Elizabeth Hunter's Blog, page 48

The delicate art of selling yourself

It's an odd thing, selling a book. Especially in the digital marketplace.

I wrote a book. (I've written a couple of them now. But we're talking about the first one.) I wrote it. I sent it to critical readers I trust, then I rewrote it, self-edited, sent to another set of scathing eyes, wrangled a cover from my husband, wrangled a trailer from my husband, found a trusted proofreader and formatter, and now I have something that really looks pretty close to a book! I'm almost there.

But now I have to convince people to buy it.

Luckily, in addition to all of this writing and editing and wrangling that I've been doing, I've also spent some time investing in you all, my prospective readers. I tweet. I blog. I reluctantly Facebook (seriously, there's something about the format of that whole social network that just … I'm rambling) and I Goodread now!

Through it all, I ask you to bestow on me your time, attention, and hopefully when the time comes, a little cash.

It's an odd thing, selling your book. You email reviewers and bloggers, offering up this bit of yourself, saying, "Hey, look at this! I wrote it, and I think you'll like it! Please read my book!" and a lot of them will say 'No!' for any number of reasons. They'll have too many time commitments, or too many other books to read. They won't accept self-published novels, or they just don't think that your book will suit their audience. These are all valid reasons to say no to my little book (except maybe the blanket 'no self-pub' one, but that's another post) but I'll keep on asking. And hopefully a few will say 'Yes!'

And I'll keep on selling myself and my writing.

Why?

Because, at the end of the day, it's all about telling a story. And I truly think I've told a good one in A Hidden Fire. I think you're going to be entertained. I think you're going to love the characters you're supposed to love and hate the ones you're supposed to hate. At the end of the day, I'm selling myself because I want you to enjoy reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

And that's worth that odd, uncomfortable twitch I get every time I put myself out there. I hope, in the end, you think so, too.

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

A Hidden Fire is on Goodreads!

Just a quick post to let you all know that I have created a Goodreads page for A Hidden Fire, the first book in the Elemental Mystery series! Please, pay no attention to the author link for right now, I've emailed Goodreads in the hopes that I can get the name thing straightened out. Amazingly, there's more than one Elizabeth Hunter writing books. Imagine that …

Also, friend me over at Goodreads if you'd like. Same name, here's the link to my profile.  I'm still getting the hang of stuff over there, and I don't have tons of books up, but I know some of you are pros.  Also, the never-ending book quiz is very addicting. Just putting that out there.

Moving forward, (okay, maybe this isn't such a quick post) I will continue to blog here about my journey to independent publishing, fangirl stuff, and writing in general, but more detailed information about the book, and any other teasers, contest info, etc. will be found on the Elemental Mysteries website.  My intention is to keep this blog focused on writing, publishing, and opinion while giving book fans a place to go for more detailed information about the series.  I'm not trying to alienate anyone here, and I understand that readers have different interests, so I'm trying not to shove the new book/series down everyone's throat. Hope that makes sense!

But, for those of you who are interested, I've posted Chapter 2, just to give you another taste of the story, along with some other little "bonus features" to pique your interest (hopefully).  I'll also be starting a contest next week to give away three Advance Reader's Copies of the book to three subscribers over at the new site. So, head on over and sign up for email updates! I promise I won't inundate your inbox begging you to buy my book. At least … not after the first week or so.

The closer I get to publication, the more stressed out I get.  But I want to take a moment to say "THANK YOU."  No lie, you can't imagine how much your encouragement and support mean to me.  It's easy to get nervous.  I've invested a lot of time and (for me) money in this project, and I've really worked to make it the kind of quality writing that I know you deserve.  This is not a whim or a hobby to me, writing and publishing is something I'm really serious about, and your support and attention has been instrumental in giving me the courage to put myself out there. I've said this before, but thank you for the gift of your time and attention.  It means so much to me.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you over at the new site, on Goodreads, or over on Facebook. (Yep! I'm there, too!)

Elizabeth

Tracing Shadows is finished! Epilogue has posted.

The Epilogue: Two Lovers has posted.

The story has finished.

