Samantha Combs's Blog, page 24
September 19, 2011
My Personal Path to Publication - Crystal Ward
This morning the author I have for you is a special one because she is a personal friend and my crit partner. If you are new to the writing and publishing world, a crit partner is your critique partner, the one who helps you shape your manuscript, your queries, and helps you when phrases, wording, sometimes whole passages in your precious WIP just don't seem to work. If you aren't new to it, you know your crit partner kicks you in the ass and says things like, "That sounds stupid." and "No one talks like that." and my personal favorite, "I don't understand that whole chapter. I think you should scratch it."
In the end though, they help make your work better because they are the ear you can't have, the one that is not obscenely attached to the paragraph, the sentence, even the stupid word you can't let go of. On top of that, she is an amazing and talented author herself. The first book in her four-book series, (four books!) called The Supernova Saga, was just released in ebook form through her publisher, Firefly and Wisp, and the print form will be available in October. And she may be coming to a convention to you soon. Look at the bottom of this post for details. In the meantime, enjoy the wit and humor that is my fabulous friend Crystal as she shares the journey that made her the incredible writer she is today.
1. How long have you been writing?
Oh, for as long as I can remember. The first story I recall writing wasabout farm animals, and I'm pretty sure I was eight. I remember trying to finda quiet place in my grandma's house to record it on tape because I wanted togive it to my mom. :- ) Fast forward to 5th grade when Idecided I wanted to write film scripts. I wrote a couple over a few years, then in high school, that came to astop. It wasn't writer's block. I'd joined the drama club and fell head overheels in love with acting. :- ) I was in twelve or thirteen plays during highschool and was actually accepted to New York Film Academy, but that fellthrough due to stupid, money issues. LOLAnyways, I still pursued it, but writing was always on the back burner. I'd ended up writing another script, turnedit in several places, and kept getting told I was too "wordy" in myscripts. Then it hit; the dreadedwriter's block. It lasted years andhonestly, I didn't realize how much I missed it until after I read The TwilightSaga. After I finished those books, Idesperately wanted to write something again, but I knew I didn't want it to beanother script. Books were the way to go;- )
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author?If not, what's your plan?
My first book, Supernova, is being published with Firefly & WispPublishing this year.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditionalroute, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishersyourself, or deciding to self-publish?
I considered all three actually. First, I tried for an agent. Pretty sure I sent out over a hundred query letters. Out of all of those, TWO requested to seemore. LOL I saved all the rejection letters. ;- ) Iwas still trying that way until I talked to a friend of mine about thepublisher she had signed with. So I sentSupernova to her publisher. A few days later, I checked my email at work andfound a contract from them! Needless tosay, there were tears, lots of them. :- ) I'm pretty sure I showed EVERYONE the email and even though I still hadwork to do, my mind was set on getting home to read and sign that bad boy rightaway. :- ) I'm fast forwarding over thenext few months, and without getting into detail, (Sorry, but I'm not goingto), things didn't work out with that publisher. While I was still trying to decide whether ornot I wanted to try for another one or go the self-publishing route, I talkedto Danielle Zwissler a few times on Facebook. She's the owner of Firefly & Wisp Publishing. She said I could submit to her, which Iimmediately did. While I was waiting to hearback, I decided just to do the self-publishing. I was going to be the next Amanda Hocking. LOL I dream big. ;- ) It was either that same day or the next, I sawa status update from the Firefly & Wisp Facebook page that she was going tomake a big announcement tonight when they got to 700 or 800 fans. My face heated up and in the back of my mind,I prayed it was going to be about Supernova. So naturally, I helped them gettheir fans, then a chat window popped up with Danielle's name on it. :- ) She asked for my number, called me, and offered to take onSupernova. Completely and totallySTOKED!!!!! :- ) We talked for almost anhour and of course, I changed my mind about self-publishing. Best decision ever :- ) That was back in the beginning ofAugust. Now, I have my new cover, ebookrelease with print on the way, and first convention in October! :- ) Although things didn't work out with thefirst publisher, I wish them nothing, but the best. :- ) I'm soooooo happy to be a Firefly. Things worked out beautifully for everyone. :- )
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
I can be very patient, expect when it came to my books. Just like when they were getting written, Ihad to do it fast, which is why all four took only a year to write. I couldn't stop. LOL So, since I'd tried foran agent for probably a year, and that friend I told you about, Monique, wentthat route and seemed happy with it, I decided what the hell? I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.:- )
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
Three months, almost exactly. Iwrote the entire saga in a year. :- )
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
Ummmmm. . . Maybe a year and ahalf. From the time I wrote the lastword to the time I signed the contract with Firefly & Wisp.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I have over a hundred rejection letters saved in my email. LOL Don't ask me why I kept them all. I'm a weirdo, I think. LOL
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
Honestly, none of them were horrible at all. I got a lot of "form letters", which wasfine, but all the ones that people actually typed out were nice or just to thepoint. "Not for me." was a big one. LOL
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how didit make you feel?
Probably when I got a phone call from Danielle on August 31st. Originally, Supernova wasn't due to comeout in print until next year, but she told me the E-book release date wasmoving up and the print would be AT the convention in October! :- ) I'll be signing the very first copies of my book and actually handing themback to people! :- ) Can you say, dreamcome true? :- )
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
"Change it," which wasn't technically bad. Just a difference of opinion. :- )
11. Now, tell us the best!
Besides "Man up!"? LOL My mommy telling me I'll know the right pathfor myself and to follow my heart. :- )
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take awayfrom your personal path to publication?
Shit does and can happen, but don't let that deter you. Figure out what you want and go for it. Let nothing and no one stop you. No matter what your passion is, be preparedto suffer some sleepless nights, endure loads of criticism (good and bad), andwait. The waiting game is the hardest,but if you can do it, if you can pull it off, it's more than worth it. It's when the road is the bumpiest that theend is always sweeter. :- )
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
Facebook fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Supernova-Saga/180936018622508
Facebook author page – http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crystal-Ward/137343939695785
Website - www.thesupernovasaga.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/crystaldward
Publisher - www.fireflyandwisp.com
E-book release date – Available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, andSmashwords!!!
Print release date – Presales will be soon. It will be officiallyreleased in October 2011 :- )
Blurb -Life is full of temptations,choices, and tragedies, but through the struggles, hope and meaning canrise. Everyone is born for a purpose,and for Evania Laylen, that vocation is about to make itself known.
Guilt ridden after the death ofher parents, Evania sinks into a deep depression. Living only for the addiction, and the manwho saved her, she gives up on life. That is until the enigmatic Desmond Kane enters and shows her the lifeshe was born to live. Thrust into asecret, action-packed world of good versus evil, Evania must rid her life ofthe addictive temptation, prepare her body for battle, and learn to embrace thepossible in a world of impossible.
With her mind littered withchoices, rising from her sorrow and accepting the new life could provedifficult, but for a Guardian in training, fulfilling her destiny shouldn't betoo hard . . . right?
Crystal may be in your area soon. If you live in Kentucky, or are looking to travel to a great convention, you might want to check this one out. Crystal will be book signing at A Day of Mystical Bloodlust in Lexington, KY on October 22, 2011. Here is the link to the details: http://adayofmysticalbloodlust.webs.com/ to get more information. I know Crystal would love to sign a book (or two!) for you.
In the end though, they help make your work better because they are the ear you can't have, the one that is not obscenely attached to the paragraph, the sentence, even the stupid word you can't let go of. On top of that, she is an amazing and talented author herself. The first book in her four-book series, (four books!) called The Supernova Saga, was just released in ebook form through her publisher, Firefly and Wisp, and the print form will be available in October. And she may be coming to a convention to you soon. Look at the bottom of this post for details. In the meantime, enjoy the wit and humor that is my fabulous friend Crystal as she shares the journey that made her the incredible writer she is today.
1. How long have you been writing?
Oh, for as long as I can remember. The first story I recall writing wasabout farm animals, and I'm pretty sure I was eight. I remember trying to finda quiet place in my grandma's house to record it on tape because I wanted togive it to my mom. :- ) Fast forward to 5th grade when Idecided I wanted to write film scripts. I wrote a couple over a few years, then in high school, that came to astop. It wasn't writer's block. I'd joined the drama club and fell head overheels in love with acting. :- ) I was in twelve or thirteen plays during highschool and was actually accepted to New York Film Academy, but that fellthrough due to stupid, money issues. LOLAnyways, I still pursued it, but writing was always on the back burner. I'd ended up writing another script, turnedit in several places, and kept getting told I was too "wordy" in myscripts. Then it hit; the dreadedwriter's block. It lasted years andhonestly, I didn't realize how much I missed it until after I read The TwilightSaga. After I finished those books, Idesperately wanted to write something again, but I knew I didn't want it to beanother script. Books were the way to go;- )
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author?If not, what's your plan?
My first book, Supernova, is being published with Firefly & WispPublishing this year.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditionalroute, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishersyourself, or deciding to self-publish?
I considered all three actually. First, I tried for an agent. Pretty sure I sent out over a hundred query letters. Out of all of those, TWO requested to seemore. LOL I saved all the rejection letters. ;- ) Iwas still trying that way until I talked to a friend of mine about thepublisher she had signed with. So I sentSupernova to her publisher. A few days later, I checked my email at work andfound a contract from them! Needless tosay, there were tears, lots of them. :- ) I'm pretty sure I showed EVERYONE the email and even though I still hadwork to do, my mind was set on getting home to read and sign that bad boy rightaway. :- ) I'm fast forwarding over thenext few months, and without getting into detail, (Sorry, but I'm not goingto), things didn't work out with that publisher. While I was still trying to decide whether ornot I wanted to try for another one or go the self-publishing route, I talkedto Danielle Zwissler a few times on Facebook. She's the owner of Firefly & Wisp Publishing. She said I could submit to her, which Iimmediately did. While I was waiting to hearback, I decided just to do the self-publishing. I was going to be the next Amanda Hocking. LOL I dream big. ;- ) It was either that same day or the next, I sawa status update from the Firefly & Wisp Facebook page that she was going tomake a big announcement tonight when they got to 700 or 800 fans. My face heated up and in the back of my mind,I prayed it was going to be about Supernova. So naturally, I helped them gettheir fans, then a chat window popped up with Danielle's name on it. :- ) She asked for my number, called me, and offered to take onSupernova. Completely and totallySTOKED!!!!! :- ) We talked for almost anhour and of course, I changed my mind about self-publishing. Best decision ever :- ) That was back in the beginning ofAugust. Now, I have my new cover, ebookrelease with print on the way, and first convention in October! :- ) Although things didn't work out with thefirst publisher, I wish them nothing, but the best. :- ) I'm soooooo happy to be a Firefly. Things worked out beautifully for everyone. :- )
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
I can be very patient, expect when it came to my books. Just like when they were getting written, Ihad to do it fast, which is why all four took only a year to write. I couldn't stop. LOL So, since I'd tried foran agent for probably a year, and that friend I told you about, Monique, wentthat route and seemed happy with it, I decided what the hell? I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.:- )
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
Three months, almost exactly. Iwrote the entire saga in a year. :- )
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
Ummmmm. . . Maybe a year and ahalf. From the time I wrote the lastword to the time I signed the contract with Firefly & Wisp.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I have over a hundred rejection letters saved in my email. LOL Don't ask me why I kept them all. I'm a weirdo, I think. LOL
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
Honestly, none of them were horrible at all. I got a lot of "form letters", which wasfine, but all the ones that people actually typed out were nice or just to thepoint. "Not for me." was a big one. LOL
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how didit make you feel?
Probably when I got a phone call from Danielle on August 31st. Originally, Supernova wasn't due to comeout in print until next year, but she told me the E-book release date wasmoving up and the print would be AT the convention in October! :- ) I'll be signing the very first copies of my book and actually handing themback to people! :- ) Can you say, dreamcome true? :- )
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
"Change it," which wasn't technically bad. Just a difference of opinion. :- )
11. Now, tell us the best!
Besides "Man up!"? LOL My mommy telling me I'll know the right pathfor myself and to follow my heart. :- )
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take awayfrom your personal path to publication?
Shit does and can happen, but don't let that deter you. Figure out what you want and go for it. Let nothing and no one stop you. No matter what your passion is, be preparedto suffer some sleepless nights, endure loads of criticism (good and bad), andwait. The waiting game is the hardest,but if you can do it, if you can pull it off, it's more than worth it. It's when the road is the bumpiest that theend is always sweeter. :- )
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
Facebook fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Supernova-Saga/180936018622508
Facebook author page – http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crystal-Ward/137343939695785
Website - www.thesupernovasaga.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/crystaldward
Publisher - www.fireflyandwisp.com
E-book release date – Available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, andSmashwords!!!
Print release date – Presales will be soon. It will be officiallyreleased in October 2011 :- )
Blurb -Life is full of temptations,choices, and tragedies, but through the struggles, hope and meaning canrise. Everyone is born for a purpose,and for Evania Laylen, that vocation is about to make itself known. Guilt ridden after the death ofher parents, Evania sinks into a deep depression. Living only for the addiction, and the manwho saved her, she gives up on life. That is until the enigmatic Desmond Kane enters and shows her the lifeshe was born to live. Thrust into asecret, action-packed world of good versus evil, Evania must rid her life ofthe addictive temptation, prepare her body for battle, and learn to embrace thepossible in a world of impossible.
With her mind littered withchoices, rising from her sorrow and accepting the new life could provedifficult, but for a Guardian in training, fulfilling her destiny shouldn't betoo hard . . . right?
Crystal may be in your area soon. If you live in Kentucky, or are looking to travel to a great convention, you might want to check this one out. Crystal will be book signing at A Day of Mystical Bloodlust in Lexington, KY on October 22, 2011. Here is the link to the details: http://adayofmysticalbloodlust.webs.com/ to get more information. I know Crystal would love to sign a book (or two!) for you.
