Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 24

WRITER 2 WRITER: 6 CAPTIVATING WAYS TO HOOK A READER

According to Worldometers , more than 3 million blog posts are published every single day. That’s over 1 billion posts a year! With so much information out there all vying for attention, how can a writer compete?

The obvious answer is to write about topics that are engaging to large numbers of people. But quality content isn’t enough. The average online reader spends just 15 seconds or less reading your posts. That means you’ve got about one sentence to grab their attention and (hopefully) keep it.
That tantalizing opening line of a blog post, article, or essay is called a HOOK. Here are 6 of the best, tried-and-true hooks to try with your next project:

1.     ASK A QUESTION
One of the most effective ways to motivate someone to read on is to get them curious about what comes next. Ask an open-ended question about your topic, but make sure the answer isn’t ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The answer should unfold throughout your writing.

Example: “With millions of blog posts being published every day, how can writers entice people to read their posts?”

2.     SHOCK ‘EM WITH A FACT OR STATISTIC
Is there something about your topic that is a little known or unusual fact? Or maybe you have a statistic that will blow your readers’ minds. You probably noticed that I started this blog with a statistic: 3 million blog posts a day! Did that get your attention?

3.     DEFINE YOUR KEY IDEA
Never assume your readers understand everything you’re talking about. Sometimes it is best to begin by defining an important term or concept to make sure you and your readers are on the same page. Feel free to use a definition right out of the dictionary, or explain it in your own words.

Example: “According to http://Dictionary.com, a hook is not only a curved piece of metal designed for catching fish, it is also something that ‘attracts attention or serves as an enticement’.”

4.     START WITH A QUOTE
One of the best ways to catch a reader’s attention is to provide an inspiring or eye-opening quote. Make sure it directly influences your topic.

Example: “Brian Clark, CEO of Rainmaker Digital and founder of Copyblogger had this to say about writing for the internet: ‘Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.’”

5.     SET THE SCENE
Drop your reader right into the heart of your topic by describing a setting for them. Make sure you use the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Your aim is for your reader to feel like they are right there where you want them to be.

Example: “It’s early morning. The sun hasn’t even come up yet and you’re still in your pajamas. You have managed to pour yourself a steaming cup of coffee, which you now pass under your nose, drawing in its fresh, bright scent. As you press the power button on your tablet and start scanning through the day’s headlines, you take a sip and feel the hot liquid slide down your throat and that first injection of caffeine ripple through your brain.”

6.     TELL A STORY
Not a long story, but a short one (a few sentences to a paragraph or two) will do. Make sure the story somehow illustrates your topic. It can be about someone else or it can be an anecdote, a slice of your own life experience. Stories help readers to personally identify with your topic.

Example: “In 1999, thirteen-year-old Peter Cashmore suffered from appendicitis. Following surgery, his recovery didn’t go as well as planned, which affected his ability to attend school. He turned to the internet to supplement his education and started learning everything he could about the new online fad called blogging. Then, in 2005 at the age of nineteen and still living at home with his parents in Scotland, Peter started his own blog. Less than two years later, over 2 million people read Mashable every month. Today, that number has grown to 23 million, and Mashable is one of the most successful blogs on the internet.”

Next time you craft a post or article, try starting with a hook and see how it reels in the readers. In the meantime, for more tips on how to engage your readers, check out Scott Piles’ book How to Write Captivating Blog Posts That Keep Readers Coming Back for More .

