Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 88

New Year, New Services

On Monday, I mentioned I was thinking of offering banner and button making services because I really enjoy making both. Several people said they'd be interested in a service like that, so...

I'm going forward with it. Here are the details, which now appear on the Editing  & Design Services page of this blog and my website:


In addition to writing and editing, I love making website banners and buttons. So much so that I'm offering banner and button making services.
Sizes:Website banner (940x400)Skyscraper (120x600)Small skyscraper (120x240)Button (300x250)
*Custom sizes also available.
Pricing:For a one-image button or banner of any size the cost is $25.If you already have an image you want to use, such as your book cover, the price is $15.Multi-image banners will be priced depending on the number of images you request.
Procedures:If you'd like a banner or button made, email me at khashway(at)hotmail(dot)com. Let me know what you are looking for (website banner, button, etc.) and your general vision for it. I'll search for the perfect image or images for you (if you aren't using your book cover or an image you already own). Then I'll send you thumbnails of those images for you to approve. Once the images are approved, I'll draft the design and once again send it to you to approve. You'll be able to request changes to it before your banner or button is finalized.
Examples:



So, I'm now a writer, editor, and designer. :)

Monday Mishmash 12/30/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. Spencer Hill Press/Spencer Hill Contemporary Twitter Chat  January 2 (Thursday) at 9pm is a SHP/SHC Twitter chat. I'll be there talking about my upcoming release, Face of Death. There will be lots of authors and good stuff, so check it out using the hashtag #SHP2014.

2. New Year's Goals  I'm setting my goals for 2014. I'll share them soon.

3. Fun with Banners  I've been creating banners for all my sites. I added the animated banner to this blog a while ago, but I just added banners to my Ashelyn Drake blog and my website. Here's what they look like:




I'm thinking about offering banner making as a service, so stay tuned for more info on that.

4. Darkly Delicious YA Feed Your eReader!  Over on Darkly Delicious YA, we've got a Feed Your eReader post telling you about all our books and the sales going on right now. Check it out here. 


5.  Editing  I had a mini break between client edits to work on a revision of one of my Ashelyn titles, but now I'm back to client edits. I have two scheduled and then I'll hopefully work on a YA paranormal I drafted a while back.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Extracted

Welcome to the war. The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it. The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream. Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war. When Lex's girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It's there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back. Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both again.

My thoughts:
I can't decide who I liked better, Lex or Ember. Both characters come alive and while they are essentially on opposite sides of this war, I couldn't choose between them. Not that I had to because Lex and Ember wind up working on the same side anyway. I loved how Ficklin and Jolley combined the concept of time travel with the way Lex and Ember are trying to remember their pasts. The two story lines overlapped perfectly and made it difficult to put the book down.

I also loved how the Tesla Institute rifters and the Hollows used different methods of time travel. It kept things interesting for both the reader and the characters who were trying to learn more about the people they were fighting with. But like I mentioned earlier, what made it impossible for me to get enough of this book was the way I was cheering along both sides. With the exception of one character who I could truly see as a villain, I fell for just about everyone in the story. I can't remember the last time a book made me care about so many characters at once.

This is a fast-paced read filled with adventure and emotion. Ficklin and Jolley are definitely two authors to watch.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating! I'm hosting Christmas so I'll be offline for the day, playing with my daughter, visiting with family, and enjoying the food my husband is cooking.


Enjoy the holiday and I'll "see you" Friday.

Monday Mishmash 12/23/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts.Christmas  I'm hosting Christmas on Wednesday, so my Wednesday blog post will be nothing more than a Merry Christmas wish to those who celebrate. See you Friday.Editing  I'm booked through January with client edits. One of my New Year's Resolutions will definitely be to make more time to write while I'm working on edits. I need to balance the two better instead of doing one or the other.The Labyrinth Wall Challenge:   Welcome to The Labyrinth Challenge! This is a cover reveal event celebrating Young Adult Author Emilyann Girdner’s upcoming book, The Labyrinth Wall. What’s the big challenge? It’s to hop around to all sites participating in the event (site links are listed at the bottom of this post) and count how many character quotes are from the main character, Araina. Circle back to Anything Imagined and comment saying how many Araina quotes were posted during the hop. Emilyann will wait to randomly select a winner from the comments on December 23rd at noon (Eastern Standard time). The winner will receive a $15 electronic Starbucks giftcard (just in time for the holidays).

