Cyndi Tefft's Blog, page 15

What I Learned From a Werewolf

My hubby and I went to see the final Harry Potter film last night (it's so hard to accept that it's really over! *sniff*) and Remus Lupin had a line that stuck me in the heart. Looking out at the hordes of bad guys storming the school, he said (maybe not exactly, but close):

"It's the strength of your conviction that matters, not the number of your followers."


Or perhaps, the strength of your followers' conviction.

Earlier that day, a woman from church came up to me and said "I finished your book and I loved it!" Before I could even thank her, she demanded "Now I need that sequel! When is it coming out???"

For a moment, I was startled by the strength of her conviction (that is, until her words registered and I was overcome with ridiculous glee that she loved my book). The absolute determination in her voice made me WANT to finish the sequel, made me WANT to move mountains to satisfy her.

It's one thing to have hordes of followers who are waiting for your sequel, and I am sure that's great motivation. But to me, one reader who passionately loves the book is enough to light a fire in me just to keep her That Stinkin' Happy. And if she's happy, so am I.

Thanks, Remus, for your words of wisdom. Sorry J.K. had to off you in the last book. ;)

YA Indie Carnival: Why Indie?

Every Friday for the next several weeks, I'll be blogging along with my YA indie friends (links to their blogs are at the end of this post). This week's topic is: Why Indie?

Why indeed?

I can tell you that going the indie route is not for everyone. I wrote a guest post for BooksByWomen.org on this very topic not too long ago: "Published! Does it matter how?".

For me, I tried the traditional route. Oh, how I tried. I faithfully read all the agent blogs and followed hundreds of them on Twitter, hanging on their every word in hopes of finding that Miraculous Bit of Advice that would turn all those rejections into The Call I'd Been Waiting For. After over a year of an emotional rollercoaster that ripped my heart out and left me gasping for breath, I decided to can the whole stupid thing. I told myself, what difference does it make if anyone reads Aiden and Lindsey's story? No one wants it, so it's probably crap anyway. They're right, I suck and should just give up.

So I tried writing something new, tried to move on and leave Between alone. Nothing would come. The words dried up on my tongue before I could transfer them to the screen. I couldn't fall in love again, not when my first love sat ignored, relegated to the proverbial nightstand.

I needed closure. That's why I went indie, in a nutshell.

I needed to finish what I'd started, even if no one else wanted it. I needed to hold that book in my hands, needed to clasp it to my chest and feel the waves of accomplishment break over me and wash away the angst, pain and suffering that had built up during The Year of Rejection. When that moment finally came, I thought I would split in two from the sheer exhilaration of crossing the finish line.

Not everyone finishes the race first, second or third. Or hell, even three thousandth. If you're not in the top three, it doesn't matter when you finish, it only matters that you do. And I did.

Now, to finish that sequel. *grin*



Check out the other participants in the YA Indie Carnival!

Danny Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen
Laura Elliott
Courtney Cole
Wren Emerson
Nichole A. Williams
Fisher Amelie
Amy Mauer Jones
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer
T. R. Graves
P.J. Hoover

Meg Cabot Book Signing!

I follow @megcabot on Twitter and yesterday, she posted that she was having a book signing in Seattle for her new release, Overbite (sequel to Insatiable). Woot! I was so there!

I'd only ever been to one signing before (Diana Gabaldon's for the release of An Echo In the Bone- and it was huuuuuuge- well, at least I thought so). Since I'm going to be having my own signing for Between in a month (8/17 at 7pm at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA), I wanted to pick up some tips on how this signing stuff is supposed to go down.

I don't think I'll be able to top Meg Cabot's performance, though. She was a riot! It really was a performance, and she played to the audience of mostly-late-teen-early-twenties-females beautifully. She told stories about her life prior to becoming famous, that she was a terrible student and went to art school (able to get in because her dad taught there), and then not being able to get a job as an illustrator when she graduated.

She was working as an administrative assistant for the college dorms (because she could type fast) when The Princess Diaries got picked up by Whitney Houston's production studio (even though no one wanted to publish the book at that time).

Meg has comedic timing and made all kinds of faces while she told her tales, which had the crowd roaring. But the thing that I enjoyed most was how she told all these women that she'd been rejected 1000 times and still kept writing because she loved to do it. She said that if there's something you really love, then you have to go after it, no matter what. A great message for me to hear (and for everyone else there) and hopefully one that resonates with you as well.

Thanks, Meg!




A Fab Read For You!

