Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 92

Writer Wednesday: Reviews

With everything that's happened since Goodreads changed their review policy, I decided it was time to share my thoughts on reviews. As an author, I depend on reviews. They sell books. But something we have to keep in mind is that reviews are not meant for the author. They're meant for other readers. When someone reviews your book, that person isn't writing the review with you in mind. They are sharing their thoughts on your book, and they are entitled to their opinion. No one, let me repeat that, NO ONE will ever write a book that every person on the face of the earth loves. It's not going to happen. You'll get great reviews, luke warm reviews, and even awful reviews. It comes with the territory. If you can't handle it, don't read the reviews. I don't. (Not unless my publisher posts them for me, because then I know they're safe.)

So what if you do come across a bad review? Do NOT comment on it. Please. While I don't think it's ever necessary for a reviewer to attack an author, I do feel people have the right to dislike your book. I haven't read the Hunger Games because the premise isn't something I can stomach, but at the same time, I give kudos to Collins for writing such a successful series. Millions of people love it. I won't even pick up the books. That's my right, and it's nothing against the author. 

Now there have been some reviews on Goodreads that are downright nasty and do attack the author instead of focusing on the book. For that reason, I can see why Goodreads changed their policy. I don't think they are trying to stop people from giving their opinions. I think they are trying to end the war that's been going on on that site for a while now. But in the same token, even if I read a review that was so awful to me personally, as opposed to my book, I still wouldn't comment on it. There's no need to. It's not worth jeopardizing your reputation. 

So my advice is to stay away from reviews. They weren't meant for authors anyway. We've already read our books and formed our own opinions about them. Let others have theirs.

What are your thoughts on authors commenting on reviews of their own books?

Monday Mishmash 9/30/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. What Haunts You  I'm taking part in the What Haunts You Online Halloween Creepfest on Wednesday, October 30 from 8-9pm. It's a Facebook event with 13 authors who all have one thing in common: loving all things creepy. And of course we'll be giving away some goodies. Join us here.

2. Face of Death Galley  I spent my weekend proofreading the Face of Death galley. I can't even put into words how sad I get when I read this book. First because the ending makes me cry every time, and second because I don't want this series to end.

3. October  October has always been my favorite month. I love the smell of it. Do you know what I mean? That crispness in the air that smells yummy? I can't get enough of it. I also got married in October, so there's that too. ;)

4.  Class Mom  I was chosen as Class Mom for my daughter's first grade class. Yay! I'm so excited. I already volunteer with the PTO and I love being at Ayla's school. Now I'll get to be there even more. :)

5. Forest of Whispers Cover Reveal  Today is the cover reveal for Forest of Whispers by the very cool Jennifer Murgia. How cool is this cover?


Raised by an old fortune-teller within the dark veil of the Bavarian Black Forest, Rune has learned two valuable lessons: only take from the forest that which you can use, and never, never look anyone in the eye in the village. For something terrible happened in the forest long ago... and now, the whispers of a long-dead mother with a vengeful secret have come haunting.
Forced to flee all she has ever known, Rune soon learns of a legacy she is bound to--one that is drenched in fear, witchcraft and murder--a birthright that stretches beyond the grave to the trees where Rune is no longer safe.
Title: Forest of WhispersAuthor: Jennifer MurgiaCover designer: Lisa AmowitzPublisher: Spencer Hill PressISBN: 978-1-937053-56-7 Release Date: September 9, 2014Formats: Trade Paper, e-bookGoodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18506004-forest-of-whispers

That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Meradeth Houston Paperback Release

Today I have Meradeth Houston talking about the paperback release of her book, Colors Like Memories. Take it away, Meradeth!

Hi! *waves* I'm incredibly excited to announce the paperback release for COLORS LIKE MEMORIES. The ebook release has been a blast, and it is especially awesome to actually hold the book in my hands :) Here are three things I think you might find fun about the book:


1. It's got a pretty sweet cover :) And I'm rather partial to the blurb:

Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.

