Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 27

Working Wednesday #20

Starting my youngest in preschool has not led to the productive burst I'd anticipated. Most of my activity since Saturday has been focusing on THINKING about what I need to do rather than actually doing it. So let's see where we are.

I Loved You First

I fell behind with my goal to stay two weeks ahead. I think I'm exactly one week ahead. I plan to ask for the remaining interview questions tomorrow and finish the two sets I have on hand. Your weekly reminder: two signed copies of ILYF are up for grabs. One for the blog tour button and one to kickoff the blog tour.

Here's how it works: comment on any of the following posted hosted by bloggers then return to the kickoff post and enter to win. And of course, you can always comment on the prior weeks' posts. So the new posts up for this week on the tour are:

 -Love of Books- (Character Interview (Dink)/Giveaway)
A Bookish Affair (Review)
Dana's YA Bookpile (Interview)
The Book Addict (Character Interview (Seth))

This was a little shorter since half was presented last Saturday.

Writing

Nada here. Like I said, I've been more thinking than working. Really, I've been such a scatterbrain these days. No sense of direction. One week, I'm thinking about hitting the Trinity series, the next I'm thinking about starting a new series. Stop it already, Reena! I need to focus. So here's my most recent change of plans.

Chasing Shadows, book 2 of the Striped Ones series is my big project right now. I'm anxious to get another work out. I've noticed I've been rather dragging on sequels, and I don't want to make a habit of mentioning sequels, then never finishing them. It's been about a year since I released Control Freak: Brandon's Story, and I still haven't gotten around to releasing Regina's Story. Now the same thing seems to be happening with the Striped Ones series. So here's my thing. No more new undertakings until I have what I've started managed. So this is what the plan is.

Edit Chasing Shadows ~ I counted 50 scenes in various states of completion. I'm rather bummed here, because I thought I was pretty much finished with this story. After going through it this week, I see there are bunches of areas which are bracketed. What do I mean by bracketed? [Insert fight scene here] [Insert XYZ description here]. So my task is:

Finish/edit one scene a day. Currently at 8/50
Get it to an editor (If I earn enough through sales to pay for one, otherwise this might be one of those works which doesn't get published for awhile. No more dipping into family funds for my publishing ventures. After 3 releases, this business should be self-sustaining, and if not, well… it's not going to become a money pit.)
Release by January 1 (hopefully – pending the funding I mentioned above)

Finish writing/editing Regina's Story ~ Still have that one sex scene to write.

Write the darn scene by the end of the month
Take a couple of days in early October to polish it
Release Regina's Story by November

Finish writing/editing Injustice is Served ~ Right now I have a collection of 7 stories planned with 4 of them already written (first draft). I'm going to take it easy with working on this one. Don't want to overwhelm myself with too many tasks. So the plan is:

Finish 1 story a month so the first drafts will be ready by November
Polish them in November/December
Release before Christmas

Reading Challenge

Looks like I'm two books instead of three this time.
My current reads are Heroes 'Til Curfew by Susan Bischoff and Hunted [The Flash Gold Chronicles]  by Lindsay Buroker. I'm not going to lie to you, I desperately want to read Heroes 'Til Curfew, which is why I keep mentioning it here. But I'm so far behind on my reading goal, 100+K words is a bit daunting for me. I've been trying to knock out some of the shorter reads to catch up.




Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.

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18 of 60 (30%)
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So that's it. Have you made any major business assessments lately?

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Tuesday Teaser: A Love Too Soon by Callie Norse

It's been a while since we've had Callie Norse on. She was one of the first authors featured on the Tuesday Teaser series (see her teaser For the Love of Lisa here). Guess what! She just released the sequel to For the Love of Lisa and today she's sharing an excerpt!

Greg and Marta have married and continue to live in the old Victorian with Maggie.  The birth of a new baby brings much happiness until…

An occurrence in the hospital brings back memories of Lisa.  This is only the beginning of problems. Will the marriage survive?

Lori and Steve adopt a ten-year-old son, Toby. He and Maggie become great friends. She nicknames him Toby Keith.

Marta works from the home, in the newly remodeled Mansard. History repeats itself with a horrible accident. Will trouble end there?

They move from the old Victorian and live happily ever after…but that would be a fairy tell ending, wouldn't it?

A Love Too Soon?

A Love Too Soon
2nd in the Carrington Series

Greg continued to be somewhat distant with Marta. Since Lisa's return, he was unable to forget her. All the memories of their marriage had come flooding back. He didn't feel the same about Marta now. His desires were for Lisa. He knew this wasn't right. He would often look at Marta and wonder how he could not desire her. She was an extremely beautiful woman—one most men would be thrilled to have for their wife. It just wasn't there for Greg anymore.

Marta had thought once Maggie returned, Greg would again be the same wonderful loving man he had always been. Something had changed. This, she could not understand. He was still satisfying his desires in the middle of the night. That's all it seemed to be—a satisfaction of his desires—far from lovemaking. In fact, it was getting so rough she almost wished it would stop. She didn't mention it to Greg; she was afraid he would be angry with her. Instead, she buried herself in her work. She had many new clients and was now known as the best decorator in the area. There was almost more work than she could handle.