I don't do very many book reviews on my blog because I only want to point out books that are fan-freakin-tastic. I usually write a short review on all the books I read (see my Goodreads profile if you're interested), but I save blog posts for those books I want to tell the world about. And here's one of them:

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (5 out of 5 stars!)

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

The author's voice is fantastic and had me wishing I were a tenth as good. *unworthy* I loved the way she moved Aura through the grief of Logan's death while building the relationship with Zachary. I could feel the push and pull of wanting to be with both of them, the longing and the loss, and yet the book doesn't come across as heavy.

I could tell this was a 5-star book very early on and was worried the author wouldn't be able to sustain the awesome tempo and character development she established from the get go. My worries were unnecessary, as the book was brilliant through and through. I found myself torn between wanting to devour the pages and wanting to savor them.

The ending is a total cliff-hanger, so it's no surprise that I ran out and bought Shift right away.

I'd recommend this book for older teens and adults who love YA. You won't be disappointed!

YA Indie Carnival Kick-Off!

I saw there was a YA Indie Carnival starting and asked if I could join in. They said yes, so get ready to  binge on cotton candy and popcorn 'cuz we're going on a thrilling ride! Every Friday, we'll post about all things YA Indie for authors, readers and reviewers. This week's carnival topic is all about...


ME!


Okay, not me exactly... (ahem). We're introducing ourselves to give you a sense of what makes us tick and why we do the crazy things we do! So without further ado (just what is an 'ado' anyway?)...


My debut novel, Between, came out on June 1. It's a love story between a modern girl who dies in a car accident and the 18 century Scottish Highlander who comes to take her to heaven.


I fell in love with Scotland (and hunky guys in kilts) while reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series (which is not YA). Not being of Scottish descent myself, I hadn't given the wee country much thought before Outlander, but Scotland took up residence in my heart and has moved in for the long haul.


I wanted my own Highlander, so I created Aiden MacRae who (aside from Jamie Fraser) is the epitome of fine in my opinion. I love spending time with him while I write and hearing his accent in my head as my fingers click across the keys. If he could materialize in front of me, I'd be a happy girl (my hubby probably wouldn't like it much though- hehehehe). When I began writing, my voice came out YA (who knew?) so that's how I made the leap from Outlander to young adult. Between still has some steamy scenes (it's definitely for older teens) but YA is its home.


Check back every Friday to learn more about my publishing journey. Get to know the rest of the YA Indie group and leave a comment to say hi!


Dani Snell
Patti Larsen
Courtney Cole
Wren Emerson
Nicole Williams
Fisher Amelie
Michelle Leighton
Laura Elliott
Amy Maurer Jones
Rachel Coles
T.R. Graves
Allie Burke

Moments that Matter (IRL vs. Fiction)

How often do you have meaningful conversations? Or do your exchanges sound more like this:

Friend: "Hey, how was your weekend?"
Me: "Good. The weather was beautiful."
Friend: "Yeah, nice to have some sun finally. We barbequed some dogs and hung out. Fireworks were great."
Me: "Yeah, traffic was lousy coming home, though."
Friend: "I know, that one intersection gets really gummed up."

Blah, blah, blah.

You'd never see an exchange like this in a book (and if you did, I'm sure you'd be skimming over it). Dialogue--and in fact, every scene--is supposed to move the book forward. Yet, real life is filled with epidsodes of banality, days on end that look just like the ones before, punctuated with moments that matter.

How often do we talk about what's really happening inside--our fears, our dreams, our secret shame--rather than just talking about the monotony of filling hours each day?

Books allow us--no, require us--to make every moment count. A word does not belong on the page if it doesn't contribute to the story. That's why books are such an escape from the tedium of life. Whether they are exciting, scary, tear-jerking or romantic, they are MORE. They are filled with moments that matter for the characters and maybe help fill the void inside us caused by the duldrums of everydayness.

It's a BETWEEN Giveaway Bonanza!

If you haven't already picked up a copy of Between, here's your chance to win one! In fact, you have TWO chances because giveaways are going on now at Free Book Friday and also at Book Reader Addicts!

Is Pottermore really going to be More?

The Twitterverse has been abuzz with news of J.K. Rowling's new site, Pottermore.com. There was a big mysterious build-up when everyone was speculating about what it could be. Now there's a video out there and a registry where you can sign up for the site, which will be launched in October.

The video is pretty cool, with book pages that turn into spiders, owls and trees. Kudos to the graphic artists who put that together! During the video, J.K. explains that Harry Potter ebooks will be available for purchase.

