Cherie Reich's Blog, page 15

Writing Update: September Goals / Cover Reveal of Kitsy Clare's Private Internship

Happy Wednesday!

Although the month started our rocky, I have made some progress in my goals and I've decided to take my own advice of one day at a time a step further to one thing at a time. So I'm working on what needs to be finished first or what I hope to get accomplished first. I finally finished my outline for Reforged, which I have to say will be awesome if I can do the story justice, I wrote a new contemporary fantasy short story titled "Paper Lanterns," and I've been proofreading Twisted Earths, the upcoming Untethered Realms anthology. Twisted Earths will be up for pre-order soon with an official release date of October 14th.

Here are my goals for September:
Finish editing and proofreading People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors. Once this is completed, I can contact my cover artist to finalize the print cover, so I can obtain my print proof, do my print proof proofread, and publish this 80,000-word short story collection.Write in Remarked. Since I'll mainly be working on People of Foxwick during the work week, I plan to take weekends to work on Remarked.What are your September goals?

2014 Stats 38,382 + 1900 Words Written1875 Pages Edited*Stats taken from 1/1/2014-8/26/2014


I loved reading Kitsy Clare's Model Position, and I'm excited to reveal the cover of her newest Art of Love novel, Private Internship.
Sugar’s not so sweet and secrets can be deadly … especially with matters of the heart
"Beautiful. Amazing. A fantastic read that left me wanting more." -XoXo Book Blog
"A juicy read full of passion and magnetic chemistry that will have you hooked from beginning to end." -From the Purple Matter Book Blog
Add on Goodreads
For more information about Kitsy Clare, visit her website or sign up for her newsletter.

Bookworm News / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 7

BOOKS READ
Batman Eternal #1 by Scott Snyder and James T. Tynion IVA Fatal Frame of Mind by William RabkinThe Paper Magician by Charlie N. HolmbergSteelheart by Brandon SandersonMitosis by Brandon Sanderson
BOOKS REVIEWED
Batman Eternal #1 by Scott Snyder and James T. Tynion IVScott Snyder and James T. Tynion IV's Batman Eternal #1 is a brand new story featuring Batman and Gotham City. I don't read many comic books, but Batman has always been my favorite hero, so I jumped at the change to read the first comic in this new series. The storyline hooked me immediately. A new detective is coming to town. Gordon is in trouble, and Batman might not be able to stop the new villains on the streets of Gotham. My only complaint is I wanted more and am looking forward to getting Volume One when it's out. If you're a Batman fan, then you won't want to miss this new comic book series Batman Eternal by Scott Snyder and others.
A Fatal Frame of Mind by William RabkinOur favorite "psychic" Shawn Spencer and his partner Gus find their new case not quite so picture perfect in William Rabkin's A Fatal Frame of Mind. Although probably the best written of the first four Psych books, this novel took a bit longer to get into the case. I enjoyed having more Lassiter in this book than the previous ones. Shawn and Gus are written just like they are on the show, which is a plus. The exploits are a bit zany, and I enjoyed the theories on conspiracy theorists. If you're a fan of the show, then you won't want to miss William Rabkin's A Fatal Frame of Mind.
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. HolmbergCeony Twill may have wanted to bespell metal, but working with paper magic changes her world in Charlie N. Holmberg's The Paper Magician. The mysterious and handsome Magician Thane intrigued me. I enjoyed Ceony's character as well. She's a bit awkward at times but quite brilliant. I absolutely want a paper dog too. Having enjoyed working with origami, I loved how Holmberg uses paper magic. I wish I could've seen more of the world Holmberg has created and hope she'll explore it more in the next books of the series. My only complaint is the pace was a little too slow at times, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg intrigues with its unique magic and will bespell your heart.
Steelheart by Brandon SandersonDavid has waited ten years to get his revenge on the Epic Steelheart, but will his plan work in Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart? This novel reminded me--in a good way--a lot of Sanderson's Mistborn series: an evil lord ruling and a group set out to destroy him. I enjoyed the futuristic setting of Chicago, or Newcago in the book. Epics seem like the the ultimate villains, and yet my opinion of them changed throughout the progression of the story. David craves revenge; it's his obsession, but I loved his growth and how he realizes what is more important. Each of the Reckoners was unique and their own person. I love working out the theories and plans as the novel goes along. Nothing is quite what it seems in Sanderson's work. He always makes me think, and I love that about his novels. If you want a different take on supervillains--or superheroes, depending how you look at them--I highly recommend Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson.
Mitosis by Brandon SandersonThe Reckoners may have claimed Newcago, but can they keep the city in Brandon Sanderson's Mitosis? David and his friends are doing their best for Newcago in this short story, but a new Epic has arrived and wants to know what really happened to Steelheart. I enjoyed this short story a lot. We get a bit more background about David and learn something that may be useful against Epics in the future. If you enjoyed Steelheart, then I highly recommend whetting your appetite with Mitosis by Brandon Sanderson while we wait for Firefight to come out.
PROMO
What a powerful cover for C. Lee McKenzie's newest novel! Double Negative  by C. Lee McKenzieSixteen-year-old Hutch McQueen is a smart kid who can barely read. He makes one bad choice after another, trying to find a way to escape his rotten life at home and at school. Each time he gets into more trouble.Young Adult Contemporary/Realistic FictionAvailable: July 25 from EvernightTeen  

