E.J. Wesley's Blog, page 10
March 21, 2013
Character Closeups: The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 3
Hey gang! Today is the final installment of this week's Polar Night (by Julie Flanders) character closeups. We get our first villain (or is he?) today, so it should be fun.
Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a free digital copy of Polar Night. (NOTE: Only 1 entry per post will be counted for the drawing, so you can have your name put in up to three times if you comment on each one.) We'll draw the winner over the weekend and announce here on the blog next week.
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by this week to check out the closeups and cheer Julie on. :)
~EJW~
The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 3
1. Character Name: Aleksei Nechayev
2. Physical description: I don’t mean to sound conceited, but I’m extremely attractive. I’m very tall and very well-built, and I have blond hair and dark blue eyes that many women have told me are to die for.
3. Hero or villain: Most people would say I’m a villain, although I don’t really see it that way. I’m just doing what I need to get by and find some happiness in life.
4. Where do you live? I live in Coldfoot, Alaska in an old state asylum that I’ve converted into a tourist attraction/haunted house. Coldfoot is only about 240 miles south of the Arctic Ocean, and our population in the 2010 census was 10. I like my privacy, so that suits me just fine, especially during the winter months when the tourist attraction part of my home closes for the season.
5. What is my problem? I’d like to find a beautiful woman to spend my winter with. My biggest obstacle is a Fairbanks detective who seems to think he knows something about me, and keeps turning up at my home and violating my privacy.
6. Do I have a secret? I do. I’m much older than people think I am, and I like keeping my age a secret. If people knew the truth, they’d ask too many questions.
7. What is the most honorable or good thing I’ve ever done? I fought for my country in the war and nearly died for my efforts.
8. Do I believe in self-sacrifice for the greater good? Absolutely not. After my experience in the war, I know that whole idea is absurd. I really don’t believe in self-sacrifice at all. What’s the point? I believe in looking out for myself and getting what I want out of life.
Read more about Aleksei's schemings in Polar Night!
When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.
The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.
Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.
Purchase Polar Night Here
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords
About The Author
Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Her debut novel Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Find Julie online at her blog, and on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a free digital copy of Polar Night. (NOTE: Only 1 entry per post will be counted for the drawing, so you can have your name put in up to three times if you comment on each one.) We'll draw the winner over the weekend and announce here on the blog next week.
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by this week to check out the closeups and cheer Julie on. :)
~EJW~
The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 3
1. Character Name: Aleksei Nechayev
2. Physical description: I don’t mean to sound conceited, but I’m extremely attractive. I’m very tall and very well-built, and I have blond hair and dark blue eyes that many women have told me are to die for.
3. Hero or villain: Most people would say I’m a villain, although I don’t really see it that way. I’m just doing what I need to get by and find some happiness in life.
4. Where do you live? I live in Coldfoot, Alaska in an old state asylum that I’ve converted into a tourist attraction/haunted house. Coldfoot is only about 240 miles south of the Arctic Ocean, and our population in the 2010 census was 10. I like my privacy, so that suits me just fine, especially during the winter months when the tourist attraction part of my home closes for the season.
5. What is my problem? I’d like to find a beautiful woman to spend my winter with. My biggest obstacle is a Fairbanks detective who seems to think he knows something about me, and keeps turning up at my home and violating my privacy.
6. Do I have a secret? I do. I’m much older than people think I am, and I like keeping my age a secret. If people knew the truth, they’d ask too many questions.
7. What is the most honorable or good thing I’ve ever done? I fought for my country in the war and nearly died for my efforts.
8. Do I believe in self-sacrifice for the greater good? Absolutely not. After my experience in the war, I know that whole idea is absurd. I really don’t believe in self-sacrifice at all. What’s the point? I believe in looking out for myself and getting what I want out of life.
Read more about Aleksei's schemings in Polar Night!
When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.
The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.
Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.
Purchase Polar Night Here
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords
About The Author
Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Her debut novel Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Find Julie online at her blog, and on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
March 20, 2013
Character Closeups: The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 2
**UPDATE - Just received some very exciting personal news on the New Adult lit front! You can check it HERE (but come back and read Julie's closeup! :) I'll be blogging about it in more detail soon.**
Hey gang! Today is the second installment of this week's Polar Night (by Julie Flanders) character closeups. It's a story full of mystery and intrigue, with some cool supernatural twists. You can learn all about it below...
Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a free digital copy of Polar Night. (NOTE: Only 1 entry per post will be counted for the drawing, so you can have your name put in up to three times if you comment on each one.) We'll draw the winner over the weekend and announce here on the blog next week.
Hope you can stop back by tomorrow for the final installment, as we get a look at our first 'bad guy' of the book. :)
~EJW~
The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 2
1. Character Name: Amanda Fiske
2. Physical description: I’m tall and slender, with long blond hair and blue eyes. People have told me I look like I’m Scandinavian, which makes sense since my father’s family is Norwegian.
3. Hero or villain: Hero. I’ve tried to help out on some cases of missing women, but the police never want to listen to me.
4. Where do you live? I live in an apartment in Fairbanks, Alaska. I’m a librarian at the public library there. My apartment is cozy and I love to cook.
5. What is your biggest problem? I can’t get people to believe me when I try to tell them I can help find the missing women. They all think I’m crazy.
6. When were you most afraid? Ten years ago when I was nearly abducted in my hometown of Sitka. I barely got away from a man who tried to kidnap me.
7. What three words would you use to describe your personality? Open-minded, compassionate, and reserved.
8. What three words would others use to describe you? Crazy, anxious, and delusional.
Read more about Danny's investigation in Polar Night!
When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.
The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.
Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.
Purchase Polar Night Here
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords
About The Author
Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Her debut novel Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Find Julie online at her blog, and on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
Hey gang! Today is the second installment of this week's Polar Night (by Julie Flanders) character closeups. It's a story full of mystery and intrigue, with some cool supernatural twists. You can learn all about it below...
Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a free digital copy of Polar Night. (NOTE: Only 1 entry per post will be counted for the drawing, so you can have your name put in up to three times if you comment on each one.) We'll draw the winner over the weekend and announce here on the blog next week.
Hope you can stop back by tomorrow for the final installment, as we get a look at our first 'bad guy' of the book. :)
~EJW~
The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 2
1. Character Name: Amanda Fiske
2. Physical description: I’m tall and slender, with long blond hair and blue eyes. People have told me I look like I’m Scandinavian, which makes sense since my father’s family is Norwegian.
