Su Williams's Blog, page 4

RAPUNZEL! RAPUNZEL! LET DOWN YOUR HAIR!

GOIN' FANGIRL ON YA! Hey everybody! You know I'm always excited to bring you new authors and this week is no exception. You've met today's guest here once before and I'm uber-excited to bring her to you again. Almost a year ago, New York Times Best-Selling Author Marissa Meyer was so sweet to do an interview with me...despite totally going fangirl on her when we met at the PNWA writer's conference. So I'm feeling even more blessed that she was willing to visit us again! She's been so amazing about answering my emails and I've tried not to take advantage of her generosity. It means so much to me that she will take my emails and respond back.
So, let's get it started! I give you ...

MISS MARISSA MEYER!!!
Marissa, thanks so much for visiting today! Please tell us, how did you break into published writing? Did you attend conferences and pitch, query letters, friend of a friend or favor shining down from heaven?

Old-fashioned query letters! I made my list of about a dozen agents that represented some of my favorite books, edited my query letter until it had a lovely glow about it (and had a bunch of friends read and critique it), then sent it out. Two months later, I was signing with the very first agent I'd sent it to - my "dream agent"! It happened much faster than I was expecting, but I think that really comes down to knowing your audience (in this case, the agent) and putting in a lot of up-front effort into making your query and manuscript as strong as you can.


WHAT'S 'FAN FICTION'?
I believe I read somewhere, probably your blog (Marissa's blog), that you started by writing fan fiction. Can you explain a little of what that's all about, which ones you wrote for, and tell us where, if anywhere, we could find a sample of your work?

Yes indeed! Fanfiction is when you write stories using the world or characters from an existing story (i.e., Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Harry Potter...) For about ten years I wrote fanfiction for the popular magic girl anime "Sailor Moon" - I was OBSESSED and wrote over 50 works of fanfic in that time, many of which were novel-length. I really credit fanfiction and the fandom with helping me to develop my voice as a writer and teaching me how to tell a good story. All my works are still available on fanfiction.net, under "Alicia Blade."


A GREAT BOOK TOUR
You just came off an amazing book tour. What was your favorite place (I heard they celebrated your birthday one place!) and what one thing would you want to say to your hosts and fans that you met?

Oh gosh, this book tour was amazing! Choosing a [specific] store is so hard. I really love going to Toronto, Canada - the fans up there are so excited, and the store had my own Lunar Chronicles playlist playing during the signing and they hosted a dance-off and all sorts of crazy things. There were also a few cosplayers that came to a couple of the events, which is always SO much fun to see. But really, all the stores were great. I'm always so honored when fans take time out of their lives to come hear me talk and answer questions and sign their books. It means a lot to me, and I hope they have fun!
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
What's the next BIG thing for Miss Marissa Meyer? Any exciting news to share with readers?

I'm just getting ready to dive into revisions for my first non-Lunar Chronicles. It will be a young adult fantasy called HEARTLESS: a prequel to Alice in Wonderland focused on the rise of the Queen of Hearts. I'm SO excited for it! After that, I believe I'll be starting an action/adventure trilogy. And I have some other ideas brewing, but we'll see.... always so many ideas!


COSPLAY, COSTUMES & COMIC-COM! OH MY!
Cons and cosplaying is relatively new to me but my daughter and I were initiated last July at Spokane's KuroNecoCon. So, what's your next cosplay and for what event?

Oh gosh, good question! After HEARTLESS sold, my mom said she was going to make me a Queen of Hearts costume for this upcoming San Diego Comic-Con. I don't know if she still is though - it's coming up fast and we haven't even started! But I would love that. It's been too long since I got to wear a big poofy ball gown. :)

Oh! I wish you could smuggle me in your suitcase for Comic-Con! Of course, my daughter might wrestle me for it...since we're not 'con virgins' anymore. My tattoo guy got to meet

THE LUNAR CHRONICLES
Marissa now has the first 3 books of the Lunar Chronicles Series out. The first is Cinder; the second is Scarlet; and the third is Cress. I've given ALL of Marissa's books a five star review. Getting the first agent you query is nigh to miraculous! That should speak to the type of writer Marissa is...and the NYT Best-Seller's List ain't bad either.
So cool to see different cover versions!

Marissa! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I know your time is precious and I am truly honored that you've shared a few moments with me and my friends!

I hope you will all check out Miss Marissa and her books. She is a truly lovely and unique person and I love her for being both.

And thank you to all of you for stopping by to visit. The moments you share by being here bring a smile to my face, and I appreciate each of you.

As always...
Dare to Dream!
Su

PS I mentioned my tat guy earlier. I got new ink a couple weeks ago for Rock Star. My favorite part is the spider Ari. She turned out so cool.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?!

Welcome back to Dream Weaver Novels on Blogger! I'm excited this week to host a young lady named Danielle DeVor on her blog tour. Danielle loves creepy things, so if you're into ghosties and ghoulies, she may be just your cup of cyanide...I mean tea. So, with no further ado...I give you Miss Danielle DeVor.
Welcome to the Book Tour & Giveaway for Constructing Marcus by Danielle DeVor. You can find Danielle's complete tour schedule at MythBehaving Book Tours.
Sixteen-year-old ghost hunter, Emma Hoffman thought that moving into an old Victorian was going to be awesome – ghosts galore.Much to her delight, she discovers that the house is haunted—not by a ghost, but by a construct (a spirit created to be a servant). As she gets to know Marcus, the construct, he asks her to help him avenge his maker and find her killer. Emma’s not too sure this is a good idea, she’s a ghost hunter after all, not a detective, but she agrees to help him anyway. While trying to discover more information about the killer, Emma begins to have feelings for Marcus- feelings she isn’t ready to admit. Then the sorcerer who killed Marcus’s maker shows up at Emma’s house with an insane plan to capture Marcus and absorb his power- Emma isn’t having it. Marcus is hers. When the killer performs a spell that begins to steal Marcus’s life force, Emma risks losing him. It’s a race against time for Emma to figure out how to stop the sorcerer and his spell before Marcus fades away and disappears from her life forever.   Danielle DeVor Danielle DeVor spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times. After living briefly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she moved back to her hometown to write. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino. Danielle has been on a writing roll this year! With the release of Tail of the Devil, Constructing Marcus and Sorrow’s Point she already has three books out. You can find  Tail of the Devil  and  Sorrow’s Point  at Amazon.



