Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 29
August 10, 2011
Working Wednesday #16 + Giveaway in Other News!!!
Okay… this week hasn't been as action packed as the previous weeks. I've been taking it kind of slow, winding down from the release. 
Still I've made some headway, and I think it's time to get back to the old writing grind. So… what have I done?
I Loved You First
Uploaded the corrections to CreateSpace (my proof copy had some glitches)
Published I Loved You First in print (Now available on Amazon and should start showing up other places.)
Ordered 2 copies for the upcoming giveaways and have them in my possession (One goes lives today! Giveaway details in Other News!!!)
Determined the S.W.A.G. packs for the blog tour giveaways
Need to inform the bloggers with giveaways what they'll be offering on their blogs
Finished sending out the review requests (You're on your own now, I Loved You First. Sink or swim!)
Verified most of the blog tour schedule (Still have a handful of bloggers to confirm)
Need to set up August 15 kickoff blog tour post
Blog
Updated blogroll (Still not satisfied with that, so I'll probably be searching for another plugin. Anyone have any suggestions? I want the one that shows the updated posts of my blogger buddies.)
Updated the 2011 and 2010 reads page, 2011 more than 2010
Writing
I totally need to get back into this. I've totally been slacking in this area since the release of ILYF. So here's my list of things to do on the writing front.
Finish Regina's Story (I would REALLY REALLY like to get this published by October. All I have left is the sex scene, I believe. So really I just need get er dun.)
Publish a Flash Fiction collection (I've been thinking about a flash fiction collection to go with Circulatory System. I already have a few pieces to add… again, I just need to do it and be done with it. This would be a $0.99 read. Probably about 6-10k words.)
Polish Chasing Shadows (I'd really like to see this published before the year is over. We'll see. The release depends on two things. 1) My ability to polish it on time. 2) If sales from my other releases bring in enough money to pay for an editor. As much as I love seeing my work in print, I refuse to invest any more family money into this writing venture. Releases will come as money accumulates to pay for the publishing needs. Fair enough?
Yeah. I thought so.)Reading Challenge
I'm all caught up. Woot! I read 3-4 books since last week.
My current read is Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.
hide
18 of 60 (30%)
view books
In Other News!!!
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The blog hop isn't over. 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 14. When the time comes, you can put in your vote for Doorway to the Triquetra. And if I'm not mistaken, they'll be giving away a copy of Shadow Cat this time.
When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.
When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.
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Giveaway
So I mentioned two giveaways for signed copies of I Loved You First. The first giveaway starts today in preparation for the upcoming blog tour (August 15 – September 30). I'm being EXTREMELY stingy with signed copies. These may end up being the only two unless you catch me in person and have a copy on hand. Keep in mind, I've never signed a Shadow Cat copy, so this is quite rare for me.
How does this work?
To help promote I Loved You First and the accompanying blog tour, I'm asking EVERYONE to add the tour button to their website/blog sidebar. Okay… not everyone, but that would be nice.
What am I offering in exchange? One of two signed copies of I Loved You First. The other one will be part of the blog tour itself.
***This is an international giveaway***
As long as US people (like me) aren't restricted from mailing to your country, you may win a copy, so don't be shy.
Entries before August 15 receive 3 extra points
Entries before August 30 receive 2 extra points
Entries before September 15 receive 1 extra point
Don't worry about calculating the extra points. When you fill out the form, it puts a time stamp, so I'll add those in myself.
Make sure you leave up the button throughout the blog tour. That means from the time you fill out the form until September 30. Remember… this is a promotional giveaway to help get the word out. Thank you very much!
The Rules!
***Grab the button html code and post/paste it on your blog in a conspicuous place***
You'll earn 1 point for completing the form.
You'll earn 1-3 points depending on when you complete the form.
You may earn 1 additional point for sharing the giveaway and leave the link (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Linked, MySpace, etc.). *Optional*
Comments are appreciated, but only entries from the form count.
Giveaway ends Monday, September 26, 2011.
Please read the giveaway policy for the nitty gritty.
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.
August 9, 2011
Teaser Tuesday: Lenore Wolfe
You might have noticed me pimping Doorway of the Triquetra this month. Beware, I'll be mentioning this book all throughout the month. You see folks, I'm participating in a blog hop event to secure votes for my writing buddy, Lenore Wolfe. Sunday was the first round of voting, and I sure hope you made your vote count and entered the giveaway which went along with your vote. If I'm not mistaken, next Sunday will be another round of voting plus a giveaway, so stay tuned.
Until then, Lenore Wolfe is offering a teaser. Enjoy!
When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.
When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.
Doorway of the Triquetra
by Lenore Wolfe
T his was not happening.
Mira Levine flattened the back of her five-foot-nine, athletic frame against the outside wall of her apartment. The dumpster from down the alley smelled of the next door Mexican restaurant's leftover food, pitched out and left to rot. Not the rot that curls the hairs of your nose, but the rot that causes the stomach to threaten to pitch its contents. Mira's stomach clenched, but that wasn't enough to tear her mind from what she'd just seen walking down the street—in the middle of the night—in the middle of St. Louis.
