L.W. Patricks's Blog

How my book cracked the top ten bestsellers in 3 Amazon categories

I’m excited to announce that my book Shadow of Wrath has cracked the top ten in 3 Amazon categories: Scifi Dystopian, Children’s Books Science Fiction, and Teen Science Fiction.

[Related: Shadow of Wrath]

So how did I get my book to climb the Amazon rankings? I used a promotional website called Bookbub. Think of Bookbub as a massive email marketing tool with over 1 million email subscribers that are potentially looking for a deal. Normally I’m pretty hesitant when it comes to paying for any type of marketing, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about Bookbub, so I thought I’d give it a try.

[Related: Find out More about Bookbub Advertising prices]

I dropped my book from $3.99 to $0.99 and had my promotion run yesterday, which looked a little something like this in their daily email newsletter:

Shadow of Wrath
By L.W. Patricks
A kidnapped homeless boy fights for survival in the brutal gladiator matches of the Arena. Can Allegra, a slave, save him before he loses his life — or his humanity? A gut-wrenching tale with a stunning ending
Originally: $3.99
$0.99

Get Deal

Deal ends: 5/24/13
Category: Science Fiction

And then the rest was pure magic. I think that the great reviews I got from my blog tour helped make my book more attractive during this promo:

[Related: Results of my Blog Tour]

Here’s my current rank on the bestsellers list on Amazon in 3 of my categories:

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

#2 in Books > Children’s Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy >  Science Fiction
#4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction >  Dystopian
#10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy >  Science Fiction

I also submitted  a listing to Pixel of Ink so here’s hoping they pick up my book for a shout out in order to drive me further up the rankings.

And that is how I got my book to crack the top ten bestsellers in 3 Amazon categories.

On that note, I’d like to add that Shadow of Wrath e-book is currently still $0.99 so definitely pick up a copy!

Purchase your copy of Shadow of Wrath

What book promotions have worked for you?

- L

Filed under: book marketing, Insight, self publishing

Are Blog Tours Good for Marketing My Books? Results of my first blog tour

Recently I completed my first blog tour for Shadow of Wrath: two gruelling weeks of interviews, guests posts, and anxiously waiting for bloggers to hack my new mature teen book to pieces, like volatile reading ninjas. So this leaves us with the question, are blog tours good for marketing my books?

[Related: My First Book Blog Tour: Shadow of Wrath]

The cost of a blog tour was approximately $200 with around 20+ blog stops with a mix of reviews, guests blog posts, and interviews. Did I see a spike in sales during and after the blog tour?

Nope.

Does that mean the blog tour wasn’t worth it? Well that depends on what you want to gain from it. Shadow of Wrath was my first novel and I started off with zero fan base. One of the main reasons I decided to participate in a blog tour in the first place was to get my name out there and build some type of credibility in terms of reviews and readers.

It worked.

No, not every review of mine was positive, but I knew that going in. I wrote a book that defies all normal conventions of the teen book genre — creating something more suited for mature teens. Shadow of Wrath is controversial, violent, and drastically different from a typical teen romance read. Whenever someone decides to do something different, you’ll find those that either love it, or hate it.

Thank goodness my new dystopian book fell into the “Love it” category.

Here are some of my favorite reviews from the book tour as well as the links to these wonderful best bloggers that you MUST visit. These folks kick serious ass and their book blogs are my new go-to hang outs — aside from my couch.

Shadow of Wrath Book Tour Reviews

“Shadow of Wrath is by far one of the best books I have read this year…I lost count the number of times this book made me cry.”   ★★★★★ -  All in One Place Book Reviews

“I don’t usually urge you all to read a book, but I’m urging you now. Please, please, PLEASE pick this book up. I can’t say you won’t regret it, this isn’t for everyone. But one this is for sure, it’ll definitely leave an impression on you.“  ★★★★★ - Book Marked for Later Reviews

“One of the most evil villains I have EVER read in a book….This book was addictive. The writing is very 3D in how it will make you feel.”  ★★★★★ - Novels on the Run

“Mindblowing, disturbing, and thrilling! Hunger Games fans, beware!…This book shocked me to the core. It was mind-blowing!…It’ll twist your gut and play with your nerves, but I promise you, you’ll enjoy it.” ★★★★★ - Books, DIY’s, and Randomness

“This novel is not for the weak of stomach, nor heart for that matter…brutal and savage…heartbreaking and joyous…it is a story that will stick with you…long after you finished the very last page. ★★★★★ – Bookluvrs Haven

“Shadow of Wrath will haunt my dreams for many years to come. My tears have yet to cease from this dreadful tale of death and remorse…I stepped away from this novel a changed person.” ★★★★★ – Accepted Wisdom Book Reviews

“Like effing poetry! I held my breath, I cried, I almost threw up. That’s the best way I can describe Shadow of Wrath…I was blown away…this book WILL make your cry. Highly recommended.” ★★★★ - Reading & Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Fiction.

