J.C. Martin's Blog, page 17

Gratitude G1veaways Hop

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***Please note: This is a sticky post. For latest posts please scroll down. ***

Right, so we don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK, but this year I’ve had plenty to be thankful for: the release of my first novel, expecting my first child, and of course, the continued support of all my loyal readers! Add to that the fact that my birthday is on the 23rd, I’m in a celebratory, generous, and giving mood!

So what am I offering for this giveaway?

First Prize: 1 x Print book of your choice (up to the value of $15)
Second Prize: 1 x E-Book copy of Oracle (MOBI or EPUB)

The prizes are INTERNATIONAL, as long as The Book Depository ships free to your country.

And because this is a giveaway to say “thank you” to all my lovely followers, entering is easy-peasy, with no hoops to jump through. All you have to do is leave a comment below, and include the answer to the following question:

Which book would you choose if you win?

Your answer will have no bearing on the likelihood of winning — I’m just curious as to my readers’ literary tastes! I will use Random.org to pick a winner and announce it on November 26th, so make sure you get your entry in before then!

And don’t forget to check out all the other stops in this amazing blog hop, brought to you by the awesome I Am A Reader, Not A Writer!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

THE PROPHET Blog Tour: Interview with Author Ethan Cross

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[image error]As part of his blog tour for his latest novel, suspense thriller The Prophet, Ethan Cross is here today for an interview, where we chat about his books, his writing process, and some randomocities.

About the Author
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Ethan Cross

When a fireman or a policeman would visit his school, most of his classmates’ heads would swim with aspirations of growing up and catching bad guys or saving someone from a blazing inferno. When these moments came for Ethan Cross, however, his dreams weren’t to someday be a cop or put out fires; he just wanted to write about it. His dream of telling stories on a grand scale came to fruition with the release of his first novel, the international bestseller, The Shepherd.

Ethan Cross is the pen name of a thriller author living and writing in Illinois with his wife, two daughters, and two Shih Tzus. In addition to The Shepherd and The Prophet, he has published two novellas — The Cage and Callsign: Knight (with Jeremy Robinson).

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

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So tell me, Ethan: what kind of readers would enjoy your books?

I try to write books that I would want to read, and I believe that The Prophet would be greatly enjoyed by the fans of authors such as James Patterson, Lee Child, Dean Koontz, David Morrell, Thomas Harris, and Jeffery Deaver.

Describe your style of writing in three words.

Fast-paced, dark, action.

Describe your typical writing day. How do you balance your writing with marketing, editing, plotting, your day job, and all other commitments?

Of course, it all begins with a cool idea and interesting characters, but there’s much more than that to a novel (in fact, those are the easy parts). I typically start by just thinking of everything I want to happen in the book (character moments, action sequences, etc). Then I begin to fit those pieces together. I have a dry-erase board and a cork board. I brainstorm on the dry-erase and then begin lining up note cards on the cork board. These cards contain just enough info to let me know the linear progression of the book and how the pieces fit together. Then I craft an outline.

I’m an obsessive outliner. For The Prophet, I wrote a 170-page outline that went through two major drafts with feedback from my editors. This outline contains pretty much everything that’s going to happen in the book, even thoughts, research, and snippets of dialogue.

For me, that’s the hard part. Once that’s done and the “writing” begins, things flow, and I’m able to focus on the intricacies. After the outline was done, I wrote the 125,000 words of the book in about a month and a half.

Writing is my “day job”, and so I treat it as such. Since I’m not much of a morning person, I start out with answering e-mails, conducting promotional activities, research, learning, etc. … essentially the business side of things. Then, once I’ve got some caffeine in my system, I start to write/outline. I usually quit around 6:00, depending on when the kids have activities or we have plans for the evening. Then I usually have a little time to work some more once the kids and my wife have gone to bed.

Do you have a ritual for getting into the writing zone?

Heavy metal music. I like to listen to music while I work. I feel that it creates a sort of “bubble” where I can shut out the distractions of the real world and focus on the one I’m creating.

