Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 44

GoIndieNow Live Panel Discussion The Creative Art of Promoting with an Edge

This great GoIndieNow panel discussion took place LIVE on Friday Nov 10th, 2017.

We were joined on the panel by:

MIRANDA OH http://ohmirandaoh.com

A.G. KIRKHAM http://romancebyagkirkham.com/

JENNIFER LANDELS http://pulpliterature.com/

KONN LAVERY http://konnlavery.com/

MARNIE CATE http://marniecate.com

Many thanks to Mickey Mikkelson and Creative Edge Publicity for making this panel happen http://creativeedgepublicity.com/

The post GoIndieNow Live Panel Discussion The Creative Art of Promoting with an Edge appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Teaser Tuesday- Malpherities from Konn Lavery’s Mental Damnation

Author Heidi Angell had a delightful Halloween treat for you! She got a chance to sit down and chat with the ghoul, Malpherities, from the Mental Damnation series. The two of them discuss:

Malpherities, thanks for taking the time to talk with us, care to tell us a bit about yourself?
Death’s Vortex? That sounds dangerous, what is it?
That’s rather vague… can you tell us more?
Alright, moving on, you mentioned you have explored many worlds and realms in your life, how have you been able to do this?
That is amazing feat to accomplish, did it take you a long time to be able to do this?
On the note of realm crossing, why have you taken such an interest in Krista?
Don’t you think that realm-crossing be rather frightening to a girl?
Self-Aware? She doesn’t know she can cross realms?
So you care about Krista’s wellbeing, why? Do you to have a past together?
Gods’ ill foresight, the Weaver’s damage, wait what?

Read Malpherities’s interview!

The post Teaser Tuesday- Malpherities from Konn Lavery’s Mental Damnation appeared first on Konn Lavery.

It’s Time to Go Indie Now Episode 20

Check out the Goindienow episode on YouTube.

I am interviewed at 13:25 about Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation.

Welcome to Episode 20 of It’s Time to Go Indie Now with your host Joe Compton.

The post It’s Time to Go Indie Now Episode 20 appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Trick or Treat?

Trick… usually. Trick or Treat rarely ends in a treat. At least a good horror story should end in a trick. Although if you enjoy horror stories isn’t that a treat on its own? Either way, it is the season of pumpkin-flavoured everything. Ghouls, ghosts, witches and every other haunted thing under the moon is in fashion. I quite enjoy the season, the aesthetics, decorations, plus a lot of horror movies come out at this time of year. There are also a lot of end-of-the-year planning and prep work to be done for the new year. It’s already October, only two more months and 2017 is done. Where did the time go?

Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts.

The time went to a lot of hard work. Truthfully this has been one of the most aggressive years in my career as an author and as a graphic designer. Both aspects of my life have come a long ways in the past 10 months and I am very pleased with where all of it has gone. It does leave you a bit worn out – a good vacation will be needed at the end of the year. For now, like with every year, I got to hang on tight and ride the roller coaster of the last quarter of the year.

I don’t talk a lot about my graphic design work.

I really should talk more about my graphic design and web development work. It is a large part of my life that I keep pretty quiet online. I have a twitter and a website, that is all. Most of my marketing for it has been through the business cards and networking. It is a major passion of mine along with writing. If you hadn’t seen my portfolio (that is outdated) it is revealdesign.ca. A brand refresh is in the works, probably won’t be around for another year or so. I’ll be sure to talk about that once it is out.

I do talk a lot about my writing though.

That is kind of the purpose of this website isn’t it? With that in mind, if you don’t follow me on instagram, I gave a sneak peek at some new artwork for the upcoming thriller novel:

Suspects. #demo #experiment #photoIllustration #art #yegArt #yegWrites #thriller #gouache #charcoal #charcaoalDrawing #mixedmediaart #YEGman

A post shared by Konn Lavery (@_konnartist) on Oct 18, 2017 at 3:55pm PDT

This is a new art form for me. It is known as photo illustration. I’ll be sure to elaborate on the process in the coming months. First thing I have to do is finish the revisions before making any solid announcements.

Overall I am very excited to release this novel. It is faster, more violent and more action focused than my previous works. It has been a challenge to write because its also the most earth-bound work I have done. It could very much happen in the real world. That means there are no demons, reptilian people or flesh eating plants.

Does that make it a Trick or Treat?

Well, early beta readers have said it is a nod to the Punisher comic book hero. Currently I have beta readers going through the novel before it enters the editing phase. The novel complimenting The Punisher wasn’t my intent, but I am going to consider that a win.

Beer Note: Boneshaker Unfiltered IPA by Amsterdam Brewery

I’ve had Boneshaker Unfiltered IPA a lot. It is quite hoppy and has a high alcohol level (78.1% to be exact). It has been a little difficult to find lately. Not sure if it is just my local area or if it is on a larger level. Either way I found it earlier this month and snagged the last six pack. It is a strong beer and you have to enjoy the taste of hops to like this. One bottle is pretty potent so do enjoy every sip thoroughly.

For my hoppy taste buds, I’d give this beer a 4/5.

