Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 82

Writer Wednesday: Tell Me What You Want

Did the title of this post make anyone else break out into a Spice Girls' song? No? Just me? Okay, then. Moving on… I've been thinking about goals a lot lately. I've mentioned that I really want to be a NYT Best Seller, but there are a lot of other things I want too. Things that will most likely happen first. 
So here's my list:To sell foreign rights for one of my booksTo have one of my books optioned for filmTo sign with a big name publisherTo get an advance that makes me so blown away I cry and start planning a vacationOkay, so that's my dream list, but do you know what? There will always be something that comes before all of those. Something that will mean more to me than all of them combined, even hitting the NYT list. And that's hearing from someone who loved my books. Nothing makes me happier than getting a letter from a fan telling me how much my story touched them or how they couldn't put it down. I read because I want to become immersed in another world and feel what the characters feel. I'm so thankful to all the authors who have allowed me to do that, and hearing that I did that for a reader is the best feeling ever.
So, yes, I want to be a NYT Best Selling Author. I do, but I want to connect with readers more.
What about you? Tell me what you want, what you really, really want. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Monday Mishmash 5/19/14

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

The Monster Within MONSTER Giveaway  If you missed my post last Friday, I'm giving away a copy of The Monster Within, SWAG, two other YA novels, and a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card. Enter here. And here's another teaser quote for you. Website Updates  I've become obsessed with updating my website. I just added a pretty rotating banner to it as well as redesigning the entire site. Feel free to check it out here.BEA  I can't wait for BEA. I'm such a little kid. I have two signings (Thursday and Friday) and an author breakfast panel (Friday). Yay!Proofreading, Editing, and Drafting  This week I'm proofreading Into the Fire, editing for a new client, and continuing to draft a new book. The Devil Made Me Do It Cover Reveal  My fellow Darkly Delicious YA author Shawna Romkey has a new book coming out. Check out this great cover.
Lily is working with the angels to stifle the last of the demon outbreaks and to figure out how to stop the Silence of God, so life can get back to boring normality. But all hell breaks loose when she’s stolen from school and brought face to face with the devil himself. Lily has to find her way back home to Luc, crack the prophecy that breaks the curse silencing God, and figure out how she and Luc can ever really be together; but Lucifer has other plans for her that don’t include her ever getting out of Hell in tact.

Coming July 1, 2014
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: The Monster Within MONSTER Giveaway!

Squee! There's one month until the release of The Monster Within! That means it's time to celebrate! And what better way to celebrate than by having a giveaway? But before we get to the giveaway, check out the cover and blurb for The Monster Within.
The moment seventeen-year-old Samantha Thompson crawls out of her grave, her second chance at life begins. She died of cancer with her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, by her side—a completely unfair shot at life. But Ethan found a way to bring her back, like he promised he would. Only Sam came back wrong.
She's now a monster that drains others' lives to survive. And after she kills, she’s tortured by visions—glimpses into her victims would-have-been futures had she not killed them. Barely able to live with herself and trying to make things right, Sam ends up a pawn in a vicious game of payback within the local coven of witches.
But when the game reveals what Ethan had to do to save Sam, she must make a choice that will change all their lives forever.
Publisher: Spencer Hill PressISBN:  978-1-937053-85-7Release Date: 6/17/2014Formats: Paper, e-book 
Add it on Goodreads.Pre-order on B&N or Amazon. 
So, what can you win? 



1 signed copy of The Monster WithinThe Monster Within bookmarksa mask (winner's choice of purple, green, or gold)a mood ring (winner's choice of small, medium, or large)a triquetra necklace (not shown in picture)a paperback ARC of Cold Call, a YA thriller by Charles Benoita hard cover copy of The Magnolia League, a witchy YA by Katie Croucha $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner's choice; gift card not shown in picture)

Sound good? Enter by filling out the rafflecopter below.

