Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 80

Blog Tour Guest Post: Lost on the Edge of Forever by Michael Haley

Lost on the Edge of Forever, by Michael HaleyDate of Publication:February 3, 2014 Goodreads
Purchase Links:AmazonUS AmazonUK Barnes& Noble  Kobo
Description:
Leila Sepehri, an ambitious and brilliant student determined to cure cancer, is murdered during her final semester at college, yet discovers she’s been reborn as a spirit, resigned to haunt a school that can no longer see or hear her. The following semester, incoming freshman Alejandro Velásquez arrives on campus, eager to reinvent himself after eighteen years of awkwardness, as well as a devastating family tragedy, shake his sense of worth and faith to their cores.
The two lonely souls meet under the auspice of moonlit rain, and soon find themselves passionately, irrevocably attracted to each other. Leila discovers her spiritual body reawakening with sensations that make her feel alive once again, and Alejandro discovers a kindred spirit who understands his pain like no one else. The fast friends become intense lovers, and become determined to find a way to hold onto their own private miracle forever.

Yet troublesome questions linger. How can Alejandro possibly explain to skeptical friends and family that his soul-mate is a ghost? Why does Leila get the nagging suspicion that their relationship might hold the key to understanding her existence as a spirit? Intoxicated with each other, Leila and Alejandro evade these questions, only to have them explode once an act of evil causes both of them to clearly see the true meaning of their destiny together. Will their love give them the courage to accept a destiny that surpasses time and perhaps even God, or is their love destined to die loud and young?
Hello everyone, it’s a pleasure to be here! I’m Michael Haley, and I first want to give a big thank you to Katie Teller for hosting me on her blog! Today I want to discuss a little about what sets my book Lost on the Edge of Forever apart from other New Adult books on the market.Lost on the Edge of Forever? Isn’t that a Star Trek episode?Appears we have a heckler here. You’re thinking of The City on the Edge of Forever. Close, but different.You say tomato, I say too-easy-to-mix-up. What’s your little book about?It’s the story of a murdered ghost, haunting the college of her death while desperately seeking answers to life’s biggest questions which now seem more important than ever – what’s the point of my life? Why am I still here? She encounters a living, lonely freshman who can see, touch, and feel her when no one else can, and their immediate friendship quickly ignites into an all-consuming love. Yet she begins to discover that there might be a deeper purpose to their relationship than is immediately apparent, and that within their intoxicating romance potentially lies the divine secret of her existence that’s beyond anything she could ever imagine.So your book has a plot. Most do. I need more than just-the-most-enticing-plot-ever to rev up my engines.The book’s got Justin Timberlake in it! Okay, not really him, but his name is innocuously mentioned a couple of times. Selena Gomez shows up too!I have Spotify to take care of my J.T. itch. Do you have a reason for me to read that’s not a shallow attempt to name-drop like a hipster? (loads “Mirrors” while waiting for the response)The book is a New Adult romance, an exciting up-and-coming genre that’s a thrill to be a part of, published by a fantastic up-and-coming publishing house named Curiosity Quills who is a dream to publish for. If that’s not enough, I’m also very proud of the fact the book’s a pro-humanist, pro-feminist novel, one which treats both its female and male leads with equal narrative significance and seriousness. The book is decidedly not a paean to the joys of patriarchal privilege which other romance books sometimes aspire to be.I’ll admit all that sounds pretty cool. But aren’t New Adult books just excuses for the characters to have lots of sex?Sure they are. Mine isn’t any different.Hmmmm…..In return for allowing me to indulge in that aspect of the genre, I promise the reader that these scenes come from a place of intimacy and honesty—there aren’t underground fighting rings with beefed up frat boys or other such junk. Everything is organic to their relationship, which itself is a surreal situation that’s nevertheless tender and life-affirming. Can other New Adult books claim truth and something like beauty within their crazy relationships?Yes.Can they really?Okay, maybe not, except for the classy Kiya series written by the wonderful hostess of this blog. I would agree with that.But I’m still not convinced!I love “fiction” and “literature” equally, yet the two camps are divided between pure entertainment and pure substance for which there can be supposedly no common ground. This book attempts to bridge that gap. I tried to write a light, easy-to-read book on heavy, profound themes that anyone can read, not just those who did their entire dissertation on the first four sentences of Finnegan’s Wake. The eradication of snobbery and perceived difficulty from all of literature would be a fine thing indeed.Okay, so it’s an easy read that doesn’t insult my intelligence. My only question left: if she’s a ghost, than how do you explain how the male can see her?I don’t. It’s not important.Not important? That’s like saying that vampires sparkle is a great innovation to vampire lore! Good thing Amy Fecteau set the record straight on that!  I told you the book’s unique. It’s unique in many other ways you’ll have to read to find out.I don’t read.Than why are you here? Seems strange to me.Okay, I do read, I’m just running out of reasons not to rush over to Amazon to pick up this book. Gotta a hungry mouth to feed, ya know?I get that, I do too! Giving the Kindle edition a whirl will save you some serious bank; maybe you’d want to give that a try while a buddy takes a peek at the modestly-priced paperback?I guess I must! And if you act now, you could even win a free copy of the book, signed by me! Below is the Rafflecopter sweepstakes which you can enter now for your chance to win! Read the book on Kindle now and then win a physical copy to treasure forever!Your logic is impeccable and has convinced me. Where do I go if I want to give you a piece of my mind after reading this book? You can find me on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, and my blog. Thank you for taking my intense heckling. And thank you Katie for allowing me and my not-me-at-all friend to guest post on your fantastic blog, and to all of you who take time out of your busy lives to read my work! I’m nothing without you!