The post Trick or Treat? appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Texting or Email for Work?

Should you be texting or email for work? Which one is the right method to send information to someone? It is a grey area for many people. If you start asking your colleagues, you will find there is a wide a range of opinions on the proper etiquette.

So why not search online? Surely there is some insight into the do’s and do not’s or the right scenarios where texting can be applied vs. email. Not quite, you will find the same results as you would asking colleagues – there are a lot of varying opinions. That’s where I thought: why not throw another opinion out there for people to read? Let’s first review the two types of information:

Email is an old technology.

In terms of computer technological advancements, it is pretty old. Throughout human history, it is pretty new, as is with all technology. Email was invented in 1972 by VA Shiva Ayyaduria and was initially used by the military to send information. Learn more about the history of email here. In the past several decades, it has become the primary form of communication and around 205 billion emails are sent per day.

Texting is a new technology.

Thanks to the rise of smart phones, texting has become easier than ever before, with the first text being sent in 1992. People use it in their daily activities for their personal lives and professional lives, sending an average of 23 billion messages per day.

Some of these stats are a few years old, so the numbers may have changed slightly, but you get the idea.

So… texting or email for work?

From my experience working professionally, email is far more efficient and reliable than texting when sending important information regarding projects, scheduling a meeting or sending contracts.

Here is why email is more effective:

Email allows you to store information for years on end.
It allows you to organize messages into folders (tags, archiving, etc.).
You can easily send the message to multiple people through CC or secretly through BCC.
It can be accessed on various devices and you can attach media files.

Why Texting is not:

Information can be lost for good if your phone is turned off or you have to replace the device.
Information can be delayed based on cellular connectivity.
Not all providers and devices share information the same way (such as images, video, contact cards, multi-person messages, etc.) which can distort your message’s intent.
People change their number. In a working setting, an email is unlikely to change unless the person quits their job. If they do, it will more likely forward to another person or you are notified that the email has bounced.

Texting has its place.

Don’t get me wrong, texting is valuable. It simply was never intended to be used as a primary source of sending primary information about business. Texting should be used to send short spurts of info such as confirming a location or informing people you are running a bit behind or a urgent matter that needs an instant response. And no, not everything is urgent, you become “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” if you play that card every time.

Treat email as writing a letter and texting as an immediate message for the scenario.

Do you agree with the thoughts above or do you have your own preferences regarding when texting and email should be used within a professional environment? Share in the comments!

The post Texting or Email for Work? appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Bianca Rowena, YA author of The Gifted Series

This month’s guest is Bianca Rowena who was born in Romania, Transylvania. She has been writing from a young age and has written the novels The Gift of Stone and The Virgin Diaries. She now lives in Canada which is the setting and inspiration for her novels. Let’s invite her to the blog to chat about her writing!

Hi Bianca Rowena, thank you for joining us. Can you give us a brief introduction to yourself?

I think you already did a pretty good job with the introduction haha. I’d say one of the things people find the most interesting about me is that I was born in Transylvania. It made for a different kind of upbringing which I like to think makes me writing have a slightly different perspective. Sometimes I get frustrated with how much editing goes into a final draft since my first language is Hungarian and my sentences are sometimes a combination of language style. The English language is spoken a bit backwards after all

Distractions and Time Management for Writing

Everyone is busy, let’s face it. We all have things to do, places to go and people to see. We have difficulties dealing with distractions and time management for writing. Especially in the western civilization, we are overstimulated with tasks on a day to day basis at work and at home. Our constant buzzing of phones for email, text, calls and social media don’t help either. We are far too easily pulled in numerous directions and more often than not, what we dream about doing gets thrown to the sideline. This raises the question:

How does one manage to write in a hustle and bustle of life?

Everyone who writes manages to make it work, they have time during the day to put aside all other tasks and interruptions to sit down and write. This may be for twenty minutes at the bus stop or for a couple of hours while their family goes to bed. Morning writers get up extra early to get typing away while everyone else is still sleeping. Regardless of how, writers will write.

Time

Every day we have 24 hours to fit everything important in. This includes, sleep, work, eating, socializing relaxation, etc. I mention relaxation because it is important to spend time to unwind and watch TV, read or meet with friends now and then. However, don’t forget about your writing.

Make time to write, don’t wait to have time

Something I hear people say all the time is “how do you have time to write?” There is a mystery that sitting down to write is an impossible feat that most people cannot reach. The truth is you have to move it up the priority list. Procrastinating, finding excuses and filling your day with other tasks is super easy to do and you push writing aside for weeks if not forever. The onus is on your to shift your schedule around and make writing of greater importance, that is the difference between making time and waiting to have time to write.

Single vs. Married with Kids

Now, this is far easier for me to preach when not having kids or being married. I also run my own graphic design / web development company which allows for more flexible hours. Yet when you look into many other author bios, there are plenty of authors who juggle full time 9-5 jobs and have families. This is where writing in the early mornings or evenings come into play.

Limit your Time

This may seem odd, but even limiting your time to small increments every day can help you reinforce the habit of writing. Try for 30 minutes to an hour each day and see how much you can get done. A little bit at a time is far more rewarding and productive than doing none at all.