I was surprised, to be honest, that Harry Potter ebooks have not been available yet. I can't say that I've ever looked for them in electronic format since I have them all in hardback (as does, arguably, a large percentage of the population). Still, I would have assumed they'd be available for Kindle or Nook if I'd gone looking. That's like having a huge blockbuster movie that never gets released on DVD. Shocking!

Bloggers are kicking around what this might mean to the ebook business and whether Amazon will capitulate to allowing Kindles to accept epub formats.

It's all very fascinating from the standpoint of watching giants wrestle, but I want to know what's so MORE about Pottermore.

She says in the video that she's been hoarding additional Harry Potter things and will reveal them as part of the site. Okay cool, but is that worth getting all excited about? I love HP, don't get me wrong, but for all the buzz, I really want PotterMORE. New, exciting tales of adventure like only J.K. can do, right? That's what would be MORE for me.

As it is, they are collecting (I'm sure) millions of registrations so have a direct link to their customer base. Marketing jackpot, really. I'm going to wait and see. I'll willingly eat the sorting hat if it turns out to be The.Most.Awesome.Site.Ever. I hope it does. But for now, I need a little MORE.

Blurbs Made of Awesome!

You know how sometimes a book will list quotes from other authors or reviewers? I've been compiling a list of awesome blurbs from recent reviews of Between and thought I'd share them with you!
Mixed with delicious smoking-hot scenes and total tear-jerking moments, family and personal relationships are examined, feelings voiced, insurmountable grief exposed and pain, loss, love and desire are all experienced. Between has it all. - The Tales Compendium
Best love story I've ever read. Sad, beautiful, funny, sexy, perfect. - Steph Short N Sweet
Absolutely the sweetest story and I shed quite a few tears along the way... I can't wait until the sequel comes out to see what the future holds for Lindsey and Aiden.- Snowdrop Dreams of Books
This is a truly enchanting story and not to be missed in any way, shape or form. - Magic of Reading
From page one this book draws you in and holds you there.- Were Vamps Romance
A beautiful and emotion journey that will definitely pull at the reader's heart, make you fall and connect with the characters to the end.- Seeing Night Book Reviews
Between is very different than what I am used to reading. Sometimes, like in this case, different is a WONDERFUL thing. - Middle of the Road Reviews
With the brilliant scenes that Tefft creates, I can actually picture this story being made into a movie.- Books Make Me Happy
I absolutely adore this book, I've read it twice already and will probably go back for a third helping! It made me smile, it made me cry and it gave me hope that we're not alone.- Thoughts, Musings and Broken Promises

Author Spotlight: Kurt Chambers

When I first met Kurt (on Twitter), he introduced himself as "Kurt from England" to which I replied, "I'm Cyndi from America." I still call him "Kurt from England" 'cuz it cracks me up. It's great having a friend across the pond, especially when he gave me a crash course in British swear words on Facebook. *grin*

He recently did a great interview with Annie McMahon's daughter on the Dutch Hill News blog, so I asked if he'd be so kind as to interview with me as well. Lucky for you, he said yes!

Tell us a bit about yourself.Okay, where should I start? I live in the south east of England, about thirty miles north of London in the leafy county of Hertfordshire. I'm married, I have three children, and I'm a very young granddad with three grandchildren. My kids made me a granddad at forty one. Nice! LOL I love it really. My wife is my childhood sweetheart, and my best friend. We have been together for about twenty-eight years, and known each other since we were in junior school. We used to walk home together from school when we were about eight years old. I have always lived in the same town, in the same area as where I grew up. I like to think I'm quite a happy-go-lucky person, and hardly ever take things seriously. I hate being an adult, kids have way more fun. I'm so jealous :) 


How long have you been writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?I only started writing when I was in my mid thirties. I never imagined in a million years that I would be a writer when I was younger. Because I wasn't very good at reading or writing, I used to see it as a chore. I know that sounds a bit of a strange thing for an author to say, but it's true. I always liked the idea of writing a book, but I never thought I could do it. I used to think that was the kind of thing clever people did, who have degrees in English and creative writing. Then one day I decided to write a novel. It seemed like a good idea at the time. LOL Little did I know just how much was involved. 

I spent two years writing a novel, then joined a writing forum, the Young Adult Novel Workshop, after taking advice from a friend. That's when I discovered just how much I didn't know. :D They took me under their wing and taught me everything I know today. They are the most amazing people I have ever met. I've come a long way since then. I'm now moderating the forum and helping to mentor new authors. It just goes to show, nothing is impossible if you want it enough. 