About the Author:Michael Haley was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and cultivated in its neighboring vicinities. He graduated with a degree in Psychology from Iowa State University, and now lives with his wife and little-dude-to-be in Bloomington, Illinois. When not writing, he loves indulging and dissecting books, film, and pop art from all canons and genres. Lost on the Edge of Forever is his first novel.
Social Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads| Google +

Cover Reveal: Caller 107 by Matthew Cox

Date of Publication:July 22nd, 2014
Cover Artist: Polina Sapershteyn (http://www.polinas-portfolio.com/)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20359976-caller-107?from_search=trueDescription:
When thirteen-year-old Natalie Rausch said she would die to meet DJ Crazy Todd, she did not mean to be literal.
Two years is a long time to be stuck between two people that want nothing more than to destroy each other. A tween crush on the larger-than-life jock from a local radio station is the only trace of a once-happy life ruined by warring parents.
Whenever WROK 107 ran a contest, she would dive for the phone, getting busy signals and dead air every time. She never expected to get through, but at least with her best friend at her side, it used to be fun.
Before her parents ruined that too.
Her last desperate attempt to get their attention, falling in with a dangerous group of older teens, goes as wrong as possible. With no one left to blame for her mess of a life but herself, karma comes full circle and gives her just a few hours to make up for two years’ worth of mistakes–or be forever lost.
--
Born in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
Social Links: Website| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Blitz: The Artful by Wilbert Stanton

The Artful by Wilbert Stanton (Shadows of the City #1)
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: May 27th 2014
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult

Synopsis:New York City, 2025: Everything is changed. The city that never sleeps is now a land of death and decay. A rampant virus has taken over and the survivors have become carriers, quarantined from the rest of the world.

Twist and Dodger grew up in the streets, the sewers and underground tunnels – their playground. They aren’t heroes. They just like attention; and stealing meds from the rich and giving them to the poor is their golden ticket.