$25 GIVEAWAY - TABITHA'S FOLLY by Jen Geigle Johnson

   Tabitha's Folly by Jen Geigle Johnson Tabitha's Folly is one of Five books all set at the same Regency House Party Series. While each is a standalone story, watch our characters mingle together with others from the books in the series. The stories can be read in any order. Lady Tabitha Easton recklessly dodges four over-protective brothers while trying to gain attention from the man who holds her heart. She has many choices of suitors, and with Henry as disinterested as ever, she turns to what is wholly forbidden, an irresistibly handsome footman. While their friendship grows, her trust in him increases while her hurt and doubt in her childhood love and friend pushes her away from all she's ever known as family. When Lord Henry Courtenay discovers a new attraction to his childhood friend, his role as one of her chaperones at the house party becomes near impossible. Irrationally defensive about any potential suitors and seeking time alone with the enticing Tabby, maintaining friendship with her brothers proves more difficult than he ever imagined. His task becomes all the more difficult when she refuses to understand his growing attraction and often finds herself in almost compromising situations. When Tabitha's choices might lead her to danger, and doubt and distrust are high, Henry must prove himself or lose her forever.   Get your copy on Amazon Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited     It's the perfect hit of romance, regency, and intrigue. A very fun read. Great characters with the potential for so many more stories. This is a sweet romance and a beautiful ending.    Damen's Secret by Jen Geigle Johnson What happens when a villain falls in love? Will his newfound true feelings be strong enough to divert him from his nefarious plans? The Story of a villain and the life he makes for himself. This is a companion novella to Tabitha's Folly. And although it can be thoroughly enjoyed alone, the true nature of Damen and all his secrets will be better understood having read Tabitha's Folly where his first villainous nature is revealed. Many wanted to understand him better and so, Damen's Secret was born. Damen Laconi is of noble blood from both of his parents. Unfortunately neither will claim him. Legitimacy is hard won as a footman in England. He values his position as the handsomest footman on the countess' estate but hungers for more, a title of his own. Giorgia comes from Italy, sent by Damen's mother, to woo him and bring him home. Can she accomplish such a thing before her own secrets are revealed, and before he carries out his own reckless plans? Damen's Secret is a Regency House Party Novella. Look for all the titles in this series.  
Get your copy on Amazon Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited     Author Jen Geigle Johnson Jen Geigle Johnson once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. Other vital things to know: the sound a water-ski makes on glassy water and how to fall down steep moguls with grace. No mountain is too steep for her to climb, yet. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. Now an award-winning author and mother of six, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure. She is a member of the RWA, the SCBWI, and LDStorymakers. She is also the chair of the Lonestar.Ink writing conference.      Giveaway Details Ends 10/28/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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$30 GIVEAWAY - END OF INNOCENCE by Romana Drew

End of Innocenceby Romana DrewGenre: SciFi
Lenea's brother spends every clear night pointing a telescope at the same stars. When she confronts him, he lets her look through the telescope. A small sliver speck changes course, slows, and merges with a larger silvery spot. 

In that brief moment, her life changes. Her brother spies on space aliens! Soon she learns the aliens have a settlement in the Kenned Valley, and that her boyfriend monitors their communications.

Then he disappears. 

What do they want, and can her world survive?

Just before he has to give up and go home broke, Captain Seddry finds the perfect world. It is rich in ore, has a breathable atmosphere, and it even has a reasonable climate — an ideal place for a new Langon colony. The fuzzy natives won't be a problem. They don't have any large weapons or even airplanes, making them too primitive to ever find the mining colony hidden away in an isolated valley. Or so he thinks.


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I live in California with my husband, and raise baby squirrels for a wildlife care center. I could go into detail about my background and education, but that is rather boring. Let me say that I am quiet, love the outdoors, and never have enough time to do all the things I want to do.
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$25 GIVEAWAY - CARS, COFFEE, AND A SLIGHTLY USED CASKET by K.C. Hilton

Cars, Coffee, and a Slightly Used CasketJulia Karr Book 2by K.C. HiltonGenre: Humor, Satire
**Recipient of the 2018 Readers' Favorite Finalist Award!**
Our favorite car dealer is back, kicking ass and taking names, and she's just as fabulous as ever.

Julia Karr is a used car lot owner and she isn't expecting an invitation to the popularity pool. Her business is drowning with past due accounts, difficult customers and crazy repossessions. In order to get the vacation of her dreams, Julia makes a deal with her husband.
After catching a burglar, tackling a customer, and looking down the barrel of a gun, it's clear to this feisty car dealer that her vacation may be harder to achieve than she thought. Daily chaos drives Julia to eat more chocolate, buy more wine, and prepare for the afterlife. She could blame it on the contractor, the cheap casket, or a naked friend, but she'd rather blame it on the car lot.
Author C.J. Anaya -- Julia Karr is the Stephanie Plum of car dealers.

Can easily be read as a standalone!
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Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja ToiletJulia Karr Book 1
If you deal with customers day after day who drive you insane, give you reasons to drink alcohol, or make you want to quit your job, this book is definitely for you.

