Clarissa Johal's Blog, page 59

Pirates...and not the fun kind

Book piracy. It's something authors rage against. Recently, I was alerted to the fact that one of my books was listed on a piracy site and available free to download.[image error]
This was my first time with this issue and I didn't know whether to be flattered or pissed off. I settled for pissed off.
Do you know how long it takes to write a book? For me, it's about a year. Not a year of 8 hour work days either, but closer to 15 hour work days, 7 days a week. And for what? A book. A book that sells for a whopping $4.99.
When someone steals an ebook, it's blatant disregard for the author's work. Not to mention--it's ILLEGAL. And yes, there are people that download on these sites unaware that it's illegal. (I would say if a book is for sale on Amazon, you can guarantee it won't be free elsewhere). But there are readers that don't think it's a big deal to steal a digital copy of a book. To them I would ask: would you steal a hard copy of that book from your local bookstore? No? It kind of ranks up there with that. 
It's not about the money, it's the principal of the thing. Let's face it, unless they're famous, authors don't make massive amounts of money.
I am not famous. Yet. I work hard. I write because I love it. But I don't write free books. If I did that, I would call my writing a hobby. And it's not a hobby, it's my career and my life. 
What should you do if you find your book on one of these sites? Send them a take-down notice, courtesy of DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). You may have to keep on these sites and check back to make sure they remove your book, but be persistent.
You may cut and paste, by the way!


Dear Mr. XX,

Please remove the following Copyrighted material from your site.

Search Query: (Book Title)
Infringing Web Pages: (list all sites the email is going too)

Website to prove that this book is for sale and not public domain: (full link to your books buy page)

You may Contact me at: (your email address)
I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above as allegedly infringing is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
Your Name/Signature

You can also send a notice to Google requesting that the pirate site be deleted from Google search engines. Here's the Google link to that.

To readers--please support authors and acquire books legally. It's through your purchase that they are able to do what they do. Happy reading! 
Photo courtesy of MorgueFile and chelle

Keeping Up With the Blog Next Door

I've been focusing my efforts lately on getting some projects out for 2014. STRUCK was just released and will be going on tour February 24th via Goddess Fish. VOICES is undergoing some rewrites before resubmitting it to my publisher (the book I started several weeks ago is on the back-burner because of that). Blogging has been the last thing on my mind!  So, I thought I'd try something new in my blog, just for fun.

Here's what you can expect from Writing with Scissors
Paranormal Monday:  What's happening in the paranormal world. Interesting ideas, articles, and photos.
Mixed-Up Tuesday: Close your eyes and reach into the void! Various things I find interesting.
Foodie Wednesday: A vegetarian recipe from my kitchen to yours.
Thoughtful Thursday: Thoughts, advice, or techie things I've found helpful
Frightening Friday: Fun posts on scary stuff

I hope you enjoy what's to come! Stay tuned for various other posts and blog hops, which are ongoing. Have a great week!

Musa Publishing's Warm Up for Winter Contest!

Enter daily to win one of 17 promotional paperbacks
 
Outlaws by William WeldyOnly A Hero Will Do by Susan LodgeFirst Frost by Liz DeJesusGlass Frost by Liz DeJesus Trusting Sydney by Helen HardtTaming Angelina by Helen HardtTreasuring Amber by Helen Hardt2012: The Rising by Joanne HiraseTypical Day by Gary K. WolfObsession by JoAnne KeltnerStained Glass byMindy HardwickGrape Bubblegum by Beth Bowland
Dragon Drop by Jerry AckermanNew Girl by Joan B. FloodThe Fox's Mask by Anna FrostUnforgettable You by Marci BoudreauxStorm’s Fury by Nya Rayne
And one of 30 e-books:


