Cherie Reich's Blog, page 6

Entire Worlds in My Mind #IWSG

IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. November's co-hosts are Joylene Nowell Butler, Jen Chandler, Mary Aalgaar, Lisa Buie Collard, Tamara Narayan, Tyrean Martinson, and Christine Rains. For a list of other IWSG posts, click here.

November's question: What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?
This is a hard question. I would find it easier to list my least favorite aspect of being a writer, but then again, that aspect usually falls in the published writer area. *coughs*Marketing*coughs*
I think my favorite aspect of being a writer is creating something out of nothing. I have entire worlds in my mind, and I'm lucky enough to be able to share some of them with others by writing the characters' stories down.
Last month, I was considering joining NaNoWriMo. Unfortunately, I came down with an upper respiratory infection, which slowed my brain down and continues to linger on (week and a half and counting). Even though I still wrote a bit every day, some of my word counts were lower than I needed to finish A Soul to Reap by October 31 and have my outline for A Soul to Keep ready for November 1.
That said, I am on the last chapter of A Soul to Reap and will go through it to fix some minor plot things I thought up while writing. Major stuff will have to wait until after my critique partner reads it. Although I usually wait to send a new work to anyone until after my self-edit, I know she's looking forward to finding out what comes next after reading the prequel A Soul to Kill.
Beyond writing A Soul to Reap, I didn't get much done in October. So my November goals include:- Finishing A Soul to Reap and fixing minor plot issues in it and sending it to my CP.- Outlining the rest of the Soul Reaper series (Books 2-5). This will be my two 30-minute writing sessions a day as it's still creative writing.- If I finish the outlines, I will start writing A Soul to Keep (Soul Reaper #2).- Continue notes/read-through of The Fate Challenges series.- Continue helping my CP with her novella series.
Since I'm taking a week off at Thanksgiving, I'm hoping to get a few of these goals accomplished.
What are your goals for November?
2016 Stats: 302,816 words written and 1,907 pages edited
BOOK READCloak of Snow by Christine Rains
BOOK REVIEWCloak of Snow by Christine RainsWhat Saskia Dorn, a polar bear shifter, discovers in the tundra of Alaska might be more than she bargained for in Christine Rains' Cloak of Snow. The third Totem book raises the stakes. Saskia is a determined and head-strong woman, and her relationship with Sedge is explosive as the two buttheads at every turn. Yet together they will have to destroy the Jinxioc, which are not your average garden gnomes, but fierce little people with sharp teeth and a vicious appetite. As soon as a boy was taken on Saskia's watch, I knew she wouldn't abandon the people of Kuci. The emotional turmoil Rains creates in this novella is just as strong as the physical action. And the ending, my heart hurts for Saskia. Cloak of Snow by Christine Rains continues the Dorn sisters' plight to find the totem tokens, and I'm looking forward to see what will come next for them.
#SPECFIC BOOKS RELEASING IN NOVEMBERLodestar by Shannon MessengerFlashfall by Jenny MoyerThe Burning Isle by Will PanzoAfter Atlas by Emma NewmanHighway Thirteen to Manhattan by Kourtney HeintzCloaked in Christmas by T.F. WalshCloak of Snow by Christine RainsHeartless by Marissa MeyerTimeless by Crystal CollierRaven by Rachel MorganThe Jekyll Revelation by Robert MaselloInfinity by Jus AccardoArena by Holly JenningsHuntress Found by A.A. ChamberlynnForever Charmed by Dawn ChartierFlying Through Fire by Nina CroftCatalyst by Kristin SmithSaving Hamlet by Molly BoothOnce Upon a Happy Ending by Various AuthorsFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. RowlingArcanum Unbounded by Brandon SandersonUnreal Encounters by Milo James Fowler