3. Hero or villain: Hero. I’ve tried to help out on some cases of missing women, but the police never want to listen to me.
4. Where do you live? I live in an apartment in Fairbanks, Alaska. I’m a librarian at the public library there. My apartment is cozy and I love to cook.
5. What is your biggest problem? I can’t get people to believe me when I try to tell them I can help find the missing women. They all think I’m crazy.
6. When were you most afraid? Ten years ago when I was nearly abducted in my hometown of Sitka. I barely got away from a man who tried to kidnap me.
7. What three words would you use to describe your personality? Open-minded, compassionate, and reserved.
8. What three words would others use to describe you? Crazy, anxious, and delusional.
Read more about Danny's investigation in Polar Night!
When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.
The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.
Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.
Purchase Polar Night Here
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords
About The Author
Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Her debut novel Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Find Julie online at her blog, and on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
March 18, 2013
Character Closeups: The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 1
Hey gang! Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I'm bringing you another round of character closeups, where we get to know three characters, on three different days, from one book or series.
This week's closeup will introduce us to the characters of Polar Night by Julie Flanders. It's a story full of mystery and intrigue, with some cool supernatural twists. You can learn all about it below...
Also, as a special treat, Julie is offering up one free eCopy of the book.
Just leave a comment on any of this week's Polar Night closeup posts (there'll be three of them), and you'll be entered for a chance to win. (NOTE: Only 1 entry per post will be counted in the drawing--so you can have up to three entries.) We'll draw the winner's name this weekend and announce on the blog next week.
Good luck! And I hope you enjoy. :)
The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 1
1. Character Name: Danny Fitzpatrick
2. Physical description: I’m tall and thin, with thick brown hair that is always coming unkempt no matter how many times I comb it. I have a long nose and brown eyes to match my hair. I’m lanky and have always been told I’m too thin.
3. Hero or villain: A reluctant hero, and could be considered an anti-hero
4. Where do you live? I live in Fairbanks, Alaska and work for the Fairbanks Police Department. I live in a building with four apartments but I haven’t bothered to get to know my neighbors. They’re quiet and keep to themselves, which works for me. My apartment really needs a paint job and could use some new furniture, but I’m rarely there except to sleep anyway so I can’t be bothered to decorate.
5. My problem or biggest obstacle: I’m trying to find a woman who has gone missing while I think there is a chance she’s still alive. I know who abducted her, but I don’t have any evidence to prove it. I just know I’m right.
6. What is my most memorable moment? The death of my wife. This was before I moved to Fairbanks, when she and I lived in my hometown of Chicago.
7. Have I ever been in love? Yes, I was in love with my wife Caroline. Describe what happened: She was murdered right in front of me.
8. What do you think of love? You can probably guess based on my previous answer, but I’m not big on love. It didn’t work out too well for me.
9. What are my goals? To find this missing woman while she’s still alive, and to solve the mystery of another woman who went missing a few years ago. And to drink enough alcohol to get through the day.
Read more about Danny's investigation in Polar Night!
When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.
The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.
Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.
Purchase Polar Night Here
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords
About The Author
Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Her debut novel Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Find Julie online at her blog, and on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
This week's closeup will introduce us to the characters of Polar Night by Julie Flanders. It's a story full of mystery and intrigue, with some cool supernatural twists. You can learn all about it below...
Also, as a special treat, Julie is offering up one free eCopy of the book.
Just leave a comment on any of this week's Polar Night closeup posts (there'll be three of them), and you'll be entered for a chance to win. (NOTE: Only 1 entry per post will be counted in the drawing--so you can have up to three entries.) We'll draw the winner's name this weekend and announce on the blog next week.
Good luck! And I hope you enjoy. :)
The Cast of Polar Night, Pt. 1
1. Character Name: Danny Fitzpatrick
2. Physical description: I’m tall and thin, with thick brown hair that is always coming unkempt no matter how many times I comb it. I have a long nose and brown eyes to match my hair. I’m lanky and have always been told I’m too thin.
3. Hero or villain: A reluctant hero, and could be considered an anti-hero
4. Where do you live? I live in Fairbanks, Alaska and work for the Fairbanks Police Department. I live in a building with four apartments but I haven’t bothered to get to know my neighbors. They’re quiet and keep to themselves, which works for me. My apartment really needs a paint job and could use some new furniture, but I’m rarely there except to sleep anyway so I can’t be bothered to decorate.
5. My problem or biggest obstacle: I’m trying to find a woman who has gone missing while I think there is a chance she’s still alive. I know who abducted her, but I don’t have any evidence to prove it. I just know I’m right.
6. What is my most memorable moment? The death of my wife. This was before I moved to Fairbanks, when she and I lived in my hometown of Chicago.
7. Have I ever been in love? Yes, I was in love with my wife Caroline. Describe what happened: She was murdered right in front of me.
8. What do you think of love? You can probably guess based on my previous answer, but I’m not big on love. It didn’t work out too well for me.
9. What are my goals? To find this missing woman while she’s still alive, and to solve the mystery of another woman who went missing a few years ago. And to drink enough alcohol to get through the day.
Read more about Danny's investigation in Polar Night!
When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.
The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.
Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.
Purchase Polar Night Here
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords
About The Author
Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Her debut novel Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Find Julie online at her blog, and on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
March 15, 2013
Boom Goes The MPAX
A Grand New Age of Boom or Dust?
Boomtown Craze, Book 3 in the Backworlds series is here!
In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendants to survive in a harsh universe.
To secure his future, Craze must propel his world into a more prosperous era. Only days away from the grand opening of his new and improved tavern, he is confronted by a loony Backworlder intent on mucking up his plans. Gaunt and trembling, she claims her spaceship is possessed. She also has a connection to the underworld that shakes loose the dark past of one of Craze’s closest friends. It all threatens to end Craze’s prosperity before it begins.
Meanwhile off world, Captain Talos works desperately to outwit the mercenary Jixes and lure them away from his and Craze’s budding prospects. The mind-control weapon Talos uses against them is wearing thin, and his next move may be his last.
Will Craze and Talos’s efforts bring about a grand new age of boom or damn them to forever struggle in the dust?