“And oh my word, the ending. I just can’t even put into words how it made me feel. It is an ending I never saw coming. It was so well done and I applaud Patricks for being able to make the book end the way it did…the characters and emotions that this book brings out are just wonderful.” ★★★★ - Bibliophile’s Corner

“As disturbing as this story was, I really enjoyed it…alot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming.” ★★★★ - Lady Bug Story Time Reviews

“If you are looking for an absorbing, gritty read, and can handle violence and gore, I strongly suggest for you to read Shadow of Wrath. It is a mind-bending read that defies all conventions of a YA read.” ★★★★ - Oh, Chrys! Book Reviews 

“I think this is one of, if not the most violent books I have ever read…this book was definitely a page turner…I encourage others to read this book because it will undoubtedly affect you in some way.” ★★★★ -  Sweet Southern Home Book Reviews

“I found myself furiously devouring this book…this novel has a completely unexpected twist at the end“ ★★★★ - Rachel Tsoumbakos Book Reviews

***

The reviews itself are worth their weight in gold, providing me some credibility in my work (as well as gratifying validation that I’m not a hack job when it comes to writing). The first thing I did after receiving each of these reviews was to update my Amazon page and include them everywhere.

Shadow of Wrath Amazon Page

So at the end of the day, was a book tour worth it? For me it was, because it solidified myself as a credible writer. Will a book tour be worth it for you first-time writers out there? That all depends.

If you’re looking for an instant boost in sales, then no. You’re better off organizing your own blog tour (which is quite a bit of work, and that’s time better spent writing). However if you’re looking to build a fan base from ground up as well as get some honest reviews for your book, then you definitely should.

How many of you have participated in a blog tour before? Was the blog tour good for marketing your books? Did you see some increase in sales? I’d love to hear from you.

-L.

Filed under: book bloggers, book tour, Insight

The Most Controversial Teen Fiction Books of All Time – Pt 2.

Welcome to part 2 of the most controversial teen fiction books. This week, we’ll take a look at the 90s and the books that parents found too despicable for their teenage kids.

Updated Comments In Red: April 30, 2013

[Related: The Most Controversial Teen Fiction Books of All Time Pt. 1]

90s

The Giver

By. Lois Lowry

The Giver deals with a boy named Jonas and his life in an Utopian society where everyone has their freedom of choice removed and emotions suppressed. When the youths comes of a certain age, they are assigned professions that the society believes best suits them, and Jonas is tasked with the role as Receiver. This profession allows Jonas to unlock many of the emotions buried deep within him and he soon discovers that this “Utopia” may not be what it seems.

Despite being one of the most challenged books of the 90s, the Giver won the 1994 Newbery Medal Award for its underlying theme of life without choice (and also social commentary on communism) with a lot of the challenges directed at its presentation of euthanasia and sexual situations.

One of the challenges included a parent in Franklin County, Kansas, on the grounds that the book dealt with “suicide, murder, and the degradation of motherhood and adolescence.”

Here is Lois Lowry’s response during a speech at Richmond University:

“One of the reasons they have been debating The Giver in Kansas City (where, incidentally, the school board finally voted unanimously to retain the book in the schools) is because of what it says about the story on the inside of the book jacket:

In the telling it questions every value we have taken for granted and reexamines our most deeply held beliefs.

Why, I wonder, are people so afraid to do that?

I feel very strongly that we should question our own beliefs and rethink our values every single day, with open minds and open hearts.

We should ask ourselves again and again how we are connected to each other. 

And we should teach our children to do so, and not to turn away.”

I commend Lois for taking a stance on this against parental censorship. Creating silos around your children will only hurt them in the long run. 

[Related: Author Spotlight - L.W. Patricks and the Art of Writing Controversy]

Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark

By. Alvin Schwartz

Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark is a collection of folk tales and spooky stories written by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Just look at the cover. It screams controversial teen fiction all over it.

This book was one of the top challenged books by the American Library Association in the 90s. Let’s face it, kids like reading about death and what boy or girl doesn’t like experiencing the sensation of artificial fear? Of course having their kids reading about death, ghosts, and the supernatural in addition to the sadistic ending each tale provides made parents nervous and at the edge of their seats.