September 16, 2011
My Personal Path To Publication - Jason McIntyre
Hey Everyone! I've been waiting for today because I am introducing you to an amazing writer! It's a interesting story how I met Jason. I was in an ER with a sick child and was browsing my kindle for free reads and stumbled on his novella Road Markers. I can only call it fate. I fell in love with his writing. Literally. I call it a cross between my hero Stephen King and my scary love/boyfriend Wes Craven. His wording and pacing grips me, shakes me by the shoulders, slaps me in the face and screams at me to "get ahold of myself!" And I crawl back, like a sicko sycophant, begging for more. I stalked him on facebook and he has graciously agreed to be my friend and then appear here today. I expect the restraining order any day now. I am in the middle of two of his other works, BLED, which is brand new and he is promoting here today, and THALO BLUE and also in the throes of a painful writer's crush. While I seek out a 12-step program for my problem (the first step is admitting it, right?) you please enjoy the literary stylings of Jason's journey.
1. How long have you been writing?
Since November7th, 1989. Just kidding. I've beenwriting since I was twelve or thirteen but to remember exactly when would be achallenge I've not the strength for. Thefirst fiction I recall writing with a serious intent to share was a story aboutaliens landing in a young girl's backyard. It was supposed to fill the blankpage on the back of the school newspaper since we had no more hard news. As ifthere was actually such a thing as hard news in the fifth grade!
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?
I'm aself-published author with two long novels, two novellas and several shortstories available at present. More are coming all the time. Two new short storycollections and another novella will arrive before the year is out.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, withan agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, ordeciding to self-publish?
Self-published.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
It offered methe most freedom for writing what I want, releasing fast, and getting thestories into the hands of the readers. After my first stories got some pickup Icontinued with this route so that readers who began enjoying my books could getmore material fast. In fact, I've turned down some offers from traditionalpublishers that couldn't compete with what I've been able to achieve on my own.
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
The first drafttook three months. There was another four or five of tweaking, sharing,re-drafting, regretting some feedback I followed and some that I ignored. Thena few more months to get it just right.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
Twenty minutes.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I didn't sendout my first novel. I sent out my second to agents, editors and publishers,then I waited, and waited and waited. Igot close to two hundred rejections and another six or seven hundred thatsimply never responded.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
I can't rememberthe exact wording but it was very indicative of the kind of rejection slips Ireceived as a whole. It said, and I paraphrase, "This is amaaaaazing! Youare an incredible writer and I was riveted by this book. I want all my friendsto read it. Unfortunately, I can't take you on as a client because, at present,there is no way I could sell this book. It doesn't stick to any one genre andit is so unusual and fresh that I fear no one would buy it. Thank you and goodluck."
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it makeyou feel?
My short story,The Night Walk Men, recently reached number one on Amazon's Kindle Top 100downloads. A short time later, I did the math and discovered that my books had,altogether, been downloaded more than 113,000 times by readers across everyretail website.
How did it makeme feel? I'm still processing the news! I'll let you know when it truly sinksin.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
"Changeyour style, change your content. Change." Sure, edits are fine, adjustments and advice are always needed. Butreaders or other writers who tell you to change who you are as a writer shouldbe the only thing you ignore without any consideration. Every other kind ofadvice should be given at least a moment of consideration.
11. Now, tell us the best!
"Get yourstories out there, any way you can."
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from yourpersonal path to publication?
There is no oneright way. What was the Robert Frost poem, "Two roads diverged in a woodand I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all thedifference."
And FleetwoodMac also sang, "You can go your own way." My advice is look to othersfor inspiration, but not a recipe. No one will ever duplicate the same level ofsuccess as another by copying them.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
http://www.thefarthestreachescom > The Farthest Reaches is myauthor website and blog. All news and links to my books from all retailers canbe found here.
http://twitter.com/#!/JasonCMcIntyre
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonMcIntyre
http://www.amazon.com/Jason-McIntyre/e/B0049YW78G > My books at Amazon
Bled : About the Novella
She only wanted to leave. But hetook that option from her. Now she wants it back.
Set on the same island as the reader favorite Shed, the latest literarysuspense novella from bestselling author Jason McIntyre picks up the DovetailCove saga with this story of one lonely woman...trapped.
Tina McLeod is on the cusp of a newlife. Extraordinary change is rare in her world but this newsflash means shecan finally leave her small island town for good. No more pouring coffee fortownsfolk in Main Street's greasy spoon, no more living under the weight of herborn-again mother. That is, until Frank Moort comes in for his usual lunch anddessert on an ordinary Friday in May.
Bled sees things turn backwards and upside down for each ofthem. Their encounter is prolonged and grotesque, the sort of thing splashingthe covers of big city newspapers. Both are changed. And neither will come outclean on the other side.
A story about taking what's notyours, Bled explores pushing back when you've been pushed too far. Itpaints in red the horrors from our most commonplace of surroundings: right outin the open where nothing can hide behind closed doors and shut mouths.
About the Author
Jason McIntyre has lived and workedin varied places across the globe. His writing also meanders from the pastoralto the garish, from the fantastical to the morbid. Vibrant characters and vividsurroundings stay with him and coalesce into novels and stories. Before histime as an editor, writer and communications professional, he spent severalyears as a graphic designer and commercial artist.
McIntyre's writing has been calleddarkly noir and sophisticated, styled after the likes of Chuck Palahniuk butwith the pacing and mass appeal of Stephen King. The books tackle the familylife subject matter of Jonathan Franzen but also eerie discoveries one mightfind in a Ray Bradbury story or those of Rod Serling.
Jason McIntyre's books include the#1 Kindle Suspense, The Night Walk Men, Bestsellers On TheGathering Storm and Shed, plus the multi-layered coming-of-ageliterary suspense Thalo Blue.
Bled : Teaser Trailer
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSd5IpoNU4 or http://youtu.be/CaSd5IpoNU4
And this is the link to BLED on Amazon ('cuz you know you want to BUY IT NOW!) http://to.ly/b8HF
Okay, seriously, was I wrong? Jason is all that AND CHOCOLATE CRACKERS! I am not often wrong on my shopping excursions. I have totally found shoes in my size for $4.99 before. Who knew this time I would come home with a new author? Enjoy everyone! And stay tuned for the blog next week, we have the likes of Crystal Ward, Elaine Cantrell, Cynthia Vespia, Felicia Rogers, and Jillian Jenkins. Why, with all those romance authors around, it'll be a regular love-fest. Have a great weekend everyone!
1. How long have you been writing?Since November7th, 1989. Just kidding. I've beenwriting since I was twelve or thirteen but to remember exactly when would be achallenge I've not the strength for. Thefirst fiction I recall writing with a serious intent to share was a story aboutaliens landing in a young girl's backyard. It was supposed to fill the blankpage on the back of the school newspaper since we had no more hard news. As ifthere was actually such a thing as hard news in the fifth grade!
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?
I'm aself-published author with two long novels, two novellas and several shortstories available at present. More are coming all the time. Two new short storycollections and another novella will arrive before the year is out.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, withan agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, ordeciding to self-publish?
Self-published.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
It offered methe most freedom for writing what I want, releasing fast, and getting thestories into the hands of the readers. After my first stories got some pickup Icontinued with this route so that readers who began enjoying my books could getmore material fast. In fact, I've turned down some offers from traditionalpublishers that couldn't compete with what I've been able to achieve on my own.
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
The first drafttook three months. There was another four or five of tweaking, sharing,re-drafting, regretting some feedback I followed and some that I ignored. Thena few more months to get it just right.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
Twenty minutes.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I didn't sendout my first novel. I sent out my second to agents, editors and publishers,then I waited, and waited and waited. Igot close to two hundred rejections and another six or seven hundred thatsimply never responded.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
I can't rememberthe exact wording but it was very indicative of the kind of rejection slips Ireceived as a whole. It said, and I paraphrase, "This is amaaaaazing! Youare an incredible writer and I was riveted by this book. I want all my friendsto read it. Unfortunately, I can't take you on as a client because, at present,there is no way I could sell this book. It doesn't stick to any one genre andit is so unusual and fresh that I fear no one would buy it. Thank you and goodluck."
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it makeyou feel?
My short story,The Night Walk Men, recently reached number one on Amazon's Kindle Top 100downloads. A short time later, I did the math and discovered that my books had,altogether, been downloaded more than 113,000 times by readers across everyretail website.
How did it makeme feel? I'm still processing the news! I'll let you know when it truly sinksin.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
"Changeyour style, change your content. Change." Sure, edits are fine, adjustments and advice are always needed. Butreaders or other writers who tell you to change who you are as a writer shouldbe the only thing you ignore without any consideration. Every other kind ofadvice should be given at least a moment of consideration.
11. Now, tell us the best!
"Get yourstories out there, any way you can."
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from yourpersonal path to publication?
There is no oneright way. What was the Robert Frost poem, "Two roads diverged in a woodand I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all thedifference."
And FleetwoodMac also sang, "You can go your own way." My advice is look to othersfor inspiration, but not a recipe. No one will ever duplicate the same level ofsuccess as another by copying them.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
http://www.thefarthestreachescom > The Farthest Reaches is myauthor website and blog. All news and links to my books from all retailers canbe found here.
http://twitter.com/#!/JasonCMcIntyre
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonMcIntyre
http://www.amazon.com/Jason-McIntyre/e/B0049YW78G > My books at Amazon
Bled : About the Novella
She only wanted to leave. But hetook that option from her. Now she wants it back.
Set on the same island as the reader favorite Shed, the latest literarysuspense novella from bestselling author Jason McIntyre picks up the DovetailCove saga with this story of one lonely woman...trapped.
Tina McLeod is on the cusp of a newlife. Extraordinary change is rare in her world but this newsflash means shecan finally leave her small island town for good. No more pouring coffee fortownsfolk in Main Street's greasy spoon, no more living under the weight of herborn-again mother. That is, until Frank Moort comes in for his usual lunch anddessert on an ordinary Friday in May.
Bled sees things turn backwards and upside down for each ofthem. Their encounter is prolonged and grotesque, the sort of thing splashingthe covers of big city newspapers. Both are changed. And neither will come outclean on the other side.
A story about taking what's notyours, Bled explores pushing back when you've been pushed too far. Itpaints in red the horrors from our most commonplace of surroundings: right outin the open where nothing can hide behind closed doors and shut mouths.
About the Author
Jason McIntyre has lived and workedin varied places across the globe. His writing also meanders from the pastoralto the garish, from the fantastical to the morbid. Vibrant characters and vividsurroundings stay with him and coalesce into novels and stories. Before histime as an editor, writer and communications professional, he spent severalyears as a graphic designer and commercial artist.
McIntyre's writing has been calleddarkly noir and sophisticated, styled after the likes of Chuck Palahniuk butwith the pacing and mass appeal of Stephen King. The books tackle the familylife subject matter of Jonathan Franzen but also eerie discoveries one mightfind in a Ray Bradbury story or those of Rod Serling.
Jason McIntyre's books include the#1 Kindle Suspense, The Night Walk Men, Bestsellers On TheGathering Storm and Shed, plus the multi-layered coming-of-ageliterary suspense Thalo Blue.
Bled : Teaser Trailer
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSd5IpoNU4 or http://youtu.be/CaSd5IpoNU4
And this is the link to BLED on Amazon ('cuz you know you want to BUY IT NOW!) http://to.ly/b8HF
Okay, seriously, was I wrong? Jason is all that AND CHOCOLATE CRACKERS! I am not often wrong on my shopping excursions. I have totally found shoes in my size for $4.99 before. Who knew this time I would come home with a new author? Enjoy everyone! And stay tuned for the blog next week, we have the likes of Crystal Ward, Elaine Cantrell, Cynthia Vespia, Felicia Rogers, and Jillian Jenkins. Why, with all those romance authors around, it'll be a regular love-fest. Have a great weekend everyone!