I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Danielle. Check out what she had to say.
What was your inspiration for writing Constructing Marcus? I had read a long time ago about a group of spiritualists who decided to see if they could create a spirit if they gave him a name, and started talking to him. They worked on it for over a year, and the spirit started speaking to them via a Ouija board. After that, I was hooked. The idea that a spirit could be created out of seemingly nothing fascinated me, and the seeds of Marcus were born.
What kind of research did you do for writing it? I suppose you could say that I’ve been researching it my entire life. I’ve always read about creepy things and the occult.
How do you develop your characters? Usually, I get a situation in my head I want to explore, and then, I think to myself, who is experiencing it. Then, something starts to grow until I have the start of a character. They grow throughout the story since I am a pantser.
If you gave one character a voice, what would they say? Emma already has one, she just can’t escape the book. She would probably be squawking about being trapped in there, and once she calmed down, she’d focus and ask if we knew of any haunted houses for her to investigate.

If one character could write to an advice column like Dear Aggie, what would their pressing question be?  Emma- Is it okay to be in love with someone who isn’t exactly human?

How long have you been writing and how many books have you written? I’ve always been writing something or other ever since I learned to put a sentence together. I’ve written poetry, songs, and plays. So, switching to prose was interesting. So far, I’ve written 6 books. I’m getting ready to start book #7.
Does where you live and/or life in general reflect in your writing? I live in West Virginia. Lots of trees here. I’m not sure if it reflects in my writing or not. My characters do have some traits I have- like never backing down. That sort of thing.
Tell readers something quirky about yourself. I eat my pizza with a fork. I have to eat all the toppings off first, and then I eat the crust.

Buy Links for Constructing Marcus 
     
 GiveawayWin one of two prizes:ONE - $10 Amazon Gift CardONE - eCopt of TAIL OF THE DEVIL by Danielle DeVorMust be 13+ to enter. A Rafflecopter Giveaway   Danielle's links: Danielle's Website Danielle on Twitter Danielle on Facebook Danielle on Goodreads


This tour is brought to you by:
I hope you've all had a great time meeting Danielle DeVor; and that you'll take a few moments to check out her giveaway and books; and maybe check out MythBehaving Book Tours as well. It has been my honor to host Danielle on her book blog tour. 
Thank you all for stopping by for a visit. Both Dream Weaver & Rock Star continue to be on sale for $0.99 on Kindle thru Sunday, March 2. Don't have a Kindle? It's okay. You can use Kindle Cloud Reader on your computer or smart phone. I love it!
I wish you all a wondrous week!!!And As Always...Dare to Dream!Su
Just a couple pics to make you smile! Aaawww! I am CUTE! Amn't I? Do I have any hanging boogers?!Aw! Gross! I know. You loved it! Have a happy day!

WANT A NEW TAKE ON OLD STORIES?