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

The fortune, fame, and groupies … wait, that’s a rock star … or maybe a politician. But seriously, I think the best thing about being a writer is the act of creation. I’m happiest when I’m enjoying someone else’s creation or bringing one of my own into existence. Forging something new from nothing using only your imagination is a very therapeutic and fulfilling experience.

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Early bird or night owl?  Night owl.

Red or white wine? Red.

Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi.

Bath or shower? Shower.

Mac or PC? Mac.

—

Here is the blurb for The Prophet:

The Prophet

The Prophet

OLD ENEMIES … Francis Ackerman Jr. is one of America’s most prolific serial killers. Having kept a low profile for the past year, he is ready to return to work – and he’s more brutal, cunning, and dangerous than ever.

NEW THREATS … Scarred from their past battles, Special Agent Marcus Williams cannot shake Ackerman from his mind. But now Marcus must focus on catching the Anarchist, a new killer who drugs and kidnaps women before burning them alive.

HIDDEN TERRORS … Marcus knows the Anarchist will strike again soon. And Ackerman is still free. But worse than this is a mysterious figure, unknown to the authorities, who controls the actions of the Anarchist and many like him. He is the Prophet – and his plans are more terrible than even his own disciples can imagine.

With attacks coming from every side, Marcus faces a race against time to save the lives of a group of innocent people chosen as sacrifices in the Prophet’s final dark ritual.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

To follow the rest of the Ethan’s blog tour, click here for the full tour schedule.

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Cover Reveal: RISE OF THE MAGI by Jocelyn Adams

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First off, a big thank you to everyone who sent me good wishes for my first ever reading at the local library. I had a wonderful time. There was a surprisingly large and varied turn-out, and the audience members were lovely! I got asked some really insightful questions about my writing process and the publishing industry. Definitely something I’d do again!

Now, on to today’s programme…

I’m excited to be participating in Jocelyn Adams’s cover reveal of Rise of the Magi, the final book in her Lila Gray series.

Rise of the Magi

Rise of the Magi

In a battle of wills, who is strongest? The one who hates or the one who loves?

In a test of faith, who will fight the hardest? The one who has everything to lose or the one who believes only in herself?

For Lila Gray, the answer is both.

For the Magi, the questions are pointless since they can’t lose, and they’ve been waiting since before Lila’s birth for this one moment.

Lila only needs to find them to understand her entire purpose in life.

This time, though, instead of protecting her people, Lila may be leading them all, including her unborn child and the man she loves, to their deaths — and not by accident.

In the ultimate trial of heart and soul, and the conclusion to the Lila Gray series, Lila will learn that the greatest weapon of war is herself, with one ultimate unknown.

For which side will she fight?

About the Author

Jocelyn Adams

Jocelyn Adams grew up on a cattle farm in Lakefield and has remained a resident of Southern Ontario her entire life, most recently in Muskoka. She has worked as a computer geek, a stable hand, a secretary, and spent most of her childhood buried up to the waist in an old car or tractor engine with her mechanically inclined dad. But mostly, she’s a dreamer with a vivid imagination and a love for fantasy (and a closet romantic — shhh!). When she isn’t shooting her compound bow in competition or writing, she hangs out with her husband and young daughter at their little house in the woods.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Rise of the Magi is scheduled to be released on June 4th, 2013.

What do YOU think of the cover? Is this something you’d like to read?

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Library Reading & Open Short Story Submissions

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Croydon Library is part of the Croydon Town Hall complex, an imposing Victorian complex comprising the library, town hall, a museum, and this lovely clock tower (the library is just at its base).
(click for image course)

I’ll be at the Croydon Central Library tomorrow for a reading and signing of Oracle. It’ll be my first ever reading so I’m a little nervous about it all! My biggest fear is that no one will turn up to listen to me! But hey, just look at the architecture of this building: what better place is there to experience a poor turn-out?

