Crystal Collier's Blog, page 22
January 20, 2014
Online Marketing Symposium (Creating Epic Blog Tours), a Bit of Romance, and a Fest!
I don't often talk about my writing journey, unless it's behind the scenes through personal emails to help other authors. BUT recently my debut novel, MOONLESS, was published, and as a part of that effort, I hosted an EPIC blog tour. I learned so much from it, and as knowledge is power, today I'd like to share that knowledge with all my wonderful writerly pals. (If you're not a writerly pal, feel free to jump down to the other bits at the end of this post.)
HOW TO RUN A POWERFUL BOOK BLOG TOUR
I've heard chatter that blog tours are a waste of time. My blog tour was the single most successful advertising campaign to date with significant exposure, response, awareness, and visibility. Advantages of blog tours:
1. Getting the word out. You might think you've tired everyone's ears to death by screaming about your amazing future release, but you probably haven't even reached a tenth of the people in your circles. A year later people you know may be hearing it for the first time. From my experience, even people who are likely to buy your book will have to see/hear about it approximately 3 times before they make the investment.
2. SEO. The more links back to your site (especially on blogger or google+), the easier you are to find. This is a long term investment.
3. Sales. The reality is, for every 200 people you reach, you'll probably make 1 sale. BUT in a TARGETED blog tour, you are speaking to your soft audience. Some posts/locations were more effective for me, but typically I saw 3 to 5 purchases or adds on Goodreads per post. Remember, this is coming from a debut author who had no track record. Sales are easier when you have a track record. The high traffic blogs boosted that # to 10, and some gave me only 1.
Now, there are a number of blog tour services out there. I haven't used one, but for reaching a wider audience, I think they can be a great resource. You're limited by your budget and their resources. Do your research. Find someone who SPECIALIZES in your genre and definitely price compare. Check out their other tours. BE IN THE KNOW. Typically they utilize between 20 and 40 stops, and those stops may not be high traffic locations. Do they take bloggers by volunteer, or do they have a long-standing roster of proven helpers? Do they tailor the tours to blogs that really hit your niche?
I'm a bit of a control freak, plus I've got this amazing network of bloggies whom I LOVE to death, so what did I do? I organized my tour solo. But first, I did my...
Homework.
Study what has worked for others. There are a HUNDRED ways to launch a tour. Keep in mind, an effective tour is FUN for you, those who host you, and readers. Pick a theme. Get creative. Do something tailored directly to your book or writing. While you're brainstorming, let me give you some ideas.
Features. These depend on your theme. A warning. DO NOT PREPARE THE EXACT SAME FEATURE and then feed it to multiple people. You will have people who follow your entire tour and get ecstatic, even fanatical about your book. (Then they're even more likely to shout about it and start some word of mouth.) Every post should be unique.Everyone and their dog is willing to interview you--and while I love author interviews, my eyes glaze over after the second lengthy paragraph. In a world where tumblr, twitter and facebook rule, keep in mind attention spans are shrinking. SHORT interviews (we're talking 5 or less questions) and a really focused theme can be SUPER effective. See a couple amazing examples HERE.Character Interviews: Handle with caution. If you're an actor, you probably have this in the bag. These really have to be some of your most focused and creative writing. For these I suggest getting questions from beta readers, critique partners, and advanced reviewers who are already acquainted with your characters. (And don't be afraid to ask these people to host!) An effective interview looks something like THIS.Excerpts are powerful things. Readers loves stories. (That should be obvious, right?) Remember to keep them short: no more than 500 words and preferably less than 300 (or a single page of print). Before my tour, I selected 15 different excerpts and asked a number of people to read and rate them from most engaging to least. I did this for a couple reasons. To figure out which were the best. To get others excited along with me. From that original 15 we selected 8, and they are bits I use with confidence now in all promotions. Reviews. I highly advise rounding up reviewers, but be sure you give them adequate notice. Two months was sufficient for some, but others require 6 months. If you're firm on your dates and you want REALLY HIGH TRAFFIC reviewers, I advise scheduling book blog reviewers 6 months out. (With a well timed reminder email. Or two.) How do you find these reviewers? There are online directories--just do a quick google search (and be sure to include your genre). Guest Posts. Be careful on these. Remember the focus is to share your book. I did some top ten lists that were just great fun, but they didn't end up contributing much to my bottom line. THIS ONE did. (You'll see why.) Here's an example of a guest post that was VERY effective: Moonless in Clips.Games. Remember what I said about having fun? I hosted my Truth or Lie game across the blogosphere as well as a Mystery Sentence Game with hidden words in the excerpts. I've seen choose your own adventures, book blasts where the story continues in a chain of blogs, and so many others. This is where you get creative, but remember your readers have lives. If it's too invested, they're probably not going to play. Make it simple, quick and easy to be involved AND to share.Giveaways. I suggest using Rafflecopter and posting an image of your prizes ABOVE the widget. A word on cash prizes... They're great and will attract a TON of attention (IF ADVERTISED RIGHT), but you really want to attract readers, not just people looking for handouts. Keep that in mind as you set reasonable amounts and offer more books/swag than cash. I suggest offering multiple prizes, and inviting other genre-centric authors to join your giveaway. Remember, they'll also help you spread the word. Also keep in mind, some potential buyers will hold off purchasing your book until the raffle ends.