September 15, 2011
Short and Scary Story
Forgive a double post in the same day....I'm trying something new out and wanted to share it. For those of you who don't know it, I also write horror. My first horror novel WAS going to be published on Oct 3, but is now being held hostage at the rapidly disintegrating publishing company Aspen Mountain Press. I've cried enough about that and had to find new avenues for my horror to get out there while I write a new horror novel. I've found a new site where I can post some of my horror flash fiction and I have posted my first horror short. They have accepted it and I am pretty stoked that after their normal initial 24-hour review, they rated it 4 out of 5 stars! So, I am going to share it here with you and give this cool new site some exposure as well. Check out my short horror, The Robbery Countdown, then go to their site and "like" it and please make a comment. I don't usually ask such things, but if you do indeed like the short, I'd love you to let me know in their comments section. They claim agents frequent their site! Thanks, as always, for being a fan! Check out the cool new site here: http://www.shortnscarystories.com/ and comment on my story here: http://www.shortnscarystories.com/the-robbery-countdown/. Now go ahead and read it here:
The Robbery Countdown
4.0/5September 15th 2011 | 0 Comment | Category: Supernatural , Thriller | Author: Samantha Combs | 38 views10 minutes. Steve and Eddie had been inside the liquor store for ten minutes already. Donny yanked his sleeve back down over his watch and angrily lit another cigarette. Damn, he thought. They said they'd be done way before now. It was supposed to be easy.9 hours ago they'd been drinking at Cal's Bar talking about how much money they'd make. Steve was hot on the idea. Come on, you guys, he said. It'll be easy pickings. Plus, I overheard that guy from the Asian gang talking about how much Mr. Wong keeps in the register. Donny didn't like the idea. That place is creepy, he said. Don't be a wuss, said Eddie. I'll be packing if things get weird. He patted his belt with a smile.8'oclock was the stick-up time they chose. Most likely the after-work crowd would be gone, having stopped for their cartons of milk or cigarettes, and the going-out crowd wouldn't have arrived yet for their slim-jims and six-packs. It was supposed to be a perfect time.7 times they'd gone over the plan. Steve would enter and head to the back of the store and Eddie would go straight to the cash register. Donny would drive the car. It was supposed to be a fool-proof plan.6 bullets are what Donny watched Eddie load into the Saturday Night special he got from his older brother's closet. Eddie's older brother was already in jail and Donny was fairly sure Eddie would be there soon enough.5 cigarettes were left in the pack. If they don't hurry up, thought Donny, I'll smoke them all before they get back. He took one out and threw the pack on the dashboard. What was taking them so long, he wondered. He got out of the car to investigate.4 feet inside the door, he knew what was taking them so long. They were dead. Steve's beaten and bloody head was just rolling to a stop at his feet when he walked in. Stifling the urge the vomit, he stepped aside and nearly tripped over another headless body. Gorge still rising, he realized it wasn't Steve's. It was Eddie's. Dear Jesus, what happened here?3 knocking sounds came from behind the register. Instinctively, Donny knew that whatever was behind the counter was coming for him. He turned to run, but it was too late. The thing struck, all teeth and talons, and tore him to shreds, the same way it had Steve and Eddie. The thing finished devouring his prey and slunk back behind the counter.2 Asian men crept in cautiously from the back. They had mops and buckets and a large tarp. Christ, said one to another, this is getting worse each time. Yeah, the other replied, but the sacrifice must be made. Better them than us. Not our fault the stupid store is cursed. My grandfather says we have to keep the ancient spirit happy. Now hurry up and clean the store. We still have to get rid of their ride.1 hour later, a car was reported burning on the other side of town. Two bodies were found inside, burned nearly unrecognizable. No identification could be made. They were headless. On the same night, Mr. Wong reported a robbery of his liquor store. The reports were considered unrelated.0 suspects have been identified in the robbery
The Robbery Countdown
4.0/5September 15th 2011 | 0 Comment | Category: Supernatural , Thriller | Author: Samantha Combs | 38 views10 minutes. Steve and Eddie had been inside the liquor store for ten minutes already. Donny yanked his sleeve back down over his watch and angrily lit another cigarette. Damn, he thought. They said they'd be done way before now. It was supposed to be easy.9 hours ago they'd been drinking at Cal's Bar talking about how much money they'd make. Steve was hot on the idea. Come on, you guys, he said. It'll be easy pickings. Plus, I overheard that guy from the Asian gang talking about how much Mr. Wong keeps in the register. Donny didn't like the idea. That place is creepy, he said. Don't be a wuss, said Eddie. I'll be packing if things get weird. He patted his belt with a smile.8'oclock was the stick-up time they chose. Most likely the after-work crowd would be gone, having stopped for their cartons of milk or cigarettes, and the going-out crowd wouldn't have arrived yet for their slim-jims and six-packs. It was supposed to be a perfect time.7 times they'd gone over the plan. Steve would enter and head to the back of the store and Eddie would go straight to the cash register. Donny would drive the car. It was supposed to be a fool-proof plan.6 bullets are what Donny watched Eddie load into the Saturday Night special he got from his older brother's closet. Eddie's older brother was already in jail and Donny was fairly sure Eddie would be there soon enough.5 cigarettes were left in the pack. If they don't hurry up, thought Donny, I'll smoke them all before they get back. He took one out and threw the pack on the dashboard. What was taking them so long, he wondered. He got out of the car to investigate.4 feet inside the door, he knew what was taking them so long. They were dead. Steve's beaten and bloody head was just rolling to a stop at his feet when he walked in. Stifling the urge the vomit, he stepped aside and nearly tripped over another headless body. Gorge still rising, he realized it wasn't Steve's. It was Eddie's. Dear Jesus, what happened here?3 knocking sounds came from behind the register. Instinctively, Donny knew that whatever was behind the counter was coming for him. He turned to run, but it was too late. The thing struck, all teeth and talons, and tore him to shreds, the same way it had Steve and Eddie. The thing finished devouring his prey and slunk back behind the counter.2 Asian men crept in cautiously from the back. They had mops and buckets and a large tarp. Christ, said one to another, this is getting worse each time. Yeah, the other replied, but the sacrifice must be made. Better them than us. Not our fault the stupid store is cursed. My grandfather says we have to keep the ancient spirit happy. Now hurry up and clean the store. We still have to get rid of their ride.1 hour later, a car was reported burning on the other side of town. Two bodies were found inside, burned nearly unrecognizable. No identification could be made. They were headless. On the same night, Mr. Wong reported a robbery of his liquor store. The reports were considered unrelated.0 suspects have been identified in the robbery
My Personal Path To Publication - Rue Volley
The blog is in for a special treat with today's guest. She has to be the hardest working writer I personally know, and one of the most nurturing. Rue Volley is the author of the Blood and Light series, a six book offering in all. The most amazing part is she wrote the first five in the series in eleven months! She is also one of the founders of the much-lauded facebook group Volley View, clearly named after her. A meeting place for all things creative, inhabited by writers, artists, editors, and publishers, its members love it and gushingly sing its praises hourly. An author at Vamptasy Publishing, she is also its main cheerleader. Like many of the authors I have featured in this blog series, her journey hasn't been easy, and her experience has been painful, joyful and enlightening. I am personally all the better for having been blessed with her friendship. Please now, enjoy reading about my friend Rue.
1. How long have you been writing?*I started writing in February of 2010 and never stopped. Ihad a birthday that blew major ass (I lost my father to a sudden heart attack)and I had already written 15 pages in my first book. After his funeral andmixed feelings about his absence in my life from the age of 7 I found myselfstaring at those 15 pages asking myself why the hell I started to write it inthe first place. I really honestly had no idea and then as those feelings abouthim and finding out at his funeral that I had a sister and brother that I nevereven knew (fun right??) I fell into a deep depression and to climb my way out Istarted to write…and when I say "write" I mean every single day for months onend. I left my retail management job, and dedicated myself to writing everythingthat I felt, my whole life and I veiled it in a "vampire/paranormal" epic thatspans 6 books in length called the "Blood & Light Series", each book about350-400 pages long before formatting. During this my Mother became ill withcancer, and still to this day is battling it as she is almost done with herchemo treatments. During the writing of book three "Oil & Water" in myseries I hit rock bottom and most days I could not find my way out of bed. Ijust leaned over, grabbed my laptop and wrote. It was as I wrote the last linesin book 3 that something changed in me and a silver lining appeared, you see mymain character spent 11 chapters in an asylum in that book and honestly that iswhere I felt that I was. So you see…writing to me was a journey that I willforever be grateful that I took, without it I have no idea where I would be.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been apublished author? If not, what's your plan?*I am published now. I did release the first book in myseries last November through self-publishing on authorhouse and the upside wasthat the book was out on a lot of sites…the downside is that I had no money formarketing and had a limited reach to expand a fan base, but I started up afacebook page and a fanpage for the series, built a website and I networked mybutt off…and when I say I networked, I mean I spent hours every single daysending out emails, linking, making new contacts, sending out "please readthis" to as many publishers as possible…but the reality is that NO big publisherwill even open your mail without a Literary agent and there again was a problemfor me, I had no money to do that either. So…I sold as many books as possiblethrough linking, liking and getting the word out. I made posters anddistributed them everywhere…I believe that every single Starbucks in theMidwest had one when I was done, lol and I went through apartment complexes andcollege dorms and plastered them and as I watched the sales start to pick up Ipicked up my camera, grabbed a few my closest friends/models and started acampaign to give people a visual of my work by creating the characters forthem. I have done over 100 shoots with the models for the characters of mybooks and I have made posters, flyers and book trailers not only utilizing thephotos I took but music that my husband and I made for them. I also contactedevery single privately owned book store/ candle/coffee/art/craft/witchy shopthat I could find and started to place books in those stores too along withposters of the characters and my other photography work for sale. Then Idecided to burn ebook discs and although I could not find but one store to sellthem for $5.00, I sold about 200 of them just by pushing it hard every singleday, and as I did that I also handed those discs out, trying to get more peopleexcited and involved in the story itself. At grocery stores/coffee shops/Kinko'sand pretty much any place I went. Inshort….I became a one man wrecking machine when it came to my series because itis my legacy, what I have poured every inch of me into and all be damned if Iever sit back and go…"Well, I could have done that, but I didn't get around toit." That is not me, and if you care about it you have to find a way.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, thetraditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to thepublishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?*I went directly to my publisher…Vamptasy Publishing, I wasactually guided there by Ashley's Freelance Editing (you can find her onfacebook) She contacted me about a book she wanted to collect of horror talesand I jumped at the opportunity, this book was going to be released throughVamptasy and I visited their website and then went "Ohhhhh" with a smile on myface. I wrote Ashley back inquiring about Vamptasy and she told me to email andsubmit to them, so I did and they contacted me and picked up the series. Now wetalked for awhile, weeks really…skyping back and forth about everything andwhen they sent me the three year contract I did take it to a lawyer to lookover and when the lawyer said…"It all looks good" I contacted them and signed.Trust me, I thank whoever sits above us every single day that I was picked up.I am thankful to Vamptasy for taking a risk on a new author and I am gratefulat the chance to be on such a great publishing company's roster. Vamptasy isran by an author herself and because of that she understands what it is like tobe a writer and cares about what we want and need. Nicola Ormerod is amazingand I am forever in her debt.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?*I would have self published the second book in the seriesmyself if I had not been picked up by Vamptasy. I had already set aside themoney and prepared myself to go on a campaigning blitz in the tri state. lol
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?*Well…it is easier for me to tell you how long the first 5books took…exactly 11 months to the day. I am currently finishing up book sixnow.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?*I self published book one "Blood & Light" in November of2010, I had submitted it in the summer, making my first payment to authorhousein June 2010 and by November they had it ready and up online and had sent methe first 15 copies of it. I bought additional copies to sell a month later tosell in bookstores and hand carry and sell.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.*I never received a rejection letter…publishing companiesjust ignored me. lol
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life andhow did it make you feel? *WhenVamptasy Publishing sent me a contract and I knew it was real. I was doingstupid dances all over my house.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?*I had a representative at another self publishing companytell me to break my first book into three, without even seeing it. I told himthat it was not the way the story was written and would not serve the story andhe tried to convince me and I finally said…"Listen, I understand that if Ibreak it up you guys get paid for three books with my first one and that isawesome for you guys…not for me" so he dropped it and started to gripe aboutStephenie Meyer and "twilight" and I hung up on him and his drama. lol
11. Now, tell us the best! *The best?? From my editor Holly Buckler…whileI was writing book 3, I called her… a complete mess, crying and trying to catchmy breath, telling her that I felt broken and she quietly said "you can neverbe broken…write." and I went back to writing and finished that book.
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer totake away from your personal path to publication?
*Beexactly who you are and write what you know. Do not let anyone judge you andyour art and never give up. You need to take advantage of every singlesituation that arises and plug your work and don't let people who do not haveyour best interest in mind slow you down. Some people love misery and wouldrather you not succeed. Also, edit that book…find someone to do it cheaply orspend time on it yourself. Send out as many emails as possible, but if…like me,you have no money for a literary agent, try" Indie" Publishing and while youwait, build a website, set up pay pal, format your book for ebook and sell itas best you can. Trust me, you will cause a stir and then the right people willsee it and you will be signing a contract of your own. There are so many greatgroups on facebook to become a part of to further your networking like…AuthorExchange, Volley View and Creative Mind Collective, just to name a few. Getinvolved, like those pages, support those authors and they will support you inreturn. Set up a twitter account and tweet as much as possible, "Tweetdeck"allows you to set tweets up to go out throughout the day so you do not have tomonitor it. And…write, write, write.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with youon facebook? On Twitter? Your website?https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rue-Volley-Blood-Light-Series/166002266766880 ...facebookfanpagehttp://ruevolley.moonfruit.com/ ...myhome websitehttp://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/blood-and-light/4553215984 ...my publishers website http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/74866 ...tobuy book one & two on smashwords.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Light-ebook/dp/B005DSAQRG/ref=sr_1_14?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311282173&sr ...tobuy at the Kindle store on amazon.com http://twitter.com/#!/RueVolley ...meon twitter
Enter into the world of 16 year-old Rue Volley...who, up until one fateful night, thought she was "normal" or as "normal" as she could be.
But "normal" does not include being a vampire...a truth about herself that she will soon discover.
Rue Volley lives in the quiet little town of Calvary, Minnesota...nestled in the thick woods lining the Great Lakes. Rue, along with her brother Kai, have lived an otherwise calm life up until their Mother was committed into Rolling River Asylum, after she mysteriously stopped
speaking to anyone. Rue is convinced by her brother to attend a party on her birthday, and after she experiences something that she cannot explain, she and everyone in her world is thrown into madness. Join Rue on this epic journey, 6 books in all, as she struggles with grief, love, humor, old crushes, new found infatuations, hot boys, AND vampires, lots and lots of them.
This first book in the series starts you on a journey that you will find hard to ignore and once you start reading you will be hooked...or perhaps bitten.
Book Two in the series, called Smoke and Mirrors, has a cover also and Rue wanted me to share it with you here as well.
Okay, that is "smokin'".
Hope you enjoyed meeting my lovely friend Rue. She is just like everyone else I have showcased here on the blog...she would love to connect with you. Friend her, follow her, let her know how you feel about her book. I know she'd love to hear it. But most of all, tell her what you're writing. She'd love to hear about that most of all.
