in the next book of the Triton Experiment series. Kaitlyn has some insane challenges ahead of her.
Mackenzie of Heart's Sentinel takes on mixed martial arts, not only to learn how to use her new shifter body, but also to regain the indefinable part of herself lost to her attacker. These skills aren't always about doing damage. For some, learning self-defense is about taking back their lives.
You all haven't met Cadence yet, but I very much hope you do.
In a little over a week, you might see something new. I'll give you a hint, watch for this:
![[image error]](http://pjschnyder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/PJDROWNINGTIDESEBOOK.jpg){kind=link}