Amber Lynn Natusch's Blog, page 17
April 10, 2012
Framed Teaser #4…
The fourth and final FRAMED teaser. Only TWO weeks to go before it releases. I hope you all are as excited as I am 
Against every fiber of my being, I shut my mouth and got in my car. I followed him north and out of the city, then wove through traffic on the highway at break-neck speed. Even with my heavily leaded foot, I was having a hard time keeping up.
Sean never drove crazily. I knew whatever I was headed toward was something I would rather be running from.
Intuition could be such a bitch.
Filed under: Writing process
April 9, 2012
A Day in the Life…
I thought it might be interesting to write a post about what it's like to be me most days. No, I didn't decide to do this because I'm an egomaniac and I thought you were all sitting around DYING to know what kind of toothpaste I brush with so YOU could brush with it too, or what kind of car I drive to work because YOU want to drive that car as well. Not even close. What i DID want to illustrate with this post is what it can be like for an unknown Indie author, and more specifically, THIS unknown Indie author.
Here goes nothing…
1) Wake up in the morning, sometimes at ridiculous hours, and desperately try to remember the shenanigans you saw in your dreams. Fail miserably.
2) Go about your mundane pre-work preparations with loud voices in your head telling you what the next scene should be. Try to find a pen and paper to jot down a note or two. Fail miserably.
3) While making breakfast randomly come across something to make notes on. Scribble down as much as you can of what you remember. Turn around to flip eggs then return to find your notes smeared in some gooey, fruity, sticky mess, courtesy of your two-year-old who looks more than pleased with himself at his designs (little does he know he's potentially endangering his college fund in the process).
4) Go to the office and actually try to keep your mind on all things related to THAT job, and not your "other" one. Fail miserably.
5) Come home for lunch. Spend five minute preparing food and the following hour facebooking, tweeting, blogging, responding to emails and various other things before even opening the document you should be editing. Once the file is opened, stare blankly at it, too tired to actually type anything. Close laptop. Go back to work.
6) At the most inappropriate time possible, have an epiphany about a novel far off in the distance. Immediately text/IM/FB stalk any member of the "team" available to share said epiphany with, then realize that they too have jobs and probably can't spend their afternoons entertaining your fictional ramblings. Bang head against wall.
7) Come home from work and immediately lock yourself in the bathroom with your laptop because you might have to "be in there for a while." Sit on whatever surface you can find that's at all comfortable and bang out two or three pages of text before someone inevitably calls your bluff and demands that you exit. Sigh loudly and begrudgingly comply.
8) Make dinner while typing notes in between fits of stirring, chopping and mixing. Get keys sticky because there's no time to waste. Sticky progress is still progress.
9) Wrestle the two-year-old into bed while characters taunt you, critiquing your technique and mocking your inability to corral a small child. Curse under your breath and promise them a world of hurt when you can finally get to a computer.
10) After eating dinner, changing into your comfy clothes, and relaxing for ten minutes, realize that you have absolutely no brain power left to actually write ANYTHING. Die a little inside, then make yourself a stiff drink because contrary to popular belief, alcohol does really solve most problems
It makes being an Indie author look sexy, right? Not really. What it does illustrate is the level of commitment that I (and most likely all of my colleagues), have for our stories, our characters, our craft, and our fans. When I wake up at three a.m. tomorrow, I'll have to read this to remind myself of that fact
Filed under: Writing process
March 31, 2012
Official 5-Star Review from rabidreads.ca
Thanks to Carmel at www.rabidreads.ca for such an AMAZING review of Caged. It made me smile from ear to ear.
Carmel says:
This book starts off slowly but by the end it absolutely howls with excellence! Caged is very much plot driven and when paired with Ruby's outstanding voice this story quickly becomes next to impossible to put down. Natusch's descriptions are spellbinding without putting even the smallest damper on the endless action. This novel is hilariously funny, well edited and even introduces a new breed of werewolves. Talk about bang for your buck! Caged has many pros and very little cons; what's even more surprising is that this is Amber's indie debut.
The story starts off rather slow and I found myself re-reading the blurb to figure out if I accidentally agreed to review a *gasps* non-paranormal book. However, once the story started to reveal itself I quickly realized that the beginning wasn't slow at all. Amber was actually putting the building blocks in place for a killer story. Knowing what I know now, the opening chapters of this tale make a whole lot more sense. The plot line comes full circle beautifully and no stone is left unturned. I loved watching everything come together seamlessly. You definitely have to stick this one out until the end in order to be able to fully appreciate the depth of this story.
