Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 100
March 31, 2013
Monday Mishmash
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Easter We had a great weekend dying eggs, visiting with family, having eggs hunts, and seeing the Easter Bunny at the roller rink. Hope you enjoyed the holiday as well.Stalked by Death Book 2 in the Touch of Death trilogy releases August 13, and Barnes and Noble has it up for pre-order for only $6.59! Also, my SWAG is arriving tomorrow, and I can't wait!The Monster Within My April 2014 release through Spencer Hill Press is one of my favorites. I just finished copy edits on it, and I'm waiting to see my cover. Yay!Face of Death I'll be editing the 3rd and final book in the Touch of Death series this week. I'm excited but a little sad, too.Free Monthly Newsletter It's the first Monday in April, which means my newsletter will go out at 5pm (EST) this evening. If you aren't already signed up to receive it, you can do so here.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Easter We had a great weekend dying eggs, visiting with family, having eggs hunts, and seeing the Easter Bunny at the roller rink. Hope you enjoyed the holiday as well.Stalked by Death Book 2 in the Touch of Death trilogy releases August 13, and Barnes and Noble has it up for pre-order for only $6.59! Also, my SWAG is arriving tomorrow, and I can't wait!The Monster Within My April 2014 release through Spencer Hill Press is one of my favorites. I just finished copy edits on it, and I'm waiting to see my cover. Yay!Face of Death I'll be editing the 3rd and final book in the Touch of Death series this week. I'm excited but a little sad, too.Free Monthly Newsletter It's the first Monday in April, which means my newsletter will go out at 5pm (EST) this evening. If you aren't already signed up to receive it, you can do so here.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
March 28, 2013
Don't Compare Yourself to Others
You've probably heard people say that you can't compare yourself to other writers. In truth, you can. But you shouldn't. Why? Think about this. Your book comes out and you watch your release day sales. Your rank is good and you even make some best seller lists on Amazon. Great, right? Yes. But then you go to that place. The one where you wonder how So-and-so's book did on it's release day, which happens to be the same day as yours. Don't check! Seriously, don't.
Writer envy is never good. Writers should support each other, and we should also celebrate our own successes, no matter how they compare to others. Who cares if So-and-so's book did better out of the gate? Good for So-and-so. You aren't them. Your journey will be your own. Congratulate So-and-so and then be happy that people are reading your book.
The same goes for when you're querying. We all see other writers get agents and wonder when it will happen for us. Don't compare the number of rejections you've gotten. Don't think about how many months you've been querying compared to your friend. Be happy for other writers and keep pushing forward with your own work.
How do you avoid writer envy and/or the urge to compare yourself to others?
Writer envy is never good. Writers should support each other, and we should also celebrate our own successes, no matter how they compare to others. Who cares if So-and-so's book did better out of the gate? Good for So-and-so. You aren't them. Your journey will be your own. Congratulate So-and-so and then be happy that people are reading your book.
The same goes for when you're querying. We all see other writers get agents and wonder when it will happen for us. Don't compare the number of rejections you've gotten. Don't think about how many months you've been querying compared to your friend. Be happy for other writers and keep pushing forward with your own work.
How do you avoid writer envy and/or the urge to compare yourself to others?
March 26, 2013
Cover Reveal and Giveaway!
Today, I have the pleasure of taking part in a cover reveal that's also a scavenger hunt and giveaway! How awesome is that? Check out the cover of The Kelpie by T.J. Wooldridge.
I can't honestly say I was joking when I suggested to my best friend, Joe – Prince Joseph, eldest son of England's Crown Prince – that we could probably find something the police had missed in regards to the missing children. After all, eleven and twelve year olds like us did that all the time on the telly and in the books we read…
When Heather and Joe decide to be Sleuthy MacSleuths on the property abutting the castle Heather's family lives in, neither expect to discover the real reason children were going missing:
A Kelpie. A child-eating faerie horse had moved into the loch "next door."
The two barely escape with their lives, but they aren't safe. Caught in a storm of faerie power, Heather, Joe, and Heather's whole family are pulled into a maze of talking cats, ghostly secrets, and powerful magick.
With another child taken, time is running out to make things right.
To go along with sharing the simply gorgeous cover, author T.J. Wooldridge has enlisted several of her friends who have helped her in the journey of writing this novel to put together a special treat for you!Each day of the week, search for individual components of the cover--with a bonus piece of art on Wednesday--at these blogs. Collect the right words per the instructions, and unscramble the line of poetry to be entered to win one of three prizes!