Length: I've seen tours done two ways: spread out over months (one feature a week), and run in succession (day after day for 3 days to a month). Remember marketing is a LONG TERM thing, so either one works. It comes down to how you are most comfortable. I asked for volunteers within a 3 week time frame and anticipated getting 20 to 30 people interested. I ended up with 63 stops in 18 days. Yup. Insanity. I could comfortably handle 3 posts a day, and I don't advise more than that in a single day unless you're doing a 1 day blast. Remember that as a guest, you are committing to getting the word out about each and every feature, as well as responding to comments. Be involved. It's etiquette. A word on signing people up: most bloggers will jump on board 1 to 3 months out. More than that and they're going to procrastinate making a commitment.
Professionalism/organization. This attracts people. Remember how I said I ended up with 63 stops by passively mentioning my tour a couple places? Here's how I did it:
Looks professional, right? It was an easy, pretty, sign up form and when people started raving about it, others stopped in to check it out and signed up. I admit, my techie did build this, but the investment was worth it. It's a form that with minor adjustments can be used again and again. I've seen other people use Google docs for sign ups.
The biggest thing people complimented was my organization. After people signed up, I sent out an initial email with all the details of the tour, including options on different types of features and my ENTIRE media kit. If you'd like to see a copy of that email, I would be happy to share it. Just ask. In the email I set specific dates for interview questions to be sent.
I kept everything on a calendar and spreadsheet--who was hosting which feature and when, with a to-do list and deadlines. I pre-wrote several posts so I wasn't up against a deadline and tearing my hair out. One thing everyone appreciated was receiving the posts in html, so they could just cut and paste.
Communication. A week before the tour, I sent an email with the rafflecopter code and the tour schedule. Each morning of the tour I sent emails to the hosts for the following day, an opportunity to thank and remind them.
Follow Up. At the tours' conclusion, there was another follow up email and thank you. It is nice to offer your hosts a gift for helping. I entered everyone in a raffle and gave away a few gift cards. With my rafflecopter entries, I sent people who didn't win a $1 coupon off the book on Smashwords.
Things I would do differently next time: I would welcome volunteers, but target more blogs with high traffic and query them well in advance. Most people are flattered and more than willing to participate. The worst they can do is say no, and really, it's not a big deal if they do. I would arrange my sign up so that people can see the available dates and select from them. (Arranging them all myself was a bit of a headache.) I would pre-write tweets and facebook statuses to help announce each stop.
And there you have it. The rest of the Symposium can be found below.
_________________________________________________________________For NON-writers, and a few writers who like romance...
It's a celebration of that little thing called love, and today I'm excited to share this little tid-bit with you from my WIP without a title that we call Faux.
Sam looked down. “When I hit rock bottom, when things couldn’t get any worse, I decided you deserved to lose just as much as I had. I blamed you. It was the only way I could deal with them abandoning me.” Sad eyes turn on me. “I blamed you.”
I stared.
“So I came. I watched you, scheming about how to make you suffer. Finally I decided I had to meet you, to figure out what dagger I could twist in your back.” He reached for me.
I stood frozen, disgusted.
“The first time we talked, you made me laugh. I…” His eyes lowered. “I hadn’t done that since, well, I couldn’t even remember. Everything, all my plotting, I just…” His fingertip grazed mine and electrical warmth swam into my veins. He seized my hand. “We met every day after school. It was innocent. We’d catch butterflies, or swing at the park, or just talk. You showed me how to live, how to really live.” He brushed my hair behind my ear. “You gave me a reason to live.”
The rest of the hop is HERE.________________________________________________________
I'm STOKED to help reveal the cover for this wonderful New Adult novel by Kitsy Clare*:
Nice, right?
For Sienna, love and art are perilous games. Is she ready to take that gamble?
Sienna is a beautiful, talented artist poised on the precipice of soaring into the glamorous, yet cutthroat Manhattan art scene.
Dave Hightower is a hooked-up, handsome heir to the hippest gallery in NYC, Gallery Hightower.
Erik is the live drawing model with his sizzling green eyes fixed only on Sienna.
Three’s a crowd, so Sienna must make a choice: date Dave and ride the fast track to landing a show at Gallery Hightower and hobnobbing with the art glitterati, or follow her heart and take a chance with Erik, the stunning male model who’s stealing her heart. But Erik has some worrisome secrets, and who in their right mind would make live modeling their career?
Dare Sienna throw away her chances of hitting it big to follow her heart?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
When Kitsy Clare isn’t creating stories on her favorite Mac Air, she teaches speculative fiction and creative writing workshops. She also loves to draw, travel, read spicy romance, sci-fi and all kinds of thrillers. She divides her time between New York City and her studio in the Catskills, where she enjoys the sounds of birds, bullfrogs and the random coyote.
*Kitsy Clare is the pen name for her new adult romance. She also writes young adult fiction using her real name, Catherine Stine. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted an Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Ruby’s Fire, the new companion novel to Fireseed One, is receiving high praise from reviewers. She’s a member of SFWA, SCBWI and CBIG. She can be found on www.catherinestine.com, www.catherinestine.blogspot.com, and https://twitter.com/crossoverwriter________________________________________________________AND LASTLY, it's not too late to join the
Meet my AMAZING co-hosts: Pk Hrezo, Tammy Theriault, and Michael Di Gesu.
If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? Come tell us February 10th! Sign up below. Be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party!
What have you learned about blog tours?
HOW TO RUN A POWERFUL BOOK BLOG TOUR
I've heard chatter that blog tours are a waste of time. My blog tour was the single most successful advertising campaign to date with significant exposure, response, awareness, and visibility. Advantages of blog tours:
1. Getting the word out. You might think you've tired everyone's ears to death by screaming about your amazing future release, but you probably haven't even reached a tenth of the people in your circles. A year later people you know may be hearing it for the first time. From my experience, even people who are likely to buy your book will have to see/hear about it approximately 3 times before they make the investment.