A chaotic and hilarious portrait of a used car lot owner, Julia Karr. Her feisty attitude and fearless approach to managing a business, how it affects her home life and dealings with customers will have you scratching your head about humanity.
Author C.J. Anaya -- Julia Karr is the Stephanie Plum of car dealers.
Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet (Julia Karr Series) by K.C. Hilton is a great addition to books with strong female lead characters who work hard, love their family, deal with outrageous people on a daily basis and try to live a normal life.

Can easily be read as a standalone!
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K.C. is a wife, mother and manages the family business. K.C.’s husband refers to her as Hobbit size and claims that she is “nuttier than a fruit cake.”

She owns a complete set of pink tools, believes in aliens and secretly wants to become a badass ninja. In her spare time, she can be found daydreaming about leaving work early to eat chocolate and drink wine. Sometimes her dreams come true.

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$25 GIVEAWAY - JUSTINE'S JUDGEMENT by Ashlie Harris

Justine's JudgementThe Witches of Andar Book 2by Ashlie HarrisGenre: Fantasy
Justine’s Judgement is the second installment in a brand new Fantasy series by Ashlie Harris. The first book, which bears the same name as the series itself, is entitled The Witches of Andar and was released January 1st, 2018. 

In this sequel to TWoA, Justine and her friends, Alice and Malinda, are once again fighting back against the evil Duke Ebrius. Evading and outwitting him at every turn, the witches team up with some very colorful characters along the way. There’s Jaicor, Malinda’s cousin and helpful aid to the witches in the early part of their journey. Jaicor’s wife, Marcine, is a delight, as well. Their witty banter is a heart-warming sight to the three travel-weary women. 
Later, the group encounters, Jaicor’s markethand, Olendian, and continues on to meet Malinda’s other cousin, Jaicor’s sister, Lady Luleth. Lady Luleth’s husband, Lord Kelton and Jehren, a member of their staff decide to help Malinda, Alice, and Justine when they come to Crippen Manor looking for allies. While devising a plan to defeat the Duke, Justine befriends a guest staying at the Manor. She is Eleyna, a mysterious and beautiful woman who quickly becomes a close confidant and ally. Though Justine and Eleyna form a fast bond, Eleyna’s motives may not be as pure as she portends. Uncovering secret pasts and unrecognized ancestries, not a soul will be left unchanged by the events about to take place. In the end, the witches and their friends will work together to bring down the greatest evil to ever threaten the land of Andar! 

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The book cover was nominated for the AllAuthor.com Cover Contest for September!! Please support the author and vote HERE!

The Witches of AndarThe Witches of Andar Book 1
A trio of An-Kishar witches has unwittingly become involved in a royal coup. After saving the murdered king's son, the foursome takes shelter with a traveling theater troupe, hoping to stay in hiding until the Prince is able to reclaim his throne.

Fight alongside Malinda, Alice, and Justine to rid the kingdom of the dark magic that threatens to run rampant. Venture into the Hanging Ferns Forest, travel with the Thespian Connection, and help unravel the mysteries that lie within the realm of Andar!
"Alice!... You can't slap a Prince!" -Justine; The Witches of Andar- Book 1

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Ashlie Harris is 30 years old and a Stay-at-Home mother of four homeschooled children. She and her husband live in the heart of the Midwest, USA, in a place Ashlie likes to call, "The Land of Corn and Beans". She has lived there all her life but may plan to move North in the near future. A unique childhood and a passion for the written word have served as motivation and inspiration throughout the years. Always the writer, Ashlie can often be found asking inappropriate questions, staring at seemingly nothing for hours on end, and generally being completely socially awkward. Her biggest wish is for people to look past their differences and start treating each other as the one, single race we are- HUMAN.

In addition to The Witches of Andar series (Book 1-Released Jan. 1st, 2018.), Ashlie is also the author of two anthologies- Extra Life & Circles of the Soul- and one flash-fiction horror story, Midnight Monster.


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EDISTO ISLAND MYSTERIES GIVEAWAY

I'm a fan of C. Hope Clark's EDISTO ISLAND MYSTERIES series. Set on Edisto Island in South Carolina, Callie Morgan is a former detective with the Boston P.D. After her husband was murdered by the Russian mafia, Callie and her son, Jeb move to the quiet beachfront town of Edisto hoping for a new life. But before Callie has a chance to settle in, murder happens and local law enforcement call on Callie for help.