Ethan was now crawling and beginning to pull himself up to furniture. One day when Marta was busy with a client, he somehow climbed out of the playpen. She had been teaching him to back down the steps on his hands and knees, as she well remembered the tragic story of little Johnny—the servant's baby who had fallen down the steps and died of his injuries. On this particular day, after climbing out of the playpen, Ethan crawled over to the steps, turned himself around, and started backing himself down the steps. When he was part way down, he slipped and went tumbling to the bottom, screaming as he fell. Marta quickly ran to the stairs in disbelief. There was Ethan lying at the bottom of the steps, lifeless. The client quickly called 911.

Greg was driving home when an ambulance sped past him, and turned into his driveway. Panicking, he made his way to the house where he saw the paramedics going up the back stairs. His heart sank. His lungs froze as he ran up the steps. The paramedics were hovering over little Ethan. Memories of the stories of little Johnny flashed before Greg. His heart was pounding. He felt it was going to explode, before he could get to Ethan. Marta was hysterical. An EMT pushed Greg back, saying they needed room to check the baby out. Greg began to scream. "He's my son! Let me see him! Oh, God… Is he dead?"

Soon one of the paramedics said, "He's breathing! His respirations are extremely shallow. We need to get him to the hospital. Give us room. One of the paramedics quickly ran downstairs and came back up carrying a backboard. They strapped little Ethan on the backboard, and placed a cervical collar around his neck. He looked so helpless, so lifeless. Marta rode with Ethan in the ambulance and Greg followed in his car. He phoned Lori on his way to the hospital.

"There's been an accident. It's Ethan." He hung up before Lori had a chance to find out what happened. She and Steve arrived at the hospital only minutes after Greg. Maggie had stayed at the farm with Toby. They hadn't told them about the accident, only that they had to leave for awhile. Lori wanted to wait until they knew more before telling Maggie.

Marta wasn't allowed to stay with Ethan. She was sitting in a nearby waiting room, unable to believe such a thing had happened to her little boy, when Greg approached her, "What in the heck happened? Weren't you watching him?"

Marta began to sob, "He… he… was in the playpen. I… I… guess he must have…" she began sobbing hysterically.

"Are you trying to say he climbed out of the playpen?"

Marta nodded.

"He fell from the top, then?"

"I… I… don't know, I guess."

"Oh, my God, my precious little boy…" Greg dropped into a chair, with his hands covering his face and began sobbing.

Steve sat down next to him and tried to console him, "Hey, it may not be as bad as it looks."

"But Johnny…"

"Ethan is not Johnny!" Steve scolded.

Marta and Lori were embracing one another—each remembering the Johnny story—each crying.

Marta was thinking of how she last saw him before he fell. He had been content playing with a little musical toy in the playpen. He would press a button and a song would begin playing. He would break out in a big grin, showing his deep dimples, as his head moved back and forth keeping time to the music. Then to find him so lifeless at the bottom of the steps… She couldn't understand how he had gotten out of the playpen and fallen down the steps so quickly? She had turned away for just a second. Now he was fighting for his life.

Finally, the doctor came out to talk to them. Greg studied his face, searching for a clue to the seriousness of Ethan's condition.

A Love Too Soon

by Callie Norse

is available at:

Barnes & Nobles

Amazon

The Book Depository

*******************

About Callie Norse

I have always loved to read. My eighth grade English teacher required us to write short stories. This is when I first learned I loved to write. When my three children were young, I would write short stories, dreaming of someday having time to write seriously. After my parents passed away 16 days apart, I wrote a book on the loss of elderly parents and how devastating it can be, even when they are elderly. I completed the book, but have never published it. Later, I developed a short story into For the Love of Lisa.

I reside in Northern Illinois with my husband, and continue to write.

Connect with Callie Norse:

Website

Facebook

Article in PageSuite

callienorse [at] yahoo [dot] com

Haven't picked up For the Love of Lisa? Try giving the trailer a whirl!

For the Love of Lisa is Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, iUniverse, and Book Depository

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Novel Review: Black, White, Other: In Search of Nina Armstrong by Joan Steinau Lester

I've become quite a NetGalley Fan. I believe I saw Black, White, Other: In Search of Nina Armstrong by Joan Steinau Lester advertised on Goodreads (another place imma lovin'). Having biracial children of my own, I was quite interested to see another's take on the issue. First thing I tend to do when a book catches my eye is hop on over to NetGalley to see if a review copy is available. What do you know? It was there. I put in my request and voila! Netgalley sent me a review copy. So! The blurb from Ms. Lester's website:

As a biracial teen, Nina is accustomed to a life of varied hues—mocha-colored skin, ringed brown hair streaked with red, a darker brother, a black father, a white mother. When her parents decide to divorce, the rainbow of Nina's existence is reduced to a much starker reality. Shifting definitions and relationships are playing out all around her, and new boxes and lines seem to be getting drawn every day.