2. SEO. The more links back to your site (especially on blogger or google+), the easier you are to find. This is a long term investment.
3. Sales. The reality is, for every 200 people you reach, you'll probably make 1 sale. BUT in a TARGETED blog tour, you are speaking to your soft audience. Some posts/locations were more effective for me, but typically I saw 3 to 5 purchases or adds on Goodreads per post. Remember, this is coming from a debut author who had no track record. Sales are easier when you have a track record. The high traffic blogs boosted that # to 10, and some gave me only 1.
Now, there are a number of blog tour services out there. I haven't used one, but for reaching a wider audience, I think they can be a great resource. You're limited by your budget and their resources. Do your research. Find someone who SPECIALIZES in your genre and definitely price compare. Check out their other tours. BE IN THE KNOW. Typically they utilize between 20 and 40 stops, and those stops may not be high traffic locations. Do they take bloggers by volunteer, or do they have a long-standing roster of proven helpers? Do they tailor the tours to blogs that really hit your niche?
I'm a bit of a control freak, plus I've got this amazing network of bloggies whom I LOVE to death, so what did I do? I organized my tour solo. But first, I did my...
Homework.
Study what has worked for others. There are a HUNDRED ways to launch a tour. Keep in mind, an effective tour is FUN for you, those who host you, and readers. Pick a theme. Get creative. Do something tailored directly to your book or writing. While you're brainstorming, let me give you some ideas.
Features. These depend on your theme. A warning. DO NOT PREPARE THE EXACT SAME FEATURE and then feed it to multiple people. You will have people who follow your entire tour and get ecstatic, even fanatical about your book. (Then they're even more likely to shout about it and start some word of mouth.) Every post should be unique.Everyone and their dog is willing to interview you--and while I love author interviews, my eyes glaze over after the second lengthy paragraph. In a world where tumblr, twitter and facebook rule, keep in mind attention spans are shrinking. SHORT interviews (we're talking 5 or less questions) and a really focused theme can be SUPER effective. See a couple amazing examples HERE.Character Interviews: Handle with caution. If you're an actor, you probably have this in the bag. These really have to be some of your most focused and creative writing. For these I suggest getting questions from beta readers, critique partners, and advanced reviewers who are already acquainted with your characters. (And don't be afraid to ask these people to host!) An effective interview looks something like THIS.Excerpts are powerful things. Readers loves stories. (That should be obvious, right?) Remember to keep them short: no more than 500 words and preferably less than 300 (or a single page of print). Before my tour, I selected 15 different excerpts and asked a number of people to read and rate them from most engaging to least. I did this for a couple reasons. To figure out which were the best. To get others excited along with me. From that original 15 we selected 8, and they are bits I use with confidence now in all promotions. Reviews. I highly advise rounding up reviewers, but be sure you give them adequate notice. Two months was sufficient for some, but others require 6 months. If you're firm on your dates and you want REALLY HIGH TRAFFIC reviewers, I advise scheduling book blog reviewers 6 months out. (With a well timed reminder email. Or two.) How do you find these reviewers? There are online directories--just do a quick google search (and be sure to include your genre). Guest Posts. Be careful on these. Remember the focus is to share your book. I did some top ten lists that were just great fun, but they didn't end up contributing much to my bottom line. THIS ONE did. (You'll see why.) Here's an example of a guest post that was VERY effective: Moonless in Clips.Games. Remember what I said about having fun? I hosted my Truth or Lie game across the blogosphere as well as a Mystery Sentence Game with hidden words in the excerpts. I've seen choose your own adventures, book blasts where the story continues in a chain of blogs, and so many others. This is where you get creative, but remember your readers have lives. If it's too invested, they're probably not going to play. Make it simple, quick and easy to be involved AND to share.Giveaways. I suggest using Rafflecopter and posting an image of your prizes ABOVE the widget. A word on cash prizes... They're great and will attract a TON of attention (IF ADVERTISED RIGHT), but you really want to attract readers, not just people looking for handouts. Keep that in mind as you set reasonable amounts and offer more books/swag than cash. I suggest offering multiple prizes, and inviting other genre-centric authors to join your giveaway. Remember, they'll also help you spread the word. Also keep in mind, some potential buyers will hold off purchasing your book until the raffle ends.
Length: I've seen tours done two ways: spread out over months (one feature a week), and run in succession (day after day for 3 days to a month). Remember marketing is a LONG TERM thing, so either one works. It comes down to how you are most comfortable. I asked for volunteers within a 3 week time frame and anticipated getting 20 to 30 people interested. I ended up with 63 stops in 18 days. Yup. Insanity. I could comfortably handle 3 posts a day, and I don't advise more than that in a single day unless you're doing a 1 day blast. Remember that as a guest, you are committing to getting the word out about each and every feature, as well as responding to comments. Be involved. It's etiquette. A word on signing people up: most bloggers will jump on board 1 to 3 months out. More than that and they're going to procrastinate making a commitment.
Professionalism/organization. This attracts people. Remember how I said I ended up with 63 stops by passively mentioning my tour a couple places? Here's how I did it:
Looks professional, right? It was an easy, pretty, sign up form and when people started raving about it, others stopped in to check it out and signed up. I admit, my techie did build this, but the investment was worth it. It's a form that with minor adjustments can be used again and again. I've seen other people use Google docs for sign ups.
The biggest thing people complimented was my organization. After people signed up, I sent out an initial email with all the details of the tour, including options on different types of features and my ENTIRE media kit. If you'd like to see a copy of that email, I would be happy to share it. Just ask. In the email I set specific dates for interview questions to be sent.