Available in ebook at:
AmazonUS / AmazonUK / B&N / Smashwords
Other Outlets can be found at http://mpaxauthor.com
It will also be available in paperback from Amazon shortly.
MPAX
M. Pax is a Browncoat and SG fan, she’s also slightly obsessed with Jane Austen. In the summers she docents as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory where the other astronomers now believe she has the most extensive collection of moon photos in existence. No fear, there will be more next summer. She lives in stunning Central Oregon with the Husband Unit and two lovely, spoiled cats.
Website / Blog ~ Twitter ~ FB ~ Goodreads
You can also find M. Pax on LinkedIN, Pinterest, YouTube, and Wattpad
From March 4 to March 22, folks can enter to win the following:
1 set of signed Backworlds paperbacks, including The Backworlds, Stopover at the Backworlds’ Edge, and Boomtown Craze. Will only ship to US residents.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One of five free ebooks. All countries eligible. Enter the rafflecopter for a chance.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 14, 2013
Building An Effective Author Website by Carrie Butler
Hey gang! Very excited to share the expertise of our fellow author-at-arms, Carrie Butler, with you today. Carrie isn't only a scribbler and marketing goddess, she's a rocking graphic designer and dark practitioner of HTML-omancy, too. (Okay, it isn't REALLY dark... more grayish. :)
Anyway, Carrie is going to give us some tips for not mucking up our websites. Take it away, CB!
10 Things to Consider When Making an Author Website
Thank you for having me over, EJ! I'm so excited to talk about author websites.
I decided to make mine right before I started querying, because I wanted a centralized, easy to find web prescience. If you're thinking about making a website, here are ten things to consider:
1. Which category do you write in? (Adult, NA, YA, MG, etc.)
Why I ask: If you write adult, you probably shouldn't make a website in bold, primary colors.
2. Which genre do you write in? (Romance, thriller, science fiction, etc.)
Why I ask: Someone who writes romance would probably opt for "softer" graphics than someone who writes science fiction.
3. Do you write in multiple categories/genres?
Why I ask: If they can't be thematically blended, you might decide to take a more neutral approach.
4. Who is your audience?
Why I ask: Like writing, you should try to appeal to your target market. Think demographics here.
5. When you go to other author sites, what are the things you want to find as a reader?
Why I ask: Those are the things you should implement, i.e. bio, books, press pack, contact, etc.
6. How can you convey your personality, while still keeping things professional?
Why I ask: You're building a brand. You'll want to keep common colors and themes across all of your sites, i.e. blog, Facebook cover photo, Twitter background, etc.
7. Where will you get your domain?
Why I ask: This one requires a little research.
I obtained my domain (www.carrieabutler.com) through GoDaddy.com and sprung for the privacy service. (Read up on ICANN and WHOIS.) It amounts to less than twenty bucks a year, and I consider it a career investment.
Side note: This was the only money I spent on my website.
8. Which host will you use?
Why I ask: Again, you'll need to do a little research.
I use Weebly, and I love it. Not only do they have a free option, but it's highly customizable. If you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can create something truly original.
9. What will you put on your website?
Why I ask: It's best to plan this out ahead of time, especially if you're trying to save money.
The images you see on my website are Creative Commons, public domain, or of my own creation. The content is mostly what I had strewn across the Internet prior to this, i.e. social media links, my biography, information about my book, etc.
10. How often will you update your website?
Why I ask: It's something to think about, especially if you include time-sensitive material.
I update my website at least once a week, but I'm very hands-on. You may choose to only update yours once a month or whenever something needs to changed. The key here is consistency.
And there you have it! If you have any questions, I'll be in and out today. Thank you for stopping by. :)
About Carrie:
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.
LinksWEBSITE | BLOG | PUBLISHER | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+ | LINKEDIN
Thanks a heap, CB! By the way, Carrie has an awesome new book out. It's called Strength, and there's a highly shirtless man on the cover. I blogged about it not long ago. Feel free to ogle the cover before clicking the link below for more details. :)
Click here for the skinny on Strength!
Anyway, Carrie is going to give us some tips for not mucking up our websites. Take it away, CB!
10 Things to Consider When Making an Author Website
Thank you for having me over, EJ! I'm so excited to talk about author websites.
I decided to make mine right before I started querying, because I wanted a centralized, easy to find web prescience. If you're thinking about making a website, here are ten things to consider:
1. Which category do you write in? (Adult, NA, YA, MG, etc.)
Why I ask: If you write adult, you probably shouldn't make a website in bold, primary colors.
2. Which genre do you write in? (Romance, thriller, science fiction, etc.)
Why I ask: Someone who writes romance would probably opt for "softer" graphics than someone who writes science fiction.
3. Do you write in multiple categories/genres?
Why I ask: If they can't be thematically blended, you might decide to take a more neutral approach.
4. Who is your audience?
Why I ask: Like writing, you should try to appeal to your target market. Think demographics here.
5. When you go to other author sites, what are the things you want to find as a reader?
Why I ask: Those are the things you should implement, i.e. bio, books, press pack, contact, etc.
6. How can you convey your personality, while still keeping things professional?
Why I ask: You're building a brand. You'll want to keep common colors and themes across all of your sites, i.e. blog, Facebook cover photo, Twitter background, etc.
7. Where will you get your domain?
Why I ask: This one requires a little research.
I obtained my domain (www.carrieabutler.com) through GoDaddy.com and sprung for the privacy service. (Read up on ICANN and WHOIS.) It amounts to less than twenty bucks a year, and I consider it a career investment.
Side note: This was the only money I spent on my website.
8. Which host will you use?
Why I ask: Again, you'll need to do a little research.
I use Weebly, and I love it. Not only do they have a free option, but it's highly customizable. If you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can create something truly original.
9. What will you put on your website?
Why I ask: It's best to plan this out ahead of time, especially if you're trying to save money.
The images you see on my website are Creative Commons, public domain, or of my own creation. The content is mostly what I had strewn across the Internet prior to this, i.e. social media links, my biography, information about my book, etc.
10. How often will you update your website?
Why I ask: It's something to think about, especially if you include time-sensitive material.
I update my website at least once a week, but I'm very hands-on. You may choose to only update yours once a month or whenever something needs to changed. The key here is consistency.
And there you have it! If you have any questions, I'll be in and out today. Thank you for stopping by. :)
About Carrie:
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.
