Heidi Angell's Blog, page 38

Poetry Corner: Glimmer

So far away so uncertain another life gleams through the curtain.   Distant memories of a past forgotten. Cling to fragments of a time not trodden.   Tantalizing memories that lead to clarity that I can't quite grasp and fail in disparity.   Clinging with desperation whether fantasy or fact. Now that I've glimpsed paradise I can't turn back.   Until next time,    Keep Reading!

Poetry Corner: Glimmer

So far away
so uncertain
another life
gleams through the curtain.

Distant memories
of a past forgotten.
Cling to fragments
of a time not trodden.

Tantalizing memories
that lead to clarity
that I can't quite grasp
and fail in disparity.

Clinging with desperation
whether fantasy or fact.
Now that I've glimpsed paradise
I can't turn back.

Finishing a First Draft Feels Good!

Hello my lovelies!   Things have been hectic over here as usual! But I am feeling really accomplished. I have finished the first draft of Hell School: Fresh Meat, and am on track for a March release date! SQUEEE!!!!       I cannot tell you how good it feel to finish a draft! There is this huge weight that lifts. But it is far from finished, and I am eagerly ready to start working on the content edits. It has been too long since my last book came out!   This is the serial stalker I have been

Finishing a First Draft Feels Good!

Hello my lovelies!

Things have been hectic over here as usual! But I am feeling really accomplished. I have finished the first draft of Hell School: Fresh Meat, and am on track for a March release date! SQUEEE!!!!

I cannot tell you how good it feel to finish a draft! There is this huge weight that lifts. But it is far from finished, and I am eagerly ready to start working on the content edits. It has been too long since my last book came out!

This is the serial stalker I have been working on. Book one is Sam Havre's freshman year of high school in a new town. We meet the friends who are going to shape the series, as well as the beginning of her creepy stalker.

I am looking for four or five people who would like to provide a read through and let me know what you think.

If you would like to assist, please let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

Keep Reading!

Author Interview: Mercedes Fox

  Hello Lovelies,        Today we have an exciting interview with Mercedes Fox, author of an interesting looking werewolf series. If you are a fan of weres, give this series a go!       Without further ado, lets get on with the interview!   What is the current book you are promoting?  I’m currently promoting Poaching the Immortal the hardest. Its my latest release and part two in the Vengeance of the Werewolf series. I do still promote Vengeance of the Werewolf book one and Life After Werewolf

Author Interview: Mercedes Fox

Hello Lovelies, 
Today we have an exciting interview with Mercedes Fox, author of an interesting looking werewolf series. If you are a fan of weres, give this series a go!

Without further ado, lets get on with the interview!What is the current book you are promoting?

 I’m currently promoting Poaching the Immortal the hardest. Its my latest release and part two in the Vengeance of the Werewolf series. I do still promote Vengeance of the Werewolf book one and Life After Werewolf Domination book 1.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why? 

I’m going to have to say Ted Applegate. He starred in Vengeance of the Werewolf and is back in Poaching the Immortal. He’s had some rough adventures and turned into that which he hunted. 

What inspired this book?

 I’ve always loved werewolves. Books involving them were what I loved to read. I’ve always had my own ideas of the perfect werewolf. 


If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast? 

For Poaching the Immortal I’d cast Viggo Mortison as Aaron, Demi Moore as Andis, David Morrissey as Dave, Burt Reynolds as Deacon, Robert Duvall as Donavon, Matt Leblanc as Kit, John Travolta as Miles, and Ryan Gosling as Ryann

What is your next project?  

I’m working on the third book in the Vengeance of the Werewolf series. This time I’m focusing on a character from the first book, Principal Nico Howell. I left it open in the first book he was injured, had a broken arm and dogs were very nervous around him. So this is his story.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? 

Harry Potter is my favorite. I love the adventures he has, the world he lives in, the braveness he implores and his love of his best friends. 

Thank you for joining us today Mercedes! Have a lovely day.


Mercedes Fox Bio: I’m an indie author married with three furbabies. I’ve always loved writing stories since childhood. When the opportunity came about four years ago to take my writing to full time I jumped on it.
Learn more about Mercedes by following her links!Where to purchase her books:Amazon Vengeance of the Werewolf: Amazon Life After Werewolf DominationAmazon Poaching the Immortal: Amazon Author Page: 
Learn more about Mercedes Fox on her WebsiteFollow her on Goodreads: Follow her writing adventures on her Blog:Check out her social media pages
Twitter:Facebook: Pinterest: For paperback copies, go to CreateSpace: and for the paperback of Poaching the Immortal on CreateSpace: 

And until next time,

Keep Reading!

Poetry Corner: Human Cruelty

Cruel
Heartless
Who do you think you are?

Where do you get off hurting me?
I didn't leave that scar
so deep in your heart.

Why do you hurt me,
someone you don't even know?

Does it make you feel better?
To humiliate me with your show?

So God made me imperfect,
He did the same with you.
I was born to be large
There is nothing I can do.