Thank you so much for your time and attention.  I hope you enjoyed the story.

Thanks again to my amazing editing/beta team of Toni Cox and Kristy Scott, along with all the readers for the original story,The Genius and the Muse.  I hope you enjoyed this adaptation, it really was a labor of love.

If you enjoy my fiction, I hope you'll continue to subscribe to the website and check out the Elemental Mysteries series. The first book, A Hidden Fire, will be released in Amazon and Barnes and Noble in just a few weeks!  The website for the series isElementalMysteries.wordpress.com and I hope you'll consider checking it out and maybe subscribing.  The prologue and first two chapters of Book One are on that site and up for preview.

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

An unapologetic 'yes' to life.

It's easy to see the wisdom gained from a long life.  Years combine with experience to produce a unique clarity that only living can teach you.  I have learned extraordinary lessons from the elders in my life, but when you love someone who knows that they will probably die young (no matter how much you hope they won't) there are other lessons, and a different kind of wisdom can be gained.

I really don't want to be maudlin.  My friend passed away from liver failure caused by something she was born with.  She had her first transplant as a teenager, so in a way, any time after that first transplant was simply a bonus round.  I think she knew this, too.

Lacey didn't wait for joy.  That's probably the biggest lesson.  C and I would sometimes talk about how impatient Lacey was.  And she was.  Impatient for life, for love, for experience.  She was the ultimate impulse buyer.  Why wait?  When you know that your time is limited, patience is no longer a virtue.  Can everyone live like that? No, but maybe even those of us planning for long life could learn a little impatience when life presents us with an opportunity.

Unbridled enthusiasm is nothing to scoff at.  Lacey was an unapologetic fangirl.  She adored Disney, especially anything vintage.  She jumped up and down for her favorite bands.  She sobbed (not lying) when the original Star Tours closed down at Disneyland because she was convinced that no update could beat the original.  Her tumblr dashboard was filled with pugs in funny costumes.  Why?  Because she loved pugs.  In costumes.  What's to explain?  She tattooed her skin, marking her tiny body with the things she loved in life, affixing them as permanently as she could.  She gave no heed to those of us trying to be "cool."  Why would she?  She didn't have time for detachment.

She was quick to forgive.  As quickly as she would get angry at someone, she was just as quick to forgive when the person was sincere.  When I asked her once why she was so willing to reconcile with someone who had been absent from her life, she only had one answer.  "Because I'm dying."  Well, as much as we hoped she was wrong, she wasn't.  She forgave him, and I hope he has some peace about their relationship.

In the end, we're all dying.  I may have another sixty years, or I may have sixty minutes.  If I have learned anything in my thirty-four years, it's that life is unexpected.  So maybe when I ask myself whether something is worth the wait, whether it's worth my energy, whether someone is worth my forgiveness, I'll give the same answer as Lacey did.  An unapologetic 'yes' to life.

Because we're all dying.  Some of us just have more time than she did.

Last regular chapter of Tracing Shadows

Dear readers,

My apologies for the late post.

This is the final regular chapter of Tracing Shadows; the epilogue will post next week.

Thank you for reading, and for joining Kate and Javi, and Reed and Sam on their journey.

This chapter, in fact, this whole story, is dedicated to the memory of my friend, Lacey, who passed away this week after a very long fight with liver failure.  Her spirit, her intelligence, her humor, and her freckles inspired a lot of Kate's character, so I wanted to dedicate this to her.

Part Ten: The Mirror

I'd also like to ask that if you've never considered organ donation, or just haven't made the time to check that little box on your license renewal (for American readers) please consider doing that today. You have no idea what that final gift could mean to so many families.

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this long storm the rainbow rose

On this late morn the sun;

The clouds, like listless elephants,

Horizons straggled down.

The birds rose smiling in their nests,

The gales indeed were done;

Alas! how heedless were the eyes

On whom the summer shone!

The quiet nonchalance of death

No daybreak can bestir;

The slow archangel's syllables

Must awaken her.

—Emily Dickensen

Ten things I learned about myself while writing.