Mira took a deep breath to calm her broken senses. She flipped herself around, shaking, shoving her long, dark hair out of her face and not hesitating to press her designer-clothed front against the red bricks to take another look. Damn it! All she had wanted to do was to get a book she'd left in her car. She'd been looking forward to a calm, quiet evening—warm bath, soft pajamas, and a deep, plushy robe.
She flipped around so her back was to the wall, letting out a loud, frustrated sigh, then clapped her hand over her mouth when she realized what she had done. Sneaking a peek around the corner, she checked to be sure she'd not given herself away.
She had stepped out, not paying attention, had taken the three steps down the stairs and was halfway down the walk before she'd spotted it. Then, she'd done a fast sprint back to the side of her apartment, seeing that as the closest protection. Well, it wasn't like you saw something like that walking down the street every day.
Working up the nerve for another look, she pressed her face next to her trembling hands on the cool bricks, digging her perfect manicure into the stone until pain shot through her fingertips, forcing her to ease up. Her mind warned her not to, but Mira never was one for caution. At this moment, she needed things to make sense more than she needed caution.
Chewing on her lower lip, she peeked around the corner at the street—and fought to take another breath.
Sure enough—there it stood!
Mira shook her head, pressing her face back against the bricks, squeezing her grey-green eyes shut in the kind of denial the mind takes on when something doesn't fit. Her brain scrambled to make sense of what she was seeing. She stood there, her body uncooperative, and fought to breathe—fought to stay standing, her knees threatening to buckle. She opened her eyes, arguing with herself not to look.
She peeked again.
There, at the end of the street, stood a full-grown, black-as-midnight, live, man-eating, jungle cat—a jaguar to judge by her heavier frame, and a female to judge by her smaller stature.
She shook her head. She wasn't having this conversation with herself in the middle of the street, in the middle of the night, in the middle of St. Louis, where that cat could not possibly be.
The cat chose to defy her careful logic by letting out a loud cry, sending shivers skittering down Mira's spine. Fine hairs rose on her arms. She froze and told herself not to move—if she didn't move, she wouldn't be detected. If she wasn't detected, she wouldn't be eaten.
She was doing it again.
She lost the argument and peeked again, if only to convince herself this was happening—and to be sure that thing was not headed her way—which was exactly what it was doing.
The cat was heading straight for her!
For a second Mira stood there, trembling lips compressed against a scream. Then, the force of her own ramming heart propelled her into action. Glancing down the barren alley, she fought a fresh wave of panic. No doorways, or stairways, lead out. The ripe dumpster, overflowing with garbage and cardboard boxes, sat against a brick wall, and a gate stood at the end of the alley, with an overly large padlock.
She saw no place to hide, no place to climb—no place to keep her from becoming that beast's dinner, anyway.
She peeked around the corner again, in the kind of morbid torture the mind takes when it doesn't want to look—and can't seem to stop, holding her hand over her hammering heart. Blood pounded in her ears, drowning out all other sound. She let out a small cry. Scrambling for the cell phone in her pocket, Mira flipped it open, punching 9-1-1 with fumbling fingers. Peeking around the corner yet again, she dropped the phone.
There, not two-feet away, stood an old woman.
"Wha-at?" she said, trying to see around her.
The cat was not there.
She turned, swinging this way like a crazed thing, bobbing; then that, trying to locate the cat. The old woman watched her, skin crinkling around wizened, old eyes in what appeared to be patient amusement.
Without looking, Mira picked up the phone and went to press the call button when the old woman's words stopped her.
"Dear, I wouldn't do that," she said, not unkindly. "I mean, what are you going to say? 'Officer there is a large jungle cat outside my place.'?"
Mira had turned for another glance down the street when something about the hag snared her attention. She stopped now, staring at the old woman's eyes. She knew she was staring, and rudely so, but couldn't help herself. Nothing about tonight made sense. She looked down at her phone, not seeing anything, her ears buzzing. Somewhere out in the city a horn blared.
The crone actually smiled. Mira didn't have to look to know she was smiling. She could hear it in her words.
"Actually, it would be quite amusing," she said, drawing Mira's attention back to her wrinkled hands, folded in front of her long, black dress. The dress itself, falling in folds of black and silver, was interlaced with what looked like—black fur. "Ma'am, did you say, jungle cat?" she mimed. "Yes, are you deaf?" She smiled again at her own joke. "Ma'am have you had something to drink?" She laughed.
No; Mira was sure it was more of a cackle.
Mira glared at her, shutting the phone with a snap, feeling coming back into her limbs as anger coursed its way through her. She took one more look down the street, before she met the crone's gaze.
The woman's eyes were as yellow and metallic as the cat's. She'd swear that, for a moment, they'd been the same shape. Black hair with two large, silver streaks fell down the crone's back. Black fur like that interlaced into the dress, the same midnight color of the jaguar, lay twined into her hair.
"Who are you?" Mira demanded, the last dregs of her fear giving way to anger, relishing the feeling. It gave her back her control. "You frightened me half to death. Or rather…," she gestured with an erratic jerk in the direction behind the hag, where the cat had stood. No words could explain what she needed to say. Not giving the old woman a chance to speak, even if she'd intended to—which she appeared to be in no hurry to do—Mira finally blurted out, "Where is that cat, Old Woman?" She realized she had yelled the question, but that couldn't be helped. She was certain she was about to do a lot more than yell.