3.99 by Richard Satterlie 100,000 Midnights by Aaron SmithA Company of Thieves by David PillingA Place to Call Their Own by L. Dean Pace-FrechA Reason To Stay by L.S. MurphyA Sense of the Ridiculous by Heather KingA Willing Spirit by Cindi MyersAlaska Heat by Vella MunnAn Incident on MSR Tampa by SS Hampton, Sr Apple of My Eye by Elizabeth BottsBaiting The Hook by Mary S. Palmer & David WiltonBetween by Clarissa JohalBlack Widow by Lena AustinBring Me To Life by Scarlett ParrishCaptain Westwood's Inheritance by Lynda DunwellContingency Plan by Anita EnsalCrazy Greta by David Hardy Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin BevisDeep Into The Night by Tracie Ingersoll LoyDragon Revealed by Nulli Para OraEnchanted Realms by Eleni KonstantineForget the Misteltoe by Lizzie T. LeafHer Goblin Prince by Thalia FrostHigh Stakes by Chad StrongICE blue by Susan Rae Identity Thief by Milo James FowlerKeeper of Directions by L.K. MitchellKojiki by Keith YatsuhashiLittle Bird by Liza GainesLooney Dunes by Anne SkalitzaMasquerade by Sloane Taylor
All entrants are eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing January 31

Grand Prize Warm Up for Winter Basket

Snuggly Blanket$20.00 Musa Gift Certificate Starbucks CoffeeCoffee Mug Specialty Chocolates
 PLUS
 5 paperback books:  Marissa's Choice by Kadee McDonald The Dominus Runes by Peter Lukes Walking the Dog by Linda BensonLove Lies Bleeding by Laini GilesFor his Love by Nya Rayne





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Winners of paperback books who reside outside the Continental United States will receive their prize in e-book format.

Release Day for STRUCK

The shadows hadn't been waiting. 
The shadows had been invited.

After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend and takes a job at a retirement home. She grows especially close to one resident, who dies alone the night of a terrific storm. On the way home from paying her last respects, Gwynneth is caught in another storm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, the stranger visits her at will and offers Gwynneth a gift--one that will stay the hands of death. Gwynneth is uncertain whether Julian is a savior or something more sinister... for as he shares more and more of this gift, his price becomes more and more deadly.

Buy Links:
Amazon
Musa Publishing
Barnes and Noble

Destiny

I've been away from my blog for awhile now. The holidays were quite busy, not to mention my kiddos were sick the whole time! I've also been working hard at finishing my edits for STRUCK and finishing up my next book VOICES so it can be submitted by the end of January. In other words, juggling life and work.
One major event that happened over the holidays, was that our dog started to have accidents in the house at night. That would be "major" for me since I'm usually the first one up--which meant I got to clean up! Thank goodness for wood floors. We've had Jasmine for ten years and this has never happened before. So, between kiddo trips to the doctor and the ER, getting my edits in on time, and trying to enjoy Christmas...Jasmine had to go to the vet. Fa-la-la.
I was crossing my fingers, hoping it wasn't her kidneys, which veterinarians really can't fix. We lucked out in a way, it turns out she is diabetic. Aside from an change in diet, we now poke her twice a day with insulin. Not a happy task, but it's made a world of difference in her quality of life (and the quality of my wood floors, haha).
So, I got to thinking. What would have happened if some other family would have adopted Jasmine? Would they have managed her diabetes? The insulin is quite expensive, as is the food. I can't imagine not going the distance on a pet, but there was a time in my life I wouldn't have been able to afford to.
Ten years ago, my husband "just happened" to hit the animal shelter minutes before Jasmine and her sister were scheduled for euthanasia. The sister ran away from him, but Jasmine...she gave my husband the benefit of the doubt. The shelter workers basically dumped her in my husband's arms--free of charge. I can't count how many times we've been in the right place at the right time; with animals, situations...even people.
Doggie destiny. We got an awesome dog, Jasmine gets a family that can afford her insulin. Right place at the right time.

I'm going to tie this post in with my novel, because I can. Forgive me if I switch gears a bit, from doggies to people, but here we go.