Prize 1A handmade fused glass kelpie necklace from Stained Glass Creations and Beyond
Prize 2A handmade necklace from Art by Stefanie of Vic Caswell's rendering of the kelpie from the cover!
Prize 3An 11x16 poster of the cover of the Kelpie signed by T. J. Wooldridge and artist Vic Caswell5x7 cards of all the cover aspects featured in the Scavenger HuntSo, how do you take part in the Scavenger Hunt? Here are the details:
Monday 3/25Visit the Faery Castle at Kate Kaynak's blog: http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.co... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 10th word
Tuesday 3/26 Hop over to Scotland at Stained Glass Creations and Beyond: http://stainedglasscreationsandbeyond... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th wordCheck out an artist rendition of Heather MacArthur's family tartan with Aimee Weinstein at tokyowriter.comScavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word
Wednesday 3/27 Bonus Art!Meet Heather's dad, Michael MacArthur, at Valerie Hadden's blog: http://valeriehadden.wordpress.com/Sc... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word
Thursday 3/28 Cast your eyes upon the kelpie, itself, with Suzane Reynolds-Alpert at http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot... Hunt Goal: 2nd sentence, 2nd wordAnd feel the snark of Monkey, the fey cat with Justine Graykin at http://justinegraykin.wordpress.com/S... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 3rd word
Friday 3/29: Meet Heather's best friend, Prince Joseph at, who's hanging out with author Darby Karchut at http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com/Scav... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 17th word
And finally meet Heather, herself, who's hanging out with one of Trisha's editors, Laura Ownbey at http://redpenreviews.blogspot.com/Sca... Hunt Goal: first sentence, first wordCollect all the words and put them together in a poetic sentence, and enter them into the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of the three prizes:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So, what do you think of the cover and blurb?
I can't honestly say I was joking when I suggested to my best friend, Joe – Prince Joseph, eldest son of England's Crown Prince – that we could probably find something the police had missed in regards to the missing children. After all, eleven and twelve year olds like us did that all the time on the telly and in the books we read…
When Heather and Joe decide to be Sleuthy MacSleuths on the property abutting the castle Heather's family lives in, neither expect to discover the real reason children were going missing:
A Kelpie. A child-eating faerie horse had moved into the loch "next door."
The two barely escape with their lives, but they aren't safe. Caught in a storm of faerie power, Heather, Joe, and Heather's whole family are pulled into a maze of talking cats, ghostly secrets, and powerful magick.
With another child taken, time is running out to make things right.
To go along with sharing the simply gorgeous cover, author T.J. Wooldridge has enlisted several of her friends who have helped her in the journey of writing this novel to put together a special treat for you!Each day of the week, search for individual components of the cover--with a bonus piece of art on Wednesday--at these blogs. Collect the right words per the instructions, and unscramble the line of poetry to be entered to win one of three prizes!
Prize 1A handmade fused glass kelpie necklace from Stained Glass Creations and Beyond
Prize 2A handmade necklace from Art by Stefanie of Vic Caswell's rendering of the kelpie from the cover!
Prize 3An 11x16 poster of the cover of the Kelpie signed by T. J. Wooldridge and artist Vic Caswell5x7 cards of all the cover aspects featured in the Scavenger HuntSo, how do you take part in the Scavenger Hunt? Here are the details:
Monday 3/25Visit the Faery Castle at Kate Kaynak's blog: http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.co... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 10th word
Tuesday 3/26 Hop over to Scotland at Stained Glass Creations and Beyond: http://stainedglasscreationsandbeyond... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th wordCheck out an artist rendition of Heather MacArthur's family tartan with Aimee Weinstein at tokyowriter.comScavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word
Wednesday 3/27 Bonus Art!Meet Heather's dad, Michael MacArthur, at Valerie Hadden's blog: http://valeriehadden.wordpress.com/Sc... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word
Thursday 3/28 Cast your eyes upon the kelpie, itself, with Suzane Reynolds-Alpert at http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot... Hunt Goal: 2nd sentence, 2nd wordAnd feel the snark of Monkey, the fey cat with Justine Graykin at http://justinegraykin.wordpress.com/S... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 3rd word
Friday 3/29: Meet Heather's best friend, Prince Joseph at, who's hanging out with author Darby Karchut at http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com/Scav... Hunt Goal: first sentence, 17th word
And finally meet Heather, herself, who's hanging out with one of Trisha's editors, Laura Ownbey at http://redpenreviews.blogspot.com/Sca... Hunt Goal: first sentence, first wordCollect all the words and put them together in a poetic sentence, and enter them into the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of the three prizes:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So, what do you think of the cover and blurb?