DREAM WEAVER ROCK STAR QUICK UPDATE:  Dream Weaver has taken the #1 spot on Listopia in:  Books With Darker Themes;  And Top 5 in:Great Paranormal Indie Books Everyone Should Know About!;  Best Indie Series & YA Books about Depression, Self-harm & Suicide  And... Rock Star has taken the #1 spot on Listopia in:Young Adult Indie Authors; best books concerning dreams; Great Paranormal Indie Books Everyone Should Know About!; & Best Indie Series.And Top 3 in:Books With Darker Themes; & New Indie Books Your votes would be greatly appreciated on the lists above to keep them on top; and on the following lists to boost both books to the top 5 where they get a little more attention on Goodreads: Dream Weaver YA Books That People Of All Ages Should Try; YA Paranormal Romance Books;  Quality YA Paranormal Romance Novels; Anything but vampires, please?; & Young Adult Indie Authors Rock Star  Quality YA Paranormal Romance Novels; YA Books That People Of All Ages Should Try;  YA INDIE; & Nightmares
HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO! OK! So now the business is over--let's get on to the fun part. Anyone who's been around here for a while will remember an interview I did with a young woman named Liz DeJesus. At the time, Liz's first book, First Frost had just come out. Now, exciting things are happening in the life of this word crafter that I wanted to share with you. So...let's move on to Liz's exciting news!
I GIVE YOU MISS LIZ DEJESUSLiz, a lot has happened since you were featured on Dream Weaver Novels last. You had just released First Frost. Tell us what’s been going on since then. I know! I still can’t believe it’s been that long. Things have been wonderful. Glass Frost was released on July 19th 2013 and has received fantastic reviews. I also have a short story that was in an anthology titled Someone Wicked (published through Smart Rhino Publications and features members of The Written Remains Writing Guild).
Very exciting stuff! Any advice for other indie authors?Always read your contract before signing on the dotted line. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn how to use social media to promote yourself online, it’s an important tool to have in your arsenal. Don’t bash other authors, the only person looking bad is you. Be friendly and do your best to share other authors’ good news on your facebook page and twitter. Other authors will return the favor, trust me, it’s what has worked for me. 
And what do you have coming up?I have a horror novel titled Morganthat will be released in the Summer of 2014 through Indie Gypsy Press. It’s sort of a love story between a werewolf and a centuries old vampire.
I’m working on book #3 of the Frost series (tentatively titled Shattered Frost) and I’m also working on my very first comic book series titled Zombie Ever After. This comic book will be published through Emerald Star Comics and the artwork will be done by Mik Jimenez and the colors are by Lynn Kranz.
I’m also in another anthology titled Latina Authors and Their Muses, it will be published by Twilight Times Books in March/April 2014. This was put together by Mayra Calvani and it will feature a lot of incredibly talented Latin authors. So I’m really looking forward to this little book’s release. 
What do you think has been your best promotional tool for your books?Blog tours. Contacting reviewers and bloggers to read and review my books. I strongly believe that bloggers are an indie authors bread and butter. They’re the ones that take the time to read books and let all their followers know that your book even exists.
Any new/upcoming indie authors that have captured your attention? Definitely Esther Wheelmaker (aka Elizabeth Kolodziej), she writes zombie steampunk novels. Her latest release is titled Gravely Inanimated. And J. Alex Blane, he writes African-American Romance/Suspense novels. His first novel is titled Where We Left Off, and he’s currently working on the sequel. I know them both personally and they are incredible people and amazingly talented authors.
If I understand right, you’re with a small publishing house. What do you think are the pros and cons of working them? And how did you connect with them?You are correct. My Frost Series (First Frost and Glass Frost) are all published through Musa Publishing and I honestly can’t remember how I found them. I’m pretty sure I stumbled upon them through a writing forum, because they were brand new and people were asking questions about them. So curiosity got the best of me and I decided to check out their site and I liked what I saw. I’m glad I took a chance with them.
Indy Gypsy Press, has published two of my short stories in two different anthologies: Night Gypsy and Stories in the Key of Erotica (under the pen name of Isabelle Rose). I have known the owner for ten years and she invited me to be a part of both anthologies. She’s also publishing my upcoming horror novel Morgan. And Emerald Star Comics was another publisher I discovered by poking around the internet looking for indie comic book publishers.
Pros: I love indie publishers! It’s like a small family. Everyone is working toward the same goal. It’s super friendly. I send emails and hear back from them right away. Higher royalties.
Cons: There’s a bit of a stigma against indie publishers. People assume that just because it’s a small publisher that it’s poor quality and it’s the furthest thing from the truth. The publishers I work with have cover designers, editors, interns, and people working to promote all of these books to the best of their ability.
Another con would be that we don’t have the same distribution as the bigger publishers do. My books won’t be on the shelves of every single brick and mortar store (unless I have a book signing or something like that).
But I wouldn’t change anything. Every single book that I’ve published is a step closer toward my goal of becoming a better writer. Every single book is a stepping stone and I’ve learned so much from every single editor that I’ve had the pleasure of working with. And now I get to add comic book author to my resume! That’s a dream come true for me.
Wow! Thanks for that great info. That is really helpful to indies considering a small publishing house. OK, so I know you’re a fan of Marissa Meyer! I think that’s how I discovered you, isn’t it? Who else do you enjoy reading? If you have time for reading.I LOVE Marissa Meyer!! I’m still blown away that she even mentioned me in your interview. :D I read Cress when it came out on February 4th, took me two days to read it. LOL. I will read just about anything as long as it’s interesting. I read Splintered by A.G. Howard, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Jane by April Lindner, and I also enjoy anything by Jill Mansell.  My tastes in books are all over the map. LOL
I like to keep interviews fairly short and sweet, so I’ll end with this: If I gave you a Y shaped tree branch, an old leather shoe, and a discarded tire tube…what kind of story would you write? Probably a fantasy novel about a boy that can travel 5 minutes into the past by jumping through the tire tube. He uses the old leather shoe to find his way back home and the Y shaped tree branch is a lie detector.
Perfect! Maybe you'll have to write another short story with that idea. Is there anything else you want readers to know?I know some of you are waiting for Shattered Frost and I’m writing as fast as I can. It probably won’t be ready until next year but hopefully it’ll be worth the wait. 
Soooo Cool!Where can readers stalk…I mean, find you?Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizdejesusNovel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstFrost1Website: www.lizdejesus.com Twitter link: https://twitter.com/Liz_DeJesus23Buy Links: http://www.amazon.com/Liz-DeJesus/e/B004HJN9YY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1392585511&sr=8-1Any other links: http://liz-dejesus.livejournal.com/
Liz, thank so much for your time and visiting with us today. You've shared a lot of great info that may help some of the visitors to my blog. I wish you the best in all of the great adventures before you! Happy writing!
And thank you especially to all the visitors that took a minute to drop by! I truly appreciate each one of you. It's encouraging daily to see the Dream Weaver fan base growing.
As always...Dare to Dream!Su

I haven't posted any of my own pics lately, so in the hope for quick journey to Spring....  

ARE YOU ON FAEBOOKS.CO.UK?

Diggin' the hair, babe!
Sarah Fae, tell readers about yourself, where you’re from and about your website.Hi all! I’m Sarah Fae. I’m twenty-five years old, I’m a bit of a rock chick and I live in Newcastle, in England, UK with my two Bichon Frise dogs, Trixie and Teddy. I love music, reading, tattoos, my New Rock boots and anything a bit weird and wonderful.
I run everything to do with FaeBooks.co.uk. Fae Books is my blog. I blog about all sorts but the main theme of the blog is books and everything to do with them. I focus mainly on promoting authors, writers and their work. I do write a bit myself. I’ve a book that’s been awaiting final edits since last year, but my priority is and has always been to promote others first and foremost, so my own writing takes a back seat to enable me to do that.
The blog focuses mainly on works of Fiction in Fantasy/Paranormal/Horror but I do host books in other genres. Each blog booking is looked at on a case by case basis, so anyone can feel free to contact me, and you and your work will be viewed on an individual basis. Books are so diverse that it wouldn’t be fair to “judge a book by its cover” so to speak.
I love running giveaways along with book promo, I think it’s fun and rewarding for the readers that help to promote a book by sharing it and telling their friends about it.
Not only can you book a blog hosting, you can also book in with the Fae Books Revieweing Team to have your book considered for review by the ladies on my team.  I also began arranging book tours last year and will be aiming get back to that this year with my free introductory tours. If you’re interested in that, just join my mailing list and you’ll find out exactly when I’m taking bookings for those (http://eepurl.com/N3tfL). As part of the mailing list you’ll also find out when I’m open for sponsor sign ups on any new giveaways I’m organizing.


