Shel Delisle's Blog, page 2

If you love #dolphins…how crazy is this?

Just saw this cool footage of a woman wakeboarding with dolphins. Amazing!

 

 

 

 

#Music Monday Sting Set Them Free

While I really like Sting’s music, both from his time with The Police and from his solo career, this isn’t my favorite song of his. (That would be “Message in a Bottle”)

But this is the right song for today’s Music Monday post, because I’ve set Winging It! free. Not for a day, or two, or five.

Permanently.

I didn’t want Grace, my quirky and misguided angel in training, to be a beast in a gilded cage. So you can download the first book in the series from Amazon, Barnes and Noble,  Apple, or Smashwords.

If you don’t already own Winging It!, I hope you’ll go and grab a copy. If you do, check out this video. The girl in the white shorts, looks like she could play Aisha, doesn’t she?

#MusicMonday Why Sara Bareilles’s Love Song Reminds Me of My Upcoming Release

Every time I watch this video, it reminds me of my time as a writer.

For years (and years) I’d always written just for myself, as a way to be creative. Then I got bit by the what if? bug. This led to buying and devouring books on craft, and the market,  and publication. Some suggested I find a critique group, and the thought terrified me. What? Let others read my writing? Oh, yeah. Duh. If you’re going to be published, people will read your writing.

I took the advice and went in search of a critique group. Like Goldilocks, I found them too hard, too soft, and finally, when I found a couple writing partners whose feedback was just right it was time to get to work.  At this point, I needed to find ways to make sure that my vision for the story matched what their take-away was, and my writing became much more focused from their input. Trust grew, and so did friendship. I wrote to please them, and when they said I should submit, I did.

The next step was to share my work more broadly, which I did at conference critiques and workshops. This was when I really started letting others shape my writing. Sometimes it was because of their suggestions, but more often it was just from taking positive responses and making sure I did more of that. Whatever that was.  Eventually, in the search for an agent and an editor, the suggestions became even more specific. If one of my manuscripts didn’t fly, I’d pitch ideas for other WIPs and write whatever they thought would give me the best chance for success. Like many others, I pursued publication to the detriment of the stories I wanted to tell. I still have one half-baked novel that piqued no one’s interest enough to finish it. In my heart, I know it needs to be finished, and it will be–someday.

Up until this point, my path was exactly like a kajillion other writers. Almost every writer, in fact. The decision to indie pub DOLPHIN GIRL was a break from convention, and it was scary stuff, let me tell you. Nobody had given me the stamp of approval that I’d been pursuing for such a long time. What if they were right, and even worse, what if I was wrong? All wrong. Still, I felt that tug of wanting to share the story. So, after editing, polishing, and fighting off waves of nausea, I pushed publish.

I didn’t allow myself a lot of time between the first book and WINGING IT! Certainly not enough time to completely doubt myself. I worried briefly about disappointing the small group of readers I’d found, and then I pushed the trepidation aside and pushed the button again.

Then, for awhile, it seemed silly to have worried at all.

I was finding readers, they read multiple books. Pushing that button became easier with time and more work.

But now, I’m back to doubting myself. I’m about to release something very different. It’s written from a male point of view. It skews slightly older. It’s not light hearted or humorous, except for a few comic-relief moments. It’s futuristic and dystopian and has sports at the center of the story. It’s Christian-themed. That in itself is a risk. I don’t think there’s a genre for a Christian-dystopian-sports story in the Kindle categories on Amazon. I don’t even know if there is a readership for that.

I plotted GLORY eight or nine years ago during my son’s soccer practices. I’ve always liked the premise, and always wanted to write it, but it didn’t fit what I’d become. Late last year, when a project I was mid-way through stalled, I picked up this story and the words came so easily. I guess that’s what eight years of marinating will do for you. Originally, I thought it was just a short story, but it grew into a novella, or maybe a novel. Again, it doesn’t fit neatly into a category. The length is in at a weird, in-between place, at the cusp of both.

At any rate, as I embarked on this project, the lyrics “I’m not going to write you a love song”  ran through my head on an endless loop. As I wrote, I felt rebellious, and a little self-centered. I was writing this story solely for myself, just because I wanted to tell it. Hopefully, I’d find someone interested in reading it, but I didn’t have that guarantee, and I wrote it anyway.  Now that it’s close to complete, I’m already getting back to my bread and butter with the third book in the Angel in Training series. That’s my love song for readers who have grown to love Grace. In the meantime, I have this other novel that makes me nervous, and more than a little scared. I must have a bit of masochist in me, or maybe I’m a thrill seeker, because that feeling suits me just fine. I had a vision for a story, wrote it and will release it (in the truest meaning of release). What a tremendous sense of freedom! Even with no guarantees. Especially with no guarantees!