I kept everything on a calendar and spreadsheet--who was hosting which feature and when, with a to-do list and deadlines. I pre-wrote several posts so I wasn't up against a deadline and tearing my hair out. One thing everyone appreciated was receiving the posts in html, so they could just cut and paste.
Communication. A week before the tour, I sent an email with the rafflecopter code and the tour schedule. Each morning of the tour I sent emails to the hosts for the following day, an opportunity to thank and remind them.
Follow Up. At the tours' conclusion, there was another follow up email and thank you. It is nice to offer your hosts a gift for helping. I entered everyone in a raffle and gave away a few gift cards. With my rafflecopter entries, I sent people who didn't win a $1 coupon off the book on Smashwords.
Things I would do differently next time: I would welcome volunteers, but target more blogs with high traffic and query them well in advance. Most people are flattered and more than willing to participate. The worst they can do is say no, and really, it's not a big deal if they do. I would arrange my sign up so that people can see the available dates and select from them. (Arranging them all myself was a bit of a headache.) I would pre-write tweets and facebook statuses to help announce each stop.
And there you have it. The rest of the Symposium can be found below.
_________________________________________________________________For NON-writers, and a few writers who like romance...
It's a celebration of that little thing called love, and today I'm excited to share this little tid-bit with you from my WIP without a title that we call Faux.
Sam looked down. “When I hit rock bottom, when things couldn’t get any worse, I decided you deserved to lose just as much as I had. I blamed you. It was the only way I could deal with them abandoning me.” Sad eyes turn on me. “I blamed you.”
I stared.
“So I came. I watched you, scheming about how to make you suffer. Finally I decided I had to meet you, to figure out what dagger I could twist in your back.” He reached for me.
I stood frozen, disgusted.
“The first time we talked, you made me laugh. I…” His eyes lowered. “I hadn’t done that since, well, I couldn’t even remember. Everything, all my plotting, I just…” His fingertip grazed mine and electrical warmth swam into my veins. He seized my hand. “We met every day after school. It was innocent. We’d catch butterflies, or swing at the park, or just talk. You showed me how to live, how to really live.” He brushed my hair behind my ear. “You gave me a reason to live.”
The rest of the hop is HERE.________________________________________________________
I'm STOKED to help reveal the cover for this wonderful New Adult novel by Kitsy Clare*:
Nice, right?
For Sienna, love and art are perilous games. Is she ready to take that gamble?
Sienna is a beautiful, talented artist poised on the precipice of soaring into the glamorous, yet cutthroat Manhattan art scene.
Dave Hightower is a hooked-up, handsome heir to the hippest gallery in NYC, Gallery Hightower.
Erik is the live drawing model with his sizzling green eyes fixed only on Sienna.
Three’s a crowd, so Sienna must make a choice: date Dave and ride the fast track to landing a show at Gallery Hightower and hobnobbing with the art glitterati, or follow her heart and take a chance with Erik, the stunning male model who’s stealing her heart. But Erik has some worrisome secrets, and who in their right mind would make live modeling their career?
Dare Sienna throw away her chances of hitting it big to follow her heart?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
When Kitsy Clare isn’t creating stories on her favorite Mac Air, she teaches speculative fiction and creative writing workshops. She also loves to draw, travel, read spicy romance, sci-fi and all kinds of thrillers. She divides her time between New York City and her studio in the Catskills, where she enjoys the sounds of birds, bullfrogs and the random coyote.
*Kitsy Clare is the pen name for her new adult romance. She also writes young adult fiction using her real name, Catherine Stine. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted an Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Ruby’s Fire, the new companion novel to Fireseed One, is receiving high praise from reviewers. She’s a member of SFWA, SCBWI and CBIG. She can be found on www.catherinestine.com, www.catherinestine.blogspot.com, and https://twitter.com/crossoverwriter________________________________________________________AND LASTLY, it's not too late to join the
Meet my AMAZING co-hosts: Pk Hrezo, Tammy Theriault, and Michael Di Gesu.
If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? Come tell us February 10th! Sign up below. Be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party!
What have you learned about blog tours?
January 15, 2014
Cheesiest Post of 2014
You love cheese, right?
My posting schedule has changed. I'm only posting Wednesdays (with minor exceptions) until further notice, so my Motivational Mondays and Funny Fridays are going to appear every other week at the head of these posts. That said, who's ready to laugh?
You've probably seen this floating about, but I must have created it in my sleep. That, or my spiritual twin accessed her/his prowess and channeled our collective genius into a single statement.
Yup. Epic, right? Want some more?
Source
If your cheese meter hasn't been filled yet, how about a giveaway?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week ago Julie Flanders shared two truths and one lie about herself and those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win The Ghosts of Aquinnah.
The options were:
1. While work as a psychiatric social worker, helping with assessments for the county jail, she was nearly strangled by an inmate who was having a psychotic episode.2. She was in drama club as a teen and loved performing in plays and musicals. 3. Julie desperately hates pie and can’t understand why anyone would choose it for dessert.
And the lie is:
#2. Yeah, no drama club for Julie. Sorry, folks. As much as you don't want it to be true, Julie is a pie hater.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Alex J. Cavanaugh!
Congrats, Alex!
Today I'm super stoked because I get to unveil Cathrina Constantine's NEW book cover. Say hello to Tallas!
In a decimated world, setting foot outside the protected village of Tallas is certain death—or so they say. Mutations caused by those in the wilderness have plagued Tallas’s citizens—or so they say…
For Doogan and Keeyla their belief in a Free Tallas has lost its glimmer. And when their young son, Fabal, is given a very dangerous assignment, they risk everything to protect him. Fleeing Tallas, they head for the wilderness. But when they are ambushed by cruel Mediators, Doogan is recaptured, and while Keeyla and Fabal escape, she is severely injured.