What makes Fae Books different?Fae Books is  run purely for enjoyment on my part. It’s my way of coping with being in such poor health. I spend a lot of time indoors (I’ve recently learned to go back outside though after suffering with Agoraphobia and Socialphobia for years), so the blog is literally what keeps me going and I thoroughly enjoy it. The blog isn’t just covering one genre of books but takes on books from all sorts of genres and I’m always around to help anyone who feels I could be of some help to them.
What is the biggest/best thing an author can do make the most of your site?You can arrange a blog booking, reviews both by myself and my team, advertise on the site, tours, giveaways. Just be sure to read the “blog bookings”, “review policy” and “booking reviews” pages thoroughly before you submit your requests for consideration.
Do you have plans for bigger, better things in the future?I do. I intend to get back to arranging my tours. I took time out due to personal circumstances but I’m heading towards being able to do it again soon. I hope for the blog to keep growing as it has over the last year.
Why did you start Fae Books? I began Fae Books because I was already an avid reader and I wanted some kind of other hobby that I could take enjoyment from and that would occupy my time. At the time I hadn’t left the house in almost a year due to Agoraphobia and Socialphobia, so the blog was my way of reaching out and making new friends, without having to physically see anybody. It was my connection to the outside world.
Are there any indie authors that have grasped your interest recently and why? (links to their website too!)Yes, definitely.  You should check out:K.A. Young - http://www.kayoungbooks.comMatthew D. Ryan - www.matthewdryan.com
Do you have any advice for writers? My advice would honestly just be, stay true to yourself and your ideas. Don’t try to conform to “the norm”, because for me, it’s individuality that grasps my attention, and I’m sure many others. The likes of Tolkien didn’t try to be normal, he was himself, with his own ideas and his own style and that’s what made him stand out from the crowd.
One of your favorite quotes - “I am what I am, and what I am I will always be” - Drasmyr by Matthew D. Ryan
List 3 books you just recently read and would recommend? The Ghost Hunters - Neil Spring - www.neilspring.comAwakening (Valkyrie Diaries #1) - K.A. Young - www.kayoungbooks.comAnything else about you or your site you’d like readers to know?We tend to book up months in advance, both for reviews and blog bookings, so it’s never too soon to get Fae Books on board. If you have an impending release or something you’d like me to know, just fire me an email anytime and I’ll be glad to help (FaeBooks7 AT gmail DOT com)
Where can your readers stalk you?My blog: www.FaeBooks.co.ukMy facebook page: www.facebook.com/ptsdblogTwitter: www.twitter.com/FaeBooksFacebook profile: www.facebook.com/SarahFaeBooksPinterest: www.pinterest.com/FaeBooksInstagram: www.instagram.com/FaeBooksGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/+SarahFaeGraham
Does your site also have a presence on Goodreads?Yes, you can add me here:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7125994.Sarah_Fae_Graham
A Few Words from MeI can tell you from experience that working with Sarah and her team is a wonderful experience. They are great supportive group of people to get connected with. I hope you'll all connect with Sarah and her team!  Hey Sarah! Put me on your tour list!!!
Thanks for stopping by Dream Weaver Novels. Your support has put Dream Weaver and Rock Star in the #1 slot in several Listopia Lists, and the top 5 in several more. The Kindle Free Promo put Dream Weaver at #8 and Rock Star at #11 of free young adult paranormal/urban fantasy. Thanks for all your support and helping to spread the word.
And as always...Dare to Dream!Su

DREAM WEAVER & ROCK STAR FREE on Kindle

That's Right...
You heard it! Both of my books in the Dream Weaver Novels Series are FREE! on Kindle this weekend. Book 1 DREAM WEAVER is FREE Friday Jan. 31 to Saturday Feb. 1! And ROCK STAR is FREE Friday Jan. 31 to Sunday Feb. 2!


Thank YousThere have been so many people who have supported me and my books over the last year. Special thanks go out to:Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo  (Pie: An Old Brown Horse That Knows What He is Doing) Jenny Loveless (Holly Horse and the Great Quest) Sam Whitehouse (The Prophecy of Three Quartet) Liz Dejesus (First Frost; Glass Frost) Cally Jackson (The Big Smoke) Suzanne Lakin ( Live. Write. Thrive. ..great blog for writers)Philip Newey (All-read-E) Paul G Day (Kip and the Copper Coast Kid) Angela Scott (Zombie West Series)
Reviewers from:Night Owl ReviewsAngel Anne ReviewsReader's FavoriteBitten By BooksBookLOADS Red Reader ReviewsPick Your Poison Book Reviews
I hope you will take a moment to check out these authors, sites and books.
Get Your Copy Today!Please take a couple moments and go to Amazon and get your free copy of DREAM WEAVER and ROCK STAR!
Thank you to all the new friends and fans of Dream Weaver. Your encouragement and support have kept me going when things got tough.
And as always...Dare to Dream!Su

FOR YOU RAGS!!!