Between the fractures within her family and the racial tensions splintering her hometown, Nina feels caught in perpetual battle. Feeling stranded in the nowhere land between racial boundaries, and struggling for personal independence and identity, Nina turns to the story of her great-great-grandmother's escape from slavery. Is there direction in the tale of her ancestor? Can Nina build her own compass when landmarks from her childhood stop guiding the way?

I had a rocky start with Black, White, Other. This book threw me right into the middle of a packing scene, followed by Nina (15 years old) rushing out the door to catch a bus to see her dad. And I'm thinking: her mom isn't going to see her off? Of course, I'm thinking she's catching a Greyhound bus. Well, at least until she missed the bus only to catch another one shortly. It also took me awhile to figure out where she lived, other than Canyon Valley that is. But what state? A few clues thrown here and there and I realized she was in the San Francisco Bay area. Overall, I think the setting could have been presented better.

Hmm. I would absolutely love to read what a teen has to say about this work, as I found the style to be heavy on the narrative. The style works in other genres, but I'm not quite sure it works for the YA crowd. Of course, my YA years are far in the past, so who knows? Maybe the teens are big into narrative styles these days.

So the actual story. Black, White, Other actually had a two for one deal going. We had Nina's story, then within we had the story of Sarah Armstrong which was written by Nina's father. I know this is weird, but Sarah's story has a descriptive flare which Nina's lacked. It was as if two different people wrote the book. I have to say, Sarah's story intrigued me in ways Nina's didn't. Each chapter of Sarah's story had a cause and effect which built toward a greater event.

Nina's story, on the other hand, reminded me of a collection of vignettes. I wasn't quite sure what the major plot in her story was until I neared the end and she started to make some really horrible choices. Once she started to screw up her life, her self-created problems presented opportunities to solve.

My overall impression was this wanted to be a historical fiction (Sarah's story) while also wanting to appeal to the young adult crowd (Nina's story). Truthfully, I think the book missed the mark. Sarah's story had the potential to be so much more, but sandwiched between Nina's it didn't offer nearly enough time to explore her situation. Nina's story, well… she spent so much time acting out, I had a hard time sympathizing and connecting with her character. And as I mentioned above, it was lacking in the area of plot.

If I were to rate the two stories separately, I would give Sarah's story a solid 3 and Nina's story a 2.

Like I said, I'm really curious about the opinions young folks had on this book. If you're 18 or young, please, please send me a link to your review on this work.

Black, White, Other:

In Search of Nina Armstrong

by Joan Steinau Lester

is Available at:

The Book Depository

Barnes & Nobles

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Working Wednesday #19

On Saturday! Oops. I got so distracted with my trip on Wednesday, I forgot to post my happenings. So! you get them today. Sorry

I Loved You First

I think I've done well about not harassing bloggers about their upcoming events. Somewhere along the line, I realized we just hit September, which means there's still about a month left of stops. That being said, I imagine some bloggers haven't even gotten around to reading ILYF, so asking them for their interview questions is a little premature for some. I'm thinking as long as I stay two weeks ahead of the tour, we're safe. Your weekly reminder: two signed copies of ILYF are up for grabs. One for the blog tour button and one to kickoff the blog tour.

Comment on any of the following posted hosted by bloggers then return to the kickoff post and enter to win. And of course, you can always comment on the prior weeks' posts. So the new posts up for this week on the tour are:

Book Junkie (Giveaway/Review)
Magic of Reading (Interview)
Mama Knows Books (Review)
Love to Read for Fun (Review)
Casual Reader's Blog (Review)
Casual Reader's Blog (Giveaway)
Ashley Zurc Pereira's Blog (Interview)
Words of Wisdom… from the Scarf Princess (Review)

Words of Wisdom… from the Scarf Princess (Interview)

For What It's Worth (Excerpt)
Eden Baylee's Inside the Author's Mind (Interview)

 Writing

I've not written any new words. However, I did replot Trinity's Awakening. I think we're good to go whenever I get back into writing this. I'm 24,188 into it, but I'm not sure if I'm keeping all the scenes or how the scenes will transform now that I've done some revamping. Chances are, I'll leave what I have this time around (with a bit of reordering), then take up where I left off. I'd meant for this to be a short piece… a novella like ILYF, but with the replotting I did, it might make it to a full length piece of work. We'll see.

I also did a very, VERY rough outline of a series I have planned to work seriously after I finish with the Striped Ones series… completely unrelated to anything I've done so far. Right now, I have 9-10 books planned. So it'll be a huge undertaking… something to keep me busy for a few years. I plan to draft the first book during NaNoWriMo 2011, but the editing and rest of the books will have to wait until after we get the final Striped Ones series out. I really like the title, so I'm keeping it a secret for right now. Perhaps I'll reveal it for NaNo.

Reading Challenge

Looks like I'm three books behind again.
My current reads are Heroes 'Til Curfew by Susan Bischoff and Awakening by Kitty Thomas




Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.

hide

18 of 60 (30%)
view books

 

In Other News!!!

************************

I also added a giveaway on Goodreads, so that makes 3 signed copies! Woot!

