C.K. Bryant's Blog, page 5

Pen Names - What the . . . ?

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I used to pretend I had another name when I was a kid. I had a couple of them, but the one I remember using the most was, Tami.



Tami Johnson- she was my alter ego, smart, pretty. She was very popular in my make believe world and everyone liked her.



Now that I'm grown up I find it a little strange to be thinking about that name and wondering if I should use it as a pen name. Or something totally different. It sounds too plain now and not at all romantic, which is how I need it to sound.



You see, along with my young adult novels, I also write adult romance. Nothing erotic or overly spicy, but still, I'd really like to keep it separate from the other genres I publish.



So what's an author to do? Pretend to be someone else by picking a name that has absolutely no reference to the name she was given at birth? Or choose some variation of her legal name?



My full name is Christine Kay Bryant. Weston is my maiden name, but I don't want to use it, so here are some variations I've considered.



Christine Bryant (boring)

Christa Kay (cute, but, not sure)

Christa Edwards (hubs name is Edward, would be cool, but . . . IDK)

Chrissie something (my nieces and nephews call me Aunt Chrissie or Chrisy, not sure how you'd spell it)



Aaaand that's all I got so far.



So, I'm up for ideas. What would be a good name for a romance author?  I'm even up for hearing the fun ones, like Loretta Love or Susie Sexton. ROFL!!

Dear Diary - Do You Journal?

When I was twelve I received a journal for Christmas. Not some flimsy little diary with a lock and key, but a full sized hardback journal filled with empty lined pages. I was in heaven. Lots of room to write my feelings and explore my inner thoughts.



For years I filled one book after another, all different sizes and colors, but all equally as important in discovering who I was and in giving my muse a place to create.



Then I began to take my writing more seriously and technology came into my life. My first computer soon became my best friend and I found that writing in my journal took a back seat to creating stories and interacting with friends online.



And blogging . . .



Now, I'm not even sure where my journal is half the time and I'm lucky to fill one small volume in five years instead of a couple months.



Lately, I've been missing it. If you read the recent post I wrote on distancing myself from an abusive family member, you'll know my emotions have been on high alert. Not having an outlet for that has been hard. Maybe it's time to dust off my old friend and start pouring myself out on the blank pages again.



BONUS:



Cheap therapy.



An old friend who keeps my secrets.



Proof to my posterity that I lived and experienced turmoil in my life as well as joy and love.



It's time.





Do you journal? I'd love to hear about why you like it, or why you don't.

2012 eFestival of Words

Readers! Eight award winners in the 2012 eFestival of Words "Best of the Independent eBook Awards" have grouped together to offer you an amazing opportunity. They've reduced the prices of their award-winning novels to 99 cents for August 27 and 28th!



Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, horror, young adult, women's fiction, or fantasy, this group has it. Are you a writer yourself? Do you want to learn all about digitally publishing your next masterpiece? They've got you covered there too.



Get all eight award-winning ebooks for the price of one single paperback!









Award Winners




Best Mystery/Suspense: Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice

Best Non-Fiction: DIY/Self-Help: Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran

Best Horror: 61 A.D. by David McAfee

Best Romance: Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne

Best Young Adult: The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto

Best Fantasy/Urban Fantasy and Best Novel: The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III

Best Chick Lit/Women's Lit: Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes

Award for Best Twist ("I've Been Shyamalaned"): The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan




Here's a one-stop shopping link for your convenience:  http://amzn.to/MO7qBY



Book Blurbs









Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice



Laura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.



When the woman who holds the company purse strings is found dead in the office, and Jeremy's arrested for the murder, everything changes. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue's perpetual loser.



If you love Project Runway, or enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, try Dead Is the New Black.







Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran



This guide contains over 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, as well as contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors including J Carson Black, Bob Mayer, Victorine Lieske, Mark Edwards, and many more.



It covers everything from how the disruptive power of the internet has changed the publishing business forever to the opportunities this has created for writers. It gives you practical advice on editing, cover design, formatting, and pricing. And it reveals marketing tips from blogging and social networking right through to competitions, discounts, reviews, and giveaways.



If you are considering self-publishing, if you need to breathe life into your flagging sales, or if you want to understand why it's a great time to be a writer, Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should will explain it all.







61 A.D. by David McAfee



61 A.D. For ten years, Taras has lived in the young city of Londinium, feeding off the city’s underbelly. But now Theron, his old enemy, has come looking for revenge, and Taras’ nights of living in relative peace are about to end.



Yet not even Theron can slip into town unnoticed, and the Council of Thirteen sends Ramah to deal with the two renegades once and for all. But unknown to the Council, a much older enemy is also in Londinium, and this time even the great Ramah might not be safe.



Set against the backdrop of the Iceni uprising in Roman-era Britannia, 61 A.D. continues the story of Taras, Theron, and Ramah, as they fight their way through history.







Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne



Nic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.



"Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating." ~ RT Book Reviews Top Pick







The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto



When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Worse, someone has used an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers.



Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But first, she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits: the school’s hotter-than-brimstone demon bad boy, Nick Marcelli. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and Ivy soon discovers it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end








The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III

Against the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.



Her father-king wants war.

Her messianic brother wants peace.

The black god wants his due.

She suffers all the consequences.



"Moses is a fine writer deserving of success, and I think that it will follow ... I really enjoyed Moses's work." - David Farland, NYT Bestselling Author of The Runelords








Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes



Hallie Mediate was raised by her (slightly) crazy Great Aunt Grace on the wrong side of the tracks in Cincinnati. Hallie escapes her hometown and never looks back.



That is, until she’s transferred back to the hometown. Not wanting her past to cross paths with her future, Hallie puts her life on hold.