And that is, I think, the beauty of indie pub. I can write what speaks to my heart, and the best part is that’s usually what readers want, too. Something that speaks to their heart.

 

 

The Corrs for a St. Paddy’s Day #MusicMonday

I spent some time debating what song to play for a Music Monday post on St. Paddy’s Day. I’d already talked about the Dropkick Murphy’s I’m Shipping Up To Boston a couple years ago on Facebook, and U2 is one of my favorite bands, but one of their songs could work any time during the year on almost any subject.

I listened to The Cranberries and couldn’t decide between Linger or Dreams or Zombie. I love all of those songs, but none of them suited my mood today.

The only one that felt right was Toss the Feathers by The Corrs. It’s Irish through and through.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

8 reasons I love Happy by Pharrell Williams & a #MusicMonday $500 #giveaway

There’s a lot to love about this song. Here are eight reasons.

Simple lyrics. It’s absolutely an earworm kind of song, but that doesn’t really do it justice. Some of the best songs ever have one simple idea behind them, and this is one of those songs.
It’s original. The first 24-hour video ever. What a crazy cool idea. I’m embedding 5 am, just because I like the idea of waking up happy, and because Magic Johnson dances around with all his Lakers’ gear, but go to YouTube and pick a time of day that works for you.
Pharrell’s Hats. No explanation necessary.
It delivers on its promise.  If you’re in a bad mood, I dare you to listen to this song with an open mind and heart for a couple minutes. I bet you feel better.
Wide-age appeal. Little kids to seventy-year-olds like the song as evidenced by all the people dancing, which brings me to…
All the people dancing. I absolutely love that you see all kinds of people, not just beautiful people dancing to this song. It carries the message that anyone can be happy.
It’s optimistic and inviting. Phrases like “a room without a roof” make me feel like anything is possible. The lyrics “Come along if you feel like that’s what you want to do” make me feel like I’m being invited into something incredible.
$500.  What?

How about a $500 gift card from the retailer of your choice? Because we’re happy, the eight authors of the YA box set Text Me are offering a deal you don’t want to miss. Help Text Me hit the bestsellers lists and earn a chance to win BIG! As of now, we will give away a $50 gift card after midnight on March 25th.

If Text Me hits the top 1000 on Amazon the prize jumps to $100!

If Text Me hits the top 500 on Amazon the prize jumps to $250!

If Text Me hits the top 100 of Amazon the prize jumps to $500!

What do you have to do to get in on this? Come along if you feel like that’s what you want to do! Just blog, tweet, post… get the word out, and keep track on the rafflecopter entry below! One lucky winner will be Happy!

Here are all the deets about Text Me  –

AMAZON– NOOK–ITUNES – KOBO

 From Curses to Crushes, Angels to Witches, Mysteries to Puberty ; Traveling through Time to Swimming Under the Sea— Text Me: 8 Novels of First Love brings 8 teens in awkward situations who are about to find out more about themselves.  These 8 authors bring novels that will make you laugh out loud.

 Special sale price of only $0.99

Regular price for all these stories is $21.92 — you save $20.93!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#MusicMonday My Funny Valentine — Chet Baker

Sending out Happy Valentine’s Day wishes to readers and friends. Here’s a little about what’s going with my books:

For Valentine’s Day the eBook Bundle TEXT ME: 8 Novels of First Love has been discounted to 99 cents. I’m one of the authors in the bundle, along with Shana Norris, Amanda Brice, Juli Alexander, Elle Strauss, Cindy M. Hogan, Kate Avery Ellison, and Kat Brookes. We’ve been featured in FKBT, over at the new web-site for Ultimate YA and in posts at Cindy M. Hogan’s blog and Kai Strand’s blog. Be a sweet Cupid and stop by everywhere and follow these folks or sign up for newsletters or say hello.

Also, starting tomorrow, February 11th, MY WISHFUL THINKING will be one of the Kindle Countdown Deals and it’ll be featured by BookBub on the 12th, discounted to 99 cents.

Finally, one more limited offer. STORYTIME, a book of five read-aloud short stories is now available at Amazon for 99 cents.

And, because it’s Music Monday, a song.