2. There have been some pretty awesome things said about it (if I do say so myself, but I may be a bit biased). See:

-"...I applaud the author for providing a writing that has the power to encourage, inspire, help, heal and simply serve as a platform to stimulate communication for any reader (regardless of age), who is feeling hopeless. If you are looking for an interesting read, this book is well written, interesting and has several positive messages that the reader can take away from the story. I would recommend this book to any reader." TWC Amazon Review

-"Colors Like Memories was an amazing YA paranormal romance. It will make you soar with wings then drop you off and catch you once you get near the ground." Michelle Kullman Amazon Review

-"COLORS LIKE MEMORIES is an achingly beautiful tale of love, loss, and new beginnings. Meradeth Houston writes with a clean, clear prose that packs a punch. She carries her characters through the full spectrum of emotions, and the reader is swept along in the journey." RunningnWriting Amazon Review

3. You don't have to wait for book #2! THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE, also set in the Sary world, is already available, and you can grab a copy at Amazon, B&N, or my publisher MuseItUp Publishing. Book #3, SURRENDER THE SKY, will also be released soon :)

You can pre-order COLORS LIKE MEMORIES at my publisher's site: MuseItUp Publishing, or find it on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Ebook copies are also available on all vendor sites!

Those are my three things, and if that's not enough to interest you, well, I've also got a little giveaway running for a book of your choice. Check out the rafflecopter below :)

A bit about Meradeth:


She’s a Northern California girl, but now lives and teaches anthropology in Montana.When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.
Find her online:Website : Blog : Twitter : Facebook : Pinterest : Goodreads
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Writer Wednesday: Revise As a Reader, Not a Writer

I've always said reading is the best form of research for writers. When I need inspiration, I turn to a good book and just read. I learn the most that way. But I've learned that reading helps with revision too. How? If you want to know how your readers are going to look at your book, you have to read it as a reader and not a writer.

The best way to do this is to separate yourself from the manuscript for a while. Write something else and then come back to it. You have to almost forget the story so you can read it with fresh eyes. I can spot "telling" a mile away in someone else's book, but in my own, I have to step away and read like a reader to see it. You also have to keep in mind that the great backstory your MC has isn't known to anyone but you. You know what I'm talking about. All those details about their childhood that makes the MC who he/she is. If there's something you want the readers to know, you have to actually write it down. You may be thinking, "well duh," but seriously, I see this all the time when I edit for clients and I've even done it myself—just assumed the reader knows what I know. They don't. They only know what you tell them.

In the same token, your reader isn't inside your MC's head. If you don't share your MC's thoughts, your reader won't see them. Don't forget to have your characters react to things, either verbally, through actions, or through their thoughts. It makes your characters come alive on the page, which is what your readers want.

As a reader, I skip over mundane details, so when I revise as a reader, I delete those details. Why give readers a reason to skim your work? Then I replace those boring details with something my readers will actually care about.

Can you read your own work as a reader instead of a writer? Do you have any tips to share?

Monday Mishmash 9/23/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

Picture Day  My daughter has school pictures on Tuesday. I'll be helping out with them, which is always fun because the kids all look so cute.Final Edits  I'm working on final edits for Face of Death, which is so sad because I don't want to say goodbye to Jodi and Alex. :(Allergies  Anyone else suffering from awful allergies? My eyes won't stop watering and I have a headache just about every other day.Text to Speech  I love the text-to-speech feature on my Kindle, but it's been acting up lately—flipping through pages or just shutting off. Might be time to call Kindle and see if I have a faulty device. It's only a few months old.Editing Clients  Lately, quite a few of my editing clients are getting agents and/or book deals. It makes me so happy to hear their good news and celebrate with them. I have really amazing clients. :)That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Dominus by Christine Fonseca

It's no secret I love angel books, so obviously I'm a fan of Christine Fonseca's books. Today I'm sharing her most recent release, Dominus, book three in the Requiem series.

 
Sometimes death is the only way to save a life.

Nesy knows who she is now, knows what she's lost. Determined to save Aydan from his fate, she confronts the only one she blames for everything - Azza. But how can she fight the devil when she is nothing more than human.

The fate of Celestium, Infernum and humanity rests in Nesy's hands. Can she find the strength to confront demons she's never imagined, face fears she's never voiced, and release the one things that has held her world together - her love for Aydan. Some sacrifices should never be made...even for love.

Add it on Goodreads.