On their latest raid, they unknowingly steal a cure that puts them square between the ailing Emperor of Manhattan and the war hungry Governor of Brooklyn and forces them on a quest into the darkest shadows of their putrefying world.
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon B&N
The Artful Guide to the City.
            New York City 2025 isn’t the place of glitz and glam that it used to be. The city that never sleeps is pretty much the city that never breaths. No more tourists blocking up Times Square, taking pictures of God knows what. No longer are the trains filled with both late passengers and uncomfortable smells. There’s no more hustle and bustle… there’s rarely a bustle. But most noticeable is the silence, the silence that fill the city streets is quite unsettling. That being said, if you, dear reader should still choose to visit New York City, here is a handy guide of things to avoid and sites to see… before you die of sickness, or scavenger attack.
Grand Central: Grand Central was once a busy station where people came in and out of the city. Travelling on business or pleasure, it didn’t matter, this was a mecca of diversity and you could see it all here; people from all walks of life as they travelled about their day. Now, Grand Central is a shanty town made up of people who were lucky enough to find its safe dwellings. Only accessible from the subway stations and treacherous tunnels of the underground, it offers a great sense of security. It is also said to be where the Gutter Punks make their home.
Central Park: What was once a beautiful park situated in the center of the city is now a wild land. Over grown with unkempt vegetation and reckless abandonment the park is not what it once was. It is overrun by the ferocious beasts that were once confined to cages of the Central Park Zoo, but now prowl the shadows looking for a human feast. The park is also the home of the Runts, a group of feral children who live like a pack of wolves. Their alpha, a boy named Peter, is said to be a child prodigy who protects his cubs, not with strength but intellect.
 Union Square: It was where all the artistic people hung out. Skaters, artists, people competing in games of chess while street entertainers played instruments behind their hungry tip jars. Now it is home to The Tribe, modern day hippies, who flock to the flag of their leader Red, a woman who can wield a sword as easily as a smile. The Tribe spends their days passed out in drunken heaps while their nights are filled with paryting, music and storytelling. They are a fun bunch but when the call to war is upon them they will easily pick up arms and protect their own.
The Cathedral of Eden: The vast cathedral takes up a number of city blocks; the place of worship is now host to the Sons of Adam, a religious cult that follows their leaders Adam and Eve with a sick ferocity. Followers of the faith are known as Angels, mostly reformed criminals seeking salvation during the end of times. This is a place one must steer clear at all costs. If you are not quickly indoctrinated and seen as a follower, your death will not be pleasant.
Beyond the Brooklyn Bridge: There are many rumors as to what waits in Brooklyn. Lord Chrysler rules the borough with an iron fist. The well-to-do live at its center but to get there you must first pass through savage lands run by Skinlickers, heavily pierced and tattooed men and women who relish the taste of human flesh. If you should be so lucky to make it past them, you’ll have to deal with the Slavers who make sport of catching errant men, women and children to sell into slavery or for unwilling contestants in the Barclay Center arena. Once you have made it past them, what waits is a land of beauty and wealth. A land not seen by many who live outside of Brooklyn.
These are only some of the places that await you in New York City. Tread lightly though, because there is danger around every corner. And if you should be so lucky, perhaps you might run into the Gutter Punks. These modern day Robin Hoods who steal from the rich and give to the poor are wise cracking, quick witted and brave boys, who are making a difference. Know their names well, because their names will one day go down in history.

AUTHOR BIOWilbert Stanton was born and raised in New York City. From an early age, Wilbert decided he would either write books or take over the world; everything else was just a precursor to his end game.

Along the way, he has studied Psychology, English, and Computer Science. He’s held jobs in a wide range of fields and met people from all walks of life. Wilbert is constantly learning and growing as a person, in order to solidify his dreams.

