Barbara G. Tarn's Blog, page 177

Happiness is…

Six Sentence Sunday

In CVE – The Spell, Desiderio finds himself 100 years in the future… with only Brendan to guide him.

***

"You know, my lord, you have a wonderful name," Brendan said, breaking the silence. "Desire is all that you inspire!"

"Excuse me?" Desiderio glared at him.

"You're gorgeous." Brendan blushed and smiled.

***

CVE – The Spell is available on Smashwords and Kindle.

Now hop back to the official blog for more six sentence goodies! Happy Sunday!

Random Friday

I'll be a reader today instead of an author, even if DeAnna Knippling post on ebook pricing is mostly for authors! As you probably know, I bought my Kindle for my b-day last August. I downloaded some free writing books, but I don't know if and when I'll read them (I'm sick of non-fiction on writing, unless it's by Kris Rusch or Dean Wesley Smith – and I paid those, even if I could have read them for free on their blogs).

I also downloaded some paid fiction not available on Smashwords, and I'm trying to alternate those with my print TBR. As Smashwords sends that neat little "review reminder", I simply add books to my library – as soon as my TBR pile goes down, I'll buy 5 titles at the time from that library, starting with author friends. But when that will happen… I have no idea!

But before buying my Kindle, I had read many free PDF downloads for my historical novel research, both from Project Guttenberg and Gallica. So now I still look for classics on places like Project Guttenberg first, and the Kindle Store isn't the only place where I get my mobi files. If it's an indie author, I'd rather buy his/her book on Smashwords, so if I liked it, I can leave a review both there and on Amazon – although the fact that the different Amazon/Kindle Stores don't talk to each other and one needs to claim the profile at Author Central on all of them is quite bothersome.

So my main source will be Smashwords as soon as the TBR list goes down. That's because Smashwords has that reminder to leave a review, so I'd rather not let Smashwords titles sitting on my Kindle for months. My library (a.k.a. wish list) on Smashwords gets longer and longer, BTW…  Anyway, I'm not really a freebie reader in the first place, because I usually don't check the sample, so I'd rather be sure I'm going to like what I'm buying!

Now, because it's random Friday, enough of reading and moving on to movies! A short ex-cursus on Bollywood and sci-fi, based on the three movies I've seen so far:  Koi… Mil Gaya and its sequel Krrish, and Ra.One. Like action movies such as the Dhoom series that are a mish-mash of Hollywood action movies (Point Break, Ocean's Twelve, Speed…), with the addition of those lovely Bollywood songs (and dance numbers), the sci-fi titles are a mish-mash. KMG has of course E.T. (it deals with an alien stranded on Earth) and some of Rainman; Krrish copies more the superhero movies or the Matrix fights, Ra.One has bits of Tron, Final Fantasy and Terminator (and the most CG of all 3).

Two out of three have the geek scientist that creates or empower the villain out of naivety. All have strong family ties (mother or father/son, husband/wife). All mix humor and drama. And lovely dance numbers (especially with Hritik Roshan, yum! But More for the unconventional storytelling, actually, as they don't really follow Hollywood rules (thank God).

I still think Bollywood is at its best with epic movies such as Jodaa Akbar or those family melodramas or rom-coms. Which won't prevent me to check Krrish 2 (or 3, it's the third in the story, but the first had a different title, LOL). But that's because of Hritik, and I'm still the gal who pics movies mostly based on who's in it!

Wednesday's post was so long, that I'll keep this short! Have a great weekend and see you next week!

P.S. I have enrolled all the longer works published last year in the Read an Ebook Week on Smashwords… find the five BoI, Soul Stealers and TSK1&2 at 50% – only during the Read an Ebook Week!

At one minute past midnight Pacific time on March 4, a special Read an Ebook Week promotion catalog will appear on the Smashwords home page.  Readers can browse the catalog and search by coupon code levels and categories.  At the stoke of midnight Pacific time on March 10, the catalog disappears.

Happy reading!

Writer Wednesday

Elizabeth May's self-editing steps sent me in a Wordle spree with some of my novels – the published ones, so I'm not really using it to self-edit!

