Tonya Thomas's Blog, page 2

And the title is . . .?

That's the thing ... I don't know what the title is.  I've been calling my SF novel "Tales of Telenia #1" but that doesn't cut it on the cover of the book, and it's time for me to get that cover going.  I've contacted a designer, and I'm going to have to tell her something when it comes time to put more than just a pretty picture and my name on the cover.  But what?

And as I'm stepping out of my comfort zone to write something totally different, I've been told that despite the fantasy elements, this book is really Science Fiction. 

Who knew?  (Apparently not me!)

Here's a blurb of the story:  When a spatial rift causes Amanda Shelton’s space shuttle to crash land on an unknown planet, she awakens to find herself locked in a cell with a tutor charged with teaching her an alien language. Crown Prince Paxdon is determined to scavenge not only her ship, but any technology he can squeeze from her brain to vanquish his enemies in a neighboring province.  But just who is Amanda’s real adversary; the warriors in the north or the people of Telenia?

And my tagline:
A female astronaut crashes on a strange planet and is threatened by the archaic inhabitants who demand she relinquish her advanced technology.

Any suggestions? 

The person who comes up with the winning title will receive an e copy of my women's fiction anthology THE EDGE AND I.  You can leave your idea in the comments section (but be sure to let me know how I can contact you if you win). Thanks.[image error]

How cool is this?

I'm really pleased to announce that one of my stories, MARRIED WITH STEPCHILDREN, is one of the featured titles on the Backlist eBooks Home Page. 

Here's the blurb:   When Elise married the man of her dreams, she thought her life would be perfect. She hadn’t reckoned with her husband's three spoiled daughters and an ex-wife who continued to drain him dry--emotionally and financially.

Why don't you check it out?

TRY MY STORY FREE -- But Hurry ....

To celebrate the new cover for my bestselling story, TRAPPED In an Abusive Relationship, I'm offering the story free via Smashwords.  (Smashwords sells all e formats, so you can read it on your Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony E Reader, etc.)

Here's a brief description:   Amy Reynolds thought she had a great boyfriend, until one by one all her freedoms began to disappear.  When her job is threatened, Amy decides it's time to become more independent. But that's not how her boyfriend Brad feels.  He's likes things the way they are and will go to any length to keep it that way.

Click to buy.  Add this coupon code:  BD65H  and you'll get the story for FREE!  But hurry, this offer only lasts until Saturday, April 14th.

Click here to get the story.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

New Covers . . .

Ya know what?  Sometimes we create things that we think are wonderful, but they're not.  The proof is in the pudding ... or the proof is in fact that what you thought might sell--doesn't.

Selling e books (or in my case, short stories) is tough in this market.  So you need to make your product look the best it can.  Some of my covers aren't as good as I would like.  I'm trying to change that.  The first up is the one for THE EYES THAT HAUNT ME.  It's starting to sell quite well in the United Kingdom.  I want it to sell better, not only there--but everywhere.  So ... off to find a better cover.

Here's the old one:

and here's the new one.


Which do you like better?

Research can be fun!

Tomorrow night I'm having dinner with a friend.  It'll be the first time I get to meet her husband, and I am so looking forward to it.  Her husband happens to be a a doctor.  He's worked with many types of patients, so he has seen and done it all.

As it happens, one of the procedures he's very familiar with is the basis of my latest story.  Talk about serendipity!  I've already asked if I can pick his brain, and have been given the go-ahead.  Hopefully, whatever I learn will give my story a lot more authenticity. 

Sorry so short, but I'm off to look at cover pictures.  I should be done with this story in another week or so.

Dry skin is no longer in!

Okay, tomorrow is the first day of spring ... can we now leave the winter and dry skin behind?

My hands are beginning to look like alligator skin.  No matter how much I slather them with hand cream, they suck it up and remain DRY. 

I know--I know it's only a matter of time before those of us in this part of the country are sweating half our body weight every day, and I'm not looking forward to that, either.  But at least my hands will be smooth again.  There won't be tiny cracks at the tops of my thumbs.

Hurry up nice weather.  Don't run back and hide behind some snow clouds.  I'm ready for these warm days you've been teasing us with to stay for a while.  Quite a while.

Welcome spring.  And winter, don't make a repeat appearance, at least not until December.

My FB Timeline

Any day now, Facebook is going to force me to adopt their new (and notoriously loathed) Timeline.  Nobody I know is happy about it.  And I'll have to come up with a big picture that says: TONYA!

I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to put up anything too personal, but none of the covers on my titles is appropriate.  The garden?  My cats?  Generic flowers?  A boat?  A hippopotamus?

(See, not as easy as you though, eh?)

What picture are you using (or going to use) on Timeline?

To bookmark, or not to bookmark ...

All my author friends have bookmarks.  All my titles are for e readers only.  So the question is, do I need a bookmark as a handout?

No doubt about it, I need something to give to strangers, otherwise how are they going to remember my name, let alone any of my titles? 

I thought about doing business cards, but they're kinda small and I have something like 10 titles now.

So what do you think?  Should I go for it?

Time to put the heater away?

My writing studio (bedroom turned office, but doesn't "studio" sound a LOT more IMPORTANT?) is in the coldest room in the house.  We're talking 58 or so when I get up on a winter morning.  Therefore, I needed some kind of supplemental heat or else not much work was going to get accomplished.

At first, I tried one of those little electric "oil" heaters that looks like an old radiator.  They do actually work ... after about six to ten hours.  It's not fast, but what was I going to do?

Find something better!

Now I have an Edenpure heater.  Bob Vella has shilled for them.  And they're supposed to be made by the Amish.  (Are they really?  Who knows.)  It works well.  It still takes a while for my office to get up to 70, but eventually it does.  The heater has a thermostat and it shuts off when the room gets to about 71.  Guess what?  It's been turning itself off a lot lately.  Why?  Sunshine streaming through my window is keeping my office toasty warm.  And it's not freezing outside.  (Of course, in the summer, it's like an oven in here.  That's why I have those sleep shades on that same window.

The other day I forgot to turn the heater on.  I didn't even miss is.

The back of winter has been broken.   Hallelujah!

(Okay, time to climb into the attack and get out the fan. )