Brandon Ellis's Blog, page 8

Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four by Marsha A. Moore

Enchanted Bookstore Legends (series description):

The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications.

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.

When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon.While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.

Excerpt from Staurolite:

From Chapter One: Ancient Scribal Magic

Lyra propped her head with an elbow against the low library table and rubbed her eyes, paging through the last chapter. She rearranged her weight on the floor cushion and twisted the end of her long braid.

The Tortoise Guardian’s wide, craggy cheek brushed against her forearm.

She jotted a few lines in a notebook and carefully closed the cover of the ancient copy. Her gaze rested on the faded embossed symbols—The Book of Dragonspeir authored by Elisabeth Walsh, the first Scribe.

“Good work. We’ve previewed two of the lost volumes you recovered. One more remains.” The Tortoise retracted his head halfway into his shell. “Take a break. My neck is aching.”

“I want to keep going and skim Scribe Brigid’s book too.” Lyra flipped through her notes.

The heavy wooden door to the lair library banged open. In two strides, the Imperial Dragon stood before them. “We’re under attack! Cimafa stealth dragons have stolen auras of a high order wizard and souls of three non-magicals. They also killed one of our blue sentry dragons.” His flared nostrils were ringed with fire and seeped smoke. A yellow color of concern flashed in the irises of his eyes.

“How?” Lyra rolled off the plush floor cushion, forced her stiff legs to stand, and grabbed her wizard’s staff. “I thought they only went after higher magicals?”

“Attacks from the Dark Realm?” The Tortoise pushed his front legs against the table edge to lift his shell higher.

The Head Guardian nodded. “They’re attacking in small groups for increased strength. Several pairs and trios have simultaneously flown over our Alliance before retreating to the Steppe of Ora into Silva Nocens. Those four people were taken in different places all over the Alliance during the past thirty-six hours. One cimafa attacks the victim, while the others fight our blues. Several sentries are required to battle one cimafa, and we don’t have enough squadrons. They typically sneak over our borders singly to pursue auras that will boost their power—higher magicals, like you said, Lyra. Never have they purposely attacked non-magicals.”

“Can the Guardians fight the cimafa better than sentries?” Lyra asked.

“Yes. We can do more by using our auras, but I will not ask the other three to fight. I’m on my way out to join a patrol, since I’m the most capable. Losing a Guardian would be a tremendous danger. To break the balance of the four elements would seriously harm the strength of the Alliance.” He clasped his foreclaws against his massive chest. “Even I must use control; the great expenditure of Guardian power required to kill a cimafa would temporarily weaken our governance. The blues primarily fight with physical strength, hurling lightning bolts. Unless injured, they can recoup quicker. I alone have the advantage of using both magical and physical means in battle.”

“Do you want me to help?” Lyra asked.

“No. It’s best for all if you continue your studies to unlock the clues from each Book of Dragonspeir. That will reveal a way for the Alliance to overthrow the Dark Realm. As the Scribe, you are the only one who can read the hidden magical code in those texts.” The leader turned toward the door. “I’ll check with you later, when I return.”

“Head Guardian, are the higher magicals helping?” Lyra’s voice caught in her throat. “Is Cullen safe?”

He stooped to miss the upper arch of the door threshold and glanced over his shoulder. “Most are riding the senior sentries to offer additional strike force. Sire Drake will accompany Yord in my squadron.”

Lyra stepped forward, but the Imperial Dragon gave her no chance for discussion, bolting down the stone corridor with tremendous strides. She stared after him, immobilized by the shock of his news and concern for her love. After all that she and Cullen had risked and accomplished, hoping to reach their goal of living together…this didn’t seem possible. Moments ago, a happy life seemed within their grasp. She stared at the gray stone floor, dumbfounded. Their future together, once again, hung by a thread. Her mind filled with a blur of their hard victories won over the past year.

 

Purchase Links for previous books in the series:

Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two

Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One

Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three

 

Author Bio:

Marsha A. Moore is an author of fantasy romance. Much of her life feeds the creative flow she uses to weave highly imaginative tales.