Can the two of them survive in the wilderness? Will Doogan getaway from the clutches of the Mediators? And are the terrible legends about the monsters beyond the walls of Tallas true?
Mark your calendars folks, because this one will be up on Amazon February 1st!!!
Super cool, right? I love the color scheme, and the blurb? *drooling* And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
Cathrina Constantine, the author of Wickedly They Come and Tallas, resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers and two cats. Constantine is represented by The Belcastro Literary Agency. When not with her family, baking, crafting, reading, or stationed at the computer writing, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her dogs, conjuring up a new tale.
Her favorite cheese if Yancey's Horseradish. (It's kinda spicy hot and sweet rolled into one.) You might stumble across her eating it while watching a good movie.
Cathrina gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win Tallas in eBook. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 21, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 22nd.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Cathrina danced on a Vegas stage.2. A horse fell on top of her when she was 16.3. When an icy snowball hit her mouth, she needed 3 stitches.
And now, enter to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest and celebrate something wonderful with my cohosts and I. Details HERE.
Okay, what is the lie? What's the best cheese joke you've ever heard? Did you get enough cheese?
My posting schedule has changed. I'm only posting Wednesdays (with minor exceptions) until further notice, so my Motivational Mondays and Funny Fridays are going to appear every other week at the head of these posts. That said, who's ready to laugh?
You've probably seen this floating about, but I must have created it in my sleep. That, or my spiritual twin accessed her/his prowess and channeled our collective genius into a single statement.
Yup. Epic, right? Want some more?
Source
If your cheese meter hasn't been filled yet, how about a giveaway?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week ago Julie Flanders shared two truths and one lie about herself and those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win The Ghosts of Aquinnah.
The options were:
1. While work as a psychiatric social worker, helping with assessments for the county jail, she was nearly strangled by an inmate who was having a psychotic episode.2. She was in drama club as a teen and loved performing in plays and musicals. 3. Julie desperately hates pie and can’t understand why anyone would choose it for dessert.And the lie is:
#2. Yeah, no drama club for Julie. Sorry, folks. As much as you don't want it to be true, Julie is a pie hater.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Alex J. Cavanaugh!
Congrats, Alex!
Today I'm super stoked because I get to unveil Cathrina Constantine's NEW book cover. Say hello to Tallas!
In a decimated world, setting foot outside the protected village of Tallas is certain death—or so they say. Mutations caused by those in the wilderness have plagued Tallas’s citizens—or so they say… For Doogan and Keeyla their belief in a Free Tallas has lost its glimmer. And when their young son, Fabal, is given a very dangerous assignment, they risk everything to protect him. Fleeing Tallas, they head for the wilderness. But when they are ambushed by cruel Mediators, Doogan is recaptured, and while Keeyla and Fabal escape, she is severely injured.
Can the two of them survive in the wilderness? Will Doogan getaway from the clutches of the Mediators? And are the terrible legends about the monsters beyond the walls of Tallas true?
Mark your calendars folks, because this one will be up on Amazon February 1st!!!
Super cool, right? I love the color scheme, and the blurb? *drooling* And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
Cathrina Constantine, the author of Wickedly They Come and Tallas, resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers and two cats. Constantine is represented by The Belcastro Literary Agency. When not with her family, baking, crafting, reading, or stationed at the computer writing, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her dogs, conjuring up a new tale. Her favorite cheese if Yancey's Horseradish. (It's kinda spicy hot and sweet rolled into one.) You might stumble across her eating it while watching a good movie.
Cathrina gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win Tallas in eBook. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 21, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 22nd.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Cathrina danced on a Vegas stage.2. A horse fell on top of her when she was 16.3. When an icy snowball hit her mouth, she needed 3 stitches.
And now, enter to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest and celebrate something wonderful with my cohosts and I. Details HERE.
Okay, what is the lie? What's the best cheese joke you've ever heard? Did you get enough cheese?
January 8, 2014
Can We Get Any More Awesome in this Room? IWSG, Writerly Wednesday, and a Blogfest
You don't have to be crazy to get how stoked I am about everything that's happened lately. It's humbling and oh so amazing. There are people, REAL people, who like my book and email me about the sequel, and beg me to make it as awesome as the first, and who write reviews and rave on their blogs or facebook (without me even asking!!!), and squee every time I post a writing update...As amazing as this trip is, it leaves me with one HUGE worry. If this book is that good, am I sufficient enough to market it, or am I squashing it before it gets out the door for lack of a larger marketing team?
Don't get me wrong, I love my publisher. (Like the bleeding-heart kind of soul-mate love.) Before launch, we made a very clear plan that we'd wait until the first series and serial story were published and then make a HUGE campaign push (we're talking EPIC here), but I worry that putting off the push is shooting myself in the foot. Still, I don't have the time or energy to do it all, darn perfectionist that I am.
Whatever happens, I'm in for the ride -- or better yet, I'm driving and wondering if someone else should have been put in charge of this crazy train. Teeth rattling, I'm hitting every bump and unsure of the road ahead. Where is my crystal ball?
Enough of that. Who's ready to win a book and test your lie detection skills?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
A few weeks ago Rachel Morgan shared two truths and one lie about herself and those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win a book of their choice from her Creepy Hollow series.
The options were:
1. Rachel has read every Harry Potter book at least 8 times.
2. When she was little, she had an imaginary friend who was sometimes a boy and sometimes a girl.
3. To relieve exam stress, Rachel and her high school girlfriends used to hit the middle of the school field and scream.
And the lie is:
#1. As much as we all want it to be true, Rachel is not quite that much of a Harry Potter fan.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Linda!