The Labyrinth Wall Character Quote: “Reality worked its way into my dreams where it wasn’t welcome.” ~Saige
Without further delay, let’s kick off the book cover reveal and learn more about The Labyrinth Wall…




The tale of a young woman who discovers that although labyrinth walls confine her and her enemies try to repress her, the power of hope can set her free…

Araina’s isolated teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man emerge through a rippling wall into the dark labyrinth she calls home. As a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s Creators have unleashed a series of magical attacks using the labyrinth against its inhabitants. Now Araina must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to reach safety on the other side of the labyrinth wall.
Release Date:
Ebook: January 2nd 2014 - Amazon (Free download Jan 2nd - 6th2014)Paperback: January through Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Excerpt:(Find a different excerpt at each blog participating in this event)
Abruptly, a piercing sound fills the air. Our hands swarm to cover our ears and muffle it. Paralyzed and dizzy, I drop to the ground fearfully. The ringing is coming from the direction of the castle. The sound diminishes as quickly as it came.The ground shakes, causing the walls to seem as if they waver. Grinding and hissing noises unexplainably overcome the labyrinth. I shrink cowardly to the wall, bracing myself defensively against it for support. As I turn to check on Korun and Rase who were a few feet behind me, the sounds subside. Before my eyes settle on them, sudden pain engulfs me. Horrible anguish consumes me. It feels like a thousand swords submerge into my back and under my legs all at once. That’s the last thing I remember or feel.

The Labyrinth Wall Arcade Game: can you help Araina escape the labyrinth?
 
To subscribe for more updates, play games, and grab goodies (some are FREE), visit www.thelabyrinthwall.com !

Don’t forget to hop around to all the participating sites, count Araina’s quotes and comment how many you found on Anything Imagined (Emilyann’s website) for a chance to win that $15 Starbucks giftcard J
The Labyrinth Challenge Sites:
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Winter's Sweet Kiss

Winter’s Sweet Kiss
Publisher:  Roane PublishingRelease Date:  December 16, 2013 BEGINNING OF FOREVER  By Terri RochenskiBlurb: When Wayne Edwards moves to town, Lillian Douglas experiences stirrings she thought were long dead. Guilt ridden over betraying her deceased husband and the feelings Wayne inspires, Lillian reluctantly lets him in. Secrets of the past – an old promise emerges, but will it threaten their forever?
MELT  By Shaya RoyBlurb: Newlyweds in an arranged marriage, Naina and Dev go to the mountains of Shimla, India in search of snow. Unfortunately, they find fifteen inches more than they expected. Being snowed in with her husband is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives Naina an excellent excuse to snuggle up to her deep, quiet man, but every time Dev spurns her, a little more of her heart drips away. Melting the ice around her husband’s heart before the snow outside does might take more pride than Naina’s ready to surrender.
ONE IN A MILLION SNOWFLAKES  By Michelle ZieglerBlurb: Angela is in love with someone she can never have--her best friend, Rebecca’s older brother.
Stranded in the bitter cold after a disastrous blind date with yet another company Christmas party looming, a standing offer from the boss’ nephew gets a little more appealing. Desperation. Not a good sign. Surely when Rebecca rescues her from the blinding snow, she can also convince Angela to just go to the party alone. She can always count on her best friend.
That is, as long as she never finds out about Angela’s secret crush.
AN UNEXPECTED WREATH  By Annabelle Blume
Blurb: Stella’s got everything she needs in life: a great job, a beautiful house, and her independence. But on last minute trip to the local Christmas tree lot she finds something, or rather someone, she desperately wants - Grayson. An emergency trip to Target, an unexpected wreath, and a little Christmas magic make the season much brighter. 
SANTA BEBE  By Lily Carlyle
Blurb: Disillusioned by men and her belief that they see her only as an object, Bebe is determined to find a man with money. Her geeky, but unfailingly kind, next-door neighbor James tries to convince her of the possibility of real love, even as she reveals to him the troubled childhood that made her so cynical about relationships. When her mother dashes her hopes for a perfect Christmas, Bebe finds herself turning to James once again, and in the process, learning a lot about herself and the promise their relationship holds.
Add it on Goodreads.


An Unexpected WreathBy Annabelle Blume
Blurb:Stella’s got everything she needs in life: a great job, a beautiful house, and her independence. But on last minute trip to the local Christmas tree lot she finds something, or rather someone, she desperately wants - Grayson. An emergency trip to Target, an unexpected wreath, and a little Christmas magic make the season much brighter.Excerpt:"It's great you paid attention to your Stranger Danger lessons, but I'm not a serial killer.""How do I know that?""Because I'm telling you I'm not."His lackadaisical drawl infuriated her."Oh, and I suppose Ted Bundy passed out business cards listing his profession as a psychopath?""Here.” He handed over his business card. “See, not a psychopath or a killer. Just a guy who owns a Christmas tree lot. Let's get this to your place before it grows roots, and I have to chop it down to sell again next year."The clean, white rectangle in her hand listed one Grayson Harris, owner and CEO of Harris Enterprises, LTD, as well as all pertinent contact information. She tucked it into her purse and resumed her uptight attitude, for good measure."Fine, now if they find me buried under the begonias in the spring, they'll know who did it. I'm just off Clemson Road. I drive fast. Keep up."
About Annabelle BlumeAnnabelle is a best selling Romance and New Adult author, that is, when she's not checking homework or begrudgingly cooking dinner. Wife, mother, and creator of alternate worlds, Annabelle has a penchant for that which is outside the norm.
Her degree in Sociology has given her the ability to construct worlds that exist only in her head and translate them passionately to the page. The time spent studying individuals, interpersonal relationships, and particularly, women, within the constraints of our society led to Annabelle's unabashed ability to talk about sex as it fits into our modern lives.
She's also the author/personality of The Bombshell Mommy at Vitacost.com where she helps modern Bombshells and their families live “green”.
Read about her adventures in writing at www.AnnabelleBlumeBooks.com.Follow her on Twitter @AnnabelleBlume and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnnabelleBlumeAuthor
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Writer Wednesday: I Have Great News!