Jenn Nixon's MIND: The Reckoning | MIND #sale | Untethered Realms' Scary Stories

Fan Favorite, Baldwin Bates, finally gets his own story and HEA in book three MIND: The Reckoning. To celebrate the new release, books 1 and 2 are both on sale for the rest of the week! You can find all three books here.
Baldwin Bates has only wanted one thing since joining MIND, to take care of his friends and keep them all safe. While the Meta-Alien Investigation and Neutralization Department is busy monitoring an emergence of human psychic and alien activity, Bates takes his first solo assignment searching for a woman who claims to see the future, only to botch it up and let her get away.  
After helping to destroy an alien device called the Transcender, Lexa Quinn wakes from a two-week coma a very different person than she was before. While her abilities grow stronger, her feelings for Bates begin to interfere with the MIND team's mission, putting everyone at risk. Secrets from her past threaten the present and future, forcing Lexa to decide who she is and where she belongs. 
When a powerful, ancient enemy lays claim to the Earth and brings his judgment upon the population, Bates, Lexa, and the entire MIND team must do whatever it takes to save the human race before the reckoning is complete.
ExcerptAs Bates bypassed the crafters and artists, the scent of Asian BBQ wafted through the air. He grumbled along with his stomach and hoped a few of them stuck around so he could pick something up on his way out.
"How’s it going?" Dina Ranger asked via his earcomm, jolting him.
"Shit! Forgot I had this bloody thing in," he replied, taking a breath and shutting his eyes for a second. 
"Have to get used to it if you want to be in the field...alone."
"Unlike your brother, I need some me time, Sherlock." This time, he chuckled when he felt her brush his mind with calming thoughts. "How’s Lexa? Any change?"
"No, nothing. Never changes. I...just don’t get it."
"Me either," he said with a sigh, quickly putting it out of his mind to maintain his focus. "I just got to the park. I’ll check in before I leave."
"Okay. And whatever has you so hungry bring some back. Talk to ya."
Shaking his head, Bates waited for the static of the comm to fade before pushing farther into the park, eyeing the tables and tents, but mostly their occupants, searching for a face. Miss Takashi had a pretty face, although older now, since the photo from the collective Meta-alien Investigation and Neutralization Department database was almost one hundred years old. 
When he neared the end of the first row of vendor tents, he took in the sight of the city across the river, and then found the second and final row of vendors left to search. 
He politely declined several offers to purchase various items like candles and potholders, wondering why his ‘blah face’—a term his new friend Kim called his usual stern façade—wasn’t working.
Toward the middle of the second row, Bates slowed, eyeing a colorful booth, shrouded in light purple curtains, and a sign that screamed for attention. When a face-painted toddler, followed by a frantic parent, came running out of the booth, he barely sidestepped out of the way. The parent offered Bates a weary shrug. He nodded politely and carried onward, finally seeing a sign for "Madam Takashi" two booths down.
Author Bio: Jenn Nixon’s love of writing started the year she received her first diary and Nancy Drew novel. Throughout her teenage years, she kept a diary of her personal thoughts and feelings but graduated from Nancy Drew to other mystery suspense novels.
Jenn often adds a thriller and suspense element to anything she writes be it Romance, Science Fiction, or Fantasy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, observing pop culture, playing with her two dogs, and working on various charitable projects in her home state of New Jersey.
Website | Facebook | Blog | Twitter | AmazonUntethered Realms has a post up today on the blog. We're sharing some of our spooky stories. Please stop by!
I have turned off comments on this post. I hope you'll stop by Untethered Realms to read our scary stories and consider grabbing a copy of one of Jenn's books.

5 Reasons to Write to a Timer #amwriting

If you're a regular reader of this blog, then you know I've been using a timer to time my writing every single day. I started at twenty-two minutes (15 minutes for project one and 7 minutes for project two) back in July 2015 and am now writing two 30-minute sessions a day in one project.
Well, Tyrean Martinson invited me to write a post on five reasons to write to a timer, and that post is up today on her blog. I hope you'll stop by!
I've turned off comments to this post, but please do consider commenting on my post at Tyrean Martinson's blog!

Writing Faster and Smarter #IWSG | Ghosts of Fire Released #fantasy #horror

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. This month's co-hosts are Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley. Visit the other participants here.

My thoughts have been returning to NaNoWriMo, which is less than a month away. I participated in NaNoWriMo from 2009-2013. I have been writing every day since July 1, 2015, but I'd like to stretch my fingers, so to speak, and write more words in a month.
Since I want to find ways to increase my word count, I've been reading a few books on the subject: Chris Fox's 5,000 Words Per Hour: Write Faster, Writer Smarter, Rachel Aaron's 2k to 10k: Writing, Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, and Jacqueline Garlick's Tick-Tock Plot. Although none of these books re-invent the wheel, I do believe they'll help me focus and plan better to use my writing time even more wisely. I'm using Chris's spreadsheet to keep track of how many words I write per day in combination to what I learned from Rachel's book about tracking my enthusiasm as I write and what chapter I'm working on, and I plan to use Tick-Tock Plot to help in plotting my next book.