Congrats, Linda!
And now for this week's special feature! I'm so excited to share Julie Flanders and her amazing new release with you!
A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick.
By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.
Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.
She shakes her head.
For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul. Why? ... Who is she? ...
Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry.
What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?
Hannah finds out.
But, it’s not at all what she expects...
Hannah unravels a century old murder.
This one is at the top of my TBR list, precariously teetering over the edge. You can buy it HERE. Ready to meet Julie?
Julie Flanders is a novelist and freelance writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a life-long love affair with the ocean and has spent more summer vacations than she can count on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. When not writing, Julie can be found playing with her pets, reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams and watching too much television. The Ghosts of Aquinnah is Julie’s second novel. Her debut novel Polar Night was released in February, 2013 by Ink Smith Publishing.The Ghosts of Aquinnah was released on December 5, 2013 by Ink Smith Publishing. It is available in both paperback and ebook formats. For more information, including purchase links, please visit Julie’s website here.
You might stumble across her munching on Muenster pretty much anywhere. (A cheese after my own heart.)
Julie gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win her eBook. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 14th at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 15th.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. While work as a psychiatric social worker, helping with assessments for the county jail, she was nearly strangled by an inmate who was having a psychotic episode.2. She was in drama club as a teen and loved performing in plays and musicals. 3. Julie desperately hates pie and can’t understand why anyone would choose it for dessert.
And if that wasn't enough awesomeness, check this out!
My very first blogfest! Meet my AMAZING co-hosts: Pk Hrezo, Tammy Theriault, and Michael Di Gesu. Is this a party, or what?
In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.
Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.
So here's where you come in: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? That's what I want to know on February 10th, so think about it, sign up on my linky list, and make sure to include the hop image in your post.
Oh, and be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party! Yay! I can't wait to hear all about your dream matches!
P.S. If you're a coffee drinker, you have to get over the Michael's blog, now!
Okay, which is the lie? Have you signed up for my ROCKIN blogfest? (And if not, are you crazy?!?) What marketing worries do you have or have you overcome? Have you read Julie's super amazing book? Have you read any truly amazing books recently?
January 6, 2014
Haunted by Susan Oloier
Do you ever bother writing book reviews for books you love?
I didn't used to -- until I learned how TRULY vital and heart-warming they are for authors. It's like anything else in life, a kind word goes a long way for both the speaker and the hearer. The more generous we are by nature, the better the world around us becomes. Period.
That said, I don't typically share reviews here for books I love, but you're going to see a few coming up on my blog -- not because I'm becoming a book blogger -- but because I've read some amazing ones lately that were penned, er, typed by people I know! And they deserve to be spotlighted because writing an amazing book is STINKIN' HARD WORK!
So today I'm sharing:
Seventeen-year-old Hailey Steele killed her boyfriend in a car wreck, which fills her with guilt and self-loathing. So when Eli Carter enters her life, Hailey persistently denies her attraction and developing feelings for him. It’s wrong to like someone else when your boyfriend is dead. It’s easier to cope in other ways, like changing schools and using alcohol.
Meanwhile, Jeremy McClure—not realizing he’s dead—waits in the cemetery for his girlfriend to arrive. He’s certain they agreed to meet. Why else would he be here? The last time Jeremy saw Hailey, they were cruising home on a dark and rain-slicked road after an underage party. What he doesn’t expect is an encounter with someone else.
Eli Carter has a jaded past. His junior year was full of skeletons, and his closet thrown wide open for the entire high school to see. But he manned up, and still got burned. With new girl Hailey, Eli has the chance for a fresh start, someone who knows nothing about his past. That is, if she’ll ever give him the time of day.
Buy on Amazon
My Twenty Cents:
Writing that Makes My Toes Curl
Hailey is a star in her own right, and to see her topple from having it all to questioning whether she deserves to be loved, well it broke my heart -- but how often do we get sucked into a downward spiral and can't see past our own misery? Eli is rock awesome. He's been through his own crazy trauma and has determined to forgo women altogether...until cute, tortured Hailey walks by.
I knew when I picked up this book I was asking for an emotional roller coaster, but I didn't anticipate how much I would identify with the feelings of guilt and self depreciation. It really got me thinking about how I sometimes carry more weight than is necessary. I repeat, it got me thinking. Above and beyond that, reading Susan's words was like eating literary candy. Sweet imagery, so poetic, luscious prose.
I had to stay up until 3 in the morning to make sure these two would resolve their issues, and I enjoyed every moment. A beautiful story, tasty prose, and a plot that leaves you pondering in self reflection? What more could you ask for in a book?
Do you like contemporary stories? Is there a book out there you've read, loved and should get off your lazy keester and probably (DEFINITELY) review? What is it about a story that really grabs you?
Speaking of reviews... I woke up to THIS on Saturday. (Titled, "Not at All What I Expected.")
OH YEAH, and sign up for my SUPER STELLAR AND OH SO FUN Blogfest, eh? (DO IT NOW!!!) I promise there will be cheese.
I didn't used to -- until I learned how TRULY vital and heart-warming they are for authors. It's like anything else in life, a kind word goes a long way for both the speaker and the hearer. The more generous we are by nature, the better the world around us becomes. Period.
That said, I don't typically share reviews here for books I love, but you're going to see a few coming up on my blog -- not because I'm becoming a book blogger -- but because I've read some amazing ones lately that were penned, er, typed by people I know! And they deserve to be spotlighted because writing an amazing book is STINKIN' HARD WORK!