The magic of art and nature often spark life into her writing, as well as watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transformed into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Marsha is crazy about cycling. She lives with her husband on a large saltwater lagoon, where taking her kayak out for an hour or more is a real treat. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical! She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and is excited to be taking part in a Kripalu yoga teacher training program during 2013. That spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy.

 

Author Links:

Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage

Fantasy Faction staff page: http://fantasy-faction.com/staff-members?uid=38

Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/100564214132835514192/posts

 

Mystical Rubies—drops of blood from battling dragons—in the epic fantasy romance Staurolite by Marsha A. Moore

In my new release, Staurolite, the fourth book in the Enchanted Bookstore Legends, I’m expanding and developing the foundation of the magical lore of my fantasy world. The characters find themselves needing the world’s ancient wisdom to solve their own present day problems. The basis of this ages-old magical power is a group of four mystical gemstones that parallel the four Chinese elements of nature: air, earth, fire, and water. These stones serve as four powerful keystones which, together, can empower the good Alliance to overcome the threatening attacks of the evil Dark Realm. There is one controlling master gemstone, the Staurolite, which gives this fourth book its title.

The keystone gem corresponding to fire I have chosen to work with is the ruby.

When I selected the gem corresponding to fire, I considered many attributes that would make it an empowering symbol. My fire keystone plays a strong role, with a power so great it can easily

overtake those who attempt to control it. I was intrigued by rubies from the moment I learned those gems have long been known as hardened drops of blood from battling dragons.

The gemstone ruby has held a regal position in myth, legend and lore for thousands of years. Rubies are said to respond magically, warning of danger by changing their color. Catherine of Aragon wore an infamous ruby, rumored to have turned dark and dull the day before Henry VII announced he was divorcing her. Rubies engraved with fantasy animals, like dragons and serpents, have been popular for attracting wealth and enhancing magical energies. A ruby was considered to be an important gift to honor Buddha and Krishna because the Hindu people believed the gemstone’s red glow came from an internal flame which no human could possibly extinguish.

Many believe the gems possess energy to help overcome forces of darkness, protecting wearers from malicious spirits and evil spells. As a shielding stone, it can send out protective energies to surround the wearer at all times. This is an especially good way to help prevent psychic attacks. It is a stone of authority, excellence, but also of vanity. It brings to its wearer happiness and love. A ruby can strengthen the heart, restore lost forces, drive away melancholy, awaken passion and sexual desires. Its energy is intense and vivid, helping you see your own strength to encourage leadership and increase concentration and intellect.

The power of ruby may help you know and follow your dreams and bliss, to change your world. To help improve your ability to enter a lucid dream state, wear or carry a ruby during your sleep. The gem is thought to help you to remain lucid while entering the dream state and increase your ability to control the dream without slipping into a normal sleep pattern.

With all this power, I had no trouble selecting the ruby to be my fire keystone. Throughout the Enchanted Bookstore Legends series, Lyra McCauley, the present Scribe, comes upon the forces of this special stone. In Heritage Avenged (book#2), she is drawn to a ruby displayed by the Dark Alchemist, Tarom. Lyra is born under the Aries fire sign and cannot resist the powers of the fiery ruby which are like her own. He knows this and tempts her with a taste of what the ruby’s energy can do to multiple her own powers, eliciting dark qualities of greed to pull her off her path of what is noble and good.

In Lost Volumes (book #3), Lyra travels into the underground world of Terza and learns how the first Scribe also fought against the seductively powerful Emtori Ruby she was expected to remove from the collection of the Black Dragon. Lyra discovers a startling fact—the ruby was hidden rather than destroyed as most thought. It still exists!

In Staurolite (book #4), Lyra learns how the first Scribe worked hard to control the Emtori Ruby and avoid allowing its powers to overtake her own. Lyra wonders if she will be able to handle the valuable keystone when she must locate it and return it to the Alliance. If only she can first find the master stone, the Staurolite, to help her command the ruby’s manipulative powers. Time is against her, with the Dark Realm’s attacks destroying the Alliance.