If you’re in the area, the reading starts at 2.30pm tomorrow, Saturday 10th November.

There are a couple of open calls for submissions of short stories that I thought I’d share with you all:

One More Day

My publisher, J. Taylor Publishing, will soon be accepting submissions for a new YA short story anthology entitled One More Day. The feature author will be L.S. Murphy, author of the soon-to-be-released paranormal fantasy Reaper, but the publishers are looking for 5 more stories to complete the 50,000 word anthology, to be released December 2nd, 2013.

In a nutshell, your short story should address the questions: what if tomorrow never happens? What if today never ended? How would you restart time? Stories should be between 5,000 and 10,000 in length, and targeted at a YA audience.

For  more information, visit the J. Taylor Publishing blog.

Peirene Press Short Story Competition

Peirene Press is holding a short fiction competition with the winning story being published on their website and in their annual newsletter, as well as receiving a subscription of their 2013 Turning Point series.

Stories must  be exactly 900 words long, with the words “turning point” included in the text. Submission closes at midnight on November 30th.

For more information, visit the competition page on the Circalit website.

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

OWLET Blog Tour & Rafflecopter

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Owlet, a paranormal YA novel by Emma Michaels and book 1 of the Society of Feather series, released on October 13th. Emma is stopping by here today as part of a big blog tour with MASSIVE prizes up for grabs!

***Keep reading to find out how you could enter to win awesome prizes, including swag packs, e-books, Amazon gift cards, and jewellery!***

As part of the blog tour, there is a read-along excerpt for each blog stop. Here is mine:

Iris and Falcon reached the edge of the tree line; the water was still obscured by branches but visible enough to see that brilliant rays of sunlight were dancing through the forest off its reflection.

Falcon smiled at Iris and softly whispered, “We’re here,” before he started to climb a very spindly tree to hang up the bird feeder. She watched him, all too aware that she was gawking and admiring his ability to get up the tree so easily … long with his other assets. When he came back down he smiled at her.

“You are a good climber,” Iris said. “I have been refilling these for years,” he answered. Iris started going over what little she could figure out in her mind. She realized he called her Izzy which only her father called her. He had to have met him, or her mother may have used that same nickname for her.

“Is my mother really dead?” “Yes.” “Did you ever meet her?” “This could take some getting used to. I thought you would remember everything when I waited for you. I knew I would see you again but I never imagined it would … well … to answer your question — yes, I met her. I also met your father, Jarem and, of course, you.” Falcon was scratching his head and looking at the sky like he didn’t know what to do next.

“Come here,” he said, and continued walking towards the water until they were standing on the beach. It was a view from the island Iris had never seen before while she was awake or dreaming. The shore was covered in a mixture of gray and black stones and small shells instead of sand. “We will have to sneak up on them,” he told her and pointed down the beach line to where it curved in another direction.

Here’s a full list of all read-along tour stops:

So what’s Owlet about? Here’s the very intriguing blurb:

Owlet

Owlet

Somewhere between falling and flying … there is a girl. Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.

Purchas e Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iBookstore | PDF

About the Author

Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is the author of the ‘A Sense of Truth’ and ‘Society of Feathers’ series. Her goal with her latest YA novel Owlet is to give others what she did not have growing up; a strong female protagonist with asthma. While her previous aspiration was to be a lady knight she realized that not being able to run more than a few feet might become a hindrance so turned to writing instead. Her day jobs include being a cover artist, marketing consultant and silk screen designer.

As the founder of The Writers Voice blog she loves to connect authors and readers. As a book blogger turned author, she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, until she moved at eighteen to Washington State. Suddenly, the world was a new place filled with tall green trees that reached further for the sky with every moment, making her want to do the same. Ever since, she has tried to make her life something new and different from what it was before, pursuing her future career, setting high goals and reaching for them. With the support of her fiancé, Chihuahua, and her amazing blog followers and fellow bloggers, she wants to prove to the world that anything is possible and help inspire fellow literary lovers to reach for their dreams.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Still can’t get enough? Here is a profile of one of the characters in Owlet:

Ramero

Name: Ramero

Hair: It once was a deep black in his younger days but now is mostly gray with dark streaks

Eyes: Light brown, even more so than his skin causing a strange contrast that always makes him look more alert and awake than he actually is

Blood Type: A

Aves: Caracara

Favorite food: Anything that is extremely spicy gets him sick but he loves it so much he just can’t help himself History: Will be revealed in book two!