You were born without a heart.
I feel sorry for you.

I could hurt people too,
but I accept my fate.
Why can't you do the same?

This was a poem I did in high school, because of some bullying I was getting. But it really hit home re-reading it as I see how cruel people seem to be lately. I am not sure if it is just "lately" or if I am simply finding myself exposed to it more. Either way, it makes me sad that our society is so divisive and unkind to those who are different from "us". I was informed that being kind and understanding to others won't fix our world, but I can't help but question that statement. Will it fix everything? No, but I know that as my family has made an effort to display more kindness and understanding (not that we were ever cruel, but we weren't always actively demonstrating an effort to understand or be supportive.) my little family has seen a major improvement in our happiness. Our situation (financial, locale, position in society, and "popularity") has not changed, but the anger one individual was having, the sadness another was having, the avoidance a third was going through, and the anxiety the other was experiencing have all significantly dropped. And considering that Depression and Mental Health Facts Statistics and You shows that 350 million people world wide report suffering from depression and that it is the leading cause of disability, I am thinking little changes can make a difference.

What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.

Until next time,

Keep Reading!

How do You Measure Success?

A fellow author, Tim I Gurung, asked a very probing question on LinkedIn: Seriously, how many books one has to sell to become a decent author?

This really struck home for me because as my husband and I are planning out my strategy for next year, he keeps asking a similar question. We are trying to determine how to build my reach and allow me to taste the financial success of a "decent author".  Last year we spent a lot of time and money on advertising in an effort to bridge that gap, but didn't see 1/10 of the ROI. That is a financial recipe for disaster!

Not to mention, it is very disappointing. Looking at my book sales, I should just pack up and forget about becoming a "decent author" because it ain't gonna happen!

 If you are only measuring success based on sales, then you have already lost. I have seen some really poorly written work (50 Shades, anyone) become a bestseller... Playing the numbers game is very disheartening. Keep in mind that many "best selling" authors are no longer making a living solely on their book sales. (If that were the case, they would not be offering master classes, charging to go to signings, or selling their books for movie/ tv deals)... and a lot of well known authors with tons of books are doing precisely that!


For me, I have learned to gauge my success as an author by my fans' response. I read every review and based on people's comments, I realize that I am doing something decent. When I go to a show and have one person eagerly asking me when my next book in such and such series is coming out, I know I am doing something decent.

Am I making a living? Yes. Is it through book sales? Sadly, nope. But many big authors are in the same boat.

Some people think that this is because of self publishing. More content is being produced every day than  a person could consume in a life time. Some people believe that it is because our society has become one that expects entertainment for free. Some believe that books are dead/dying as an art form and that if creatives like me want to make any money then we need to focus on new and emerging fields.

What are your thoughts on the matter? How do you measure success? Share in the comments below.

Until next time,

Keep Reading and Writing!

Book Review: Roamer A Lost to Found Rescue Dog Story By Michael Delaware

Genre: Mid grade fiction

Synopsis: Barney gets separated from his family during the evacuation from Hurricane Katrina. He ends up lost and living on the beach, befriending some of the lost humans living there as well.

My Take: This is a sad story. It has a Lady and the Tramp feel, with a darker twist. There are some beautifully written lines that make me miss the ocean, such as "The wind blew softly across the water in the gulf, and he could smell the salt in the air as he watched the persistent pattern of waves splashing over the sandy shore."

But I had a hard time getting into the story. For one, it bounces around a lot. I know, we are getting the story from the perspective of a dog. However, I feel like the author could have done better managing the flow. As it is, this short read feels a bit repetitive. I would not read this story with my middle grader as it is a bit traumatizing. There is a Where the Red Fern Grows moment that really pulled me from the story because it went from sad to super dark real quick.

The layout also bugged me. The author typically writes nonfiction, and he kept a nonfiction layout. It felt strange. I also had a hard time with the way he displayed speech in italics, rather than quotes. I will give him points for consistency at least.

The last complaint was the grammar. Several times the word women was used, when it was intended to be woman. There were also several points of syntax error. When it comes to these things, I am a bit more demanding than the average reader. When it comes to writing geared toward youth, I find such errors unforgivable as it dumbs down our children.

To sum up: There is some beautiful imagery in the story, and I think if the author expanded the story, organized the flow, and brought the reading level up, it would be a great YA book, like Where the Red Fern Grows, but at it's current length and structure, I would not read it to my boys.

Poetry Corner: Thinking of You

Sometimes our hearts remember
things even our souls forgot
As I sit here in December
I ask myself  "was it all for naught?"

I remember that fling
it seems so long ago.
I don't understand this feeling
and so I just let the words flow.

As time creeps slowly past
and the wings of night fly by,
It's time to put the former last
and stop always asking why.

No more time to analyze.
It's time to stop focusing on the goal.
It's time to soar above the skies;
it's time to trust my soul.

What are your thoughts on this poem?
Let me know in the comments below

Until next time,

Keep Reading!