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

I Loved You First

by Reena Jacobs

Giveaway ends September 30, 2011.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Who Art Thou Thursday: Callie Norse

I love new releases, don't you? Well today, Callie Norse has returned with another novel under her belt. I feel like we should have some kind of wavy time warp thing, cause Callie Norse was one of the first authors to join us on the Who Art Thou Thursdays post. While we reminisce, let's see what she's up to these days.

Tell us a little about your latest release. 

I'm excited to finally get this book published. My readers of For the Love of Lisa have been anxious for this 2nd book of the Carrington series since they first read For the Love of Lisa after its release last September. A Love Too Soon takes place 1 ½ yrs. after For the Love of Lisa ends. This book will catch readers up somewhat if they haven't already read the first of the series. The same characters are in this book that are in the end of the 1st, plus 2 additional main characters. It is romance/mystery. Mystery begins in the first pages. My beta readers are as excited as I am about this book. They tell me they feel an attachment to the characters and it is just as much of a page turner as the 1st of the series. It is an easy read with much action, intrigue and twists.

A steamy, story of love…intermingled with supernatural intrigue…a new tender love story with a twist…

Greg and Marta have married and continue to live in the old Victorian with Maggie.  The birth of a new baby brings much happiness until…

An occurrence in the hospital brings back memories of Lisa.  This is only the beginning of problems. Will the marriage survive?

Lori and Steve adopt a ten-year-old son, Toby. He and Maggie become great friends. She nicknames him Toby Keith.

Marta works from the home, in the newly remodeled Mansard. History repeats itself with a horrible accident. Will trouble end there?

They move from the old Victorian and live happily ever after…but that would be a fairy tell ending, wouldn't it?

A Love Too Soon?

 Where did you get your inspiration for A Love Too Soon?

I knew there was so much more I could say about the Carringtons. For the Love of Lisa seemed like only the beginning. Greg had just begun his new life with Marta. There was a whole new marriage to write about. I'm not a plotter, so I didn't know myself where this marriage was going, except that Marta was pregnant in the Epilogue of For the Love of Lisa. I started with the birth of the baby, writing a scene at a time, letting my imagination take me to the next scene. Ideas for A Love Too Soon seemed to flow freely as I wrote.

 When you wrote For the Love of Lisa, did you know it'd be a series?

I don't think I thought much about it being a series, until I wrote the Epilogue. Until then             my mind was too focused on how For the Love of Lisa was going to end. After the Epilogue, I knew I wanted to continue with my writing, and knew a sequel to this book would be a great way to continue, as there was so much more to be said about the Carringtons.

 Your second release. How was the writing process different this time around?

I had learned so much with the guidelines iuniverse gives. This time I wasn't stumbling over format, or punctuation and grammar. It was more enjoyable. I knew I could do it this time. The doubts were gone. I had a basis for my plot from For the Love of Lisa. This gave me much to work with. I had fallen in love with my characters and I, myself was interested in learning where I could take their lives. It is so different than reading a book. I can take my characters anywhere I want. I truly enjoyed writing this book, and love where it took me. We shall see if the readers agree. I expect some criticism, but the book seemed to go that direction as I wrote. It touched my heart. Let's see if it does so with the readers.

 You went through iUniverse for both books. Why did you decide to go with them?

I had tried the traditional route with For the Love of Lisa. Each publisher wanted something different for querying. It was time consuming and disappointing when I would receive rejections. I was once told by Thomas Eadie who was with a traditional publishing Co., and had started a self-publishing Co., that there is no money in traditional publishing for authors. He felt that was unfair to the creators of the work. I therefore decided to research self-publishing companies. I chose iuniverse because they had services to offer if I felt the need. I did begin with an editor evaluation, which helped me learn where my weaknesses were and how to correct them. I wasn't ready to be totally on my own with another company. I felt I needed some guidance. I went with them for this book, too, as I didn't want to take the time to learn the hows of another company. I plan to go with another, such as CreateSpace for the next in the series, An Anniversary…not to be forgotten, which is completed in rough draft form.

 How was the publishing process different with your second book from your first book?

I didn't start with an evaluation. I waited to submit my book block until after it was edited and polished it. I expected it to go quite fast as it did with the 1st book at that point. It seemed to go much slower. First off, I was asked to revise some scenes, as I wasn't familiar with their underage sex scene policy. (The word cleavage was not even allowed for the underage.) They have no restrictions for the adults, so there are still steamy scenes. I revised the underage scenes and submitted them. They were approved after a wait while the person overseeing this was on vacation. (Just my luck). After that, it still seemed to go slower than the first book. Perhaps they were busier this time, or maybe I'm not as patient.

 Where can readers find your works?

I believe my books can be found at almost any online book store, such as…

Callie Norse at Amazon

Callie Norse at Barnes & Nobles

Callie Norse at the Book Depository

 One should be able to order them at most book stores…

*******************

About Callie Norse

I have always loved to read. My eighth grade English teacher required us to write short stories. This is when I first learned I loved to write. When my three children were young, I would write short stories, dreaming of someday having time to write seriously. After my parents passed away 16 days apart, I wrote a book on the loss of elderly parents and how devastating it can be, even when they are elderly. I completed the book, but have never published it. Later, I developed a short story into For the Love of Lisa.