Check out this article found HERE, from a Librarian’s experience with this book, and how she successfully stood up to the pressure of having this book removed from her library.

I loved these stories as a kid. Yes, the book was controversial and had it’s fair share of violence and gore, but it was my gateway into the genre of horror. And guess what, I didn’t turn out to be a psychopath or serial killer. 

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Harry Potter Series

By. J.K. Rowling

And last but not least, we have Harry Potter, one of the most controversial teen fiction books ever written. I’m sure most of you know this wonderful tale by now so I’ll skip the synopsis.

Harry Potter has successfully made the American Library Association’s most banned book of America. Despite this, the book managed to sell 450 million copies, spawn a successful movie franchise, and continues to be one of the most endearing YA books of our time.

The number one challenge of this book was over the controversial topic of religion and the accusations that the book dealt with witchcraft and satanic undertones. Many religious organizations fought to have this book removed from the library. Interesting enough, witchcraft was recognized as a religion by the libraries which led to many intense and widely publicized legal challenges. Our current Pope had this to say about the series:

“(The series is) subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul before it can grow properly.”

Luckily those who actually read the book understood the true story behind Harry Potter and the themes of good vs evil, sacrifice, and love.

What do you think of parents censoring controversial teen fiction books?

- L.

Filed under: Insight, Publications, YA Fiction

The Most Controversial Teen Fiction Books Of All Time – Pt. 1

What are the most controversial teen fiction books of all time?

Updated Commentary April 28, 2013: In my original post, I tried to be ‘diplomatic.’ Then I realized, screw it. My updated comments in red.

As a society, we are accepting mature themes at  much younger ages than prior generations. Television shows, movies, and books all geared towards young adults are darker, more violent, and more sexually charged than they were 25 years ago. Back when I was reading teen fiction, vampires and werewolves were the horror stories that made you hide beneath your covers. Now everyone wants to have sex with them. The paradigm of edgy has definitely shifted in my opinion.

I thought in this post, I’d take a look at some of the more “controversial” teen books and examine how they have evolved over time, beginning with the 70s.

70s/80′s

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

By. Judy Blume

The same author who brought you wonderful stories such as ‘Fudgeamania’ and ‘Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing’ examines puberty and growing up in a religious heritage. What was the controversial at the time was the fact that the central character undergoes puberty and wishes for breasts and her first period while developing crushes on boys.  Meanwhile, she is caught at the centre of a religious tug of war — her Christian parents on one side and her Jewish grandmother on the other.

At the time, “Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret” was challenged numerous times by parents and topped the American Library Associations list of most challenged books due to the sensitive issues of adolescent puberty and religious debates.

Are you fucking kidding me? Are parents blind to the fact that kids will eventually grow up, have their periods (daughters only I hope), as well as have their own ideologies when it comes to religion? I’m stunned. I’d rather have them learn a bit about it in a Judy Blume book than googling ‘blood from vagina’ on the interest. Call me a bad parent if you disagree.

However this book doesn’t compare to the challenges of the next book on the list, also written by Judy Blume.

Forever

By. Judy Blume

Whereas “Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret” dealt with puberty and religion, Forever explored the more mature themes of sexuality and teen pregnancy, which resulted in its banning and censorship. This book details the relationship between Katherine and Michael as they find themselves sexually attracted to each other and explores the physical emotions they felt and how their sexuality affected their relationship.

Because of the description of sex which included: “When I kissed his face it was all sweaty and his eyes were half closed. He took my hand and led it back to Ralph [his penis], showed me how to hold him, moving my hand up and down according to his rhythm. Soon Michael moaned and I felt him come — a pulsating feeling, a throbbing, like the books said — then the wetness. Some of it got on my hand but I didn’t let go of Ralph,”  the book was challenged by parents to be removed from the public libraries and ranked number 2 on American Library Association’s most challenged list of 2005.

Once again, if my kid has to learn about sex, I’d rather it be from Judy Blume. God forbid I discover my daughter learning ‘sex’ from 50 Shades of Grey and thinking that being tied up, handcuffed, and whipped is what normal sex should be like. 

Go Ask Alice

Written By: Anonymous

Next up on the list is Go Ask Alice, a book that delves into the subject of drugs, sex, rape, and runaways. The premise of the story is a young girl  keeps a diary and explores her troubled life as she finds herself in challenging situations — especially with drugs and sex — and how she reacts to them. Littered with profanity along with scenes of rape and explicit drug use, this book has a long history of being challenged ranking number 23 as one of the American Library Association’s most challenged books of the 90s with a ranking of number 8 in 2001 and number 6 in 2003.