COVER REVEAL


Twisted Earths is a collection of tales from Untethered Realms, a group of speculative fiction authors. The stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets—sandy loam, clay, knotted with roots and vines, dreaded paths through unexplored planets, and in enchanted forests, lit by candlelight and two moons.
M. Pax , author of the series, The Backworlds and The Rifters spins a tale called Patchworker 2.0. Specialists with digital interfaces are the only ones who can distinguish between biological energy and mechanical pulses, and “patch” AIs, which hold the world together. Patchworker Evalyn Shore meets up with an AI with deadly intent.
Cherie Reich, known for her epic fantasy series The Fate Challenges and The Foxwick Chronicles, presents Lady Death. Umbria, a beautiful and powerful swordsmith, is given an impossible task by her brother Leon when he asks, “You are the assassin. Are you scared to destroy Death when you are up to your elbows in it?”
Angela Brown is the author of the paranormal Shadow Jumpers and NEO Chronicles series. In her story, In The Know, Jacob, a loyal family man is struggling to stay out of debt when he’s hired to report on big plans for a future Detroit. He’s given a mysterious manila envelope with instructions to “open it alone” or pay the price. With switchback twists you won’t see coming, a debt of a much steeper cost is what he just might end up paying for his involvement.
Catherine Stine , author of the futuristic thrillers, Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire, offers The Day of The Flying Dogs, a sinister tale of brilliant, troubled NYC high-school student, Theo. He experiences a day at Coney Island that includes drugs, delusions, a lonely capybara, Nathan’s hotdogs and a mind-bending lesson in our very twisted universe.
Christine Rains , known best for her paranormal series The Thirteenth Floor, gives us The Ole Saint, a story at once sweet, horrific and heartrending. Ezra longs to fit in and have boys stop calling him witch and freak, yet his unique supernatural skill sets him apart, and the last gift from The Ole Saint cinches the deal.
Graeme Ing , known for his young adult fantasy, Ocean of Dust presents The Malachite Mine, a gripping, scream-inducing ride. Whatever was Mary thinking when she accepted her husband’s gift of a most terrifying twenty-first birthday celebration in an abandoned Russian mine?
River Fairchild , author of her Jewels of Chandra series, presents A Grand Purpose. Rosaya and her cousin, Drianna are soon to be married off, but Rosaya is unhappy with her assigned match. She’s much more intoxicated by the older Firrandor, a wizard she hardly knows. When Rosaya is accused of killing an oracle boy, all bets are off, not only for her love, but her freedom.
Gwen Gardner , who pens the cozy paranormal mystery series, Indigo Eady, adds to her collection with Ghostly Guardian. Indigo and her rib-tickling ghost-busters must travel to a dangerous pirate-laden past in order to unearth a curmudgeonly eighteenth century spirit that is plaguing the Blind Badger Pub.
Misha Gerrick , whose War of Six Crowns series is forthcoming, gives us a story called Red Earth and White Light. Emily, a young ghost bride has long haunted a house. She longs to cross over into the afterlife, but she’s trapped in memories of lilies and betrayal.
Add on Goodreads.
BOOKS RELEASED
Minstrel’s Serenade by Aubrie Dionne
The Real Thing by Cassie Mae
The Trouble With Flirting by Rachel MorganFool’s Assassin by Robin HobbDon’t Look Back by Gregg HurwitzThe Frozen Dead by Bernard MinierPaw and Order by Spencer QuinnBagman by William LashnerShadow Warrior by Jay NoelInduction Day by PK HrezoOne Kick by Chelsea Cain
Necromancer by Graeme Ing
The Lost Island by Douglas Preston
Tabula Rasa by Ruth Downie
The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
The Rifters by M. Pax

