Robyn Heirtzler's Blog, page 5

David James Introduces Light of the Moon :)

You’ve recently published your first novel, Light of the Moon, can you tell us a little about it?
I did! I’m so thrilled that Light of the Moon is finally out in the world, and I’m excited to hear what people think about it! Light of the Moon is a dark story about curses and kissing and magic. When we first start off, we meet a boy named Calum who lives in the sleepy town of Lakewood Hollow. After a while, he meets Kate and things start to get dangerous. The two find themselves deep in a paranormal war filled with secrets. Worse, there is a destiny that binds them together, and no way to stop it. I loved showcasing the different magical elements in this story, so they are what really drive the plot forward.

Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write this book?
The stars. One night after a campfire, I was looking up at the stars and made a wish. I realized that so many people must do exactly that all the time. So I wrote about it. What would happen if we made a wish on a wishing star and then something actually happened?

You chose to self-publish. What influenced this decision?
I’ve really been impressed with both traditional and indie authors. To me, the lines are not divided, but blurred. With the introduction of so many talented people in the business, I knew my first concern was getting Light of the Moon out into the world, and this was my way of doing that. I love the people I’ve met, both traditional authors and not, and am so thankful of their support.

What’s the greatest advice you’ve ever received about writing?
The greatest advice I’ve ever received about writing is this: Go your own way. I think it’s important to remember that there is so much advice out there on writing, publishing, becoming an author, what to do, and what not to do, that it becomes redundant. I’ve learned that no one really does anything the same. We all have quirks that help us out along the way. If we simply be ourselves, find what works best for us, the rest is falls into place.

Is there a particular character that you identify with most in your novel?
Both my main characters, Calum and Kate, are very strong individuals. I wanted to showcase the idea that no matter who you are, boy or girl, that there aren’t really lines that define you. As for characters I relate to, I think that Calum’s best friend Tyler is most like me. Tyler is flawed, but he is aware of his flaws and he tries to fix them. He’s most certainly not perfect, but he tries to do what’s best. I love that Tyler is strong because he tries to be good, not because he always was.

What is the most difficult part of writing, for you?
Focusing. Sometimes I have a difficult time focusing. Also, I have this weird quirk where I can’t write if I don’t have background noise. So I listen to music and watch movies and have no idea what’s happening in them, but the noise helps.

What is the most rewarding?
The end result. When you get an email from a reader wanting to know more about your characters, or confessing how much they loved your story. I write for me, but I became an author for every reader out there. I love getting feedback.

Is there anything in particular you hope readers gain from reading Light of the Moon?
Hope. In fact, the last word of the story is “hoped” and that is what I hope they take from it. Throughout the story, there is this idea that love conquers all, but I want readers to see that love is nothing without hope. We should always be hopeful. There isn’t much we can do without things like love and hope.

If you could write anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would love to spend time in the mountains somewhere. Recently, I had a chance to visit Colorado where Light of the Moon takes place, and absolutely loved the scenery. I love being in places surrounded by trees and nature. I think it helps me write.

What other activities do you enjoy, when you're not writing?
I love to read, of course. I also enjoy watching horrible movies and listening to great music. For whatever reason, I always have gummy worms on hand.

What’s your best writing advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to be who you are. So often we are held in silence because we are afraid of what might happen. Life is better when you take a leap. Have some hope. You are most definitely worth it, and we need your voice in the world.

Now, where can readers stalk you? Your web presence?
Haha. Stalk away! I’m found on Twitter @DJamesAuthor and on the links below.
http://djamesauthor.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/davidjamesauthor

Thank you, David, for coming by my blog today! I'm looking forward to reading Light of the Moon and posting a review for you!