Why did you decide to write middle-grade novels?I think the simple answer to that is I have the mental age of a ten-year-old. LOL I love children, they are the funniest things in the whole world. I adore the innocence of young children, it's their most endearing characteristic. I made up a saying that I always use, "The innocence of children is what makes them stand out as a shining example to the rest of Mankind." I try to capture this innocence in my stories. I couldn't see myself writing Young Adult after experiencing having three teenagers myself. All those issues I'm still trying to put behind me. :D Middle Grade is much more fun.


What have you written so far?So far I have four complete novels, and I have started writing another two more. The first three novels I wrote were a series of Middle Grade Fantasy stories, Truth Teller, The Wrath of Siren and Favian's Law. I have always loved Fantasy from a young age, but not being the best reader in the world, I always struggled with some of the classic tales like Lord of the Rings. I wanted to write this type of story that would appeal to younger children, so that is what I did. 
Unfortunately, after many years in the making, I discovered Middle Grade High Fantasy wasn't the most marketable of books, and I could never find anyone interested in publishing them, despite their popularity among the young readers who read them. So, not to be put off, I wrote a new novel that would be more marketable. That's how Unknown Reality came into being. It's a mix between Fantasy and Sci-Fi. I have just started submitting this novel to publishing agents, so fingers crossed!

The two new novels I'm working on are still in their infancy. The first one is an idea I've had for a long time, The World in Johnny's Back Garden. The original idea was to give children an alternative view of living things through a series of mini adventures shown from the perspective of different creatures. This proved rather difficult, so the story has evolved quite a lot over time. I am still sticking to my original idea, but presenting it in a different way. I have also just started writing a brand new story, which at the moment I'm calling, Teddy. It's a strange story about a boy named Charlie who discovers a talking teddy bear. The story will be loosely based around the concepts of growing up and not believing anymore.
You seem to have a great network of author friends. How did you meet them?It all started when I joined the Young Adult Novel Workshop. I didn't know anyone in real life that was even remotely connected to writing or publishing. I originally only joined writing.com because it was free to join. LOL At the time I didn't realise it was an American site. Once I found my way to the YA forum, I met writers from all over the world in various stages in their writing careers. They introduced me to the writing community through various sources and I have never looked back since. The writing community is amazing! So supportive and friendly, it never ceases to amaze me.

Your book covers are ah-mazing, I must say. How did you get such awesome covers?Thank you! :) I love them too! One of the first people I met when I joined WDC some years ago was a lady called Dawne Dominique. We became really close friends, she is like a sister to me. We always joke she is my long lost twin. Dawne taught me so much. Not only was she an editor for a few publishing companies, but she is a published author and the most amazing cover artist. She has won several awards on the Preditors & Editors website for her work. As the old saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know. LOL
 If you could buy property anywhere, what would you choose and why? Price is no object, of course! ;)Awesome! I would buy a castle then! I love castles. I always visit a castle when I go on holiday, they are so inspirational. I'm a carpenter by trade, so I have always had this dream of buying a derelict castle somewhere on the south coast of England and turning it into a home. Spend my days rebuilding it a bit at a time.

Have you ever been to America? If so, where did you go? If not, where would you like to visit?No, I've never been anywhere. LOL I've never left the country or even owned a passport. My kids kept me poor. To be honest, I'm not really sure, I don't know America too well. I have always loved the idea of visiting the Inca settlements in South America. I have friends all over your country that I would love to meet in person, so I would love to do a tour.

Are you a socks or barefoot kind of guy? (You thought I was going to say boxers or briefs, didn't you??) Any interesting hobbies?Hahaha!! I'm a socks guy. It gets cold here in England. :D
I have millions of hobbies, from brewing wine to building telescopes, rockets and rocket launchers. Making websites, playing in rock bands and writing children's books, to name a few. I like to keep busy.

Who are your favorite authors/books?That's easy. My favourite author is Terry Brooks. I read the whole of his Shannara series, about sixteen books in total. I started reading the first trilogy in this series when I was about twelve years old. 


What are you working on now?At the moment, I am just starting to write the new novel I mentioned above. It will probably take me about a year to complete, then maybe another six months to edit to a publishable standard. In the meantime, I have started a submission campaign for Unknown Reality. If I can get anyone interested in this novel and get published, I will stand a better chance at getting publishers to look at my Truth Teller trilogy, hopefully.


How can people connect with you?You can visit my website:  http://kurtchambers.net/
My blogsite:  http://geniusborderinginsanity.blogspot.com/Twitter:  http://twitter.com/emailmanROCKS

Thanks for the interview, Kurt from England!