Ariella Moon's Blog, page 22

3 Ways to Improve Your Book Edits

Book Editing and Proofreading

My editor and I had spent two months and untold hours editing my upcoming Young Adult adventure fantasy novel, The Beltane Escape, Book One: The Two Realms Trilogy. When we finished, I sent the manuscript to two trusted readers. One flagged a few errors. The other raised a few questions about the plot. I corrected the line edits and tweaked a plot point, then kicked the manuscript back to my editor.

We finally agreed the manuscript was ready.

We were wrong.

As the holidays bore down on me, I emailed the final version of The Beltane Escape to the formatters. Over the Winter Solstice I proofed the galleys for the ebook version and noted a couple of errors. When the corrected galleys came back, foolishly, I only checked to make sure the mistakes I had flagged had been fixed. They had been fixed. Galleys approved.

I thought I was golden.

I was wrong.

The e-files arrived in my inbox. Awesome. I went Christmas shopping while I waited for the galleys for the print version. By the time the new galleys arrived, I was desperate for a mental health break. A friend dragged me to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Imagine my surprise when I saw the final setting. I used he same location for a pivotal scene in the upcoming third book of the Two Realms Trilogy! Shocked and re-energized, I went home and tackled the next round of proofreading.

I didn't expect to find any errors.

I was wrong.

Here are the lessons I learned:

3 Ways to Improve Your Book Edits
1. Hire Fresh Eyes. Even excellent editors and seasoned authors reach a point where they can no longer spot errors. If your publisher doesn't provide a proof editor, or if you are self-publishing, hire a proofreader. I called the editor for my The Teen Wytche Saga to proof the galleys for The Beltane Escape.

 2. Allow Enough Time. When setting a release date, factor in plenty of time for editing,  especially over the holidays and major life events.

3. Take Breaks. Give your eyes and mind a break by taking frequent breaks. Take a walk. Go to the movies. Do something physically or mentally stimulating before returning to the manuscript.

May the Editing Force be with you.
~Ariella

THE BELTANE ESCAPE, BOOK ONE: THE TWO REALMS TRILOGYAvailable February 2016

New Contemporary Romance from Kathy Bosman

It’s Called Feng Shui
Sweet Contemporary Romance
ByKathy Bosman

Blurb:
Renni has burned out from being on tour as the drummer of ‘Eat Your Words.’ When she visits Nolan’s spa at Block Island for a day, she impulsively applies for a position as the assistant massage therapist as a means to drop out of tour.
Nolan is taken aback by the woman in his office with pitch black hair and body piercings. He can’t imagine her working in his spa, but her persistence fascinates him so he gives her the job — on one condition — she gets rids of the excess piercings.
The attraction between Nolan and Renni is immediate despite being opposite personalities. Renni’s fresh energy and charm draws Nolan as does his intensity attract her. Finding they have a lot more in common than expected, they fall in love, but Nolan has a secret and Renni carries baggage from past hurt. Will they focus on their differences or the things that draw them close?