Photo credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)], via Wikimedia Commons

Author Interview: Jeffrey Gunhus

About a month ago I found an incredible, well written, action packed, “you can’t put it down until the very last page” book. It’s titled, “Jack Templar Monster Hunter.” I can’t say enough of how much I loved it. And, to top it off, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Jeffrey Gunhus.

* * *

Brandon: What is it about Fantasy Fiction that you love?

Jeff: Is it your favorite genre to write in? My first reading adventure that really rocked my world when I was a kid was The Lord of the Rings series. After that, any book that started with a map of a strange land and a compass rose was a must-read. I do enjoy writing both fantasy and science fiction because I feel as if the restraints are off and my imagination can roam farther afield than if I was trying to replicate reality.

B: What inspired you to write Jack Templar Monster Hunter?

J: My 11-year old son was a reluctant reader and I was eager to find something that would get him excited about books. We did pretty well with the Percy Jackson series, but a book where he was the title character (his name is Jack) was just the thing to get him turning the pages.

 

B: It’s hard not to love Jack, but Eva comes in a close second. If you chose a favorite character, who would it be?

J: I’m the father of five and that question is a little like asking me which of them is my favorite! They each have their own attraction to me, especially since I have advance knowledge of how they will change and grow in the challenges ahead of them in the upcoming books. I do like Eva, though. She’s tough and independent, but she has a tragic backstory that’s just under the surface. I’m working on Book #3 right now and she really shines in that one. But I like Will’s tenacity. And T-Rex is the classic underdog that people also underestimate. OK, I pass on this question! Lol.

B: Do you remember the first story you wrote? If so, what was it about?

I’m not sure about the first story, but I remember the first time I received some recognition for writing. In 6th grade I as one of the winners of a state competition call the Young Author’s Forum. I got to accept the award in front of a gymnasium full of people after they read a selection of my “book.” It was called The Amulet and involved young characters on the ancient island of Atlantis who must go to Hades and steal an Amulet of great power to save Atlantis. Take the Rick Riordan! It was ahead of its time! I still have the book on my shelf in my office.

B: What book most influenced your life and why?

J: The Lord of the Ring series made me realize an imagined world could be just as real as the world around us if the author spends the time to create carefully, chooses interesting characters and then gives them complicated obstacles to overcome.

B: Any advice for struggling authors?

J: Read Stephen King’s On Writing. Then read it a second time. Then sit down in your chair and write. Every day.

B: What are three good to know facts about you?

J: I’m a father of five so that informs everything I do. I have an adult horror novel coming out soon and it thematically deals with what parents will do to protect their children (the answer: anything). I write screenplays as well so I try to be as visual as possible. Writing is play for me and I am eternally grateful for the readers who choose to play with me!

B: What is your main goal as a writer?

J: I hate to sound selfish, but my main goal is to entertain myself! If I knew no-one would ever read my books, I’d still write them because I just love the process. Some people ride bikes, or fish, or collect stamps. I just love jumping into another world for a few hours every day.

B: What is your favorite quote?

J: Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

B: Are you working on any projects right now? If so, what’s the gist of it? When is it due to come out?

J: I have an adult horror novel (think Stephen King) coming out June 2013 and I’m working on Book #3, Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampires which I hope to have out in time for Halloween 2013.

Thanks for spending time with me!

Jeff

 

Dreams That Come True

In my book, “The PureLights of Ohm Totem”, one of my main characters — Zoey — has a couple of dreams that have characters in them that she’s never met before, however, she ends up meeting them later on. Some people call that deja vu or psychic abilities, but others may just call it coincidence. What do you think? Have you ever had a deja vu like moment (seeing something before it actually happens or the feeling that you’ve been here, done this before)  or a dream that has come true Write a comment below and describe what happened. Let’s start a discussion, shall we?

Also, don’t forget to subscribe to my email list. I’ll be having contests, giveaways, and other fun things that you don’t want to miss out on.