I reside in Northern Illinois with my husband, and continue to write.

Connect with Callie Norse:

Website

Facebook

Article in PageSuite

callienorse [at] yahoo [dot] com

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Novel Review: Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Rage is the second book of The Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Jackie Morse Kessler. The first book Hunger (see review here) was okay and started off awesome. Both my daughter and I fought over it, snatching snippets as soon as the other put it down. In the end, Hunger wasn't the greatest book, but certainly piqued my interest for Rage. Before we go into the review, the blurb from Goodreads:

Missy didn't mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don't find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That's why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it's with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation,Rageis the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

Part of the short comings when it came to Hunger was that the title and idea behind the horsemen didn't really match the story line. We had an anorexic girl who didn't really suffer from hunger. Rather the lack of balance in her life and the way she dealt with situations prevented her from leading a healthy existence. Likewise, the horseman Famine wasn't about inflicting starvation, but rather balancing the distribution of food.

Knowing Rage wouldn't necessarily be about anger, my mind was more open to the story. Or rather, I had to constantly remind myself that we're not dealing with the title or the concept of the Horsemen War, but something beyond and loosely related.

Whereas Hunger was about balance, Rage was about control. The star of the show, Missy, seemed more depressed than angry and dealt with her depression by cutting herself. In fact, she worked hard at the flat effect. I questioned at times if she even had the ability to express her anger. So the title missed the mark again, but that didn't make it a bad book… just something to keep in mind so one doesn't enter the story with false expectations.

As far as the story itself? Decent. I was horrified with all that happened to Missy. Though I can't imagine her situation is typical, I know there are girls out there who've faced similar experiences. Once in awhile, awful events will even appear in the news. I shake my head and sigh and hope my kids never have to go through something so horrid.

I have to say, Ms. Kessler did a wonderful job putting me inside Missy's head. I'm such a wimp when it comes to pain, I can't imagine hurting myself on purpose, much less making myself bleed. So why would someone harm themselves? Well, read the story if you're looking for some insight. It certainly gave me a new appreciation.

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

is available at:

The Book Depository

Barnes & Nobles

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Sunday Showcase #15

For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain's Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun. Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated — and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose. Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself — and her heart.

Why I picked it up: Because I couldn't stop myself. This book was on the bargain bookshelf. I'd never heard of the author or the title. The first time couple of times I saw it on the bargain shelf at Walden (remember, going out of business), I passed it up. Finally, I decided to read the first few paragraphs to assess the writing style. Worked for me. Right now my youngest daughter is reading and enjoying this book, so I might give it a shot sooner than later. We'll see.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her. Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year. This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her. Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance. Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader.

Why I picked it up: I've wanted this book for a while. I won book two of the series some time last year and kept saying I'd pick this up eventually. With the Walden sales going on, I figured this was my opportunity. So where we are.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules. As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But Aya doesn't care; she just wants to lie low with her drone, Moggle. And maybe kick a good story for herself. Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity…and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for.

Why I picked it up: Last week I picked the first three books in the series. Well, this wasn't on the bargain shelf like the others, but still the discount was decent enough to warrant adding it to my collection.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil, and all he wanted was you? At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey's friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren't Neferet's secrets any longer.  But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses.  Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn't want to hear and truths she can't face? On the run and holed up in Tulsa's Prohibition-era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with something that might bring them all down.  Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems.  The red fledglings have cleaned up well – they've even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home – but are they really as friendly as they seem?  On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex-, Erik, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet's sinister influence at all costs.  Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?

Why I picked it up: For my daughter. We have the first books in the series on our shelf. I won most, if not all of those in a couple of giveaways. She enjoyed those, so I figured I'd pick up the next in line for her. I know book one has an awesome start to it, and I almost gave it a whirl. Then I realized the start in book one was just a gimmick, so set it aside. Perhaps I'll give it another shot one day, now that I got the disappointment out of my system over the gimmick. Until then, my daughter gets to enjoy this one.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel's identity, gaining the family and friends he's always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn't as easy as he hoped—and Chap isn't the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel's disappearance, Chap realizes that he's in much deeper danger than he could have imagined. After all, you can't just steal a life and expect to get away with it. Award-winning author Jenny Valentine delivers an explosive mystery where dark secrets, betrayal, and loss pave the way for one teen's chance at redemption.

Why I picked it up: If I'm not mistaken, this is actually a reprint not set to release until February 2012. So I still have a few months to go before I pick this one up for a review. Still sounded interesting though. I'm wondering, what in the world is going on that you can just step into someone's life and no one notices. Perhaps it really is his life, and he just has amnesia. Hmmm. I guess time will tell. I picked this one up from the NetGalley.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.… Nicolai the Vampire was renowned for his virility, but in a twist of fate "The Dark Seducer" had become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina—stripped of his precious timepiece and his memory. All that remained was a primal need for freedom, revenge—and the only woman who could help him. In her dreams, a wanton vampire called to Jane Parker, drawing her to his dark sexuality and his magical realm. But for a human, all was not a fairy tale in Delfina. Jane was the key to Nicolai's memory…but exploiting her meant dooming the only mortal he craved.