A GREAT BUNCH OF FOLKS I've found, for the most part, over the last year, that the people in the writing community are a great bunch of folks. Strangers have become fast friends, and readers have become fans. I tend to believe in the power of the pay it forward idea. And as I've sown seed in other writers, I've harvested the benefits from others with same heart and attitude.
ONE OF THEM GREAT FOLKSRecently, a spry young author, Rags Daniels, suffered a setback...a stroke. His family has been fantastic keeping his friends abreast of his condition and recovery. Then, I  received an urgent email...well, me and  about 750 other writers from ASMSG. Times being as they are, Rags and his family are suffering some difficulties. And an appeal was sent out for support.
Now, we indie authors aren't known to be the richest of people...but such as we have...we give.
With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to Rags Daniels and his books, and I hope you'll check him out and help in the support cause for him.
MEET RAGS DANIELS Looks like trouble, don't he?Rags Daniels was born into a working class family, the second of four children, Salford 1944. Migrated South 1956. Wild and curious, he ran off to London where he met the majority of the characters he writes about. The swinging sixties and early seventies played a major roll in his insatiable thirst for adventure, and against a backdrop of mini-skirts, mod's, rockers and Muhammad Ali, bore witness to an era of crazy fads, culminating in Britain's first ever woman Prime Minister in 1979. And of whom Lord Acton said, 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely, ' and by the end of her era, Thatcher was case in point. And while the Nation paddled through rubbish, bodies unburied, strikes, power cuts, spiralling inflation, limited working weeks, abysmal production, etc, etc, the real money was going into the pockets of fraudulent corporate boards and City Yuppies.(Groomed to Kill), his first book was written against a backdrop of inner city poverty and tells of lad who became a government assassin.
Worked in Norway on timber frame construction where he met John Millen a naval architect who designed Pearl Harbour after the war. Became a 'minder' for his mother-in-law both on and off his motor yacht in which he and his wife toured the world. Returned home, attended Brunel University and passed I.O.C.W.(GB)inc, exams. Worked for Borough Architects Dept. Resigned, got married, built own house while running several companies. Constructed a steel mill in India and a tiger compound in Nepal for the World Wild Life Trust. Widowed. Returned to writing and investigative journalism...It is from his diaries of the 60's and 70's he wrote POLICY, creating a fictional account of one such tale of political intrigue, and one for which he was interviewed by MI6. His latest book Lallapaloosa is ready for publishing and is currently being scripted for the silver screen. He now resides with his son, an A level English teacher, and Roxzan, his 12 year old adopted daughter.
The links to Rags' books are below and here are his contact links for anyone who'd like to give a shout out or just say 'hi' and 'get well soon!'Rags Daniels on Facebook
Rags Daniels on Amazon

WE MISS YA RAGSIE! THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!

RAGS BOOKS
Lallapaloosa
Foxy Lady
Groomed To Kill
30Sex Hours




Thank you for your visit.
And as always...
Dare to Dream!
Su

It's here...ROCK STAR! is here!

Welcome back Dream Weaver Novels friends and fans!!Hope your New Year has started with a bang!

Well....it's finally here!The long awaited (since March) release of the second book in theDream Weaver Novels series. On January 15, 2014 ROCK STAR  is finally available to the public. 
The Kindle version of ROCK STAR is live on Amazon for $2.99. The paperback version will be available by January 20.DREAM WEAVER is still available for just $1.99 if you'd like catch up on the story before you read Rock Star. Dream Weaver continues to receive 5 Star Reviews from independent book reviewers and professional review sites.
ROCK STAR"A lot can happen to a girl in a year...She can survive and wonder why...She can lose her innocence and find her way...She can fall in love and be afraid... And on a cold dark night, at the hand of a friend...She can die."
Rockin' the Cover DesignWe're knocking out a few bugs on the cover design, but here's a tentative mock up for you! And check back on January 20, for a package deals of both Dream Weaver and Rock Star!

Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough to say to all the new friends and fans I've found over the last few months. The indie writing community is amazing!

 And as always...

Dare to Dream!!!

Su

NEED A LITTLE MAGIC IN YOUR CHRISTMAS?