- Brandon Ellis

A Friend’s Near Death Experience and the Magic She Brought to my Life

Many years ago an extremely good friend of mine had a Near Death Experience. When I first met her, she explained to me that there was nothing “near” about it. She was as dead as a door nail until someone revived her back to life several minutes later.

I had met her when I was getting into the throes of writing. Little did I know she was about to change my life forever, especially in the writing field (not to mention every other field I entered into).

Her name is Deborah B. Gregg, and this is how she died.

She was standing at the edge of a river, looking down at the water, pondering if she should take a dive or not. The instant she jumped she saw something that the algae in the water had masked moments earlier—a large boulder inches below the water’s surface.

As her arms splashed into the water, she felt her hands hit the boulder. She pushed against the boulder in an attempt to guide her body away from it. Instead, her hands slipped and she hit her forehead against the large rock, splitting her head open, tearing several ligaments in her neck, and temporarily paralyzing her.

She said she did the dead man’s float—face down, bobbing up and down, unable to move. All she could do was watch the flurry of tiny fish swimming around, observe the busy water bugs moving about, and look at the beautiful sand stirring into a cloud, then settling to the bottom; all along not being able to do anything except wait to die.

And it wasn’t a terrible death. It wasn’t ghastly, horrific, or terrifying. No demons came out of the ground and snatched her, taking her to the depths of an unforgivable hell. It was the opposite. It was peaceful and the most loving experience she had ever had.

When the last seconds of her life started to fade, she popped out of her body, went up a tunnel, had a life review where she felt the wrongs and rights she did to others, then spoke with someone she called her “guide”—all in a place where time doesn’t exist. She was told wondrous things and given many insights.

When she came back, it was to a very broken body. A body she had to learn to live with in order to cope with the horrible pain that accompanied such a tragic accident.

It was years after her Near Death Experience when I met her. It’s fifteen years later and we’re still friends.

[Get her story and experience at www.deborahbgregg.com]

As I’ve stated above, she learned a great deal during her Near Death Experience, most of which I’ve been able to listen to and incorporate into my own life, leading me to success in many endeavors. In fact, I’ve learned just about everything I know through her Near Death Experience, even writing.

Yes, writing.

I’m a writer, or at least that’s what I told her when I first met her. I had no idea at the time that I had to be a “good” writer in order for others to understand what I was trying to communicate. She pointed that out many times, making me practice and practice this sacred art. It helped that she was a damn good teacher and a literary genius to boot—something her “guide” at the top of the tunnel also pointed out during her death experience.

Then it happened. A day I won’t ever forget. A writer’s dream come true.

I was walking into my bedroom after a long day of work when an inspiring idea, or rather a story, exploded in my mind. The detail, the story line, the characters—everything—was so vivid and real. I don’t know how long I was standing in my room, silent, staring at nothing but the book in my mind showing itself to me; but when it had stopped, I immediately wrote down the summary of what I saw, thinking that I’d get writing as soon as possible.

Two years later, I just had the summary and a couple of completed chapters. Nothing more. Life had gotten in the way and I hadn’t written much.

Then it happened again. This time I was asleep, dreaming.

I was dreaming of the book, the characters, the dialogue, the landscape, the map, and much more—for months! This prompted me to start writing and writing. Everywhere I went—to work, the park, a restaurant, you name it—I carried a pad and pencil, jotting down the story as I saw it, then weaving Deborah’s words and wisdom of her Near Death Experience into it too. I even made a character with her personality. I named her “Snow Tree”, using her voice to carry us into the profound texture of my book. When I got deeper and deeper into the story, I realized that Nova, one of my main characters, was taking on a portion of my friend’s disposition as well. Nova’s dialogue was very similar to Deborah’s, almost mimicking the way she spreads her sage-like advice and important messages to all who will listen.