Why I picked it up: Gena Showalter — need I say more? I'm quite fond of her Lords of the Underworld series, though I've yet to pick up her latest in the series. I was rather disappointed with the happily ever after against all odds… even death, so I decided to give her a little break. But I couldn't resist trying out her latest series. Plus, it was a NetGalley release. I plan to get to this one real quick since I believe it's already on the market and I picked it up rather late.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

[image error]All Joss wants is to be left alone—with Dylan. But as more Talents are imprisoned by the government, everyone's looking for a leader. Some look to Joss, some to Marco whose new criminal plan threatens Joss's family and friends. Joss wants to stand up to Marco, but Dylan's protective instincts are putting him in harm's way. Can Joss find a way to embrace both the boy and her hero within?

a longer version…

In the world of the Talents, kids with supernatural powers are condemned to government research facilities from which they do not return. For a Talent, the most important thing is keeping the secret…

–Six weeks ago, Dylan Maxwell slugged it out with his best friend. Over a girl.

But Marco had it coming. After all, it looked like he was going to use his supernatural strength to kill Joss Marshall. That should have been the end of it, but Marco's got bigger plans for crime in Fairview than Dylan ever understood. This time he's going after the town's merchants with a crime wave that threatens Joss's family's business and all the Talents' secrets.

–Six weeks ago, Joss Marshall was alone.

Now there's Dylan. It's not always comfortable being just friends with the guy she's had a crush on forever. And the more she learns about the boy with the easy smile, who always seems to know what to say, the more she learns how much they have in common. He's so much more than she understood, and so much more than she could stand to lose.

That was then, this is now.

And now, everything changes.

Why I picked it up: Last year I fell in love with the first book, Hush Money (see review here). When Susan Bischoff sent out an email asking folks if the wanted to review her latest work — the one I've been waiting like forever to read — of course I said yes! I have her prequel hiding somewhere on my Kindle. Perhaps I'll do a quick read of that and do a double review. This copy was supplied by the author.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

Nerina has lived all her life as a mermaid, fascinated by humans and land but also repulsed by sex and unable to understand love. Her curiosity gets her captured by a human male intent on awakening her lust and turning her human. But Nerina doesn't believe the legend is real and fears Kyros will kill her when he learns she can't transform.

This work is a novella of 21,500 words which will take the average reader 1 to 2 hours to read, depending on personal reading speed. The work is "meant" to be short.

For those unfammiliar with Kitty's work, this story in many respects is more "tame" than some of her other work, but it is still erotica with a master/slave and kidnap element.

Fun Facts:

Nerina is a Greek name that literally means: "Sea Nymph".

Kyros is also a Greek name. It means power that is legitimate but compassionate. Despos is generally the term used for power over a slave and Kyros was the term more used for power over a wife or someone for whom you care about their overall well-being.

Meropis is the island upon which the story takes place and it's a mythical island that I did not create but is part of mythology and sometimes associated in some way with Atlantis. Anostos, the portion of the island that the story takes place on, is as mythology describes, covered in a red, cloudy haze.

Awakening is meant to be a mermaid fairy tale for adults.

Why I picked it up: Every work Kitty Thomas puts out is unique while still holding the sexual domination theme. I can't help but be intrigued with each piece she puts out… apprehensive usually, but intrigued nonetheless. She definitely an author to follow. Review copy supplied by the author.

Available at: Smashwords, Barnes & Nobles, and The Book Depository

What's in your mailbox? Pick up any new or upcoming releases?

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Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Saturday Special: Martin King's #100blogfest

Have you heard? Martin King is attempting to write 100 guest posts for 100 different websites, and he's close. Oh boy is he close to meeting that goal. Last time I checked, he was at #77. Today he's here. For those who follow Who Art Thou Thursdays, you probably remember this question: Cursive or Print? Let's see what Mr. Martin has to say.

**************

I must have the worst writing in the whole world. People use the phrase spider writing, but this is more a case of squashed spider writing. But it wasn't always that way. This story begins when I was seven.

I had just moved from primary to junior school and I had gone from being a big fish in a little pond to a small fish in an ocean.

So one day I was in my new Englishy-type lesson when the teacher announced we would be doing a hand writing competition. Back then you weren't allowed to use biros in class, it had to be real fountain pens. The desks still had ink wells in them to have your little ink pots, but by now cartridge pens were all the rage. That was the days when school you to provide blotting paper – you remember that bitty pink stuff.

Well I was desperate to win and I tried so hard. I pulled out every beautiful curve imaginable. And you never guess what… I actually won. My prize was a really posh Parker ink pen with a spare set of cartridges. And from that moment on I was the best hand writer in the whole year.

Wow – that is a lovely story you may think, but I can tell by the puzzled expressions on your faces you are wondering what happened? How come I went from being so good at writing to being so poor? The answer is joined up letters. I could painstakingly craft any individual letter with great care and craft but the day we had to join them all together, the spiders came to lodge.