The old crone smiled.
Mira frowned. Something about this woman was strange. One moment she appeared old; and in the next—she seemed years younger. She wrestled for several long seconds with a crazy thought. No, she was not going to pile that thought onto the already bizarre things she'd witnessed this night. She tried to block it out—and failed. "Who are you?" she demanded again.
"So many questions, child." The old woman smiled at her. "I see…"
Mira cut her off. The crone's amusement was too much, coupled with the other strange occurrences. "You see! What do you see? That you have frightened me half to death? Or that I am, incomprehensibly, about to accuse you of being a cat! So that now, not only am I seeing things, I'm going crazy. And to top it all off, I'm doing something I find reprehensible—I'm yelling like a banshee at an old woman." Mira knew with every word that she was back to panicking, and a panicked state was never a good state in which to be. But somewhere—between being angry with the hag and voicing the impossibility that she'd seen a large jungle cat, more-or-less accused the old woman of being that jungle cat, she'd stopped caring that she was not making sense.
The old woman stepped forward and put a hand on Mira's arm. "Calm yourself, child."
Mira found the gesture strangely comforting, the fear and panic melting away, giving way to an odd feeling of familiarity.
The crone's gaze narrowed on her. "I needed to know how well you see. You have advanced nicely. You saw the cat because of this."
Mira frowned. "You still have not told me who you are!"
"My name is Amar. I am of the Jaguar People. I have brought you a message." She slipped her hand into her pocket and brought out a disk: an ancient-looking medallion. "And this…"
Mira reached out and accepted the disk. It felt cool beneath her fingers. She stood, tracing the ancient symbol. She had known this symbol before.
The old woman nodded as if she somehow approved.
Mira looked up at her. "I don't understand."
The woman turned to go. She turned back as if she had a thought. Looking at Mira, she pointed to the west. "You must go to a place that is a mile high, and so wide you cannot see the end from the tallest building there."
Mira frowned at her. "Are you talking about Denver? Speak plainly, old woman! I mean—Amar."
"Four await you there. They will help you find the answers you seek."
"I don't remember telling you I was seeking any answers."
The old woman only smiled, as though she held some hidden secret. It irritated Mira. She looked back down at the medallion, so cool in her palm. And when she looked up—the crone was gone.
Doorway to the Triquetra is available at:
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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://triquetrapresspublications.com
http://magicallandofbooks.com
http://talkaboutauthors.com
http://paranormaleromance.com
http://warriorsheartnovels.com
http://heartsoffireromance.com
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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.
August 8, 2011
Novella Review: The Auction by Kitty Thomas
Before we get to The Auction by Kitty Thomas, I wanted to share with you the latest review for I Loved You First. Head over to Benjamin Jones' place and see what he has to say.
I've been quite lucky to read each one of Kitty Thomas' work. When she offered me a copy of The Auction, I was quite excited. I took the offer with a smile. A futuristic work with women sold to the highest bidder? Yeah… I'm intrigued. Before the review, how about the blurb from Ms Thomas' website:
Belle Walker lives in a strict society where women are treated as property, sold to the highest bidder soon after their eighteenth birthday. But the auction isn't the only danger. Though she's never seen them, she knows monsters live outside the city. These creatures have allowed the humans a small area to inhabit with the promise to leave them in peace as long as they never cross the boundary. On the day Belle is sold, one of the monsters breaks that promise and enters the city, intent on having her as his own.
**This book is intended for an adult audience and contains master/slave, multiple partners, girl on girl, alien sex, and oral play.**
This title is ebook-only at this time, due to length. It will later be combined with "Awakening" and one or two other short titles for a print collection.
The Auction was more mainstream than the rest of Kitty Thomas' works. Notice I didn't say COMPLETELY mainstream. After all, we're talking about a Kitty Thomas work, and her stories are anything but mainstream. I'm just saying more mainstream than not at all.
Belle was unique amongst the characters Ms. Thomas has presented in the past. Belle has a bit of rebellion in her which couldn't be squashed. I loved that. Sure she had a master, but in no way was she under his thumb. Quite a change of pace from the typical Kitty Thomas fair. If you've shied away from some of her other works because of a less than strong female, you might give this one a try.
The only issue I had with The Auction was based on person preference. I couldn't get into banging a dragon like humanoid monster with sharp pointy teeth any more than I could picture doing it with a vampire. That's my hang up. After all, there are plenty of vampire whores… I mean lovers out there. 
Ms. Thomas touched briefly on the setting–the colonization of the planet, the difficulties the humans had with the natives, etc. I would have liked to learn more about the world Belle lived in. Like how the colony arrived on the planet, why the humans chose the planet, the origination of the auctions, why the natives confine the humans to the colony, and so on. There's so much about the world I'd like to explore. I did read Ms. Thomas might someday consider a sequel. So that'd be awesome.
An interesting side note. I hear Ms. Thomas is working on a fantasy piece which involves mermaids — The Awakening. Something to look forward to if you're a Kitty Thomas stalker.
Find The Auction by Kitty Thomas at:
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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.