As you might know, I write character-oriented adult fantasy, and from this Wordle you can see who my favorite character in Air was:

In Earth I more or less managed to balance the presence of the four protagonists:

What do you mean that's not what I'm supposed to check? These books are already published, I won't edit them! I know my characters shrug a lot, scoff a lot, ask a lot, so what? Here's to Wordle!

OK, I'll use it also for upcoming works… to see if my characters have a balanced presence in order of importance, LOL! About the 8 steps… I must thank Tricia Kristufek for spotting my passive voice at least three times in Allan de Sayek – thanks, Trish! If you're looking for a good editor, contact her!

By the way (did I mention it must be Blog Award Season?), she blogtagged me… so, here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.

3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.

4. Let them know you've tagged them!

Her questions for me:

1. Favorite book, and why? Good question. I don't have a favorite at the moment. But I read the novelization of Star Wars (the original) 9 times back in the 1980s. Does this count? And I lost track of how many times I've reread Brunella Gasperini's books. All of them (the ones I could get my hands on, that is).

2.If you could be a lead character in a book, what type of book would it be? Considering that I'm a writer, I often "write parts" for myself! I used to be the warrior woman in the 1990s, now I'm slightly more feminine, usually more a magic user than a sword-master!

3. Reveal something unique about you that other's If don't necessarily know. I think I already answered that question in the previous awards… running out of secrets and unique things! I'm self-taught in writing, languages and history?

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I'd probably stick to Europe, but I want to get away from Italy.

5. What genre could you read exclusively and not get bored? I don't really stick to one single genre…

6. What's your favorite reading spot? On the bed.

7. If you could pick a period in time, where would you go? Middle Ages – I know, that's 1000 years, but so much changed that I can't be more specific… although probably the period I've studied for my historical novel (end of 12th century) would probably do. I should be male, though, so I could be a minstrel like Chretien de Troyes!

8. What's your favorite book quote? "The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense" Elisabeth – Pride&Prejudice by Jane Austen – but I could have said that, in my previous life during Jane's time!

9. What's your favorite color? Blue

10. Cake or pie? None. I'll take the sandwich, thank you!

as for tagging… well, Joleene lamented a lack of Blog Awards, then it seems right to reciprocate Ben and Georgina who awarded me this year… then again you who are staring at the badge and so badly want it on your blog, grab it. Answer my questions and let me know.

The 10 questions:

1. If you could play the role in one of your favorite books, who would it be?

2. Who would your co-star be in that role?

3. Favorite type of blog post?

4. What kills a book for you?

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

6. And if you could be in any movie, which one and with whom?

7. Favorite color and number?

8. What is the one thing in life you want to accomplish?

9. Name a song that makes you feel happy whenever you hear it.

10. What would your dream job be?

End of Blog Tagging!

Now I'm going to subscribe to Maureen Johnson's manifesto. I'm NOT a brand. If I wanted to be locked inside a box, I'd have queried traditional publishers. No, thanks, I'm proud to be indie, prolific and almost unbrandable. If I ever go to a convention and end up on some panel (yikes! *runs to hide in her writing cave*), I'll just be myself. I might fail to sell books to masses, but I'm sure I'll find my true fans.

And I will stay away from traditional publishers at the moment. Thanks to Joe Konrath and Kris Rusch for all the cons – if someone can point me to the pros, I might think about it!

Although it's not easy being an indie either. You may or may not be aware that Smashwords had changed their ToS related to bestiality, rape and incest in erotica, forced by PayPal. See the reactions at both TechCrunch and Self-published Author's lounge (especially in the comments). I don't write erotica, but I was hoping to use my PayPal account when I quit DayJob… sigh!

Now it's OUT! The one and only story of vampires you'll ever read from me! Go check it on Kindle and Smashwords! Or try the manga version if that's your thing!

Next week – Allan de Sayek, at last! Also, beta-readers wanted for a body switch story… thank you!

Happiness is…

Six Sentence Sunday

Continuing from last week, Chronicles of the Varian Empire – The Spell.