In the end world domination was a bit tedious, so he decided to focus on writing books.
Author links: https://www.facebook.com/authorwilbertstantonhttps://twitter.com/Wilbert_stantonhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7857459.Wilbert_Stanton


Excerpt:Cigar turned his head to the side until his neck cracked, then again to the other side. He reached for one of his guns. I knew my face went pale, my hands began to shake, and the prospect of throwing myself through the glass window seemed more and more inviting. He put the gun on the counter with a noticeable thud, taking care to aim the muzzle at Dodger. “Now, now, Fred, we’re all friends here.”“Name’s not Fred, and you’re no friend of mine.”“And here I invite you into my place of business and offer you my liquor, thinking we shared the bond that comes with supply and demand―”“I’m beginning to wonder how you came to own this place. Last I been here, the bartender was a lot older.”Dodger slammed a cup down on the counter. Prying the whiskey bottle from my frozen fingers, he poured a drink and chugged it down. “Maybe you don’t want to find out.”This made Cigar laugh, a slow chuckle. “You got a set on you, huh? Now why don’t you tell me where this vault is, and pray to God that there’s more value in it than in turning over a couple of Gutter Punks!”The game was over. He knew who we were. Frankly, it wasn’t surprising. Dodger and I had made quite the reputation for ourselves, but this, this wasn’t in our favor. And the threat was on the table in the form of a shiny gun. Dodger held up his hands in mock surprise. “Ahh, you made us. Fine, maybe we can help each other. I tell you where to find the vault, and you walk away?”“I’ll decide on that when I see fit.” Dodger looked at me and winked. I knew the look. It meant I had to stay on my toes. After taking a swig of the whiskey, he went through his pockets and produced the lighter I stole at the Empire. I sat on the tip of my stool as he held it out to Cigar, who smiled in turn. “Smart boy,” he said, holding out his cigar in Dodger’s direction. Dodger opened the lid and flicked the wheel, causing the flame to spark. As soon as Cigar leaned in close enough to light his cigar, Dodger spit the whiskey at him, and the lighter’s flame in-between ignited the flammable liquid, shooting a hail of fire into Cigar’s face. He yelled, clawing at the flames. His beard caught on fire; the smell of burning hair was instant. I used the distraction to my advantage and jumped for the gun before his wild hands could find it, training the muzzle on him before he could regain composure. Dodger and I tensed as he got up, brushing the last of his scorched beard from his face.            “You boys really made a mistake. What you fixing to do, huh? Shoot me? Look at you, ain’t no man in you! Shaking like a leaf. What makes you think I think you have the balls to shoot me? You got the fear of God in your eyes, but you know what, boy? I ain’t God… I’m the Devil.”

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh

It’s cover reveal day for Vicki Leigh’s CATCH ME WHEN I FALL! Lots of awesome stuff going on, including a giveaway! But first, here's a special message from Vicki:




And here's what CATCH ME WHEN I FALL is all about:

Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him.

A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

CATCH ME WHEN I FALL will be available on October 23, 2014 in both paperback and e-book formats from Curiosity Quills Press. For more information, visit the book’s Goodreads page.

Now, there can’t be a cover reveal without a giveaway, right? Lots of authors stopped by and donated some fantastic books to help Vicki celebrate. You don’t want to miss out on these! Here’s what you can win:

An e-copy of CATCH ME WHEN I FALL by Vicki LeighA submission package critique (query+synopsis+first chap) from Vicki LeighAn e-copy of HEIRS OF WAR by Mara ValderranTwo query+first chapter critiques from YA author Emily StanfordA full manuscript critique from YA author Emily StanfordAn e-copy of WITHOUT BLOODSHED by Matthew GrayboschA paperback of DESTRUCTION by Sharon BaylissAn e-copy of KIYA: HOPE OF THE PHARAOH by Katie TellerOne query+first chapter critique from YA author Katie TellerAn e-copy of DARKNESS WATCHING by Emma AdamsA copy of DESCENDANT by Nichole GilesAn e-copy package of EVER and EVADE by Jessa RussoA signed copy of DIVIDE by Jessa RussoA copy of UNHINGED by A.G. Howard
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win! All prizes will be accompanied by a Dreamcatcher swag package from Vicki Leigh.