LinksWEBSITE | BLOG | PUBLISHER | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+ | LINKEDIN
Thanks a heap, CB! By the way, Carrie has an awesome new book out. It's called Strength, and there's a highly shirtless man on the cover. I blogged about it not long ago. Feel free to ogle the cover before clicking the link below for more details. :)
Click here for the skinny on Strength!
March 13, 2013
Fate, IWSG, & Indie Life - The Chemistry of Community
Hey gang! Hope everyone is doing great. Sorry about my Debbie Downer post on Monday, but it really drove a point home for me, and also inspired today's ramblings. :)
I didn't get to post my IWSG post last week due to prior blog obligations. (Did I mention I'm the world's worst administrative assistant? Don't ask me to look at a calendar and schedule things in a reasonable manner--ever.), and today is the day for the monthly Indie Life bloghop. So I figured I'd knock them both out AND put my words into action.
In regards to the latter, first up, I'd like to share the cover of an upcoming book by one of our fellow authors, Meradeth Houston.
The Chemistry of Fate(Available April 2013)
The chemistry between Ari and Tom is reactive, but a deadly secret in a family journal will tear them apart if they can’t avoid fate.
“They are everywhere, can be anyone, and are always the last person you’d expect.” When Tom stumbles across his grandfather’s journal, he’s convinced the old man was crazier than he thought. The book contains references to beings called the Sary, immortals who are assigned to save humans on the verge of suicide. They certainly aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals. Which the journal claims Tom’s grandfather did, resulting in his expulsion from the Sary. As strange as the journal seems, Tom can’t get the stories out of his head; especially when he finds the photo of his grandfather’s wings.
Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class.
Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart.
THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE is a companion to COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and is set before the latter takes place.
~ About Meradeth ~
Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
>She’s a Northern California girl, but now lives and teaches anthropology in Montana.
>When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
>She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.
www.MeradethHouston.com
meradethhouston.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/MeradethHouston
http://www.facebook.com/MeradethHouston
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17452243-the-chemistry-of-fate
http://youtu.be/HFRNJ-Yn7So (trailer)
IWSG & Indie Life - The Chemistry of Community
A little about the bloghops first:
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG)?
Click the pic to join IWSG!Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer.
What is Indie Life?
Click the pic to join Indie Life!Purpose: Write anything indie related: something that will inspire or help a fellow indie; something that celebrates a release or a milestone; something that talks about the ups and downs, joys and heartaches of Being Indie.
Posting: Post on the second Wednesday of the month. Then visit others in the group and connect with your fellow indie writers.
FINALLY, onto the post!
So I mentioned my post from Monday. To summarize, it was about a young author who died before her debut novel was published. It's out now, and her friends, agent, and the writing community at large are trying give her book--and her memory--the proper debut experience they deserve. You can read about it HERE.
One of my biggest insecurities as a writer is this nagging fear of being alone. Don't get me wrong, I embrace the isolation writing requires. I love the hours I get to play inside my own head. But there's something about not 'officially' being attached to a group or tribe that unsettles me a little.
Sure, I'm a member of IWSG and Indie Life. I host a Twitter chat for fans and authors of New Adult literature. I'm involved in various other writing communities online. But most of those are things I've elected to do. I'm included by choice, not necessarily because I belong. None of them would cease to exist if I wasn't around.
Which brings me to my point: On the surface, all of these groups are just skeletons--things formed to give structure to our little writing community. They are constructs created to give us some semblance of belonging. They don't seem all that substantial.
But when I read comments like I received on my previous post, and see how the writing community can really work together for someone, I'm reminded of how much deeper all of this goes.
A community that seems like a simple mixture of separate individuals on the surface, is really a complex solution of people who are so fundamentally connected and intertwined they become a uniquely cohesive substance.
In particular, I think the indie group of writers really embody that concept of togetherness. I've seen indies band together to do amazing things--literally change an entire industry. They've worked to get each other noticed by readers and onto bestseller lists that refused to acknowledge their existence just a few years ago.
That kind of cohesion requires a special bond. One that I'm extremely grateful to be a part of, and to support.
~EJW~
I didn't get to post my IWSG post last week due to prior blog obligations. (Did I mention I'm the world's worst administrative assistant? Don't ask me to look at a calendar and schedule things in a reasonable manner--ever.), and today is the day for the monthly Indie Life bloghop. So I figured I'd knock them both out AND put my words into action.
In regards to the latter, first up, I'd like to share the cover of an upcoming book by one of our fellow authors, Meradeth Houston.
The Chemistry of Fate(Available April 2013)
The chemistry between Ari and Tom is reactive, but a deadly secret in a family journal will tear them apart if they can’t avoid fate.
“They are everywhere, can be anyone, and are always the last person you’d expect.” When Tom stumbles across his grandfather’s journal, he’s convinced the old man was crazier than he thought. The book contains references to beings called the Sary, immortals who are assigned to save humans on the verge of suicide. They certainly aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals. Which the journal claims Tom’s grandfather did, resulting in his expulsion from the Sary. As strange as the journal seems, Tom can’t get the stories out of his head; especially when he finds the photo of his grandfather’s wings.
Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class.
Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart.
THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE is a companion to COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and is set before the latter takes place.
~ About Meradeth ~
Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
>She’s a Northern California girl, but now lives and teaches anthropology in Montana.
>When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
>She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.
www.MeradethHouston.com
meradethhouston.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/MeradethHouston
http://www.facebook.com/MeradethHouston
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17452243-the-chemistry-of-fate
http://youtu.be/HFRNJ-Yn7So (trailer)
IWSG & Indie Life - The Chemistry of Community
A little about the bloghops first:
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG)?
Click the pic to join IWSG!Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer.
What is Indie Life?
Click the pic to join Indie Life!Purpose: Write anything indie related: something that will inspire or help a fellow indie; something that celebrates a release or a milestone; something that talks about the ups and downs, joys and heartaches of Being Indie.Posting: Post on the second Wednesday of the month. Then visit others in the group and connect with your fellow indie writers.
FINALLY, onto the post!
So I mentioned my post from Monday. To summarize, it was about a young author who died before her debut novel was published. It's out now, and her friends, agent, and the writing community at large are trying give her book--and her memory--the proper debut experience they deserve. You can read about it HERE.