Inspiration: I think Ramero is a mix of many people from my life. He has that look in his eyes that my grandfather always had, slightly haunted and guarded but someone who was once naturally kind. He has that strange way of teaching that my father had with me, that sometimes gives a bit too much freedom and can be very reckless but normally works out for the best because he chooses tough students. His name was taken from a young man I once met who was extremely wise and made every word he said count. Having a conversation with him was mind boggling because you felt like you were talking to some sort of historical figure even though at the time he wasn’t even out of high school. But mostly, I think Ramero is the soul of my old local library. I had a local library that taught me so much, its books were gateways to entirely new worlds for me and that is what Ramero has the possibility of being to Iris, a teacher who gives an unbiased education showing the good, the bad and the ugly but ultimately; the truth.

Worst quality: He will always believe the worst in anyone before he will believe the best, no matter who that person is or how much he cares about them. He was hurt too many times in his youth and has since been very jaded towards anyone other than Roger and Jarem who were like sons to him. He can also be very cold-hearted and unemotional externally leaving an onlooker always wondering if he feels anything at all other than a neutral dislike.

Best quality: Knowledge. Ramero is extremely knowledgeable and a secret optimist. He tries to deny his optimistic tendencies but ultimately, he is always hoping that things will turn out for the better, even if he doesn’t truly believe it will.

Unique fact: Ramero had a woman he loved once and before then he was an extremely optimistic man. Upon her death he swore never to open his heart to another soul and turned his back on all those who needed him other than his student and those that would prove themselves to him. He has secretly always wanted to kill the man who harmed the woman he loved and that man was a student of his at the time. If he ever finds himself face to face with him, he will not hesitate.

Giveaway!

Fancy winning some cool Owlet swag and jewellery? How about an e-book copy of the book? Or a $10 Amazon gift card? As part of her blog tour, Emma’s running a HUGE giveaway with prizes galore! All you have to do to enter is to fill in as much (or as little) of the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveawayGood luck!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Writer Wednesday: Interview with Nick Orsini

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Nick Orsini

Nick Orsini

Nick Orsini claims not to be a writer. After graduating from college in the heart of the Great Recession in 2008, unable to find work, he set out to tell one great story. Armed with a background in Film History and Criticism, and after spending his formative years analysing everything from Blade Runner to pro-wrestling, he started to write.

Nick has self-published two books, one collection of poetry, and maintains a blog of over 2,000 original poems and short stories. He has written for The Projection List and Thought Catalog. His poetry spanned topics from the Occupy Wall Street protests to the senselessness of coming-of-age.

His first self-published novel, Two Wrongs Make a Vice, has been shipped to over 40 countries and all 50 US states. His second novel, Fingerless Gloves, is a story centering on the fragility of friendship and the ways we come to terms with ourselves and our past failures. In August 2012, it won Apostrophe Book’s Fiction Fast-Track new writing competition.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter

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When did you know you wanted to become an author? When did you realise it could actually become a reality?

I knew I wanted to become an author when I got out of college. By that time, I had written long-form film analysis throughout my entire senior year and it felt good to sit down and write a poem. My poems were awful, literally not suited for any type of readership. I lost my first job, and started reading more, and I kept practicing the poems until I got the courage to put them up on a blog. People responded to them and it was such an encouragement. I started writing a short story, that became longer, and longer still … and I guess that’s what a book is. So it had become a reality without me ever expecting it. I didn’t hash this all out, or come in planning to write books. I just wanted to tell this story, about kids like the kids I knew growing up. I ended up having a lot to say I guess.