Guest Post: Marsha Ward, Typos, Homophones & Contractions

About Marsha
This Saturday, November 10, author Marsha Ward is celebrating the release of her fourth novel in the Owen Family Saga, Spinster’s Folly. She’s hosting a Book Release online at Facebook,with prizes, pop quizzes, and other follies. That day is Marsha’s wedding anniversary, chosen because all the troubles that her female character, Marie Owen, goes through are based on her desire to be married before she gets too old.
Before she was a novelist, Marsha was a newspaper editor. She also published her own writers’ magazine, so she’s had a lot of experience picking her way through mishaps with the English language. She has agreed to give her insights on the subject today.
Typos, Homophones & Contractions
Editors get all kinds of interesting things in their email, including manuscripts filled with what one hopes are typos, and not misused words. Unfortunately, more often than not, the wished-for typos are mistakenly-used words. Unfortunately again, instruction in correct English usage went out the window years ago in public education. Students today don’t even know the difference when their gaffes proclaim them to be ignorant. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they think a gaffe is a smaller version of a giraffe!
One mistake I've seen over and over is using a homophone—a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning—for the intended word. Here are two examples I saw one day: “Don't your food and drink leek out when you swallow?” The word “leek” is wrong. It should have been “leak”. The leek is a relative to an onion, and the word is a noun, not a verb. The second mistake I saw is in the following sentence: “They both stood very close to each other, no longer trembling, and where becoming good friends.” The word “where” should be “were”. Other examples of transposed homophones I have seen recently are “that doesn’t phase me,” which should have used “faze;” misuse of the sister words peek, peak, and pique; and the all-time winners, there, they’re, and their.
Let’s look at “peek”. J It means to look quickly and furtively. “I saw her peek out the window,” and “I took a peek out the glass” are both appropriate. On the other hand, “peak” has three meanings: 1 a pointed end or top, as of a cap, roof, etc. 2 a) the summit of a hill or mountain ending in a point, b) a mountain with such a summit. 3 the highest or utmost point of anything—also a verb meaning to come or bring to a peak. This word is not to be confused with “peaked,” pronounced pe’ kid, which is thin and drawn, as from illness. Pique, pronounced peek, means resentment at being slighted. Watch out for pique’, which is a two-syllable word (accent on the last) meaning a cotton fabric with ribbed or corded wales. Ah, the English language is so rich!
There is no substitution for the word “there”. It can be used as in the previous sentence, or to denote something at a distance—“over there”. “They’re” is a contraction of “they are”. “Their” means ownership or possession in a plural sense. My boat or their boat, it is the same boat.
I am frequently asked when to capitalize family names, such as Dad, Mom, etc. When used as a direct address, “Dad, I want to show you this rock,” it is capitalized. When I say, “My dad is 75 years old,” lower case is used.
One of my pet peeves is found today in grocery stores, where you will see an abundance of apostrophes: potatoe’s and rose’s, or even roses’ are often found on signs. There should be no apostrophe in those words! On the other hand, it is a pity that “it’s” and “its” are switched so often. It’s is always a contraction meaning “it is”. “Its” connotes possession; just like “hers” or “his,” it has no apostrophe.
Using English correctly isn’t as hard as it seems. You merely need to study and learn the basics.

Thank you, Marsha for stopping by today and I can't wait to finish your book! I'll be posting a book review of Spinster's Folly in a few days.

Designing a Book to be Judged by the Cover

Too often when book browsing, Indie books scream amateur, with distracting covers or covers that don't convey the overall theme of the book.

Many look like cell phone pics with text typed on top without regard to size, readability, or (do I dare say) class.

When preparing to design your cover, there are several things to keep in mind.

Don't create the cover to the right! Icky ... and unfortunately inspired by actual covers ... Do follow the guidelines below.


The most important element of cover design is simple:  If you don't understand design or graphics, hire someone to do it for you.