Remember what I asked Santa for this Christmas? The one thing that I truly wanted? The thing I've been telling you about a lot lately? Well, Santa delivered. As of yesterday afternoon, I have an agent again.
This time around, I sent out very few queries. Why? I knew who I wanted to represent me. I had my heart set on one agent. But I didn't query that agent first. Part of me was scared she'd reject me and I'd be crushed. But my good friend, Beth Fred, told me that agent would be the perfect fit for me. So I listened to Beth and got in touch with the agent. 
I stressed from the moment I pressed send on my query. And the very next day, I got a request for a full from that agent. I jumped up and down—yes, literally. I was so excited. But the moment I sent off the full, I stressed again. And I asked Santa to bring me a very specific gift. I wasn't looking for AN agent. I was looking for THIS agent. My gut told me we were a match.
Yesterday morning, I woke up to an email from this agent, saying she wanted to talk about my manuscript. I spent my day playing Sega (yes, I'm that old) with my daughter to keep my mind off the phone call I was waiting to get.
Then I had a great conversation where I heard the words, "I'm officially offering on this manuscript." I wanted to cry tears of joy. I accepted on the spot because Santa delivered the best Christmas gift ever.
Thank you, Santa, because I can now say I'm represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Monday Mishmash 12/16/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Touch of Death in the YA Highway Cover Story Post!  Over on YA Highway, they did an awesome cover story post where they created a story and used book covers to "illustrate" it. Touch of Death was among the covers! Yay! You can check out the post here.Editing  I'm swamped with client edits through mid-January. I'm loving it, but I need to find a way to sneak in writing time, too.Christmas shopping  Ugh, I'm STILL not finished shopping. The snow this past weekend cancelled my shopping trip, so I'll be out there with all the other last-minute shoppers.School Visit Guest Post  In case you missed it, I was on Sarah Negovetich's blog talking about school visits. You can check it out here and feel free to ask me questions. (Sarah's blog is a wealth of information, so if you haven't checked it out yet, go now! Seriously!)Querying  I'm nearing the point where I should hear back on the fulls I have out. I'm biting my nails (Figuratively speaking. I love my long nails.) and still hoping Santa brings me a new agent.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Daughter of Isis

“Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

My thoughts:
First, please see the note above. This is definitely for upper YA. There is sexual content and drug use in this novel, so it's better suited for older teens. Having said that, Natti is new in town and she immediately notices Seth O'Keefe—or more like she runs into him in several situations where he is all over girls at school. Every girl is obsessed with Seth and wants to become his next "play thing". Every girl except Natti. She feels weird when Seth is around and gets a lot of headaches, which (thanks to the third person narration) the reader knows is a result of Seth trying to "charm" Natti. She's not like other girls Seth has met and he can't seem to win her over. Or so he thinks. Despite Natti trying to avoid Seth, she finds herself wanting to be around him just as much as she wants to avoid him. Their relationship is extremely complicated, and as Natti learns more about her grandmother's death and what it means for Natti, her relationship with Seth becomes even more complicated and intense. 

I liked the dynamic between Natti and Seth because Ketch does a very good job of showing how Natti tries to resist Seth and how Seth tries to resist his urges to "charm" Natti once he begins to develop real feelings for her. My only negative with this book was the use of exclamation points. There were some points where several sentences in a row ended with exclamation points. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, so I'm sure most people wouldn't even notice this.

Overall, it's a quick read that keep my attention. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

Writer Wednesday: The Age of the Hybrid

Lately, I've seen more and more authors opting to go hybrid. They are both self publishing and publishing traditionally. Honestly, I think this is smart. Not all books are suited for traditional publishing. Some do better off as self-published titles. Other books need the traditional structure and the power of a marketing team and budget behind them.

I know an author who is a fantastic writer but is struggling to find an agent. The reason rests in the genre she writes and the agents she's queried have told her that. For her, I think self publishing could build her platform so she can get other books picked up by traditional houses.

I've seen other authors who self publish but don't have great sales, and I can't help wondering why they strictly self publish instead of submitting some books to traditional publishers. Traditional publishers have more reach than a one-man operation. When you have a great book, sometimes you need that push a traditional publisher can give you.

So I think it comes down to deciding what's best for each individual book. What would reach more potential readers—and that's not always traditional publishing. 

What are your thoughts on this hybrid model of both self publishing and publishing traditionally?