1. How long have you been writing?*I started writing in February of 2010 and never stopped. Ihad a birthday that blew major ass (I lost my father to a sudden heart attack)and I had already written 15 pages in my first book. After his funeral andmixed feelings about his absence in my life from the age of 7 I found myselfstaring at those 15 pages asking myself why the hell I started to write it inthe first place. I really honestly had no idea and then as those feelings abouthim and finding out at his funeral that I had a sister and brother that I nevereven knew (fun right??) I fell into a deep depression and to climb my way out Istarted to write…and when I say "write" I mean every single day for months onend. I left my retail management job, and dedicated myself to writing everythingthat I felt, my whole life and I veiled it in a "vampire/paranormal" epic thatspans 6 books in length called the "Blood & Light Series", each book about350-400 pages long before formatting. During this my Mother became ill withcancer, and still to this day is battling it as she is almost done with herchemo treatments. During the writing of book three "Oil & Water" in myseries I hit rock bottom and most days I could not find my way out of bed. Ijust leaned over, grabbed my laptop and wrote. It was as I wrote the last linesin book 3 that something changed in me and a silver lining appeared, you see mymain character spent 11 chapters in an asylum in that book and honestly that iswhere I felt that I was. So you see…writing to me was a journey that I willforever be grateful that I took, without it I have no idea where I would be.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been apublished author? If not, what's your plan?*I am published now. I did release the first book in myseries last November through self-publishing on authorhouse and the upside wasthat the book was out on a lot of sites…the downside is that I had no money formarketing and had a limited reach to expand a fan base, but I started up afacebook page and a fanpage for the series, built a website and I networked mybutt off…and when I say I networked, I mean I spent hours every single daysending out emails, linking, making new contacts, sending out "please readthis" to as many publishers as possible…but the reality is that NO big publisherwill even open your mail without a Literary agent and there again was a problemfor me, I had no money to do that either. So…I sold as many books as possiblethrough linking, liking and getting the word out. I made posters anddistributed them everywhere…I believe that every single Starbucks in theMidwest had one when I was done, lol and I went through apartment complexes andcollege dorms and plastered them and as I watched the sales start to pick up Ipicked up my camera, grabbed a few my closest friends/models and started acampaign to give people a visual of my work by creating the characters forthem. I have done over 100 shoots with the models for the characters of mybooks and I have made posters, flyers and book trailers not only utilizing thephotos I took but music that my husband and I made for them. I also contactedevery single privately owned book store/ candle/coffee/art/craft/witchy shopthat I could find and started to place books in those stores too along withposters of the characters and my other photography work for sale. Then Idecided to burn ebook discs and although I could not find but one store to sellthem for $5.00, I sold about 200 of them just by pushing it hard every singleday, and as I did that I also handed those discs out, trying to get more peopleexcited and involved in the story itself. At grocery stores/coffee shops/Kinko'sand pretty much any place I went. Inshort….I became a one man wrecking machine when it came to my series because itis my legacy, what I have poured every inch of me into and all be damned if Iever sit back and go…"Well, I could have done that, but I didn't get around toit." That is not me, and if you care about it you have to find a way.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, thetraditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to thepublishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?*I went directly to my publisher…Vamptasy Publishing, I wasactually guided there by Ashley's Freelance Editing (you can find her onfacebook) She contacted me about a book she wanted to collect of horror talesand I jumped at the opportunity, this book was going to be released throughVamptasy and I visited their website and then went "Ohhhhh" with a smile on myface. I wrote Ashley back inquiring about Vamptasy and she told me to email andsubmit to them, so I did and they contacted me and picked up the series. Now wetalked for awhile, weeks really…skyping back and forth about everything andwhen they sent me the three year contract I did take it to a lawyer to lookover and when the lawyer said…"It all looks good" I contacted them and signed.Trust me, I thank whoever sits above us every single day that I was picked up.I am thankful to Vamptasy for taking a risk on a new author and I am gratefulat the chance to be on such a great publishing company's roster. Vamptasy isran by an author herself and because of that she understands what it is like tobe a writer and cares about what we want and need. Nicola Ormerod is amazingand I am forever in her debt.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?*I would have self published the second book in the seriesmyself if I had not been picked up by Vamptasy. I had already set aside themoney and prepared myself to go on a campaigning blitz in the tri state. lol
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?*Well…it is easier for me to tell you how long the first 5books took…exactly 11 months to the day. I am currently finishing up book sixnow.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?*I self published book one "Blood & Light" in November of2010, I had submitted it in the summer, making my first payment to authorhousein June 2010 and by November they had it ready and up online and had sent methe first 15 copies of it. I bought additional copies to sell a month later tosell in bookstores and hand carry and sell.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.*I never received a rejection letter…publishing companiesjust ignored me. lol
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life andhow did it make you feel? *WhenVamptasy Publishing sent me a contract and I knew it was real. I was doingstupid dances all over my house.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?*I had a representative at another self publishing companytell me to break my first book into three, without even seeing it. I told himthat it was not the way the story was written and would not serve the story andhe tried to convince me and I finally said…"Listen, I understand that if Ibreak it up you guys get paid for three books with my first one and that isawesome for you guys…not for me" so he dropped it and started to gripe aboutStephenie Meyer and "twilight" and I hung up on him and his drama. lol
11. Now, tell us the best! *The best?? From my editor Holly Buckler…whileI was writing book 3, I called her… a complete mess, crying and trying to catchmy breath, telling her that I felt broken and she quietly said "you can neverbe broken…write." and I went back to writing and finished that book.
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer totake away from your personal path to publication?
*Beexactly who you are and write what you know. Do not let anyone judge you andyour art and never give up. You need to take advantage of every singlesituation that arises and plug your work and don't let people who do not haveyour best interest in mind slow you down. Some people love misery and wouldrather you not succeed. Also, edit that book…find someone to do it cheaply orspend time on it yourself. Send out as many emails as possible, but if…like me,you have no money for a literary agent, try" Indie" Publishing and while youwait, build a website, set up pay pal, format your book for ebook and sell itas best you can. Trust me, you will cause a stir and then the right people willsee it and you will be signing a contract of your own. There are so many greatgroups on facebook to become a part of to further your networking like…AuthorExchange, Volley View and Creative Mind Collective, just to name a few. Getinvolved, like those pages, support those authors and they will support you inreturn. Set up a twitter account and tweet as much as possible, "Tweetdeck"allows you to set tweets up to go out throughout the day so you do not have tomonitor it. And…write, write, write.13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with youon facebook? On Twitter? Your website?https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rue-Volley-Blood-Light-Series/166002266766880 ...facebookfanpagehttp://ruevolley.moonfruit.com/ ...myhome websitehttp://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/blood-and-light/4553215984 ...my publishers website http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/74866 ...tobuy book one & two on smashwords.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Light-ebook/dp/B005DSAQRG/ref=sr_1_14?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311282173&sr ...tobuy at the Kindle store on amazon.com http://twitter.com/#!/RueVolley ...meon twitter
Enter into the world of 16 year-old Rue Volley...who, up until one fateful night, thought she was "normal" or as "normal" as she could be.
But "normal" does not include being a vampire...a truth about herself that she will soon discover.
Rue Volley lives in the quiet little town of Calvary, Minnesota...nestled in the thick woods lining the Great Lakes. Rue, along with her brother Kai, have lived an otherwise calm life up until their Mother was committed into Rolling River Asylum, after she mysteriously stopped
speaking to anyone. Rue is convinced by her brother to attend a party on her birthday, and after she experiences something that she cannot explain, she and everyone in her world is thrown into madness. Join Rue on this epic journey, 6 books in all, as she struggles with grief, love, humor, old crushes, new found infatuations, hot boys, AND vampires, lots and lots of them.
This first book in the series starts you on a journey that you will find hard to ignore and once you start reading you will be hooked...or perhaps bitten.
Book Two in the series, called Smoke and Mirrors, has a cover also and Rue wanted me to share it with you here as well.
Okay, that is "smokin'".
Hope you enjoyed meeting my lovely friend Rue. She is just like everyone else I have showcased here on the blog...she would love to connect with you. Friend her, follow her, let her know how you feel about her book. I know she'd love to hear it. But most of all, tell her what you're writing. She'd love to hear about that most of all.
September 14, 2011
My Personal Path To Publication - Joselyn Vaughn
Hello everyone. Welcome and let's meet today's guest, Joselyn Vaughn. An accomplished writer, author, and mother of twins, this is one woman who is doing it all. A fellow author at Astraea Press with me, she has three books in publication now, with one at Astraea already, and will be releasing her latest, Hauntings of the Heart, soon with Astraea Press as well. Joselyn told me it was fun to remember how she got to having four books published and recounting her writing experiences. She recalled rewriting her first book for Astraea, Sucker for a Hot Rod so many times because the timeline was goofed up, that by the last rewrite, she could hardly stand to read it! She happened to pitch it during an email loop pitch day and got three contract offers. We're all just glad she went with Astraea! Now, check out the rest of her story!
1. How longhave you been writing? I have beenwriting ever since I could hold a pencil. My sister recently found some"flash" fiction I wrote while I was waiting for church to start. (My motherinsisted on being there and in our seats twenty minutes early, so I had plentyof time.) I attempted a novel about five years ago and have been writingmore seriously since then. Squeezing writing in around other things is how I'vealways done it. A few free minutes in class. During a lunchbreak. While the kids are sleeping.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have youbeen a published author? If not, what's your plan?Yes, My firstbook, CEOs Don't Cry, was published in 2009 by Avalon Books. I have twoother books published. Courting Sparks with Avalon and Suckerfor a Hot Rod with Astraea Press. I have one other manuscriptcontracted. It is called Hauntings of the Heart and will bepublished with Astraea Press.
3. Which route did you choose for becomingpublished, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, goingdirectly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?I originallyattempted to get an agent. I sent out close to forty queries with bites but nofull requests. This was on my first completed manuscript. I thenqueried three publishers, but was starting to think that maybe this manuscriptmight need to go under the bed. Two of the publishers eventually requested thefull manuscript and one of them offered a contract. That was before the "indie"route really took off and the market for ebooks exploded. Strange tothink that was only a couple years ago. If I was trying to publish myfirst book now, I don't know what I would do. There are so many optionsto get your work before readers. While I've always loved the idea ofebooks—I remember seeing a "new" invention where an entire encyclopedia couldbe on a disk and thought it was amazing—I never realized how much I would likereading in that format. The new Amazon Tablet is on my birthday wish list.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?I tried to getan agent first because I wanted someone to do the selling side of thebusiness. I'm not very good at it. I'm naturally an observer, not anextrovert, so it's really hard to put myself out there and say 'hey I'm JoselynVaughn and my books are awesome.' I wish I had someone else to do that.
5. How long did it take you to write your firstnovel?From the daythe first words went on the page to the last revision of the requestedmanuscript was a year and a half. The first draft took about five months, butthere were many revisions afterward. I've gotten a little faster. Afinished 60k novel takes about a year now. The rough drafts come a littlequicker, but they tend to be pretty rough.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?I startedsending queries to agents about nine months after starting themanuscript. The publisher requested the full manuscript a year afterthat. They offered a contract about five months later and it was publishedabout nine months after that. So I started writing it in 2006 and it waspublished in 2009.
7. How many times did it get rejected before itgot published?About fortytimes. I got lots of form letters. One was basically a business card with"No, thanks" on it. A few were promising. One had a handwritten note thatmy writing was good, but they didn't think they could sell the story.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.The worstrejection wasn't from an agent or editor. It was comments on a contestentry. The judge said I didn't know anything about living in a small townbecause small towns weren't like that. Actually I've lived in a smalltown/rural area pretty much my entire life and everything in the story wassomething that happened. I guess my idea of a small town was much smaller thanthe judge's. Now I use it as a reminder that you have to take the good with thebad. And find what was useful—if anything—and toss the rest. I ended deletingthat entire chapter because I realized later that the story started twochapters later.
9. What was the best news you ever got in yourwriting life and how did it make you feel?You mean otherthan getting THE CALL? That's pretty exciting. I got the call formy first book while I was changing my daughter's diaper. I was too farinto the process to pick her up from the changing table and grab the phone andnot far enough that I could finish before the machine got it. It was sounbelievable that I had to listen to the machine message several times. The call for my second book came after I had just settled down for a nap. I had a set of 18 month old twins and was pregnant, so afternoon nap time wasthe highlight of my day and getting into a comfortable position was nearlyimpossible. I didn't get up for the phone that time either. I could hear themachine, so, needless to say, I didn't sleep. It took me a while to build themotivation to move though.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?It's not theworst. I'm not sure I could say something I've been told and acted on was theworst, but I do have one that's funny. My critique partner always tellsme the characters need to be checking out each other's butts. (You can probablyguess she's what she looks at. J ) I've decided this means the hero or heroineshould be finding something attractive about the other person. Sometimes youhave to look at advice and see what it really means.
11. Now, tell us the best!It you want towrite a book, get a pen and a paper and do it. That's all you need and the onlyway it's going to happen.
12. What's the one thing you would want anaspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?Don't getbogged down by rejection. Form letters aren't personal. Send it somewhereelse. There are so many possibilities—even more than three yearsago. Try something else and, most importantly, don't quit writing.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books?Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?You can findout about all the adventures in the Vaughn household which lately seem to focuson the horrors of potty training twins (Will she be wearing Disney princesspull-ups in college? It's even money right now.) at my blog: http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com.I'm also on Facebook (http://facebook.com/joselynvaughn)and Twitter (@joselynvaughn). My books are available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_6?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=joselyn+vaughn&sprefix=josely).
Excerpt from Sucker for a Hot Rod:Bryce took a swig from his glass. Judi was about tosignal a server to take their order, but Bryce stood and walked around thetable. He knelt beside her chair.A jumble of thoughts crowded and bounced through her headlike children on an indoor recess.Candlelight. Soft music. Fancy restaurant. He's wearing atie. He's down on one knee. People are staring. That lady over there is crying.Then the thoughts coalesced into one direction.Romantic spot. Kneeling. Oh crap.She focused her attention on him. He held a small velvetbox in his fingertips. His fingers shook."Judi Montgomery, will you marry me?" He opened the boxand a square cut diamond winked at her against the cushioned white satin."What?"She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but it slipped out. This was a bit morethan an oil filter.
Whew! *fans self* As a car lover, I know that makes my motor run. Okay, it made it run even without the car-loving thing. Whatever. Move on. So! I hope you've enjoyed meeting Joselyn. One final piece of advice from her: So to all thestruggling writers out there I say, don't give up. (And stay away from thedelete key if you are having a rotten day. J) Terrific advice from one who knows!
1. How longhave you been writing? I have beenwriting ever since I could hold a pencil. My sister recently found some"flash" fiction I wrote while I was waiting for church to start. (My motherinsisted on being there and in our seats twenty minutes early, so I had plentyof time.) I attempted a novel about five years ago and have been writingmore seriously since then. Squeezing writing in around other things is how I'vealways done it. A few free minutes in class. During a lunchbreak. While the kids are sleeping.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have youbeen a published author? If not, what's your plan?Yes, My firstbook, CEOs Don't Cry, was published in 2009 by Avalon Books. I have twoother books published. Courting Sparks with Avalon and Suckerfor a Hot Rod with Astraea Press. I have one other manuscriptcontracted. It is called Hauntings of the Heart and will bepublished with Astraea Press.