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Writer Wednesday: Review Pledge

Lately, I've seen a lot of writers online talking about why readers don't always leave reviews. Honestly, if you love books and want to support the industry, then you should review those books online. It doesn't take long to write a review, and you can copy and paste it on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. So why don't more readers do it?
I don't know, but I've decided that since I want others to leave reviews for my books, I'm going to make a real effort to post reviews for the books I read. I'm good at posting reviews on my blog, but sometimes I forget to post to Amazon, etc. Not anymore. I'm going to make sure my reviews go up all over. Why? Because reviews help authors. Because reviews don't have to be really long or take up too much time to write. Because I love books.
So today I'm asking you to join me in pledging to review the books you read. Even if your review is a brief paragraph, you're helping authors and potential readers. It's worth it. Who's with me?

Monday Mishmash 5/12/14

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:Back to the eye doctor  I picked up my new glasses on Friday and when I brought them home, I found out one of the lenses is not the correct prescription. *sigh* So I'm going back again today. The Monster Within Monster Giveaway  The big giveaway I'm planning for The Monster Within begins this Friday. Want to join me? Sign up here. And here's a teaser for you:  Mother's Day  I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day. I had a great day with my family.Editing  I'm playing catch-up this week with client edits since my eye drama last week made it very painful to sit in front of the computer screen for very long.Curse of the Granville Fortune  I had a cover reveal on Friday for my debut middle grade novel, Curse of the Granville Fortune, which releases October 22, 2014 through Tantrum Books. Check it out!
Find the fortune, break the curse!
The hunt is on for an ancient treasure tied to nine-year-old J.B.'s family history. He's been having visions that make him sweaty, lightheaded, and certain he’s turning into some kind of freak—or worse, going insane. But things are worse than he imagined. The visions stem from a family curse. An ancient ancestor was accused of stealing the massive Granville fortune, and now J.B.’s entire family will suffer.
To break the curse, J.B. must find and return the Granville’s stolen property. But he's not the only one searching for the treasure. As he sets out on his journey through a dark and foreboding forest, he'll battle his worst fears and fight terrifying creatures along the way. And when he meets two others who share the missing pieces of his visions and suffer from the same curse, the three soon realize they need to work together to break the curse before it's too late.
That's it's for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Who R U Really?

To celebrate the cover reveal for Who R U Really? Margo Kelly is giving away TWO Advance Reader Copies of the book! Visit www.margokelly.net to enter by Sunday, May 11, 2014!

WHO R U REALLY?by Margo KellyMerit Press -- September 18, 2014

Thea's overprotective parents are driving her insane. They invade her privacy, ask too many questions, and restrict her online time so severely that Thea feels she has no life at all. When she discovers a new role-playing game online, Thea breaks the rules by staying up late to play. She's living a double life: on one hand, the obedient daughter; on the other, a girl slipping deeper into darkness. In the world of the game, Thea falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can't defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends.
Soon, Thea is all alone in the dark world with Kit, who worries her more and more, but also seems to be the only person who really "gets" her. Is he frightening, the way he seems sometimes, or only terribly sad? Should Thea fear Kit, or pity him? And now, Kit wants to come out of the screen and bring Thea into his real-life world. As much as she suspects that this is wrong, Thea is powerless to resist Kit's allure, and hurtles toward the same dark fate her parents feared most. Ripped from a real-life story of Internet stalking, Who R U Really? will excite you and scare you, as Thea's life spins out of control.

About the Author: Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, Margo is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her debut novel and will be published by Merit Press in September 2014. Margo welcomes opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs.

Links:WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebookBarnes & Noble Amazon