TEXT 
Use simple, readable textUse colors that stand out from the backgroundSelect fonts that compliment each otherKeep it clean and uncluttered



BACKGROUND PHOTO
Image should convey the subject of the bookUse high quality imagesHire a professional photographer or designerIf using stock art, purchase it and follow the usage rules





ILLUSTRATIONS
Hire a professionalMake it uniqueCombine story elements to intrigue readersAllow room for the title and author name




Despite the adage to never judge a book by its cover, that's exactly what readers do when they pick up your novel, so a well-designed cover is imperative.
Search out best-selling book covers to determine why they work.Make a list of elements that must be present in your cover and focus on the most relevant.Keep it clean and simple.Stick with one image.Keep titles short or only accentuate the words with the most relevance or meaning.If using a cover quote, limit to one on the front. I realize this is a pretty basic list, so please share your comments with other readers ... as indies help other indies, we'll see the market gain credibility and sales increase.

Why Vote? Because you Can!

Have you ever wondered if your vote really even matters? I mean, you live in an area surrounded by people who share your political views. You know this because you talk to them, see the signs in their yards and the bumper stickers asking you to honk about it. But you don't - honk - you just read the bumper stickers and wonder how long it takes to get the sticky off.
You do go home and start dinner, welcome the kids home and check your email. You cringe at political forwards and hide the Facebook posts about the candidates. Then you watch the bad lip-reading videos. Now you know what fake Obama sounds like and what Romney's lips could be saying ... with a lot of creative license. 
And you decide that one vote doesn't make a difference ... 
You do a web search, and you find this:

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote."                                         -George Jean Nathan
"In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard's vote."                                            -David Foster Wallace

Then you wonder, If I allow my neighbors to make my decisions for me, will they be smarter in the polls than they were at the last block party?Don't count on it.
There are hundreds of reasons why people vote, some personal, some patriotic, some stirring ... but there's one reason that stands out, one that you should remember and strive to keep present. Vote because you can!
Your voice makes a difference. Your vote shows your loyalties, what you want to see happen in this country. Not taking the time to cast that vote allows others to make decisions for you. Do others really know what's better for you than you? Stand up for what you believe in. Make your voice heard and visit the polls.

Now my disclaimer: I do not enjoy politics. I'm a mom concerned with the world my children are growing up in. I'm looking at the day I will have grandkids and wondering how much differently their lives will be than mine or my children's lives. I'm thinking back to the dream I had that allowed me to see life without freedom ... and it's not pretty.
So, to encourage you to vote ... not bribery ... I'm offering you a chance to read about life without freedom. Check out inDIVISIBLE today and decide for yourself if it's worth your time to stop by the polls. I've lowered the price as far as Amazon will allow, for a limited time.
Pic by Svilen Milev - Thanks for the Awesome Graphic!

Finishing Strong ... I Like How it Feels

Five miles into my first half-marathon it pounded through my headphones and I had to restrain myself from dancing right on the trail ... I Like How it Feels by Enrique Iglesias.

I've trained for several long runs but have never made it to the starting line, stopped by -20 degree temperatures, scoliosis, and last of all, a car accident that left me in physical therapy for months. But now, I'm running and loving it - and I just completed my first half-marathon!

I had two goals when I started training:

Complete it and feel good about it. Do that in under two hours.
I made it in 1:55:59!
It was fun. It was fulfilling. It was incredible! But easy? No.
I've come to realize over the last several years that easy is overrated. It's when you have to push yourself that finishing really matters. It's when you face the difficult tasks, strive to accomplish the biggest dreams that you feel the most satisfaction, the most emotional release and fulfillment.

And I had to push ... The Saints and Sinners Half-Marathon took place in Boulder City, Nevada, and finished on the shore of Lake Mead. I can't imagine a more beautiful course. It wove along a running path overlooking the lake, veered onto a dirt road through the old train tunnels that were used during the construction of the Hoover Dam, and opened back up to the lake for the finish.

I thought I was going to die when I crossed the finish line. My entire body shook, my heart pounded and I could barely breathe. Tears started and I could hardly register my time ... I'd made it.

The feeling of accomplishing a long-held dream is worth the effort, but it's rarely accomplished alone. I've always had support around me from my husband, kids and friends. I've also had faith ... as I ran I was reminded over and over of the promise in the scriptures that if you ask in faith, you will receive.