It's time to put up another chapter of Reborn on Wattpad. You can click  here  to start at the beginning or click  here  for Chapter Seven.

Book Chat: Snapshots by Patricia Lynne

It's said the eyes are the windows to the soul, but that's a lie. They are snapshots of a time yet to come–the future of the person to which they belong.
Cyclop Blaine stands out in a crowd with his pale skin and mismatched eyes, but it’s his ability to see the future that really sets him apart. The unusual gift makes him an invaluable asset to Tyler, his adoptive father and leader of the Victory Street Gang. It also means Cyclop must hide what he can do from others. Once, a man he knew only as Master controlled him, using him for experiments. Cyclop has no desire to return to that life.
But he may have no choice. A man claiming ownership over him haunts his dreams and waking moments, leaving him no choice but to go back to the past he thought he had escaped. Cyclop must face this man, along with his past, if he wants to reveal his own future.
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Buy on  Amazon  |  Smashwords
Patricia Lynne never set out to become a writer. In fact, she never considered it an option during high school and college. But some stories are meant to be told and this one chose her. Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.

Follow Patricia on Twitter | Goodreads | Google+ | Author Blog

#IWSG: One Day at a Time / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter Six

It's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group meeting. IWSG was created by the awesome ninja captain Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can find out the other members of the group here.

You know what they say about those best-laid plans...

Yeah, my August goals have pretty much been put on hold to some extent. I'm probably three weeks behind now because I got sick almost two weeks ago and am still not 100% better. Life's funny like that.

So my advice today is to take one day at a time. Each word, each sentence edited, means one step closer to "The End." As long as we keep working, the work will be finished, even if it takes longer than we'd hoped.

[And I apologize in advance for being slow to commenting back. I'm on vacation until Monday from the day job, and the Internet at home isn't the best.]


As it is the first Wednesday of the month, it's time for another chapter of Reborn to be up on Wattpad. You can start from the beginning here or click here to read Chapter Six.

Wednesday's Writing Update: August Goals / Smashwords July Sale / Untethered Realms Giveaway

Happy Wednesday! And although you don't know them, a very happy birthday to my dad and anniversary to my mom and dad!

July has been a busy month. I'm making slow progress with Remarked, which I hope to finish by the end of August, and I've been editing the short stories in the forthcoming People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors as well as re-editing/reformatting my A to Z Flashes of Foxwick. I'm also getting close to finishing my outline for Reforged.

Here are my goals for August:
Edit one short story a week in People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors. I've been working on these stories, and I hope to finish my final edits by mid-September.Write/Edit Remarked. I've been writing by hand the first draft of Remarked, which I still hope to finish by mid-August. Then, I'll be typing up the draft and doing an edit on it, so I can send this novella to my alpha readers in September.Write in Reforged. I'd like to start writing Reforged, the second book in The Fate Challenges series.And that's it. There's a lot to do, but I hope to continue making progress.

Also you will notice a slight change in my words written. Since I am writing by hand new drafts, I'm guessing on the word count. I'll update the official word count when I have the second draft typed up.

What are your August goals?

2014 Stats 32,843 + 1900 Words Written1766 Pages Edited*Stats taken from 1/1/2014-7/22/2014*


Smashwords is having its annual Summer/Winter sale. You can purchase  Reborn ,  Gravity: The Complete Trilogy , and  The Nightmare Collection  for 50% off their retail prices with coupon code SSW50. The sale ends July 31st.