What kind of readers would enjoy Fingerless Gloves?

I wrote it for readers ages 16-30 … but anyone who has ever grown up throughout the history of growing up would probably enjoy it.

Any tips on overcoming writer’s block?

I always say that the best thing to do when you have writer’s block is to not force anything. Just stop whatever you’re working on at whatever point you’re at with it. Go people-watch or read a classic novel. You need something to get your head back on straight. The best cure is to take a notebook to the food court of the mall and try to write down as many observational things that you can — assign back stories to people, note any interesting things you see, etc.

What is one thing that your readers may be surprised to learn about you?

People would be surprised to know that I played in a Blink-182 cover band. We played exactly one show, and it was so bad, we broke up in the parking lot immediately afterwards.

What could your readers find you doing when you’re not writing?

They can find me in the following places: On the M-train in Manhattan, outside of Jim Hanley’s Universe, on my couch watching Monday Night Raw, in a movie theatre, picking through the racks at Goodwill, in the Laundromat trying to wash my clothes.

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Snacks: sweet or savoury? Savoury. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.

Ocean or lake? Born and raised with the ocean.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird. I’m always the first one awake.

Coffee or tea? Coffee (at least 2-4 cups a day).

Bath or shower? Shower … because it’s quicker … baths leave me feeling like a raisin.

—

Here’s a bit more information about Nick’s latest novel, Fingerless Gloves:

Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless Gloves

Tonight will be the most difficult night in 25-year-old Anton Duchamp’s life.

When his best friend James Squire is mysteriously rushed to hospital, Anton begins a night-long journey that takes him from shady, marijuana-smoke-filled apartments to ex-girlfriends’ bedrooms, and eventually back to his childhood home.

As the night unfolds, so do new revelations about Anton’s recreational drug use and his past failures. And as Friday night drags into Saturday morning, he learns of James’s deteriorating health. In a universe that has seemingly left him without a specific function, it takes a single night for Anton to realize that no one will ever hand him a meaning or a purpose.

Fingerless Gloves by Nick Orsini, which won Apostrophe Book’s Fiction Fast-Track prize for new writing, is a story about best friends and the mistakes we never knew we were making. It is a story about remembering – by any means necessary.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | iBookstore

As usual, I’m more than happy to host fellow writers for interviews on my blog every Wednesday, so if you would like to feature, just let me know!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Book Review: BLACK JASMINE by Toby Neal

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Black Jasmine is the 3rd book in Toby Neal’s Lei Crime Series, and I had the good fortune of being approached by the author for a review. Now, I loved the first two books, Blood Orchids and Torch Ginger (click on the titles for my reviews), so I was looking forward to book 3.

Black Jasmine by Toby Neal

Black Jasmine

The island of Maui is turquoise ocean, stunning vistas, and whalesong — but organized crime has a hidden hold, and Detective Lei Texeira tracks evil that hides behind a beautiful face.

Lei and Stevens find a haven on Maui — until their new life as a couple is interrupted by murder. When a nameless teenage girl dies in an apparent vehicular suicide, Lei can’t rest until she finds out what really happened. She blazes through all the wealth and poverty of island society in her quest for justice, rousing a deadly foe — even as she faces the personal demons of commitment and revenge that threaten the only real love she’s ever known.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review

In Black Jasmine, Ms. Neal weaves yet another mesmerising mystery set in the exotic locales of the Hawaiian isles. This time, the death of a young girl, the victim of an apparent suicide, leads Detective Lei Texeira on a twisted trail through the island of Maui, from its homeless camps, to the fleets of luxurious cruise ships docking regularly on the island, all the way to its glitzy arts scene, as Lei uncovers the details of an elaborate and cruel organised crime operation.