TWO GREAT EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!With Christmas right around the corner, it's a busy time for most of us. And in the midst of all the hubbub, I'd like to give you a chance to curl up--wherever you curl up--with a good book. This Sunday, Dec. 22, Dream Weaver will be free on Kindle. Please, help me spread the word. And I did say 'TWO', didn't I? Keep reading.... 
Any readers who've been around any amount of time, know that I am a HUGE fan of a young writer from England named Sam Whitehouse. Sam is writing an Arthurian Fantasy series called The Prophecy of Three Quartet. His first book, The Keys of Time, is available on Amazon; and the second in the series is coming out this weekend, Dec. 21. I am truly honored to work with Sam on this project. There just aren't enough great things for me to say about Sam and his gift for storytelling. If you're a Harry Potter fan, this series may be just right for you. The story is compelling, the magic clever, and the imagery outstanding! So, I'd like to re-introduce Sam to regular readers, and introduce him to those who are new.
Sam, tell readers a little about yourself. Where you’re from, age….stuff like that.I’m from Yorkshire in the UK. We’re mostly surrounded by countryside and forests and so there is plenty of epic landscapes to keep my imagination stoked. I’m 19 and currently studying a Creative Writing degree at University. Ever since I knew that people wrote books, I knew that is what I wanted to do. I think if I didn’t write, the ideas, worlds and characters in my head would drive me crazy. My favourite movie is Jurassic Park, I’m a huge Marvel fan and will happily admit to being a Potter geek; my favourite book is either Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows or 11/22/63 by Stephen King. One more thing: this is my favourite joke: a man walks into a pet store and asks the shopkeeper if he can buy a wasp. The shopkeeper says he doesn’t sell wasps. The man replies, “you’re a liar, I saw one on the window.” **eyes will not roll far enough for that one!** In 100 words or less, sell your book series ‘The Prophecy of Three’ to readers.Everything changed for Simon Falke the first time he fell through the fire... 
For as long as there has been Light, Dark has existed. And now the Dark is growing in power, wielded by the witch Morgana, who wants to eliminate the Light altogether.  
Two worlds, existing side by side, will collide. A prophecy foretold centuries ago is coming to pass. Three teenagers will discover untold power, drawn into a war they knew nothing about. They must embrace their new lives and hone their abilities, if they are to save two worlds.  
Read the first book in an epic new urban fantasy series that blends modern day with Arthurian myth and legend. (I think that might be just over 100)
I noticed you dedicated your first novel to your grandfather. What kind of inspiration did he Fantastic re-work on covergive you?Some of my earliest memories are of my Grandad telling me stories, both from books and ones that he’d made up himself. He’d tell me about creatures that populate the woods near our house. He was the first one to really fire my imagination and ever since I’ve been making up my own stories. If it were not for him, I don’t think the Prophecy of Three Quartet would have ever seen the light.
Choose one character from your books, and describe their personality.Falamir: He is the wizard who tutor’s Simon, Evelyn and James in their newly discovered powers. He is a descendant of Merlin’s apprentice. He lives in a sprawling mansion. But Simon, Evelyn and James come to realize that there is more to him than a simple teacher. He lost his family a long time ago but won’t reveal anything about them. But as the series unfolds, his past and the secrets that come with it are slowly revealed. I always saw him as a cross between Van Helsing, Aragorn and Sirius Black with a bit of my Grandad thrown in there, too.
What was the most difficult part of your books to write?Hmm…. I think the hardest part was figuring out the time travel aspects of the first book. It took a lot of thinking about, but I hope that I got it right. But I think the hardest thing to write is going to be the end of book four (the final book) because it’ll have been such a huge chunk of my life that I’ve spent in this world and with these characters that I can’t imagine not spending every day with them.
Are you already aware of how these stories will end?Yes. I’ve had the entire arc of the series planned out since before I started writing book 1, The Keys of Time. I’ve always known how and where the series will end and what will happen to the characters. As for the end of Demon’s Hunt (The second book, due 21st December) I did edit it slightly. The book ended somewhat differently, but I wasn’t happy with it and so I made a few changes. Along the way the plot my deviate slightly or a sub plot or character may rear its head and demand I write about them.
What projects do have planned for the future?For the next few years, The Prophecy of Three will take up most, if not all of my time and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Out of all the ideas I’ve had this series is my passion. It was born from a love of myths and legends and fantasy worlds. But I do have a few other ideas poking me to be written. One is a YA sci-fi trilogy about a group of teenagers who wake up on a jungle island with no memories; another is a series about Harry Houdini and demons – which I’m really excited about writing. I also have some ideas for standalone books but everything will have to wait until The Prophecy of Three Quartet is complete.
Can you share your favourite scene from Demon’s Hunt with us?My favourite scene to write was from the final chapter, the climax. It was the most exciting part to write because even before I’d had the idea for The Keys of Time I wanted to write about the villain of this book. I don’t want to reveal too much and spoil the story, but I’ll say this. We learn more about Merlin and his past this time round.
Anything special you want to share with readers?This series was born from an abiding love of myths and legends and the fantasy worlds of JK Rowling, Tolkien and Rick Riordan. I have always wanted to create my own world for readers to explore and so I hope you’ll spend a little time in the world of the Prophecy and get to know the characters. Until the release of Demon’s Hunt on 21st of December here is a sneak peek:
Run, just keep running. Simon’s lungs burned as he ran. It felt as if he’d swallowed a pitcher of boiling water. The back of his throat tasted metallic and his ribs burned, as if someone was ramming a large, hot needle into his side. Cold air parched his mouth and forced tears from his eyes. He’d thought he could lose his pursuer in the thicker cover provided by the leafless trees. But no, the beast still pounded faster and closer. Simon knew he couldn’t run for much longer, yet the thought of what chased him spurred him on, bringing new speed to his aching legs. His muscles screamed as he mounted a steep hill and his pace began to weaken with the ascent. But he knew he couldn’t let the shifter see the mansion; he had to draw the beast away from it so their location would not be revealed. That was paramount: the mansion had to remain hidden.  The wind carried Simon’s name, the calls sounding so very far away, distorted and muffled by the rush of air whistling past his ears. Falamir was coming, but how soon would he get here? Simon didn’t think he could run any longer, he knew he couldn’t. His exhaustion was depleting his magic fast and every attempt he made to send force orbs spinning back at the shifter were useless. Most of the spells missed by metres and did little more than enrage the creature even more.  To perform a powerful enough spell he would have to stop and face the shifter, but with it so close behind there would be little time to summon his magic.  A sense of horror gripped Simon as he mounted yet another steep incline and saw the river come into view. What now? Should he dive in? Take a chance in the deep waters and try and make it to the opposite bank? He came to a staggering stop at the edge of the river where the muddy brown water churned furiously, swollen by the heavy rainfall of the past week. It had spilled over and flooded the surrounding fields. The water lapped around Simon’s shoes, quickly soaking them. But he didn’t register the cold. He looked down at the roiling brown water and knew the current was too strong. To risk the river would be foolish. And yet he felt a sudden urge to jump in, anything to escape the wolf, to draw it away.  A growl issued from behind. Turning quickly on the spot, Simon watched, paralysed with terror, as the wolf slunk slowly forward. Its sickly yellow eyes stared fixedly at Simon, and razor-sharp, decay-ridden fangs dripped with strands of pearly saliva. What could have been called a satisfied smile curled the wolf’s scarred muzzle. “You will regret ever imprisoning me, boy,” it growled. “I will see to it that you are delivered to my mistress; you and your friends.”  The shifter padded closer, through the shallow water, triumph glinting in its eyes. Simon took another faltering step backwards. 
 See! See what I mean?!
So great! Can you share the The Demon’s Hunt blurb?The Dark is growing in power. Simon, Evelyn and James must fight harder than ever. A powerful new enemy is awoken...

Ancient powers, an inescapable destiny and a powerful witch as an enemy were the last things Simon Falke expected to receive for his fourteenth birthday. But months after discovering that he, along with two other teenagers, are part of an ancient prophecy and must bring about the downfall of the nefarious witch Morgana, life seems more normal. Almost. With Morgana weakened, Simon thinks they might finally stand a chance of defeating her. But then a powerful new enemy rears its head and he, Evelyn and James must unite to confront it.