The series follows Callie through various murders and crimes as she not only tries to solve them, but also as she tries to make sense of her own life and find some semblance of peace on the island.

The books are fantastic, and now I want to share them with you. I'm giving away the first three books in the series (gently read paperbacks). One winner will receive the set!

Continental U.S. mailing addresses only, please. Ends 10/31.

Read my reviews of the books here:

Murder on Edisto Review
Edisto Jinx Review
Echoes of Edisto Review (coming 10/5)


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CLEAR YOUR SHELF HOP WINNER ANNOUNCED

Congrats to SHEILA for winning my 3 book collection from the CLEAR YOUR SHELF GIVEAWAY HOP!

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$1,000 CASH GIVEAWAY - CASINO GIRL by Leslie Wolf

Casino GirlBaxter and Holt #2by Leslie WolfeGenre: Crime, Suspense Thriller
In Las Vegas, secrets are deadly.
The girl
When a beautiful, young girl is killed in the high-roller Pleasure Pit of the exclusive Scala Casino, the news reverberates for hours among the ritzy clientele. Before taking the stage where she found her death, Crystal was last seen boarding an unmarked helicopter for a late-night flight to an unknown destination.
The money
The stakes are high at the roulette table, and the players are hot-blooded. Among them, a stone-cold killer watches, waits, and kills without leaving a single trace of evidence. Rien ne va plus but death.
The game
The name of the game is murder, and it doesn’t stop with Crystal’s demise. Anyone who threatens to expose the killer’s identity will soon find they’re being targeted. 
In Las Vegas, secrets can kill. 
Two mavericks make an intriguing team. Baxter and Holt trust each other with their lives, only not with their darkest secrets. 

**Only .99 cents!!**Goodreads* Amazon

Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology. Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. It was very well received, including inquiries from Hollywood. Since then, Leslie published numerous novels and enjoyed growing success and recognition in the marketplace. Among Leslie’s most notable works, The Watson Girl(2017) was recognized for offering a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer and a rarely seen first person account of his actions, in a dramatic and intense procedural thriller. A complete list of Leslie’s titles is available at http://wolfenovels.com/order. Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you.
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$25 GIVEAWAY - ERRANT SPARK by Ronelle Antoinette

Errant SparkElemental Trials Book 1by Ronelle AntoinetteGenre: Fantasy Romance
How can you afford to risk it all for love when your life is not your own?

They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but In Egalion’s Imperial court, you can't tell one from the other...especially when they change at the flip of a coin. Behind the luxury and splendor lies a realm of treachery where cloak-and-dagger political maneuvering threatens to destroy the peace of two thousand years. 
Twenty-five-year-old Battlemage Jex Xander has a mouth that frequently gets him into trouble, while in contrast, Enari Namelum speaks not at all. When Jex becomes the target of a faceless curse-slinger, Enari, the girl he has protected since the day they met, must now protect him. A string of ritual human sacrifices coupled with Jex’s growing inability to keep his feelings (and hands) to himself only serve to complicate matters. Amidst the mounting chaos, passion and romance should be the last thing on their minds, but life and the Goddess seem to have other ideas.
In a world as enticing as it is perilous, love, danger, and magic will collide, leaving lives irrevocably changed. The events of a single summer stand to change the course of more than just the kingdom of Egalion and the ones dismissed as pawns may yet prove to be the most important players.
“Errant Spark” is the hush before the storm, the last deep breath before the plunge. The flint has been struck and it’s possible the whole world might go up in flames…because love in the Imperial court is as dangerous a thing as backroom politics and jealousy can be as much a driving force as silver and gold.***Fantasy? Action? Romance? Yes! This romantic fantasy novel by Ronelle Antoinette is a broad, epic, sweeping fantasy with more twists and turns and ups and downs than a wild roller-coaster! The first installment of the Elemental Trials series is one of those books that really is so much more than what the blurb can convey. Described as “surprisingly complex and visionary” by one reviewer, “Errant Spark” will leave you mesmerized from the first page to the last. 
Hailed by Amazing Stories Magazine’s Ricky L Brown as “a simple story about interesting characters with just enough romance and magic to make it work. […] Errant Spark is as complex as George RR Martin, with a world that is well-suited for conniving and cavorting. Rest assured, there is plenty of sex and violence, but not as raw and stabby as the aforementioned works. It’s more like a big kid’s version of a fairy tale.
Recommended for:•Mature teens and up•Fans of epic fantasy and romance•Those looking for characters they want to eat…or take home and enjoy•Readers who can appreciate a gorgeous tapestry of magic, myth, and mayhem•Connoisseurs of fine love stories that complement the plot and that ‘slow burn’•Lovers of surprises, twists-and-turns, and well-placed, necessary supernatural elements•Anyone looking for sex, magic, love, fantasy, and a story that will sweep you away•Those who don’t mind staying up all night so they can turn that final page Update: As of 11/21/16, a series glossary has been included at the end of this novel (in ebook and print form only).