I hope to see improvement to my words per hour/day as well as where my book might be sagging. After all, I would love to consistently write/type 1500-2000 words per day in an hour's time. *crosses fingers*
I've set a deadline to finish the first draft of A Soul to Reap by October 31. If I can do so, then I'll participate in NaNoWriMo with A Soul to Keep (Soul Reaper 2). We'll see how it goes, especially since I'll likely have to write 35,000+ words to finish A Soul to Reap in time.
This month's question: When do you know your story is ready? I read a quote recently about stories are never finished but abandoned. That's probably very true. I can always find something to fix, but I call a story finished when I am not making any major changes, the story has been through edits, and I'm in the stages where I'm just changing a word here and there.
What are you insecure about this month?
I've gotten a lot finished in the month of September. I've written through Chapter 16 in A Soul to Reap. Just seventeen chapters left to go!
I edited A Soul to Save (A Soul Reaper prequel novella), edited/proofread/formatted two novellas for my friend, and proofread and formatted Ghosts of Fire (Elements of Untethered Realms 3).
My goals for October include:- Write two thirty-minute sprints a day in A Soul to Reap. As you've seen above, I would love to finish this novel by the end of the month so I can participate in NaNoWriMo.- Outline A Soul to Keep (Soul Reaper 2).- Start my read-through/notes of The Fate Challenges. I'm starting at Reborn and plan to keep on reading until I've finished the series. This goal will likely take several months, but I'm hoping to complete it by the end of the year so I can start editing the last two books, the novella, and the bonus woodwose scenes.- Continue to help my friend publish her fantastic novella series.
What are your goals for this month?
2016 Stats: 267,148 words written and 1,767 pages edited
BOOKS READShadow Born by Jasmine Walt and Rebecca HamiltonDark Dawning by Christine RainsSilent Whispers by Christine RainsGhosts of Fire by Untethered Realms' authors
BOOK REVIEWSShadow Born by Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton Finding who killed her fiancé leads Detective Brooke Chandler down a supernatural path that there might not be a way out of in Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton's Shadow Born. Brooke is a strong character. She may not always know what's going on, but her persistence pays off and gets her into a bit a trouble. Walt and Hamilton paint a vivid supernatural world. The mysteries brewing in Salem drew me in bit by bit until I was completely hooked, and I feel we've just scratched the surface of this fantastic world. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Shadows of Salem series. An intense start to a new series, Shadow Born by Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton is a great read.
Dark Dawning by Christine Rains Polar bear shifter Ametta Dorn dreams of the big city, as long as that city isn't in Alaska, in Christine Rains' Dark Dawning, but those dreams will be put on hold until Ametta and her family stop the hunters seeking down shifters for their skins. Ametta is a spitfire, sure-of-herself woman who can be more than a bit stubborn about things. Lucky Osberg can be stubborn as well as he and Ametta butt heads on matters. The mystery of who is killing shifters and why intrigues me. We don't get all the answers to our questions, but it's a good thing we have eight more novella-length tales to read. Rains weaves Inuit mythology with a modern day world populated by paranormal creatures. I enjoyed the glimmers of romance brewing between Ametta and Lucky too. I found myself grinning more than once at Lucky's antics. Dark Dawning by Christine Rains sets up what I think will be a great urban fantasy series.