Luckily, the author decided to keep herself anonymous (though there has been much speculation) and avoided direct wrath from concerned parents.

The Chocolate War

Written By: Robert Cormier

Last up we have Robert Cormier’s “The Chocolate War.” Despite the fantastic reviews the Chocolate War received, it topped the list at #3 of the American Library Association’s top challenged books of 2000-2009.

According to a petition online to remove the book from Mobile County Public School system, the first 132 pages contain the following curse words: hell – 20 times, bastard 9 times, God damn 3 times, damn 5 times, shit 1, bullshit 2, son of a bitch 2 times, and ass twice.

Furthermore, the explicit scenes of masturbation including: Archie had pulled open the door to one of the stalls and confronted Janza sitting there, pants dropping on the floor, one hand furiously at work between his legs, along with suggestions of high functional secret societies and bullying had parents in an uproar. Mr. Cormier’s response to the controversy surrounding his book: “kids can absorb my kind of book because they know this kind of thing happens in life.”

I wasn’t aware that ‘hell’ and ‘bastard’ were  bad words. If honestly, the worst words coming out of his book his “hell that damn bastard son-of-a-bitch took a shit from his ass” then I’ll let it slide. I also love Robert Cormier, which is another reason. 

Seriously parents, stop blaming others for trying to create literature and teach your kids that ‘while you may read and hear bad words, that doesn’t mean you should use them.’ That seems like better time spent than writing letters to the library in hopes of banning the books of great authors.

Thanks for reading. Part 2 of the most controversial teen books can be found here.

[Related: Read Part Two of The Most Controversial Teen Book of All Time?]

What are your thoughts on these controversial books? Have you read a book yourself that you thought was waaaaay out of line? Leave a comment below!

Cheers,

-L.

Filed under: Insight, YA Fiction

My First Book Blog Tour: The Shadow of Wrath

So I’m participating in a book tour for my debut dystopian and urban fantasy teen novel, Shadow of Wrath which is being run by Giselle over at Xpresso Book Tours.

Find out what people have to say about this young adult dystopian thriller.

I’ve never participated in a virtual book tour before, but I’m interested to see how it will effect my sales and grow my fan base. Once it’s done, I’ll be sure to blog about the marketing statistics here.

In the meantime, here’s all the details!

.
April 15th
-Realms of an Open Mind >> Review
-Clean Teen Reads >> Review
-All in One Place >> Review
-Delirious About Books >> Excerpt
-The Social Potato >>  Review
.

April 16th
-Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance >> Review
-Toot’s Book Reviews >> Guest Post
.

April 17th
-The Bibliophile’s Corner >> Review
-A Dream Within A Dream >> Excerpt
-Ladybug Storytime >> Review

.

April 18th
-Rolling with the Moments >> Review
-Blood,Sweat and Books >> Review
-Books, DIY`s and Randomness >>  Review + Interview

-Bookluvrs Haven >> Review
.

April 19th
-Mom With A Kindle  >> Guest Post
-Novels On The Run >>  Review
-sweet southern home >> Review

.

April 22nd
-SIK Book Reviews  >> Review,
-Lust For Stories >> Excerpt
-Bookwyrming Thoughts  >> Guest Post
.

April 23rd
-Paperback Princess  >> Interview
-Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews >> Excerpt
-Books i View >> Review
.

April 24th
-Cherie Reads  >> Review
-Bookmarked For Later  >> Review
-Oops! I Read A Book Again  >> Guest Post
.

April 25th
-off the page >> Interview
-Rachel Tsoumbakos >> Review
-Nook of Books Reviews >> Review
-A Page Away >> Excerpt
.

April 26th
-Oh, Chrys!  >> Review
-Accepted Wisdom  >> Review
-Beauty and the Bookshelf  >> Interview
.
Make sure you stop by these places!
.
In the mean time, check out the first chapter of Shadow of Wrath.
.
Read the first chapter now!
.
How about you guys? Have any of you participated in a book blog tour before? What’s your favorite book blogger that you rely on for reviews?
.
Let me know!
.
Cheers,
.
- L.
.










Filed under: book tour, indie author, YA Fiction

The Shadow of Wrath Book Tour

So I’m participating in a book tour for my debut young adult novel, Shadow of Wrath which is being run by Giselle over at Xpresso Book Tours.

Find out what people have to say about this young adult dystopian thriller.

I’ve never participated in a virtual book tour before, but I’m interested to see how it will effect my sales and grow my fan base. Once it’s done, I’ll be sure to blog about the marketing statistics here.

In the meantime, here’s all the details!