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Flash PointElemental Trials Book 2
A 2017 Book Excellence Award finalist in fantasy

Scandal will shake foundations.
A night of careless passion leaves Battlemage Jex Xander and Adept Enari Alycon in a precarious position. Long-time lovers they might be, but the Imperial ambassador and the daughter of Egalion’s High Mage have rather public roles in the court—whether they wish it or not—and scandal couldn’t come at a worse time.
Treachery will tip balances.
When a hostile kingdom reluctantly agrees to parley, the fate of two-thousand years of peace is on the line. In the midst of negotiations, Enari becomes the target of one of the Greater Maelstrom. She and Jex must race against time to save her life and that of her unborn child. What happens when an earth-shattering secret, a demon bent on destruction, and a kingdom teetering on the brink of war collide is anyone’s guess.
Choices will have consequences.
The decisions of a few will determine the fate of many, and who or what will remain standing in the end is still uncertain. Hearts and lives are on the cusp of irrevocable change…and not necessarily for the better.
And secrets? Those will change everything.

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Ronelle Antoinette lives in western Colorado with her husband, two cats, and one dog-who-believes-he's-a-person. While she is a mother of none, she’s an auntie to what should qualify as a small army. She is an admitted caffeine addict, chocoholic, and hopeless romantic who has carried on a passionate affair with the genre of fantasy since she was old enough to read 'chapter books'. 
Ronelle dabbled in creative writing for many years before making it a career. (She even considered it as a major in college, though she ended up getting a Bachelor's degree in Counseling Psychology.) She published her first novel, Errant Spark, in July of 2016.

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BOOK REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: SURFACE TENSION by Mike Mullin

SURFACE TENSION
Mike Mullin
Tanglewood Press
Ages 14 & up

After witnessing an act of domestic terrorism while training on his bike, Jake is found near death, with a serious head injury and unable to remember the plane crash or the aftermath that landed him in the hospital.

A terrorist leader’s teenage daughter, Betsy, is sent to kill Jake and eliminate him as a possible witness. When Jake’s mother blames his head injury for his tales of attempted murder, he has to rely on his girlfriend, Laurissa, to help him escape the killers and the law enforcement agents convinced that Jake himself had a role in the crash.

MY REVIEW:

The publisher provided a copy in exchange for my honest review. SURFACE TENSION is one of the most gripping teen thrillers I have ever read. The action and suspense never let up, not even in the last paragraph.

Jake is an ordinary teen obsessed with bike racing. When he ends up in the hospital after witnessing a plane crash, he has no memory about what happened. A girl tries to murder him, and the FBI believes he's involved with the crash. As Jake tries to solve the mystery of the downed plane and the identity of his assassin, he and his girlfriend end up in a race for their lives -- and to stop the next terrorist attack before it's too late.

Author Mike Mullin pulls no punches. Just when you think things can't get any worse for Jake, they do. The stakes just keep getting higher and higher. I literally could not put the book down through the entire second half. And the end left me reeling. Will there be a sequel? I sure hope so.

To win my gently read, hardbound copy of SURFACE TENSION enter below. Ends 10/19. U.S. mailing addresses only please.


LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Surface-Tension-Mike-Mullin/dp/193910016X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503430564&sr=1-1
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/surface-tension-anne-johnson-mullin/1008455434?ean=9781939100160#/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36548571-surface-tension
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Surface-Tension-Audiobook/B07D6W89VS?qid=1538155999&sr=sr_1_3&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_3&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=MAF373412KV1M3MPFBDW&
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