Have you ever met someone that you've clicked with instantly? You feel an instant attraction and kindred spirit with them. That overpowering feeling of, “I know what makes you tick” makes things effortless. Some would call this coincidence. But others may venture to say that your paths have crossed before. Destiny.
Timing is everything in a relationship like this, whether it’s a friendship or beyond. Have you wondered what would happen if the timing was different? Should it be? What if that connection wasn't meant to be in this lifetime--should you alter your path to make it so?
BETWEEN, a story of the paranormal. Find out whose paths have crossed before and what they’ll do to make them cross again.

Buy link
Excerpt

A Very Paranormal Holidays Blog Hop Winner

Thank you to all who followed my blog and liked my Facebook Page! (Feel free to friend me on Facebook too, I'm either here or there whenever I have a writer's block. haha)

The winner of my contest for an ecopy of my paranormal BETWEEN or my new paranormal gothic horror STRUCK (coming January 17, 2014) is....Michelle Willms! I sent you an email
Let me know which book you would like. You've also won an ecopy of COOKING WITH MUSA from my publisher.

I hope everyone has a fabulous New Years!

A Very Paranormal Holidays Blog Hop

Enter the Contests (at the end of this post) to win: an ecopy of BETWEENORan ecopy of STRUCK (coming January 17th)

(and) an ecopy of COOKING WITH MUSA from my publisher
All in the format of your choice!
I'll post the winner on December 31st
Also Enter the BIG Contest to win aKindle Fire HD, 7", wi-fi, 16GB (no 'special offers' aka ads)

Falling for the Villain
by Clarissa Johal


Heroes and villains. Writing paranormal and gothic horror requires using both, but I cringe at those character stereotypes. In my opinion, they are in the eye of the beholder. Aside from that, I’m not so sure that a character can be 100% hero or villain. If you want interesting, complex characters, that is. 

Let's define hero and villain...and then proceed to rip those definitions apart. Just for fun.
Hero: a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. *yawn*
Ignoring the obvious issue with defining hero as a man--courage, ability and brave deeds can go either way. I've read plenty of villainous characters who are quite brave. Let's use Captain Hook from Peter Pan as an example. It takes a lot of bravery to go against a boy who feels, "to die would be an awfully big adventure." Not only have the highest stakes been removed, but it makes you wonder where Peter's head was at. But the brave Captain Hook forged on and was eaten by a crocodile in the end. So sad.
We are left then, with "noble qualities." Noble qualities: an exalted moral or mental character or excellence.That boils down to moral--a distinction between right and wrong. Was Captain Hook moral? He was obsessed with "good form" and being fair, all of which point to moral. Peter, on the other hand, was abducting young children from their bedrooms and would "thin" them out (ie. kill them) when they got too old. Hm. Doesn't sound moral to me.
So if the definition of hero is dodgy, let's talk about villains instead. They are my favorite characters to write, after all. *evil laugh* I fall for them every time. 
Villain: A character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot.Evil: morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked. Pretty cut and dry. Immoral is the opposite of moral, that good vs. bad thing...but completely in the eye of the beholder.
Did Peter feel he was noble, moral and justified in his actions? Of course he did! Did Captain Hook feel the same about his own actions? That would again, be a yes. So which was the hero, and which the villain? Makes you wonder...and makes for interesting and complex literary characters.

While I understand the need for people to have their heroes and villains, I like to make people uncomfortable with that concept. One never knows which is which in my novels…and it’s all in the eye of the beholder.
Now onto the fun stuff...


BETWEEN 
How far would you go to redeem yourself?
As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn't come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every life can be saved. After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.  As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life...but a battle for their salvation.
*Second place in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2012

Excerpt from BETWEEN
BETWEEN buy links:
Amazon.com
Barnesandnoble.com Musa Publishing 

STRUCK
The shadows hadn't been waiting. 
The shadows had been invited. 
After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend and takes a job at a retirement home. She grows especially close to one resident, who dies alone the night of a terrific storm. On the way home from paying her last respects, Gwynneth is caught in another storm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, the stranger visits her at will and offers Gwynneth a gift--one that will stay the hands of death. Gwynneth is uncertain whether Julian is a savior or something more sinister... for as he shares more and more of this gift, his price becomes more and more deadly.