August 7, 2011
Sunday Showcase #12
So I was sitting, causally reading when I remembered I hadn't posted the Sunday Showcase. The end of day is growing nigh.
On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites–like fire and ice–Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move–only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.
Why I Picked It up: Hmm… I'm not exactly sure. I'm hoping this is an angel versus demon book. I know it doesn't say it, but it seems like good versus evil and Sky is in the middle of the battle. Wishful thinking? Probably. I received this from NetGalley.
Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles
The boy who follows death meets the girl who could cause the apocalypse.
Krishani thinks he's doomed until he meets Kaliel, the one girl on the island of Avristar who isn't afraid of him. She's unlike the other girls, she swims with merfolk, talks to trees and blooms flowers with her touch. What he doesn't know is that she's a flame, one of nine individually hand crafted weapons, hidden in the body of a seemingly harmless girl.
Nobody has fallen in love with a flame until now. She becomes Krishani's refuge from the dreams of death and the weather abilities he can't control. Striking down thousand year old trees with lightning isn't something he tries to do, it just happens. When the Ferryman dies, Krishani knows that he's the next and that a lifetime of following death is his destiny.
And Kaliel can't come with him. The Valtanyana are hunting the flames, the safest place for her is Avristar. Krishani can't bear to leave her, and one innocent mistake grants the Valtanyana access to their mystical island. They're coming for Kaliel, and they won't stop until every last living creature on Avristar is dead. She has to choose, hide, face them, or awaken the flame and potentially destroy herself.
Why I Picked It up: Rhiannon Paille sent an email to me last week about her upcoming release, Flame of Surrender. Did I want to spread the word? Sure! The blurb looks like a winner. She was also gracious enough to send me a ARC. If Flame of Surrender seems like a read for you, here are a few things you can do to help get the word out:
1. Read and review the book. If you're a reviewer, she might even have a review copy for you.
2. Put the countdown thingy on your sidebar. Grab the code below.
3. Do an interview with her or let her guest post on your blog?
4. Tweet about it, add it to your lists on Goodreads, etc. etc.
5. Do a Cover Reveal post with a link to Goodreads, or a Waiting on Wednesday post with a link to Goodreads.
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11841693-flame-of-surrender
Grab the code below to get the nifty count ticker above:
http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" width="200″ height="311″ id="countdown">
You can find Rhiannon Paille online at:
www.rhiannonpaille.com
http://rhiannonpaille.blogspot.com
www.liveperson.com/rhiannon-paille
Twitter: @RhiannonPaille
Facebook: Rhiannon Paille
Available at: Expected Publication Date November 2011.
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.
August 6, 2011
Special Post: Make Your Vote Count
Voting starts tomorrow. Remember! Make your vote count. Vote Doorway to Triquetra! Cause any other vote would be throwing your vote away. Okay… maybe that's a little harsh. Vote Doorway to Triquetra anyway, cause I'm voting that way and so should you! Yay team!
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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.
August 5, 2011
Authors Helping Authors – Gerard de Marigny Talks Quality Standards
A few weeks ago, you might remember my writer friend, Gerard de Marigny visiting. He shared with us an excerpt from his novel, The Watchman of Ephraim. Today he's here to share his thoughts on publishing.
Why Self-Publishing Needs Quality Standards
Gerard de Marigny
EXAMPLE #1: Here's a review of a work published not too long ago on Smashwords …
"Sorry, this may or may not be a great story but there are too many spelling, grammatical & punctuation errors to find out.
"I really dislike giving up on a book but in this case the many very simple spelling errors (fealt instead of felt for example) are simply too distracting so whilst the plot description intrigued me I gave up pretty early on. A simple spell check would have picked up most of the spelling mistakes; if the author can't be bothered to do that how can he expect us to read his work?" [Emphasis mine]
EXAMPLE #2: Here's the short and long descriptions one author gave for his work:
"Ebook Short Description
Children's fantasy…
Extended Description
Children's fantasy…"
… And here's the one and only review that author's work was given:
"I would find it much easier to decide to download if it actually had a proper description and tags to tell me whether it is worth it!! So in conclusion I have not downloaded it because of the reasons above!!"
EXAMPLE #3: Here's one more piece of a review – keep in mind that all of these reviews were taken recently from Smashwords.com:
"It is difficult to review when I can't tell what is a typo and what is supposed to be slang."
I think I speak on behalf of ALL self-published authors (as those examples above were obviously all self-published) when I say that I'm embarrassed … embarrassed and frustrated at being included in the same light with those lazy, unprofessional writers above!
Anyone who has ever been the victim of bias can relate to the frustration experienced by professional self-published authors because of the poor perception most readers have about self-publishing in general. Growing up half Spanish-half Italian in a tough area of Brooklyn, NY where the Italians and Latinos pretty much hated each other, I can tell you from experience that perceptions can be a POWERFUL force. Negative perceptions can prove to be a profound disadvantage for anyone affected by them.
It's difficult enough for a self-published author to learn the crafts of writing and publishing. You spend the money, time and effort on creating written works that are polished and professional, only to be dismissed by a growing mass of people simply because you are self-published. They haven't read your works or even looked at your cover or summary – many won't even do those things if the work was self-published. They've just dismissed all self-published works from the onset.