Silent Whispers by Christine Rains Polar bear shifter Kinley Dorn wants to get out from behind the computer and help her family find the missing totem tokens, but doing so may put her life in danger in Christine Rains' Silent Whispers. Book two in the Totem series follows the middle Dorn sister Kinley. As much as I loved Ametta, Kinley is close to my heart as she's an awkward geek with fierce bravery. Ransom Averill, a lynx shapeshifter, matches her well and they make a great team to go against a giant in search for one of the tokens. I also think Bert has become one of my favorite vampires of all time. He's classic! The mysteries continue as we delve further into the world Rains has created here. Silent Whispers by Christine Rains has some great twists and turns that keep the reader reading. I'm looking forward to the next Totem book!
Ghosts of Fire by Untethered Realms' authors Ghosts of Fire features ten thrilling fantasy and horror short stories by Angela Brown, Jeff Chapman, River Fairchild, Gwen Gardner, Misha Gerrick, Meradeth Houston, M. Pax, Christine Rains, Cherie Reich (me!), and Catherine Stine. In Jeff Chapman's "The Flaming Emerald," Jimmy and Orville must return a cursed emerald before they go up in flames. This story has such fantastic voice that sets the reader right on down into an old western setting. Meradeth Houston creates a world not too different from our own in "The Cost of Greatness," but I'm hoping for a better outcome from our world. The Otherkind were fascinating creatures, and I would love to read more about them. "On Day 168" was by me (Cherie Reich), so I'll just say if you like dragons, elves, and treachery, then you might like my story as much as I do. In M. Pax's "The Vargaries of Eloise Stanton," Lucy must save her family from a museum art project gone awry. I loved the use of mirrors to reflect Lucy and the grim worlds she's caught between in her attempts to free her family. Gwen Gardner takes the reader to England in her "Mind the Gap." I enjoyed the idea of Gap Walkers and the combination of it and art theft. Ryan and Aleria are caught in a struggle to the death in Misha Gerrick's "Ryan." This short story makes me want to read her novel Endless. I'm intrigued with the creatures of phoenixes and griffons and how Gerrick uses them in her story. "Rollerskate Boys" by Catherine Stine is a haunting and yet vibrant story. Stine paints such beautiful pictures with her words. Many people know the tale of Hades and Persephone, but I love what Christine Rains has done in her story "The Torchbearer," which focuses on one of Hekate's lampades and the handsome prophet who foretold the six. In Angela Brown's "In Plain Sight," Kazel and Amandine reveal each other's secrets in their escape from the Harvestors. Having read Brown's Neverlove, I found it to be a lot of fun revisiting that world she created. River Fairchild's "Demon in the Basement" is a chilling story where Robert must revisit his childhood home to destroy the evil within. The style reminded me of some Stephen King stories. Even though I was one of the editors and contributors to Ghosts of Fire and may be a bit biased, I have to say this is one of my favorite anthologies to be in to date.
From USA Today, Amazon bestselling, and popular science fiction and fantasy authors comes Ghosts of Fire, a supernatural anthology of ten thrilling tales. Meet paranormal detectives, imprisoned dragons, dark demons, cursed jewels, and handsome prophets. Explore shifting realms trapped in mirrors and a disturbing future where a president aims to rid the world of Otherkind. Ghosts of Fireis the third, long-awaited Elements story collection from the dynamic and inventive Untethered Realms group.
Now AvailableAmazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook (Forthcoming) | SmashwordsAdd on Goodreads.
#SPECFIC BOOKS RELEASING IN OCTOBERGhosts of Fire by Untethered Realms' authorsA Darkly Beating Heart by Lindsay SmithNemesis by Anna BanksIron Man: The Gauntlet by Eoin ColferRebel Genius by Michael Dante DiMartinoMoon Chosen by P.C. CastThe Delphi Effect by Rysa WalkerRift by Elana JohnsonShadow Marked by Jasmine Walt and Rebecca HamiltonBloodwalker by L.X. CainRemember Yesterday by Pintip DunnSpindle by Shonna SlaytonDark Dawning by Christine RainsSilent Whispers by Christine RainsThe Midnight Star by Marie Lu
The Hunt by Harper A. Brooks
Children of the Veil by Colleen Halverson
Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Venom and Vanilla by Shannon Mayer
The Illusory Prophet by Susan Kaye Quinn