Once more, Lei’s investigations take the reader on a relentless thrill ride, with clever plot twists that kept me guessing till the very end, proving yet again that Ms. Neal is a master of the whodunit. The fact that Lei herself becomes a target for a professional hit drives the stakes closer to home, and while it does ramp up the tension in the story, I found it just a tad unbelievable just how lucky Lei is to survive that many close shaves in such a short space of time. As one of her colleagues said in the book, she must have nine lives!

In terms of Lei’s private life, I was glad to see her back together with the dashing Detective Stevens, but once again their relationship is strained by her unwillingness to commit to marriage, and the tempting call of a promising career in the FBI. I still can’t decide if I agreed with Lei’s final decision, but the open-endedness of the ending makes me think that this love story is far from over.

On another note, I’m glad that Ms. Neal finally resolves the shadows from Lei’s past. I symphathised with Lei in the first two books, but her hang-ups about her past was starting to wear thin by book 3, so I’m happy she appears to have finally faced up to and slayed her childhood demons.

All in all, Black Jasmine is a satisfying continuation of the Lei Crime Novels, and I continue to look forward to what else Ms. Neal has in store for the series.

4½ stars!

½

About the Author

Toby Neal

Toby Neal was raised on Kauai in Hawaii. She wrote and illustrated her first story at age 5 and has been published in magazines and won several writing contests. After initially majoring in Journalism, she eventually settled on mental health as a career and loves her work, saying, “I’m endlessly fascinated with people’s stories.”

She enjoys many outdoor sports including bodyboarding, scuba diving, beach walking, gardening and hiking. She lives in Hawaii with her family and dogs.

Toby credits her counseling background in adding depth to her characters-from the villains to Lei Texeira, the courageous and vulnerable heroine in the Lei Crime Series.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Cover Reveal: PIECES by Michelle Davidson Argyle

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After her lovely post on time management yesterday, Michelle returns today with a cover reveal of her latest contemporary YA novel, Pieces, the sequel to The Breakaway (which, by the way, I loved, as you can read from my review).

Pieces

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he’s out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie — in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.

Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.

Goodreads Link

About the Author

Michelle Davidson Argyle

Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Pieces is scheduled for release on Feb 14th, 2013. A blog tour will run through mid-February to market the release. If you would like to be involved in the tour, you can register your interest at Xpresso Book Tours.

I, for one, am looking forward to this book.

What do YOU think of the cover? Would you be interested in reading this?

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

BONDED Blog Tour: Fiction Writing Management by Michelle Davidson Argyle

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[image error]Writer buddy and all-around lovely Michelle Davidson Argyle is back! This time, she’s here to promote the release of her latest book, Bonded, a collection of three fairy tale-inspired novellas. I was lucky enough to read one of the novellas, Cinders, and can attest to the fact that this will be a collection that will appeal to fans of fairy tales and love stories!

Today, Michelle’s here to talk about something important to all writers: time management.

Fiction Writing Management & How to Manage it Better
by Michelle Davidson Argyle

“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.”

–Rodin

Time management in writing.
(Click for image source)

While I don’t have a set schedule for writing, I do have a good system in place. I believe there’s a difference. I also believe it’s important to realize that one writer’s way of managing their writing time will not work for everyone. But no matter how you write, no matter what works for you, if you use your experiences wisely, you will keep moving forward.

Keeping in mind that I am a certain personality type, I will share what works for me, and give examples of how they might work for you.

SCHEDULING

I have no set schedule for writing. I don’t wake up and allot specific times to specific tasks. I don’t write a to-do list for the day. Instead, I envision my finished product and give myself general goals instead of seemingly huge, insurmountable tasks.

For me, tight-scheduling allows me no freedom to move. If you’ve tried to work with a rigid schedule and it hasn’t worked for you, try backing off a bit. Instead of making the goal and deadline by a specific date, try expanding the timeline instead. Say, if I can reach five chapters in a few weeks, I’ll be doing great! You’d be surprised how giving yourself some wiggle room might free up some tension and release some creative energy.

GOALS

Setting achievable and flexible goals.
(Click for image source)

Goals are wonderful. They can be a great motivation. Without them, we wouldn’t be aiming for anything at all! But goals can also hinder our ability to move forward, if we aren’t careful.