Aunt Grace is still up to her old tricks, but Hallie finds some sanity at a local jewelry-making class where she uncovers a hidden talent for beading.



Will she keep searching for the happiness she may already have found?










The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan



Thomas Ford is the only survivor of the car crash which killed his wife. He is also the only witness who would be willing to identify the young, reckless driver who caused the crash. But the driver would sooner see Thomas Ford dead than ever let that happen.

















Happy Reading!

The Power of Creativity in Music

Several fans have sent me videos and said they reminded them of Bound or Broken. I tend to agree. I've been listening to them as I write today, along with a few others, and it makes me think I need to start a playlist for The Crystor Series.



This is a good place to start.



This one is my favorite. Especially as Beloved progresses toward the end.



Enjoy!  















These three songs were suggested by Karina 



She says this song "reminds me of Octavian and Kira trnasporting thru mist...then how Kira feels HOME where Octavian is."















and this one "reminds me of Octavian feeling love for a commoner who he could harm"















and this one "I have a feeling the last song I added Memories from Within Temptations will be a song for Beloved!! Just sayin;"













Have you heard a song that reminds you of a scene in one of these books? I'd love it if you'd share it with me.

Several fans have sent me videos and said they reminded t...

Several fans have sent me videos and said they reminded them of Bound or Broken. I tend to agree. I've been listening to them as I write today, along with a few others, and it makes me think I need to start a playlist for The Crystor Series.



This is a good place to start.



This one is my favorite. Especially as Beloved progresses toward the end.



Enjoy!  















These three songs were suggested by Karina 



She says this song "reminds me of Octavian and Kira trnasporting thru mist...then how Kira feels HOME where Octavian is."















and this one "reminds me of Octavian feeling love for a commoner who he could harm"















and this one "I have a feeling the last song I added Memories from Within Temptations will be a song for Beloved!! Just sayin;"













Have you heard a song that reminds you of a scene in one of these books? I'd love it if you'd share it with me.

No More! When the Inner Child Takes a Stand

We've all been there. Or at least most of us have. That moment when someone you love makes you feel small or insignificant. When the person who should love you unconditionally, belittles you and crushes your spirit.



It's how I grew up.



Not  a day goes by that I don't hear the berating voices of my past telling me I'll never amount to anything. That no man in his right mind would ever want to marry a girl who's fat. That my dreams are stupid and I'll never have them.



Fifty. Long. Years. And I still allowed that person in my life control how I feel.



Until this past weekend.



HE called. HE fed me a guilt trip about not being where he thought I should be, WHEN he thought I should be there.



But I didn't cry. I didn't cave.



The inner child that's been hiding from him for so long, stepped out from behind the crumbling wall and took a stand.



NO MORE!!  That's what I said. THAT is what I meant as I poured my heart out and said the words I'd been holding back. But he didn't care. Only pushed more blame in my direction until the phone went dead, my finger pressed firmly on the OFF button.



And for the first time in my life . . . I feel FREE!



Truly free to move on with my life and become the person I want to be. No more trying to please someone who doesn't care about me. No more worrying I won't measure up to his expectations. No more working myself into a nervous mess each time the thought of seeing him or being around him creeps into my mind.



Regret?



Maybe for the person I always wanted him to be. The person I NEEDED him to be, especially as a child. But not for what I've done. Not for who I am now. NOT for who I WILL become.



I. AM. TRULY. FREE.





Does someone in your life make you feel less than you deserve? Have you taken a stand when someone did?  I'd love to hear about it.




HUGS

Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still here. I...

Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still here. I'm in the process of revamping my blog and moving things around, so please be patient.



If you have some ideas or see changes you love (or hate) feel free to let me know.  I'll be back shortly with a new look and some fun stuff.

And the Winners Are . . .

Sorry I'm getting this up a little late today. I've been a teensy bit under the weather this weekend and slept in this morning.



So, here are the deets!



For the Fan Friday Giveaway I had 53 people sign up. Thanks to RANDOM.ORG,  here are the numbers chosen for the three winners along with the books they will receive.






#18 - Alyssa Susanna

 Grasping Eternity 

(by Karen Amanda Hooper)




#28 - Shauna Buck 

Desolate 

(by Ali Cross)




#53 - Torrie Cross 

Grasping Eternity 

(by Karen Amanda Hooper)






You will receive your ebooks via email within the next day or two, so watch for it.



Thanks for signing up for the giveaway, everyone. Be sure to check back often, especially on Fan Friday, for more giveaways and fun extras about my writing projects.



Oh, and don't forget to sign up for my newsletter (on the left sidebar).

Fan Friday - Book Giveaway

Yep!  It's true.




And to show my love, I'm giving away some great e-books.




Since most of you have already read BOUND and BROKEN, I thought I should give someone else's books away. So here's what you'll get if your name is drawn.




Your choice of one of the following . . . 

(click on covers for more info)






May choose BECOME or DESOLATE






























Just fill out the form below and you'll be entered into the drawing.



 Drawing ends at midnight (MST) Sunday, 22nd, 2012. 



Three winners will be announced Monday, right here on my blog.






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New Release - Seaweed

Man, there's a lot of great books being released these days. Here's another one I've put on the top of my TBR list.




 Seaweed

by Elle Strauss


A teen swim athlete discovers a merfolk world that threatens to keep her out of the ocean forever.

 







Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length.

Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery.

But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too.

Dori has new fantastical enemies , and they will do anything to get to her.

Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?



 Get your FREE copy of SEAWEED on Amazon!

It's also on itunes and smashwords.





About the author:



Elle Strauss writes time travel and merfolk chic-lit, light SF and historical YA fiction. To ward off writer's butt she does a bit of hiking, biking and yoga. Elle is married with four children and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada, and Germany.