Ruby's voice is very compelling from the get-go and becomes even more so as the book progresses. I found her way of dealing with the new found truth that is her life very realistic. I also thoroughly enjoyed the sarcastic way in which she keeps "score" when faced with challenging situations. One of my favorite parts of this story happens when Ruby escapes from the compound and is confronted by her foes in a clearing. She adopts a fierce attitude of "I might be going down but I am going to take as many of you with me as possible".
At first, the bad guys are cleverly disguised as allies and I found this approach both original and intriguing. I can usually pick out the enemies pretty early on in a book so I really enjoyed the fact that Amber challenges her readers with her out of the box way of thinking. I couldn't figure out whom to trust which made the book even more addictive because I didn't want to stop reading! The mystery surrounding Sean was a lot of fun to unravel as well. He's definitely not who he appears to be and the cliff hanger ending only further adds to the enigma.
Caged is a Trojan horse in disguise; it might be an indie publication but rest assured, you're in for a wild ride. With a riveting narrative and a story line that just doesn't quit; this book is a must read for any and all paranormal fiction junkies.
5-stars!!!
Filed under: Characters, Novels, Writing process Tagged: 5-star review, CAGED, Caged Series, Rabid Reads
March 30, 2012
Framed Teaser #3
Here's a scene with Ruby and Sean…enjoy!
He took my elbow in his hand from behind and jerked me into the opening of the nearest alley. My back was pressed uncomfortably against the brick facade only moments before he crammed his face in mine.
"I know you are, Ruby, but there is much at stake and you need to put on those big girl panties that you love to talk about so much and deal—deal with it, deal with life, and deal with me. I know you're hurting. You think I like that? I don't, but if hurting you keeps you alive, I'll do it time and time again. You can hate me for that all you want; I'm tired of apologizing for the decisions I have to make, the job I have to do, and the past I can't escape. You're not the only one with problems, nor are you the only one less than pleased with the hand you've been dealt."
He spoke low and in my ear, and the sound lulled me slightly, even though his message was jarring. When he pulled back to stare me down, I felt sleepy and unstable, like the feeling you have when you jump off the table too quickly following a long massage. It took me a moment to sober up.
I looked up at his face and saw his eyes had darkened as they always did when his emotions intensified, good or bad. I wanted to say something clever to get the last jab in, but I decided against it, thinking my anti-response would be far more poignant.
I walked away instead.
Filed under: Characters, Novels, Writing process Tagged: Caged Series, Framed, paranormal romance, Ruby, Sean, urban fantasy novel
March 28, 2012
Top 10 Heroine Stereotypes…
So I saw an amazing post from another Indie author regarding what makes a male lead sexy. It was tongue in cheek and fabulous…and it inspired me to want to do my own take on this idea with female lead cliches. Thanks, Dannika Dark, for the inspiration!
1) The Only-Human-Chick-in-the-Crazy-Ass-World-of-Supernatural Heroine:
Queen of the inside scoop, this leading lady is the only one in creation who gets to be let in on all the finer points about things that go "bump" in the night. Often smart, but unpopular, this brainy loner easily accepts her newfound reality, if for no other reason than to escape her old one. She's driven primarily by external forces, exercising her own will as little as possible, especially if it puts her in mortal danger. Why do we love her still? She gets the hotties, plain and simple. And secretly, we kinda want to be her, too (don't lie, you know you do).
2) The Clueless Wonder/Damsel in Distress Protagonist:
Now, before I start, I should explain that I have an inexplicable soft spot for these girls. Their "wandering into chaos" M.O. just does it for me even though it should annoy the piss out of me. The Clueless Wonder is the master of never knowing what's going on, even if it's blatantly apparent (like the building is on fire and she can't quite figure out why everyone is running out of it), which then leads to her other namesake: Damsel in Distress. She's completely incapable of lifting a finger to save her own ass, but, luckily for her, someone is always willing to do the job for her.
Maybe I'm just a sucker for being rescued. By a hot guy. With great abs. And tousled hair. Who's undoubtedly well endowed…
3) The Badass Without a Cause Heroine:
Probably my least favorite of all the heroine species, she's dangerous, but not in a good way. She's got all the right credentials: immortal/hard to kill, super strength, shady colleagues, looks killer in leather, and is always packing something illegal in her waistband. The problem arises when her lack of judgment leads to more problems than solutions. Throw shotguns and hand grenades into that equation and the death toll rises quickly. If she were capable of packing as much brain power as she did ammo, she'd truly be a force to be reckoned with.