Thanks for stopping by!

About Vicki:
Adopted at three-days-old by a construction worker and a stay-at-home mom, Vicki Leigh grew up in a small suburb of Akron, Ohio where she learned to read by the age of four and considered being sent to her room for punishment as an opportunity to dive into another book. By the sixth grade, Vicki penned her first, full-length screenplay. If she couldn’t be a writer, Vicki would be a Hunter (think Dean and Sam Winchester) or a Jedi. Her favorite place on earth is Hogwarts (she refuses to believe it doesn’t exist), and her favorite dreams include solving cases alongside Sherlock Holmes.

Vicki is an editor for Curiosity Quills Press, a co-founder of The Writer Diaries, and is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

You can find Vicki at her website and blog and on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, and Goodreads.

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Cover Re-Reveal: Sparks by RS McCoy

Sparks Cover Re-Release Day Extravaganza!
"Everyone in the world has a Spark, a light inside that guides them, keeps them alive.”Myxini School for Children specializes in training young men and women who have powerful Sparks. Strikers are taught to manipulate fire. Trackers learn to find animals in the most formidable terrains. Handlers are instructed in communication with large predators. But forty years have passed since the last time they had a Reader – a student with the ability to read minds.When Lark Davies enrolls at Myxini, he knows there aren’t many like him, but he doesn’t realize just how rare his abilities really are. He thinks nothing of being asked to keep his Spark a secret; after all, he can barely control it. Thoughts and emotions flood unbidden into his mind until he can scarcely walk or hold a conversation. But just when he needs it most, his ability fails him.Lark meets Khea, a small frightened girl who mysteriously ignites his protective nature. He has no explanation for the curious strength of their relationship, and it doesn’t help that she is one of the few people in the world whose thoughts can’t be read. As he struggles to get to the root of their unique bond, Lark begins to unravel more power than even his mentor expected, but in the process makes himself a target to political leaders eager to take control.




Now Available On Amazon


Teaser:
Wearing only my loose brown pants, I crawled into the most comfortable bed I had ever known and sank into the soft down pillows. I had just started to drift off when I heard a knock at the door. I’m going to kill Avis.
“What do you–” I started until I realized it wasn’t Avis. It was a stunning blonde with blue eyes. Khea.
“I’m sorry to wake you. I just– I had to see you.” Her arms moved to wrap around my waist and hold me tight as I questioned if I was really sleeping or not.
“Uh, do you want to come in?” We both knew the rules about being in someone else’s room after hours, so I pulled her in and sat down on the edge of the bed, still a little surprised she was there.
In the dim light her hair looked a little darker, but her face was still sweet and there was no denying that the last two years had done her well. Who would have thought such a beautiful young woman would come from that skinny little girl in Lagodon?
“How’d you know I was back?” I asked her, trying to appear less tired or shocked than I was.
“A friend told me.”
“I didn’t think you–” Cared? It wasn’t the right word, but I was beyond amazed that she was interested in my whereabouts. I hadn’t seen her since that night at the Moonwater and it had changed everything for me since then. But for her, I wasn’t aware that she had been affected in any way.
“Ride with me tomorrow?”
“Uh, yea, of course.” It was a struggle to cover how little I wanted to wait. I would have given anything to have her stay.
A wide smile erupted across her sweet lips as she said, “meet me at the lake at noon.” With a lingering kiss on my cheek, she walked back through the door and disappeared into the dark stone corridor.
What just happened? I hadn’t seen her in person in years, and we were hardly close before that. And now she arrived in my room in the middle of the night and kissed me on the cheek. Was it a kiss like a friend would give another? Or more? I couldn’t make any sense of it, but there was only thing I was sure of. I would be at the lake at noon if it was the last thing I did.
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A HUGE thank you to all these fantastic bloggers! Support your favorite blogs by leaving a comment!
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About RS McCoy

RS McCoy didn’t ever plan on being a writer. With a career teaching high school science, writing is the last thing she expected. But life never goes the way you think it will. While battling cancer, she picked up her laptop and let the words flow out. One year later, her first published fantasy novel has been released on Amazon and her second novel is in the works. She is a wife, mother of two, a scientist, baker, gardener, and life-long science fiction and fantasy addict.