Here's the really bad thing … I don't even blame those people – because I'm almost one of them! Being a SelfPubber, that really pains me, yet, I cannot say that I don't have a certain bias against self-published works. Now, I don't dismiss them – of course I don't – but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I do wonder about the QUALITY of a work when I know it's self-published. That's not something I concern myself with, when it comes to a traditionally-published work … and that's the real point of this article.
With a TRADPUB work, I concern myself with the normal, subjective things like genre, topic, and author but with a SELPUB work, my primary concern is about an objective thing … QUALITY!
I've heard that self-published authors contend that some of them are too poor to be able to afford professional editors to edit their work … to which I say, "If you can't afford an editor, find another way!" By the way … spell checking is free! Bottom line: those people would still be able to publish (if my proposed quality standards process went into effect), they just wouldn't be able to receive the "Quality Approved" seal. Would that potentially hurt their ability to sell their work? I'd say, "Yes!" At least I hope it does, for the folks sake, that it is!
I was raised in a relatively poor family – a family that did not give quarter to laziness and a family that did not accept excuses! My Dad was a U.S. Marine. He taught my brother and me the same things he learned in the Marine Corps. When you face a problem and you can't solve it easily … improvise and adapt so that you can overcome!
In order for the bias against self-published works to ebb, there is a need for quality standards to be established and maintained, and then for some sort of 'Quality Seal" to appear on works that meet the established benchmarks.
What would this do? Well first, it WOULDN'T prevent any lazy fool from self-publishing … and you know something … I don't want to prevent people from having the freedom to self-publish. I'm all for liberty and the freedom to do things like publish your own written works, even if they are garbage. I believe in the capitalist system of allowing the consumers to decide on what they will and will not consume.
HOWEVER … we must address the concept of "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware), when it comes to self-published literary works. That's correct – we need to protect the folks first – NOT OURSELVES (read: self-publishers). People should have a quick and easy way to see that a self-published work meets certain quality standards with respect to the objective craft portion of the work – namely, proper grammar and spelling. A Quality Seal that represents that a work has met the criteria set out in established quality standards would be just the thing.
Now, I'm NOT talking censorship here. I do not believe that any subjective portion of the work should be considered in a quality standard. Subjective aspects of writing are things like storyline, characters, settings, etc. Dialog would also be included as a subjective aspect – so, writing dialog that utilizes vernacular or slang would not be subject to review by the quality standard review process.
Self-publishing needs quality standards so that readers can easily determine whether a self-published work meets a certain level of professionalism. Currently, when a reader purchases a book published by a legacy publisher, the very fact that the book was published traditionally serves as a quality-approved seal. Until readers can make that quick of a determination of whether a self-published work is of acceptable quality, ALL self-published works will be circumspect.
***************************
About the Gerard de Marigny
Gerard de Marigny is the author of the geopolitical thriller, _The Watchman of Ephraim_, Book 1 of THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM series. The sequel, _Signs of War_ is scheduled for release in September 2011.
Gerard de Marigny resides in the beautiful foothills of Las Vegas, NV with his wife Lisa and his four sons. When not bending an arm with friends at the local pub, he's putting to paper the stories and characters that are alive in his mind.
Connect with Gerard de Marigny online: Website, SelfPubber's Pub, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn, and MySpace
Find The Watchman of Ephraim by Gerard de Marigny at:
Barnes & NoblesSigned Hardcovers and Paperbacks
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 – Gerard de Marigny
A few weeks ago, you might remember my writer friend, Gerald de Marigny visiting. He shared with us an excerpt from his novel, The Watchman of Ephraim. Today he's here to share his thoughts on publishing.
Why Self-Publishing Needs Quality Standards
Gerard de Marigny
EXAMPLE #1: Here's a review of a work published not too long ago on Smashwords …
"Sorry, this may or may not be a great story but there are too many spelling, grammatical & punctuation errors to find out.
"I really dislike giving up on a book but in this case the many very simple spelling errors (fealt instead of felt for example) are simply too distracting so whilst the plot description intrigued me I gave up pretty early on. A simple spell check would have picked up most of the spelling mistakes; if the author can't be bothered to do that how can he expect us to read his work?" [Emphasis mine]
EXAMPLE #2: Here's the short and long descriptions one author gave for his work:
"Ebook Short Description
Children's fantasy…
Extended Description
Children's fantasy…"
… And here's the one and only review that author's work was given:
"I would find it much easier to decide to download if it actually had a proper description and tags to tell me whether it is worth it!! So in conclusion I have not downloaded it because of the reasons above!!"
EXAMPLE #3: Here's one more piece of a review – keep in mind that all of these reviews were taken recently from Smashwords.com:
"It is difficult to review when I can't tell what is a typo and what is supposed to be slang."
I think I speak on behalf of ALL self-published authors (as those examples above were obviously all self-published) when I say that I'm embarrassed … embarrassed and frustrated at being included in the same light with those lazy, unprofessional writers above!
Anyone who has ever been the victim of bias can relate to the frustration experienced by professional self-published authors because of the poor perception most readers have about self-publishing in general. Growing up half Spanish-half Italian in a tough area of Brooklyn, NY where the Italians and Latinos pretty much hated each other, I can tell you from experience that perceptions can be a POWERFUL force. Negative perceptions can prove to be a profound disadvantage for anyone affected by them.
