Kate Bloomfield's Blog, page 3

Lone Girl (Book 2: The Wolfling Saga) Cover Reveal!

Lone GirlBook 2: The Wolfling SagaRelease Date: November 1st 2013
Short Synopsis: 
Eighteen year old Rose Goldman is on the run with former teacher Thomas Stone. They are determined to stay together and make their controversial relationship work despite being hunted by the law. However, Rose soon fears that Tom regrets his decision to run with her as he realizes the danger he has put her in.

Cover
Special Offer:
Did you enjoy Book #1 in the Wolfling Saga? Well, I'm offering a select number of readers the exclusive opportunity to read 'Lone Girl' before it's release date. These readers will be called 'Beta-Readers' and will be required to leave feedback on the novel. Want to sign up? 
Email: katebloomfieldauthor [at] hotmail [dot] com

Wolfling #2 - Book Title Reveal

Have you read Alpha Girl (Book 1, The Wolfling Saga?)
The title for the Wolfling Saga's second book is:
*drumroll*
Lone GirlAdd it to your Goodreads to-read list

Keep your eyes peeled for the cover reveal in a few weeks time!

REUTS | Book Publishing Agency

I'm pleased to announce that I have just joined the REUTS Publishing Agency team as Designer/Online Marketer.
Reuts (Pronounced "Roots") is an independent publishing company, and are now accepting manuscript submissions!

Check them out:
www.reuts.com

Wanted: Readers to provide honest reivews in exchange for FREE book

You heard right. I'm offering my Paranormal Romance novel 'Alpha Girl' to readers for FREE in exchange for honest amazon reviews. (You are not obligated to give the novel 5 stars, of course.)
I will say this though: Please do not read this novel if you're not a fan of the genre. This novel contains paranormal aspects, romance, and a controversial relationship between a student and her teacher. This novel does contain some coarse language, and scenes of a sexual nature. If this bothers you then I'd prefer it if you didn't take me up on this free eBook offer.

If you're interested, please email me: katebloomfieldauthor [at] hotmail [dot] com

Interview with Author Mark Carver

 Mark CarverAuthor of Age of Appolyon


Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I'm an American currently living in China with my wife and son (with another baby due next month). I teach English classes at a Chinese university. My interests include art, tattoos, heavy metal, cathedrals, a cold beer, and of course, reading and writing.
Tell us about your writing. What genre(s) do you specialize in?
I've been writing stories of all kinds since I was a little kid, but I've always been drawn to sci-fi, action/adventure, and horror. I like to infuse all the elements that I enjoy reading into my own writing. I'm a sucker for intense dramatic atmosphere and melodrama, and I try to make my writing moody and engrossing. My first book, The Age of Apollyon, came out last fall, and it's the beginning of a trilogy about what could happen after Satan reveals himself to the world. The sequel Black Sun was released just a couple months ago.



Who are your favorite authors?
My primary diet is classics. I rarely pick up a book that is less than one hundred years old, though I do enjoy some modern authors (moreso as I've begun my writing journey). Anything from the Gothic, American Romantic, and Victorian eras suit me just fine, but I also enjoy intense psychological stories, regardless of genre or era. Lord of the Flies by William Golding is my favorite book.

What inspires you to write?
I like writing what I would want to read. I get most of my inspiration from music and movies. I am a very visual writer and I try to replicate what I see in my mind through words. I listen to a lot of bombastic music like death and doom metal, and this helps put me in the mood to write. I love action movies that are explosive and over-the-top, so I seek to combine rip-roaring action with atmospheric creepiness. Of course, when I write in other genres, my inspiration changes as well.

Describe your writing process.
The time of day doesn't matter, but I prefer to be alone, either at home or in my office. However, living in China and raising a toddler has enabled me to function without peace and quiet, so I can pretty much write anywhere and anytime. I usually listen to heavy metal music when I write. I find my best bursts of creativity happen after I've watched a TV program or movie.

Any upcoming projects?
Right now I am putting the finishing touches on my third novel, due out in late spring/early summer. It's called Indelible, and it's a story about a man who designs fantasy weapons. He makes a drastic but seemingly insignificant choice in his life, but it changes everything in a big way. There's nothing supernatural or fantastic, but it's still a pretty intense story about how people perceive themselves and others around them. After I get done with this, I'll just back into the Gothic stuff and write the final book in The Age of Apollyon Trilogy. I have a few more ideas in my head that are just waiting to pop out. I'm pretty good about keeping a steady writing rhythm, so I hope to crank out at least one book a year.

Where can we find you online?

Official website: http://markcarverbooks.blogspot.com

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Carver/e/B008R3AZKC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ageofapollyon

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6152317.Mark_Carver

You can add me as a friend on Facebook too!

Alpha Girl Playlist

Here's a bunch of songs that I feel correspond with each chapter of my novel 'ALPHA GIRL'.
21 chapters in total.
So, listen to this playlist if you're gonna read the book!