3. Which route did you choose for becomingpublished, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, goingdirectly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?I originallyattempted to get an agent. I sent out close to forty queries with bites but nofull requests. This was on my first completed manuscript. I thenqueried three publishers, but was starting to think that maybe this manuscriptmight need to go under the bed. Two of the publishers eventually requested thefull manuscript and one of them offered a contract. That was before the "indie"route really took off and the market for ebooks exploded. Strange tothink that was only a couple years ago. If I was trying to publish myfirst book now, I don't know what I would do. There are so many optionsto get your work before readers. While I've always loved the idea ofebooks—I remember seeing a "new" invention where an entire encyclopedia couldbe on a disk and thought it was amazing—I never realized how much I would likereading in that format. The new Amazon Tablet is on my birthday wish list.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?I tried to getan agent first because I wanted someone to do the selling side of thebusiness. I'm not very good at it. I'm naturally an observer, not anextrovert, so it's really hard to put myself out there and say 'hey I'm JoselynVaughn and my books are awesome.' I wish I had someone else to do that.
5. How long did it take you to write your firstnovel?From the daythe first words went on the page to the last revision of the requestedmanuscript was a year and a half. The first draft took about five months, butthere were many revisions afterward. I've gotten a little faster. Afinished 60k novel takes about a year now. The rough drafts come a littlequicker, but they tend to be pretty rough.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?I startedsending queries to agents about nine months after starting themanuscript. The publisher requested the full manuscript a year afterthat. They offered a contract about five months later and it was publishedabout nine months after that. So I started writing it in 2006 and it waspublished in 2009.
7. How many times did it get rejected before itgot published?About fortytimes. I got lots of form letters. One was basically a business card with"No, thanks" on it. A few were promising. One had a handwritten note thatmy writing was good, but they didn't think they could sell the story.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.The worstrejection wasn't from an agent or editor. It was comments on a contestentry. The judge said I didn't know anything about living in a small townbecause small towns weren't like that. Actually I've lived in a smalltown/rural area pretty much my entire life and everything in the story wassomething that happened. I guess my idea of a small town was much smaller thanthe judge's. Now I use it as a reminder that you have to take the good with thebad. And find what was useful—if anything—and toss the rest. I ended deletingthat entire chapter because I realized later that the story started twochapters later.
9. What was the best news you ever got in yourwriting life and how did it make you feel?You mean otherthan getting THE CALL? That's pretty exciting. I got the call formy first book while I was changing my daughter's diaper. I was too farinto the process to pick her up from the changing table and grab the phone andnot far enough that I could finish before the machine got it. It was sounbelievable that I had to listen to the machine message several times. The call for my second book came after I had just settled down for a nap. I had a set of 18 month old twins and was pregnant, so afternoon nap time wasthe highlight of my day and getting into a comfortable position was nearlyimpossible. I didn't get up for the phone that time either. I could hear themachine, so, needless to say, I didn't sleep. It took me a while to build themotivation to move though.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?It's not theworst. I'm not sure I could say something I've been told and acted on was theworst, but I do have one that's funny. My critique partner always tellsme the characters need to be checking out each other's butts. (You can probablyguess she's what she looks at. J ) I've decided this means the hero or heroineshould be finding something attractive about the other person. Sometimes youhave to look at advice and see what it really means.
11. Now, tell us the best!It you want towrite a book, get a pen and a paper and do it. That's all you need and the onlyway it's going to happen.
12. What's the one thing you would want anaspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?Don't getbogged down by rejection. Form letters aren't personal. Send it somewhereelse. There are so many possibilities—even more than three yearsago. Try something else and, most importantly, don't quit writing.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books?Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?You can findout about all the adventures in the Vaughn household which lately seem to focuson the horrors of potty training twins (Will she be wearing Disney princesspull-ups in college? It's even money right now.) at my blog: http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com.I'm also on Facebook (http://facebook.com/joselynvaughn)and Twitter (@joselynvaughn). My books are available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_6?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=joselyn+vaughn&sprefix=josely).
Excerpt from Sucker for a Hot Rod:Bryce took a swig from his glass. Judi was about tosignal a server to take their order, but Bryce stood and walked around thetable. He knelt beside her chair.A jumble of thoughts crowded and bounced through her headlike children on an indoor recess.Candlelight. Soft music. Fancy restaurant. He's wearing atie. He's down on one knee. People are staring. That lady over there is crying.Then the thoughts coalesced into one direction.Romantic spot. Kneeling. Oh crap.She focused her attention on him. He held a small velvetbox in his fingertips. His fingers shook."Judi Montgomery, will you marry me?" He opened the boxand a square cut diamond winked at her against the cushioned white satin."What?"She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but it slipped out. This was a bit morethan an oil filter.Whew! *fans self* As a car lover, I know that makes my motor run. Okay, it made it run even without the car-loving thing. Whatever. Move on. So! I hope you've enjoyed meeting Joselyn. One final piece of advice from her: So to all thestruggling writers out there I say, don't give up. (And stay away from thedelete key if you are having a rotten day. J) Terrific advice from one who knows!
September 13, 2011
My Personal Path To Publication - Dominique Eastwick
I am so excited by today's guest. I have Dominique Eastwick! Not only is she an accomplished writer, but she recently launched a brand new publishing company with, in her words, "three of the most talented and savvy women she knows." Musa Publishing is scheduled to go live on October 1st, 2011, but you can submit to them now, your novels, your novellas, even your short stories. They have an ezine too! Check their fabulous new venture out at www.musapublishing.com. And check out Dominique's amazing personal journey here: She grew up the daughter of a Navy father (same as yours truly!) and traveling all over the country left her all kinds of time to use her imagination. Today she lives in beautiful North Carolina with her family and turns out amazing paranormal romance, as you will learn. Now read about her amazing journey!
1. Howlong have you been writing?I have been writing on andoff for 25 years, but it wasn't a serious need to write until about eight yearsago. I had a son who never slept. He would fall asleep at 3 in the morning andwake up at 5. Doctors said he went straight into REM so he has no need for thepre-sleep phase. Anyway to keep him safeI was awake with him. I slept when Hubby was up. So I wrote all night long.
2. Are youpublished and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not,what's your plan? I am published withtwo separate companies. My first book Hunting JC was published January 1st 2010.I have a Fourth book coming out with Musa Publishing the end of October if Ican get it finished.
3. Whichroute did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with anagent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, ordeciding to self-publish?I actually run a group called the aspiring romancewriters loop. Many of us there have gone on to be published. But my route wassimple an old beta reader of mine was now an editor and she asked me to submita book she had read, so I did.
4. Why didyou choose that particular route?Honestly it was just easiest.
5. Howlong did it take you to write your first novel? My first novel which is notpublished took me several months to write, it's unpublished because I know it'sa pile of crap and needs some serious rewriting. The first one published tookme a few months but just as many reworking.
6. Howlong did it take you to publish it? From the time Kathy my editor got the novelin August it took a little over 4 months to get it published.
7. Howmany times did it get rejected before it got published?For me it's been who Ihave known, and who I have helped. Both my editors had worked with me for yearsbefore asking me to submit to them. But that being said I am sure had I submittedit before Kathy got her editing hands on it, it would have been rejected a ton.
8. Whatwas the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make youfeel?I think as an author that someonerelates to your characters is the best news. That they can't wait for the nextin the series. All of this makes me as an author excited. One day I was on facebook, and it wasnational read a book day…"Go to page 64 of the book you're reading and post thefirst 4 lines". Well suddenly before me were four lines from my book thatsomeone had posted to their status. I felt like an Author that moment not awriter.
9. What'sthe worst piece of advice you ever got? Don't change your work to fit thepublishers needs. Now I am not saying I am going to add more sex or change thebasic needs of my story for a publisher but if they say no head hopping then Ihad best make sure there is no head hopping.
10. Now,tell us the best! Rules of Writing1.Don't get it Right, Get it Written!
2. You cannot fix a blank page!
3. Give yourself permission to write crap, Crap can be fixed...see #2!
11. What'sthe one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personalpath to publication?By helping others you will get the help you need later.Never give up on a dream. Any book can be made better if you are a willing toopen yourself too it. And for god sakeDo Not head hop, I don't care if Nora Roberts does it you are not NR and youcan't do it so stop arguing about it and just accept it.
12. Wherecan we read your blog? http://dominiqueeastwick.blogspot.com/Buy your books?Amazonsearch for Dominique Eastwick, or at All Romance Ebooks. (My first series isabout to move to a new publishing house but for now is still for sale until the20th of Sept.) Strawberry Kisses is available at Decadent PublishingConnect with you onfacebook? http://facebook.com/dominique.eastwickOn Twitter? @DominiEastwickYour website? www.dominiqueeastwick.com
Aspiring Romance Writers Website http://aspiringromancewriters.webs.com/
Book Blurb:Are they ready to gamble on a 1Night Stand?
Mia hides behind her computer, designing popular computer games. And though she knows just what to do to keep men coming back for more on the other end of the modem, she doesn't seem to have the same knack in person.
Gavin hides behind numbers. Since his wife left him, the only thing he cares about is his son and his job. One failed relationship was enough, but if the right curvaceous woman came into the picture he just might manipulate the numbers a bit.
Can two meddling sisters enlist Madame Eve to bring Mia and Gavin together and show them two is always better than one?
1. Howlong have you been writing?I have been writing on andoff for 25 years, but it wasn't a serious need to write until about eight yearsago. I had a son who never slept. He would fall asleep at 3 in the morning andwake up at 5. Doctors said he went straight into REM so he has no need for thepre-sleep phase. Anyway to keep him safeI was awake with him. I slept when Hubby was up. So I wrote all night long.
2. Are youpublished and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not,what's your plan? I am published withtwo separate companies. My first book Hunting JC was published January 1st 2010.I have a Fourth book coming out with Musa Publishing the end of October if Ican get it finished.
3. Whichroute did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with anagent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, ordeciding to self-publish?I actually run a group called the aspiring romancewriters loop. Many of us there have gone on to be published. But my route wassimple an old beta reader of mine was now an editor and she asked me to submita book she had read, so I did.
4. Why didyou choose that particular route?Honestly it was just easiest.
5. Howlong did it take you to write your first novel? My first novel which is notpublished took me several months to write, it's unpublished because I know it'sa pile of crap and needs some serious rewriting. The first one published tookme a few months but just as many reworking.
6. Howlong did it take you to publish it? From the time Kathy my editor got the novelin August it took a little over 4 months to get it published.
7. Howmany times did it get rejected before it got published?For me it's been who Ihave known, and who I have helped. Both my editors had worked with me for yearsbefore asking me to submit to them. But that being said I am sure had I submittedit before Kathy got her editing hands on it, it would have been rejected a ton.
8. Whatwas the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make youfeel?I think as an author that someonerelates to your characters is the best news. That they can't wait for the nextin the series. All of this makes me as an author excited. One day I was on facebook, and it wasnational read a book day…"Go to page 64 of the book you're reading and post thefirst 4 lines". Well suddenly before me were four lines from my book thatsomeone had posted to their status. I felt like an Author that moment not awriter.
9. What'sthe worst piece of advice you ever got? Don't change your work to fit thepublishers needs. Now I am not saying I am going to add more sex or change thebasic needs of my story for a publisher but if they say no head hopping then Ihad best make sure there is no head hopping.
10. Now,tell us the best! Rules of Writing1.Don't get it Right, Get it Written!
2. You cannot fix a blank page!
3. Give yourself permission to write crap, Crap can be fixed...see #2!
11. What'sthe one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personalpath to publication?By helping others you will get the help you need later.Never give up on a dream. Any book can be made better if you are a willing toopen yourself too it. And for god sakeDo Not head hop, I don't care if Nora Roberts does it you are not NR and youcan't do it so stop arguing about it and just accept it.
12. Wherecan we read your blog? http://dominiqueeastwick.blogspot.com/Buy your books?Amazonsearch for Dominique Eastwick, or at All Romance Ebooks. (My first series isabout to move to a new publishing house but for now is still for sale until the20th of Sept.) Strawberry Kisses is available at Decadent PublishingConnect with you onfacebook? http://facebook.com/dominique.eastwickOn Twitter? @DominiEastwickYour website? www.dominiqueeastwick.com
Aspiring Romance Writers Website http://aspiringromancewriters.webs.com/
Book Blurb:Are they ready to gamble on a 1Night Stand?
Mia hides behind her computer, designing popular computer games. And though she knows just what to do to keep men coming back for more on the other end of the modem, she doesn't seem to have the same knack in person.
Gavin hides behind numbers. Since his wife left him, the only thing he cares about is his son and his job. One failed relationship was enough, but if the right curvaceous woman came into the picture he just might manipulate the numbers a bit.
Can two meddling sisters enlist Madame Eve to bring Mia and Gavin together and show them two is always better than one?
September 12, 2011
My Personal Path To Publication - Lindsay Downs
My guest today is a fellow author at Astraea Press and an author of mystery/suspense novels as well as romance. There has also been a brief dabble into YA (at my request) but Lindsay is first and foremost a writer and lover of a good mystery. The next offering you can expect has a most unusual protagonist, a collie named Dakota, who is a partner of the other protagonist, Emily Dahill, CID, the lead character as well as the title of the book. I don't get lucky enough to interview Dakota here, but I reserved the right with Lindsay to get her in the future. Here now, enjoy Lindsay's journey:
1.How long have you been writing?I'vebeen writing with an eye toward being published since 2006 when I joinedRomance Writers of America (RWA). Before then I did a newsletter which was partfiction, part non-fiction, depending on the stories I could find. I've alsowritten for a weekly newspaper. In total I've been writing since the mid 80's.1980's that is.
2.Are you published and if so, how long have youbeen a published author? If not, what's yourplan?BesidesAstraea Press I have stories with two other presses. The Wild Rose Press gaveme my first contract in 2008 for a historical romance. I'm also published withanother press, who will remain unnamed. I have a romance also through them.Even though I have two romance stories out in cyber land I'm much happierwriting mystery/suspense.
3.Which route did you choose for becomingpublished, the traditional route, with an agent, the"indie" route, goingdirectly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?I'vepitched to both agent and editors at conferences. To date I've only had onestory sold that way, Somewhere in North Africa and that was to The Wild RosePress. So, I guess you could say I went the 'indie' route and am glad,correction ecstatic, to have found Stephanie Taylor at Astraea Press. I did tryputting out a book via the self-publishing route but decided to pull the bookdue to bad reviews. I'm planning to rewrite that story and then submit it topublishers.
4.Why did you choose that particular route?I chose to gothe small press route because I feel there is so much more hands on with them.You develop a relationship with the staff and are given personal attention.You're not lost in the crowd of other authors.