It wasn’t until the middle of the book that I realized the name of it, “The PureLights of Ohm Totem”. It made perfect sense. You’ll understand its title when you read it. It’s a fantasy built in a world like none other, with characters like nowhere else, simply because it originated from a unique point, the point where the story exploded in my mind, offering itself to me on a silver platter, finishing with a series of dreams, and combined with fifteen years of study and friendship with my Near Death Experience friend, Deborah.

A professional reviewer said it magically: “One of the best books I have ever read, and probably the best I’ve read so far this year.” – Joanna at Coffee Break

By combining the insights of a Near Death Experience with the magic, intrigue, and plot of fantasy, you come away with a very rich experience. One that I think you’ll love and enjoy.

If you feel drawn to my book, “The PureLights of Ohm Totem”, then I hope you feel transported to a new, incredible world where adventure mixes with a myriad of important life lessons, taking place in a world where dreams and reality merge into one single place—the world we call Fantasy.

Thank you very much for reading.

Also, if you’re at all interested, I’ll send a free e-book in kindle (mobi), epub, or pdf to the first fifty people who agree to read my book and post a review on Amazon before July 27th, 2013. Just go to www.thepurelights.com, click on CONTACT, and send me an email if you’re interested.

Best Regards and Wishes,

Brandon Ellis,

www.thepurelights.com

Publishing, Reviews, and Sales. OH MY!

For many years I wanted to write. I thought it was my destiny, my one true desire, my important mission in life. Is that true? I don’t know. Do I want it to be true? Of course.

Finally, I’ve written a book and published it on Amazon. I’ve read over a hundred blogs describing how to market, self publish, and successfully work with amazon. Heck, I’ve purchased 3 books on the subject as well.

And I’ve implemented most of what I’ve read, except for using twitter, which still baffles me to this day. I don’t know what the heck I’m doing on that thing. Nonetheless, I created an account @thepurelights and am currently trying to figure it out. I will keep you all posted. If any of you have any tips, please send them my way.

I digress. The name of my book is, “The PureLights of Ohm Totem“. I published it a month ago. It made me smile. I put my arms up in the air and whispered, “I did it!” I whispered because it was 6 in the morning. I was up for 24 hours figuring out the formatting, which you’ll read about later on in this post.

I did it with the help of my best friend, my mom the cover artist and a large community of others. It truly did take a community to help me out. It’s the best way to get things done. More heads are better than one – in most cases.

To date, I’ve sold 28 books. Is that good? Not if I compare myself to Amanda Hocking, Joe Konrath, or the many other great self publishers out there who have sold millions. All of my sales, except two or three, are from Facebook, all of which are my friends, family, and acquaintances.

The two or three that weren’t from Facebook are from random people searching for fantasy fiction novels on Amazon. Whoever you are, thank you very much.

Publishing

I knew I wanted to publish with amazon. It’s free, easy (I thought), and free. Yes, free is nice when you’re not as rich as you hope to be one day.

When uploading my book, I tried several different formatting applications, such as Calibre, word HTML, PDF, and Epub conversion into Mobi – which is converting your word document (your book) into Epub with Calibre then converting your Epub into Mobi (the document type that amazon uses for their ebooks). It’s quite the process, and confusing.

Here’s the problem. Initially, like the novice publisher I am, I thought that I’d simply upload my book to amazon, and WALA! It’s done. I’m published. Everything is good and reads well.

Nope!

I was wrong.

After a week of failed attempts, including me staying up 36 hours straight trying to figure out the ebook formatting, and after thinking that I successfully had it formatted correctly only to find that chapter 10 and 11 are not indented, have bold paragraphs where bold paragraphs shouldn’t be, and many other weird things, I decided to take a break and went to Youtube. I typed in amazon formatting and found a gem. I found what I needed – a professional ebook formatting application called Jutoh (www.jutoh.com). It worked like a charm. I simply imported my book document to Jutoh, then clicked on “convert to mobi” and it came out beautifully. I emailed them many questions, since the company is in the UK and I didn’t want to call, and they answered within an hour of each email I sent. They were amazing (still are).