Get the book

High School Bullying and Depression - Kate's story

High School Bullying and Depression
Almost everyone experiences bullying at some stage in their life. I was highly unpopular throughout school. In primary school I didn’t have a single friend. At lunch I played the game-boy that my parents bought me because I had no one to sit with. In high school, I made a few close friends, but we were then bullied as a group. I got called some awful names, things I wouldn’t like to repeat. I had apples, plastic bottles, and footballs thrown at my head because I was different.  It even got so bad that some kids in my grade started telling me to kill myself. Horrible, right? “Down the street, not across the road,” they’d tell me. I’ve never cut myself, but because I wore a lot of black they seemed to think I was suicidal. Some students even went as far as to graffiti hate for me on school property. “Kate Bloomfield should do everyone a favour and kill herself,” they wrote on the common-room wall.That’s something that no one should have to experience. I could never say such a thing to anyone, no matter how much I disliked them. My friends went to the headmaster about the graffiti, and do you know what he said? “Deal with it yourself.” So my lovely friends painted over the horrible message before I had a chance to see it.You see, I didn’t conform to standards that were considered normal. Even my teachers bullied me, one even told my father that I deserved the names I was called because of the way I dressed;  band shirts, Doc Marten’s boots, torn jeans, piercings and multi-coloured hair.  I also hung out with many people who identified as homosexuals. Because of this I was also labelled a ‘dyke’.Because of this I fell into a deep depression when I was sixteen, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Mental illness is not something anyone should be ashamed of. It’s a sickness of the mind, and I am still on medication seven years later.So, needless to say that high school was a nightmare for me. I wouldn’t have made it through if it hadn’t been for some wonderful friends. They know who they are. And while I may not be in contact with some of them anymore, they were critical in my survival through school. If there is one thing I know, it’s that my experience has made me a better person. I am not judgemental of others and their life choices. I’m a big supporter of equal-rights, and treating others how I’d like to be treated. I am a stronger person, and my skin is now much thicker because of the things I’ve been through. Unfortunately my story is not uncommon.If there is one thing you should take from this, it’s that things do get better. Honestly. Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary problems. And I can’t stress this enough: If you’re looking for a reason not to harm yourself tonight – this is it.

How to make an awesome book trailer for $50

Book trailers seem to be the 'trendy' thing to do at the moment, with many self-published authors creating their own trailers in Windows Movie Maker. Ever big publishers are doing it. (Of course, they have the budget to hire actors, and artists)
But what if you have a tiny budget? Say, $50 or so?
Well, that was MY budget when creating a trailer for my novel 'Alpha Girl'.

Now, don't get me wrong. There are hundreds of people out there offering to make a book trailer for you, sometimes for as little as $5, but I can guarantee that they will NOT be quality. They will look cheap, and nasty, and often drive potential readers away. I really despise book trailers that use still images. Cheap and unprofessional. (Yes, I am an art-snob)

At the other end of the scale there are people offering to make book trailers for as much as $2000. (Still, I wasn't very impressed with their work.)

Here's what I did:

Search for websites that have FREE or CHEAP stock. Websites such as:
www.vimeo.com (lots of free HD nature stock there!)www.videohive.com (Cheap HD video footage)www.audiojungle.com (for cheap royalty free music)www.partnersinrhyme.com (Royalty free sound effects)
To make my trailer, I used the following stock

Sound effects:
Female Grunt - http://audiojungle.net/item/female-grunts/233610 - $1Wood Snapping - http://audiojungle.net/item/wood-break/3987605 - $1
Stock footage:
Girl in forest #1 - http://videohive.net/item/girl-walking-in-the-forest/3732283 - $5Girl in forest #2 - http://videohive.net/item/girl-looking-ahead-in-the-forest-2/4145520 - $8Full moon - http://videohive.net/item/full-moon/3388507 - $5
 Music
Darkness Falls - http://audiojungle.net/item/darkness-falls/1929850 - $11

Of course, if you decide to download stock such as the cinematic titles, you will need knowledge on how to use Adobe After Effects. Lucky for me, my sister knows a little about it, and she was able to customise the animation. Packages like this also come with tutorials/instructions, so if you're feeling brave, you can try it yourself.
If you are unable to do this, Windows Movie Maker will have to suffice.

If you want to hire my sister to help; hayleybloom05 [at] hotmail [dot] com


Check out the finished product:

Alpha Girl (Paranormal Romance) Book Trailer

Help fund the movie: http://igg.me/at/alphagirl/x/1852973
Ebook: http://amzn.com/B00C1JULJI
Paperback: http://www.lulu.com/shop/kate-bloomfield/alpha-girl-wolfling-1/paperback/product-20947566.html

Seventeen year old Rose Goldman is highly unpopular in the little town of Halfway. Ever since the 'attack' when she was a  girl, people and animals have been afraid of her.  However, life takes a turn when a new teacher starts at Halfway High. Mr. Stone, the quirky and charismatic English teacher is twice Rose's age, but she feels an unexplainable pull towards him from day one. Despite her better judgement, Rose pursues a friendship with Mr. Stone, who seems unable to stay away from her. What is pulling this unlikely pair together?

Official Website: www.bloomfieldkate.com

Alpha Girl (New Paranormal Romance) OUT NOW

OUT NOW!
Blurb: 
Seventeen year old Rose Goldman is highly unpopular in the little town of Halfway. Ever since the 'attack' when she was a little girl, people and animals have been afraid of her. She gets bullied in school, and called 'wet dog' because of the way she smells, despite being extremely hygienic. However, life takes a turn when a new teacher starts at Halfway High. Mr. Stone, the quirky and charismatic English teacher is twice Rose's age, but she feels an unexplainable pull towards him from day one. Despite her better judgement, Rose pursues a friendship with Mr. Stone, who seems unable to stay away from her. What is pulling this unlikely pair together?

Buy it:
Amazon $2.99 GET IT HERE

Smashwords $2.99 (Digital Download) HERE
Paperback $12.99  HERE
Amazon, B&N, etc links coming soon.