4) The Help Me, But Don't Help Me Heroine:
She's the Fickle Fanny of the bunch who just can't seem to decide if she wants to bear her burden alone or not. She's a glory hog who can't acknowledge her team of minions (think Martha Stewart), who helped her get to the end of the journey. It's ALWAYS about her. This character tends to make me insane because everything has to be on her terms. She has an undying need to appear self-sufficient, but clearly lacks the tools to be. She wants/needs the assistance of those more knowledgeable than her…right up until she doesn't.
Generally, this is the protagonist that I find myself wanting to punch in the face the most, but…when she gives into her moments of breakdown/weakness, I find myself begrudgingly cheering her on. Until I want to slap her again.
5) The Bed Hopping Heroine:
Really…this one shouldn't require a whole lot of explanation. She's the character that EVERYONE wants to sleep with, including, but not limited to: hot vampires, rugged werewolves, dark mages, sketchy sorcerers, questionable fae. your mailman, the creepy guy you always see at the coffee shop, and your Uncle Franklin. ALL of them want to sleep with her because she's apparently the only woman in the world–and lucky for them, she's more than happy to oblige. Don't get me wrong, there's always a reason involved as to why she needs to have sex with various sinister immortals. In fact, the world's very existence may well be dependent on her ability to so. We should really send her a fruit basket to thank her.
Maybe a candygram?
6) The Too-Torn-to-Function Heroine:
This girl (and yes, I mean girl), is the one who would get hit by a train as she straddled the track, trying to figure out which amazingly hot guy flanking her she should pick. Her indecisiveness is all but paralyzing. What I really want to point out to her (being older and far more wise), is that she can't make a wrong choice. Both boys are always stunningly beautiful, madly in love with her, AND willing to die for her. Where's the problem here? I'm happy if my guy is willing to unclog the toilet for me.
7) The Cannon Fodder Protagonist:
Unlike her cousin, The Clueless Wonder, Cannon Fodder takes a slightly different path. Where CW seems to just happen upon chaos (and by happen, I mean land right in the middle of it), CF seems to genuinely try to NOT be what she is. She often thinks she's doing everything right, only to find out that she's once again tightened the noose around her own neck. I happen to really enjoy CF because her intentions are generally good or helpful, and she (usually) learns from her near death experiences. The poor girl just can't catch a break.
8) The Dances With the Dark Protagonist:
Girl gone wild in all the wrong ways. She's the one that you find yourself yelling out loud at in public places while you read because her "Warning: This man is likely to eat you" alarm is clearly broken. She frolics in ominous alleys, willingly sleeps in creepy basements, and frequents nefarious establishments. Why? Because she's thinking with her heart (or not thinking at all). She always falls for the baddest boy, or demon, in town. The nice thing about D with the D is that she's redeemable, though it's usually a 50/50 split on that outcome. I'll give her one thing…she always keeps it interesting.
9 )The Mercenary:
There's nothing heroine or protagonist about her. She's an unbalanced cocktail of psychosis, rage, and vengeance, packaged up into one undoubtedly hot supernatural ticket. She knows no rules but her own, and we all adore her for it. Willing to win at any cost, she mows down her adversaries without even breaking a sweat. Bad guys and good guys alike need to beware. If you see the Mercenary coming, do yourself a favor and run.
10) The Girl I Wish I Was Heroine:
The perfect blend of flawed and fabulous, this leading lady knows how to milk emotion out of a reader, good or bad. She's by far the most relatable character going, and one of the most interesting to watch grow over a novel or series. Believable, but fallible, she's the perfect blend of all the other heroines.
The boys all love her, but don't want to do dirty things to her like the Bed Hopper. She has moments of Clueless Wonder behavior, but tends to pull it together when the chips are down. Though equipped with an inner Badass in one way or another, she's far too aware of her shortcomings and wouldn't dream of wandering the streets with a sawed off, looking for trouble. She'd probably shoot herself in the leg anyways.
She knows that she can't always go it alone, even if she dreams that she can, and though the sea of men that often surround her cause a temporary dilemma, she always manages to pick a team and stick to it. Unlike D with the D, if her libido drives her to flirt with the dark side, her inner wisdom shines through…eventually. CF is probably her greatest tendency, which usually reads as more endearing than annoying. As for her inner mercenary… I think if you push ANY woman far enough, you'll see that crazy bitch pop out. And you don't want none of that
No matter your favorite, these ladies bring a certain charm and entertainment to the page that keep us all wanting more. I look forward to a day when my schedule is far more balanced, allowing me to reacquaint myself with the heroines that made me love the genre to start with.