March 24, 2013
Monday Mishmash 3/25/13
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Drafting I'm between edits right now, which means I'm drafting like a mad woman. It feels amazing to be writing a new book. Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Winner Congrats to Natasha for winning the giveaway. Natasha, I'm mailing your hard cover copy of The Last Little Blue Envelope this morning.Easter Anyone else feel like Easter crept up too quickly? I'm not ready.Cleaning After the past two weeks of crazy editing deadlines, my house is looking... Um, let's just say I'm hoping no one drops by for a few days while I get things in order again.The Monster Within The cover of my April 2014 YA paranormal The Monster Within (Spencer Hill Press) is currently being designed by the very talented Lisa Amowitz. I'm so excited to see it.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Drafting I'm between edits right now, which means I'm drafting like a mad woman. It feels amazing to be writing a new book. Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Winner Congrats to Natasha for winning the giveaway. Natasha, I'm mailing your hard cover copy of The Last Little Blue Envelope this morning.Easter Anyone else feel like Easter crept up too quickly? I'm not ready.Cleaning After the past two weeks of crazy editing deadlines, my house is looking... Um, let's just say I'm hoping no one drops by for a few days while I get things in order again.The Monster Within The cover of my April 2014 YA paranormal The Monster Within (Spencer Hill Press) is currently being designed by the very talented Lisa Amowitz. I'm so excited to see it.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
March 21, 2013
What's Your Online Presence?
I'm the first one to admit that I try to do too much. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, website, blog, Tumblr, Pinterest, Goodreads, and countless other online communities—I'm on them all. Sometimes I wonder how I find the time to visit all these sites. I also wonder if it's really important for me to be on all of them.
For me, the answer is yes. I have different people I talk to on each of these online platforms, and honestly, I don't want to lose touch with anyone. I like talking to readers and writers. I like escaping from my jobs to just chat. Does it take a lot of time for me to be all over the internet? Not really because I have a system.
When I wake up in the morning, I check out a few of these sites briefly. I'm talking 10 minutes top. Then I'll check them for another 10 minutes while I'm eating lunch. And then I'll check them again after my daughter goes to sleep. So in all, I spend about 30 minutes a day online. Not too bad.
How much time do you spend online and what sites are you on? Is it worth it to you?
For me, the answer is yes. I have different people I talk to on each of these online platforms, and honestly, I don't want to lose touch with anyone. I like talking to readers and writers. I like escaping from my jobs to just chat. Does it take a lot of time for me to be all over the internet? Not really because I have a system.
When I wake up in the morning, I check out a few of these sites briefly. I'm talking 10 minutes top. Then I'll check them for another 10 minutes while I'm eating lunch. And then I'll check them again after my daughter goes to sleep. So in all, I spend about 30 minutes a day online. Not too bad.
How much time do you spend online and what sites are you on? Is it worth it to you?
March 19, 2013
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (Review)
Summary:
R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.
And then he meets a girl.
First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn’t want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.
My thoughts:
I admit that I read this book because I'm dying to see the movie and I prefer to read the book before I see the movie adaptation. Having said that, I wish I would've read the book before I saw the movie trailer. Why? I love the trailer. It cracks me up. I thought the book would be more comedic than it is. Having said that, I did really enjoy the book.
I remember people saying zombies will never be big because they aren't sexy. Enter R. Even though I was grossed out by him describing the body parts he was eating, I still fell for him. He is trying to hold on to his humanity and be more like the living. How can you not swoon over that? I did. I wasn't crazy about Julie's character though. She was really mean to R's best friend M, and I didn't see a reason for it. He was helping to protect her. If she could see the humanity in R, I felt she should've seen it in M, too.
The dynamic between R and Julie was very well done though. There's plenty of conflict but I rooted for them despite everything they had working against them. I have to admit the ending was predictable, but even though I knew how the book was going to end, I still enjoyed it. It was the logical ending for them in my mind.
Just for fun: Can a zombie be sexy?