I received and I'm grateful. As with my other ventures, I'm grateful for those around me who believe in me, who push me to be what I am today.

Character Auditions ...

The first person you interview for a job isn't always the best fit, so why would the first character you design be the best candidate for a leading role in your novel? Seriously, your lead will either propel your story forward or bog it down; intrigue your readers or turn them off; add dramatic tension or be a major bore. 
So why not make them work for the position of lead? 
There are several ways to hold these auditions or interviews. Each takes work, but they pay off in the end.
First, gather your applicants by using one of the following methods:
Create several short character worksheets that record the basics: age, a brief physical description, likes, dislikes, what makes them intriguing, interesting or useful. Include a brief family history, medical history, etc. Cut photos out of magazines and write down your first impressions of who that person is and why they'd make the best lead for your novel, their resumes. Make sure you include some character flaws when creating the resumes. Nobody's perfect.Make a list of the perfect person for the lead and then skew it to create several new people with many of the perfect attributes you've already listed combined with new attributes. These new attributes should include things that will make the lead's job more difficult, create tension or discord with the plot or other leading characters along the way.Once you've got several characters ready for interviews, lay them side by side an analyze their motives for accomplishing the tasks in your story, their special talents that will help them along the way, and the character flaws that will hinder them and made the story more intense or interesting.
You may find the perfect lead, the one who will be able to accomplish all the tasks in your story while engaging the reader and winning the love interest ... but ask yourself:Will it be too easy for this character to make it to the end? Do they have enough room to grow and develop throughout the story or are they strong enough already? Are they able to develop new skills and talents along the way or do they know it all on page one?Are they fully compatible with the love interest or do they have flaws that create needed tension?  As you ask the questions, you may choose to discard the perfect lead and move onto number two or three ... but when you find that character with the perfect balance of talent, history, personality and character flaws, you will create a stronger, more compelling story. Your readers will be more engaged and have greater cause to root for the lead - because they won't be perfect and they'll have to struggle and grow to become the person they need to be for the story to be successful.

A Partial Review - Partials by Dan Wells

It's 4 a.m. I finished reading Partials by Dan Wells about two hours ago ...

Why am I still up? Honestly, I think it's the wind threatening to shatter my bedroom windows, but Partials also helped me create a sleepless night.

The cover to this novel intrigued me the first time I saw it and I've wanted to read it ever since, but had to keep putting it off as I was finishing my own novel and didn't want to read anything that may interfere or influence my current writing.

With the first of my One United trilogy out of the way, I decided it was time. I downloaded Dan Wells' Partials and began reading.

I wanted to love this book, but the beginning kept bogging me down ... I set it aside repeatedly before I decided to push through. I'm glad I did. I felt like it really picked up at 30% through ... I actually checked my Kindle to see where I got hooked. I'm like that.

At that point, I could no longer put Partials down. I was finally intrigued by the characters, the action and the world they lived in. Up to that point, I was just hoping they'd actually get up and take action ... once they did, it never stopped.

I became engrossed in the descriptions, the story and the characters, so engrossed I could hardly put it down.

Partials is an interesting dystopian, in which the world has nearly come to an end through war and pandemics. The effects of which leave the people unable to keep babies alive after they're born. Faced with the possibility of extinction, the officials take drastic measures ... I cursed those officials more than once.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopia. It hooked me enough to look forward to book two, Fragments.

Want FREE Suspense? Oh, Yeah!

PREMEDITATEDRyan Hunter
Plotting murder began as a game until the first killing took place, bringing seventeen-year old Jenna Adamson to the realization that playing God isn’t a game at all.

Convicted of murder, Jenna escapes to stop the other murders, murders she claims were planned in a game of revenge. Unable to stop the killings alone, Jenna enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend, entrenching him in a conspiracy that could cost him his future.

As the two evade police and stumble into crime scenes, Jenna fears the day the identity of the real killer is unveiled. She knows the truth could steal away more than her freedom.

