M.S. Watson's Blog, page 4
November 1, 2014
My Top 3 iOS 6 Writing Apps - A NaNoWriMo Special
With the recent release of the new iOS 7 update for Apple devices, I was outraged when I discovered that the list I had acquired online of varying iOS apps for NaNoWriMo preparation were mostly only available to those with iPod Touch Generation 5 or higher. I - a happy user of an iPod Touch Generation 4 - am completely horrified by the lack of accessibility to apps that are exclusive to iOS 7.
Not only does this annoy me for the simple fact that we're limited to certain, lesser-quality apps and iPod interface, but this will majorly effect the productivity of many writers this NaNoWriMo - myself included.
Sure, I have an Android phone that I could use to track down all of the latest Android writer's apps, but seriously? Come on! This is the 21st Century and I do not want to have to be limited by the devices I use simply because some hot-shot company wishes to get a bit more money. If there is no iOS 7 developed soon for iPod 4th Gen, I refuse to pay out hundreds of dollars just to have it no longer supported 4 years down the track!
Anyway, for the sake of anyone who feels anywhere near the amount of anger I feel toward Apple right now, here are the top 3 apps I have found that are free to use and useful for the purpose of NaNoWriMo 2014 (plus another time-keeping app). These - I hope - should be useful for anyone that has the issue of having an Apple device that will only support iOS 6 apps.
1. Story Start.
With the choice of 3 galleries of images to visually inspire your novels, this app is for those who find it difficult to decide on story ideas and enhance their writing through visual cues. In addition, you have an ability to discuss with others, comment on the images and share your stories. It's perfect for visual writers! And the best part is that it is free!
2. Name Dice.Name Dice is the perfect app for anyone who finds it difficult to name characters - or needs a random name on the go without having to track down a baby name book or website. While Name Dice provides a simple interface - how can it get any easier than two dice and a simple tap of the screen? - Name Dice is a free sister app to Story Dice. Personally, I haven't bought Story Dice so I don't know what it's like. Yet if Name Dice and its great-quality name pickings are to go by, I would be willing to spare some expense in the fortnightly budget to give it a try. Name Dice is my go-to place now during the planning and development of new books.
3. My Writing.My Writing is the go-to app for writing down all the places where your writing is available online. Being a self-published author, I find myself constantly losing track of everywhere that my books are available, but this app erases the need to destroy my brain trying to remember. Similar to Name Dice, My Writing has a very simple interface that includes three buttons: About (represented as ?), Add (represented as +) & Other (represented as *), My Writing is easy to use. About describes the app's usage while Add simply requires the name of your work and the link where it is available. The Other represented by an asterisk is a handy option to 'mass link' all the areas where your work is available from. Then simply select the work once saved onto the app and the in-app browser will open and you can visit the links without having to switch to a browser! This may not be as helpful in terms of NaNoWriMo, but the idea I've been using this app for is to compile all of my favourite inspirational links and writing articles in place of my writing links. Therefore I will be able to read all of my favourite articles and links on writing in one place!
Bonus App: WunderlistAs far as I am aware, Wunderlist hails from German origins and is a to-do list planner. Not only is it great to keep on top of those pesky things that slip your mind, it is great to set times for writing and to keep on track with your NaNoWriMo quest. It's also great for studying! I pretty much live on this app day to day; it not only is great with its alarms and push reminders, but its facebook sign up means that I am able to use my Wunderlist reminders across my iPod touch, my mobile phone which runs Android and any other device that I download the app onto. This is the kind of app that everyone needs - especially those like me who have the most horrible memories and live on their iPods like there's no tomorrow!
There. I hope that these apps are useful for anyone who reads this. All four apps are available on iOS 7 devices, too, but they are all available on iOS 6 for anyone who refuses to spend hundreds on a newer version of their Apple devices. I've only ever bought two Apple devices - an iPod Nano 1st Generation and my current iPod Touch 4th Generation - and I refuse to buy another for the sake of 'newness'. I believe in using things until they no longer work and are unable to be fixed - and even then it is unwillingly! I still have my iPod Nano sitting in my room, in perfect condition aside from some minor scratches across the surface after I stupidly allowed a primary school girl to listen to it on the bus home from school three years ago. Never again.On another note: NaNoWriMo 2014 has officially begun! For anyone who wants to join in on the quest to achieve 50,000+ words in 30 days, sign up at www.nanowrimo.org. For those who already have and would like to buddy me up, click on this link. For fans of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy, you can also learn a little bit more about the final book on that link as I will be writing Tempest - the final book of the trilogy - as my NaNoWriMo novel.
How many words do you need to write each day?1,667. That's the magic number my friends.1,667 isn't that many when you write on a regular basis but it can be rather daunting. I would suggest that for those with an extra however much in their pockets, consider purchasing Scrivener (or wait until you win NaNoWriMo to make the most of their winner's offer). They offer for NaNoWriMo participants a free trial of their writing software that conveniently lasts long enough for you to complete your novel, verify your word count and win NaNoWriMo - then offer for you to buy it under a special, winners-only price. I did that last year and I loved the software. It's available for Windows and Mac and is honestly worth the money! Plus, it's perfect for keeping to your word count goals with their easy to use word counter that changes colour as you work toward your goal.
With this in mind, I wish everyone a happy NaNoWriMo 2014 and will hopefully see you all at the finish line, flashing the words 'NaNoWriMo Winner 2014!'
Not only does this annoy me for the simple fact that we're limited to certain, lesser-quality apps and iPod interface, but this will majorly effect the productivity of many writers this NaNoWriMo - myself included.
Sure, I have an Android phone that I could use to track down all of the latest Android writer's apps, but seriously? Come on! This is the 21st Century and I do not want to have to be limited by the devices I use simply because some hot-shot company wishes to get a bit more money. If there is no iOS 7 developed soon for iPod 4th Gen, I refuse to pay out hundreds of dollars just to have it no longer supported 4 years down the track!
Anyway, for the sake of anyone who feels anywhere near the amount of anger I feel toward Apple right now, here are the top 3 apps I have found that are free to use and useful for the purpose of NaNoWriMo 2014 (plus another time-keeping app). These - I hope - should be useful for anyone that has the issue of having an Apple device that will only support iOS 6 apps.
1. Story Start.
With the choice of 3 galleries of images to visually inspire your novels, this app is for those who find it difficult to decide on story ideas and enhance their writing through visual cues. In addition, you have an ability to discuss with others, comment on the images and share your stories. It's perfect for visual writers! And the best part is that it is free!
2. Name Dice.Name Dice is the perfect app for anyone who finds it difficult to name characters - or needs a random name on the go without having to track down a baby name book or website. While Name Dice provides a simple interface - how can it get any easier than two dice and a simple tap of the screen? - Name Dice is a free sister app to Story Dice. Personally, I haven't bought Story Dice so I don't know what it's like. Yet if Name Dice and its great-quality name pickings are to go by, I would be willing to spare some expense in the fortnightly budget to give it a try. Name Dice is my go-to place now during the planning and development of new books.
3. My Writing.My Writing is the go-to app for writing down all the places where your writing is available online. Being a self-published author, I find myself constantly losing track of everywhere that my books are available, but this app erases the need to destroy my brain trying to remember. Similar to Name Dice, My Writing has a very simple interface that includes three buttons: About (represented as ?), Add (represented as +) & Other (represented as *), My Writing is easy to use. About describes the app's usage while Add simply requires the name of your work and the link where it is available. The Other represented by an asterisk is a handy option to 'mass link' all the areas where your work is available from. Then simply select the work once saved onto the app and the in-app browser will open and you can visit the links without having to switch to a browser! This may not be as helpful in terms of NaNoWriMo, but the idea I've been using this app for is to compile all of my favourite inspirational links and writing articles in place of my writing links. Therefore I will be able to read all of my favourite articles and links on writing in one place!
Bonus App: WunderlistAs far as I am aware, Wunderlist hails from German origins and is a to-do list planner. Not only is it great to keep on top of those pesky things that slip your mind, it is great to set times for writing and to keep on track with your NaNoWriMo quest. It's also great for studying! I pretty much live on this app day to day; it not only is great with its alarms and push reminders, but its facebook sign up means that I am able to use my Wunderlist reminders across my iPod touch, my mobile phone which runs Android and any other device that I download the app onto. This is the kind of app that everyone needs - especially those like me who have the most horrible memories and live on their iPods like there's no tomorrow!