We authors of Untethered Realms are celebrating reaching 100 GFC followers on our blog by having a grand prize giveaway of several of our ebooks.
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Kyra Lennon's Sidelined Blog Tour / Bookworm News / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 5 / Smashwords July Sale

Hello, friends of Cherie! Thanks to Cherie for letting me swing by for the Sidelined blog tour!

Today I am here to answer the question Cherie posed for me: - “I love how sports are featured in your Game On series books. What made you decide to include football (aka soccer) in the books? Did you used to play the sport?”

When I first came up with the idea for Game On, I needed a profession for my leading male, Radeigh McCoy, that was in the public eye. He needed to be someone everyone knew, someone who was used to getting what he wanted, and someone who had a lot to lose if one of his mistakes was ever discovered. I felt like the movie star thing has been overdone (some will probably say that soccer stars have, too lol!) so I decided to go with a sports star. I am not the biggest sports fan in the world – not gonna lie. The only sport I have any knowledge of is football (soccer, for my American friends!). I love the game, I know how it’s played, and because the entire US soccer league in the story is my own creation, I have the freedom to make up anything I’m unsure of. :D
As for playing football. Not so much. I definitely don’t play anymore, but when I was at school, I played occasionally. I was a kickass goal keeper, and one time I almost broke my fingers saving a goal lol! I was inexperienced – I had NO clue how freaking hard footballs are when they’re flying through the air at you, and I wasn’t trained in punching footballs to keep them out of the goal. That experience explained why PROPER goalkeepers wear gloves!
[image error]Blurb: At the age of twenty-one, Bree Collinson has more than she ever dreamed of. A handsome husband, a fancy house, and more shoes than Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos combined. But having everything handed to her isn’t the way Bree wants to live the rest of her life. When an idea to better herself pops into her head, she doesn’t expect her husband to question her, and keep her tied by her apron strings to the kitchen.

Isolated and unsure who to turn to, Bree finds herself falling back into a dangerous friendship, and developing feelings for the only person who really listens to her. Torn between her loyalty to her husband and her attraction to a man who has the perfect family she always wanted, she has some tough choices to make.

While Bree tries to figure out what she wants, a tragedy rocks the Westberg Warriors, triggering some dark memories, and pushing her to take a look at what’s really important.

Buy Links: Amazon UK/ Amazon US/ Nook /iBookstore
About the Author:


Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.

Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.