One of my biggest insecurities as a writer is this nagging fear of being alone. Don't get me wrong, I embrace the isolation writing requires. I love the hours I get to play inside my own head. But there's something about not 'officially' being attached to a group or tribe that unsettles me a little.
Sure, I'm a member of IWSG and Indie Life. I host a Twitter chat for fans and authors of New Adult literature. I'm involved in various other writing communities online. But most of those are things I've elected to do. I'm included by choice, not necessarily because I belong. None of them would cease to exist if I wasn't around.
Which brings me to my point: On the surface, all of these groups are just skeletons--things formed to give structure to our little writing community. They are constructs created to give us some semblance of belonging. They don't seem all that substantial.
But when I read comments like I received on my previous post, and see how the writing community can really work together for someone, I'm reminded of how much deeper all of this goes.
A community that seems like a simple mixture of separate individuals on the surface, is really a complex solution of people who are so fundamentally connected and intertwined they become a uniquely cohesive substance.
In particular, I think the indie group of writers really embody that concept of togetherness. I've seen indies band together to do amazing things--literally change an entire industry. They've worked to get each other noticed by readers and onto bestseller lists that refused to acknowledge their existence just a few years ago.
That kind of cohesion requires a special bond. One that I'm extremely grateful to be a part of, and to support.
~EJW~
March 11, 2013
Cancer and Firsts
Before I get started, I'd like to clear the air so as not to mislead anyone: I do not have cancer, nor does anyone specifically close to me have cancer. This isn't THAT kind of post. But it does have a lot to do with cancer.
About Bridget Zinn
A couple of years ago, I blogged about a writer who'd died of cancer. Her name is Bridget, and her passing touched me very deeply. You can read that post HERE.
To be clear, I didn't know Bridget at all. I just read about her story on a blog I followed and was compelled to write about her. I think that's because Bridget was all of us--a writer yearning to share her stories with the world, a person with dreams and ambitions, and a hard worker in the way that successful writers must be hard workers.
Sadly, she never had the chance to see her efforts pay off or her dreams realized. And that crushed me--is still crushing me--because there was nothing I wanted so much as to be published, and I knew that desire had burned in her heart as well. It was a cosmic injustice of unimaginable proportion--which is exactly what cancer is to everyone who gets it: A random, cosmic F-U.
About Cancer
I have a special hatred for cancer, and a somewhat unique relationship with it. Like almost everyone, it has taken people dear to me--I'd lost two grandparents to the disease by the age of 10--but that's not really why I hate it.
I don't think I've shared this with most of my writing friends, but my wife is an oncologist. Treating patients with cancer is her business, and it's a horribly bustling one.
There's not a day that goes by in my life that I'm not aware of some travesty cancer has caused. I'm far too familiar with the struggles families face watching a loved one die in slow motion, the tragedy of a life cut short, and the hardships of treatments designed to kill cancer, but have the unfortunate side effect of killing the rest of the body, too.
Our lives are like that movie Groundhog Day--with cancer being the reoccurring main theme. I'm the equivalent of a front row spectator at the Roman Coliseum, my wife is the Gladiator I'm cheering for, and the battles are just as grim and gutwrenching as you could possibly imagine.
Sounds like a blast, right?
Here's the thing: I'll gladly take all of that awareness, plus all of the 100 hour work weeks my wife and best friend spends away from me, and all of the tears, frustrations, and burdens she places with me because she can't share them with her patients (as you can imagine, it's not really a job that ends when the 5 o'clock whistle sounds ... especially psychologically). I'll take it all because HAVING cancer is worse.
It is a brutal, bullshit disease that doesn't give a damn about your age, race, religion, tax bracket, or societal value. Cancer is the boss from hell. It isn't concerned about your upcoming honeymoon, your retirement plans, your first prom, or if your kids need you--if you get 'chosen' for the task, you'll put in your time first, and if you've anything left over, you can dole it out however you'd like. And there is no promise of more time.
And that isn't a unique relationship. No, in an odd bit of fairness from such an arbitrary and cruel affliction, cancer hates us all equally. That's why I hate cancer in return.
More About Bridget ... And Firsts
At the time of her death, Bridget's debut novel was still with her agent, and still trying to navigate through the various doors to publication. Fast forward a couple of years later, and her book, Poison, is finally finding it's way into the world.
To memorialize Bridget, her agent and publisher are asking for the writers of the world to help share her story (both the make believe and real one), because Bridget never got to revel in the joy of getting a story into the hands of readers.
They've asked author-bloggers to blog about their 'first time' being published, which seems fair and also like something Bridget would enjoy reading about. (See her video below...) However, I'd simply like to share Bridget's story. This is her day, after all. :)
I like to think that Bridget's legacy enduring, and her dream coming to reality, is our own F-U to cancer. It can strip away our health and number our days, but it cannot touch our spirit, nor can it dust away the fingerprints we leave behind on this life.
Poison by Bridget Zinn
About the novel
Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.
Where you can purchase Poison
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
iTunes Bookstore
Powell's Books
About Bridget Zinn
Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died.
Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."
Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.
More about Bridget
A remembrance of Bridget written by her agent (with a video of Bridget that shows how vibrant and funny she was)
Bridget's path to publication - in her own words.
A post in which Bridget shares her Sneaky Tips for writing (which also has an audio file of her reading this post)
If you'd like to help with sharing Bridget's story, follow the link below. You'll find lots of information about the release, and ways you can help.
http://bridgetzinn.com/help/index.php
About Bridget Zinn
A couple of years ago, I blogged about a writer who'd died of cancer. Her name is Bridget, and her passing touched me very deeply. You can read that post HERE.
To be clear, I didn't know Bridget at all. I just read about her story on a blog I followed and was compelled to write about her. I think that's because Bridget was all of us--a writer yearning to share her stories with the world, a person with dreams and ambitions, and a hard worker in the way that successful writers must be hard workers.
Sadly, she never had the chance to see her efforts pay off or her dreams realized. And that crushed me--is still crushing me--because there was nothing I wanted so much as to be published, and I knew that desire had burned in her heart as well. It was a cosmic injustice of unimaginable proportion--which is exactly what cancer is to everyone who gets it: A random, cosmic F-U.
About Cancer
I have a special hatred for cancer, and a somewhat unique relationship with it. Like almost everyone, it has taken people dear to me--I'd lost two grandparents to the disease by the age of 10--but that's not really why I hate it.