These blogs are all about fun and sharing. Thank you for reading a '#100blogfest' blog. Please follow this link to find the next blog in the series: http://martinkingauthor.com/blog/7094550076

 

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Authors Helping Authors – Reena on Book Reviews

I come across quite a few indie authors with low sales. Let's face it, low sales are the norm, big success is the rarity. In the end, majority of us remain in dismal obscurity. Even so, there are low cost methods authors can use to get their books a little publicity, reviews being one of them.

One of the first things I tend to notice when I hit an author with low sales are the lack of reviews. I've yet to find a book with an abundance of reviews doing poorly. Some might say, of course high selling books have lots of reviews, they're selling books like crazy. No book sales, no reviews. No reviews, no books sales.

People! This is not a catch-22 situation. You don't have to have book sales to obtain reviews. In fact, your work doesn't even have to be available to the public in order to start earning those reviews.

Ever hear of Advance Reading Copies (ARCs)?

ARCs are not just for authors who go the traditional route. I started sending out ARCs for my latest release (I Loved You First) about a week before publication. Why an ARC and not the final version?

Here's the thing about ARCs. They don't have to be perfect. Now I'm not talking about sending your first draft. The ARC I sent had received outside editing and a read through by me. However, I knew it needed one more read through, plus I had a few copyright issues in the air which needed to be settled before releasing it to the public. For the most part, the ARC was pretty solid.

If you're pretty confident in the quality of your work, but aren't quite ready for publication, I highly recommend sending out ARCs to reviewers. But remember, don't send crap. Reviewers will still call you on your typos, grammar, and misused words.

So, you've got an ARC or final version.

Now What?

Well, you can continue to wait for folks to find your works and review them. This method might work for established authors, but I doubt it'll work for many debut authors. If you want those reviews, you're going to have to go out and get them, my friend. And I don't mean sitting behind your blog asking folks, "if you're interested in reviewing my work, send me an email." You can try that (I certainly have), but that's not enough.

Remember your querying days? Researching agents, following submission guidelines, and sending out letters. Welcome back to the grind. Great thing about sending queries to reviewers is the success rate is far greater than seeking representation from an agent.

A few notes. Don't send queries arbitrarily or in a mass email. Use the same care in picking out reviewers as you would an agent. Just as agents only represent certain genres, reviewers only read certain genres.

Research is beneficial

I came across more than a few dormant review sites. It doesn't make sense to put together a review packet for an individual who isn't serious about reviewing your work. Some of the things I look for:

Review Policy – Starting here is a given. Not all reviewers have them. I'll be honest, if I don't find a review policy or verbiage giving me a clue to their likes and dislikes, I'll often bypass the review site.
Number of followers – It's great to get a reviewer with a huge following. After all, the point of a review is to get some publicity. However, reviewers with smaller followings have pros also. For one, their reading lists may be shorter, which means they may be more willing to commit to a review and do one sooner than later. And their review policies might indicate they post reviews in places other than just their blog/website. For me, this is huge, particularly if the review is posted on a retail site.
Post consistency – This goes along with dormant sites. If the site is dead (most recent post is a month or so ago), I move to the next blog. How often a blogger posts is important also. Large gaps between posts gives me the impression the blogger isn't serious about blogging. And if the blogger isn't serious, chances are, folks aren't serious about checking in either.
Accepted formats – I prefer to send out digital copies due to the costs associated with print copies. And with so many reviewers accepting eCopies and even preferring them in some cases, digital is the way to go (at least for me and my purse).
Indie authors – Some reviewers don't accept self-published works. Simple response to that is to move on to the next reviewer.
ARC versus Final – Can I send out an ARC? Some reviewers will take into account the ARC isn't the final version. Others won't. Make sure whichever version you send is the one you're comfortable with them reviewing. Don't be surprised if a review rips your work apart because you sent the wrong version.
Where they post their reviews – Their blog only? Goodreads? Retail sites? The more places, the more publicity.
Time line – Many reviewers have reading lists a mile long. 3-4 months isn't unusual. If you know your release date, consider making arrangements early. Don't discount the reviewers who take a bit longer. Early reviews are great, but latter reviews can act like a revival.
Other Features – Does the reviewer participate in blog tours, interviews, giveaways, or other events? If so, make your availability known at the time of submission. If your work is accepted for submission, be sure to put in a reminder in your response.

Where the heck are the reviewers?

I hit two spots when it comes to reviews. First, because I'm an indie author, is Simon Royle's list of indie reviewers. The list isn't comprehensive, but it's a great start. All the individuals on the list review indie work for free. However, some on the list have guidelines so strict, it's difficult for an indie author to get a yes. For example, some only review indie works they've previously reviewed/read in the past. So that's something to keep in mind.

My second stop is the Book Blogger Directory. I love this place. The bloggers are categorized, and the database is HUGE. Indie authors do have to pick through since there are no indicators as to whether a blogger accepts indie work or not, at least not at the time of this post.