Filed under: Characters, Random, Writing process Tagged: female supernatural characters, novel protagonists
March 19, 2012
Framed Teaser #2…
I shot up, fighting my tangled mess of bedding as if it were the enemy – the shrill sound of my cries still echoing in the darkness. My clothes were drenched in sweat. As my lungs begged for air, my heart threatened to escape my chest, pounding violently against it.
The dream had seemed so real.
Cooper crashed into the room, startled but prepared for a fight.
"What is it?" he shouted, eyes wild. "What's wrong?"
Disengaging from the comforter, I stood shakily as I struggled to speak without any oxygen to spare. My dire expression pleaded for help, though the words were absent. He, in return, silently eyed my unraveling state before scenting the room. His growl erupted low and threatening, and initially I thought it was the source of the breeze I felt sweep across my body, causing me to shudder.
The tiny dance of the curtain at my bay window told me I was wrong.
The sash stood slightly ajar – it had been closed when I went to sleep. My chest tightened further as my fear compressed it, and I gasped for air while two barely audible words escaped my lips.
"He's coming."
Filed under: Writing process
March 14, 2012
New Partner In Crime…
Most of you know that I'm a wicked type-A and insist upon doing far too many big things at once. So it shouldn't come as a surprise when I mention that on top of writing two series concurrently, I decided to co-write one with a fan/now friend, Shannon Morton.
To introduce her to my fans (and get her used to writing blogs), I asked her to do a guest blog about her writing experience thus far. She's far too modest to mention that she's been writing for years, and has been encouraged to do so by friends and professionals alike. After nagging her to send me an unfinished work, she begrudgingly forwarded me a chapter or two of a young adult novel she started years ago.
I loved it. I needed to know the story immediately. Unfortunately for me, there wasn't one…but there is now
Here's Shannon to tell you more about her adventures in writing, creating, and working with a drill sergeant author…
(Shannon Morton)
Let me preface this with a small disclaimer: I'm not a blogger.
I am however, a huge fan of CAGED and Amber Lynn Natusch, which is how our crazy co-writing adventure began. The first time that Amber said something about the possibility of writing a series together, I thought she was crazy. I blinked, and we were brainstorming the prologue for Tempted by Evil.
The writing process is more fun than I could have ever imagined. Sleep deprivation, binge drinking, pill popping… Just kidding. My favorite moments usually come when Amber and I are having an instant messaging conversation and the letters OMG appear several times in succession. It means that some kind of breakthrough idea that has the power to alter the story completely is about to come my way and I'd better get my notebook ready…OR Amber finally bought a Kindle.
Our phone conversations are just as productive, chatting for hours about the characters (I can't wait for you to meet Aspen!), the setting (New England is lovely…), the plot (not a chance!), music, books, interesting high school experiences, and anything else that may or may not be relevant to the story.
Thank goodness for free long-distance.
But it's not all superfabulous. There was a time I wanted to quit writing during this process. Yep, already. I'm not a quitter and not even typically a whiner. I'm just a very detail oriented girl, and I was feeling overwhelmed by all the minutia involved in making the story unfold brilliantly. It lasted about 5 seconds before Amber laid the verbal smackdown. Needless to say, there will be no quitting. Besides, I couldn't now if I wanted to…this story MUST be told.
So I'm now that girl. You know, the one who carries her notebook everywhere she goes in case some nutty and/or possibly genius scene pops into my head and becomes more important than say, listening to an actual conversation. The one who comes to dinner with her family, laptop actually attached to her lap as if the name was meant to be taken literally. The one listening to music I haven't heard since high school because it creates the right environment for me to develop a character (and simultaneously gives me an excuse to dance around my living room).
Seriously, I am having WAY too much fun.
Thanks to Amber and the CAGED fans for allowing me to pop in and chat about the surreal experience of writing a book with an author whose work I adore. Hopefully, this crazy redhead will be welcomed back for another blog to keep you posted on the status of Tempted by Evil…
Filed under: Writing process
Free Copy of FRAMED!!!
To enter this contest, all you need to do is email me with/ post your favorite quote from either book (if it's offensive language, or content that spoils storyline, please email it). That's it — you're entered! The winner will be chosen the week before the book debuts, and will receive their copy on April 24th.
amber@amberlynnnatusch.com
Can't wait to read these…
Filed under: Writing process
March 12, 2012
10,000 COPIES!!!
It's true.
In less than three months, the Caged Series has sold over 10,000 copies overall. I'd love to say something really deep and profound, but all I keep thinking is HOLY S#&% — who would have ever believed that would happen?
To my team: you guys are the best!
To my fans: you guys kick a@#
To my critics: well…looks like I'll be around a little longer than you thought
To my fans-to-be: can't wait for you to meet Ruby and the gang…
Filed under: Writing process