I don't think I've shared this with most of my writing friends, but my wife is an oncologist. Treating patients with cancer is her business, and it's a horribly bustling one.
There's not a day that goes by in my life that I'm not aware of some travesty cancer has caused. I'm far too familiar with the struggles families face watching a loved one die in slow motion, the tragedy of a life cut short, and the hardships of treatments designed to kill cancer, but have the unfortunate side effect of killing the rest of the body, too.
Our lives are like that movie Groundhog Day--with cancer being the reoccurring main theme. I'm the equivalent of a front row spectator at the Roman Coliseum, my wife is the Gladiator I'm cheering for, and the battles are just as grim and gutwrenching as you could possibly imagine.
Sounds like a blast, right?
Here's the thing: I'll gladly take all of that awareness, plus all of the 100 hour work weeks my wife and best friend spends away from me, and all of the tears, frustrations, and burdens she places with me because she can't share them with her patients (as you can imagine, it's not really a job that ends when the 5 o'clock whistle sounds ... especially psychologically). I'll take it all because HAVING cancer is worse.
It is a brutal, bullshit disease that doesn't give a damn about your age, race, religion, tax bracket, or societal value. Cancer is the boss from hell. It isn't concerned about your upcoming honeymoon, your retirement plans, your first prom, or if your kids need you--if you get 'chosen' for the task, you'll put in your time first, and if you've anything left over, you can dole it out however you'd like. And there is no promise of more time.
And that isn't a unique relationship. No, in an odd bit of fairness from such an arbitrary and cruel affliction, cancer hates us all equally. That's why I hate cancer in return.
More About Bridget ... And Firsts
At the time of her death, Bridget's debut novel was still with her agent, and still trying to navigate through the various doors to publication. Fast forward a couple of years later, and her book, Poison, is finally finding it's way into the world.
To memorialize Bridget, her agent and publisher are asking for the writers of the world to help share her story (both the make believe and real one), because Bridget never got to revel in the joy of getting a story into the hands of readers.
They've asked author-bloggers to blog about their 'first time' being published, which seems fair and also like something Bridget would enjoy reading about. (See her video below...) However, I'd simply like to share Bridget's story. This is her day, after all. :)
I like to think that Bridget's legacy enduring, and her dream coming to reality, is our own F-U to cancer. It can strip away our health and number our days, but it cannot touch our spirit, nor can it dust away the fingerprints we leave behind on this life.
Poison by Bridget Zinn
About the novel
Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.
Where you can purchase Poison
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
iTunes Bookstore
Powell's Books
About Bridget Zinn
Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died.
Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."
Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.
More about Bridget
A remembrance of Bridget written by her agent (with a video of Bridget that shows how vibrant and funny she was)
Bridget's path to publication - in her own words.
A post in which Bridget shares her Sneaky Tips for writing (which also has an audio file of her reading this post)
If you'd like to help with sharing Bridget's story, follow the link below. You'll find lots of information about the release, and ways you can help.
http://bridgetzinn.com/help/index.php
March 8, 2013
Character Closeups: The Heroes & Villains of Vallar, Pt 3
Hey gang! It's almost the weekend!! *takes off shirt and whirls it around his head*
To send us out of the week in style, today is the final installment of the inagural Character Closeups series. We get a look at our first villain, and learn a little more about Cindy Borgne's Vallar Series. If you missed the first two closeups, you can find them here and here.
I hope you've enjoyed these as much as I have. I've already arranged to do another closeup in a couple of weeks (next week will be more of a normal blog week around here--with a bevy of exciting new book announcements thrown in for good measure).
Which brings me to the point: Do you have a book or series you'd like to share in a future Character Closeup? If so, shoot me an eMail (EJWesleyAuthor <AT> gmail <DOT> com) and we can discuss the details. :)
The Heroes & Villains of Vallar, Pt 3 (Author Note: These interviews take place between books 1 and 2)
Character Name: Admiral William Kodet
Hero or Villain: Villain
Who are you? I’m Admiral William Kodet, leader of Marscorp.
Where do you live? I live at Marscorp, of course, the most powerful organization on Mars. Our base is located in the Aonia Terra region. And by the way, Marscorp is running the southern hemisphere of Mars. If it wasn’t for the Vallar alliance, we’d be running the whole red planet.
What is it like to be the leader of Marscorp? It’s a demanding job, and I’m expected to get results. I’m under constant pressure to insure the progress of my organization. Sometimes I’m required to do things I don’t necessary like to do, but this is, after all, Mars.
What is it like taking over in the shadow of the former Admiral Beacon? *shakes head* I don’t consider myself to be in anyone’s shadow. However, I often feel that the council tries to compare me to him. Of course, this is annoying, and I’m going to prove to them that I’m better than Beacon ever was.
What is your problem in the story? First, I’m not allowed to discuss everything, but the main goal of Marscorp is to get our people back to Earth. The big problem is that, thanks to the Vallar Alliance, we are no longer able to shall we say, take advantage of smaller organizations. So I’m looking for new ways to enable our progress. We need vital technology, and sorry to say, we need the use of psychics. In other words, we need Ian Connors. Unfortunately, he betrayed us and killed Admiral Beacon. Not to mention he’s living at Gentech helping the Vallar alliance – most likely spying on me right now with his visions. If he thinks he is safe there, he’s so wrong…so very wrong.
What do you regret? *grumbles* In book one we had Gentech spies working right in one of our repair hangars. This led to us losing the battle of the mine, not to mention hundreds of Marc lives – including some very close to me. I regret my inability to discover those spies, and one day I’m going to bring them to justice.
What kind of justice do you mean? They’re going to be executed. Just give me time.
What are you afraid of? Normally, I would have to say “nothing” because that’s what I was trained to say. However, since the Marc council isn’t going to see this I will admit I’m afraid that if I don’t manage to get Connors back on our side it’s going to be the end of Marscorp.
Read more about the Admiral in The Seer of Mars and Visionary of Peace, Vallar books 1 & 2!
Seer of Mars is available here: Amazon/Amazon UK/Paperback
Visionary of Peace is available here:Amazon/Amazon UK/Paperback
About the Author:
Cindy Borgne lives in the Detroit, Michigan area with her two kids and one stubborn, yet somehow lovable basset hound. She has worked a freelance editor, web-designer and computer instructor.