There. I hope that these apps are useful for anyone who reads this. All four apps are available on iOS 7 devices, too, but they are all available on iOS 6 for anyone who refuses to spend hundreds on a newer version of their Apple devices. I've only ever bought two Apple devices - an iPod Nano 1st Generation and my current iPod Touch 4th Generation - and I refuse to buy another for the sake of 'newness'. I believe in using things until they no longer work and are unable to be fixed - and even then it is unwillingly! I still have my iPod Nano sitting in my room, in perfect condition aside from some minor scratches across the surface after I stupidly allowed a primary school girl to listen to it on the bus home from school three years ago. Never again.On another note: NaNoWriMo 2014 has officially begun! For anyone who wants to join in on the quest to achieve 50,000+ words in 30 days, sign up at www.nanowrimo.org. For those who already have and would like to buddy me up, click on this link. For fans of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy, you can also learn a little bit more about the final book on that link as I will be writing Tempest - the final book of the trilogy - as my NaNoWriMo novel.
How many words do you need to write each day?1,667. That's the magic number my friends.1,667 isn't that many when you write on a regular basis but it can be rather daunting. I would suggest that for those with an extra however much in their pockets, consider purchasing Scrivener (or wait until you win NaNoWriMo to make the most of their winner's offer). They offer for NaNoWriMo participants a free trial of their writing software that conveniently lasts long enough for you to complete your novel, verify your word count and win NaNoWriMo - then offer for you to buy it under a special, winners-only price. I did that last year and I loved the software. It's available for Windows and Mac and is honestly worth the money! Plus, it's perfect for keeping to your word count goals with their easy to use word counter that changes colour as you work toward your goal.
With this in mind, I wish everyone a happy NaNoWriMo 2014 and will hopefully see you all at the finish line, flashing the words 'NaNoWriMo Winner 2014!'
October 30, 2014
Free eBook, Skipping Newsletter & Computer Troubles
BLARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!I am now contemplating dressing up as Shrek gone insane for Halloween because of my dang laptop! It is seriously less than 9 months old and working slower than my previous one (which has since pffted itself!) I am going to be taking the warranty with me and have a joyous little visit back to the store where I got it to see if they can help me out.
This. Is. So. Frustrating.
I am currently working through the technical difficulties but there may be some delays with some editing I'm currently putting Frost through before its release tomorrow. I am still excited but this difficulty means that it won't be near what I wanted it to be.
AND!
This also means that due to technical difficulties I won't be able to write the newsletter containing the free code that enables anyone on my newsletter to receive the book for free. Therefore, I am posting it below:
HELLO! FREE FROST EBOOK!The code is: LN29G
In order to redeem this code, head to this link. I haven't actually tried using the code on the premium distributors so I don't know if it'll work in places such as iBookstore and Barnes & Noble, etc, but it does work on Smashwords and you'll have until November 1 to download it for free. Just include the code during the purchase and you will be able to download it for free on almost any device, including the iBooks app, Kindle, Sony devices, laptops, online viewing, PDF, etc. Happy reading! I hope that you will read, rate and review my work in exchange for this. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks about it!
Wish me luck, though, and I will do my utmost in order to provide the best quality book I can under the circumstances I currently face.
This. Is. So. Frustrating.
I am currently working through the technical difficulties but there may be some delays with some editing I'm currently putting Frost through before its release tomorrow. I am still excited but this difficulty means that it won't be near what I wanted it to be.
AND!
This also means that due to technical difficulties I won't be able to write the newsletter containing the free code that enables anyone on my newsletter to receive the book for free. Therefore, I am posting it below:
HELLO! FREE FROST EBOOK!The code is: LN29G
In order to redeem this code, head to this link. I haven't actually tried using the code on the premium distributors so I don't know if it'll work in places such as iBookstore and Barnes & Noble, etc, but it does work on Smashwords and you'll have until November 1 to download it for free. Just include the code during the purchase and you will be able to download it for free on almost any device, including the iBooks app, Kindle, Sony devices, laptops, online viewing, PDF, etc. Happy reading! I hope that you will read, rate and review my work in exchange for this. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks about it!
Wish me luck, though, and I will do my utmost in order to provide the best quality book I can under the circumstances I currently face.
October 28, 2014
A HUGE Update, Freebies & More!
Woah, I wrote a list of things I've been wanting to talk about today and it's huge! Well, today-tonight. It's currently 12:06 AM and I'm currently going sleep deprived for the sake of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy. Hehe!
Okay. So, first thing's first:
2 More Days!
I feel like a little kid at Christmas time right about now. I am so unbelievably excited to announce the release of Frost. I've already got a number of pre-orders which I must say is a great feeling! Ooh, I just want to jump off the walls and all around the house, even though it's just past midnight! I cannot wait to have it out for you all to read. And don't forget to mark December 15 down in your diaries! December 15 is a very special day - it may be a pre-order day or it may be a release day. Who knows? Wink, wink.
Price change for Glass Bones Paperback!
For anyone who has been wanting to purchase the paperback version of Glass Bones but was scared away by the price tag will now be rejoicing as I have dropped the sale price as low as Lulu.com will let me! $20 AUD (approx. $17.68 USD) is how much it will set you back but I have a pile of copies here and I must say the quality is spot-on. It's completely worth it in my opinion - but then again, I'm entitled to being biased seeing as I'm the author and all.
I provide for you the direct linkage: here.
Ice paperback coming soon!
Currently I am working on the paperback version of Ice and I cannot wait to see it out! It will be available for approximately $10-20 AUD depending on material costs that I have yet to determine but as soon as that becomes available I will be posting it up on here for you all. So watch this space for more information as it becomes available! Depending on how finances run in the New Year I may even run a Goodreads giveaway for Ice in paperback.
Downloads in the tens of thousands!
I am in a complete and utter state of shock at the response to Ice this year. I do believe that even though the number of downloads listed in my sales report is a combined total of all my published books, I believe most is due to Ice. Glass Bones was released in December 2013, and while it has received a fair number of downloads, the total for 2013 stood at 8 and after a month of posting Glass Bones for free as a Christmas special, I received just over 100 downloads. In comparison Ice was released in May, 2014 and in a collective total I have had 11,379 downloads from iBookstore, 3 from Baker & Taylor Blio, 3 from Kobo, 8 from Page Foundry, 4 from Sony and 378 from Barnes and Noble Online. That makes a grand total of a whopping 11,775 downloads since May 2014! These are only the amount of downloads from Smashwords premium distributors and doesn't include the 1000+ that Ice has received on Smashwords itself since the date of release, 150 for Glass Bones and 6 pre-orders and/or sample downloads of Frost since the pre-order was made available just a few days ago! Oh. My. God. I think I will faint if this continues! I hope so!! (That it continues, I mean. Not the fainting part so much ...)
A new trailer for Tempest!
Over the past few days I've been sitting here, writing away and thought to myself, 'I wonder if I have a trailer for Tempest yet?' I thought I did but apparently not! So not much more than 24 hours ago I sat down at my computer, signed into Animoto and created the official trailer for Tempest. I LOVE it, but not as much as the new trailers I made for the Clarity duology - and those are exclusive content for my newsletter subscribers before anyone on my blogs, website, twitter, facebook or even my family or friends catch sight of it! So for anyone who wants to see this new Clarity trailer ASAP, join the mail list at the right-hand side of my blog. For now though, enjoy the official trailer for Tempest, 15.12.14.
Now for my final and most favourite part of my blog post:FREEBIES!Now I am aware that not everyone is financially blessed - I know, being one of them! As a self-published author I struggle to financially support my writing due to every day life and expenses, but I'm managing despite the odds. It pays off in the end, though. All of my success is due only to my readers and word of mouth (and maybe a little bit to do with the pretty covers, too...) Every blue moon I am able to put just a few dollars of my hard-earned money aside to cater for the costs associated with Fotolia.com's images. I purchase the images and from there I Photoshop additional lighting and text into the images, often relying on the effects from Pixlr.com and Picmonkey.com as I am not that handy with Photoshop. I am not rich. I use one of the most ancient versions of Photoshop going and even then I am not that great at it. Being a writer is not easy.But moving on from my little ramble, I am proud of working up from the ground. I've got some pretty good achievements under my belt for simply trying my hardest. So what am I going to show for it?Freebies!The catch? Join my newsletter!I'm aiming to build my fan base and to improve my writing. I am proud to be a self-published author and I gain my most prominent inspiration from the support of my fans. I understand and appreciate that not everyone will be able to afford the 0.99 USD that it'll cost for an e-Copy of Frost. I know that feeling. Or maybe, you're looking to save to put your money into a life's dream. A medical bill. A car registration. A child's school bills. I don't know what everyone's circumstances are, and while these everyday costs are a lot more than the cost of an e-Copy of Frost, every dollar counts. So in my newsletter I will be releasing a code that will enable every mail recipient a free eBook copy of Frost on the day of release. In addition, there will be exclusive information not included in my blog posts, special offers, future events, snippets and sneak peeks, exclusive never-before-seen trailers before their release on my blog and more!Like the sound of freebies? Want a chance to download free stuff?It's simple. Just head to the top of my blog and there will be a small box to the right where you can simply type in your email, send and then confirm your email address via an emailed link from Mail Chimp. Sign up by October 30 at 12 PM AEST (or your region's equivalent) and you will receive the one-day only offer plus any future freebies!