 It wasn't a short attention span, it was research!
I don't need nearly as much sleep as I thought I did.
That checkered job history has finally come in handy. (see #1)
Getting rid of the voices in my head wasn't nearly as hard as the doctors said it would be.
There are muscles in my back I didn't know I had … and they are sore.
I use the word "actually" in conversation way more than I realized.
I'm fairly creative at thinking of ways to kill people.
I really am that antisocial.
I'm never as brilliant as I think I am at 2 a.m. AND because I had to throw in a sweet one …
I married a really great guy, who is way more supportive than I ever could have imagined.

Five Reasons I Love Castle (other than Nathan Fillion)

I don't watch much television anymore.  When I have free time, I'm usually writing, and with the Small Boy and C in the house, the television is usually tuned to either Discovery Channel or Top Gear (the real, British one, not the American). That said, I do have a couple shows I watch regularly, and one of them is Castle, which is premiering tonight at 10/9c on ABC.

So, here's five reasons (other than Nathan Fillion, that goes without saying) I make the time for Castle when so much else can't keep my interest.

The hero of the show is a writer. Let me repeat that. The hero of the show is a writer! And not some really-a-superhero-who-just-happens-to-be-a-writer, but one who is more at home behind a computer than in a car chase, and loves weaving ridiculous stories into everyday conversation. In fact, that is Castle's superpower. His ability to think outside the box is the reason Beckett puts up with him. Castle is also a normal guy when it comes to the horrors that they deal with on cases. You can see the shock and revulsion on his face when confronted with the depravity of the criminals they apprehend. Fillion doesn't play him cool in those scenes, and that makes the character both appealing and relatable.
Castle/Beckett. It seems too simple to say that their relationship is central to the show, but I can't leave it out. The writers have created two appealing characters, but even more, the viewers can see why the characters appeal to each other on more than a superficial level. I love all the little hints about Beckett's background and personal life that the writers have dropped, without ever revealing too much. Of course Castle is following her around, she's is an intriguing woman. In the same way, Castle can be really annoying to Beckett, but he's also very loyal and very smart.  The Beckett/Castle partnership is one of the most balanced on television, and I have loved watching it develop.
Fantastic supporting cast. How many police shows have you seen where the other detectives are simply there to show how brilliant the main characters are? Yeah, I find that annoying, too. In Castle, the writers have created a cast of diverse characters, all of which you can easily imagine having a full life off-screen (Oh, and the Esposito/Lanie storyline? LOVE.). The writers and the actors don't shortchange these characters and the show is so much richer for it. Also, I may have a slight crush on both Ryan and Esposito.  Just putting that out there.
Positive family dynamic. Does it seem too "Pollyanna" to say that I love seeing positive family dynamics on a show? I don't care.  Castle's mother and daughter are pretty clearly the center of his world, and that's incredibly refreshing.  I love the scenes with Castle and Alexis; as a former middle-school teacher, it's great to see positive portrayals of teens who are smart and genuine.  Martha can be flighty, but she's also a savvy, mature woman with a lot of depth.  The Castle family scenes are never throwaway filler and I like that, too.
Slightly serial, but still episodic. I love show mythology. I was an X-Files fan from Season One.  I watched Buffy religiously.  But there are shows out now (looking at you, Fringe) that I have stopped watching for now because I've "fallen behind" and the current show no longer makes sense.  I like that Castle has developed some over-arching plot with Beckett's mother's murder, but it's not the focus every week and I can miss a show without losing the whole thread.

These are only the top five reasons that Castle is a "must-watch" for me.  The show is not perfect.  The writing can be hit or miss at times, but the cast works with it and I rarely finish watching an episode without a smile on my face. There's a great balance between the humor and the drama, and the cast has great chemistry.  If you haven't seen it before, jump in!

Thanks for reading,

E

Elemental Mysteries Website

Dear Readers,

As many of you know, I've been working on publishing my paranormal mystery/romance, A Hidden Fire, and had hoped it would be ready this month.