Excerpt from STRUCK

*Coming from Musa Publishing January 17, 2014


Author Bio:
Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Author WebsiteJoin me on FacebookTwitterGoodreads
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Enter the Big Contest to win a Kindle FireAuthors Kallysten and Tricia Schneider organized this Very Paranormal Holidays Blog Hop to share their love for paranormal romance, help you discover new authors, win books, prizes... and maybe a brand new
Kindle Fire!
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Please visit the other bloggers participating:


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Cover Reveal!

Coming January 17, 2014 from Musa Publishing
...a paranormal gothic horror

The shadows hadn't been waiting.
The shadows had been invited.

After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend and takes a job at a retirement home. She grows especially close to one resident, who dies alone the night of a terrific storm. On the way home from paying her last respects, Gwynneth is caught in another storm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, the stranger visits her at will and offers Gwynneth a gift--one that will stay the hands of death. Gwynneth is uncertain whether Julian is a savior or something more sinister... for as he shares more and more of this gift, his price becomes more and more deadly.

Cover Art Reveal!

Coming January 17, 2014 from Musa Publishing

STRUCK, a paranormal gothic horror
The shadows hadn't been waiting.
The shadows had been invited.
After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend who gets her a job at a retirement home. Upon discovering that one of the residents has died, she goes to the funeral home to pay her last respects. On the way home, Gwynneth is caught in a thunderstorm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, Gwynneth is visited by the stranger who seems to appear at will. He shares with her that he has a gift to bestow. At first, Julian seems to be offering a true gift, one that will stay the hands of death. But the gift comes with a price that Gwynneth is unsure of. As time progresses, Julian becomes more demanding, and his price, one that Gwynneth is unsure she is capable of giving. Is he all he seems to be, or something more sinister?

Grandma Got Run Over by a Gargoyle

Yes, it’s close to Christmas and I’m posting something about gargoyles. I’m a rebel like that. When you think of gargoyles, you automatically think of Jell-o. Okay, so maybe you don’t. But that is their favorite food. They've evolved into sugar junkies, all of them. So sad.I love gargoyles. I have a collection of them. And no, I don't let them run over my grandma. I love my grandma and gargoyles don't pull sleighs. But that would make for an interesting Christmas. My favorite gargoyle in my collection is Victor, the one in the Jell-o here, but I love them all. 
Originally, the term gargoyle was most often applied to medieval architectural work. A means of water diversion, both ornamental and non-ornamental, they were used to shed rainwater from buildings. The French term gargouille translates to "throat" or "gullet." But gargoyles have been around throughout the ages. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Etruscans and Romans all used animal-shaped, ornamental waterspouts. By the 14th century, waterspouts had evolved into all sorts of gargoyle images. They no longer acted as waterspouts but served more as ornamentation. 
Gargoyle ornamentation, or grotesques, were used as church guardians to keep out evil spirits or cautionary images to convey an idea. They represented the evil that lingered in the periphery and were used to scare people into coming to church. Animal or anthropomorphized gargoyles, those given human qualities in relation to specific animals, were especially useful. Utilizing gargoyles in this way, helped the conversion of pagans to Catholicism and provided a visual to a largely illiterate population. Gargoyle sculptures reached the pinnacle of artistic beauty with the Notre Dame de Paris and would lay the basis for centuries of gargoyle legends and lore. Technically, these grotesques were not pure gargoyles, but decorative depictions of monks, animals, people, chimeras and layers of mythical creatures, all crafted to guard the cathedral. 
I just like mine because they're cool. That, and Victor is a busy little guy and makes for some interesting photos which you can see in my photography portfolio here.
So, whether you use gargoyles as waterspouts, guardians, cautionary tales or photographic models, I do hope each of you has a wonderful Christmas.