Reviews

Many of the books and blogs I read mentioned that it would be a great idea to get as many positive reviews as possible, since it would bolster my amazon ebook ranking. So, that’s what I did. I emailed all of my friends (700+ on facebook) and thus far received 1 review. It’s only been a week and a half, so my guess (hope) is that they’re still reading my book and will post a review when they’re done. (I’m crossing my fingers).

The books and blogs also mentioned that it would be to my benefit to find professional reviewers to review my book. There are many sites online if you google “ebook reviewers” or “ebook review sites”. I also bought a book titled “The Yellow Pages of Professional Reviewers”. So far I’ve emailed over 50 reviewers and one has taken on the task of reading and reviewing my book. The rest have turned me down, quicker than the fastest gun in the west.

Then, I got lucky. It so happened that one of the professional reviewers bought my book on her own accord, as I didn’t email her. To my surprise, she read my book over a weekend. She loved it and posted a review, then emailed me, asking me when the second book is coming out. That made my day!

In the meantime, I’m still emailing and emailing reviewers, being turned down left and right, simply because they have too many books already on their plate. However, I continue because I know it will all pan out and I’ll get that one reviewer that helps me sell millions.

Sales

One way to promote your book on Amazon is to do a free KDP promotion. The only way you can do a free promotion is to sign up with KDP Select, however, it gives amazon exclusive rights to your book for 90 days. You won’t be able to sell or list your book on any other site except Amazon. But, you get 5 days of free ebook promotion.

A week after publication, I put my book up for a weekend of free KDP promotion. This means that I gave my book away for free in hopes that I would get positive reviews and better ranking placement on Amazon, thus equaling more sales.

None of which occurred. Why? Let me tell you why.

I wasn’t ready. One thing to have when doing a free promotion is at least 10 good/positive reviews. This helps buyers make their decision. They’d rather trust a good book with 10 or more positive reviews than a book with 1 or 2 positive reviews. It isn’t rocket science.

Also, when I creating my free promotion, I didn’t think it all the way through. I didn’t plan it out. There are several – probably more than a hundred – free ebook websites that have thousands of subscribers looking for new, free amazon books.

This is a great thing, because what many successful authors do to promote their promotional days on those websites is give those same websites at least 30 days advance notice of their promotion date. For example, an author may want select October 1st as their free KDP promotion day. It would be advantageous for that author to submit their ebook to many of those free ebook websites on September 1st. This helps the author out immensely.

I didn’t do any of that.

I submitted my book last minute, but most, if not all, of those sites don’t do last minute ebook submission requests. The more advance notice you give them, the happier they are. I’d suggest getting them in a happy mood. It works best for everyone.

So, when you set the date for your free KDP promotion, do so at least 30 days from now. Then, go to those websites and submit your ebook request. A good website to see a list of ebook free promoting websites is: Author Marketing Club (http://authormarketingclub.com/members/submit-your-book/). They have a free author submission tool that helps you submit your book to several websites. It’s very handy. When you do so, those websites will ask for the dates of the free ebook, which you’ll confidently give them, since you planned it out, and then they’ll do their best to promote your free ebook by sending a daily newsletter, featuring a list of free ebooks to their subscribers. On your free days, thousands and thousands of people will see your book.

There are some websites that don’t guarantee that you’ll be on the free ebook list though, but, like I said, if you get your book on the list 30 or more days in advance, you’re almost guaranteed a spot.

Some websites will ask for a donation. I’d suggest giving one as it definitely guarantees you a spot.

So, when the day came that I put my book up for free, the final result was 184 downloads. That’s not good. It may be good for one day, but I promoted my book for two days. A good day is 400 downloads. A great day is 1,000 downloads. A fantastic day is 10,000+ downloads. When you have that many downloads, it pushes you to the top of your category on the very next day you have your book for sale. This helps with your overall sales, since you’re now seen in the top 10 or 20 or 30 books in your category on Amazon. The highest I got in my “paid” category after my free days was up to #70. That didn’t do much as very few people saw my book.