5.How long did it take you to write your firstnovel?That'sreally a tough question to answer. My first story, a short, that I wascontracted for probably took about six months. This was back when I wasstarting out and learning how to write. Which, I must add, I still am to thisday.
6.How long did it take you to publish it?I pitched theshort at a conference when after getting rejected on the spot for a full. Theeditor asked if I had anything else and when I told her I had a WWII historicalI gave her the unprepared pitch and sold the story.
7.How many times did it get rejected before itgot published?Asyou can see from above it never got rejected. However, the full I wrote severalyears later has been rejected with every publisher and agent I submitted thestory to. That's the major reason for rewriting the book. A few of therejections gave me suggestions on how to improve the story and I'll beimplementing them in the rewrite.
8.Tell us about worst rejection letter.Allrejection letters are bad. I can't, even though I have them all, pinpoint any onein specific as being worse than the others. Rejection letters are all part ofthe writing process and if you take them personally then maybe this isn't theright job for you.
9.What was the best news you ever got in yourwriting life and how did it make you feel?Thebest news wasn't so much my first contract but the latest one with AstraeaPress. How did it make me feel-like I finally made it. Here was a new pressthat had the same faith in me and my characters, Emily Dahill, CID and her veryunusual partner, Dakota, as I did.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?Whateverit was I forgot what it was or took it and reversed the advice into good andapplied it to my writing.
11. Now, tell us the best!Writewhat you know. And it wasn't necessarily romance but military. Since then I'vefocused on having some or all my characters in the Army. That's how I ended upwith mystery today.
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiringwriter to take away from your personalpath to publication?Learnthe craft, which is an ongoing process. Develop your own voice. And have faithin you, your writing and your characters.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books?Connect with you on Facebook? On Twitter? Your website?Blog: www.murdersandmystyeries.wordpress.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1015004477Twitter:ldowns2966Website: www.lindsaydowns.com
Back cover blurbs for Emily Dahill, CID Part 1FinalMission-After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. EmilyDahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CIDagent. Who could this new partner be?A Body inthe Snow-Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determinedfoe. Who will survive?RightPlace, Wrong Day-On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of herlife.Dog onFishing-When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimateyour partner. He might surprise you.
Exciting, right? I know I can't wait to read this and the rest in the series. I happen to know there are more and Lindsay is readying them for release as we speak. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the rest in the series. And the next time you see a beautiful collie, think of Dakota. Somewhere, somehow, an attractive detective is relying on a surefooted canine for a partner. And she always gets her man!
1.How long have you been writing?I'vebeen writing with an eye toward being published since 2006 when I joinedRomance Writers of America (RWA). Before then I did a newsletter which was partfiction, part non-fiction, depending on the stories I could find. I've alsowritten for a weekly newspaper. In total I've been writing since the mid 80's.1980's that is.
2.Are you published and if so, how long have youbeen a published author? If not, what's yourplan?BesidesAstraea Press I have stories with two other presses. The Wild Rose Press gaveme my first contract in 2008 for a historical romance. I'm also published withanother press, who will remain unnamed. I have a romance also through them.Even though I have two romance stories out in cyber land I'm much happierwriting mystery/suspense.
3.Which route did you choose for becomingpublished, the traditional route, with an agent, the"indie" route, goingdirectly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?I'vepitched to both agent and editors at conferences. To date I've only had onestory sold that way, Somewhere in North Africa and that was to The Wild RosePress. So, I guess you could say I went the 'indie' route and am glad,correction ecstatic, to have found Stephanie Taylor at Astraea Press. I did tryputting out a book via the self-publishing route but decided to pull the bookdue to bad reviews. I'm planning to rewrite that story and then submit it topublishers.
4.Why did you choose that particular route?I chose to gothe small press route because I feel there is so much more hands on with them.You develop a relationship with the staff and are given personal attention.You're not lost in the crowd of other authors.
5.How long did it take you to write your firstnovel?That'sreally a tough question to answer. My first story, a short, that I wascontracted for probably took about six months. This was back when I wasstarting out and learning how to write. Which, I must add, I still am to thisday.
6.How long did it take you to publish it?I pitched theshort at a conference when after getting rejected on the spot for a full. Theeditor asked if I had anything else and when I told her I had a WWII historicalI gave her the unprepared pitch and sold the story.
7.How many times did it get rejected before itgot published?Asyou can see from above it never got rejected. However, the full I wrote severalyears later has been rejected with every publisher and agent I submitted thestory to. That's the major reason for rewriting the book. A few of therejections gave me suggestions on how to improve the story and I'll beimplementing them in the rewrite.
8.Tell us about worst rejection letter.Allrejection letters are bad. I can't, even though I have them all, pinpoint any onein specific as being worse than the others. Rejection letters are all part ofthe writing process and if you take them personally then maybe this isn't theright job for you.
9.What was the best news you ever got in yourwriting life and how did it make you feel?Thebest news wasn't so much my first contract but the latest one with AstraeaPress. How did it make me feel-like I finally made it. Here was a new pressthat had the same faith in me and my characters, Emily Dahill, CID and her veryunusual partner, Dakota, as I did.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?Whateverit was I forgot what it was or took it and reversed the advice into good andapplied it to my writing.
11. Now, tell us the best!Writewhat you know. And it wasn't necessarily romance but military. Since then I'vefocused on having some or all my characters in the Army. That's how I ended upwith mystery today.
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiringwriter to take away from your personalpath to publication?Learnthe craft, which is an ongoing process. Develop your own voice. And have faithin you, your writing and your characters.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books?Connect with you on Facebook? On Twitter? Your website?Blog: www.murdersandmystyeries.wordpress.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1015004477Twitter:ldowns2966Website: www.lindsaydowns.com
Back cover blurbs for Emily Dahill, CID Part 1FinalMission-After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. EmilyDahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CIDagent. Who could this new partner be?A Body inthe Snow-Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determinedfoe. Who will survive?RightPlace, Wrong Day-On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of herlife.Dog onFishing-When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimateyour partner. He might surprise you.
Exciting, right? I know I can't wait to read this and the rest in the series. I happen to know there are more and Lindsay is readying them for release as we speak. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the rest in the series. And the next time you see a beautiful collie, think of Dakota. Somewhere, somehow, an attractive detective is relying on a surefooted canine for a partner. And she always gets her man!
September 9, 2011
My Personal Path to Publication - Kay Springsteen
I am personally jazzed that today's blog guest is the irrepressible Kay Springsteen. A fellow author with me at up-and-coming, and making-some-big-noise new independent publishing house Astraea Press, Kay has become a personal friend, a mentor of sorts, and is seriously one of the most hilarious people I have ever met. She has a rapacious wit, while at the same time serving up touching and heartwarming sweet romances, a hallmark of our publishing house. Among her biggest books with Astraea, Heartsight, is already a runaway fan favorite and she plans to follow that up this October with Heartsent, which you'll learn more about at the bottom of her interview. Please, then, enjoy the journey of my very special friend, Kay Springsteen.
1. How long have you been writing?
Since I could hold a pencil and knew what letters were, and I've been telling stories since long before that. My first stories were very self-serving. Whenever I did something wrong as a toddler and got caught, I would blame my faithful companion, a pink stuffed rabbit named Flopsy. I wrote short stories for fun throughout my growing up years, and then a couple of novels in the mid-1990s, which didn't go anywhere. Then my kids hit teenagerhood, and since I have four kids who are still alive, that was a span of time I had little time for anything beyond working and staying one step ahead of my teens who were bent on self-destruction.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan? I have had poetry published and have written Christian articles that were published on an E-zine. But my first fiction novel was published in February 2011.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish? Why did you choose that particular route?
I wasn't really planning to be published but I saw a post from Stephanie Taylor on Facebook looking for subs and I figured I wouldn't have anything to lose. I contacted her, got the specifics for what she was looking for in December and wrote Heartsight by mid-January and submitted to her and got the contract. She asked me if I had anything else and I told her I had two stories but they were inappropriate for her guidelines. She talked me into reworking them, and that's how The Echoes of Orson's Folly series came to be part of Astraea Press. So, I went Indie but only kind of by accident.
4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
My first, published novel took one month from start to second draft. Second and third published works were actually the first and second novels I'd completed in 10 years. Lifeline Echoes took three months from start to submission, and Elusive Echoes was my NaNoWriMo project – 80K words in one month with another month to clean up the grammar.
5. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
Lifeline Echoes was sent back to me from Carina Press with a request for revise and resubmit, but I opted not to go with them because by then I had already seen the merit of cleaning up the work and building my name as a clean writer.
6. Tell us about your worst rejection letter.
This would be one I received in the mid-1990s. Understand that I've learned much since then, but I've always made people cry with my writing. Well, an editor at Harlequin told me that while my writing was okay, it didn't really tug on the emotions, and moreover the storyline was about an artist and in her opinion, people didn't like to read about artists. A critique author at an RWA conference featuring Nora Roberts as the guest speaker told me she didn't agree with what the editor had said, and advised me to keep trying. Unfortunately, life got in the way for 10+ years so I never took my writing any further until the past few years.
7. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?
Apparently, people like Heartsight. A lot. I've never had a low review with that novel and each review says something new that jazzes me.
8. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
Probably from the editor who said don't write about the arts. I've read lots of books since then that feature the arts and they got published.
9. Now, tell us the best!
Never give up and never stop trying to improve.
10. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?
If you want to write, write. But you also need to read within the genre you write, and you need to read with your editor's hat in place so you can analyze what works for that writer and what you don't think works so well. Know the field and keep up with all the changes. Mostly, though, have fun.
11. Where can we read your blog? http://kayspringsteen.wordpress.com/ 12. Buy your books? Astraea Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble13. Connect with you on facebook? http://www.facebook.com/Wordz.n.Pix OR
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kay-Springsteen-Author-of-Romance/14346903571142214. On Twitter? Look for Kay Springsteen
Upcoming latest release: Heartsent
With her strict no-dating-within-the-department rule, Firefighter Lina Standish has a nickname in the Salem Hills Fire Department: Lina "Standoffish". But Firefighter Kevin Daly has had his eye on Standoffish ever since a locker room incident nearly a year earlier, and now he plans to break all her rules. With the help of his niece and a hot-air balloon, he gets Lina's attention and she agrees to "hang out" with Kevin as friends off duty, to take it slow and see where things go between them. Then Lina's life is turned upside down by a surprise miracle who doesn't even have a name. Kevin's ready to step up, but is Lina?
And a fun fact from Kay: the cover models for the Heartsent cover are her daughter Mary and her granddaughter (son's daughter) Sadie. How about that for keeping it all in the family?
Thank you, Kay for sharing your amazing journey with us here on the blog. I know Kay loves to connect with fans and especially aspiring writers, so go ahead and reach out to her. Comment here on the blog, friend her, follow her on Twitter or join her blog. She writes some absolutely fantastic posts of her own. And look for Heartsent coming soon!
1. How long have you been writing?
Since I could hold a pencil and knew what letters were, and I've been telling stories since long before that. My first stories were very self-serving. Whenever I did something wrong as a toddler and got caught, I would blame my faithful companion, a pink stuffed rabbit named Flopsy. I wrote short stories for fun throughout my growing up years, and then a couple of novels in the mid-1990s, which didn't go anywhere. Then my kids hit teenagerhood, and since I have four kids who are still alive, that was a span of time I had little time for anything beyond working and staying one step ahead of my teens who were bent on self-destruction.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan? I have had poetry published and have written Christian articles that were published on an E-zine. But my first fiction novel was published in February 2011.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish? Why did you choose that particular route?
I wasn't really planning to be published but I saw a post from Stephanie Taylor on Facebook looking for subs and I figured I wouldn't have anything to lose. I contacted her, got the specifics for what she was looking for in December and wrote Heartsight by mid-January and submitted to her and got the contract. She asked me if I had anything else and I told her I had two stories but they were inappropriate for her guidelines. She talked me into reworking them, and that's how The Echoes of Orson's Folly series came to be part of Astraea Press. So, I went Indie but only kind of by accident.
4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
My first, published novel took one month from start to second draft. Second and third published works were actually the first and second novels I'd completed in 10 years. Lifeline Echoes took three months from start to submission, and Elusive Echoes was my NaNoWriMo project – 80K words in one month with another month to clean up the grammar.
5. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
Lifeline Echoes was sent back to me from Carina Press with a request for revise and resubmit, but I opted not to go with them because by then I had already seen the merit of cleaning up the work and building my name as a clean writer.
6. Tell us about your worst rejection letter.
This would be one I received in the mid-1990s. Understand that I've learned much since then, but I've always made people cry with my writing. Well, an editor at Harlequin told me that while my writing was okay, it didn't really tug on the emotions, and moreover the storyline was about an artist and in her opinion, people didn't like to read about artists. A critique author at an RWA conference featuring Nora Roberts as the guest speaker told me she didn't agree with what the editor had said, and advised me to keep trying. Unfortunately, life got in the way for 10+ years so I never took my writing any further until the past few years.
7. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?
Apparently, people like Heartsight. A lot. I've never had a low review with that novel and each review says something new that jazzes me.
8. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
Probably from the editor who said don't write about the arts. I've read lots of books since then that feature the arts and they got published.
9. Now, tell us the best!
Never give up and never stop trying to improve.
10. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?
If you want to write, write. But you also need to read within the genre you write, and you need to read with your editor's hat in place so you can analyze what works for that writer and what you don't think works so well. Know the field and keep up with all the changes. Mostly, though, have fun.
11. Where can we read your blog? http://kayspringsteen.wordpress.com/ 12. Buy your books? Astraea Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble13. Connect with you on facebook? http://www.facebook.com/Wordz.n.Pix OR
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kay-Springsteen-Author-of-Romance/14346903571142214. On Twitter? Look for Kay Springsteen
Upcoming latest release: Heartsent
With her strict no-dating-within-the-department rule, Firefighter Lina Standish has a nickname in the Salem Hills Fire Department: Lina "Standoffish". But Firefighter Kevin Daly has had his eye on Standoffish ever since a locker room incident nearly a year earlier, and now he plans to break all her rules. With the help of his niece and a hot-air balloon, he gets Lina's attention and she agrees to "hang out" with Kevin as friends off duty, to take it slow and see where things go between them. Then Lina's life is turned upside down by a surprise miracle who doesn't even have a name. Kevin's ready to step up, but is Lina?