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Cover Reveal – The Three Thorns by Michael Gibney and Giveaway

Welcome to the Cover Reveal forThe Three Thorns (The Brotherhood and The Shield #1)
by Michael Gibneypresented by Month9Books!Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Three brothers born to a once powerful King were abandoned at birth and cast out into the old world as orphans - alone and unaware of the other's existence or their royal heritage.In the new world, by order of the false King, three of the most lethal assassins are sent to kill the children before they come of age and avenge their father’s throne.But when the brothers find one another, Benjamin, Tommy and Sebastian must resist the temptation of magic and power if they are to defeat the unspeakable evil that has threatened them since birth.The Three Thorns is book one in an exciting children’s fantasy series called The Brotherhood and the Shield from debut author Michael Gibney.

Title: THE THREE THORNS
(THE BROTHERHOOD AND THE SHIELD #1)
Publication date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: Tantrum Books/Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Michael Gibney

Michael Gibney began working in restaurants at the age of sixteen and assumed his first sous chef position at twenty-two. He ascended to executive sous chef at Tavern on the Green, where he managed an eighty-person staff. He has worked in the kitchens of Morgans Hotel Group, 10 Downing in Manhattan, and Governor in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, among many others. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to work alongside cooks and chefs from many of the nation’s best restaurants, including Alinea, Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Bouley, Ducasse, Corton, wd~50, and Momofuku.In addition to his experience in the food service industry, Gibney also holds a BFA in painting from Pratt Institute and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Connect with the Author: Twitter | Facebook | GoodreadsComplete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!(Winners will receive their book on release day)a Rafflecopter giveaway

Observations from a #QueryKombat Judge and an Acquisitions Editor

I see a ton of queries. It's the first thing I read with every submission that hits my inbox. With Query Kombat, it was the first thing I read. What I've noticed from this is one thing:
People in general know how to write a strong query.
Writers have so many resources now that writing a good query is getting easier and easier. With critiques on blogs, in comps, from other writers, refining a query letter is almost as easy as 1,2,3. The queries I see most of the time have the rules down; a hook, the meat of the story, and the stakes. I think once these are clear, your query is ready to go, and I also think a query can be over critiqued, so be careful of that.
Good job to all the writers out there!

Now for the first page/250 words.
This is another thing entirely. This portion of the manuscript, for me, is what sells the story. In this brief glimpse of what's to come, I can see the style of the writer, the voice, and the world building. A first page that introduces me to the main character right away and lays down piece by piece the foundations of the world is more likely to pull me in to read more. If there is info dumping, passive voice (a little is fine because, let's be honest, passive voice is a beast) and telling in that brief glimpse, it tells me the rest of the manuscript will be riddled with them.
Allow me to use an analogy. Think of it like this: You are building a house. You start off with a blue print to show what the home will eventually look like. This blue print is your query. You place your blue print down to provoke interest and to show what this home is going to look like.
Now, the foundations for the house need to be laid. A foundation of a house is usually dug out, concrete poured, etc so the house has something stable to rest on. Houses with poor foundations crumble or don't last too long, right? But no one can see the foundation in the long run, even though it is essential to the house's structure and integrity. Your first page/250 words is the foundation of the manuscript. It's the first thing to be "laid out" and is needs to be strong, clear, and precise. The basics of the world need to be set out without anything fancy like use of unknown terms for the reader, and the main character needs to be established. In the long run, this opening becomes forgotten in the plot and character interactions, but without it being there, holding the story firmly grounded in the readers mind, the rest of the plot falls apart and the reader struggles to make sense of it, so ultimately sets it aside.
So make the foundation of your novel strong. Refine that first glimpse of your manuscript and follow that refining throughout the book. Give your reader something to love and want to curl up inside and know they are safe and cozy.