So today I'm sharing:
Seventeen-year-old Hailey Steele killed her boyfriend in a car wreck, which fills her with guilt and self-loathing. So when Eli Carter enters her life, Hailey persistently denies her attraction and developing feelings for him. It’s wrong to like someone else when your boyfriend is dead. It’s easier to cope in other ways, like changing schools and using alcohol.
Meanwhile, Jeremy McClure—not realizing he’s dead—waits in the cemetery for his girlfriend to arrive. He’s certain they agreed to meet. Why else would he be here? The last time Jeremy saw Hailey, they were cruising home on a dark and rain-slicked road after an underage party. What he doesn’t expect is an encounter with someone else.
Eli Carter has a jaded past. His junior year was full of skeletons, and his closet thrown wide open for the entire high school to see. But he manned up, and still got burned. With new girl Hailey, Eli has the chance for a fresh start, someone who knows nothing about his past. That is, if she’ll ever give him the time of day.
Buy on Amazon
My Twenty Cents:
Writing that Makes My Toes Curl
Hailey is a star in her own right, and to see her topple from having it all to questioning whether she deserves to be loved, well it broke my heart -- but how often do we get sucked into a downward spiral and can't see past our own misery? Eli is rock awesome. He's been through his own crazy trauma and has determined to forgo women altogether...until cute, tortured Hailey walks by.
I knew when I picked up this book I was asking for an emotional roller coaster, but I didn't anticipate how much I would identify with the feelings of guilt and self depreciation. It really got me thinking about how I sometimes carry more weight than is necessary. I repeat, it got me thinking. Above and beyond that, reading Susan's words was like eating literary candy. Sweet imagery, so poetic, luscious prose.
I had to stay up until 3 in the morning to make sure these two would resolve their issues, and I enjoyed every moment. A beautiful story, tasty prose, and a plot that leaves you pondering in self reflection? What more could you ask for in a book?
Do you like contemporary stories? Is there a book out there you've read, loved and should get off your lazy keester and probably (DEFINITELY) review? What is it about a story that really grabs you?
Speaking of reviews... I woke up to THIS on Saturday. (Titled, "Not at All What I Expected.")
OH YEAH, and sign up for my SUPER STELLAR AND OH SO FUN Blogfest, eh? (DO IT NOW!!!) I promise there will be cheese.
January 3, 2014
Pirates Don't Do Sparkles
Or maybe they do...
Friendlies!
I know I said my Fridays were done, and so are my Mondays, but I COULDN'T RESIST!!!! I've been aching to shout about Ashley Nixon's upcoming release for a while now, and well, it's official. She'll be in print April, 2014! Yay!
So have you seen this stunning cover?
It sets my imagination on fire! (Especially the sparkles) And the blurb...
Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father. So kidnapping his enemy's fiancé seems a perfect plan…until he actually does it.
Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiancé to a powerful man. Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard.
But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task—to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought only to exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy. Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren’s own mother and Larkin’s, too. As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren’s quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.
Ready for some shameless (and really stupid) pirate jokes?
Yeah, I know, they were bad, but they were chocked full of CHEESE. =)
Anyhow, a quick reminder, sign up for my PHYSICAL book release blogfest HERE (DO IT NOW!!!) and in the spirit of rebellion, I'll be reviewing my good friend, Susan Oloier's newest release on Monday. But after that, it's Wednesdays only, I swear! (Okay, maybe I don't because I don't swear, but I do solemnly vow...uh...to not break my expected new schedule...much.)
What's the best pirate joke you've ever heard? Have you read any pirate books you enjoyed?
Friendlies!
I know I said my Fridays were done, and so are my Mondays, but I COULDN'T RESIST!!!! I've been aching to shout about Ashley Nixon's upcoming release for a while now, and well, it's official. She'll be in print April, 2014! Yay!
So have you seen this stunning cover?
It sets my imagination on fire! (Especially the sparkles) And the blurb...
Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father. So kidnapping his enemy's fiancé seems a perfect plan…until he actually does it.
Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiancé to a powerful man. Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard.
But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task—to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought only to exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy. Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren’s own mother and Larkin’s, too. As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren’s quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.
Ready for some shameless (and really stupid) pirate jokes?
Yeah, I know, they were bad, but they were chocked full of CHEESE. =)
Anyhow, a quick reminder, sign up for my PHYSICAL book release blogfest HERE (DO IT NOW!!!) and in the spirit of rebellion, I'll be reviewing my good friend, Susan Oloier's newest release on Monday. But after that, it's Wednesdays only, I swear! (Okay, maybe I don't because I don't swear, but I do solemnly vow...uh...to not break my expected new schedule...much.)
What's the best pirate joke you've ever heard? Have you read any pirate books you enjoyed?
January 1, 2014
Excitement and Cheese!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!(Lets celebrate.)And my favorite way to celebrate is with a new book.
Do you love the feel of paper books? I do. I love curling up with one in bed and diving into the world of imagination. Old books especially get me excited. Pens, pencils and notebooks...well I regularly get lost in the stationary aisle.
BUT, I love digital books most. They can go anywhere. I don't have to worry about bookmarks or my littles tearing/smudging the pages on accident--OR losing my book. (Which happens ALL THE TIME because we have TOO many "helping" hands around.)
That said, the time has come.
Moonless is going to be released as a physical book!
This is pretty much me, but with cheese.
So now I'm looking for a little help getting the word out and will be hosting the...
My very first blogfest!
In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.
Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.
So here's where you come in: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? That's what I want to know on February 10th, so think about it, sign up on my linky list, and make sure to include the hop image in your post.
Oh, and be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party! Yay! I can't wait to hear all about your dream matches!