.
April 15th
-Realms of an Open Mind >> Review
-Clean Teen Reads >> Review
-All in One Place >> Review
-Delirious About Books >> Excerpt
-The Social Potato >>  Review
.

April 16th
-Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance >> Review
-Toot’s Book Reviews >> Guest Post
.

April 17th
-The Bibliophile’s Corner >> Review
-A Dream Within A Dream >> Excerpt
-Ladybug Storytime >> Review

.

April 18th
-Rolling with the Moments >> Review
-Blood,Sweat and Books >> Review
-Books, DIY`s and Randomness >>  Review + Interview

-Bookluvrs Haven >> Review
.

April 19th
-Mom With A Kindle  >> Guest Post
-Novels On The Run >>  Review
-sweet southern home >> Review

.

April 22nd
-SIK Book Reviews  >> Review,
-Lust For Stories >> Excerpt
-Bookwyrming Thoughts  >> Guest Post
.

April 23rd
-Paperback Princess  >> Interview
-Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews >> Excerpt
-Books i View >> Review
.

April 24th
-Cherie Reads  >> Review
-Bookmarked For Later  >> Review
-Oops! I Read A Book Again  >> Guest Post
.

April 25th
-off the page >> Interview
-Rachel Tsoumbakos >> Review
-Nook of Books Reviews >> Review
-A Page Away >> Excerpt
.

April 26th
-Oh, Chrys!  >> Review
-Accepted Wisdom  >> Review
-Beauty and the Bookshelf  >> Interview
.
Make sure you stop by these places!
.
In the mean time, check out the first chapter of Shadow of Wrath.
.
Read the first chapter now!
.
How about you guys? Have any of you participated in a blog tour before or what’s your favorite book blog that you rely on for reviews?
.
Let me know!
.
Cheers,
.
L.W.
.










Filed under: book tour, indie author, YA Fiction

Your amazing reviews, Mind Orgasms, and the Great Beyond!

So it’s been a little less than a month, but I’m thrilled by the number of sales and the great reviews I’ve already received for my young adult book, SHADOW OF WRATH. I’m not going to lie, every great comment I get is like a mind orgasm (or mindgasm?)  for me.

Here are some of my favorites:

“A story of how to find hope in the most hopeless of places and situations…L.W. Patricks creates characters you either care deeply about or hate with such passion…a true talent. This book is a definite must read.” – Chrissy – 5 stars

“I loved how there were no rules in this book, breaking pace with what is out there. It was dark and edgy and kept you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next.” – Cait – 5 stars

“What I enjoy most about reading Dystopian novels are these worlds that are created, and characters that face the ruthless horrors of these worlds….Shadow of Wrath is no exception.” – Gabi – 5 stars

“I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fast paced and cut throat action as well as heart wrenching displays of heroism in the cruelest of circumstances.” – Fumiko – 5 stars

“Just Wow!! A MUST READ” – Lizannd – 5 stars

“Edgy. Raw. Exciting. I can think of a dozen other amazing adjectives to describe Patricks’s debut novel, but I’m still not sure they’d do it justice.” – Jena – 5 stars

“There was a couple of times I was like “did that really happen?“” – Jenn – 4 stars

“The best part for me was the ending, it was so chilling and unexpected it left me thinking about it for days.” – Lisa – 5 stars

“L.W. Patricks creates an excellent young adult thriller that’s as good as hunger games and maze runner, and as shocking as game of thrones.” – Amazon Fan – 5 stars

****

Now that I’m on cloud 9 with such great reviews, what’s up next for me? Well I’m working on two projects. The first one is AWAKE THE GHOSTS, a continuation to the story and the world I created in SHADOW OF WRATH. At the same time I’m working on a novella geared towards the New Adult crowd entitled CITY OF INDECENCY. I describe it as an erotic version of Lost with quirky and sexy characters in a story full of mystery, intrigue, and of course…sweet love making.

Here are the first few paragraphs from both titles. ***Warning*** The City of Indecency is rated M for Mature.

****

AWAKE THE GHOSTS EXCERPT

So this is what an apocalypse looks like, he thought as he wandered down Victoria Boulevard, once the most quant and picturesque street in Baroque City. It saddened him to see many of the shops and buildings he used to loved, razed to the ground; thick grey smoke drifting into the air as if to escape the horrors of the area.

Thick flakes of snow drifted from the sky, blending in with the dark grey ashes that danced about in the winter air.

He found it funny that up until a couple of months ago, he had never seen a dead body before. And now the streets were littered with them. He tried not to look at any of their faces; though not because he didn’t care, but because he couldn’t handle the guilt.