It's difficult enough for a self-published author to learn the crafts of writing and publishing. You spend the money, time and effort on creating written works that are polished and professional, only to be dismissed by a growing mass of people simply because you are self-published. They haven't read your works or even looked at your cover or summary – many won't even do those things if the work was self-published. They've just dismissed all self-published works from the onset.
Here's the really bad thing … I don't even blame those people – because I'm almost one of them! Being a SelfPubber, that really pains me, yet, I cannot say that I don't have a certain bias against self-published works. Now, I don't dismiss them – of course I don't – but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I do wonder about the QUALITY of a work when I know it's self-published. That's not something I concern myself with, when it comes to a traditionally-published work … and that's the real point of this article.
With a TRADPUB work, I concern myself with the normal, subjective things like genre, topic, and author but with a SELPUB work, my primary concern is about an objective thing … QUALITY!
I've heard that self-published authors contend that some of them are too poor to be able to afford professional editors to edit their work … to which I say, "If you can't afford an editor, find another way!" By the way … spell checking is free! Bottom line: those people would still be able to publish (if my proposed quality standards process went into effect), they just wouldn't be able to receive the "Quality Approved" seal. Would that potentially hurt their ability to sell their work? I'd say, "Yes!" At least I hope it does, for the folks sake, that it is!
I was raised in a relatively poor family – a family that did not give quarter to laziness and a family that did not accept excuses! My Dad was a U.S. Marine. He taught my brother and me the same things he learned in the Marine Corps. When you face a problem and you can't solve it easily … improvise and adapt so that you can overcome!
In order for the bias against self-published works to ebb, there is a need for quality standards to be established and maintained, and then for some sort of 'Quality Seal" to appear on works that meet the established benchmarks.
What would this do? Well first, it WOULDN'T prevent any lazy fool from self-publishing … and you know something … I don't want to prevent people from having the freedom to self-publish. I'm all for liberty and the freedom to do things like publish your own written works, even if they are garbage. I believe in the capitalist system of allowing the consumers to decide on what they will and will not consume.
HOWEVER … we must address the concept of "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware), when it comes to self-published literary works. That's correct – we need to protect the folks first – NOT OURSELVES (read: self-publishers). People should have a quick and easy way to see that a self-published work meets certain quality standards with respect to the objective craft portion of the work – namely, proper grammar and spelling. A Quality Seal that represents that a work has met the criteria set out in established quality standards would be just the thing.
Now, I'm NOT talking censorship here. I do not believe that any subjective portion of the work should be considered in a quality standard. Subjective aspects of writing are things like storyline, characters, settings, etc. Dialog would also be included as a subjective aspect – so, writing dialog that utilizes vernacular or slang would not be subject to review by the quality standard review process.
Self-publishing needs quality standards so that readers can easily determine whether a self-published work meets a certain level of professionalism. Currently, when a reader purchases a book published by a legacy publisher, the very fact that the book was published traditionally serves as a quality-approved seal. Until readers can make that quick of a determination of whether a self-published work is of acceptable quality, ALL self-published works will be circumspect.
***************************
About the Gerard de Marigny
Gerard de Marigny is the author of the geopolitical thriller, _The Watchman of Ephraim_, Book 1 of THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM series. The sequel, _Signs of War_ is scheduled for release in September 2011.
Gerard de Marigny resides in the beautiful foothills of Las Vegas, NV with his wife Lisa and his four sons. When not bending an arm with friends at the local pub, he's putting to paper the stories and characters that are alive in his mind.
Connect with Gerard de Marigny online: Website, SelfPubber's Pub, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn, and MySpace
Find The Watchman of Ephraim by Gerard de Marigny at:
Signed Hardcovers and Paperbacks
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.
August 4, 2011
Who Art Thou Thursday: J.A. Belfield
J. A. Belfield is back, and she's letting us pick her brain. If you didn't read the juicy excepts she offered on Tuesday, check them out. Go ahead, we'll wait.
Good? Okay great. Then let's see what's happening with Ms. Belfield.
Tell us about your most recent publication.
Darkness & Light is a paranormal romance that deals with fate and destiny, and a healthy dose of werewolves. It's about finding yourself, about belonging, and, of course, soul mates.
Book Blurb:
Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes to be, a bid to escape boredom.
Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met—at least, not in this lifetime.
Apart, the two are safe, but live unfulfilled lives.
Together, they'll become prey to rival packs, just as they have been for hundreds of years.
When their worlds collide, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Their renewed bond deepens. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.
Can Jem accept her destiny before it's too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean?
How do you come up with your cover art?
I had the idea for the Darkness & Light cover art in my head from the moment I'd finished writing the book. I'd always wanted a duet of wolves–one black, one white–and I wanted them to appear entwined, until a friend of mine suggested positioning them in a yin yang style pose and agreed it could gel well with the storyline of the book. So, that's what I worked toward, and when I asked an artist (Pam Bitner) if she could work with my ideas, she said yes. Luckily for me, she got it right with the first hit (because she's awesome).