A Ghosts of Fire Sneak Peek on the Untethered Realms' Blog #fantasy

I'm over at the Untethered Realms' blog today with an excerpt from my story "On Day 168," which is one of ten short stories featured in the forthcoming Ghosts of Fire anthology.
"On Day 168 by Cherie Reich - For 168 days, a dragon imprisoned Astryd in his cave, but the chieftain’s daughter has escaped to discover the dragon may not be her only enemy. This story takes place several hundred years before Reich’s series The Fate Challenges.
Reborn, the first novel in The Fate Challenges, was published back in 2014, and I hope to publish the rest of the series sometime next year. Click here to read my excerpt from "On Day 168."
I've turned off comments on this post. I'll be back on the blog for IWSG in October.

The Timer Is Set #IWSG | September Book Releases #specfic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by the awesome Alex J. Cavanaugh. September's co-hosts are C. Lee McKenzie, Rachel Pattison, Elizabeth Seckman, Stephanie Faris, Lori L MacLaughlin, and Elsie Amata. Click here for a list of participants.

First, thank you so much for your responses on last month's This month's IWSG question is: How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
My answer is I pencil it in, so to speak.
Since July 1, 2015, I decided to write for so many minutes a day. I started at a total of twenty-two minutes, and by November 1, 2015, I was writing forty-five minutes a day. I use a timer to keep track of my writing time.
So far I haven't missed a day. Even on the days I really don't want to write, I sit down and do it. If nothing else, the timer and dedication gets me to open up my document and put my hands on the keyboard. Whether I write 100 words or 1500, it all counts.
From July 1, 2015-August 31, 2016, I've written 388,061 words.
Of course, now I'm still majorly insecure on finding the time to edit all those words.
What are your insecurities this month?
August was a pretty good month goal-wise. Of course, if I hadn't taken a week off work, I wouldn't have gotten nearly so much finished.
On August 13, I finished the rewrite and first edit of A Soul to Kill (A Soul Reaper prequel short novel). My critique partner loved it, so I'm excited to be writing A Soul to Reap (Soul Reaper 1) again. On August 28, I finished writing a new short story in my Paperist world. Look for "The Folding Point" to be in Spirits in the Water (Untethered Realms' anthology 4) in October 2017. For Labor Day weekend, I finished my edits on A Soul to Save (A Soul Reaper novella, previously titled A Soul to Protect), and it's now with my critique partner.
The rest of the year will be a busy one with helping a friend publish her urban fantasy series and publishing Ghosts of Fire (Untethered Realms' anthology 3), but I'm hoping to find some balance between that and editing my own work *coughsTheFateChallenges* while continuing to write the Soul Reaper series.
My September goals included:Write for at least forty-five minutes a day in A Soul to Reap.Final proofread and formatting for Ghosts of Fire.Help my friend with her series (editing, proofreading, formatting).

2016 Stats: 238,135 words written and 1417 pages edited

I've been reading not yet published books and am in the midst of several published ones, so I unfortunately don't have any reviews this time.

#SPECFIC BOOKS RELEASING IN SEPTEMBEREmpire of Storms by Sarah J. MaasThe Ones by Daniel Sweren-BeckerBury the Living by Jodi McIsaacNinth City Burning by J. Patrick BlackAnd the Trees Crept In by Dawn KurtagichThe Lying Planet by Carol RiggsThe Illusory Prophet by Susan Kaye QuinnProdigal by Jody WallaceUnthinkable by Nina CroftForsaken Skies by D. Nolan ClarkChasing Embers by James BennetThree Dark Crowns by Kendare BlakeShort Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists by J.K. RowlingHogwarts by J.K. RowlingShort Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J.K. RowlingI'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Gretchen McNeilThe Dark Talent by Brandon SandersonThe Family Plot by Cherie PriestGhosts in the Machine by Richard Farr
The Unbroken Line of the Moon by Johanne Hilderbrant