And in case you are new to the Requiem series, here are the previous titles:
 

What do you think? Have you read any of Christine's works?

Writer Wednesday: How Many Documents Does It Take To Draft A Novel?

Last week, I buckled down and finished drafting my sequel. I had been struggling with it because I wasn't able to fast draft for a while. Why? It's a sequel and I needed a ton of info in front of me to write it. So...here's what my workspace ended up looking like.

First, I opened my spiral notebook and made a chart listing chapter number, POV Character (it's dual POV), page number, and major event that happens. I also kept a list of trademarks I mentioned since my publisher requires that.

Second, I opened my synopsis I had to submit to my publisher.

Third, I opened my Scrivener planning document.

Fourth, I opened the previous book in a Word document.

Fifth, I opened the Word document I was drafting in.

Yup, five documents to draft one book. Am I crazy? Well, at first I thought so, but then I went from writing about 5K a day to writing anywhere between 10k-12k a day. That's a big difference. By the end of the week, I had the draft finished. I should mention I had 30K before the week began, but still, that's almost 50K in one week. 

So my organized chaos of a work area was important for me to succeed because I had everything I needed at my fingertips. What else was important was my friend and fellow author, Beth Fred. We were constantly challenging each other to word wars, which is really seeing how much you can write in a designated time. Look at that! We found a productive way to use the Facebook chat feature. :)

Has your writing space ever looked like organized chaos? Do you have things you need in order to draft?

Monday Mishmash 9/16/13

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

Scholastic Book Fair  I'm working at my daughter's school this week for the Scholastic Book Fair. You know that means buying lots of books. :)Fast Drafting  Last week I decided to clear my schedule and finish fast drafting the sequel to Into the Fire (which is called Out of the Ashes). It felt so good to write over 10K a day and finish the draft.Beth Fred's Blurb Writing Course  My friend Beth Fred is teaching an online crash course on writing blurbs. Her technique got her a 50% full request rate, which is impressive on its own, but it also snagged her an agent and a publishing deal. Classes start the first week in October, so click here to sign up now.Catching Up On Reading  Since I'll be busy at my daughter's school this week, I decided to focus on finishing up the books I've been trying to read during the end of summer. Reading is such a nice reward after finishing a draft, too.I Am Yours Cover Reveal  I'm so excited to share the cover of Faith Sullivan's upcoming book, I Am Yours. I love the Heartbeat series and the MC, Adam. *Swoon* I can't wait until October 8 when it releases! So here's the cover:
Adam is at a crossroads.
He has Katie on his mind and Jada in his bed.
Now with the ultimate choice before him, he must decide between fantasy and reality.
Katie's his dream girl, but Jada's his best friend, his partner. As a paramedic, he's supposed to save lives, not wreck them. Yet his failure to commit leaves a trail of heartache in his wake.
Things come to a head at his brother's wedding when a surprise announcement leaves Adam scrambling to pick up the pieces. Sure, women find his shaggy blond hair and aquamarine eyes irresistible. But to him, sex is nothing but a means of escape ... until it turns into a psychological trap.
His mind is telling him one thing, while his heart is beating another. He's not sure what he wants when it comes to a serious relationship. Sorting out his feelings, he finally comes to a startling realization.
He is capable of love. But what if it's too late?
Add it on Goodreads.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Friday Feature: Elixir Bound by Katie Carroll

I'm happy to have Katie Carroll on my blog today as part of the Elixir Bound Paperback Blog Tour. 


Katora Kase is next in line to take over as guardian to a secret and powerful healing Elixir. Now she must journey into the wilds of Faway Forest to find the ingredient that gives the Elixir its potency. Even though she has her sister and brother, an old family friend, and the handsome son of a mapmaker as companions, she feels alone.


It is her decision alone whether or not to bind herself to the Elixir to serve and protect it until it chooses a new guardian. The forest hosts many dangers, including wicked beings that will stop at nothing to gain power, but the biggest danger Katora may face is whether or not to open up her heart to love.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Katie in person as well as through the blogosphere, and she's a great person. She has a special treat for you today, so without further ado, here's Katie!


Thanks for having me and Elixir Bound on the blog today, Kelly! I have a long ago deleted scene from the book to share. It takes place the night before Katora and her companions leave for their journey into Faway Forest. Enjoy!