The destruction of Baroque City was entirely his fault, there was no denying it. Every dead body that lay on the ground was a direct result of his actions; or his inability to control them.

But he was here to make things right again. Somewhere, amidst the chaos and destruction was the girl he once cared for. Hell, he still cared for her with all his heart.

But in order to set things right again, he needed to send her to the afterlife. There just wasn’t any other way.

It was irony at its most sadistic.

****

City of Indecency Excerpt: Rated M for Mature

Joshua had awoken in some strange predicaments before —  the Vegas incident was the first to come to mind, where he was discovered sleeping off his drunkenness in a wheel chair while parked in the hotel lobby, wearing only a stripper’s bra atop his head and a diaper to hide his shame — but this…this was definitely his Sistine Chapel of fucked up awakenings.

First, he was naked.

Second, he had a raging hard on, which was fairly typical of any other morning, but to have one while lying on his back on the concrete ground and inside the centre of a satanic ritual circle; that was just bizarre.

How did he get here? And how long had he been lying ass-naked on the ground with his dick pointed to the sky like a homing beacon?

Joshua stood up and dusted the stones and grit off his bare skin, staring at the archaic circle drawn around him in thick, red blood that still looked fresh. The numbers and symbols outlying the circumference were crude looking and their meanings were anyone’s guess.

“Holy shit,” Joshua thought aloud. “I’m being sacrificed.”

Scanning the area, it seemed that he was at the centre of a town square, surrounded by white picket fences, efflorescent gardens, and quaint little red-bricked shops. Overhead Joshua heard birds chirping, and with the sun’s rays beating down and the gentle gust of spring air breathing on his bare skin, it could have been picturesque. But it wasn’t. The entire thing was some spooky shit, reminiscent of the Stepford Wives or the Children of the Corn.

His first gut instinct was to call out for help, but he had seen enough horror movies to realize the potential gruesome outcomes if he did: zombies bursting through the windows and overwhelming him, ending with his face getting chewed off; or a masked serial killer stabbing him in the kidneys and then carving out his heart to cook in a stew; or a family of cannibal rednecks hunting him down in their big red jalopy and riddling his body with shot gun shells, roasting him over a spit afterwards for their midnight dinner. There was no way in hell Joshua was going to end up as someone’s dinner.

Not today. Not any day.

So instead of calling out for some assistance, he covered his genitals with his hands and ran towards the closest building, which to his luck ended up being a thrift store. Joshua peeked through the windows to see if there was another breathing soul inside. Empty.

This entire place a ghost town, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for a paranoid and confused naked man running through the streets. At least his erection was gone.

****

So who’s as excited as I am?

P.S. For those interested, check out SHADOW OF WRATH here to pick up your copy! For those that purchase the book, I give you free permission to harass me at any point in the story. Heck you can harass me now even, if you like.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for my newsletter and be the first to know about any new releases and to also get your free copy of SHE DREAMS OF LONELY STARS a collection of scifi and fantasy short stories. 

GET YOUR FREE EBOOK NOW!

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Filed under: erotica, indie author, Publications, YA Fiction

Writing Outside Your Comfort Zone – Lost Bets and Time Travel Erotica

I’ll start this post off with a cautionary fable:

“Once upon a time, some writer guy got drunk on St. Patrick’s day, lost a bet, and had to write an erotic short story involving time travel, much to his embarrassment. Moral of the story: Don’t make stupid bets while drunk.

The end.”

If you haven’t guessed by now, that poor writer is me.  Now if you’ve read my first book Shadow of Wrath (*Warning, Shameless Plug* only $2.99 for a limited time), you’ll know that my stories tend to be edgy thrillers filled with action, violence, and a smidgen of romance. Erotica is definitely something I haven’t put into my work…yet.

Over the weekend I started writing this erotic time travelling fiction piece entitled : The Seeds of Time , though my friends recommend me using the title Time Sluts — which I rejected on the grounds that it was a pretty offensive title.

Anyways, after giggling and blushing my way through 2500 words, I’ve put it on the back burner so I can go back and concentrate on my next book Awake the Ghosts, the sequel/continuation for Shadow of Wrath.  However, the one thing I can say about Seeds of Time is…I’m glad I wrote it.

Why?

It allowed me to explore a genre I was uncomfortable with. I experimented with this entire concept of eroticism, taking one step further into developing my genre repertoire and allowing me more flexibility to include sexuality into my writing. I’m not saying that my books will become ‘Word pornos,’ but now, I feel more comfortable including sexual situations in my book if it fits into my story (and believe me, sex will play an important role in my main character’s growth).