Three Wishes with M. E. Purfield

I first got to know M.E. back in April or May of 2012 (I don’t remember which) when he let Grace, the main character from Winging It!,  interview him. I’ve always felt this post was fun and funny to read, so if you haven’t seen it before, check it out.  Anyway…I thought it would be great to lend him Eugene to see what he would wish for and so I’m just going to turn it over to M.E.

I don’t believe in religion or the supernatural. So this three wishes and djinni thing could be a bunch of hoo ha. But yet I am a spiritualist (Buddhists) and feel that reincarnation is practical. And I do believe in ghosts. Yeah, I’m contradicting.

I am a writer, though. People pay to read me spout off about the truth in the form of lies and slight of hand. So for sake of argument I will believe in three wishes for this essay in hopes to reveal some truth.

Wow. Three? Really? Seems like such a horrible number. Yeah, you could pick one, even save it for a rainy day. But three? I have a hard enough time making a top five list of my favorite movies/books/songs. Also, at this time in my life, I feel so content. What could I ask for that I don’t already have? I have a great wife who I’ve been married to for over 10 years and with for 18 years. I have a seven-year-old son who’s smarter than the average bear and I have a newborn daughter who took six years to get into our lives. I’m not rich, but comfortably poor. I have a writing career that is starting to pick up. I have a good part-time job that I like going to. I’m not in debt and have my own home. I have the best cats as pets. I have all the books and movies and music I could want. And most importantly I have my depression under control so I can enjoy everything I just mentioned.

So what the freakin’ hell should I wish for?

Material objects are out. I’m just not into technology that I don’t need to get through life. Meaning, I have my laptop, television, blue ray player, etc. I don’t need a so-fast-you-will-miss-it in-a-blink cell phone or a television the size of an elephant or a car that vibrates my ass and plays satellite radio tuned in to the Tiny Tim channel. See what I mean?

Got the love of my life, etc, etc, etc.

Sure I could ask for money. It wouldn’t hurt to have some bank in case shit goes wrong. But…I would feel uncomfortable with that. Struggle shows a person’s true colors. And I like to be a rainbow when all is said and done.

So I will have to give my three wishes to the world.

1)   I wish there was no money in the world. People could just work at what they love and make things for others. No one would be denied anything to live comfortably.

2)   I wish there was no hate in people. Yes, this is hard. And in some way as each generation moves on past prejudices and discriminations hate will fade. I’m not saying they have to love everything. Just that if something is not their cup of tea then they just shrug their shoulders and say, “Okay,” and move on.

3)  You know what? The last two are major wishes. Maybe I will use the 3rd for myself. I wish to complete my collection of Black Lizard crime books from the 80s.

What do you say Eugene?

There are days I’d definitely like to return to the 80′s M.E., but I really love the fact that you’re content with your life!  And I like your wishes, too. Eugene’s always said the big ones like love and happiness are the hardest to grant, but I’m sure he’ll give it his best.

As for my wish today…I hope you’ll show M.E. some love and check out his newest release SURLY GIRLY (Miki Radicci Book 4)! Here’s all the on-line places you can find it (and him) hanging out. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Surly-Girly-Tenebrous-Chronicles-Radicci-ebook/dp/B00HOFTX8Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388928660&sr=1-1
 
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/surly-girly-me-purfield/1117947127?ean=2940148993117
 
Homepage: http://mepurfield.tumblr.com/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MEPurfield

 

#MusicMonday Third Eye Blind

This song is an oldie (1997), but a goody.

My youngest, who wasn’t even born yet when Semi-Charmed Life hit the airwaves, likes to listen to it on the way to soccer practice. I think it’s probably the catchy doo, doo, doo that hooked him.  It’s another perfect example of how when music went digital songs got a new life. Or an extended life.

It’s happening to books, too.

An author friend of mine who has been around publishing for a while told me that she had some “zombie” books. I wasn’t familiar with the term and asked what she meant, because these books aren’t stories about brain-eating monsters. No, no, they’re not. Basically, these are books that died years ago, and then recently got up and started walking around again. The term made me laugh, but I’m happy for her and for the readers who are finding old stories that are new to them.

And, while all of the above is a great reason for featuring Semi-Charmed Life on this Monday, that’s not why I picked it. No, no it’s not.

This is why–

There’s a line in the chorus: I want something else to get me through this life. 

Something Else Publishing is the name I’ve been using as my imprint, and I’m now offering whatever expertise I’ve gained in the last two-plus years to people who want to try something else when it comes to publishing. In a nut shell (or in this case a seashell), I thought about what I would’ve wanted as an author in a publishing partner, and that’s the concept behind what I’m calling partnership publishing. To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve coined the term, or if someone else has been using this, but to me it means sharing everything: work load, risks, and rewards. If you’re an author who “just wants to write”, well, good luck, and keep pursuing a trade pub deal. If you want to control every aspect behind the creation of your book, you should go indie. Like now. Just do it and you’ll learn as you go.