Between Two Fires by Mark Noce #historical #review

Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales’ last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King.
But this fledgling alliance is fraught with enemies from within and without as Branwen herself becomes the target of assassinations and courtly intrigue. A young woman in a world of fierce warriors, she seeks to assert her own authority and preserve Wales against the barbarians. But when she falls for a young hedge knight named Artagan her world threatens to tear itself apart. Caught between her duty to her people and her love of a man she cannot have, Branwen must choose whether to preserve her royal marriage or to follow her heart. Somehow she must save her people and remain true to herself, before Saxon invaders and a mysterious traitor try to destroy her.
“A spirited ride through a turbulent slice of Welsh history!” – Paula Brackston, NYT Bestselling author of The Witch’s Daughter
“A fast-paced read that has a wonderfully visual style and some memorable characters. Mark Noce combines Welsh history with a touch of folkloric magic in this promising debut novel. Lady Branwen is a strong and engaging narrator and the turbulent setting of early medieval Wales makes a fine backdrop for an action-packed story.” – Juliet Marillier, Bestselling author of Daughter of the Forest and Wolfskin
Release Date: August 23, 2016 
Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Barnes and Noble Nook | iTunes | IndieBound | Thomas Dunne Books
Mark Noce writes historical fiction with a passion, and eagerly reads everything from fantasy to literature. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he’s an avid traveler and backpacker, particularly in Europe and North America. He earned his BA and MA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he also met his beautiful wife. By day, he works as a Technical Writer, having spent much of his career at places like Google and Facebook. In addition to writing novels, he also writes short fiction online. When not reading or writing, he’s probably listening to U2, sailing his dad’s boat, or gardening with his family.
His debut novel, Between Two Fires, is being published by Thomas Dunne Books (an imprint of St. Martin's Press and Macmillan). It is the first in a series of historical fiction novels set in medieval Wales.
Marknoce.com  | Twitter | Facebook (author page) | Goodreads | I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Mark's Between Two Fires. Here is my review:Lady Branwen may often feel like a pawn, but even a pawn may stop a king in Mark Noce's Between Two Fires. The time of King Arthur may have passed, but the time of Lady Branwen has come. Branwen exudes a wisdom beyond her years and balances the traditions of the Old Tribes with the new Christian religion. She still makes plenty of mistakes, but she blossoms into a strong woman worthy of the Welsh people. The romance between her and Artagan is a bright spot in the novel. I couldn't help but want Branwen to be happy. Noce's lush descriptions transported me to the late sixth century Wales. An intriguing mystery of who wants Branwen dead weaves throughout the scenes and kept me guessing. Between Two Fires by Mark Noce combines complex political intrigue of sixth century Wales with sweet romance and a page-turning mystery.

#IWSG: What Is in a Name? #penname | #Specfic Bookworm News

IWSG was created by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other participants. August's co-hosts are Tamara Narayan, Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders.

As I've been working on the Soul Reaper series, I've been considering whether or not to create a pseudonym for my adult urban fantasy work. It wouldn't be a secret pen name as I've been talking about working on the series here, my website, on Facebook, and on Twitter. My work under my own name has been rather all over the place when it comes to genre, although it fits under the umbrella term speculative fiction. My published stories have been young adult or general adult—limited (closed door) sex, light cussing, and some violence.

Soul Reaper may have sex (Diana Greyson says a big YES, but I keep telling the character we'll wait and see if the scene stays. Her daughter wants to keep that door open too, if possible.) and will have violence and strong language. It's adult fiction and fits well in the urban fantasy genre. I see potential for one to two companion series, and I have other adult urban fantasy ideas as well. A pen name may suit my urban fantasy side while I continue to use my own name for my young adult and general adult speculative fiction work. A pen name would be good to use when marketing, particularly narrowing in on the UF fanbase and keeping the Also Boughts more focused on books similar to mine, as opposed to all different genres like my other books.

Yet it would mean a new email address, website, domain name, and newsletter, which will take a bit of time to set up, but aren't overly time-consuming. It would mean branding and marketing the new name, which can be a bit (i.e. a lot) harder.

So this question to use a pen name or not has been weighing on my mind and is my current insecurity. There are so many pros and cons, and I still haven't decided one way or the other. *sighs*
What are your insecurities this month?

August's IWSG question: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published? The very first story I wrote that was not school related or posted on a fanfiction site was a short story similar to the Sherlock Holmes' stories called "The Case of the Tom Cat," featuring Detective Liam O'Hare. I wrote that story in 2006. The story, around 3500 words, was briefly published in 2009. Unfortunately, the publisher fell apart about six weeks later, so I never received royalties for it. *frowns*

The first novel I wrote was Reborn (titled The Phoenix Prophetess at the time). I wrote it in 2009, rewrote it in 2012/2013 and published it in May 2014.
On July 8, 2016, I finished writing the first draft of Destined. So I've completed my first series! Destined came in at 86,410 words. The Fate Challenges will be just a little shy of 300,000 words when all is said and done. Now comes the hard task: editing.
When I finished Destined, I started rewriting A Soul to Kill. The rewrite is going very well, and I should finish it in the middle of this month or so.