***

"Welcome to the Varian Empire," Brendan said.

"Empire?" Desiderio's heart sank and he stared at Brendan as if he were from another world.

"Yes, year 50 to be exact. It used to be a kingdom. Half a century ago."

***

Chronicles of the Varian Empire – The Spell is out on Kindle and  Smashwords.

Now hop back to the Official Blog for more six sentence goodies. Have a great Sunday!

Random Friday an another award

Oh, golly, it must be award season again in the blogosphere (might be the approaching Oscars? ). I got another blog award from wonderful Ben at story multiverse (thank you, thank you, thank you!) and it's called Kreativ Blogger Award (which sounds perfect for this creative barbwire here, LOL!)!

As it's been some time since I wrote things about myself and there are plenty of new subscribers to this humble blog *waves*, I'll try to go through the whole thing again. Rulz sez: pass on to 6 Kreativ Bloggers and tell 10 things people don't know about yourself.

So, as I know some people don't like blog awards and don't have time to ask around for permission, well, you – yeah, you who are staring at the award button and would like to wear it on your blog, grab it, post it and leave me a comment so I can read the ten things I don't know about you. And of course, pass it on!

Now, for the 10 things… *mumble mumble*…

1) I created Silvery Earth in my tweens, but even my sister couldn't recognize it when she read a novel set in the actual Silvery Earth. I guess it evolved – much like its creator and this very planet, LOL!

2) As my nephew admitted he's afraid of dragons, I'll have to introduce him to Dragonheart AND my own dragons (a.k.a. Fajrulo). Poor babe confuses dragons and dinosaurs – NOT the same thing! I forgive him only because he's 7, and still has a lot to discover!

3) For SKYBAND (see FB album) I bought a lot of tattoo mags (and googled "tattoo" a lot as well), as all the characters have at least two. I'd love to have one myself, but I don't seem to be able to take a pick. Sigh.

4) For a couple of years I did beads jewelry, but as I didn't sell much (tried to, but failed – I'm bad at marketing on all fronts! ),  it's still all there in a boots box next to the abandoned "lab" of materials. One day I'll have to go back to it, hopefully.

5) I have a brand new (5 years old – and I'm 46) passion for world movies, subtitles. I've always loved movies, but for the duration of my life in the 20th century I was stuck with the dubbed versions available in Italy. Thank God my English is now good enough to watch foreign movies subtitled (thanks, Amazon!).

Oh, boy, I've run out of things you don't know… sorry! Rulz sez 10, but I really have nothing else to say (and 5 is my favorite number anyway), so I guess I'll end up here. NOT cheating! Here's a list of the other blog awards and the posts that went with them!

Sunshine Award (May 25, 2010)

Versatile Blog Award (June 27, 2010)

One Lovely Blog Award & You're Going Places, Babe (July 7, 2010)

Spotlight Award (Aug.18, 2010)

Stylish Blogger Award (Jan.26, 2011)

Memestatic Award (April 4, 2011)

Liebster Blog Award (Jan 25, 2012)

Speaking of world movies, along with The Promise I bought Moolaadé because I was intrigued by the poster, and mostly by the pitch – when do I get the chance to see another African movie? In spite of winning Cannes Un certain regard, this movie was not dubbed at all, so the DVD was in original version (Bambara+some very bad French) with Italian subtitles. Like The Promise, sometimes people spoke but no subtitles came up. Sigh.

I loved the setting (Burkina Faso), so unusual from what I'm used to, and loved the story (yeah, I cried at the end, but it's very powerful). I'll have to watch it again to copy some clothes for SKYBAND, as my heroes have reached the former Black Empire which is based on Africa (and it's 300 years after Fire, so my original cover for Fire won't do. I'll have to show a change in clothes, LOL).

So it was a great surprise and a great discovery (especially for 3euros) that probably never came out in theaters, but is certainly worth watching. IMDB summary: When a woman shelters a group of girls from suffering female circumcision, she starts a conflict that tears her village apart. Worth every second of it, if your curious about the world and other cultures.