Good luck to you all xxx
Katie

 photo credit: blavandmaster via photopin cc

Observations from a #QueryKombat judge and an Acquisitions Aditor

I see a ton of queries. It's the first thing I read with every submission that hits my inbox. With Query Kombat, it was the first thing I read. What I've noticed from this is one thing:
People in general know how to write a strong query.
Writers have so many resources now that writing a good query is getting easier and easier. With critiques on blogs, in comps, from other writers, refining a query letter is almost as easy as 1,2,3. The queries I see most of the time have the rules down; a hook, the meat of the story, and the stakes. I think once these are clear, your query is ready to go, and I also think a query can be over critiqued, so be careful of that.
Good job to all the writers out there!

Now for the first page/250 words.
This is another thing entirely. This portion of the manuscript, for me, is what sells the story. In this brief glimpse of what's to come, I can see the style of the writer, the voice, and the world building. A first page that introduces me to the main character right away and lays down piece by piece the foundations of the world is more likely to pull me in to read more. If there is info dumping, passive voice (a little is fine because, let's be honest, passive voice is a beast) and telling in that brief glimpse, it tells me the rest of the manuscript will be riddled with them.
Allow me to use an analogy. Think of it like this: You are building a house. You start off with a blue print to show what the home will eventually look like. This blue print is your query. You place your blue print down to provoke interest and to show what this home is going to look like.
Now, the foundations for the house need to be laid. A foundation of a house is usually dug out, concrete poured, etc so the house has something stable to rest on. Houses with poor foundations crumble or don't last too long, right? But no one can see the foundation in the long run, even though it is essential to the house's structure and integrity. Your first page/250 words is the foundation of the manuscript. It's the first thing to be "laid out" and is needs to be strong, clear, and precise. The basics of the world need to be set out without anything fancy like use of unknown terms for the reader, and the main character needs to be established. In the long run, this opening becomes forgotten in the plot and character interactions, but without it being there, holding the story firmly grounded in the readers mind, the rest of the plot falls apart and the reader struggles to make sense of it, so ultimately sets it aside.
So make the foundation of your novel strong. Refine that first glimpse of your manuscript and follow that refining throughout the book. Give your reader something to love and want to curl up inside and know they are safe and cozy.

Good luck to you all xxx
Katie

 photo credit: blavandmaster via photopin cc

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I love to jump in on blog hops. I love helping other authors and joining in on fun events, so I have collected quite a few of these over time.

Release: Don't Turn Back by Amy Stephens

Relationships form when least expected. 

Jennifer Davis is about to experience a love like no other. Living alone now in the city she grew up in, she works nights and attends college in the evening. She is at a happy point in her life until a stranger walks in. 

Brian Collins can never make the right choices. Instead of facing reality head on, he allows his troubled past to interfere. So, he takes off running in search of something better. 

Jennifer and Brian meet by chance. Will she be the positive influence he needs to lead him from his previous mistakes, or will she be pulled into his black cloud that follows him everywhere? Can their relationship withstand all the obstacles that come before them or will fate leave one of them hanging on by a thread? 

Don't Turn Back is the story of strengths and weaknesses. Find out who is strong enough to survive and who can pull through 'til the end. The one you least expect just may be the one who chooses to don't turn back.
US amazon linkhttp://www.amazon.com/Dont-Turn-Back-Coming-Home-ebook/dp/B00KK5BZUO/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1401046703&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=amy+stephens+don%27t+turn+back
UK amazon link:http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KK5BZUO?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Australian link:https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00KK5BZUO
B&N link:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-turn-back-amy-stephens-amy-stephens/1119616400

Go here for a rafflecopter giveaway:https://www.facebook.com/amystephensauthor/app_228910107186452