Well, those are my numbers and thoughts. I’m not where I want to be, but it’s a process. None of it is easy, like I thought it would be. How naive I was. Nonetheless, you live, you learn, you strive, you succeed. Never give up.

The story goes on…

- Brandon Ellis

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An Interview with Best Selling Author Cheryl Kaye Tardiff

About 6 months ago I read one of Cheryl Kaye Tardiff’s books and I thought, “I have to get an interview.” Her book, and subsequent books, are incredibly thrilling, well written, and hooks you from the first page. You simply can’t put them down. She now has a new book, Submerged, and I caught up with her about a month ago to ask some questions about her and about her new book.

Brandon: What inspires you to write?

Cheryl: I am inspired by things I see or hear, or by common fears, since I write suspense. I’ll often get ideas for stories at the strangest times—in the car, in the shower, in my dreams, in other people’s dreams, or from the news.

 

B: Do you remember the first story you ever wrote? If so, what was it about?

C: Beckoning Wrath. It was my first novel, a horror. I wrote it when I was 16. Unfortunately I used my mom’s typewriter (yeah, it was that long ago) and had no backup or copy.  I was devastated when I brought it to school to show my teacher and it was stolen.

 

B: What is your main goal as a writer?

C: To write the stories I’m passionate about and create characters my readers will love (or love to hate).

 

B: You’ve become a very successful writer. How long did it take to finally get your first break?

C: I consider my first break to be when I decided to self-publish my first novel in 2003. However, in this industry, most would consider my first traditional publishing contract to be my first break, and that was in 2006. So we’re looking at over 25 years.

 

B: Do you have any suggestions to struggling authors and/or upcoming authors?

C: Learn and understand the business of publishing and marketing. You can’t go far without this knowledge. Learn how to be a better writer. Edit, edit, edit. And tell damned good stories.

 

B: Are there any authors that have influenced you or your writing?

C: Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul and James Patterson influenced me heavily in my early writing, and they still do. Nora Robert’s/J.D. Robb, Charlotte Brontë and other female mystery writers have influenced my more recent works.

 

B: What was the book that most influenced your life — and why?

C: Stephen King’s On Writing, because it allowed me into the mind of a master writer and storyteller, and he’s my #1 author idol.

 

B: I know you like movies, so I have to ask you, what are your all-time favorite films?

C: Avatar, Titanic, Sleeping with the Enemy and Double Jeopardy.

 

B: What are three “Good to Know” facts about you?

C:  1. I am dyslexic, so you can bet I have others editing my work.

2. I’m blunt. If someone asks for my advice or opinion, they’re going to get it.

3. I love helping other authors succeed, which is why I launched my own publishing company in 2011and publish other writers’ works at Imajin Books.

 

B: What else do you want your readers to know? Your likes and dislikes, interests and hobbies?

C: I like Baileys and margaritas, especially if served on a sandy beach next to the ocean. I dislike rude people and turnip. I’m a TV/movie addict; it’s the only way to shut off the voices in my head. Okay, I’m not schizophrenic; I just have a vivid imagination and I am bombarded by story and marketing ideas every day, so watching a film helps me relax.

 

B: Are you working on any projects right now? If so, what’s the gist of it? When is due to come out?

C: I am preparing for the launch of my latest thriller, SUBMERGED, which will be out February 26, 2013, in Kindle edition, followed by the trade paperback edition in March. Not only do I have release day to promote, I’m involved in a multi-author launch party from March 4-6 and I’m organizing my events and prizes for that. Then from March 15-24 I have a virtual book tour, which I’m also coordinating. Before, during and after all that, some of my books will be on free promotions.

Oh, and I’m working on book 3 in my Divine series, DIVINE SANCTUARY. J

Life is NEVER dull when you’re a writer!

 ~*~

Here’s a bit about SUBMERGED:

“Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl.”

—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds

 

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

 

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn’t the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.

Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway, so she can think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger’s calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right.

 

- Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an award-winning, international bestselling Canadian suspense author. Her novels include Submerged, Divine Justice, Children of the Fog, The River, Divine Intervention, and Whale Song, which New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice calls “a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart…a beautiful, haunting novel.”