Prior to Vallar being published, Cindy won an honorable mention for short fiction from Writer's Digest. Her short story "ThunderSnow" was chosen as an editor's pick at Eloquent Stories. In 2011, Seer of Mars was a finalist in the Readers' Favorite contest.
Connect with Cindy Borgne: Blog/Facebook/Twitter
Want to check out some of Cindy's work for free?
Two shape shifters compete with each other by imitating humans in difficult situations. This time they become soldiers and face combat. The loser is the first to give up and convert back into shifter form. Adelya impersonates a male soldier and grows tired of the game, but she does not want to lose again. When her platoon is attacked, a soldier's courage shows her there is more to being human than she realized. Soon she falls in love with him and is faced with a choice between an immortal existence or being with the man she loves.
TransShifter is a fantasy light romance.
This novelette is 11,500 words long. (52 pages in paperback)
TransShifter is available for free: Amazon/Nook/Smashwords
March 7, 2013
Strength
Hey gang! Hope you've been enjoying the character closeups so far. :)
I'm supremely honored to share the book launch of a very talented author-lady today. The cover alone will make swooners swoon and the soft-stomached insecure! I present to you, Strength by Carrie Butler:
Title: StrengthSeries: Mark of Nexus – Book 1Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing Category: New Adult (NA) Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR) Release Date: March 07, 2013
Available at: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and Nook. More retailers will be added in the coming weeks, i.e. Sony Reader Store, iBookstore, Kobo, etc. Be sure to keep an eye on Carrie's Pinterest "Retailers" board. She updates it whenever STRENGTH pops up somewhere. :)
STRENGTH
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.
Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few minor setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…
Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.
They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.
Book Trailer
About the Author
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams. Where to find Carrie:WEBSITE | BLOG | PUBLISHER | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+
Where to find Strength:BOOK PAGE | GOODREADS | PUBLISHER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOK TRAILER
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm supremely honored to share the book launch of a very talented author-lady today. The cover alone will make swooners swoon and the soft-stomached insecure! I present to you, Strength by Carrie Butler:
Title: StrengthSeries: Mark of Nexus – Book 1Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing Category: New Adult (NA) Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR) Release Date: March 07, 2013
Available at: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and Nook. More retailers will be added in the coming weeks, i.e. Sony Reader Store, iBookstore, Kobo, etc. Be sure to keep an eye on Carrie's Pinterest "Retailers" board. She updates it whenever STRENGTH pops up somewhere. :)
STRENGTH
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.
Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few minor setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…
Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.
They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.
Book Trailer
About the Author
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams. Where to find Carrie:WEBSITE | BLOG | PUBLISHER | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+
Where to find Strength:BOOK PAGE | GOODREADS | PUBLISHER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOK TRAILER
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 6, 2013
Character Closeups: The Heroes & Villains of Vallar, Pt 2
**Note: If you're looking for my IWSG post, please check back next week. I had some scheduling conflicts and decided to move it. :)**
As promised gang, here is part two of the inaugural Character Closeup blog feature where we take a look at three characters, on three different days, from one fabulous author/story.
We continue with author Cindy Borgne's Vallar series. You can check the interview with character, Kayla, here. And stop back by Friday for the final character closeup of the series--our first villain. :-)
The Heroes & Villains of Vallar, Pt 1 (Author Note: These interviews take place between books 1 and 2)
Character Name: Ian Connors
Hero or Villain: Hero
Who are you? I’m Ian Connors, and I’m studying to be a ship mechanic. I’m also a psychic, but please keep that to yourself.
Where do you live? I live on Mars in a contained biosphere that is built below the surface. This post, known as Gentech, was made out from a series of large craters.
What is it like to be psychic? It’s frustrating. Not only can I inconsistently see the future, but I can also sense emotions. The worst part is that I have a hard time blocking out all those emotions too. If a bunch of people are mad at me, I will get a terrible headache. If I’m around people who are panicking, it can make me want to panic as well. However, the ability to sense emotions has also allowed me to find and save people.
Seeing the future causes me a lot of stress because I often see bad things happening. Then I don’t know exactly how to prevent the disaster. I’ve seen people being seriously wounded and even dying. Some I have saved, but I feel like it takes years off my own life.
My mind is very busy, especially when I’m trying to have visions. I continue to work in my dreams, so usually I wake up feeling like I’ve been up most of the night.
What are you afraid of? Only a few trusted friends know I’m psychic, and I don’t want anyone else finding out. If the wrong people find out, it could lead to me being kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder.
What is your problem in the story? One night, I have a disturbing vision of the entire Gentech post being destroyed. Then I see my father and girlfriend dead, crashed in a ship. It’s up to me to find a way to stop a war with the Marcs.
How do your enemies, these Marcs, see you? They want me dead. I killed their Admiral. He left me no choice, but they don’t understand that. In a vision, I saw their new Admiral saying that he will have me brought to justice and executed.
What do you regret? In the first book, my best friend, Nate, is seriously wounded. He ends up with a brain injury, and still has not fully recovered. I didn’t want him to come with me out into a battle, but he threatened to stop me if he couldn’t come. Still, I can’t shake the guilt. I should’ve tied him up in the hangar and left without him, but I didn’t think of that at the time.
What makes you happy? Being with Kayla. She was my girlfriend for awhile, but she decided we needed to take a break from each other because we were getting too serious, and that I was too young. You see, she’s two years older than me. So now she’s working at the mine while I’m still at Gentech. I sense there is some other problem though and she won’t tell me what it is.
Do you have a hero? I look up to a lot of people, but mostly Sonny Nelson who became my best friend in the first book. I think of him as a father. He lost his daughter and one leg below the knee in battles. He’s a medic and has saved a lot of lives. I also admiral Captain Bret Yargar. He’s a tough military type. You would never know by looking at him that he’s also a physicist working on wormhole technology. He’s made some amazing things.
Do you ever wish you didn’t have psychic ability? I used to, but I’ve come to accept that I was meant to because I’m able to manage it all without falling apart – at least not completely. The truth is, I wouldn’t give it up. It would make me feel too helpless when it comes to protecting my friends. My world – Mars – is simply too dangerous not to have an edge.
Read more about Ian in Visionary of Peace, Vallar book 2!