So I guess what I’m trying to say is, write something that makes you uncomfortable, and perhaps you’ll become comfortable with it. It’s like learning a new language or a skill. I know this kicks the entire concept of “write what you know” in the teeth, but you know what? Fuck it. Write something different not for anyone else but for yourself.

No genre caters to everyone, but you might surprise yourself as to what you can produce if you write even 1000 words of horror, hard science fiction, fantasy, erotica, romance, western, etc. The vast world of imagination is not limited to only what you’re used to.

On that note, for those that are interested in reading the sexy stuff I’ve written so far, feel free to sign up to my mailing list, and I’ll send over these precious 2500 words. Who knows, if people like it and want to buy it, I’ll finish off the story and put it up on Amazon.

Read 2500 words of Seeds of Time (or Time Sluts for those who like that name better).

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Filed under: erotica, indie author, Inspiration, Writing Tips

Discover Indies Blog Hop Shadow of Wrath Giveaway!

It’s good to have friends, don’t you think?

It’s been less than three weeks since my book Shadow of Wrath has been published and I’m already meeting some pretty awesome people. Make sure you check them out!

In no particular order, here they are:

Julie Presley: Christian author, Julie Presley, brings us this story of restoration and healing in Stones of Remembrance – a journey all about loss, discovery, healing and most importantly, love.

Victoria Sawyer: Angst. Anxiety. Panic. Victoria’s YA novel is like no other – it’s an insight into the dark struggles of a young college woman living with anxiety and it’s not for the faint hearted. Refreshing, raw and honest – be sure to take a look! 

Casey Voight: Casey will entrance you with her novel, The Dove: Book One of the Legend. It’s the first book in a five-part series that follows a young Native American woman through an epic quest that will forever change the course of history.

Erin Long: weaving tales of YA fantasy, Erin’s lead character, Grimore, is the niece of a sorcerer who finds herself plunged into a struggle between the forces of light and darkness.

Jocelyn Dex: this author claims ‘demons do it better’ and does her best to prove it to us in her erotic paranormal romance novels – find out for yourself…

Chelsea Falin: brings us the ‘Benson Family Chronicles’ with her distinct southern (US) voice.

A.D. Trosper: voted #1 Book of the Year in the Turning Pages Fantasy category, Book 1: Embers at Galdrilene, in The Dragon’s Call series, is certainly worth a look.

Jill Sanders: American contemporary romance author, Jill Sanders, brings us the ‘Pride series’ of books, set in the rolling hills of Oregon, the perfect backdrop for love.

Leti Del Mar: Leti offers readers an enticing mix of crime, intrigue and romance in her novel, The Inadvertent Thief.

Belinda Williams: Her book Radiant is a finalist for the 2013 Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Finalist award.

So for this wonderful blog hop I’m posting an excerpt of Shadow of Wrath for you all to check out.

******

“I want to know what makes you afraid,” Ryker said.

“Nothing.”

Ryker looked at Dog with a scrutinizing eye before agreeing. “I can see that, but it’s only a matter of time. In the Arena, everyone learns to fear something.”

“I doubt it,” Dog replied as he finished the last scraps of his meal.

When they were both done, Ryker had the slaves clear the plates and he motioned for them to follow him to the rear entrance. “I want to show you something Dog,” he said as he opened the back door in the kitchen leading to the yard. Once again Dallas’s gun jammed Dog in the back and he had no choice but to see what Ryker was up to.

In the center of the yard was a haggard looking man on his knees and tied to a wooden post. His face was bruised and swollen while tears and snot dribbled down his face. At the sight of Ryker, he began to beg.

“I’m sorry, please, don’t do this.”

Ryker walked over to his prisoner and crouched down so he could look into his red, wet eyes. “Tears are so useless at this point,” he said.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” the man said. “It was an accident. It just happened.”

“Consider all this an accident too,” Ryker said as he walked back to Dog. “I trusted that man there. I paid him well to be one of my guards. That job didn’t last very long. Do you know what he did?”

Dog shook his head.

“He betrayed my trust,” Ryker spat. “I gave him a job when no one else did. You know how hard it is for a child molester to get work these days? That was a mistake on my part, allowing him to work in a place filled with children. I’m sure you can fill in the blanks as to what this man did.”

“Sick,” Dallas chimed in. “Absolutely sick.”

“How’s what he did any different from us kids dying in the pits?” Dog asked.

“I paid for those kids,” Ryker cried out. “I paid for them to fight and die an honourable death. Instead, this selfish prick ruined my merchandise.”

Ryker walked over to the porch and picked up a red jerry can and lugged it back and handed it to Dallas. Dog smelled the gasoline from where he stood.