Oh, on July 1, I got some fantasy/sci-fi tattoos. My first ones! The three stars tattoo is from the Harry Potter books and is on my left wrist, and the other on my right ankle is the Earth/Tau'ri symbol from Stargate. Now I'm considering the Deathly Hollows symbol on my left ankle. Hmm...
My August goals include:- Finish the rewrite of A Soul to Kill.
- Revise my outline for A Soul to Reap.- When the rewrite is done, I plan to write "The Folding Point" for Spirits in the Water (UR anthology #4, forthcoming 2017). This story will be set in my Paperist world, like my stories "Paper Lanterns" in Mayhem in the Air and "Folds in Life and Death" in Parallels: Felix Was Here.- Edit A Soul to Protect.
- Finish editing a friend's novellas. For real this time!
What are your goals for this month?
2016 Stats: 202,742 words written and 985 pages edited
BOOKS READA Faerie's Curse by Rachel Morgan
Flashpoint by Adam Quinn
BOOK REVIEWSA Faerie's Curse by Rachel Morgan Calla Larkenwood's world is ripping apart at the seams in Rachel Morgan's A Faerie's Curse. This novel is the finale to Calla's story, and boy, it is one fast-paced ride! I didn't want to stop reading. The end of Part One had me crying. The end of Part Two left me shocked. I even gasped at what happened in that part. The ending was sweet and touching, but Morgan also left enough questions unanswered for the next part of the Creepy Hollow series, which I'm already excited to read. What I love best about Calla is that no matter what she goes through, she does find a way to remain true to herself. Action, danger, romance, and more—A Faerie's Curse by Rachel Morgan has it all!


Flashpoint by Adam Quinn Taylor Ghatzi must re-enter the world she'd left behind in order to stop another galaxy war in Adam Quinn's Flashpoint. Most of this space opera novel is told from Taylor's point of view. A telekinetic now working in emergency services, she embraces her military background, which makes her a strong character, although sometimes I felt a bit distanced from her. She lets down her mask, though, by the end. The other view point is from the diplomat Cherran DeGuavra. Cherran easily became my favorite character. Sometimes foppish in nature, he carries the weight of his father's legacy upon him with pride. The intricate world building took me a little while to get used to with many unique names and an alphabet soup of agencies, but I enjoyed Quinn's attention to detail as well as the technological advances he created. I found the galaxy politics rather relevant to what's going on in the world today, and I have a feeling we've just dipped our toes into the mysteries of this galaxy's inhabitants. Space opera fans will likely enjoy Flashpoint by Adam Quinn.
BOOKS RELEASING IN AUGUSTFurthermore by Tahereh MafiSign of the Green Dragon by C. Lee McKenzieBlood of the Earth by Faith HunterShadow Born by Jasmine Walt and Rebecca HamiltonUnbreakable by Liz LongUnknown by Wendy HigginsFlashpoint by Adam QuinnQuantum by Jess Anastasi
Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott
Children of Icarus by Caighlan Smith
Forever Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
Six Scary Stories by Stephen King and Others
Between Two Fires by Mark Noce
Come back on August 17 for a post from Mark Noce, whose book Between Two Fires releases in August. I should also have a review of Between Two Fires up by then.

366 Days. One Leap Year of Writing #IWSG | July Writing Goals | #SpecFic Bookworm News

IWSG was created by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other participants. July's co-hosts are Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte, LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott.