A long time ago (last year?) the Mighty Caricaturist (who, by the way, deserves the Kreativ Blogger Award, so, please Shafali, grab it and paste it on your blog, so we can all smile with you!) suggested an Indian movie that was NOT Bollywood. So, as I'm discussing world cinema, I'll be adding this specific title that is about India and it's culture, but doesn't have all the Bollywood songs that turn off most  westerners. It's a thriller, so I won't say anything.It's also shorter that the usual Bollywood 3-hours-movies (less than 2 hours), so if you like non-action thrillers, go check "a Wednesday!". And there's nothing funny about it, which is funny considering the source! Thank you, Shafali, for the great suggestion!

As (you guessed it) I got my latest Amazon purchases, the next reviews of DVDs will be… Bollywood again! Have a great weekend everyone!

Writer Wednesday

Kris Rusch spoke of the sneaky growth (very sneaky in my case, but I'm not despairing yet! ) and Dean Wesley Smith of the reasons for a Trade Paper Edition, for which personally I don't see a reason yet. Yes, I'm still with Lulu (since 2009) and sold 3 books (one print and 2 PDF downloads) in 2 years and 4 months, and I'm not going to leaving them anytime soon. Because, like I told him during the Publishers Workshop, Lulu handles European formats (which is still what I use to draw – A4 sheets), CreateSpace doesn't. And selling direct to bookstores in the US from ITALY doesn't make sense yet.

When I have a bigger catalog, I might see if I can get my books in the few local English bookstores, but it's a little early now. Or maybe I'll do a new edition with CreateSpace. But at the moment, ebooks are the only real way to reach my readers, in my humble opinion. Because I don't live in the US, so I'm aiming at an international market that is mostly on the internet. But this is just me.

I even added a folder with "print-only covers" on my FB profile, to show there are some print versions – actually some books that are ONLY in print, like the art books, or maybe two novels bound together because they're short, so I needed a new cover for them. (Scoop: here's the cover of the future print edition of CVE1 – The Spell + Allan de Sayek! Of course it's a composite of the ebook covers…):

I'm also putting PDFs of SKYBAND on DriveThruComics, and they have more views than the novels. Not a sale, yet, but apparently a graphic novel draws more attention on DriveThru. They also have the wonderful possibility of scheduling release, so I'll have the (back) issues out once a week, available every Monday morning, including the two Omnibus, so I'll have time (hopefully) to complete chapter 11 by the time I publish all the others (which have been on Lulu since 2009). I won't format this specific graphic novel for Kindle or Nook because it has prose pages that would be unreadable on e-reader screens… so I hope you enjoy the PDFs!

In spite M.Louisa Locke  saying why Self-published authors know best, I don't think I'm knowing more than anyone else, I'm just experimenting from my side of the pond and see what happens! I'm not experimenting with pricing, though, because I don't think making my books cheap or free will sell them. I'm totally behind Zoe Winters on that. I don't think the readers that go after the 99cents or free novels are real readers – like she says, they're downloaders. That's not what I'm looking for. Real Reader and Future True Fan, where art thou?

Now, you reader of this blog, even if you don't read my novels, please help me again in choosing a cover for the next release. Cover A is the original illustration for that story, dated 1997 or so (for which you can find the "manga" version on Barb&Masayo Stories), but it actually refers to the end of the story… so I did a new drawing (exhibit B&C) in two variations. What says thou, A, B, or C?

Thank you so much for your votes (and a special thanks to the mighty Joleene Naylor for checking the story before it comes out)!

Happiness is…

Six Sentence Sunday

From my latest release Chronicles of the Varian Empire – The Spell – Desiderio discovers what the spell did to him.

***

"Vittore, what's going on?" he exploded, bringing a smile to that Brendan's lips.

"You're not when you think you are."

Desiderio scratched his head. "This is Havenstock Castle, right?"

"Yes," Brendan grinned. "But your name is legend."

***

Chronicles of the Varian Empire – The Spell is now out on Smashwords and Kindle.

Now hop back to the official blog for more six sentence goodies! Happy Sunday!