Ian Connors had planned to use his visions to spy on Marscorp in order to maintain peace, but flashbacks and nightmares make it impossible. Since two years of peace have passed due to a stalemate, Ian decides to try and live a normal life, until one day he has a vision so horrifying he has no choice but to become the seer he once was or Vallar will have no future. While he struggles to regain his ability, the Marcs plot to capture him alive in order to complete a deal for their return to Earth.
Visionary of Peace is available here: Amazon/Amazon UK/Paperback
About the Author:
Cindy Borgne lives in the Detroit, Michigan area with her two kids and one stubborn, yet somehow lovable basset hound. She has worked a freelance editor, web-designer and computer instructor.
Prior to Vallar being published, Cindy won an honorable mention for short fiction from Writer's Digest. Her short story "ThunderSnow" was chosen as an editor's pick at Eloquent Stories. In 2011, Seer of Mars was a finalist in the Readers' Favorite contest.
Connect with Cindy Borgne: Blog/Facebook/Twitter
Want to check out some of Cindy's work for free?
Two shape shifters compete with each other by imitating humans in difficult situations. This time they become soldiers and face combat. The loser is the first to give up and convert back into shifter form. Adelya impersonates a male soldier and grows tired of the game, but she does not want to lose again. When her platoon is attacked, a soldier's courage shows her there is more to being human than she realized. Soon she falls in love with him and is faced with a choice between an immortal existence or being with the man she loves.
TransShifter is a fantasy light romance.
This novelette is 11,500 words long. (52 pages in paperback)TransShifter is available for free: Amazon/Nook/Smashwords
As promised gang, here is part two of the inaugural Character Closeup blog feature where we take a look at three characters, on three different days, from one fabulous author/story.
We continue with author Cindy Borgne's Vallar series. You can check the interview with character, Kayla, here. And stop back by Friday for the final character closeup of the series--our first villain. :-)
The Heroes & Villains of Vallar, Pt 1 (Author Note: These interviews take place between books 1 and 2)
Character Name: Ian Connors
Hero or Villain: Hero
Who are you? I’m Ian Connors, and I’m studying to be a ship mechanic. I’m also a psychic, but please keep that to yourself.
Where do you live? I live on Mars in a contained biosphere that is built below the surface. This post, known as Gentech, was made out from a series of large craters.
What is it like to be psychic? It’s frustrating. Not only can I inconsistently see the future, but I can also sense emotions. The worst part is that I have a hard time blocking out all those emotions too. If a bunch of people are mad at me, I will get a terrible headache. If I’m around people who are panicking, it can make me want to panic as well. However, the ability to sense emotions has also allowed me to find and save people.
Seeing the future causes me a lot of stress because I often see bad things happening. Then I don’t know exactly how to prevent the disaster. I’ve seen people being seriously wounded and even dying. Some I have saved, but I feel like it takes years off my own life.
My mind is very busy, especially when I’m trying to have visions. I continue to work in my dreams, so usually I wake up feeling like I’ve been up most of the night.
What are you afraid of? Only a few trusted friends know I’m psychic, and I don’t want anyone else finding out. If the wrong people find out, it could lead to me being kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder.
What is your problem in the story? One night, I have a disturbing vision of the entire Gentech post being destroyed. Then I see my father and girlfriend dead, crashed in a ship. It’s up to me to find a way to stop a war with the Marcs.
How do your enemies, these Marcs, see you? They want me dead. I killed their Admiral. He left me no choice, but they don’t understand that. In a vision, I saw their new Admiral saying that he will have me brought to justice and executed.
What do you regret? In the first book, my best friend, Nate, is seriously wounded. He ends up with a brain injury, and still has not fully recovered. I didn’t want him to come with me out into a battle, but he threatened to stop me if he couldn’t come. Still, I can’t shake the guilt. I should’ve tied him up in the hangar and left without him, but I didn’t think of that at the time.
What makes you happy? Being with Kayla. She was my girlfriend for awhile, but she decided we needed to take a break from each other because we were getting too serious, and that I was too young. You see, she’s two years older than me. So now she’s working at the mine while I’m still at Gentech. I sense there is some other problem though and she won’t tell me what it is.
Do you have a hero? I look up to a lot of people, but mostly Sonny Nelson who became my best friend in the first book. I think of him as a father. He lost his daughter and one leg below the knee in battles. He’s a medic and has saved a lot of lives. I also admiral Captain Bret Yargar. He’s a tough military type. You would never know by looking at him that he’s also a physicist working on wormhole technology. He’s made some amazing things.
Do you ever wish you didn’t have psychic ability? I used to, but I’ve come to accept that I was meant to because I’m able to manage it all without falling apart – at least not completely. The truth is, I wouldn’t give it up. It would make me feel too helpless when it comes to protecting my friends. My world – Mars – is simply too dangerous not to have an edge.
Read more about Ian in Visionary of Peace, Vallar book 2!
Ian Connors had planned to use his visions to spy on Marscorp in order to maintain peace, but flashbacks and nightmares make it impossible. Since two years of peace have passed due to a stalemate, Ian decides to try and live a normal life, until one day he has a vision so horrifying he has no choice but to become the seer he once was or Vallar will have no future. While he struggles to regain his ability, the Marcs plot to capture him alive in order to complete a deal for their return to Earth.
Visionary of Peace is available here: Amazon/Amazon UK/Paperback
About the Author:
Cindy Borgne lives in the Detroit, Michigan area with her two kids and one stubborn, yet somehow lovable basset hound. She has worked a freelance editor, web-designer and computer instructor.
Prior to Vallar being published, Cindy won an honorable mention for short fiction from Writer's Digest. Her short story "ThunderSnow" was chosen as an editor's pick at Eloquent Stories. In 2011, Seer of Mars was a finalist in the Readers' Favorite contest.
Connect with Cindy Borgne: Blog/Facebook/Twitter
Want to check out some of Cindy's work for free?
Two shape shifters compete with each other by imitating humans in difficult situations. This time they become soldiers and face combat. The loser is the first to give up and convert back into shifter form. Adelya impersonates a male soldier and grows tired of the game, but she does not want to lose again. When her platoon is attacked, a soldier's courage shows her there is more to being human than she realized. Soon she falls in love with him and is faced with a choice between an immortal existence or being with the man she loves.
TransShifter is a fantasy light romance.
This novelette is 11,500 words long. (52 pages in paperback)TransShifter is available for free: Amazon/Nook/Smashwords