And a fun fact from Kay: the cover models for the Heartsent cover are her daughter Mary and her granddaughter (son's daughter) Sadie. How about that for keeping it all in the family?
Thank you, Kay for sharing your amazing journey with us here on the blog. I know Kay loves to connect with fans and especially aspiring writers, so go ahead and reach out to her. Comment here on the blog, friend her, follow her on Twitter or join her blog. She writes some absolutely fantastic posts of her own. And look for Heartsent coming soon!
September 8, 2011
My Personal Path to Publication - Gracen Miller
As promised, (or is it warned?) I offer up the unapologetic Gracen Miller to my followers today. And as you will see, from quite humble beginnings, this world class spicy romantic writer offers no excuses as she proceeds to take her readers on the literary rides of their lives. Her most recent project, aptly titled the Road to Hell series, is indicative of the kind of writer Gracen is: bold, brash, with just the right amount of human nature, and injected with a dash of adventure and stubborn surrealism. Her thrilling reads are always tightly wound by excitement and hardly contained by the words and worlds she effortlessly creates. She always leaves the reader breathless and panting for more. I'm sure her personal story will do the same.
1. How long have you been writing?
It seems like forever. Even before being bitten by the writing bug, I was crafting worlds in my head, and acting out daydreams. I just didn't realize I was mental writing. My official writing debut came when my sixth grade English teacher, Mrs. S., gave us a writing assignment for homework. Like everyone else in the class, I groaned and complained about having to use my imagination. I couldn't imagine the complexity of such a difficult assignment or from where I would retrieve the inspiration to come up with something halfway decent. I dragged my feet that afternoon stepping out of the car and entering my mother's workplace where I spent every afternoon in the office where she worked doing homework.
I sat down at that desk unknowing my life was about to take a dramatic turn. I took up pen and paper, thinking how much I hated English and disliked Mrs. S for issuing such a stupid assignment. I looked out the window and stared at the well-manicured Golf Course (my mother worked at the local Country Club as a waitress), with a certainty darkening my heart that I would fail this project miserably and my mother would be furious. Surprised, an idea quickly rose in my mind about Atlantis rising from the ocean and its inhabitants harnessing supernatural powers. And, of course, along with those supernatural powers the Atlantians concocted an evil plan to take over the world…what else do you do with supernatural powers, right? LOL With gusto I wrote a poorly crafted "play", but I was excited by the detail illuminating in my mind.
The next day all of our stories were read out loud in class. I fidgeted and worried to the point of nausea that everyone would laugh at my story. No one laughed, but sat as silent as church mice listening with interest as I read it. Mrs. S took a paper vote at the end of class on the three favorite stories and mine was one of the three, which meant the next day I had to pick individuals to play the parts of my characters and have my play acted out in front of the entire classroom. Wow! Not only had I enjoyed the assignment, but apparently all of my peers loved it too! Talk about mind-blowing to an 11 year old! Much like a drug, writing dug its claws into me and I have been forever addicted.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?
Yes, I am e-published. My first e-book released in April 2008, but that publishing house has since closed and the book is no longer available. My next novel, Elfin Blood, was released in October 2009 with Noble Romance Publishing, and my latest two, Fairy Casanova and Pandora's Box, were released this year by Decadent Publishing.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?
I opted to go straight to the publishers myself. With e-publishing I just didn't see the need for an agent and with a lot of e-publishers putting books into print as well, it's the best of both worlds and us authors aren't required to share our measly profits with an agent.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
I lost faith in NY's ability to publish what I love to read a while back. Also, I'm an e-book whore and I've discovered many authors that I adore, but NY wouldn't take a chance on their story. I also read e-book authors that were later picked up by NY once they realized what they'd overlooked. Also, the e-book industry is growing faster than print, so it seemed wiser to make my name in e-book before I lost the chance in the tide of names.
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
It's been so long since I wrote The Devil's Den I can't remember the writing timeline. Fairy Casanova is a short spicy read and took only a couple of days to write. Elfin Blood and Pandora's Box took about six months, while the sequel to Pandora's Box (not yet contracted) took me only two months to write. But it doesn't matter the length it takes to write a book—some flow quicker than others—but, rather the quality of work produced.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
The Devil's Den—no longer available—was rejected several times before it was contracted. I'd actually given up on publishing it when I received the call that the e-publisher wanted to contract it. Elfin Blood was accepted with the first submission and took about four months before it was published. Fairy Casanova took about the same amount of time, but from the time of contract to publication, it was ten months before Pandora's Box was released. However, it is the longest story I've written, so the edits were more extensive.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
The Devil's Den was rejected several times by NY before the rise of paranormal romance. In fact the last rejection I received on it was in 1997, right after my first son was born. I set it aside for about ten years and dedicated my life to my family, my sons and husband, while working my paralegal job. Then I became a domestic deity and everything changed, I was able to refocus on my first dream—becoming a published author. I spent countless late nights revamping The Devil's Den before submitting it to e-book publishers—no NY for me this time. So, it took a decade before it hit the market in 2008.
Elfin Blood and Fairy Casanova were accepted upon their first submission. I sent Pandora's Box to a couple of places simultaneously and it was rejected once, before it was contracted with Decadent. Pandora's Box was rejected based upon the horror elements in it. I was told by that particular publisher that their readers wouldn't purchase a book like this. My opinion…it's their loss, not mine, because readers are eating it up and the reviews are spectacular. People I've never met are friending me on Facebook to tell me how great Pandora's Box is and that they can't wait for book two to release.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
My worst rejection was when I submitted The Devil's Den to NY—back before e-books were in business and before paranormal romance had hit the market with any popularity. One of the publishing houses sent me a letter back and told me I should write something people would actually read because there wasn't a market for what I wrote. Before that all my NY rejections were the standard form letter. I've always been a paranormal fan and a romance reader, so I couldn't understand why readers wouldn't want to read a mixture of the two genres. NY has since proven that their statement to me was very wrong. I still have the rejection letter! I wonder if that editor is still working at that house. LOL I have always felt certain that if I wrote something I would enjoy reading, then there was a market out there for it.
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?
The best news was that first "we want to publish it" I ever received. There aren't enough words to describe how it made me feel. I was excited, floating on Cloud Nine for weeks, but overwhelmed too because I didn't know what to expect. But I was willing to learn. I'm still learning.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
Worst advice would have had to be from the NY publisher that told me to write something folks would read, rather than what I loved to write.
11. Now, tell us the best!
Don't lose your unique voice during the editing process! This can be easy to do, but sometimes it becomes necessary to fight for your story. Editors aren't always right and if you have a valid reason for something in your storyline, then tell them! Their job is to make the story better, not alter it to their preference or what feels safer for them. If they're a great editor—all of mine have been awesome and eager to listen—then they'll discuss your stance and work with you to see your vision.
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?
Writing isn't something I do because it's easy. It's hard work, and takes lots of dedication. Readers don't understand that and sometimes neither do writers. Everything I craft is "written from the soul", like tiny pieces of myself, and become my babies. I had those quoted words tattooed on my back shoulder because it defines me as a writer and a person. Also, regardless of what you write, never ever let someone take your dream away from you! They don't deserve that much power over you. Your dreams are important and just because someone doesn't share your dream, it doesn't make yours less important. Family members have discouraged me from writing what I love and it's wrong of them! One final thing…develop thick skin because readers can be heartless sometimes, but never whine about a bad review. I've seen authors ruin their career because they couldn't take the criticism.
Wow! That was more than you asked for. LOL
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?
Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.millerRoad to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=tsWebsite: www.gracenmiller.comBlog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/
Pandora's Box Buy Links :
Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=326&osCsid=197c7ca45f989e3b22059c5b92c9475d
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HRSZRG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0V85TMYT088EG6C8W16V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pandoras-box-gracen-miller/1105010763?ean=2940011467097&itm=3&usri=gracen%2bmiller
ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pandora039sbox-594252-140.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/82329
~~~
Pandora's Box Blurb:
Where does the road to Hell begin?
What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn't believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn't know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.
With good intentions? Or by demonic design?
Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison's life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix's aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?
In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind's liberty has begun...
Since Gracen was so wonderful to provide her beautiful photo, I couldn't let the opportunity to introduce her to her fans slip by. Thank you, Gracen, for sharing your story and your lovely self to my readers. I hope you all get the chance to friend her and become new fans of her work! She is truly a gifted, talented writer and a sweet soul.
1. How long have you been writing?
It seems like forever. Even before being bitten by the writing bug, I was crafting worlds in my head, and acting out daydreams. I just didn't realize I was mental writing. My official writing debut came when my sixth grade English teacher, Mrs. S., gave us a writing assignment for homework. Like everyone else in the class, I groaned and complained about having to use my imagination. I couldn't imagine the complexity of such a difficult assignment or from where I would retrieve the inspiration to come up with something halfway decent. I dragged my feet that afternoon stepping out of the car and entering my mother's workplace where I spent every afternoon in the office where she worked doing homework.
I sat down at that desk unknowing my life was about to take a dramatic turn. I took up pen and paper, thinking how much I hated English and disliked Mrs. S for issuing such a stupid assignment. I looked out the window and stared at the well-manicured Golf Course (my mother worked at the local Country Club as a waitress), with a certainty darkening my heart that I would fail this project miserably and my mother would be furious. Surprised, an idea quickly rose in my mind about Atlantis rising from the ocean and its inhabitants harnessing supernatural powers. And, of course, along with those supernatural powers the Atlantians concocted an evil plan to take over the world…what else do you do with supernatural powers, right? LOL With gusto I wrote a poorly crafted "play", but I was excited by the detail illuminating in my mind.
The next day all of our stories were read out loud in class. I fidgeted and worried to the point of nausea that everyone would laugh at my story. No one laughed, but sat as silent as church mice listening with interest as I read it. Mrs. S took a paper vote at the end of class on the three favorite stories and mine was one of the three, which meant the next day I had to pick individuals to play the parts of my characters and have my play acted out in front of the entire classroom. Wow! Not only had I enjoyed the assignment, but apparently all of my peers loved it too! Talk about mind-blowing to an 11 year old! Much like a drug, writing dug its claws into me and I have been forever addicted.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?
Yes, I am e-published. My first e-book released in April 2008, but that publishing house has since closed and the book is no longer available. My next novel, Elfin Blood, was released in October 2009 with Noble Romance Publishing, and my latest two, Fairy Casanova and Pandora's Box, were released this year by Decadent Publishing.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?
I opted to go straight to the publishers myself. With e-publishing I just didn't see the need for an agent and with a lot of e-publishers putting books into print as well, it's the best of both worlds and us authors aren't required to share our measly profits with an agent.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
I lost faith in NY's ability to publish what I love to read a while back. Also, I'm an e-book whore and I've discovered many authors that I adore, but NY wouldn't take a chance on their story. I also read e-book authors that were later picked up by NY once they realized what they'd overlooked. Also, the e-book industry is growing faster than print, so it seemed wiser to make my name in e-book before I lost the chance in the tide of names.
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
It's been so long since I wrote The Devil's Den I can't remember the writing timeline. Fairy Casanova is a short spicy read and took only a couple of days to write. Elfin Blood and Pandora's Box took about six months, while the sequel to Pandora's Box (not yet contracted) took me only two months to write. But it doesn't matter the length it takes to write a book—some flow quicker than others—but, rather the quality of work produced.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
The Devil's Den—no longer available—was rejected several times before it was contracted. I'd actually given up on publishing it when I received the call that the e-publisher wanted to contract it. Elfin Blood was accepted with the first submission and took about four months before it was published. Fairy Casanova took about the same amount of time, but from the time of contract to publication, it was ten months before Pandora's Box was released. However, it is the longest story I've written, so the edits were more extensive.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
The Devil's Den was rejected several times by NY before the rise of paranormal romance. In fact the last rejection I received on it was in 1997, right after my first son was born. I set it aside for about ten years and dedicated my life to my family, my sons and husband, while working my paralegal job. Then I became a domestic deity and everything changed, I was able to refocus on my first dream—becoming a published author. I spent countless late nights revamping The Devil's Den before submitting it to e-book publishers—no NY for me this time. So, it took a decade before it hit the market in 2008.
Elfin Blood and Fairy Casanova were accepted upon their first submission. I sent Pandora's Box to a couple of places simultaneously and it was rejected once, before it was contracted with Decadent. Pandora's Box was rejected based upon the horror elements in it. I was told by that particular publisher that their readers wouldn't purchase a book like this. My opinion…it's their loss, not mine, because readers are eating it up and the reviews are spectacular. People I've never met are friending me on Facebook to tell me how great Pandora's Box is and that they can't wait for book two to release.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
My worst rejection was when I submitted The Devil's Den to NY—back before e-books were in business and before paranormal romance had hit the market with any popularity. One of the publishing houses sent me a letter back and told me I should write something people would actually read because there wasn't a market for what I wrote. Before that all my NY rejections were the standard form letter. I've always been a paranormal fan and a romance reader, so I couldn't understand why readers wouldn't want to read a mixture of the two genres. NY has since proven that their statement to me was very wrong. I still have the rejection letter! I wonder if that editor is still working at that house. LOL I have always felt certain that if I wrote something I would enjoy reading, then there was a market out there for it.
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?
The best news was that first "we want to publish it" I ever received. There aren't enough words to describe how it made me feel. I was excited, floating on Cloud Nine for weeks, but overwhelmed too because I didn't know what to expect. But I was willing to learn. I'm still learning.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
Worst advice would have had to be from the NY publisher that told me to write something folks would read, rather than what I loved to write.
11. Now, tell us the best!
Don't lose your unique voice during the editing process! This can be easy to do, but sometimes it becomes necessary to fight for your story. Editors aren't always right and if you have a valid reason for something in your storyline, then tell them! Their job is to make the story better, not alter it to their preference or what feels safer for them. If they're a great editor—all of mine have been awesome and eager to listen—then they'll discuss your stance and work with you to see your vision.
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?