Writer Wednesday: Battling Nerves at Author Events

Today's topic came by request from Taurean Watkins after last week's Writer Wednesday post about enthusiasm. Taurean wanted some tips for how to handle author events if you are shy or if you get extremely nervous talking about your books. So, here are my tips for you all.
If you get nervous talking about your own books or approaching potential readers, bring a friend or family member along who has read your book and is willing to talk you up. The advantage of doing this is that someone else is enthusiastically promoting you and your work, so you won't come off as the author who loves to talk about him/herself. This person can greet people as they come into the store, library, or wherever you are holding your event. They can invite people to come meet you and check out your books. 
Now, what do you do when people come up to you if you're shy or nervous? If you're hands shake, then I suggest holding something. Got a stack of business cards, bookmarks, or other SWAG? (You should!) Hold it and hand the SWAG to whoever stops by your table. That will give your hands something to do to keep from shaking and to keep you from fidgeting.
Next, ask people what kind of books they like to read. This takes the focus off you and gets the potential reader talking. Feel free to discuss books you love, too. It doesn't and shouldn't just be about your book that you're selling. Make a connection and have a real conversation. That should put you more at ease and get you talking. Don't like talking about your book and feeling like a salesman? That's fine. Encourage people to pick up your book, to read the blurb, and to flip through the pages. Some readers prefer to read the back cover than to ask you what the book is about.
Too nervous to ask people to sign up for your newsletter/mailing list? That's fine, too. Have a sign-up sheet front and center so it's visible. Want to offer more but fear you're too shy? How about making a YouTube video ahead of time and then bringing a laptop so people can view the video? When you make a video, it's just you talking to your computer. The pressure of face-to-face interaction isn't there. But…by playing the video for people, you are giving them that interaction they want without having the in-the-moment pressure.
I hope these tips are helpful, and if you have any to add, please leave them in the comments.

Monday Mishmash 5/5/14

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:Beth Fred's Blurb Writing Course  My friend Beth Fred is teaching another blurb writing course in June. This is the method she used when she queried and it got her a 50% full request rate. If you want to sign up, you can do so here.Free Monthly Newsletter  My free monthly newsletter goes out this evening. If you aren't signed up but would like to receive one, click here.New Manuscript  My latest YA manuscript is off to betas and will be in the hands of my CPs soon too. I'm so excited about this story and these characters.Curse of the Granville Fortune  The cover of my upcoming MG fantasy, Curse of the Granville Fortune will be revealed on May 9th! I'm so excited! It's awesome guys. Really awesome!Editing, eye doctor, and lunch dates  This week I have client edits to attend to, an eye doctor appointment, and lunch dates with friends. I'll enjoy all but the eye doctor visit. ;)That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Son of Set by Kelsey Ketch