Awesome concept and I love the contrasting font on the background!
Which of your characters do you relate to most?
It's got to be Jem. Without a doubt. There's definitely a little piece of me in that woman, which is why I understand her so well.
How much of you/your life do you put into your stories?
I don't necessarily put my life into my stories … let's face it: I don't actually know any werewolves. However, I do put what I know of relationships into my stories. So relationships between friends are similar to ones I've directly experienced, or any romantic bonds are written from what I've come to understand of them, etc.
And I never base characters on actual people I know, and I don't set my stories in the town where I live (although I have sent them to places I've visited).
What are you working on now?
I could give you the list of stuff I flit between, but instead I'll just name my main current project. At the moment, I am working on the book #3 in The Holloway Pack Series. And that's as much information as I'm willing to divulge on that.
Give us a brief description of a story you have hidden in your skeleton closet? And will it ever see the light of day?
Hmmm, story in my skeleton closet? Possibly a piece of flash fiction I wrote that 100% reflected my mood on the day I wrote it. Nothing was going right, none of my words were flowing from my fingertips, and my head was on the verge of spontaneous combustion … so I wrote down how I get when I'm in one of my grouches, but it included a scenario with my husband, giving the reader a great view of exactly what he has to put up with when I get in a funk. I did post it to be read by a limited number of members on my critiquing site, but I will NEVER submit it for publication. The best thing to come from the story was, one of my readers garnered enough sympathy for my state of mind that they sent me Girl Scout Cookies and Mint Oreos, all the way from New York.
What is your character development process?
My character development process is: just write them. That's it.
I don't plot or outline. I'm a total pantser Any ideas for storyline formulate in my head and stay in my head. I usually have the opening, and I usually have the 'problem' my MC will have to face, and I usually have the end. Anything in between those is a void waiting to be filled. So, I start at the beginning, write my character as I see them in the opening, and then simply let them naturally develop from one page to the next, depending upon what my twisted mind decides to throw at them.
I can totally see that. Even with an outline, characters tend to have a mind of their own.
What's the hardest part of the writing process?
The transitions. As I only have certain aspects of the story in my mind when I start writing, finding the right fillers to get the characters from A to B without slowing the pace or boring the reader is my hardest part. That, and the fact my inner editor is a constant companion. I don't have the ability to slam out the words and sort out the edits in the rewrite. My mind insists on evaluating each and every word/sentence/paragraph/chapter AS I write. Sometimes I wish I could switch it off.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
So many give the advice to write what you know. My advice? Write what you love.
To me, writing is not a hobby, it is not first and foremost a job, it's not even a passion. To me, writing is an obsession.
It's a fact of life that the majority of the human race have vices. Writing is my vice.
In order for me to stay sane through this required element of my day, I have to ensure I get pleasure from it. If I'm writing something I can't relate to, or if I'm writing in a genre I avoid like the plague, the pleasure is gone. Besides, I'm a big believer that in order to ask others to love what you've written, you first have to love it yourself. Love your subjects and your writing should reflect that.
How about some quickies!
Pencil or Pen: Pen
Print or Cursive: Print
Pantser or Plotter: Pantser
Favorite Candy: Chocolate
Worst habit: Procrastinating
***************************
About the J. A. Belfield
One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield's head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.
One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She's yet to stop.
J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.
Connect with J.A. Belfield on her Website
Grab your copy of
Darkness & Light by JA Belfield at:
Barnes & Nobles
The Book Depository
Amazon
Waterstones
WHSmith
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.
August 3, 2011
Working Wednesday #15 + Winners
Before I get to my weekly progress, let's talk about the last giveaway. Okay… I'm a bit late on this. No excuses; I just suck. We had a giveaway end last Saturday. today we're going to share the winning names!
So what was up for grabs this week? Two digital copies each of the following books:
And the winners are!
Bloodletter by Angel Haze(Thriller) ~ Joleene Naylor & SharonS From I Smell Sheep
3:16 by Jeffrey Martin (Thriller) Julie S. and Peggy Hopkins
The Venus Club by Katie M. John ~ Theresa M and Krysta Banco
Winners will be contacted shortly.
Want to sponsor a giveaway? Want to do an interview or guest post. Email me. reenajacobs at reenajacobs dot com
This is a Working Wednesday, is it not?
I Loved You First
Published ILYF on Smashwords, Amazon, and B&N
Ordered Proof from CreateSpace
Sent out the Smashwords coupons to those who signed up for a review copy through Goodreads
Sent out another 50 or so review requests (currently over 100 out there now)
Put blog tour schedule on the blog
Extended the blog tour from August 15 – September 15 to August 15 – September ??? (the response has been great, so maybe it'll expand to September 30)
Created Press Kit for the blog tour and have been sending that out
So ILYF is looking pretty great. Now I'm concentrating on sending out more requests and filling dates for the expanded blog tour. ILYF is on sale until August 5, by the way. $0.99 at Amazon and Smashwords (use the coupon code – FA89H)
I haven't decide what'll be up for grabs yet, but I'm thinking of either giving extra points for those who add the Blog Tour button on their page or maybe even a special drawing. I'll have a better idea once the Proof arrives. Stroking a copy of the book will help me think clearer. Until then, Add the button to your sidebar and check back for updates.