The bottom line

Using the methods above, I found plenty of reviewers willing to take a peek at I Loved You First, enough that I managed to fill a month and a 1/2 long blog tour. I'm not going to pretend like my sales are all that grand, because they're not (at least not yet ). And if we get to the truth of it, I'm not all that great at marketing either. But I will tell you, reviewers are out there waiting to pounce on a good read. If you don't tell them your book is available, who will?

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Who Art Thou Thursday: Lenore Wolfe

As you might recall, my job is to help secure as many votes as possible for my writing buddy, Lenore Wolfe, author of Doorway to the Triquetra. Next round of voting is Sunday, August 28. When the time comes, put in your vote for Doorway to the Triquetra. Today, she's here to share a bit about herself.

Give us a brief description of a story you have hidden in your skeleton closet? And will it ever see the light of day?

I'm working on a year long site and novel about taking back my life, so all my skeletons will see the light of day.

Where do you get inspirations for your stories?

From the spirit world. I believe in a full-blown spirit world. And so playing the 'what if' game gets pretty interesting.

How much of you/your life do you put into your stories?

Probably quite a bit. Lots of aspects of my writing have hints of truth in them. I remember when my kids were little, my oldest son was trying to convince my younger three that there was a 3 headed snake. I took that long-long tale and wrote it into one of the tall tales the cowboys were telling, sitting around the campfire, in my western romance novel:)

Which of your characters do you relate to most?

Mira. She's feisty. And all the women in my family are feisty and independent. My great-grandmother was an old pioneer woman, born in 1887, from Montana, who had to raise her children on her own. Strong, independent women run on both sides of my family.

Which author has inspired you the most?

I grew up with the stories of my great-grandmother's, aunt Harriett Beecher Stowe. I have always been inspired by the realization that a story could move an entire nation.

Why did you decide to publish independently?

I realized when I first saw ereaders that we were about to completely change the way we read. They're wonderful. You can change the size of the font if you need bigger lettering. You can carry 1000 books, an entire library, with you at once. So I knew they would revolutionize reading, and I waited for the traditional publishing houses to realize it too. Traditional publishing houses had slowly taken all the power from the author and ereaders and ebooks has given it back. Traditional publishing houses are starting to realize just how much power they have lost over the authors. And authors are only beginning to realize how much power they can take back. There are still many who believe there is a something special in having been picked up by a traditional publishing house, but the only real thing they can offer you is mass production, and in exchange for that you will still do all the work to get the world to realize your book is out there. There are benefits to both, don't get me wrong, but if you want control over what you write, and what cover goes on your book, you'll have to go independent. And you will have to expect to stumble around, and work very hard, for a long time, until the world knows you exist. But you will have control over your product while you do this. And you will reap all the benefits when you do, finally, succeed, and if you keep working at it, you WILL succeed.

How do you come up with your cover art?

I love art. I always have, so this is playtime for me.

What's your favorite writing tool and why?

My IPad. It's very effective. I can carry it anywhere, and it organizes me.

What's the hardest part of the writing process?

Sticking to one story. I have so many rolling around in my head:)

What's the easiest part of the writing process?

The story. I'm learning how to dig in and let the reader in on all aspects of the protagonist and other characters of my book. The readers, now, seem to love 140,000 word novels:)

With hindsight being 20/20, is there anything you would have changed with your publishing journey?

I wouldn't have allowed life to keep me from writing. Writing is something I need to do, not just want to do. I have way too much going through my head, and it doesn't let go of me until I write about it.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Never quit. Never, ever, quit. The only difference between those who dream, and those who do, is that the doers work very hard at their dreams–until they succeed.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on a novel called The Fallen One. He is one of the Jaguar People, but he was raised in Chicago, and he had to protect himself, and his sisters, from the gangs that would chase them down the back alleys late at night. The Jaguar People are not supposed to receive the powerful ability to shape shift until they're old enough to handle the smell of blood, the wildness of the great cat, and the power that goes with this cat. Changing early, and using it to kill, even to protect, created a monster within him. Now, to become a better man, he must learn how to live with the monster.

She is one of the Jaguar People, too, but she was raised knowing how to work with the power, and using it to help mankind. Now, she will either be his salvation–or his downfall.

How about some quickies!

Pencil or Pen: Pen

Print or Cursive: Print

Pantser or Plotter: Plotter

Favorite Candy: Dark Chocolate

Worst habit: Being to independent.

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About the Lenore Wolfe

Lenore grew up in Montana, and Alaska, and currently lives in central US. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, holds a BA in Sociology, from the University of Northern Colorado, with a minor in writing and is a student of the Shaman path.

Find Lenore Wolfe online at:

http://sonsofthedarkmother.blogspot.com

http://talkaboutauthors.blogspot.com/

http://magicallandofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://heartsoffireromance.blogspot.com

http://paranormaleromance.blogspot.com

http://doorwayofthetriquetra.blogspot.com

http://warriorsheartnovels.blogspot.com

http://darkwarriortotameawildhawk.blogsp…

http://authorlenorewolfe.blogspot.com/

Doorway to the Triquetra is available at:

Smashwords

Barnes & Nobles

Amazon

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Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.