Find Kyra online: Website/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Goodreads/Join MyMailing List
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BOOKS READ
The Trouble with Flying by Rachel MorganMinstrel's Serenade by Aubrie DionneThe Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs
One Kick by Chelsea Cain
BOOKS REVIEWED
The Trouble with Flying by Rachel Morgan
Sarah's worst nightmare, a cute stranger who wants to talk to her, is about to sit beside her on a long flight from England to South Africa in Rachel Morgan's The Trouble with Flying. Oh my goodness, I loved this book. Sarah is so adorably awkward and shy, and I could easily relate to her. Aiden is hot and weird in his own way. I anxiously awaited to see how these two could possibly meet each other again after their flight. Set against the exotic backdrop of South Africa, this story is an endearing read. I laughed, cringed at Sarah's awkwardness because I totally got it, and teared up at the book's sweetness. I really want to try Zoo Biscuits now too. If you're looking for a clean, new adult romance, then look no further. I was completely engrossed in the story and couldn't get to the next screen page on my Kindle fast enough to know what happened next. The Trouble with Flying by Rachel Morgan is one of my favorite reads this year!
Minstrel's Serenade by Aubrie DionneDanika Rubystone must choose between her duty and her heart in Aubrie Dionne's Minstrel's Serenade. The fast-paced action keeps the reader on edge. This fantasy romance novel has rich world-building set against amazing settings, many fraught with danger. Danika is a strong character, although her bouts of wishywashyness made me not always like her. My favorite characters were Bron, Chief of Arms of Ebonvale, and Nip, a child who'd survived a wyvern attack. The wyverns are a worthy foe for the people of this land. The House of Song was a magical place, and I would love to live there, although some quiet every once in a while would be nice too. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the land and the people, so Ebonvale and the House of Songs' quest would've been a touch more powerful. Overall, Minstrel's Serenade by Aubrie Dionne is a beautiful fantasy novel with smoldering romance at its core.
The Alloy of Law by Brandon SandersonWaxillium brought justice to the Roughs, but can he do the same for the city in Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law? Set over three hundreds years after the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial has modernized with its horseless carriages and the invention of electricity. Sanderson introduces the idea of twinborns, those with an Allomancy skill and a Feruchemy skill. I love the Wild West meets Victorian England feel to this novel. Lord Waxillium, his friend and partner Wayne, and the intelligent Lady Marasi are characters anyone could root for. The enemy in the Vanishers is very real, their threats immediate. The story hooked me from page one and didn't want to let me go even at the end. I found this story also to be faster paced than the previous Mistborn books, and I do hope there will be more of Wax, Wayne, and Marasi in the future. If you enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy, then you'll love The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson.
Bones Never Lie by Kathy ReichsA criminal from the past taunts Temperance Brennan and brings the crime scene too close to home in Kathy Reichs's Bones Never Lie. As a fan of Reichs's work and a watcher of Bones, I'm ashamed to admit it has been a few years since I've read a Temperance Brennan novel, so when I had the opportunity to read an early review copy, I jumped at the chance. This book does not disappoint. I love how this case involved an earlier case (the one from Reichs's Monday Mourning), which I had previously read and recommend reading before Bones Never Lie. Reichs does a fantastic job at filtering in backstory to keep the reader updated on the relevant events that'd gone before. The characters come to life in the action-packed story. I was hooked from the very start! Although I figured out the murderer earlier on, I enjoyed reading to see if I was right. Reichs' writing is immediate and well paced. I highly recommend this book. You'll want to hold on and don't forget to breathe while reading Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs.
One Kick by Chelsea CainKick Lannigan delves into the past to save a child missing in Chelsea Cain's One Kick. As a fan of Cain's Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan series, I was excited to hear of her new series. Kick is damaged goods after being kidnapped as a young child, but she has an inner strength that's easy to admire. She never wants to be the victim again. The mystery of Bishop intrigues me. I never quite knew whether or not to trust him. This novel keeps a reader guessing and is not as gritty as Cain's other series. The story twisted my stomach in knots as Cain delves into kidnapping and child pornography and the victims it leaves behind. I rooted for the criminals to be caught. One Kick by Chelsea Cain is a gripping must read. And I recommend not starting this one until you have a few hours to finish the book because once you start, you won't want to stop. I'm looking forward to the next Kick Lannigan book!
COVER REVEALS


[image error]I love Jenn's cover, but then again, I'm usually sold when there is purple.
Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian by Jenn NixonSciFi-FantasyFrom Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly PublishingJuly 10 2014www.facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor@jennnixonwww.jennnixon.com

BOOKS RELEASED
The Butcher by Jennifer HillierTiva Boon: Royal Guardian by Jenn NixonConversion by Katherine HoweThe Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy CambronGo Away Home by Carol BodensteinerThe Paper Magician by Charlie N. HolmbergHalf a King by Joe AbercrombieTales of the Hidden World by Simon R. GreenDesolation Angels by James AxlerSupreme Justice by Max Allan CollinsThe Last Town by Blake CrouchA Test of Loyalty by Jack Lewis BaillotThe Wolf by Lorenzo CarcaterraDon’t Talk to Strangers by Amanda Kyle WilliamsWelcome to the Dark House by Laurie StolarzForty Acres by Dwayne Alexander SmithGames Divas Play by Angela Burt-MurrayElemental Release by Elana JohnsonUriel’s Fall by Loralie Hall
Heart and Soul by Lee Strauss
Effigy by M.J. Fifield
Salem's Vengeance by Aaron Galvin
[image error]Second Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn
Today's the third Wednesday of the month, so it's time to put up another chapter of Reborn on Wattpad. You can click  here  to start at the beginning or click  here  for Chapter Five.