Katora gave up trying to sleep, tiptoed around her sisters, and headed downstairs. She had the intention of looking over the map one more time, but before she reached the study, a noise from the kitchen caught her attention. Tussar had such a low crime rate that no one bothered to keep a record of it. Only major crimes, like murder, which were usually caused by some terrifying creature of Faway Forest, were documented and kept in a book in the library.
She silently seized a fireplace poker and sneaked to the kitchen door, opening it a crack. Embers from the brick oven glowed and moonlight from the back window illuminated the fields outside, shedding a little light into the dim kitchen. With her sweaty hands still gripping the poker, Katora caught sight of what had made the noise. A large, shadowy figure stirred in a corner of the room where the moonlight didn’t quite penetrate.
Katora backed away from the door, raised the poker to strike the figure, and waited. When the door opened, light flooded into the dining room and elucidated the intruder. Katora recognized Hirsten’s figure on the threshold and stopped the poker from piercing his skull. He knocked her to the floor. The poker punctured his arm and fell, clanking loudly on the wooden floor.
Palafair, who bedroom was downstairs, emerged from his room, looking tousled and clutching a tiny knife in his hand. He chuckled as he trotted across the room to help the pair. He tucked the knife into its holder and examined Hirsten, who had only suffered a minor injury. While Palafair patched up Hirsten’s arm, Katora apologized profusely for the accident.
The late hour caused Hirsten’s serious demeanor to turn silly. He teased Katora by reenacting the fall through the door. Hirsten used the poker as a sword and pretended to fight Palafair, who played along for a while. Soon, though, the demick declared he required more rest and retreated to his bedroom.
Too worked up over the night’s events, Katora and Hirsten decided to take a walk. The night had continued the day’s warming trend. The rest of the snow had all melted and plumes of fog hovered just above the ground. The moonlight reflected off the mist, creating an eerie glow around the fields.
“I’ll be glad to have those cloaks your mother made. They should keep us warm enough during the journey.” The air was warmer than it had been during storm, but it was still cold enough for Hirsten’s breath to mist as he spoke.
Demonstrating the need for something other than bedclothes, Katora shivered in the night air. The pair wandered around the property. Hirsten’s reserved manner returned and he asked polite questions about the farm. Realizing her father had trusted Hirsten with the family secret, Katora indulged him with some of the specifics. She showed Hirsten around the fermentation house and explained a little about the processes involved in making essence. She finished the tour with a perusal of the cellar.
The moon had long since disappeared, and drowsiness settled over the nightwalkers. Soon after Katora had returned to her bedroom and Hirsten had found his bed on the floor of Bhar’s room, the nightingale ceased its singing and the lark’s voice brought in the dawn.

Purchase Elixir Bound on Amazon, B&N, MuseItUp, Smashwords, and iBooks.


Katie L. Carroll began writing at a very sad time in her life after her 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places, real and imagined. She wrote Elixir Bound and the forthcoming Elixir Saved so Kylene could live on in the pages of a book. Katie is also the author of the picture app The Bedtime Knight and an editor for MuseItUp Publishing. She lives not too far from the beach in a small Connecticut city with her husband and son. For more about Katie, visit her website at www.katielcarroll.com, friend her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter(@KatieLCarroll).
Thanks, Katie! 
And that's not all. Katie has a giveaway for you. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
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Writer Wednesday: Series vs. Standalone

I think it's probably obvious that I'm a fan of series. Touch of Death is a series. Into the Fire, which will release in January, is the first in a series. Even my MG coming out next year is a series. But is only writing series the way to go?

I'd say no. Not all my books are series, and I have mixed feelings about that. It's tough to say goodbye to characters. I like getting to spend more time with them after the first book. But not all stories need more than one book to be told. Writing a series for the sake of writing a series is never a good idea. Tell the story that needs to be told in the amount of books necessary.

In the future, I'll have a standalone published, and I'll be interested to see if it sells better because it's a standalone. What do I mean? Well, unless book one is a major success, sequels don't seem to sell as well. There's not as much hype surrounding them. I get that, but it's also sad from a writer's perspective.

What are your thoughts? Do you prefer to read or write books in series or standalone novels?