Writing isn't something I do because it's easy. It's hard work, and takes lots of dedication. Readers don't understand that and sometimes neither do writers. Everything I craft is "written from the soul", like tiny pieces of myself, and become my babies. I had those quoted words tattooed on my back shoulder because it defines me as a writer and a person. Also, regardless of what you write, never ever let someone take your dream away from you! They don't deserve that much power over you. Your dreams are important and just because someone doesn't share your dream, it doesn't make yours less important. Family members have discouraged me from writing what I love and it's wrong of them! One final thing…develop thick skin because readers can be heartless sometimes, but never whine about a bad review. I've seen authors ruin their career because they couldn't take the criticism.
Wow! That was more than you asked for. LOL
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?
Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.millerRoad to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=tsWebsite: www.gracenmiller.comBlog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/
Pandora's Box Buy Links :
Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=326&osCsid=197c7ca45f989e3b22059c5b92c9475d
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HRSZRG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0V85TMYT088EG6C8W16V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pandoras-box-gracen-miller/1105010763?ean=2940011467097&itm=3&usri=gracen%2bmiller
ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pandora039sbox-594252-140.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/82329
~~~
Pandora's Box Blurb:Where does the road to Hell begin?
What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn't believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn't know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.
With good intentions? Or by demonic design?
Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison's life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix's aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?
In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind's liberty has begun...
Since Gracen was so wonderful to provide her beautiful photo, I couldn't let the opportunity to introduce her to her fans slip by. Thank you, Gracen, for sharing your story and your lovely self to my readers. I hope you all get the chance to friend her and become new fans of her work! She is truly a gifted, talented writer and a sweet soul.
September 7, 2011
My Personal Path to Publication - Scott Prussing
Good Morning everyone. I'm truly excited by today's guest. We have a writer who is making waves in the literary word with his debut novel, Breathless, and get ready for his sequel, which I understand he is preparing to unleash on us soon in paperback form, Deathless. Scott Prussing has received 5-star review after 5-star review for his amazing paranormal story and he was among one of the first to respond when I sent out the call for this project. His personal story is another truly inspirational one. So, sit back and make sure you have a notebook beside you for note-taking.....you don't want to miss a thing!
1. How long have you been writing? I've been writing for 20+ years, but not continually. I wrote two mystery/suspense novels back in the mid and late 1980's, but when I was unable to get them published—despite having a pretty good agent—I stopped writing books for awhile. I spent a few years writing story and game design for computer games and then worked in health education, where I led wellness groups and wrote health and fitness articles.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan? I am self-published. My first book, a paranormal romance novel titled Breathless, came out in September, 2010. Breathless is book one in The Blue Fire Saga. The sequel, Deathless, is coming out in September of this year. Breathless is a hardcover book, while Deathless will be a trade paperback. Both are also available in ebook form.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish? I had an agent in NYC back in the late 80's, but he was unable to get my first novel published. I still remember very fondly a letter I received from him after a year of no luck placing my book. He wrote: "I went back and read Unturned Stones a second time—and I NEVER have time to read something twice—and I liked it even better the second time." He went on to say he did not understand why he couldn't get anyone to publish the book. After another year of trying, he gave it back to me with his apologies. When I wrote Breathless, I was pretty sure I would self-publish it, but I still tried to acquire an agent. I sent out more than thirty email queries, but received nothing back but form letter rejections. Agents are now getting hundreds of queries per month, if not per week, so the odds of being picked up by one are not very good. So I ended up self-publishing.
4. Why did you choose that particular route? I chose self-publishing for several reasons. The first, obviously, was that it was the one certain way to bring Breathless to print. In addition, I had a friend who helped with some contacts for cover graphics and for the interior book layout, and also had a contact for lower cost printing in South Korea. Another friend "invested" in my book, paying for the printing costs. I put all that together with a lot of my time and Breathless was born – a beautiful, 1.5 pound hardcover novel!
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel? It took me eight months to write Unturned Stones, which I wrote back in the 80's. My most recent novel, Breathless, took about five months to write, plus another month or two for editing and polishing. Unturned Stones is 100,000 words, while Breathless is 80,000.
6. How long did it take you to publish it? It was about seven months from when I wrote the first word of Breathless to when I received the books from the printer. The graphic artist was working on the cover while I was editing and polishing, so once we were both done, it was off to the printer in Korea.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published? Breathless got rejected by several dozen agents. No publishers ever saw it. Here's a quick story I want to share—Breathless almost got "rejected" by an online reviewer. She began her review by writing: "Let me also be honest and say that I was apprehensive to even start Breathless—a paranormal romance said to straddle the line between YA and Adult written by a dude—yeah, I just wasn't sure what to expect." Luckily, she pushed her reservations aside and read Breathless. The next line in her review was: "However, let me finish by saying that Breathless was fantastic!" She went on to write a number of other glowing comments. I especially love that "written by a dude" part of the review.
8. Tell us about your worst rejection letter. Virtually all the rejection letters were basically the same. They apologize for the form letter response, say how busy they are (and therefore can't make specific comments about the book), and end by saying that just because they don't think the book is right for them, I shouldn't give up trying other agents, who might feel different.
Only one agent out of dozens actually wrote something specific about my query (which included a synopsis and the first twenty pages). She wrote that she liked the originality of the idea—in a very crowded and overdone genre—but that she did not feel the story started fast enough. She said it needed to be more "full-throttle" to grab the reader. I was thrilled (and grateful) to finally get a specific comment, and I went back and added an action-filled prologue to Breathless and tightened up the first two chapters.
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel? The best news is something I'm continually getting—feedback from readers telling me how much they love Breathless and how they can't wait for my next book. Truly, the feedback from readers has been absolutely amazing—beyond anything I ever expected. Numerous positive reviews feel pretty good, too.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got? A pretty good friend whose judgment in books I usually trust, told me the cover of Breathless was all wrong. The large majority of people love the cover, so I'm glad I didn't listen to her.
11. Now, tell us the best! "Write a sequel to Breathless." MANY readers told me that. My dedication in the sequel is "To the many Breathless fans, whose enthusiasm made this book necessary."
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication? Perseverance is the key. There is a way for everyone who wants to to get their book out there. Hardcopy or ebook. Self-publishing, Print on Demand, Indie publishers… or, if you get really lucky, a mainstream publisher. Do it for the fun and the reward of knowing you have provided enjoyment to however many fans you manage to attract. Do NOT let rejections from agents or publishers make you give up your dream, but do consider any advice they give you.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website? Signed copies of my books are available at www.scottprussing.com. Reviews, summaries, reader comments and more are available there as well. Ebook versions are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com Fans can find my books on Facebook at Breathless Fampires and Breathless Vampire Book. My Twitter account is Breathless Book.
Weston College freshman Leesa Nyland has been fascinated by vampires since she was three years old. That's when her mom started acting weird, refusing to go outside during the day and insisting the sunlight hurt her skin because she'd been bitten by a one-fanged vampire.
But fascinated doesn't mean Leesa believes. Any more than she believes in blue fire, people who live for centuries, and kisses that can kill. When her beloved older brother suddenly disappears, she is forced to confront all these and more. She also has to figure out what to do about her mysterious new boyfriend. She knows Rave likes her a lot—so why won't he kiss her? As Leesa draws closer to finding her brother, she faces some gut-wrenching decisions. Should she risk her mom's life trying to "cure" her? Should she continue seeing Rave, after he reveals his dangerous secret? And most terrifying of all, should she make the ultimate sacrifice—give up her humanity—to save her brother?
After rescuing her brother from the caverns of a vampire coven and helping to cure her mother of a vampire bite, Leesa Nyland hopes she's done dealing with all things supernatural. All she wants to do now is enjoy college life—and to figure out how to kiss her vampire hunter boyfriend without his magical fire burning her to a crisp. She doesn't think that's too much to ask.So she's not too happy when she begins dreaming of rotting bodies emerging from their graves, and she likes it even less when the terrifying dreams begin to come true. When objects around her start moving seemingly on their own accord, she figures that's more than enough. It's a good thing she doesn't know about the powerful vampire who has sworn vengeance against her…
Don't both books sound so fantastic? Make sure you friend Scott on facebook....he loves to connect with new fans and followers. And you can get signed versions of his books as well, contact him to find out how! Stay tuned to the blog for more amazing authors and have a great day!
1. How long have you been writing? I've been writing for 20+ years, but not continually. I wrote two mystery/suspense novels back in the mid and late 1980's, but when I was unable to get them published—despite having a pretty good agent—I stopped writing books for awhile. I spent a few years writing story and game design for computer games and then worked in health education, where I led wellness groups and wrote health and fitness articles.
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan? I am self-published. My first book, a paranormal romance novel titled Breathless, came out in September, 2010. Breathless is book one in The Blue Fire Saga. The sequel, Deathless, is coming out in September of this year. Breathless is a hardcover book, while Deathless will be a trade paperback. Both are also available in ebook form.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish? I had an agent in NYC back in the late 80's, but he was unable to get my first novel published. I still remember very fondly a letter I received from him after a year of no luck placing my book. He wrote: "I went back and read Unturned Stones a second time—and I NEVER have time to read something twice—and I liked it even better the second time." He went on to say he did not understand why he couldn't get anyone to publish the book. After another year of trying, he gave it back to me with his apologies. When I wrote Breathless, I was pretty sure I would self-publish it, but I still tried to acquire an agent. I sent out more than thirty email queries, but received nothing back but form letter rejections. Agents are now getting hundreds of queries per month, if not per week, so the odds of being picked up by one are not very good. So I ended up self-publishing.
4. Why did you choose that particular route? I chose self-publishing for several reasons. The first, obviously, was that it was the one certain way to bring Breathless to print. In addition, I had a friend who helped with some contacts for cover graphics and for the interior book layout, and also had a contact for lower cost printing in South Korea. Another friend "invested" in my book, paying for the printing costs. I put all that together with a lot of my time and Breathless was born – a beautiful, 1.5 pound hardcover novel!
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel? It took me eight months to write Unturned Stones, which I wrote back in the 80's. My most recent novel, Breathless, took about five months to write, plus another month or two for editing and polishing. Unturned Stones is 100,000 words, while Breathless is 80,000.
6. How long did it take you to publish it? It was about seven months from when I wrote the first word of Breathless to when I received the books from the printer. The graphic artist was working on the cover while I was editing and polishing, so once we were both done, it was off to the printer in Korea.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published? Breathless got rejected by several dozen agents. No publishers ever saw it. Here's a quick story I want to share—Breathless almost got "rejected" by an online reviewer. She began her review by writing: "Let me also be honest and say that I was apprehensive to even start Breathless—a paranormal romance said to straddle the line between YA and Adult written by a dude—yeah, I just wasn't sure what to expect." Luckily, she pushed her reservations aside and read Breathless. The next line in her review was: "However, let me finish by saying that Breathless was fantastic!" She went on to write a number of other glowing comments. I especially love that "written by a dude" part of the review.
8. Tell us about your worst rejection letter. Virtually all the rejection letters were basically the same. They apologize for the form letter response, say how busy they are (and therefore can't make specific comments about the book), and end by saying that just because they don't think the book is right for them, I shouldn't give up trying other agents, who might feel different.
Only one agent out of dozens actually wrote something specific about my query (which included a synopsis and the first twenty pages). She wrote that she liked the originality of the idea—in a very crowded and overdone genre—but that she did not feel the story started fast enough. She said it needed to be more "full-throttle" to grab the reader. I was thrilled (and grateful) to finally get a specific comment, and I went back and added an action-filled prologue to Breathless and tightened up the first two chapters.
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel? The best news is something I'm continually getting—feedback from readers telling me how much they love Breathless and how they can't wait for my next book. Truly, the feedback from readers has been absolutely amazing—beyond anything I ever expected. Numerous positive reviews feel pretty good, too.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got? A pretty good friend whose judgment in books I usually trust, told me the cover of Breathless was all wrong. The large majority of people love the cover, so I'm glad I didn't listen to her.
11. Now, tell us the best! "Write a sequel to Breathless." MANY readers told me that. My dedication in the sequel is "To the many Breathless fans, whose enthusiasm made this book necessary."
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication? Perseverance is the key. There is a way for everyone who wants to to get their book out there. Hardcopy or ebook. Self-publishing, Print on Demand, Indie publishers… or, if you get really lucky, a mainstream publisher. Do it for the fun and the reward of knowing you have provided enjoyment to however many fans you manage to attract. Do NOT let rejections from agents or publishers make you give up your dream, but do consider any advice they give you.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website? Signed copies of my books are available at www.scottprussing.com. Reviews, summaries, reader comments and more are available there as well. Ebook versions are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com Fans can find my books on Facebook at Breathless Fampires and Breathless Vampire Book. My Twitter account is Breathless Book.
Weston College freshman Leesa Nyland has been fascinated by vampires since she was three years old. That's when her mom started acting weird, refusing to go outside during the day and insisting the sunlight hurt her skin because she'd been bitten by a one-fanged vampire.
But fascinated doesn't mean Leesa believes. Any more than she believes in blue fire, people who live for centuries, and kisses that can kill. When her beloved older brother suddenly disappears, she is forced to confront all these and more. She also has to figure out what to do about her mysterious new boyfriend. She knows Rave likes her a lot—so why won't he kiss her? As Leesa draws closer to finding her brother, she faces some gut-wrenching decisions. Should she risk her mom's life trying to "cure" her? Should she continue seeing Rave, after he reveals his dangerous secret? And most terrifying of all, should she make the ultimate sacrifice—give up her humanity—to save her brother?
After rescuing her brother from the caverns of a vampire coven and helping to cure her mother of a vampire bite, Leesa Nyland hopes she's done dealing with all things supernatural. All she wants to do now is enjoy college life—and to figure out how to kiss her vampire hunter boyfriend without his magical fire burning her to a crisp. She doesn't think that's too much to ask.So she's not too happy when she begins dreaming of rotting bodies emerging from their graves, and she likes it even less when the terrifying dreams begin to come true. When objects around her start moving seemingly on their own accord, she figures that's more than enough. It's a good thing she doesn't know about the powerful vampire who has sworn vengeance against her… Don't both books sound so fantastic? Make sure you friend Scott on facebook....he loves to connect with new fans and followers. And you can get signed versions of his books as well, contact him to find out how! Stay tuned to the blog for more amazing authors and have a great day!