But if you’d like some control and some assistance, Something Else Publishing might be for you.  Here’s a link to the site that includes more information about the new venture: http://somethingelsepublishing.com/

Hope you’ll stop by.

 

 

Three Wishes with Mary Waibel

‘Tis the season to be jolly?  Baking?

Well, yes, but on the blog it’s also the season to be wishing. Today, it’s Mary Waibel and I really enjoyed her original wishes. Hope you do, too!

I stumbled upon Shel’s Three Wishes through fellow author Kai Strand. After reading her wish list (which you can read here) I sat and thought about my own wish but on the blog list. Like Kai, I wish I could cure diseases and eat whatever I want (and not have to exercise), but I think we all would make those wishes. So, I thought about what I would wish for for me, and here’s what I came up with.

More time in a day. There never seems to be enough time to do all I want, and inevitably something doesn’t get done. If I could have a few more hours in a day, I could spend time with my family, work, write, clean my house, and read/watch TV all in one day.  (Yes, my cleaning and TV viewing are really behind!) So, genie I wish for more hours in a day.

Escape reality. I love it when a book takes me away from the real world and transports me somewhere else with new people I’d love to have as friends, whose stories I want to read over and over just to be with them again.  I’d love to know one of my books allowed a reader to have this same experience. Genie, I wish that my books will allow my readers to escape reality.

A never-ending well. Every night, when I lay down to sleep, I think about the stories I’m working on, and the ones I’m waiting to start. Sometimes, new stories or characters come to mind and I excitedly think about where they could lead. With all the ideas that float around, and characters my mind creates, I know I have a well of stories inside me. Genie, for my final wish, I wish to never run out of stories to tell.

Eugene is working on wishes one and three, but I suspect Mary is well on her way with her second wish. Here’s a little bit about her book Charmed Memories:

Prince Trevor has always placed duty to his kingdom above the desires of his own heart. But when his betrothed is lost at sea, he finds himself torn between honor and love. After four years of searching for the missing princess, he begins to secretly long for Lady Bri, the Woodland Guide he works with each day. But the law says he must marry a princess, and Bri is barely a noble.
When Trevor learns that Bri was shipwrecked at the same time and place as the princess, he begins to believe he has finally found his bride-to-be. But his happiness is short lived. Bri has no memory of her past, and the princess wasn’t the only girl who disappeared from the ship. Desperate to prove Bri is his princess, Trevor unwittingly places the two of them in grave danger. Buried in Bri’s memories are deadly secrets someone wants kept from the light of day, and learning who she is may cost more than either is willing to pay.

It’s available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and MuseItUp Publishing. 

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Three Wishes with Kristina Miranda

Kristina has been a friend and an early reader of my work for years. In fact, she was one of the first people introduced to Eugene, the genie in My Wishful Thinking. So, I’m thrilled to have her on my blog and hope her wishes come true.

Skipping over the wishes we’d all (hopefully) make to cure the world of all that ails it, I’ll move on to three completely frivolous wishes.

1)      I’d wish to be fluent in every language.

2)      I’d take the perfect trip with my sister that would start with three days in New York City. Then we’d hop on a plane to Europe where we would be free to stay wherever we wanted, whether a quaint cottage or a medieval castle, and explore to our hearts’ content. We’d spend a few days in our favorite spots and write.

3)      I’d fly my husband and two children to England to join the trip. I’d take our son to watch his favorite English soccer team play at their home stadium, and my daughter to meet her favorite British boy band, One Direction.

Now that I’ve thought of those wishes, I feel like making modified versions of them come true, without a genie! (Like learn to be conversational in at least one more foreign language, and to save for a trip!) But a serious wish, or dream, that always lives in my heart is this: That I will grow as a writer and uplift as many girls as I can, in some small way.  : )

Hurray for travel and touching readers! And now for my wishes…

You may not know this, but Kristina has recently debuted with her novel Perfume Princess. It’s one of the sweetest stories I’ve read in a while and I hope you’ll head here to check it out!

Also, My Wishful Thinking has just started a Kindle Countdown Deal, so it’ll be 99 cents for the next few days.

Finally, I’m wishing those of you in the U.S. a Happy Thanksgiving and for those of you elsewhere a happy weekend.