All the while Morgana grows in power, rallying forces from all corners of the world to join her in the war against the Light.
BUY LINKSThe Keys of Time on Amazon UK  The Keys of Time on Amazon US  Demon's Hunt on Amazon USDemon's Hunt on Amazon UKCONTACT LINKS Sam Whitehouse on Facebook Sam on Twitter: @SamProphecy Amazon Author page: Sam WhitehouseSam on Goodreads Sam's Official site 
I hope you will all check into Sam's work. I have HIGH hopes for him! I wish each and every one of you a very Happy Christmas! And a most fantastic New Year!And as always...Dare to Dream!Su

Is Your Book Listed On eReader Recon?

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! ...to all who come to visit DREAM WEAVER NOVELS on Blogger! I hope the season finds you all well. Dream Weaver continues to be on sale on Amazon for the holidays. And the voting for the AuthorsdB Cover Art Semi Finals will only be only be open 2 more day, ends Dec. 15. So, if you haven't voted, please go on and do so now and show your support of Dream Weaver and artist Shawn Foote.
THIS WEEKS FEATURENow, I'd like to introduce a gentleman I happened across on Facebook. He messaged me about listing my books on his site. Of course, I was curious, so I went on his site and liked what I found. So, I wanted to feature Dennis Larsen and his author promo site eReader Recon.

Dennis, I am sure readers would love to know more about your website, eReader Recon. Tell us about it.I published my first novel about a year ago and looked for opportunities to promote my work and connect with readers.  It seemed there were roadblocks at every turn; the most common being, not enough reviews or ratings.  As you well know, those don’t come easy and certainly don’t come without some exposure.  When I published my second novel I thought it was time to create something designed for new authors with new release titles.  My site, eReaderRecon.com, is the result of that first inkling.  I offer the service for free, which includes a detailed posting on the site with retail links, a posting on the sister site, www.Facebook.com/eReaderRecon, and occasionally a posting on my blog or Tweet.
The site has been operational for only 5 months and has grown quickly.  Last month we had 26,000 hits and over 700 visits.  I do the design and updating on my own.
 Nice! How many people are participating so far?
I currently have 80 different author’s using the service with about 100 titles.
 That's a decent start! How do you promote your site and your authors?
I’ve done no paid advertising of the site.  Most of the promotion is through social media and word of mouth.  Facebook and Twitter have been helpful, as well as sites like MARSocial, Author Alliance, AuthorsDB and others. In addition to the methods above I use to promote books and authors, I also feature a separate title and/or author every few days with a prominent spot on the homepage and extra blog postings and tweets.
 Wow! It's nice for writers to have someone like you in their corner. Anything else you want readers to know about your site?
Spreading the word is critical if you want to support Indie Authors.  I hope to continue to keep the site free and I am rewarded when an author contacts me with a note about an increase in sales or just excited about having others see their book.
  You're not just a business man, you're also an author. Tell us about your books.
I’m a partner in two very busy optometric practices and still work five days a week helping people with their vision. For now, books and my writing are a passion but I have to keep the time devoted to both in check. I love to create and always have. Over the years I’ve developed board games, computer games and, in fact, my doctoral thesis was a computer program I designed and wrote that trained a child’s eye movement. Writing has always been an interest but only in the past few years have I found the time to really immerse myself in the art.
My books run a common theme of putting normal, everyday people in very stressed, life-altering circumstances. With Cruel Intent , a romantic crime thriller, places Blanche Delaney, a librarian, in the middle of a crime wave with a trio of men interested in her many assets.  I’m currently working on a new edit of this title for a Second Edition release.   The Living Hunger is a post-apocalyptic title featuring many characters from my lifetime.  My father is the main character, Farrell.  I wrote this book as a way of remembering the type of man he was and some of the things he said and did throughout his lifetime.  I have enjoyed readers being able to recognize family members or people they know in the ‘fictional’ characters.  Many of the events featured in the novel are true, just pitched in a different time and under different circumstances. I know! Gross but FUNNY!
My most recent project is a pandemic series based in Canada, where I now reside, but I am originallyfrom Utah and went to school in Oregon.  I also put some medical spin into my stories, which are factually based, so there will be no traditional zombies but I like the idea of keeping a story as close to realism as possible while still keeping the action exciting and on-the-edge.  I wrote this periodical with four female leads, hoping to improve my feminine perspective.  The Raven Falconer Chronicles: Operation Z-Day, has been so much fun to write.

That sounds awesome! I also try to keep the 'realism' in my writing, and some of my characters are based on real people. The stories my protagonist, Emari Sweet gets about her father are loosely based on real life adventures of my own dad as a kid. He keeps me historically accurate.  
I always like to know who a writer's all time favorite authors are and why?
I read all of Stephen Hunter’s novels.  I identify with the characters and enjoy following a single main character through multiple story lines. My second author would have to be Stephen Ambrose. I’m a war history buff and enjoy the emotional and intimate way he brings a true story to life.
 Any intriguing indie authors that have captured your attention?
I hate to single any one author out.  I have met so many hundreds of authors over the past year and tried to read as much of their work as I can.  Some are brilliant, with the ability to be great, if given the chance to get their work in front of enough readers.  I strive to help them attain this, as well as getting my work out there too.
 What are your plans for the future for both your writing and your website?
I’ll keep plugging along with the website, adding a few books and authors a day.  I probably won’t be able to handle much more of a pace until I can cut back on my paying profession.  I’m currently writing books two in both The Living Hunger series and the Raven Falconer Chronicles.  I hope to release Day of the Huskers (Raven #2) by the end of this December.
 Just for fun: If I gave you a feather, a mirror, and a pearl...what kind of story would you write and what would you call it?
I’d write a murder mystery centered aboard a cruise ship with an intentional, tragic outbreak of a rare strain of avian influenza.  A working title might be “Pearl of the Pacific."
Oooooo! You may have to write that one!
I hope readers have enjoyed meeting Dennis Larsen and all of you writerly types will pay him a visit and get your books listed on eReader Recon.
Again, a very happy holiday season to you all. May your season be blessed and you always remember the joy and love in each gift given.
And as always....
Dare to Dream!
Su