“Dallas, would you mind doing the honours?”

“Pleasure boss,” Dallas replied as he gripped the can by the handle and walked over to the screaming prisoner.

“God, don’t do this! Please don’t,” he pleaded.

“Sorry, I’m not god, and even then I’m pretty sure he’s not too fond of your kind either,” Dallas said as he started splashing the gasoline over the man.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” the man gasped in between sobs, but he was drowned out by the sloshing sounds of the gasoline thrown into his face. He spluttered and spat out the liquid from his mouth.

When Dallas was finished, Ryker reached into his pockets and pulled out a lighter.

“So Dog, this is my second gift for you tonight,” Ryker said. “I will give you the freedom of choice. You can decide whether this man lives or dies. What will it be? Thumbs up or thumbs down?”

The man was reduced to an oily slobbering mess and Dog closed his eyes and tried to drown out the screams. He thought long and hard before replying to Ryker.

“If I told you to let the guy live, would you listen to me anyway?” he asked.

“I’m a man of my word,” Ryker said.

And with those words, Dog made his decision. “Burn him.”

Ryker howled and raised his hands to the star-filled sky. “Our champion has spoken. Thumbs down it is.” Ryker flicked open the cap of the lighter, ignited it with his thumb, and tossed it at the gasoline-drenched man who screamed as if he were possessed.

“Ever watch a man burn?” Ryker asked. Dog shook his head and watched as the flames danced to the chorus of the pedophile’s inhumane shrieking.

“It’s quite gruesome. Their skin blisters and bursts just before it melts off,” Ryker said. “It was disturbing the first time I saw it, but now, I find it quite entrancing.”

Dog felt the heat from the fire and watched as the sizzling embers floated upwards into the sky.

*******

End excerpt

*******

You like? Well, I’m giving away a FREE copy of Shadow of Wrath to one lucky winner.

How do you get your eyeballs onto the pages of this brutal and thrilling tale without paying a cent? The answer is easy: Sign up for the mailing list below and one lucky winner will get an email from me with a link to the prize.

Oh, did I mention that whoever joins my mailing list will receive a free copy of my short science fiction anthology SHE DREAMS OF LONELY STARS?

What are you all waiting for? Sign up now!

Note: I will never spam you or sell your email address to anyone.

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Filed under: book bloggers, Contest, Publications, self publishing

An awkward Fairy Tale – How an author got into writing

Once upon a time in a bedroom far, far, away…

There was a seven-year old boy who was a coward. He was especially afraid of the mirror in his bedroom, which he secretly believed was a portal to the Kingdom of Monsters. Before going to bed, he would cover the mirror with his blanket and spend the night shivering from the cold. But at least the monsters couldn’t see him, and he was safe.

And then one day, the boy’s father discovered what the boy was doing and said, “For God’s sake, act like you have a pair,” and forbid the boy from draping his blanket over the mirror. Confused by what “a pair” meant, he began sleeping with a “pair” of cheap plastic toy swords, hoping that the neon-coloured Sword of Grayskull and the dollar store katana was enough to intimidate the monsters.

Seeing as how the boy still had to sleep with one eye open (which he found impossible to do), the boy now faced another dilemma. You see, his mother once told him that “if you don’t get eight hours of sleep, you’ll die. Now please, stop running around and go to bed.” (P.S. If and when you have children, never tell them that. It seriously messes them up…forever).

 Not wanting to die from a lack of eight hours sleep, he needed a new plan. He decided to create an army of Monster Hunters, consisting mainly of his Teddy Bears, He-Man action figures (minus Skeletor…that scoundrel), Transformers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Before he went to sleep, he placed his army around the mirror, positioning them for an invasion into the Kingdom of Monsters while he slept.

And sleep he did. For eight hours.

 During the day, the boy imagined how the midnight battles played out between his toys and the monsters. They were always such epic battles, and fearing that he would forget the stories, he began writing them down.

And an author was born.

Now 24 years later, the boy stands before you as some guy from the internet with a book and a dream.

                   

The book and the dream

(No no I don’t dream of a tree growing out of the eiffel tower, but I thought it was a cool image anyways).

He’s also honoured if you give his young adult dystopian book Shadow of Wrath a try and enjoy it.

And just for reading, this post, you’ll always be an ass-kicking general in L.W. Patricks’s Monster Army.

The End.

******

Did you enjoy the Awkward Fairy Tale? Want more crazy stories like this or hear about free book offers and promotions? Join L.W. Patricks’s email list.

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Filed under: indie author, Insight, self publishing