Premeditated is "Powerful, creepy and slightly disturbing."

Get it FREE Tues, Oct. 23 & Wed. Oct. 24.

FREE T-Shirt & Signed Book

One fan of my Ryan Hunter FB page will get a FREE shirt and signed copy of inDIVISIBLE as soon as the page gets 250 "likes."

It's easy to do, just stop by, click on "like" and share with your friends!

Like Ryan Hunter on FB :)

Interview with Author Paul Dorset

Spotlight: Paul Dorset, author of Ryann and others ... Sit back, relax, read, and enjoy!
You seem devoted to helping other authors by giving advice, spotlights, interviews ... what's the most rewarding part of helping others?There’s no specific part that is more rewarding than others. I just think it’s important for Indie Authors to help each other. After all, we don’t have a big publishing house or an agent behind us. We’re all in this together and need as much cross-marketing as possible.
Why do you put so much effort into helping other authors?I have a vague hope that other Indie Authors will help me too J
What do you think the most valuable advice is, that you could give to another writer?Take your time in getting your book published and ensure it is as error-free and as perfect as you can make it. You only get one chance to get your book out there, but it’s available forever to read and people will judge you on the quality of it. So it’s better to take a few extra weeks or months cross-checking everything rather than take the viewpoint of I must get the book out on Amazon by x.
What's the greatest advice you've ever been given by another writer?That just like Van Gogh, you can’t please everyone with what you produce. Everyone has their fans and detractors. Get over it!
You're a writer yourself, so tell us a bit about your latest book. I currently have ten published books, ranging from YA Epic Fantasy, through 16+ Urban Paranormal, and a couple of self-help books. My latest published book is entitled Ryann and is a YA fantasy novella. It’s available for FREE on Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Smashwords (I’m still trying to get Amazon to make the book free). From the back of the book: “Living during a time when children were sold as indentured servants, Ryann must find a way to buy her freedom before the bullying son of her lord and master exacts a deathly vengeance upon her. The castle at Walthern is inhabited by lords and soldiers, potion-makers and sclavas; all trying to eke out an existence in an unforgiving country laid waste by battle. With only a tattered yellow nightdress, two dark brown dresses, and a small assortment of odds and ends, what chance does Ryann have of beating the odds?”
Which character do you most identify with in the book and why?I’m not usually someone that identifies with individual characters in my books. Instead I try to make all my main characters as interesting as possible, in different ways. I’ve been told that Ryann is a very strong female character that will appeal to teenage girls and women alike.
Is there anything in particular you hope readers gain from reading it?I think it’s important to write strong adventurous characters that readers can relate to. I also want readers to imagine they can break boundaries and think outside of the box. Life should be something we all look forward to.
Who are a few of your favorite authors?Gosh, so many! When I was younger I read books by C.S. Lewis, John Wyndham, Isaac Asimov, and later Stephen King. Nowadays I read a lot of fantasy authors including Kate Elliott, George RR Martin, Robin Hobb, Douglas Adams, and Jacqueline Carey. I also try and read as many Indie Author books as I can.
Do you have an all-time favorite novel?Yes. Oh, you want to know what it is too? It’s a book called Mister God, This Is Anna by Fynn. I read it as a teenager and it had a profound effect on me. I haven’t read it for years but it still sits on my shelf. I should pull it down again.
How many books would you say you read in an average month?It really varies. Sometimes I don’t get to reading any, while other months I read 4 or 5. I guess overall I read about 25 books a year (including audio-books I listen to).
What other activities do you enjoy, when you're not writing?Eating, bar-hopping, drinking wine, and traveling. I just wish I had a few spare hours in the day to get to them all J
Now, where can readers stalk you? Your web presence?Blog: http://blog.pauldorset.comWebsite: http://pauldorset.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/jcx27Facebook: http://facebook.com/pdorset27Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Dorset/e/B004OEFF80
Many thanks, Ryan, for interviewing me.
Thanks, Paul, for the interview!