Son of Set (Descendants of Isis #2) 
By Kelsey Ketch
Release Date: May 2nd, 2014
Upper Young Adult FantasySummary from Goodreads:“. . . the Sons would never just let him go—alive.”Seth O’Keefe has broken the laws of his god. He never thought he would sacrifice his own future to protect a Daughter of Isis. But when the Sons of Set discovered Natti is the Secret Keeper, he had no choice. Now, Seth and Natti are on the run from his father, who wants nothing more than to see Seth dead. With no allies, Seth turns to the Daughters of Isis for help, hoping they would protect Natti. But when they meet the Daughters, he discovers a secret that puts both their lives in more danger. Low on options, Seth sees only one possibility for survival. He must help Natti solve an ancient puzzle and find the secret name of Ra.Natara “Natti” Stone is having a hard time swallowing the truth. She can’t believe what she has learned in the past twenty-four hours: Seth is a Son of Set blessed with charm; she is a Daughter of Isis blessed with a sliver of Ma ‘at; the locket her grandmother gave her holds an ancient Egyptian secret linking to Osiris and Isis. That along with being tortured and brutalized by the Sons of Set, she can hardly hold herself together. Thank God for Seth’s touch! That warm, tingling sensation that drowns it all out. Yet her heart struggles to stay focused. She must quickly embrace her destiny before the secret name of Ra falls into the wrong hands.*Note: Content for Upper YA* Available at:       Book One:
(Linked to Goodreads) ***Daughter of Isis is Free for Today Only at:***
  ***Some Praise for Daughter of Isis***"Daughter of Isis is an addicting and enthralling read brimming with Egyptian mythology. Readers will be pulled into the story after simply reading a page!" —Emily, Reader Rising“I always enjoy a good book about Mythology and Daughter of Isis brings a thrilling modern day spin to one of the tales. Kelsey Ketch wove the story perfectly and sucked me right into her magnificent world.” —Naomi, Nomi's Paranormal Palace***Excerpt From Son of Set******Warning: Excerpt May Contain Spoilers***Chapter 1Seth wrung a blood-soaked hand towel until the fabric pinched the flesh of his aching palms. Droplets of Natti’s diluted blood trickled into the running water. When the cotton began to dry, he drowned it again and wrung it out even tighter. Yet, no matter how sore his hands were, the haunting bloodstains on the towel wouldn’t wash away. Exhausted and frustrated, he tossed the towel into the basin. He slammed the faucet off, leaned over the counter, and stared at his reflection. Dark circles and black kohl accented his turquoise eyes. Large, swollen bruises coated his lightly tanned skin, each screaming with the slightest movement. Dry blood encrusted his wrists. His back ached and his knees were coated with grime. Even so, his injuries carried little pain compared to the memories he was still trying to process: his own father, Sean, drawing Seth’s Glock 38 on him at the hospital; being chained down in Set’s Temple and listening to Natti’s screams while his father dosed her with synthetic scorpion venom; watching Sean enslave her essence; seeing the ceremonial dagger poised over her breast. Seth shoved his fingers through his copper hair, trying to force the images out of his mind.A soft moan, a harsh groan, and then a scream echoed from the next room. Seth’s overwhelmed system surged with adrenaline. He raced into the bedroom of the hotel room. Natti had her back pressed against the pillows and headboard as she manically swiped at the old, floral bedcover. She abruptly withdrew her hand with another scream and began to cower, her knees brought up to her chest.“I don’t know,” she bellowed. “I don’t know.”“Natti?” Seth rushed to her side. He stared at the bedcover, trying to determine who or what she was shouting at.Natti turned her glassy eyes to him with a gasp. She scrambled sideways, and Seth had to catch her before she fell over the edge of the king-sized bed. Her panicky screams transformed into desperate cries for help. Afraid someone would hear her, Seth quickly covered her mouth. She struggled against him for a brief moment before she finally went limp in his arms. Her silver-violet eyes were filled with fear.“Shh,” Seth cooed, trying to keep his own heart from leaping out of his chest. He stared into the eyes that had bewitched him on the first day they met. When she looked back at him, it was like she was gazing at a stranger. He swallowed a lump that formed in his throat and slowly raised his fingers from her lips.“I don’t know,” she whimpered. “I don’t know. I swear, I don’t know.”“Natti, it’s me,” Seth whispered, mentally begging the gods to help her. “It’s Seth. We met at school in mid-September. I rescued you at the festival. I helped you escape from the temple. Don’t you remember?”Her body tensed under his hold, and her gaze went wild while she scanned the room. “Oh God, please. . . . I don’t know.”“Natti.”She wasn’t paying any attention to him. Her eyes were beginning to dilate, and her body vibrated with fear. Seth finally called on his blessing from Set, his magical charm, to try to calm her, but her mind was too wired and her veins throbbed under his touch. She suddenly screeched and thrashed violently in his arms.“No. No, stop. I don’t know.” Her anxiety was building. Grabbing hold of her flying fists, Seth pinned her down on the bed. Her back arched and her legs kicked while she attempted to wrench herself from his grasp.“Natti, stop,” he ordered. “Stop!”***Giveaway***Daughter of Isis Journal and Natti Swag Pack (INT)
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During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.      

Writer Wednesday: Enthusiasm Goes a Long Way

You know those authors who spam you with buy links all the time? Well, I think most of us know that's not the best route to take when you want to get the word out about your books. But you don't want to go in the complete opposite direction either, where you don't even tell people you're a writer. First, you should be proud of what you do, because writing a book is a great accomplishment. And second, you should be enthusiastic about what you do, because that will make other people excited, too.
I went to an author signing this month and met a very young author. She self-published her novel and while she knew that this wouldn't be her best book ever because it was the first novel she ever wrote, she had this enthusiasm that made people stop at her table and talk to her. She greeted everyone who walked by and told them all that she's a teenage writer. She was proud of that fact. She wasn't trying to push her book on them. She was simply sharing her love of writing with those around her. Because of this, people listened to her, asked her questions, and even told others about her. Before the event was over, she was interviewed by the local TV station because she stood out for both her age and her enthusiasm.
I think we all can learn something from this young girl. Author events are about making connections and sharing our love of books and writing. If we focus on that, people will be drawn to our enthusiasm, and we just might sell more books in the process.