She is now working on her next thriller.

Cheryl also enjoys writing short stories inspired mainly by her author idol Stephen King, and this has resulted in Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories (eBook) and Remote Control (novelette eBook).

In 2010 Cheryl detoured into the romance genre with her contemporary romantic suspense debut, Lancelot’s Lady, written under the pen name of Cherish D’Angelo.

Booklist raves, “Tardif, already a big hit in Canada…a name to reckon with south of the border.”

Cheryl’s website: http://www.cherylktardif.com

Official blog: http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630

You can also find Cheryl Kaye Tardif on Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThing, plus other social networks.

Submerge Yourself in the World of Cheryl Kaye Tardif

When people ask me what I do, I like to tell them: “I kill people off for a living.” You can imagine the looks I get. Sometimes I’ll follow with: “Fictitiously, of course. I’m a suspense writer.” Sometimes I won’t say anything else. Yeah, I’m bad that way.

Writing thriller, suspense, mystery and/or crime novels has always been my passion—especially if I throw a pinch of supernatural or paranormal into the mix. I’ve always been drawn to dark stories, ones that raise the hairs on the back of my neck or make me glance over my shoulder. The two greatest influences in my writing life have been Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Need I say more?

So what can I offer you if you choose to read my books? I hope and strive to give you a satisfying read, once that will impact you emotionally. If I can make you shudder or tremble or wince or even cry, then I’ve done my job.

In SUBMERGED, I share with you a very personal fear of mine—the fear of being in a car that’s underwater and not being able to get out. I have traveled long distances by car hundreds of times during my life, twice from one coast of Canada to the other. Whenever we’re along a stretch of highway with a body of water beside me, my fear kicks in. And I hold my breath…waiting…praying…

I want you to relate to this fear. But even more, I want my characters to come to life. I want you to feel for Marcus Taylor, a struggling recovering addict who has had his fair share of grief and guilt. I want you to admire his strength, even in the midst of his weaknesses. I want you, dear reader, to feel compassion for this man who has lost his wife and son in a terrible accident, who blames himself for their deaths, and who is searching for redemption, though he doesn’t really know he is.

I want you to cheer on Rebecca Kingston, a mother on the verge of divorce who has left an abusive husband. I want you to feel empathy for her because this decision, no matter what others think, is not an easy one to make. I want you to cry with her when she realizes she is physically unable to help her children who are trapped with her in a sinking vehicle. And I want you to be holding your breath every time Rebecca does.

Marcus and Rebecca (and the others in SUBMERGED) may only be characters on paper, but they feel real to me. I gave “birth” to them and watched them grow. With every step they took, I wiped away their tears, hugged them and loved them. And, dear reader, I sincerely hope you’ll love them just as much.

Happy reading…with the lights on…

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, international bestselling author

PS: The Kindle edition of SUBMERGED is available on Amazon from March 4th – 7th for a special price during the Killer Thriller Book Launch.

Learn more about me and connect at:

http://www.cherylktardif.com

http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630

Positively Change

Positively change your life by changing the things you do. You can’t remain in a negative state by doing positive things. It’s nearly impossible. In fact, I’d say it’s completely impossible.

– Brandon Ellis, www.thepurelights.com

Why Are We Here?

Simple.

To be in service of others.

Whether that be raising your child the best way you can or listening to a homeless man speak about his life or helping an elderly woman walk across the street or rescuing a dog wandering in the middle of the expressway.

These moments signify the human spirit. Signify who we really are.

There is no better reason to live than to exemplify this expression of love.

- Brandon Ellis, thepurelights.com

PS – this has been written in other ways and in many languages throughout the ages. This version came to me just before I went to bed the other night. I felt a need to get up, turn on my lights, turn on my computer, and post it on facebook. I then shut everything off and went to bed. I received more facebook replies and likes to this facebook post than anything I’ve ever written on facebook before. So, I bring it here, to you, hoping that you may find some inspiration in it. Much Love!