INTRODUCING HORROR/POST APOCALYPSE AUTHOR, STEVIE KOPAS

To begin this post, I'd like to thank all of you who have supported Dream Weaver on Kindle, (it remains on sale for 99 cents for the holidays and $10 for the paperback); voted for artist, Shawn Foote in the AUHORSdB Semi-Finals Cover Contest; and viewed and 'liked' the Dream Weaver book trailer. Your support means the world to me, and I thank you with all my heart!
Isn't she a cutey!Now, for another first onDream Weaver Novels Blog: Introducing Horror author Stevie Kopas (and don't forget to enter Stevie's Rafflecopter Giveaway!) Stevie, your email signature says you are an ‘Apocalypse Enthusiast.’ Tell readers a little about yourself and why you give yourself that handle.
Ah, good ol’ apocalypse enthusiast.  I sure am.  The reason I give myself that handle would probably be because I’ve been interested in the post apocalyptic genre since I was a child.  My dad was always a huge fan of PA films like Omega Man, Soylent Green and The Day After (not to be confused with The Day After Tomorrow…that was not very good lol), so I would watch the movies with him.  Then I got into video games and began reading PA fiction as well as playing and watching…so it’s just always been a big interest of mine.  I just have such a fascination with dystopian culture.


I love it! ‘Soylent Green is people!’ So glad I’m not the only one who remembers the classics like Omega Man, and Soylent Green. I remember watching those movies with mom and dad. But let’s talk about you. In 50 words or less, sell your book to the readers.
The Breadwinner is a post apocalyptic survival adventure that highlights the struggles of ordinary people during the zombie apocalypse, the choices they make and the people they become at the end of the world. 


Dang, you had 16 more words you could use. Nice pitch. So, what inspired you to write your book? And why did you chose horror as your genre?
Horror is my favorite genre of anything; books, movies, television, you name it.  Zombie fiction is such a subtle reflection of the world we live in, so I’m really into it.  The Breadwinner started as a short story and went on to become my first published novel.  It’s the first book in The Breadwinner Trilogy, and people have really great things to say about it.


Great reviews on Amazon, Stevie! Could you share a little excerpt of your book with us?
Sure!  The following excerpt is from Part 2 of The Breadwinner:
They had packed two bags, one for each of them with essential needs and nothing more.  They had barely spoken except agreeing or disagreeing on what needed to be taken.  There was no discussion to be had, they only had to follow their father’s directions, get out of the city, run like hell.  A flip had switched in Veronica and she felt as if she had suddenly aged 10 years.  She saw Isaac slip his phone into his pocket while packing up.  She almost said something but decided against it.  Who am I to take his hope away from him, she thought to herself has she zipped her backpack up, fighting back the urge to be angry at the world for taking hope away from her.  But she came to the realization that things would be like this from now on.  Bad things would happen and bad things would happen fast.  She wanted so badly to be the optimistic girl she had been just this morning, but this morning felt like it was light years away now.  There was a difference between being optimistic and being realistic, she knew that now.  She could hope for the best all she wanted, but if she didn’t think quickly and logically, she would end up like James.  She briefly wondered if her father was somewhere up in the great beyond, rejoined with her mother, waiting for her and Isaac to join them someday.  And then she remembered her life had never been, was not now, and would never be a fairy tale.

My favorite book is Swan Song by Robert McCammon.  I would recommend it to everyone.  Other books I thoroughly enjoyed were the Hater and Autumn series, both by David Moody.  The Eden series by Tony Monchinski is also very good.


So, are there any new authors that have caught your interest?
I have been in contact with a great gal named Shana, aka The Bookie Monster.  She reviews authors in the horror/zombie genre and really does a wonderful job of helping them promote their work.  She is also a writer herself and I’d recommend any author in my genre to seek her out for reviews!  One of the authors The Bookie Monster recently reviewed was Jacqueline Druga.  I’d never heard of her before, but Shana had very great things to say so I’m definitely going to be diving into her work pretty soon.


What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on Haven, the second book in The Breadwinner Trilogy.  I’m hoping (with an appropriate life/work balance lol) that I’ll be able to release Haven in February of 2014.  I’m really excited to publish and can’t wait for people to read it.


Just for fun… If I gave you three items, a stone, a marble and a feather, what type of book would you write and how would those objects feature? Even come up with a title if you like.
This is a very interesting question and I love it.  I would probably call the book “Material Entity” and it would be Sci-Fi, probably about three people, scattered across the world in different locations who don’t know they’re part of an alien race that placed them within our society and have the keys (stone, marble, feather) to save the human race.  (Hey, nobody steal my idea, lol.)


Now that readers have been lured from safety, where can they find you to make them scream?
Social media links:
The Breadwinner Trilogy on Facebook
On Twitter:@ApacoTaco
On GooglePlus
Someone Read This Website


Buy links:
The Breadwinner on Amazon 
The Breadwinner on B&N
The Breadwinner on Smashwords


Finally, what one thing could readers do to support you…aside from buying your book?
Of course, aside from buying The Breadwinner, I would ask readers to really support indie authors.  Independent authors work extremely hard at promoting themselves and their work, and a lot of people try to take advantage of that.  I’ve heard from different sources that readers prefer to purchase from big name sites rather than small indie publishing sites like Smashwords because they “don’t trust them”.  But truth be told, without websites like Smashwords, small indie authors like myself would not have the capability of getting their work out there on their own!  Just because someone is not traditionally published, doesn’t mean they aren’t great at what they do.  Indie writers are entrepreneurs!  There is a lot of amazing unknown stuff out there.

Don't forget to enter Stevie's Rafflecopter Giveaway!
Stevie, thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and being the first 'horror' interview on Dream Weaver Novels Blog.

Thanks everybody for stopping by, and again, for your support! And as always,Dare to Dream!Su
PS...know an author who would like an interview? Have them contact me.