So as a final note for the evening, I am planning on switching off, pyjama-ing myself and hitting the hay. I've been putting the final touches on Frost, ready for its release on the final day of the month and making preparations for NaNoWriMo on the 1st of November. I am so excited and cannot believe how much is happening now! WOOOOO! Seriously though people, add yourself to the mail list and you'll get freebies whenever I have any to give away. Whoop whoop! Have a lovely night/day all, wherever in the world you may be.
M.S. Watson
Okay. So, first thing's first:
2 More Days!
I feel like a little kid at Christmas time right about now. I am so unbelievably excited to announce the release of Frost. I've already got a number of pre-orders which I must say is a great feeling! Ooh, I just want to jump off the walls and all around the house, even though it's just past midnight! I cannot wait to have it out for you all to read. And don't forget to mark December 15 down in your diaries! December 15 is a very special day - it may be a pre-order day or it may be a release day. Who knows? Wink, wink.
Price change for Glass Bones Paperback!
For anyone who has been wanting to purchase the paperback version of Glass Bones but was scared away by the price tag will now be rejoicing as I have dropped the sale price as low as Lulu.com will let me! $20 AUD (approx. $17.68 USD) is how much it will set you back but I have a pile of copies here and I must say the quality is spot-on. It's completely worth it in my opinion - but then again, I'm entitled to being biased seeing as I'm the author and all.
I provide for you the direct linkage: here.
Ice paperback coming soon!
Currently I am working on the paperback version of Ice and I cannot wait to see it out! It will be available for approximately $10-20 AUD depending on material costs that I have yet to determine but as soon as that becomes available I will be posting it up on here for you all. So watch this space for more information as it becomes available! Depending on how finances run in the New Year I may even run a Goodreads giveaway for Ice in paperback.
Downloads in the tens of thousands!
I am in a complete and utter state of shock at the response to Ice this year. I do believe that even though the number of downloads listed in my sales report is a combined total of all my published books, I believe most is due to Ice. Glass Bones was released in December 2013, and while it has received a fair number of downloads, the total for 2013 stood at 8 and after a month of posting Glass Bones for free as a Christmas special, I received just over 100 downloads. In comparison Ice was released in May, 2014 and in a collective total I have had 11,379 downloads from iBookstore, 3 from Baker & Taylor Blio, 3 from Kobo, 8 from Page Foundry, 4 from Sony and 378 from Barnes and Noble Online. That makes a grand total of a whopping 11,775 downloads since May 2014! These are only the amount of downloads from Smashwords premium distributors and doesn't include the 1000+ that Ice has received on Smashwords itself since the date of release, 150 for Glass Bones and 6 pre-orders and/or sample downloads of Frost since the pre-order was made available just a few days ago! Oh. My. God. I think I will faint if this continues! I hope so!! (That it continues, I mean. Not the fainting part so much ...)
A new trailer for Tempest!
Over the past few days I've been sitting here, writing away and thought to myself, 'I wonder if I have a trailer for Tempest yet?' I thought I did but apparently not! So not much more than 24 hours ago I sat down at my computer, signed into Animoto and created the official trailer for Tempest. I LOVE it, but not as much as the new trailers I made for the Clarity duology - and those are exclusive content for my newsletter subscribers before anyone on my blogs, website, twitter, facebook or even my family or friends catch sight of it! So for anyone who wants to see this new Clarity trailer ASAP, join the mail list at the right-hand side of my blog. For now though, enjoy the official trailer for Tempest, 15.12.14.
Now for my final and most favourite part of my blog post:FREEBIES!Now I am aware that not everyone is financially blessed - I know, being one of them! As a self-published author I struggle to financially support my writing due to every day life and expenses, but I'm managing despite the odds. It pays off in the end, though. All of my success is due only to my readers and word of mouth (and maybe a little bit to do with the pretty covers, too...) Every blue moon I am able to put just a few dollars of my hard-earned money aside to cater for the costs associated with Fotolia.com's images. I purchase the images and from there I Photoshop additional lighting and text into the images, often relying on the effects from Pixlr.com and Picmonkey.com as I am not that handy with Photoshop. I am not rich. I use one of the most ancient versions of Photoshop going and even then I am not that great at it. Being a writer is not easy.But moving on from my little ramble, I am proud of working up from the ground. I've got some pretty good achievements under my belt for simply trying my hardest. So what am I going to show for it?Freebies!The catch? Join my newsletter!I'm aiming to build my fan base and to improve my writing. I am proud to be a self-published author and I gain my most prominent inspiration from the support of my fans. I understand and appreciate that not everyone will be able to afford the 0.99 USD that it'll cost for an e-Copy of Frost. I know that feeling. Or maybe, you're looking to save to put your money into a life's dream. A medical bill. A car registration. A child's school bills. I don't know what everyone's circumstances are, and while these everyday costs are a lot more than the cost of an e-Copy of Frost, every dollar counts. So in my newsletter I will be releasing a code that will enable every mail recipient a free eBook copy of Frost on the day of release. In addition, there will be exclusive information not included in my blog posts, special offers, future events, snippets and sneak peeks, exclusive never-before-seen trailers before their release on my blog and more!Like the sound of freebies? Want a chance to download free stuff?It's simple. Just head to the top of my blog and there will be a small box to the right where you can simply type in your email, send and then confirm your email address via an emailed link from Mail Chimp. Sign up by October 30 at 12 PM AEST (or your region's equivalent) and you will receive the one-day only offer plus any future freebies!
So as a final note for the evening, I am planning on switching off, pyjama-ing myself and hitting the hay. I've been putting the final touches on Frost, ready for its release on the final day of the month and making preparations for NaNoWriMo on the 1st of November. I am so excited and cannot believe how much is happening now! WOOOOO! Seriously though people, add yourself to the mail list and you'll get freebies whenever I have any to give away. Whoop whoop! Have a lovely night/day all, wherever in the world you may be.
M.S. Watson
October 26, 2014
NaNoWriMo 2014 & Why I'm Changing What Novel I Write
It's almost that time of year. Hundreds and thousands of writers from all around the world anticipate November 1 like it's a celebration to rival birthdays and anniversaries, Christmas and Easter. It's the day that I'm surprised the cacophony caused by the sounds of typing and pens scratching aren't able to be heard from space. The day that imagination flourishes. It's basically what I now consider to be Imagination Month, although I just made that up.
Every year, writers internationally anticipate the same day on their calendar: November 1. Because from November 1-30 is when they will challenge themselves. They will have blood, sweat and tears and their characters will be given the opportunity to come alive. It's the time when the world gains hundreds and thousands of new works to enjoy.
Yet many do not make the 50,000+ word goal - and that's okay! Why? Because even committing to the challenge and not fully realising it in the end is enough cause for celebration. It's a step closer to succeeding in the future. It's when you go back, review what went right and what went wrong and you fix it. It's when you say, 'I'll give it another go next year by implementing these strategies ...'
In 2013 I decided to give the challenge a go. It was my second year of complete writer's block, I was ill with glandular fever which in turn made my depression worse. My grades plummeted and I was told that I needed more classes to be given the opportunity to go to University - but it was too late. I finished most of my High School Certificate exams by the time November rolled around and I thought to myself, 'I'm going to do this!'
Illusion was the title of the book I wrote and I anticipated it to be the first of a trilogy. I've barely touched it ever since and most people don't know about it altogether. But it's hiding away in Amazon as an eBook for 0.99USD for those who wish to track it down. From memory, it's for sale under the name M Watson rather than MS Watson.
Getting back to the point...
I managed to get over all of my obstacles during NaNoWriMo 2013. I surprised myself. In the final week I did a mass write-in of 10,000 words as that was how many I was behind by. I made the deadline on the final day. I couldn't believe it. I had got past my writer's block, the depression, the lack of creativity, imagination and motivation. I had blocked out the rest of the world for a month and was rewarded generously.
As for NaNoWriMo 2014?
Due to the hectic nature of November-December this year I will be barely home - but that doesn't mean I won't be writing. I will be travelling, spreading word of my books and helping my cousin move house. I will be going on holiday and travelling across the country in a flight on my lonesome.
So why am I changing what novel I'm writing?
This morning I woke up thinking of the dilemma caused by writing the first book of my Clarity duology as opposed to the final book of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy. I was faced with a few areas that didn't add up.
I wanted to have the Poseidon's Girls trilogy wrapped up before Christmas.The first book of the Clarity duology isn't even coming out until 2015.I didn't have a novel outline for the Clarity duology, a cover or even a title!I did have a novel outline, release month, a cover and a title for Tempest.If I wrote the Clarity duology, I wouldn't be able to write Tempest in time for its release approx. December 15.I need a lot more time to focus on developing the world, story and characters of the Clarity duology.These are the reasons I have decided to change to writing the final book of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy, Tempest. With the events of Frost fresh in my mind and Ice becoming a little blurry in my memory I decided now is the best time to write Tempest. If I don't neither Tempest nor the Clarity duology will be either released on time or fully developed to their best potential. So my decision is best for those who are fans of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy.For those who were excited about the Clarity duology starting, I'm setting the first book for an approximate release of March 2015 due to financial hardship and needing to save money aside to purchase the ability to use images from Fotolia.com for the book covers. But despite this, I will include below the details of the Clarity duology book #1 not only for the purpose as a teaser, but also as a reference for me to remember details for future reference. I hope that you're all excited as this will be my first outer space work and my first duology ever! If books were human and the Clarity duology was a baby, its parents would be the fae influence of the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr x the outer space romance influence of the These Broken Stars trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.
The Clarity Duology: Book #1Author: M.S WatsonGenre: Young AdultSynopsisBook 1 of The Clarity Trilogy follows Ace O'Laughlin as he recovers gradually from the heartbreak of his father's death following contracting a lethal disease. Now Ace must join an initiative that will see to medically treating his family, and most importantly, his kid brother Severin who has now contracted the same disease. Ace must become ruthless to stay alive and save his brother - but what happens when his heart is claimed and what will he choose when he has to make an unthinkable sacrifice?Title yet to be decided.
Every year, writers internationally anticipate the same day on their calendar: November 1. Because from November 1-30 is when they will challenge themselves. They will have blood, sweat and tears and their characters will be given the opportunity to come alive. It's the time when the world gains hundreds and thousands of new works to enjoy.
Yet many do not make the 50,000+ word goal - and that's okay! Why? Because even committing to the challenge and not fully realising it in the end is enough cause for celebration. It's a step closer to succeeding in the future. It's when you go back, review what went right and what went wrong and you fix it. It's when you say, 'I'll give it another go next year by implementing these strategies ...'
In 2013 I decided to give the challenge a go. It was my second year of complete writer's block, I was ill with glandular fever which in turn made my depression worse. My grades plummeted and I was told that I needed more classes to be given the opportunity to go to University - but it was too late. I finished most of my High School Certificate exams by the time November rolled around and I thought to myself, 'I'm going to do this!'
Illusion was the title of the book I wrote and I anticipated it to be the first of a trilogy. I've barely touched it ever since and most people don't know about it altogether. But it's hiding away in Amazon as an eBook for 0.99USD for those who wish to track it down. From memory, it's for sale under the name M Watson rather than MS Watson.
Getting back to the point...
I managed to get over all of my obstacles during NaNoWriMo 2013. I surprised myself. In the final week I did a mass write-in of 10,000 words as that was how many I was behind by. I made the deadline on the final day. I couldn't believe it. I had got past my writer's block, the depression, the lack of creativity, imagination and motivation. I had blocked out the rest of the world for a month and was rewarded generously.
As for NaNoWriMo 2014?
Due to the hectic nature of November-December this year I will be barely home - but that doesn't mean I won't be writing. I will be travelling, spreading word of my books and helping my cousin move house. I will be going on holiday and travelling across the country in a flight on my lonesome.
So why am I changing what novel I'm writing?
This morning I woke up thinking of the dilemma caused by writing the first book of my Clarity duology as opposed to the final book of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy. I was faced with a few areas that didn't add up.
I wanted to have the Poseidon's Girls trilogy wrapped up before Christmas.The first book of the Clarity duology isn't even coming out until 2015.I didn't have a novel outline for the Clarity duology, a cover or even a title!I did have a novel outline, release month, a cover and a title for Tempest.If I wrote the Clarity duology, I wouldn't be able to write Tempest in time for its release approx. December 15.I need a lot more time to focus on developing the world, story and characters of the Clarity duology.These are the reasons I have decided to change to writing the final book of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy, Tempest. With the events of Frost fresh in my mind and Ice becoming a little blurry in my memory I decided now is the best time to write Tempest. If I don't neither Tempest nor the Clarity duology will be either released on time or fully developed to their best potential. So my decision is best for those who are fans of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy.For those who were excited about the Clarity duology starting, I'm setting the first book for an approximate release of March 2015 due to financial hardship and needing to save money aside to purchase the ability to use images from Fotolia.com for the book covers. But despite this, I will include below the details of the Clarity duology book #1 not only for the purpose as a teaser, but also as a reference for me to remember details for future reference. I hope that you're all excited as this will be my first outer space work and my first duology ever! If books were human and the Clarity duology was a baby, its parents would be the fae influence of the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr x the outer space romance influence of the These Broken Stars trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.
The Clarity Duology: Book #1Author: M.S WatsonGenre: Young AdultSynopsisBook 1 of The Clarity Trilogy follows Ace O'Laughlin as he recovers gradually from the heartbreak of his father's death following contracting a lethal disease. Now Ace must join an initiative that will see to medically treating his family, and most importantly, his kid brother Severin who has now contracted the same disease. Ace must become ruthless to stay alive and save his brother - but what happens when his heart is claimed and what will he choose when he has to make an unthinkable sacrifice?Title yet to be decided.
October 23, 2014
Topic of the Week: Music for Writing.
How many times have you gone to sit down but stare at the page in front of you, wishing to write? What do you do to get the creativity flowing? Are you a musically-inspired writer? What type of music do you listen to? Do you listen to old-school, modern or vinyl? Do you listen to individual songs and their lyrics or do you listen to movie soundtracks? What about opera and relaxation music? Or do you prefer the natural soundtrack provided by nature? Do you enjoy silence?
Personally, I do believe this would be best as a discussion topic, so feel free to join in below in the comments section. Writers, readers, artists, school students, retirees... I accept the opinions of all and more. What do you like listening to?
For me, it does vary. I wrote Glass Bones in 2008. I wrote it with the intention of it becoming the sort of book that interested me at the time, mostly because I was obsessed with vampires at the time. Nowadays that obsession is no more, so it feels a little embarrassing to admit it to my friends. A lot of people I know won't read my book simply because it incorporates hellish creatures or the scenes that may frighten them.
Glass Bones was inspired by a soundtrack I created that listed all the songs that were on my laptop at the time, and those were the songs I listened to most. I was on holiday at the beach for two weeks so my music was either switched off or combined with the sounds of the waves crashing in the distance.
In present-day, my attitude has changed. I either do not listen to anything, or I listen to natural sounds such as the ocean crashing via YouTube videos. Now I can't listen to anything musical or lyrical as it just distracts me.
Ice was completed in May 2014 and released that same month. With it, I incorporated a series of about twenty songs that combined my old playlist with new songs I stumble across on YouTube. If I do listen to music these days, they're usually either up-and-coming artists or completely unknown YouTube artists who I've followed from day 1 of their YouTube careers and then either made it big time - e.g. Ellie Goulding & Gabrielle Aplin - or are still making their way up the ladder - e.g. LIGHTS & Lewis Watson.
Frost is the first book I've managed to write almost purely using silence or sounds of nature on YouTube. I think it is coming out smoother because of this, not being manipulated by pulsing bass lines or half-screaming vocalists. I find I am rid of writer's block faster, language and description more fluent and poetic like I used to write before a year and a half of complete writer's block. I find that it's easier to remain focused with nature sounds.
Now this is relatively short. Like many occasions, I've run out of things I was going to say and thought there would be more. But this is where you guys, my lovely readers, come in and let me know what you think. Comment below and get a discussion flowing. Have a lovely day all!
Personally, I do believe this would be best as a discussion topic, so feel free to join in below in the comments section. Writers, readers, artists, school students, retirees... I accept the opinions of all and more. What do you like listening to?
For me, it does vary. I wrote Glass Bones in 2008. I wrote it with the intention of it becoming the sort of book that interested me at the time, mostly because I was obsessed with vampires at the time. Nowadays that obsession is no more, so it feels a little embarrassing to admit it to my friends. A lot of people I know won't read my book simply because it incorporates hellish creatures or the scenes that may frighten them.
Glass Bones was inspired by a soundtrack I created that listed all the songs that were on my laptop at the time, and those were the songs I listened to most. I was on holiday at the beach for two weeks so my music was either switched off or combined with the sounds of the waves crashing in the distance.
In present-day, my attitude has changed. I either do not listen to anything, or I listen to natural sounds such as the ocean crashing via YouTube videos. Now I can't listen to anything musical or lyrical as it just distracts me.
Ice was completed in May 2014 and released that same month. With it, I incorporated a series of about twenty songs that combined my old playlist with new songs I stumble across on YouTube. If I do listen to music these days, they're usually either up-and-coming artists or completely unknown YouTube artists who I've followed from day 1 of their YouTube careers and then either made it big time - e.g. Ellie Goulding & Gabrielle Aplin - or are still making their way up the ladder - e.g. LIGHTS & Lewis Watson.
Frost is the first book I've managed to write almost purely using silence or sounds of nature on YouTube. I think it is coming out smoother because of this, not being manipulated by pulsing bass lines or half-screaming vocalists. I find I am rid of writer's block faster, language and description more fluent and poetic like I used to write before a year and a half of complete writer's block. I find that it's easier to remain focused with nature sounds.
Now this is relatively short. Like many occasions, I've run out of things I was going to say and thought there would be more. But this is where you guys, my lovely readers, come in and let me know what you think. Comment below and get a discussion flowing. Have a lovely day all!
October 19, 2014
Preorder Frost available!
The preorder of Frost is now available from Smashwords! The eBooks will be available on the 31st of October, 2014 and I'm currently looking into the possibility of making the trilogy available in paperback. Thank you to everyone who is being so very patient with the production of Frost. I know I am really horrible with dates but I am slowly getting better! In the meantime, here is yet another photo of the book cover by Andrey Kiselev at Fotolia.com. Their photography is amazing and I wouldn't hesitate in purchasing the ability to use even more of their photos for my covers. $30 well spent on Fotolia! I dedicate the amount of downloads and success I've received from Ice to the beautiful images courtesy of Andrey Kiselev.In addition, I'm providing for you all the blurb that is currently available on Goodreads and Smashwords for the book pages of Frost. I hope you will all preorder the book to support me, but I understand if you cannot and I will be running competitions for freebies in the future, whether it be near or far!
Frost is set for release on 31/10/14!
'Iris has been through a lot. Discovering that you're part-mythological creature will take its toll on a person, but at least she's alive. But Lainie's acting stranger than usual lately since her retreat to the deep blue. She's more lethal than ever and more focused on getting what she wants - at all costs.Battling against her heart's desire to be with Xanthias, her new-found jealousy of new girl Lacy, the disappearance of a loved one and the death of another, Iris' life is becoming too chaotic to handle calmly.How will she respond to the life that is crumbling around her?'
October 14, 2014
Preorder troubles.
Currently my frustration levels are sky-high. Why? I'm currently having issues with the availability of Frost through preorder. If I am unable to complete the preorder I will be forced to release it without a preorder option. In the case that this does occur, Frost will still be released on the 31/10/14 at 2 PM AEST. I apologise in advance for any irritations that this may cause, however, it is beyond my control.In the meantime, add the official release date to your diary and keep tuned on this space for more updates as I come across them. If I am unable to provide a preorder option for readers I will make it up elsewhere to compensate for this annoying turn of events. Thank you for your patience! I hope to try and have this sorted out soon.
(Spoiler alert!) Preorder news, sneak peek and more!
By now you're probably all asking the same question:
What can we expect to see in Frost?Frost is like a car that has been left to rot in a paddock, got picked up and redesigned into the most powerful machine in the world. Like this machine, Frost has the scars of Ice but puts these experiences to use to become even better! (Or so I hope at least!)We see some new faces, old faces and some tear-filled eyes - but that's where I end that! For more you're simply going to have to read it for yourself! The details will be as follows:Name: Frost.Trilogy: Poseidon's Girls.Author: M.S. Watson.Price: 0.99 USD.Preorder date: 15th October 2014. 2 PM AEST.Release date: 31st October 2014. 2 PM AEST.
In other news.The Clarity Star will be a duology. I've been planning it recently and I have decided to release this little snippet. It will be split over two books, with the potential for more later if I decide that there's more to tell. I doubt it at this stage, but then again nothing has been set in concrete as of yet! I'm aiming for a 2015 release for the first book. Keep an eye on this space for more information as I work towards writing something completely different from my Poseidon's Girls trilogy and Glass Bones standalone.
Finally, the sneak peek!Please note: If you haven't read Ice, book #1 of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy and do not wish to spoil any of it, please do not read the following book excerpt until you have done so. I hereby do not claim any responsibility for anyone who spoils the book for themselves by reading the following book excerpt as I have provided adequate warning.
If you've read through this article to this point you're probably excited to see what I have in store for you as a reward. As part of the preorder of Frost I am posting the first chapter of the book as a teaser for more to come. For anyone who is into book reviews, contact me in the comments or by the contact form on my website in order to receive a free copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest and thorough review. I'm looking for people who are willing to help me improve my writing, not to hinder it or give me only two words. So without further ado, here's the opening chapter of Frost!Bounce.Bounce.Bounce.My first thought was that I was going to be sick. The second, almost instantly replacing that first thought, was what the bouncing meant.‘Sis! Sis! Hey Si- Oof!’I crashed into my sister, knocking her back against the mattress as I squeezed her tight. She coughed and spluttered, but I didn’t relinquish my hold on her. It had been little over a month since she had left, fleeing the danger of Cronus’ presence in our hometown, Beaufort, South Carolina. After escaping from hell - otherwise known as Tartarus - under his son, Hades’, rule he had come back searching for revenge on those who had put them there: Poseidon, Zeus and Hades. As part of his vengeance, he enlisted the help of Medea’s three descendants and come after my sister and me, knowing that we were important to Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite.After capturing our adopted parents, Chris and Nevada, Cronus had fled after being injured and outnumbered by Poseidon and his brothers. Ever since, Lainie had been living away from home with Poseidon and Amphitrite, while I chose to remain behind to guard our adopted parents with my life. Not that they hadn’t tried to convince me. It was tempting. I was simply convinced that I was bound to protect them. After all, they had taken us in while we were young and vulnerable. Since Lainie had left, school had finished and she had missed out on prom. I was surprised she hadn’t shown up of her own accord. Looking at her now, though, it seemed as though the smaller things like school finishing and prom were behind her. A squeak escaped her and she tapped me on the back.‘Uh … Can I breathe now? Please?’ She gasped when I released her, leaving her to collapse against my bed. I never realised exactly how much I missed her until I saw her there, in the flesh.‘What? Why are you even here? How-’‘Wow, calm down sis,’ she cut me off. ‘I’ve only been gone for what? A couple of weeks?’ She looked amused as she sat up and took me in. She looked so different. She no longer wore an inch-thick layer of make-up and short skirts. Right then she was modestly dressed in a beautiful yellow t-shirt and jeans, her hair flipped over her shoulder in a way she never would’ve been caught dead in just a couple of weeks ago. My jaw dropped. She rolled her eyes.A moment of silence passed between us before she hopped up from the bed and walked over to the windows. She pulled the curtains aside and opened the windows, one by one, and took a deep breath.‘I missed this,’ she admitted. ‘The salty air, the oxygen without water in the way. It gets a bit annoying when you spend weeks breathing it.’ I nodded and climbed out of bed as she opened the doors to the porch. ‘The views aren’t anything like this in Japan.’ I raised my eyebrows. Since when did my sister - glamorous, spoilt Lainie - ever go to Japan? I would have thought London at least. She turned to me with her hands on her hips, taking in my wrinkled pyjamas and bed hair.She sauntered to the door, shaking out her hair in a way that added volume to its length. She looked over her shoulder at me and grinned. ‘Be downstairs in five minutes. Chris is making pancakes, the way he used to before the promotion.’ She was talking about his job as the head of the police department. I wondered why he was off work, but then I realised: Lainie was home after disappearing for ‘Latin school.’ He would turn the world the opposite way to see his daughter after never having the chance to say goodbye. With a nod, I sent Lainie on her way and locked the door to get changed.One look in the mirror told me that my hair was beyond salvaging, so I stuffed it into a messy bun and changed into a passable violet dress. When I was satisfied that I had cleaned up my appearance enough, I made my way downstairs and found all three - Lainie, Chris and Nevada - seated at the dining room table. A massive stack of pancakes and fresh waffles sat on the table in front of them, untouched until I approached the only empty seat. Lainie took one glance at me before she finally sat her phone aside and filled her plate with as many pancakes and waffles as it could hold. Within seconds - before I even managed to be seated - she had scoffed them down, apparently unaware that she hadn’t placed any maple syrup or cream on them.‘I’m glad to see they gave you a decent appetite,’ Nevada commented, smiling at Lainie. She started to place some onto her own place while she spoke. ‘It’s about time you ate. You were lacking in something, but you look happier now.’ She smiled at Lainie again, but this time it was wistful and tinged with her sadness of Lainie leaving. Lainie cleared her throat a moment later, startling Nevada from her unintentional stare. She offered an apologetic expression before turning her gaze downward in embarrassment, her fork toying with some pancakes and maple syrup. I scooped some whipped cream onto my plate as Chris took Nevada’s silence as his turn to speak.‘Your mother is -’‘Don’t call her my mother,’ Lainie barked suddenly, her eyes liquid fire. Chris’ mouth snapped closed with sudden ferocity his teeth gnashed together. He seemed to want to speak but Lainie refused, using her power of persuasion to force him into silence. Her gaze was dark, her jaw grinding as she tightened her power around him. ‘She is not my mother. She never gave birth to me. She took care of me, but it was forced. She will never be anything except for Nevada, the foster carer to me.’ Chris’ face began to lose colour, turning pale. Nevada reached for her husband’s hand and gasped.‘Chris? Chris! You’re so cold!’ She felt his forehead with the back of her hand, her eyes bulging. In an instant she had her phone in hand, ringing emergency services. I looked across to Lainie as Chris began to sway on his chair, losing consciousness.‘Lainie,’ I hissed. ‘Lainie, stop it! You’re going to kill him.’Something changed in her in that moment, snapping her back to herself and she gasped. The tension recoiled, her power dimming until Chris gasped and grabbed the edge of the table. His arms were shaking, his breathing harsh and fast. Nevada rushed over to him, dropping the phone in her haste and she lowered herself to his level. As she fussed over him and he regained his breath, I used my power of time manipulation to stand and move to the phone on the other side of the room. I bent, lifting it to my ear before time snapped back into its rightful place.‘Hello? Hello, Mrs Glass?’ the operator said, their voice a monotone.‘This is Iris Glass,’ I replied. ‘The situation has been worked out. I apologise for the inconvenience.’ The operator’s voice filled the receiver but I hung up and placed the phone aside, leaving it on the bench. When I turned back to Chris and Nevada, Lainie was gone. Meanwhile Nevada was still at Chris’ side, his skin having regained its colour.‘You need to go to a doctor,’ she insisted. He waved her off.‘Nonsense,’ he said. ‘I just choked.’‘You weren’t eating anything,’ she pointed out.‘You don’t need to be eating to choke,’ he countered. ‘Look, it’s fine. If it happens again I will go to the doctor, okay?’ Her lips pressed together in a thin line but she nodded reluctantly. ‘Fine,’ she huffed. ‘But if you choke again, you’re calling your own ambulance.’ Chris cracked a grin, seeing through her false bravado. I couldn’t stay any longer while they got sappy with each other, and so I left. I walked outside and stood on the porch, breathing in the scent of the ocean. It was particularly strong, a sign I had learnt over the past month that Amphitrite was near. I stretched as I walked along, the floorboards weathered and creaky under my feet. When I rounded the porch and was facing the backyard, I stopped walking and looked down at where Lainie was bundled.Her legs were drawn to her chest, hair spilling over her shoulders and onto her knees. With her back against the wall, her head was tilted down. Around us the wind began to blow gently, in a way that enabled her salty scent to waft toward me. She had definitely changed. She looked up as I approached, the floorboards creaking as I sat to her left. With my arms on my knees, I pulled the dress down to cover my crossed legs. Red rimmed her eyes as she watched me, my fingers toying with some loose threads along the seams of my dress.‘I really didn’t mean to,’ she whispered. Heartbreak echoed in her voice, making her seem lonely. I placed my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She was my sister, as beautiful as ever even if she had changed. She had just lost her temper, that was all. I nodded with understanding.‘I realise that,’ I told her. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be okay. You will, too, so long as we try different methods of controlling our powers while we’re angry.’She shook in my arms, the shock of the situation laying into her like a sucker punch at full strength. Sympathy ran through me and I smoothed her hair, its frayed strands messed around from her haste. In areas it was darker than I remembered, but that wasn’t surprising given she now spent so much time in the ocean. She was nowhere near the sister I remembered, she had changed so dramatically. She took a deep breath, as though preparing herself for something and turned to face me.‘How has Ryker been since I left?’ she asked, eyes wide and hopeful. I knew what she wanted from him, to be saddened by her sudden disappearance and demand that she come home, but if anything he had flourished in his relationship with not-so-new girl, Isabella. After somehow being burned alive in our school’s pool, Isabella was still recovering from her injuries, but her flaws had only made Ryker love her more. I was surprised Starden was still with my sister after knowing how in love she was with Ryker, understanding that she was only using him to lure Ryker’s jealous side. It hadn’t worked, but it didn’t stop her from letting Starden loose.Some things never change, I reminded myself, confused as to whether to be relieved that my sister was still slightly the same, or annoyed that she was ruining Starden’s life for her own greed. I bit my lip and looked up at her, fiddling with my fingers as I thought about how to answer her. If I told her he missed her, she would do anything to get rid of Isabella. Yet if I told her he didn’t, it would start World War III and being yelled at for jealousy. Eventually, though, my silence answered for me and she groaned, casting her gaze to the porch overhead.‘And Starden?’ she prompted. I knew she would ask about him next, her secondary option. I shrugged and pulled at some lint that had stuck to my clothes.‘Same as the day you left,’ I told her, knowing very well that she would understand. He was so head over heels that the thought of going a day without her brought him to his knees. He had been showing up on rare occasions around town, appearing to be the closest thing to a real life zombie if ever I saw one. She bit her lip, and I knew she was considering how wrong it was to continue leading him on. In a single moment, though, her face smoothed of any sad thoughts and she turned to me with a brilliant smile.‘I know how to get Ryker,’ she half-shouted. She jumped to her feet and began walking around to the front steps. I rushed after her, barely making it to her before she crossed the street in the direction of the docks. I grabbed her arm and spun her to face me, the force leaving fingerprints on her skin.‘I know that you still have feelings for him,’ I told her, ‘but you can’t continue meddling in his life and ruining Starden’s! It’s not fair on either of them, and it’s not fair on you! Let him go! Can’t you just accept that he has Isabella?’ She narrowed her eyes, teeth bared menacingly. Thunder rumbled in the clear blue skies and a cold wind whipped against me, barely even touching her. I locked my muscles and stood my ground.She bristled. ‘NO! I won’t let him go! Don’t you see how much I’ve put into getting him back, from her? Don’t you see how much of a waste of time she is? She is scarred for life - literally - while I am beauty incarnate. Why would I let him ruin his life by deciding to be with such a disgusting thing?’I narrowed my eyes at her, using my power of time manipulation to cancel out the breeze she’d cast. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You might not see it, but everyone else does. He is perfectly happy loving a scarred girl, and in my opinion that is love in its truest form! He isn’t with her for her looks, her popularity or her money! He is in love!’ Lainie threw up her hands and stalked past. I refused to allow her to leave so early though. ‘How do you think Starden feels? He knows you’re using him, and for what? Just to dump him in favour for someone else later on? Come on, Lainie! Where is your humanity?’She turned on her heel and glared at me, pushing me back by my shoulders with both hands. ‘Humanity? Humanity? Do you really want to talk about humanity? Well, here’s some news sister: we are not human. Not completely, at least. We turn into mythological creatures, for Christ’s sake! We have no real concept of so-called “humanity!” You’re only kidding yourself if you think there is. No, this is our life. Life’s not meant to be fair, so we have to try and make our own happiness. My love is Ryker, but I stay with Starden because when I feel empty inside, connecting with him is the only way I can feel some semblance of happiness. I can’t let Starden go before I have Ryker, because I know I won’t be able to cope with the loneliness, the pain. I can’t!’Silence fell between us, interrupted only by the slight calls of seagulls and the occasional boat that crept through the waters. Eventually Lainie seemed to calm slightly, easing her powers away from the skies, the wind and the seas. Her power of persuasion was terrifying, but with my power of time manipulation I knew I was strong enough to cancel out anything she threw at me. Still, it did very little to calm the nervousness I felt flying through me, a sensation similar to the dread of butterflies in one’s stomach.‘Lainie, I-’ I started but trailed off as laughter filled the air. A sparkling sailboat crawled alongside the docks, but didn’t stop at one as it glided by. It was chillingly similar to the boat Lainie and I had been on only a few months ago. One that had been targeted by Poseidon in an attempt to persuade Cronus into believing that Lainie and I meant nothing to him but only succeeded in putting us in hospital and our family in danger. I shuddered, a cool chill tracing its freezing fingertips down my spine.The boat came closer until it was almost aligned with the docks where Lainie and I stood, revealing four people that neither Lainie nor I really needed or wanted to see. Music blared and sun tans were in the process as Isabella and another blonde girl our age baked on the decking. Ryker had bent over Isabella, her burns in full view as she lay there, his hands massaging her back as he applied tanning lotion to her. When I saw the fourth person - tall, dark and handsome - sitting beside the blonde, my heart gave a small and painful thump.Xanthias had his eyes shut, bare and pale chest in full view as he kept below the shade of an umbrella. The blonde gave another shrill laugh and punched his side playfully, earning another painful jolt in my heart.Xanthias and I hadn’t spoken in the time that Lainie had left with Poseidon and Amphitrite. He and I had kissed on the evening that Cronus had chosen to harm our family, shortly after he had almost been killed by Cronus’ hell hound in an attempt to save me. Ever since, I had only seen him a handful of times, and never alone. He always turned away first, fleeing my presence as though I was poison. These days, I wondered if I really was.‘IRIS! LAINIE! HELLO!’ Isabella had spotted us, pulling away her sunglasses so she could meet our gazes with a wide smile. She waved dramatically, swinging her arm over her head. Her sudden yell drew the attention of the others, earning Lainie a cold shoulder from Ryker and an icy glare from Xanthias. He tapped the glass window behind his head and yelled something I couldn’t hear, then the sail boat groaned and picked up speed. I gave Isabella a small wave as the boat sailed away.‘How’s lover boy?’ Lainie asked, knowing very well the situation due to our unwelcome reception. I shrugged.‘As you said,’ I pointed out, ‘life’s not meant to be fair.’
To be released 31/10/14!
'M.S. Watson! Where is Frost??!'Well do I have news for you! Frost will be available for preorder as of today at 2 PM AEST (check the time difference for your region/country). What does this mean for you? It means that Frost is finally on its final stages of being written and formatted, the final strings are being pulled together and any fans of the Iris x Xanthias pairing will love what I have in store for Frost!
What can we expect to see in Frost?Frost is like a car that has been left to rot in a paddock, got picked up and redesigned into the most powerful machine in the world. Like this machine, Frost has the scars of Ice but puts these experiences to use to become even better! (Or so I hope at least!)We see some new faces, old faces and some tear-filled eyes - but that's where I end that! For more you're simply going to have to read it for yourself! The details will be as follows:Name: Frost.Trilogy: Poseidon's Girls.Author: M.S. Watson.Price: 0.99 USD.Preorder date: 15th October 2014. 2 PM AEST.Release date: 31st October 2014. 2 PM AEST.In other news.The Clarity Star will be a duology. I've been planning it recently and I have decided to release this little snippet. It will be split over two books, with the potential for more later if I decide that there's more to tell. I doubt it at this stage, but then again nothing has been set in concrete as of yet! I'm aiming for a 2015 release for the first book. Keep an eye on this space for more information as I work towards writing something completely different from my Poseidon's Girls trilogy and Glass Bones standalone.
Finally, the sneak peek!Please note: If you haven't read Ice, book #1 of the Poseidon's Girls trilogy and do not wish to spoil any of it, please do not read the following book excerpt until you have done so. I hereby do not claim any responsibility for anyone who spoils the book for themselves by reading the following book excerpt as I have provided adequate warning.
If you've read through this article to this point you're probably excited to see what I have in store for you as a reward. As part of the preorder of Frost I am posting the first chapter of the book as a teaser for more to come. For anyone who is into book reviews, contact me in the comments or by the contact form on my website in order to receive a free copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest and thorough review. I'm looking for people who are willing to help me improve my writing, not to hinder it or give me only two words. So without further ado, here's the opening chapter of Frost!Bounce.Bounce.Bounce.My first thought was that I was going to be sick. The second, almost instantly replacing that first thought, was what the bouncing meant.‘Sis! Sis! Hey Si- Oof!’I crashed into my sister, knocking her back against the mattress as I squeezed her tight. She coughed and spluttered, but I didn’t relinquish my hold on her. It had been little over a month since she had left, fleeing the danger of Cronus’ presence in our hometown, Beaufort, South Carolina. After escaping from hell - otherwise known as Tartarus - under his son, Hades’, rule he had come back searching for revenge on those who had put them there: Poseidon, Zeus and Hades. As part of his vengeance, he enlisted the help of Medea’s three descendants and come after my sister and me, knowing that we were important to Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite.After capturing our adopted parents, Chris and Nevada, Cronus had fled after being injured and outnumbered by Poseidon and his brothers. Ever since, Lainie had been living away from home with Poseidon and Amphitrite, while I chose to remain behind to guard our adopted parents with my life. Not that they hadn’t tried to convince me. It was tempting. I was simply convinced that I was bound to protect them. After all, they had taken us in while we were young and vulnerable. Since Lainie had left, school had finished and she had missed out on prom. I was surprised she hadn’t shown up of her own accord. Looking at her now, though, it seemed as though the smaller things like school finishing and prom were behind her. A squeak escaped her and she tapped me on the back.‘Uh … Can I breathe now? Please?’ She gasped when I released her, leaving her to collapse against my bed. I never realised exactly how much I missed her until I saw her there, in the flesh.‘What? Why are you even here? How-’‘Wow, calm down sis,’ she cut me off. ‘I’ve only been gone for what? A couple of weeks?’ She looked amused as she sat up and took me in. She looked so different. She no longer wore an inch-thick layer of make-up and short skirts. Right then she was modestly dressed in a beautiful yellow t-shirt and jeans, her hair flipped over her shoulder in a way she never would’ve been caught dead in just a couple of weeks ago. My jaw dropped. She rolled her eyes.A moment of silence passed between us before she hopped up from the bed and walked over to the windows. She pulled the curtains aside and opened the windows, one by one, and took a deep breath.‘I missed this,’ she admitted. ‘The salty air, the oxygen without water in the way. It gets a bit annoying when you spend weeks breathing it.’ I nodded and climbed out of bed as she opened the doors to the porch. ‘The views aren’t anything like this in Japan.’ I raised my eyebrows. Since when did my sister - glamorous, spoilt Lainie - ever go to Japan? I would have thought London at least. She turned to me with her hands on her hips, taking in my wrinkled pyjamas and bed hair.She sauntered to the door, shaking out her hair in a way that added volume to its length. She looked over her shoulder at me and grinned. ‘Be downstairs in five minutes. Chris is making pancakes, the way he used to before the promotion.’ She was talking about his job as the head of the police department. I wondered why he was off work, but then I realised: Lainie was home after disappearing for ‘Latin school.’ He would turn the world the opposite way to see his daughter after never having the chance to say goodbye. With a nod, I sent Lainie on her way and locked the door to get changed.One look in the mirror told me that my hair was beyond salvaging, so I stuffed it into a messy bun and changed into a passable violet dress. When I was satisfied that I had cleaned up my appearance enough, I made my way downstairs and found all three - Lainie, Chris and Nevada - seated at the dining room table. A massive stack of pancakes and fresh waffles sat on the table in front of them, untouched until I approached the only empty seat. Lainie took one glance at me before she finally sat her phone aside and filled her plate with as many pancakes and waffles as it could hold. Within seconds - before I even managed to be seated - she had scoffed them down, apparently unaware that she hadn’t placed any maple syrup or cream on them.‘I’m glad to see they gave you a decent appetite,’ Nevada commented, smiling at Lainie. She started to place some onto her own place while she spoke. ‘It’s about time you ate. You were lacking in something, but you look happier now.’ She smiled at Lainie again, but this time it was wistful and tinged with her sadness of Lainie leaving. Lainie cleared her throat a moment later, startling Nevada from her unintentional stare. She offered an apologetic expression before turning her gaze downward in embarrassment, her fork toying with some pancakes and maple syrup. I scooped some whipped cream onto my plate as Chris took Nevada’s silence as his turn to speak.‘Your mother is -’‘Don’t call her my mother,’ Lainie barked suddenly, her eyes liquid fire. Chris’ mouth snapped closed with sudden ferocity his teeth gnashed together. He seemed to want to speak but Lainie refused, using her power of persuasion to force him into silence. Her gaze was dark, her jaw grinding as she tightened her power around him. ‘She is not my mother. She never gave birth to me. She took care of me, but it was forced. She will never be anything except for Nevada, the foster carer to me.’ Chris’ face began to lose colour, turning pale. Nevada reached for her husband’s hand and gasped.‘Chris? Chris! You’re so cold!’ She felt his forehead with the back of her hand, her eyes bulging. In an instant she had her phone in hand, ringing emergency services. I looked across to Lainie as Chris began to sway on his chair, losing consciousness.‘Lainie,’ I hissed. ‘Lainie, stop it! You’re going to kill him.’Something changed in her in that moment, snapping her back to herself and she gasped. The tension recoiled, her power dimming until Chris gasped and grabbed the edge of the table. His arms were shaking, his breathing harsh and fast. Nevada rushed over to him, dropping the phone in her haste and she lowered herself to his level. As she fussed over him and he regained his breath, I used my power of time manipulation to stand and move to the phone on the other side of the room. I bent, lifting it to my ear before time snapped back into its rightful place.‘Hello? Hello, Mrs Glass?’ the operator said, their voice a monotone.‘This is Iris Glass,’ I replied. ‘The situation has been worked out. I apologise for the inconvenience.’ The operator’s voice filled the receiver but I hung up and placed the phone aside, leaving it on the bench. When I turned back to Chris and Nevada, Lainie was gone. Meanwhile Nevada was still at Chris’ side, his skin having regained its colour.‘You need to go to a doctor,’ she insisted. He waved her off.‘Nonsense,’ he said. ‘I just choked.’‘You weren’t eating anything,’ she pointed out.‘You don’t need to be eating to choke,’ he countered. ‘Look, it’s fine. If it happens again I will go to the doctor, okay?’ Her lips pressed together in a thin line but she nodded reluctantly. ‘Fine,’ she huffed. ‘But if you choke again, you’re calling your own ambulance.’ Chris cracked a grin, seeing through her false bravado. I couldn’t stay any longer while they got sappy with each other, and so I left. I walked outside and stood on the porch, breathing in the scent of the ocean. It was particularly strong, a sign I had learnt over the past month that Amphitrite was near. I stretched as I walked along, the floorboards weathered and creaky under my feet. When I rounded the porch and was facing the backyard, I stopped walking and looked down at where Lainie was bundled.Her legs were drawn to her chest, hair spilling over her shoulders and onto her knees. With her back against the wall, her head was tilted down. Around us the wind began to blow gently, in a way that enabled her salty scent to waft toward me. She had definitely changed. She looked up as I approached, the floorboards creaking as I sat to her left. With my arms on my knees, I pulled the dress down to cover my crossed legs. Red rimmed her eyes as she watched me, my fingers toying with some loose threads along the seams of my dress.‘I really didn’t mean to,’ she whispered. Heartbreak echoed in her voice, making her seem lonely. I placed my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She was my sister, as beautiful as ever even if she had changed. She had just lost her temper, that was all. I nodded with understanding.‘I realise that,’ I told her. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be okay. You will, too, so long as we try different methods of controlling our powers while we’re angry.’She shook in my arms, the shock of the situation laying into her like a sucker punch at full strength. Sympathy ran through me and I smoothed her hair, its frayed strands messed around from her haste. In areas it was darker than I remembered, but that wasn’t surprising given she now spent so much time in the ocean. She was nowhere near the sister I remembered, she had changed so dramatically. She took a deep breath, as though preparing herself for something and turned to face me.‘How has Ryker been since I left?’ she asked, eyes wide and hopeful. I knew what she wanted from him, to be saddened by her sudden disappearance and demand that she come home, but if anything he had flourished in his relationship with not-so-new girl, Isabella. After somehow being burned alive in our school’s pool, Isabella was still recovering from her injuries, but her flaws had only made Ryker love her more. I was surprised Starden was still with my sister after knowing how in love she was with Ryker, understanding that she was only using him to lure Ryker’s jealous side. It hadn’t worked, but it didn’t stop her from letting Starden loose.Some things never change, I reminded myself, confused as to whether to be relieved that my sister was still slightly the same, or annoyed that she was ruining Starden’s life for her own greed. I bit my lip and looked up at her, fiddling with my fingers as I thought about how to answer her. If I told her he missed her, she would do anything to get rid of Isabella. Yet if I told her he didn’t, it would start World War III and being yelled at for jealousy. Eventually, though, my silence answered for me and she groaned, casting her gaze to the porch overhead.‘And Starden?’ she prompted. I knew she would ask about him next, her secondary option. I shrugged and pulled at some lint that had stuck to my clothes.‘Same as the day you left,’ I told her, knowing very well that she would understand. He was so head over heels that the thought of going a day without her brought him to his knees. He had been showing up on rare occasions around town, appearing to be the closest thing to a real life zombie if ever I saw one. She bit her lip, and I knew she was considering how wrong it was to continue leading him on. In a single moment, though, her face smoothed of any sad thoughts and she turned to me with a brilliant smile.‘I know how to get Ryker,’ she half-shouted. She jumped to her feet and began walking around to the front steps. I rushed after her, barely making it to her before she crossed the street in the direction of the docks. I grabbed her arm and spun her to face me, the force leaving fingerprints on her skin.‘I know that you still have feelings for him,’ I told her, ‘but you can’t continue meddling in his life and ruining Starden’s! It’s not fair on either of them, and it’s not fair on you! Let him go! Can’t you just accept that he has Isabella?’ She narrowed her eyes, teeth bared menacingly. Thunder rumbled in the clear blue skies and a cold wind whipped against me, barely even touching her. I locked my muscles and stood my ground.She bristled. ‘NO! I won’t let him go! Don’t you see how much I’ve put into getting him back, from her? Don’t you see how much of a waste of time she is? She is scarred for life - literally - while I am beauty incarnate. Why would I let him ruin his life by deciding to be with such a disgusting thing?’I narrowed my eyes at her, using my power of time manipulation to cancel out the breeze she’d cast. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You might not see it, but everyone else does. He is perfectly happy loving a scarred girl, and in my opinion that is love in its truest form! He isn’t with her for her looks, her popularity or her money! He is in love!’ Lainie threw up her hands and stalked past. I refused to allow her to leave so early though. ‘How do you think Starden feels? He knows you’re using him, and for what? Just to dump him in favour for someone else later on? Come on, Lainie! Where is your humanity?’She turned on her heel and glared at me, pushing me back by my shoulders with both hands. ‘Humanity? Humanity? Do you really want to talk about humanity? Well, here’s some news sister: we are not human. Not completely, at least. We turn into mythological creatures, for Christ’s sake! We have no real concept of so-called “humanity!” You’re only kidding yourself if you think there is. No, this is our life. Life’s not meant to be fair, so we have to try and make our own happiness. My love is Ryker, but I stay with Starden because when I feel empty inside, connecting with him is the only way I can feel some semblance of happiness. I can’t let Starden go before I have Ryker, because I know I won’t be able to cope with the loneliness, the pain. I can’t!’Silence fell between us, interrupted only by the slight calls of seagulls and the occasional boat that crept through the waters. Eventually Lainie seemed to calm slightly, easing her powers away from the skies, the wind and the seas. Her power of persuasion was terrifying, but with my power of time manipulation I knew I was strong enough to cancel out anything she threw at me. Still, it did very little to calm the nervousness I felt flying through me, a sensation similar to the dread of butterflies in one’s stomach.‘Lainie, I-’ I started but trailed off as laughter filled the air. A sparkling sailboat crawled alongside the docks, but didn’t stop at one as it glided by. It was chillingly similar to the boat Lainie and I had been on only a few months ago. One that had been targeted by Poseidon in an attempt to persuade Cronus into believing that Lainie and I meant nothing to him but only succeeded in putting us in hospital and our family in danger. I shuddered, a cool chill tracing its freezing fingertips down my spine.The boat came closer until it was almost aligned with the docks where Lainie and I stood, revealing four people that neither Lainie nor I really needed or wanted to see. Music blared and sun tans were in the process as Isabella and another blonde girl our age baked on the decking. Ryker had bent over Isabella, her burns in full view as she lay there, his hands massaging her back as he applied tanning lotion to her. When I saw the fourth person - tall, dark and handsome - sitting beside the blonde, my heart gave a small and painful thump.Xanthias had his eyes shut, bare and pale chest in full view as he kept below the shade of an umbrella. The blonde gave another shrill laugh and punched his side playfully, earning another painful jolt in my heart.Xanthias and I hadn’t spoken in the time that Lainie had left with Poseidon and Amphitrite. He and I had kissed on the evening that Cronus had chosen to harm our family, shortly after he had almost been killed by Cronus’ hell hound in an attempt to save me. Ever since, I had only seen him a handful of times, and never alone. He always turned away first, fleeing my presence as though I was poison. These days, I wondered if I really was.‘IRIS! LAINIE! HELLO!’ Isabella had spotted us, pulling away her sunglasses so she could meet our gazes with a wide smile. She waved dramatically, swinging her arm over her head. Her sudden yell drew the attention of the others, earning Lainie a cold shoulder from Ryker and an icy glare from Xanthias. He tapped the glass window behind his head and yelled something I couldn’t hear, then the sail boat groaned and picked up speed. I gave Isabella a small wave as the boat sailed away.‘How’s lover boy?’ Lainie asked, knowing very well the situation due to our unwelcome reception. I shrugged.‘As you said,’ I pointed out, ‘life’s not meant to be fair.’
To be released 31/10/14!
September 27, 2014
Night On The Town: Budget Style
Night On The Town: Budget Style by missa-watson featuring a cropped leather vest
Black bodycon dress
ustrendy.com
Cropped leather vest
toofastonline.com
Light blue purse
amazon.com
Metallic eyeshadow
esteelauder.com
Guerlain flat nail polish
$27 - johnlewis.com
September 26, 2014
Pay Day Inspirations: Bathroom.
Pay Day Inspirations: Bathroom. by missa-watson featuring black white bathroom accessories
Traditional lighting
lampsplus.com
Allure Home Creations duck shower curtain
casa.com
Tissue box holder
uncommongoods.com
Zara Home bath rug
zarahome.com
Christy bath towel
$49 - amara.com
Biba bath accessory
$23 - houseoffraser.co.uk
Black white bathroom accessory
$18 - design55online.co.uk
H M turquoise bath accessory
$9.76 - hm.com
Word wall art
etsy.com
White cotton robe
wayfair.com
Whale Watch Wastebasket
target.com