Excerpt 1
The resort reception area was almost a clone of the one in the spa, yet with three indoor plants and a fountain instead of a large fish tank. Palms were potted in large urns sculpted like Greek columns. Minimalist was a good word for the décor — simple blues, silver, and white — peaceful colors and clean lines. Renni didn’t have much time to consider the connection she made with Feng Shui and Mr. Richie’s comment to her earlier, because he was the one behind the reception desk. Bracing herself for his usual glare, she walked up to him and smiled.“Don’t you take a break?” She rested her hands on the counter. Close up, he was austere but also uncomfortably handsome. Maybe his austere manner added to the handsome, almost unapproachable feel he gave her, like a demi-god one had to pay homage to in order to gain his approval.A laugh wanted to bubble out of her at the image. Somehow, he didn’t intimidate her as much as Peggy made out he should. She liked his cold exterior, because she knew it hid something brewing and bubbling beneath the surface. At the moment he was the perfect antithesis to the flirty Curtis. Maybe he was one of the many treasures Block Island enticed to be discovered. Also, she loved that he didn’t idolize her like other men did. He couldn’t care less if her band had won an American Music Award for Favorite Rock Band or reached the top of the charts.“Your hair’s still black.”“Donna did a good job, didn’t she?”“At least it’s not as black.”She laughed and then took a breath. The exhaustion of the last few months still wanted to take away her laughter and her oxygen. It weighed heavy on her, and she suddenly didn’t feel like fighting with her new boss.“I’d like a room, please.”“We only have one available. We’re fully booked.”“I’ll take it.”He froze for a moment, his eyes large, and then he put on a professional smile. “It’s next to the penthouse suite on the top floor.”“Um…do you live here?”“In the penthouse suite.”Figures. The man doesn’t fancy being near to me. Too bad. I need to rest. For a long time.“How much?”He gave her a figure. Oh well, her savings would be seriously reduced. She sincerely hoped she would soon find a rental home on the island.“But it’s in terrible disrepair. I haven’t allowed anyone in there for months it’s in such a bad state. So, I won’t charge you anything to stay there.”“Oh, thanks.”He grunted. “You probably won’t say thanks when you see it. I’ll fix it up for you.”“You don’t have to.”“I should.” He focused on a computer screen and input something with lightning-fast finger-work.Okay, maybe Peggy was right. He did have good inside. Buried deep inside.“You’re very kind.”He jerked his head up and stared at her, his mouth gaping.“How come you haven’t removed the metal yet?” The mouth transformed to a thin line immediately.“Um…I want to do it in front of a mirror in private, if you don’t mind. The room does have a mirror?”Was that a blush? “I’m not sure. I’ll have to check.”“May I have the keys?”He unlocked a panel on the wall and removed a key from a hook. When he put the key in her hand, tingles ran up her arm. Whoa! She hadn’t felt that way with anyone the last few years except for Curtis. Curtis! Did she have to think of him?

Author Bio:
Kathy loves reading and writing even more. She homeschools her three kids, so in between unsuccessfully explaining the difference between subject and predicate or how to divide fractions, she enters an imaginary world of troubled and passionate characters whose stories take over the page. Kathy lives in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters cool, and bugs thrive. Her first published novel, Wedding Gown Girl, came out in 2012 with Astraea Press (Clean Reads). She belongs to the Romance Writers of South Africa Group (ROSA) which has been her greatest support and inspiration the last few years.
Buy Links:
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Online Links for Kathy:
Website and blog: http://www.kathybosman.com/
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5257900.Kathy_Bosman
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gracewalk17
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Bosman/e/B007GCQBNK
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxifimh0X62uZLvKkon8tDQ
Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/NokET
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KathleenLBosman

Tweets for the Book:
Opposites attract but can they love each other forever? #sweetromance#CleanReads#KathyBosmanhttp://www.amazon.com/Called-Feng-Shui-Kathy-Bosman-ebook/dp/B017I49JE8

Karen King Returns With a New Magical Book

Two days until Halloween/Samhain! What better way to celebrate than with Witch Angel, The Sceptre of Trutha new book for middle grade readers by Karen King.




Karen King has had over one hundred and twenty children’s books published by mainstream publishers such as Walker, Scholastic, Harper Collins and Macmillan. She’s written for many children's magazines too including Sindy, Barbie, Winnie the Pooh and Thomas the Tank Engine. She writes for all ages and in all genres; story books, picture books, plays, joke books, non-fiction and YA.

So nice to have you back on my blog, Karen! How did you get started writing? I've always written. I had my first poem published when I was 11. I started my writing career with Jackie magazine, writing articles and photo stories.
Are you a Plotter or a Pantser? It depends whether I'm writing to a commission or not. If I'm commissioned I have to plot as I have to send a synopsis and the first couple of chapters to my editor. If I'm not writing to a commission I work out the basic outline of my story then write 'by the seat of my pants.'
Are you most productive in the morning or evening? Morning. Often I get out of bed and start writing straight away. I'm full of ideas in the morning.
Connect with Karen King Website FacebookGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashb...Twitter: @karen_kingPinterest
Should Aluna betray her father to save the world?
BlurbAluna’s father is the Master Wizard of the Katalan. On her thirteenth birthday she is initiated into the coven and swears allegiance to her clan. Then she has a vision about the mother she has never known and a gold sceptre with an eagle’s head handle.
She discovers that the mysterious new girl, Raffie, who appeared out of nowhere is looking for the same sceptre. Aluna hopes the sceptre will lead her to her mother so swears an oath of friendship with Raffie, pledging to find it together only to discover that Raffie is Angleyt. They are sworn enemies.
Aluna’s father is looking for the sceptre too, as are the evil Bygnorim.  Will Aluna really betray her father? What dreadful secret is he hiding about her mother? Aluna and Raffie face terrible danger in their quest. Are their combined powers strong enough or will Darke Magyck win?
Extract Something caught her eye. A sphere of brilliant light was shooting down through the sky. She stared at it, butterflies of excitement fluttering in her stomach. It must be a shooting star. She could make a wish. Jumbled thoughts of the things she could wish for raced across her mind, but only one stood out. It always did. “I wish I could find my mother,” she whispered.
The glowing star continued plunging, plummeting down towards the bushes just ahead of her. It wasn’t a shooting star. It was a falling star! Aluna ran towards the bushes, eager to get a glimpse of this wonder. What would a star look like? Would she be able to take it back and show the others?
The star disappeared behind the bushes. Panting now, Aluna raced towards it, her feet barely touching the ground beneath her. Thankfully, she had always been nimble-footed. Many a time she had crept softly behind Sariah, the housekeeper, and had made her almost jump out of her skin. Once, Sariah had been so shocked she’d dropped the pie she’d just taken out of the oven. 
Be quick but quiet, she told herself as she ran. Could you scare a star?
She was at the bush. She could still see the light glowing behind it, so bright it dazzled her. Using her hands to shield her eyes from the glow she peered around the bush.
The light was fading. Aluna moved her hands from her eyes so she could see better and pushed her hood back. Where was the star? The light flickered, then a shape started to form in it. She watched, transfixed as the shape turned into a girl about Aluna’s age, slim with long hair tumbling over her shoulders. The girl stretched up her arms as if embracing the heavens. Aluna let out a gasp of astonishment and the girl spun around, her eyes widening with shock as they rested on Aluna.  For a moment they both stared at each other. The star girl’s eyes locked with Aluna’s, and a lightness filled her mind. It was as if the girl could read her mind, her soul. In a panic, Aluna tore her eyes away, grabbed her basket and fled, muttering the protection spell under her breath.

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Ariella Moon at The Romance Studio!

I am at The Romance Studio today, talking about Psychics, Ghosts, and Halloween: When The Veil Between Worlds Thins
The countdown until Halloween/Samhain continues!
AriellaMoon.com

Ghosts on My Mind

Ghosts are often on my mind, not just around Halloween and Samhain. So it is no wonder ghosts appear throughout the Teen Wytche Saga. One of my favorites, Bayou, a teen Louisiana ghost from the seventies, pops up in Spell For Sophia:

"Well, look who is here." The ghost bugged her eyes at Yemaya. "Gal, I thought I'd seen the last of y'all." She scanned our faces, latched onto me last, and waved.

Without thinking, I waved back.

"Oh, great," Yemaya muttered under her breath.

The ghost said to Yemaya, "Far out! One of your friends can see me." She gave me a head-to-toe appraisal. "I like your threads."

"Um, thanks."

"What's going on?" Salem demanded.

"She's not my friend," Yemaya said. "I just met her."

"You two okay?" Evie asked.

"Fine," Yemaya and I said in unison.

"Jinx!" The ghost smiled, revealing teeth in need of braces. The word hurtled me back to a sleepover with Sophia and a memorable zombie movie.

Spell For Sophia, Book 4, The Teen Wytche Saga
While Bayou inserts some levity into the story, other ghosts in the novel reflect the Big Easy's painful past:

1920 painting of Marie Laveau (1794–1881) by Frank Schneider, based on an 1835 painting (now lost?) by George Catlin.Dawn broke, casting a soft glow. The street now teemed with ghosts. Two Creole women dressed in wide-tiered gowns swished past. A monk hurried to the church. A yellow fever victim slumped against the side of a building and vomited what looked like coffee grounds. I swallowed hard and gave him a wide berth, flying while I stared.
Too late I sensed another presence and swiveled my head. I came eye to yellow eye with a trio of yellow fever victims. Blood streamed from their eyes, noses, and mouths. Unable to stop, I passed through them. Heebie jeebies! Heebie jeebies! The hysteria I had staved off in the Void unleashed. Shrieking, I batted at my face, certain their blood, their germs, their death clung to my auric field.
New Orleans is one of the three most haunted cities in the United States. In a way, every day is Halloween in the Big Easy.Copyright 2015 Ariella Moon

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New Adults, New Halloween Traditions

Updating a Halloween Tradition  


Maintaining family traditions can be a challenge as children grow up, move away, and form new families of their own. Young adults may make an effort to return home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and/or Kwanzaa, but Halloween? Not so much.
When my daughter was in elementary school, an October highlight was the annual trip to a working farm in Brentwood, California. We breathed in dust during the jostling mile-long hayride to the pumpkin fields. Then the treasure hunt commenced—the race to find just the right pumpkin out of a seemingly endless sea of orange. Afterward, we sipped apple cider under a brilliant blue sky before tackling a cornstalk maze.
Flash forward sixteen years.
My daughter lives with her boyfriend in a congested urban jungle. Not a pumpkin patch or corn maze in sight. But Brilliant Beautiful Daughter discovered a new type of pumpkin patch, one that combined our mutual love of art, philanthropy, and shopping. Instead of a farm, we visited the Glass Pumpkin Patch at Santana Row in San Jose.
Glass Pumpkins
The Glass Pumpkin Patch is the brainchild of the non-profit Bay Area Glass Institute. Money raised from the event helps cover the Institute’s operating costs so it can continue to offer affordable workspace for glass blowers, and offer classes to the public.
The weekend event attracted young families, twenty-something tech workers and college students, seniors, and art lovers of all ages.
Glass Pumpkins at Santana Row, San Jose
After browsing the artful pumpkins created by nine local artists, we sat outdoors and listened to live music while feasting on delicious cupcakes from nearby Kara’s Cupcakes.
If, and when, grandchildren come along, we will head back to the farm. In the meantime, I can’t think of a better way to update a great Halloween tradition than a visit to the Glass Pumpkin Patch. Carrot Cake Cupcake from Kara's Cupcakes

Copyright 2015 Ariella Moon
http://www.AriellaMoon.com

Second Chance at Love

Rachel Jones is back with a new contemporary romance!


TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE
 A touchdown for the coach when the music teacher accepts his love

BLURB:From childhood, Virginia Manning has planned for a career as a concert clarinetist. Blindsided by family circumstances, her plans are interrupted, taking her down a path she would never have chosen. As a music teacher, Virginia’s relationship with the football coach goes from problematic to romantic. After Blake’s brush with death, a scared Virginia runs away looking for the contentment music has always brought to her life. Because Blake Oliver has experienced disappointment and pain, he opts for a fresh start in a small New England town. Accepting the position of football coach, he isn’t looking for love when it finds him. But when Virginia leaves to pursue a performance career, Blake realizes it’s not where you live but having someone to love that matters. His only problem is making her understand that as well.
Buy Link  Amazon

EXCERPT:She pulled her arms across her chest in an attempt to calm her shivering. Bright lights reflected from her rearview mirror, the only headlights she had seen since she had stopped on the side of the ride. Releasing a sigh of relief, she waited for flashing blue lights to interrupt the blackness surrounding the car. No blue lights. Her heart began racing at hearing a car door slam. She was alone, on a deserted highway. Checking the locks on her doors, she thought about driving away, but how far could she go with a flat tire?A tap on the passenger window made her jump. “Hey.” The dark night made it impossible to see the face outside the passenger window. Fear made it impossible to move. “Come on, Gin. It’s wet out here.”No one else called her Gin. She hit the automatic button releasing the lock and Blake pulled the door open. Relief flooded her body and was replaced by anger.          “Blake — you nearly scared me to death.”“Not the best time for a flat tire. You’re soaked.”“You’re not so very dry yourself.”“Where are you headed?”“I was on my way home. I had an early dinner with my family before they left for the weekend. Staying to play my piano wasn’t a bad idea — I just got caught up in my music.” She loved how her music could take her away from everything, but the downside was eventually she had to come back to reality. “Anyway, I was going through my options when you drove up.”“Your spare is lying in the mud.”“I was going to try changing it, but when the lightning started, I chickened out.”“Well, you can’t drive all the way to Boston soaked to the skin. And I really don’t want to change a tire in this downpour.”“So what do you suggest I do?”“Let me take you back to your sister’s house. You can stay the night and deal with the tire in the morning.”Virginia didn’t respond, didn’t want this moment to end. He was here, beside her and the intensity of how much she had missed him came crashing down upon her like tumultuous waves hitting a jagged rock wall along the seashore.“Gin?”She looked up. “That sounds good.”As he leaned over and pulled the keys from the ignition, it took all Virginia’s willpower to keep from pulling him close. AUTHOR BIO:It was thoughts of what she would do after retirement from a twenty-eight-year career in healthcare that spurred Rachel to begin writing her first manuscript in March of 2012. Needing guidance and support with her new endeavor, she joined local and national writing groups. Rachel signed her first contract in 2013 and her debut novel, To Dance One More Day was released in June of 2014. She is eagerly awaiting retirement to write full time. A music enthusiast for decades, Rachel resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with her husband of thirty-seven years and a spoiled Labrador retriever. She is a member of Georgia Writers Association, Georgia Romance Writers and is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:https://www.racheljonesauthor.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/RachelJonesAuthor?ref=hlhttps://twitter.com/RJonesAuthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8336834.Rachel_Jones

Ancestor Altars and Samhain Altars

Venerating the Beloved Dead
As Halloween and Samhain (SOW-en) near, the veil between worlds thins and your thoughts may turn toward your ancestors, the Beloved Dead. Many cultures and religions worldwide venerate ancestors and honor them with altars. These can be permanent household shrines containing a photo of the deceased and a candle, and perhaps the urn containing their ashes. As the Reverend Carolina Deanexplains, typical Ancestor Altars contain:A White Altar ClothA Glass of WaterWhite CandlesWhite FlowersPhotographs and/or belongings of deceased relativesSome Voodoo practitioners include graveyard dirt on their ancestor altars. An altar creates a focal point for communing with the Beloved Dead. Keep in mind that not all ancestors are friendly or good. You may want to dedicate a spot on your altar for your Unknown Ancestors (common among African Americans whose ancestral ties were disrupted by slavery). If calling upon your ancestors for aid, be sure to qualify your request. “I hereby call upon my helpful ancestors, known and unknown, whose assistance is in keeping with my highest good.” Be sure to thank the ancestors for their assistance, and perhaps leave a gratitude offering.


Samhain Altars Samhain, the Witches' New Year, is an ancient Celtic holiday, that marks the end of the growing season. It eventually evolved into Halloween, a separate and quite different holiday. Samhain rituals are somber religious events focusing on the recently departed. As renowned Pagan Elder Selena Fox   wrote in her article, Celebrating Samhain, "For those who have lost loved ones in the past year, Samhain rituals can be an opportunity to bring closure to grieving and to further adjust to their being in the Otherworld by spiritually communing with them."


Honey, a beloved dog, never forgotten  Unlike ancestor altars, Samhain altars honor loved ones —friends, family members, and pets —who died since the last Samhain. In private group altars, each photo may be passed around the circle while stories are told about the loved one who has departed. In large public gatherings, such as Reclaiming's Spiral Dance  the names of the recently departed are read aloud.

Samhain Altars contain:·      A Black Altar Cloth·      Black Candles (some people prefer red)·      Photos and/or mementos of those who have passed.
The altar may be set up for the month of October or just for the sabbat ritual. Some Wicca practitioners set up a separate altar (a good distance from the black altar) to honor those who were born since the last Samhain. The birth altars should be dressed with white altar cloths, and white, pink, or blue candles, and baby rattles or booties, and flowers.
Related Reading                                                Samhain/Halloween PicturesInsideAWitch'sNewYear                                http://www.pinterest.com/ariellamoon



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Copyright © 2015 Ariella Moon                   

Starlight Chronicles on Sale!

This series is on my kindle, and I can't wait to read it!
“The Starlight Chronicles”The box set is on sale for $.99!
Blurb:
Lark Singer is seventeen years old and already on the way to a brilliant music career. But as she and her band, Starlight, gear up for a competition, life seems to be throwing her a few curve balls. The mysteries of her past seem to be unraveling, and she’s no longer certain she wants to know those answers or how knowing about her past will affect her difficult relationship with her mother. And when her best friend, Bean, changes things between them, all her plans for a musical future are placed in jeopardy. How can she balance her complicated personal life to keep her musical goals on track?
BOX SET CONTAINS ALL THREE BOOKS IN THE STARLIGHT SERIES:
Gideon Lee Lark Singer Starlight
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Ghostly Encounters

This month I will delve into Halloween/Samhain, giving you an insider’s peek at Ghosts, Witches, and the Beloved Dead. So curl up with a black cat and cup of apple cider. First up:
Ghostly Encounters
In my work as a shaman and psychic, my encounters with ghosts fall on the spectrum from sweet to disturbing. Very few are sweet. Among the nicest spirits are those who attend the bedside of the dying. If they give me their name, I’ll ask the family, “Is there a Margaret who has passed?” Usually the first presence I notice is a towering angel. Minutes may tick by before I sense the less commanding spirits, family or friends. They position themselves near the dying person, whereas the angel stands back. But all are there to guide the new spirit into the Light.
One ghost who desperately needed help with her transition was Maryanne. One of the sweetest, and most heart-wrenching ghosts I have ever encountered, Maryanne had been trapped for decades in the surgery of a closed medical center. As soon as I entered the cavernous building with its warren of connecting rooms, Maryanne rushed up to me and told me her name. I felt her anxious presence beside me as the building’s owner led me to the dark, windowless operating room. It was a relief for all of us when a hand (I can’t remember if it was Maryannne’s mother of grandmother) reached down to guide her out. In gratitude, Maryanne surprised me by aiding me in a few subsequent spirit rescues. I was touched by her assistance.

Not all ghosts are as sweet as Maryanne. I was once stuck in a hotel room where a knife-wielding spirit kept re-enacting a crime she had committed. Fortunately, the knife only existed on the spirit realm. But unlike some ghosts, which I can only hear, or see as a shimmering form, the hotel room ghost was as vivid as a movie. Hard to sleep when an enraged woman keeps coming at you, over and over, with a raised knife!
As we progress through October and the veil between worlds thins, be aware if a departed loved one keeps entering your thoughts. (For me, it is often a particular beloved pet.) Acknowledge them with love, for they are visiting you from the Other Side.
If you prefer your ghostly encounters to happen safely within a novel, I invite you to read my Teen Wytche Saga, Spell Check, Spell Struck, Spell Fire, and Spell For Sophia.

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~Ariella MoonCopyright © 2015 Ariella Moon