On July 1, 2015, I decided to apply my exercise goals to my writing. Basically, I would write for so many minutes a day, which started at a mere twenty-two minutes a day and built up to forty-five minutes by November 2015. A leap year later, I now have the results of writing a bit a day, every single day. The only writing words I counted included original fiction and outlines.
From July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, I wrote 326,642 words.
I completed the first drafts of Marked (26,095 words), The Mission (21,530 words), Forged (73,997 words), "Folds in Life and Death" (6360 words), "On Day 168" (7899 words), Determined (14,588 words), A Soul to Kill (40,908 words), and A Soul to Protect (14,349 words). I wrote the outlines to Destined (5248 words), A Soul to Kill (719 words),  A Soul to Protect (1115 words), and A Soul to Reap (8886 words). I'm still working on the novels Destined (87,431 words) and A Soul to Reap (17,517 words).
I hope to continue writing a bit every day. What I've learned the most is every single word adds up. The only downside, now I have to edit all those words. *laughs*
July 6's IWSG question: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?My answer: A reader and fellow author said she read my book (95,000-word novel) in one evening/night. I remember doing that with the Harry Potter books and to think someone read my book like that, it blew me away.
I can't believe we're halfway through the year already. I'm so close to finishing Destined, the last book in The Fate Challenges series, and I'm making progress in A Soul to Reap. I also finished editing the stories for the upcoming Untethered Realms' anthology Ghosts of Fire. Edited: Of course, last night (July 5), I realized I need to change things in A Soul to Reap. The best course of action is to rewrite A Soul to Kill and then modify my outline in A Soul to Reap before going back to it.
Here are my July goals:Finish writing Destined. At thirty forty-five minutes a day, I should finish Destined soon.Continue writing A Soul to Reap. Rewrite A Soul to Kill. Once I finish Destined, I will spend forty-five minutes a day on this short novel.Edit "On Day 168." My story for Ghosts of Fire is due to the proofreaders in August.Edit a friend's novellas.2016 Stats: 172,770 words written and 883 pages edited
What are your goals for July?

BOOK READParallels: Felix Was Here by various authors

BOOK REVIEW
Parallels: Felix Was Here by various authors
Parallels: Felix Was Here explores the realms of alternate history and parallel universes in ten short stories. In the title story "Felix Was Here" by L.G. Keltner, Betty learns her idyllic city has some serious secrets. What I loved best was how Keltner built in Betty's memories of Felix and her need to find if he was real or not. Harper tumbles into a parallel universe where the rain has deadly consequences in Sandra Cox's "Rainers." I enjoyed the chemistry between Harper and Noah as well as what an alternate United States might look like. "Rainers" is a frightening and pulse-quickening tale that will lead the reader in suspense. In "WIN," Sylvia Ney explores the cost of technology as young David must teach those without the WIN system how to function in the world. I loved how Ney shows how learning is still so important, even with information at our fingertips. Michael Abayomi's "Ground Zero" shows the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. The abilities Elijah has intrigued me, and I would love to read more. Quinn discovers what unplaceable really means in Yolanda Renée's "Ever-Ton," a chilling, post-apocalyptic story. I loved the world building jammed pack in this short story. In "Folds in Life and Death" by Cherie Reich, Tecumseh's curse claims Allyson's brother, and she's left to pick up the pieces. I can't judge this story fairly because I wrote it, but if you like origami magics and alternate history set in 2001, then you might like it too. A drug trial goes awry in Hart Johnson's "The Seventeen." Johnson tells quite the horrific tale with such a unique take on a drug that's contagious. Virtual reality has real life consequences in Tamara Narayan's "Scyring the Plane." This story has me rethinking how awesome virtual reality sounds, and I really felt for the family's slow internet problems. Narayan nailed the teenage voice too. In Melanie Schulz's "The Haunted," Andy can't escape the feelings of nothingness, even though she doesn't understand why. This ending of this story made my skin break out in goosebumps and was quite the haunting story. I enjoyed every single story in Parallels: Felix Was Here and recommend the anthology.
#SPECFIC BOOKS RELEASING IN JULYA Balance of Power by Nicole ZoltackThe Secret Language of Stone by M.J. RoseThe Ballad of Allyn-a-Dale by Danielle E. ShipleyThe Devourers by Indra DasHeroine Complex by Sarah KuhnThe Wolf Road by Beth LewisWhiskey and Angelfire Part One by A.A. ChamberlynnWhiskey and Angelfire Part Two by A.A. ChamberlynnThe Hatching by Ezekiel BooneFortune's Favor by Liz LongDestiny's Favor by Dariel RayeLive and Let Psi by D.R. Rosensteel
Son of Thunder by Libby Bishop
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Riverkeep by Martin Stewart
Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection is 99c for the month of July!Amazon.com | Other Amazon Sites | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords

Fantasy Uprising: 99c Sale July 2-3 #fantasy #scifi #ebooks

Over 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for just 99c!

Fantasy Uprising is included in this sale.The Untethered Realms' boxed set includes my novel Reborn.

Get your books  HERE
I've turned off comments for the promo only post. The next post is IWSG on Wednesday, July 6.