I used to make myself sit down and write a specific amount of words a day, and then beat myself up if I didn’t reach what I’d set for myself. Then I decided not to set word count goals at all. That was bad too. Once I realized I needed to set a word count goal, but that my attitude about it needed to change, a door opened for me. I set the goal to write 2,000 words every two days. That left me some wiggle room. I could write 500 one day, 1,500 the next. I let myself enjoy what I was writing more than focusing on how many words it all was. This simple change allowed me to write two novels (first drafts) in five months, when normally, it takes me about three months to write a first draft for a single novel. I also allow myself Sundays off if I needed a rest. The biggest change of all was that if I didn’t meet my goal, I didn’t worry about it or get angry with myself.

Rigid goals can be intimidating. Often, we start comparing ourselves and our goals (and how quickly we reach them) to others. That’s one of the worst things you can do! Instead, give yourself a break and figure out what works for you. Give yourself breathing room and work at a pace that keeps you passionate, but also relaxed. Being relaxed so you can enjoy what you’re doing is a key element.

Most of all, I’ve found managing your writing time isn’t so much about management, it’s about the right attitude.

I wish you the best in your writing!

About the Author

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Michelle Davidson Argyle

Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

And here’s more information about Michelle’s latest release!

Bonded

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Bonded

What happened after Cinderella married her prince? How did the evil sorceress in Sleeping Beauty turn evil in the first place? Discover these stories and a world filled with magic, forbidden love, elves, sprites, dragons, and the most powerful creatures of all — the fairies — in Bonded, a collection of three fairy tale inspired novellas.

Based on three fairy tales, Bonded contains a fairy tale continuation (Cinderella), a fairy tale retelling (One-Eye, Two-Eyes, Three-Eyes), and a fairy tale prequel (Sleeping Beauty).

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Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

The Next Big Thing? LABYRINTH

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I was tagged in this meme way back when by Toby Neal, but kinda forgot about it until I was tagged again by Carrie Seymour @ Tea for Two. The premise of this blog hop is to talk about your current work-in-progress or upcoming release.

Could mine be the next big thing? I can only dream…

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What is the working title of your book?

As it’s the sequel to Oracle and my second book featuring Detective Kurt Lancer, and in keeping with the Greekish title theme, I’ve decided to call it Labyrinth.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The story is set in the labyrinth of the London Underground (LU) system. I got the idea when I was living in central London and noticed the LU logo in places where there seemed to be no LU (or Tube) stations. So why were they there? I then found out that there are numerous old Tube stations scattered throughout the network that have since been abandoned. There are some great photos and information about these stations on UndergroundHistory.co.uk. I thought it’d be chillingly creepy setting for a murder mystery!

What genre does your book fall under?

Crime mystery / Police procedural.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Meet the characters

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Detective Lancer investigates a modern-day Minotaur stalking victims in the dark, twisting tunnels of the London Underground, revealing a sinister cover-up of a terrible crime.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It will be hopefully published by the same publisher who published Oracle, J. Taylor Publishing.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m still in the planning stages of the manuscript.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’d like to think that the story has the pace of a Boris Starling book, with the grittiness of a Richard Montanari.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

After toying with short stories and fanfiction for a couple of years, Labyrinth was the first novel I’ve ever wanted to write. Its first title was Sound of the Underground, but I changed the title and the characters to fit in with the Detective Lancer series.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

For fans of Oracle, all your favourite characters will be making a return. Will brothers Reggie and Kurt finally make peace? Will Lancer and the lovely Sam Blaize finally get it on? And could Lancer’s long-lost father be making an appearance? You’ll have to wait to find out!

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Now I’m supposed to tag 5 other authors to answer these questions, but to avoid tagging people who don’t wish to be tagged, I’m opening this out to anyone who reads this and is interested in participating. I know it’s a bit of a cop-out, but…

Tag, you’re it!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer