Cindy Lyle's Blog, page 3

Working on it!!

This is a message to everyone who has read and is planning to read my novel. I’m aware of the editing issues and I’m working on them as we speak. I want to thank everyone who gave me honest reviews because without them I wouldn’t have been aware of them. Thankfully the editing issues haven’t swayed my fans too much and I apologize for the mistakes. Rest assured I will have the revised version of my novel published soon. Thanks so much everyone for your support and I’ll talk to you soon.

Cheers

Editing and Reviews

For most indie authors editing and reviews become the bane of your new author existence. I paid a substantial amount to get my work professionally edited only to find out through a few precious reviews that my editor failed. Now granted I should have tried to do a better job proofreading and maybe saved myself a little grief but this was my first novel and I had no idea what to expect. I’ve put this experience towards a lesson learned and in my future novels I will be more vigilant in what I publish. Don’t get me wrong, I loved what my editor did and they really did help me a lot, I just wish I would have had a little more guidance.

Now for the second part of my post…reviews. Love them or hate them, they are a necessity in getting your name and novel out in the public eye. The review process was a real eye opener for me. I had to develop a thick skin pretty quickly and no matter how many awesome reviews you get, it’s that one or two horrible ones that stick in your mind. Now I know I can’t please everyone but it really bothers me when they pretty much just come out and say; your book sucked, what were you thinking? I appreciate any comments readers are willing to give me, because without their feedback I wouldn’t have known that I needed to do more work on my editing. The thing that bothers me is how some readers go about telling you. I have been fortunate enough to have some wonderful reviewers who although bluntly pointed out my flaws, they did it tastefully and I didn’t feel like crawling in a hole and not come back out. Some reviews I’ve read for other books just makes my skin crawl because I know how the author must be feeling reading them. I guess what I’m trying to say is authors, don’t be afraid to put your self out there and get those reviews, but try and have an open mind when they start coming in. If you know in your heart your work is good and that it deserves recognition, than you will get it, just don’t expect to please everyone. And to the readers out there, I know you have the right to your opinion and authors depend on that, but please try to remember that I’m sure you have dreams too. Imagine you poured your soul into something only to have it crushed in some strangers hand. Authors know we make mistakes and we know we won’t please everyone, but there really is no excuse to be rude or just plain mean.

I really hope I haven’t offended anyone because that was not my intent. I love my readers and I hope to gain more. I welcome their feedback and I can’t wait to share the rest of my story with you. To all you new indie authors out there: Don’t give up! If you believe in what you write and you put forth the effort and hard work your project deserves, you will succeed. Thanks for taking the time to read this and good luck in all your future endeavours, what ever they may be.

Cheers

Just started Book two!

I had forgotten how fun writing actually is! I have been so caught up in promoting The Dragon Within that I think I started to lose focus on why I wrote it in the first place; because I enjoy telling the story. So today I got back to my story and started writing the sequel to my book, The Dragon Calls. Wish me luck!

My First Book Signing

So my first book signing is coming up in a few days and I’m a little nervous. Has anyone been to a book signing or have you done a signing yourself? I’m not sure what to expect and any tips or advice would be greatly apreciated! Thanks!

Self Publishing- Love it or Hate it?

I was surfing different sites today mainly ones with my novel displayed, looking for reviews and I came across some different discussions about self publishing. I was a little alarmed to see that a lot of people will not even give a self published novel a good look due to bad past experiences. I realize that some self published books out there are not the best but the same can be said about traditional published authors as well. I guess my question that I am left asking myself is was I wrong to choose this path? I love my book and know that it was done professionaly but it is hard not to be discouraged when the main stream readers won’t give your book the recognition it deserves. I admit I have read a couple of sb books that were not very good but that won’t stop me from checking out more, because they are out there. If it were not for the wonderful people that have sites dedicated to indie authors I think we would have been left out in the cold. My thanks and love go out to all of you that do such a great job with your blogs and help keep our voices heard!

What do you think? Have you self-published? Do you enjoy reading indie authors? How do we get rid of the bad rep?

Where did you come up with that??

I have had a lot of people ask me “Where in the world did you get these ideas from?”, so I thought I would give it shot. I have no idea!! LOL. Well I guess that’s not quite true. I read a lot and unfortunately what I read almost always invades my dreams. That’s where The Dragon Within started. I woke up one morning with this idea and I ran down stairs to write it down before I forgot. Everything just kind of happened from there. I must have changed the plot and characters a hundred times before  I realized what direction I wanted to take my story and by the time I was done it was nothing like the dream I had. Writing for me is like an extension of myself that I otherwise would keep hidden from people. It lets me express my views and opinions without being ridiculed. Where else but in fantasy can you create a world full of magical beings and lands but still be able to relate to your characters. It is easy to pretend that these fantastic things can happen to you and it’s awesome to let your mind escape from the real world.

I’m not sure if I actually answered the question but that’s pretty much the only explanation I have for my crazy imagination. Writing is damn hard work but it’s so worth it! Now if you will excuse me I need to write a few things down before my head explodes. I had one of those dreams again last night and the ideas are already pouring out. Sweet dreams my friends and who knows maybe you have a great story roaming around in your head. My advice…keep a pen and paper next to your bed. You never know!

Cheers!

It’s Here!

So I’m sitting here staring at my book in my lap and I can’t help but feel a sence of awe. I did it, I really did it and I couldn’t be happier. Its one thing to see your work on a computer but to actually hold it in your hand is beyond words. Being able to share some of the crazy things that go on inside my head is amazing and I hope there are others out there who are just has crazy as me! I just want to run around and do my happy dance but my husband tells me that I should really keep that to myself, lol. So I will settle for this keyboard and hope that someone else reads this and can share my excitement. Now if you will excuse me A few drinks are definately in order! Cheers!

The Dragon Within

I gently placed my hand on Elric’s arm and nudged him aside so I could face his father. He was still angry, but the look of hatred was gone from his eyes. Now there was only fear and uncertainty.

“I am truly sorry I have brought my dilemma to your doorstep. I am so grateful to you and Anora for taking care of me and loving me for the last eighteen years, but you are right. I am a danger to you and this village. I have to turn myself in to the Dark Lord, and maybe he will leave you alone. You have survived for 300 years without me. I cannot see what possible difference I can make.”

Elric spun me around to face him. “No, I can’t believe you’re giving up. What happened to the girl who used to follow me around everywhere and get us into all sorts of trouble, and who made me teach her how to use a sword? What happened to the girl who used to pretend to fight shape-shifters and Litui? You are a fighter. You have fire in your blood, so don’t give up now.”

Elric held me at arm’s length, but I wanted nothing more than to close the gap and let him hold and protect me, but I shrugged his hands away and moved closer to Fitch.

“I’m not strong enough to be the person you want me to be. Those were just games we played when we were young and naïve. I’m a nobody who is lost and alone and will just cause pain to the ones I care about.”

Feeling lost and trapped with seemingly no way out are common emotions. Everyone at some point in their lifes have hit walls that seemed impassable, I know I have, but somehow you fight and and claw your way back up to the top and you are stronger than you were before. That’s the power of the human spirit and even though Karah isn’t human she has some of our strongest qualities, but also some of our worst. Dragons, magic and the supernatural fuel our imaginations creating beautiful deadly worlds but the core of our stories are about being human, and what it means to us.

I hope you enjoy Karahs journey has she tries to discover her destiny and like me I hope you choose to listen to and never silence your dragon within.