Smashwords is having its annual Summer/Winter sale. You can purchase  Reborn ,  Gravity: The Complete Trilogy , and  The Nightmare Collection  for 50% off their retail prices with coupon code SSW50. The sale ends July 31st.

Book Chat: T. Michelle Nelson Talks About the Fascination with Vampires / Smashwords July Sale

For today's Book Chat, T. Michelle Nelson is talking about vampires and her fascination with them. Death Warmed Over, book three in her Lily Drake series, is now available.
THE FASCINATION WITH VAMPIRES
Last year I spoke at a conference about the fascination so many of us have with vampires and the evolution of the vampire in literature.  Vampires are incredibly easy to glamorize and romanticize.

Of course, there's that sense of danger.  No woman wants to be bored, and vampires don't have mortal vulnerabilities.  However, in my opinion, the vampire is the paranormal creature of choice for one reason alone.  Eternal youth.

As I get older, this concept becomes more and more attractive.  I went out last week to one of my favorite restaurants, which is owned by a friend, and my waiter appeared to be around 17.  I asked the owner how old my server was, and to my dismay he was actually a year older than the fake age I use.  I apparently have forgotten completely what 22 actually looks like.

What I would give to be eternally 25 years old, healthy and have that twenty-something metabolism.  Yet another huge reason I'd love to be vampire - I could eat without the guilt.  I love food.  Tasty food.  You know, with fat, carbs and calories.  Unfortunately I rarely enjoy that type of food because my almost forty year old body renders fat faster than a sauté pan full of bacon on high heat.

I'd make a great vampire.  I'd appreciate so much - the halting of the cruel aging process, good health, and immortality.  But should vampires turn out to be real and are actually reading this... give me a couple weeks before you turn me.  I've got five pounds of winter weight I'd like to get rid of before I'm stuck with it throughout eternity.
In the conclusion of the Lily Drake series, Lily must choose not only what is best for herself and her son, but for her people.  Her sword will be stained with blood through her efforts to preserve the lives of the people she loves, but she won’t be able to save them all.   
When a devastating loss crushes her will to live, can Lily go on and be the leader she has to be?  What is she willing to sacrifice to save others?
Death comes to everyone...even the Queen’s house...
What doesn't kill you will make you wish it did...
To Purchase: Amazon / Nook
Add on Goodreads here.
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T. Michelle Nelson became enamored with vampires at an early age when she watched George Hamilton in “Love at First Bite.” As she got older, her tastes leaned more toward the dark and morose, but her love of all things vampire never wavered.  Little has changed over the years, except now T.  makes up her own macabre stories of the undead… mixed with a splash of romance, tough heroines and tons of dark humor.
T. Michelle Nelson is a native of Benton, Kentucky and a graduate of Murray State University.  Currently she resides in a small town in Ohio, which is also the setting of her Lily Drake series.  The first two books in the series, Life and Death of Lily Drake and 'Til Death Do Us Part, are currently available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon or any of your other favorite online bookstores. A short story prequel The First Time is also available. Death Warmed Over, the third and final book of the series will release in late June.
When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her spending time with her son, singing out of key, watching B-Horror movies or discussing world problems with her little dog, Toadie.
Website / Facebook / Twitter


Smashwords is having its annual Summer/Winter sale. You can purchase  Reborn ,  Gravity: The Complete Trilogy , and  The Nightmare Collection  for 50% off their retail prices with coupon code SSW50. The sale ends July 31st.

IWSG: Ransonware and Backing Up Your Work / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter Four / Smashwords July Sale

It's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group meeting. IWSG was created by the awesome ninja captain Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can find out the other members of the group here. A special thanks to July's co-hosts: Krista McLaughlin, Kim Van Sickler, Heather Gardner, and Hart Johnson! 

On June 5th, a writer's worst fear happened to me.

It started out a normal day. I came in, started my work computer, did a bit of work, and then finished my work emails. I had an email from someone in the building about a fax. Thinking that perhaps a fax had come there instead of the library, I clicked on the Dropbox link.

A little later, I opened up my writing folder on my USB drive. Some strange files were showing up in it. I clicked one of my blog tour files.

Nothing.

I clicked on the strange file that had shown up.

I thought I was going to be sick.