Blog
Added a couple of pages (Shadow Cat blog tour & ILYF blog tour)
Not blog related, but more Website related – Updated the site to reflect the release status of ILYF but still need to change the header
Added donate button to help offset the costs of giveaways (Yes! I want MORE giveaways. I wish I could do one every week, but my pocketbook says that's a fantasy.)
Reading Challenge
I'm still 3 books behind, but by the end of this week, I anticipate only being 2 books behind!
Plan to read at least 2 books a week to catch up
Currently reading Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley
Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.
hide
18 of 60 (30%)
view books
In Other News!!!
[image error]If you haven't picked up a copy of Shadow Cat, great news for you! Aobibliosphere is offering a copy at her blog. Yip yip! Head over there and check it out the giveaway.
Shadow Cat (Book One) Eric Randall's plan is simple—fix the mess his researchers have created in Malaysia, experience the pleasures the country has to offer, and return to the comforts of America. All it takes is one beautiful aborigine, and Eric finds himself stranded in a world of Malaysian myths and legends.
A novice shaman amongst her people, Berani is free and independent. Yet all is not well in her homeland. Demons prey on her people, pushing them to extinction. When a strange speaking man invades her forest, she has one more worry to add to her already troubled life. Attraction or no, she will fight Eric tooth and claw to maintain her freedom. But will she destroy herself in the process?
If Berani wishes to save her family… if Eric wishes to reclaim his old life, they must stand together against the threats of encroaching wehr-tigers and bloodsucking demons… or perish.
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Last but not least! I'm participating in a blog hop event starting Monday. Exciting. My job is to help secure as many votes as possible for my writing buddy, Lenore Wolfe, author of Doorway to the Triquetra.
Okay. So the voting doesn't start until Monday. When the time comes, you can put in your vote for Doorway to the Triquetra–no other book, just Doorway to the Triquetra–and help my buddy win this thang. Yes… that's spelled right, thang. So remember, support and vote for Doorway to the Triquetra.
When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.
When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.
Grab the button and add it to your blog! Support Doorway to the Triquetra!
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.
August 2, 2011
Teaser Tuesday: Darkness & Light by J.A. Belfield
My overseas writing buddy, J.A. Belfield, had her debut release last month. Exciting, exciting! Today she's being generous with her work and sharing a couple of excerpts from Darkness & Light.
Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes, is a bid to escape boredom.
Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met–at least, not in this lifetime.
Apart, the two are safe but live unfulfilled lives.
Together, they'll become prey to rival packs just as they have been for hundreds of years.
When their worlds collide, and not for the first time, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Futures are uncertain. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.
Can Jem accept her destiny before it's too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean?
FROM CHAPTER ONE
LIGHT
Sean!
I jerked awake. The echo of the name in my head merged with the trilling of the alarm clock. With an inward groan, I slapped my hand on the snooze. Movement behind told me I'd disturbed Peter. A second later, his arm reached out to draw me back against him, and I lowered my lids, drifting back to thoughts of my dream.
Other than watching myself wandering around some forest, not much had happened in it, yet the vividness of the imagery, which remained in my mind, had me questioning the significance of the dream I'd had for the past four nights—just as I puzzled over the name I'd been greeted by for the past three mornings, as well as the past three afternoons, and the past three evenings.
The second call of the clock broke my reverie, and I hit the switch again before rolling to face Peter. Inhaling, I detected the lingering odour of the previous night's meal upon his breath, the unintended ejaculated fluid which always escaped during sleep, and each separate fragrance of the toiletries he'd used in his pre- dinner shower the evening before.
His eyes snapped open. "Are you sniffing me again?"
I smiled with my spoken, "No," and slid from the bed.
At the door, I snagged my gown and pulled it over my matching nightdress before heading downstairs. I plodded into the kitchen, switched on the kettle. With a tilt of my head, I tracked Peter's footsteps to the bathroom where he performed his morning urination at a volume only men are capable of.
By the time I made my way back upstairs, carrying a tray laden with two mugs of cappuccino and a plateful of toast, Peter had slid back beneath the duvet to await our ritual of breakfast in bed.
He smiled as I handed him the tray and climbed in beside him. "Thanks, Jem."
I reached out for a slice of toast and tried to eat without filling the bed with crumbs. Peter made no such effort. As his housewife, I'd be expected to clean it up later.
To continue reading, please visit: http://www.freado.com/read/9944/darkness-light
FROM LATER IN THE BOOK
With a slow lift of my head, I studied him properly for the first time. Deep brown, dangerous-looking eyes sparkled back at me, his full mouth turned up at one corner to reveal a crooked smile. His arm lifted from the table, and he rubbed across hair standing thick and unruly above a face softened by an angular jawline with cheekbones to match. I followed the flight of his hand, took in the rich chocolate brown strands it ruffled, and my heart beat a little faster.
Grab your copy of
Darkness & Light by JA Belfield at:
Barnes & Nobles
The Book Depository
Amazon
Waterstones
WHSmith
***************************
About the J. A. Belfield
One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield's head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.
One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She's yet to stop.
J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.
Connect with J.A. Belfield at her Website
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.
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