Distractions

The second half of this post will be about dealing with interruptions. Even if you have made time to write, your attention can easily be taken away and you lose your precious moments to write.

Put down the phone!

This should be a no brainer. However a lot of us have a twitch reflex when it comes to our smart phones. We feel a need to be connected with our social circles all the time. Yet if you seriously want to write, avoid the phone while you are working. Turn it off if you have to.

Avoid the Internet

You may need it for research, but when you don’t, close the browser. It is far too easy to go down some weird exploration session on Wikipedia or YouTube. The internet is a vast and mysterious place, so don’t get lost in your browsing. Remind yourself of your goal of writing and don’t be so easily persuaded by the web’s charms.

Designate time, religiously

Another type of interruption is not taking it seriously enough. Make writing a ritual in your life like you would dedicate to exercise or even taking a shower. Do it on a regular basis so you build up a habit and you will find it is far easier to upkeep after the initial investment.

Passion and Discipline

You may have read online about passion or discipline being better than the other. I’ve always leaned towards discipline. There’s always times when you are not going to want to write and feel no desire to even lay down a word, but you have to keep at it.

Often passion and discipline go hand in hand, as we are writers and there is an underlining desire to keep writing no matter the challenges we face in our lives.

The post Distractions and Time Management for Writing appeared first on Konn Lavery.

It’s Over!

Spring, Summer and Fall has been an insanely busy time. Both Mental Damnation’s Reality and Dream books were released, followed by signings, conventions, talks and online guest blogging to promote the books. Now… it’s over! If you’ve been keeping up to date on the events page, or the Facebook page, Words in the Park was the last event for the promotion of Dream. There are only two more events for the year, one being a signing in Edmonton’s Strathcona Chapters and the other at Calgary Expo Holiday Market.

After that, it’s over.
Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts

So if I am not going about trying to convince people that my writing is worth them reading, what am I doing? Well, I might actually do some writing. Woah! Promoting can chew up a lot of time that takes away from the actual profession itself. I tweeted an exciting announcement mid September about new work:

Finished the #draft of a new #novel! Currently 76k words. An exciting way to start the #weekend. #authorLife #celebrate #success #amWriting

— Konn Lavery (@konnl) September 16, 2017

Yes, there is a new novel in the works and the first draft is fully done. I’ve actually been through several revisions now. Beyond writing this new novel intensely, I am preparing for next year. This means planning for what conventions I will be at, what projects (writing, my graphic’s business and others) I want to take on and how far I can logistically travel.

Now that the launches and heavy promoting are on the decline for the rest of the year, I also want to take some time to rest… Nah, as the saying goes, no rest of the wicked!

What is this new novel?

Good things come to those who wait. It is still too early to share more info other than it is a lot like an 80s action movie meets Sin City. That’s quite the mashup. A fun hint though, if you followed me during NaNoWriMo in 2015, you’ll have a good idea which story this manuscript is.

For now, it’s over.

The crazy amount of posting I’ve been doing on social media about releases, interviews and events will start to unwind. Now, things will take a shift to be focused on behind the scenes goodies from the upcoming projects. Stay tuned and enjoy October.

Beer Note: Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest – Brauhaus Miltenberger Collaboration | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

I found this beer at one of my common watering holes. Now that October is here, everything is pumpkin flavoured. Thankfully, this one was not. It is an amber lager, limited brew, malty and has a vibrant golden colour. The description sounded pretty intense – having layers of rich malt. Most micro-brewed beers have pretty convincing description. This one does have a good taste, easy to drink. I wouldn’t say multi-layered though. It is also rather expensive.

With that in mind, I’d give this a 3.7/5.

The post It’s Over! appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Interview of Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation on Jeras Jamboree’s Blog

Dark Fantasy | Q&A Konn Lavery | Dream (Mental Damnation Series)

Check out the interview I had with Shaz on jerasjamboree.co.uk website discussing the new release of Dream. We cover the following topics:

Please summarise Dream in 20 words or less.
What was the idea/inspiration for your novel?
What scene did you enjoy writing the most Konn?
Did you do any research?  What resources did you use?
Do you have a theme for your book covers Konn?  Who designs them?
What do you think book trailers achieve?
Do you have a favourite book?
What are you reading now Konn?
What has been the worst part of your writing journey so far?
… and the best part?
Finally, Dream is part of a series, what’s in the future?

Read the full interview here.

The post Interview of Dream: Part 2 of Mental Damnation on Jeras Jamboree’s Blog appeared first on Konn Lavery.

Heidi Angell – Meet the Author with Konn Lavery

Author Heidi Angell had me on her blog interviewing me regarding the new Dream. We cover the following topics:

What is the current book you are promoting?
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Wow. Malpherities  sounds like quite the character. What inspired this book?
What is your next project?
The life of an author, always so many pokers in the fire! If you could never write again, what would you do?

Read the interview!

The post Heidi Angell – Meet the Author with Konn Lavery appeared first on Konn Lavery.