I was struck my ransonware. RSA-2048 to be exact. Basically, I had so much time to pay the ransomers for the decryption codes or my files would remain encrypted forever. I started researching rapidly for a solution. Almost every single .doc, .pdf, and .jpeg were affected in my writing folder. I found a way to get rid of the malware, but my files will remain encrypted until someone comes up with a decryption code.

Worst of all, it had been awhile since I'd backed up my work. Like months on one flash drive and a year or more for the other. *gulps*

Taking stock of what I still had, I realized I had lost my newest outline of Reforged, my outlines for Repledged, Remarked, and Redestined, and the first three chapters of Remarked and the first two chapters of Repledged. I'm sure there are other things I'll miss, but those are the worst of what happened.

So I feel lucky. I maybe lost 20,000 words or so of work and a few pictures I'll have to recreate. I've lost time. But I didn't lose anything I couldn't redo. I lucked out.

I'm now backing up my work in multiple places. Every. Single. Day.

It sucks, but we persevere. And I know what I recreate will be even better than the original.

Have you backed up your files today?


Today's the first Wednesday of the month, so it's time to put up another chapter of Reborn on Wattpad. You can click  here  to start at the beginning or click  here  for Chapter Four.

By the way, I'm off work for the rest of the week, so I apologize that I'll be slow in commenting back. Have a good Independence Day to those in the States.


Smashwords is having its annual Summer/Winter sale. You can purchase Reborn , Gravity: The Complete Trilogy , and The Nightmare Collection  for 50% off their retail prices with coupon code SSW50. The sale ends July 31st.

Writing Update: July Goals / Reborn Blog Tour Winner / My Writing Process

Happy Wednesday! I survived the Reborn blog tour, and I have your grand prize winner. Congrats! And thank you so much for making the blog tour spectacular! I think I visited well over one hundred individual bloggers during the tour, and Reborn has thirteen reviews on Amazon (eleven of them five stars!).

a Rafflecopter giveaway
A special thanks goes to my Reborn hosts: Esther Jones, Medeia Sharif, River Fairchild, E.E. Giorgi, Rachel Morgan, Untethered Realms, Decadent Kane, Graeme Ing, Catherine Stine, Karen Hooper, Jess Haight, Natalie Aguirre, Rosie Amber, Jack Balliot, Cathy Keaton, Jay Noel, Samantha May, Heather Holden, Trisha Farnan, Ellie Garratt, Patricia Lynne, Alex J. Cavanaugh, M. Pax, Brandon Ax, Aaron Galvin, Julie Flanders, Lexa Cain, Kimberly Afe, Adrienne Thompson, Aubrie Dionne, C.M. Brown, Emma Adams, M.J. Fifield, Nick Wilford, Christine Rains, and Stephen Tremp.
And if you missed any tidbits of information about Reborn, I have them all up on my website.
June has been a busy month with the blog tour, my cat being sick (bladder crystals again), and an incident I'll talk about further during next week's IWSG. It's made writing rather difficult this month, and I've been re-evaluating my writing goals.
Almost everyone who has read Reborn is looking forward to the next book, but the next story I'd been planning to write wasn't in Yssa's timeline. It got me thinking. Would my audience rather have the next part of Yssa's tale (Remarked, a novella told from Liam's POV) or a story (Repledged) within the Amoran world but taking place 800 years before Reborn? I figured they'd want to continue Yssa's story, so I am breaking off Repledged and the other prequel Reigned into their own series (The Royal Challenges), which features Deliah's story, Magna's story (Repledged), and Reza's story (Reigned). By writing the new outline for Repledged, I also learned about the stories of the other Phoenix Prophetesses, so I'd like at some point to write The Prophetess Challenges, featuring Amora's story, Gwendolith's story, and Carys's story. Of course, I'm planning to work on The God Challenges after The Fate Challenges and then I'll get to the other standalone tales within those two new series.
So that said, here are my July goals:Edit two short stories a week in People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors. I was supposed to work on this some in June, but I really needed a break from editing. So now my goal is to finish the final edit by the end of August, so I can start proofreading and formatting for the print proof in September.Write Remarked. I'm hoping to finish this novella told from Liam's point of view by the end of the month.And I hope to take a slight breather next month too for a few days around the July 4th holiday. The blog schedule will also be going back to normal with just Wednesday posts.