The bad news is that publication will not be happening in September. The book needs another month of polish, so I have pushed publication back to October.  This is my first book in major markets, and I want to make sure you see it at its best.  I am still planning on publishing the second book, This Same Earth, before Christmas, so you won't have to wait long for the follow-up.  I am working of the first draft of Book Three right now.

The good news is that I have been fiddling around with a website devoted to the Elemental Mysteries series.  While I will be posting mainly on this site to talk about writing, my journey toward publication, and other goofy interests; the other site will remain devoted to the four books in the series and I will be putting up teasers, playlists (we all know me and music), and other links of interest.  In fact, there are already a few extra bits up for those of you who want to check it out.

I want to thank all my readers who have made this process so fun and rewarding, and I hope those of you who are interested in my original fiction will check out the series site at: ElementalMysteries.wordpress.com.

As always, thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

New Chapter of Shadows: The Muse

So, here's part nine of the story.  We're almost to the end and I wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this story and especially all of you who have taken the time to comment.  I really appreciate the encouragement.

Thanks again to the keen eyes of Kristy Todd and Toni Cox, my betas and editors for this story. It wouldn't have been possible without them.

I hope you enjoy finally hearing from Sam.  I gave her a nice, fat chapter.  Let's see what she has to say.

Part Nine: The Muse

Thanks for reading,

E

Reading/Watching/Listening: Smart Chick's Edition

Young Woman Reading by Mary Cassatt

I'm sick of the dumb-as-dirt women I'm seeing on television lately.  I don't know these women.  Most of my friends, even if they're not Rhodes Scholars, are pretty savvy about their own lives.  And I rarely see the grown women I know acting like high school drama queens. So I give you, R/W/L Smart Chick's Edition.  Enjoy.

 Reading: Kissed by Darkness (Sunwalker Saga) by Shéa McLeod

I love opening a book and feeling like I've fallen into a really well-developed universe, and Kissed by Darkness is looking like a great read so far.  Add in a kick-ass heroine with a quick wit, a great sense of humor, and a pair of nice boots?  I'm sold. Plus, it's set on the West Coast. Go Portland!

I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm already enjoying Morgan's distinctive voice, the well-developed cast of supporting characters, and the intriguing premise.  This is the first of the Sunwalker Saga, and if the first book is any indication, I'm going to enjoy digging into the second one, as well.

Kissed by Darkness is well-written and moves at a fast clip without seeming rushed.  It's adult paranormal fiction with a smart feel, a lot of humor, and a very appealing protagonist.  Check it out!

Watching: Sons of Anarchy

Pet peeve? Giving a female protagonist in a series a smart, professional career, and then writing her like she was a bubble-headed teenager. (Ally McBeal? I'm looking at you.) Thing I love with hearts and flowers?  Finding female characters in supposedly misogynistic environments that are smart, savvy, and fully developed.

Which is why I can recommend watching Sons of Anarchy, whose fourth season just premiered here in the U.S.  Given the premise of the show, a drama surrounding a motorcycle club in Northern California, viewers might expect the show's female characters to be window dressing, but they would be dead wrong.  Katey Sagal won a Golden Globe last year for her portrayal of Gemma, the matriarch of the club, and why she didn't win every other award out there, I don't know.

These women are powerful, intelligent, diverse characters; and the writers on the show have a lot of respect for them.  The male/female interaction is genuine and uncontrived.  The relationships feel real.  I cannot recommend it highly enough.  It's Shakespeare on Harleys, people.  Check it out.

Listening: Loreena McKennitt—The Book of Secrets

This listening pick has a lot to do with what I'm writing right now, which is the third Elementals book, and has some very East meets West themes.  So I'm listening to a lot of this particular album while I write.

But, if you've never checked out Loreena McKennitt's music, please get thee to iTunes or your local music store soon!  This is folk/Celtic/world music that not only sounds great, but has a lot of depth.  If you've ever read McKennitt's liner notes, you know that she not only writes and performs, but she does a lot of research into the culture, folklore, and geography of the genres that inspire her.  Your ears will thank you, as will your brain.

Check out "The Mummer's Dance" from The Book of Secrets. And don't forget, smart chicks rule.