March 17, 2013
Monday Mishmash 3/18/13
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop If you are looking for the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop, click here. The giveaway runs until the 22nd.Thank you! Last Monday Touch of Death was the Daily Kindle Deal, and I was blown away at how many people downloaded it. I can't thank you all enough. It was an incredible day, so thank you for making it so special.Stalked by Death Final edits are finished. August 13 is just around the corner, and I'm SO excited to share this book with you. Poor Jodi is up against some really tough odds in this book.Editing I have three client edits lined up for the rest of this month and one already set for the beginning of April. I'm going to be busy. :)Love All The reviews are coming in for Love All and I'm so pleased! This book is special to me because I was in a similar love triangle in high school. So while the events in the book are fictional, the emotions are very much my own.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop If you are looking for the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop, click here. The giveaway runs until the 22nd.Thank you! Last Monday Touch of Death was the Daily Kindle Deal, and I was blown away at how many people downloaded it. I can't thank you all enough. It was an incredible day, so thank you for making it so special.Stalked by Death Final edits are finished. August 13 is just around the corner, and I'm SO excited to share this book with you. Poor Jodi is up against some really tough odds in this book.Editing I have three client edits lined up for the rest of this month and one already set for the beginning of April. I'm going to be busy. :)Love All The reviews are coming in for Love All and I'm so pleased! This book is special to me because I was in a similar love triangle in high school. So while the events in the book are fictional, the emotions are very much my own.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
March 14, 2013
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop
I'm participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Co-hosted by Books Complete Me & Author Cindy Thomas.I'm doing things a little different this time. I've spent in a fortune in international mailings lately, so if you live in the U.S. or Canada, you are eligible for either one of the print books or one of the ebooks. If you are international, you are ONLY eligible for one of the ebooks. Sorry, but at least this way I don't have to exclude anyone.
The winner will get his/her choice of ONE of the following books:
Paperback of Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings
Hardcover of The Last Little Blue Envelope
Hardcover of Troll Hunters by Michael Dahl
ebook of Love All by Kelly Hashway
ebook of Spectral by Shannon Duffy
ebook of Purgatory Reign by LM Preston
Simply fill out the rafflecopter below to enter. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And don't forget to check out the other stops in the hop.
March 12, 2013
Purgatory Reign by LM Preston (Review)
Summary:
Something evil this way comes...sadly for it, Peter Saints awaits.
Peter Saint's life stinks. But things are about to get much worst. First, his parents are murdered in front of him. Then another victim dies in his arms. Visions plague Peter with warnings that something wants him for a sinister cause. It desires the one thing that Peter refuses to give—his blood. Peter carries within him the one gift or curse that could unlock a secret to destroy the human race. On the run with Angel, a scruffy kid, Peter starts to unravel the mystery. It's the one treasure the heavens sought to hide from the world. Unfortunately, when Peter finds the answer that he hopes will save the girl he loves, he opens the door to a great evil that happens to be salivating to meet him.
Prices/Formats: $3.99 ebook, $12.99 paperback
Ebook Release: February 16, 2013
Paperback Release: May 18, 2013
Publisher: Phenomenal One Press
ISBN: 9780985025137
Pages: 368
My thoughts:
From having read Bandits, I knew LM Preston could nail male POV, and she does exactly that in Purgatory Reign. Peter is a character that you root for right from the start. He's had a really tough life, and just about everyone around him winds up dead. But then he's given a gift, although he sees it as a curse, at least a first, and it sends him running for his life.
The action scenes are really well done, keeping tensions high and the pace quick. Peter's relationships with Angel and later Kyle are fully developed with lots of twists. While I did predict one big twist, it didn't take away from the story at all.
The books does stand on its own, but it definitely implies there will be a sequel, one I'm looking forward to reading.
The blog tour includes a giveaway, so be sure to enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 10, 2013
Monday Mishmash 3/11/13
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Kindle Daily Deal! Touch of Death was selected to be the Kindle Daily Deal today! I'm beyond excited. For today ONLY you can get Touch of Death on Kindle for $1.99! Yes, I said $1.99! Squee!School Library Journal Touch of Death got a great review in the March issue of the School Library Journal. :)Happy birthday to my dad! Today is my dad's birthday. If you're reading this, happy birthday, Dad!Drafting put on hold I've had to put my WIP on hold for the time being. I have client edits and edits on my own books to get through, and unless I give up sleep completely, I just can't draft a new book right now. :(Giveaway I'm participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop on Friday. My post will actually go up on Thursday since they like them up early, so check back for a giveaway for some great books.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Kindle Daily Deal! Touch of Death was selected to be the Kindle Daily Deal today! I'm beyond excited. For today ONLY you can get Touch of Death on Kindle for $1.99! Yes, I said $1.99! Squee!School Library Journal Touch of Death got a great review in the March issue of the School Library Journal. :)Happy birthday to my dad! Today is my dad's birthday. If you're reading this, happy birthday, Dad!Drafting put on hold I've had to put my WIP on hold for the time being. I have client edits and edits on my own books to get through, and unless I give up sleep completely, I just can't draft a new book right now. :(Giveaway I'm participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop on Friday. My post will actually go up on Thursday since they like them up early, so check back for a giveaway for some great books.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