2014 Stats
26,864 Words Written
1672 Pages Edited
*Stats taken from 1/1/2014-6/24/2014*


Stephanie Faris tagged me in the Four Questions on Writing blog hop.
To participate, you just answer four questions about your writing process and tag three more people. Here we go!
What am I working on/writing?
I’m finishing up my outline of Remarked, Book 1.5 of The Fate Challenges, so I hope to start writing this novella from Liam’s point of view in July.
How does my work/writing differ from others in its genre?
That’s a really good question. I tend to pull a lot from mythology for my work, and although I do my best to make my characters relatable and three dimensional, I also like to filter in as much world-building as possible without bogging the story down. For me, my worlds are just as real as the people in them.
Why do I write what I do?
I read a variety of genres from horror and mysteries to fantasy and romance. My writing often reflects what I read. I have genre-hopped a bit, although I must admit I love writing fantasy the most. In the end, I just have all these people and places and stories in my head. They need a place to exist, so I’ll write down their tales.
How does my writing process work?
I have an idea. That idea will roll around in my mind, picking up characters, scenes, and world-building. Ideas often dwell in my brain at least six months, but some are up there for years. When I’m ready to work on a project, I’ll write the outline. Once the outline is complete, I’m ready to write the first draft. I do sometimes go back over what I’d written while drafting to add details and make minor changes. Sometimes I’ll get to a point, usually at the third-way mark, where I finally understand my main character better and will go back and fix the beginning and continue to the end.
Now it’s time to tag. I’m terrible at this and don’t like to tag people who’ve already been tagged before, so if you’d like to answer the questions, go ahead!

M.J. Fifield's Effigy Cover Reveal / Last Day of the Reborn Blog Tour and Giveaway

M.J. Fifield's debut novel Effigy is coming out next month, and I'm participating in her cover reveal. Isn't it a gorgeous cover?


The survival of a once-mighty kingdom rests in the hands of its young queen, Haleine Coileáin, as it slowly succumbs to an ancient evil fueled by her husband’s cruelty.

A sadistic man with a talent for torture and a taste for murder, he is determined to burn the land and all souls within. Haleine is determined to save her kingdom and, after a chance encounter, joins forces with the leader of the people’s rebellion. She gives him her support, soon followed by her heart.
Loving him is inadvertent but becomes as natural and necessary as breathing. She lies and steals on his behalf, doing anything she can to further their cause. She compromises beliefs held all her life, for what life will exist if evil prevails?
Her journey leads to a deceiving world of magic, monsters, and gods she never believed existed outside of myth. The deeper she goes, the more her soul is stripped away, but she continues on, desperate to see her quest complete. If she can bring her husband to ruin and save her people, any sacrifice is worth the price—even if it means her life.
Release date: July 22, 2014 Cover art by RavvenAdd Effigy to your Goodreads to-read list
Armed with a deep and lasting love of chocolate, purple pens, and medieval weaponry, M.J. Fifield is nothing if not a uniquely supplied insomniac. When she isn’t writing, she’s on the hunt for oversized baked goods or shiny new daggers. M.J. lives with a variety of furry creatures—mostly pets—in New Hampshire. Effigy is her first novel.
For more information about M.J., please visit her website and blog.


Wow! It's hard to believe a month ago Reborn officially debuted and the blog tour started. Here is where I'm at today:


Christine Rains' blog for an exclusive interview with the god ApenthStephen Tremp's blog talking about magical theory in the Kingdom of Amora
Today's Reborn tidbit: The Prophecy of Sólfœra comes from the Norvadians (Great Beyonders) and was one of the last world-building aspects I added to Rebornduring the final edit and has taken a life of its own. More about the prophecy will be addressed in Remarked, Book 1.5 of The Fate Challenges, and will feature prominently in the prequel novel of The Gods Challenges, a sequel trilogy of The Fate Challenges, I hope to publish in 2017.


The authors of Untethered Realms and I are giving away over $50 worth of books to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally. a Rafflecopter giveaway