P.S. Come back next week to learn who won Rachel Morgan's Writerly Wednesday Truth or Lie game.
P.P.S. If you missed it, Kate Scott twisted my arm into telling a childhood story, and here's another fun hop featuring CLEAN reads--and guess what? Mary chose to feature Moonless! Yay! Oh yeah, and I just found out I made Robyn's TOP FIVE READS for the year. *gulp* I'm blushing. Seriously blushing.
Do you love the feel of paper books? I do. I love curling up with one in bed and diving into the world of imagination. Old books especially get me excited. Pens, pencils and notebooks...well I regularly get lost in the stationary aisle.
BUT, I love digital books most. They can go anywhere. I don't have to worry about bookmarks or my littles tearing/smudging the pages on accident--OR losing my book. (Which happens ALL THE TIME because we have TOO many "helping" hands around.)
That said, the time has come.
Moonless is going to be released as a physical book!
This is pretty much me, but with cheese.
So now I'm looking for a little help getting the word out and will be hosting the...
My very first blogfest!
In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.
Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.
So here's where you come in: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? That's what I want to know on February 10th, so think about it, sign up on my linky list, and make sure to include the hop image in your post.
Oh, and be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party! Yay! I can't wait to hear all about your dream matches!
P.S. Come back next week to learn who won Rachel Morgan's Writerly Wednesday Truth or Lie game.
P.P.S. If you missed it, Kate Scott twisted my arm into telling a childhood story, and here's another fun hop featuring CLEAN reads--and guess what? Mary chose to feature Moonless! Yay! Oh yeah, and I just found out I made Robyn's TOP FIVE READS for the year. *gulp* I'm blushing. Seriously blushing.
December 23, 2013
Merry Christmas, Here's a Gift
You know how sometimes you hear music that resonates with your soul? I'm super picky as a composer. In order for something to hit me on a base level, it has to be TRULY inspired--the entire entity: lyrics, melody, musicianship, balance etc. Well, this one gets me on a core level. It's perfect. On top of that, the video compliments the message. Here's a little piece of heaven to wish you the best Christmas ever.
Did you notice the free download?
Did you notice the free download?
December 20, 2013
FUN Friday: The Labyrinth Challenge
The Labyrinth Challenge!
Welcome to The Labyrinth Challenge! This is a cover reveal event celebrating Young Adult Author Emilyann Girdner’s upcoming book, The Labyrinth Wall. What’s the big challenge? It’s to hop around to all sites participating in the event (site links are listed at the bottom of this post) and count how many character quotes are from the main character, Araina. Circle back to Anything Imagined and comment saying how many Araina quotes were posted during the hop. Emilyann will wait to randomly select a winner from the comments on December 23rd at noon (Eastern Standard time). The winner will receive a $15 electronic Starbucks giftcard (just in time for the holidays).
The Labyrinth Wall Character Quote:
“Darkness and decay are nothing new in this world, which is why there’s always a better place to go in my imagination.” ~Araina
Without further delay, let’s kick off the book cover reveal and learn more about The Labyrinth Wall…
The Labyrinth Wall(Obsidian Series, Book1)Young Adult Fantasy Novel
By: Emilyann Girdner
The tale of a young woman who discovers that although labyrinth walls confine her and her enemies try to repress her, the power of hope can set her free…
Araina’s isolated teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man emerge through a rippling wall into the dark labyrinth she calls home. As a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s Creators have unleashed a series of magical attacks using the labyrinth against its inhabitants. Now Araina must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to reach safety on the other side of the labyrinth wall.
Release Date:
Ebook: January 2nd 2014 - Amazon (Free download Jan 2nd - 6th2014)Paperback: January through Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Excerpt: (Find a different excerpt at each blog participating in this event)
I glance around at the large crowd. Like tiny pebbles that gather at a river bank, we coat the barren landscape sweeping out in front of the castle, only to be dissected at its edges by the openings of labyrinth passageways. The dark cylindrical fortress stretches far above us like a snake looming over its prey; Simul’s words the venom it sprays. We’re all enemies to each other by the Creators’ design, competing for food that only comes to us at the Creators’ mercy.
And even more fun: can you help Araina escape the labyrinth…
To subscribe for more updates, play games, and grab goodies (some are FREE), visit
www.thelabyrinthwall.com
!
Don’t forget to hop around to all the participating sites, count Araina’s quotes and comment how many you found on Anything Imagined (Emilyann’s website) for a chance to win that $15 Starbucks giftcard J
The Labyrinth Challenge Sites:
Want to participate in the The Labyrinth Wall Monster Party Book Release Event? Sign up here.
A quick heads up, I'm being featured today over at The Cover Contessa. Haven't been convinced to read Moonless yet? Well Crystal (a different Crystal) thinks you should.
Welcome to The Labyrinth Challenge! This is a cover reveal event celebrating Young Adult Author Emilyann Girdner’s upcoming book, The Labyrinth Wall. What’s the big challenge? It’s to hop around to all sites participating in the event (site links are listed at the bottom of this post) and count how many character quotes are from the main character, Araina. Circle back to Anything Imagined and comment saying how many Araina quotes were posted during the hop. Emilyann will wait to randomly select a winner from the comments on December 23rd at noon (Eastern Standard time). The winner will receive a $15 electronic Starbucks giftcard (just in time for the holidays). The Labyrinth Wall Character Quote:
“Darkness and decay are nothing new in this world, which is why there’s always a better place to go in my imagination.” ~Araina
Without further delay, let’s kick off the book cover reveal and learn more about The Labyrinth Wall…
The Labyrinth Wall(Obsidian Series, Book1)Young Adult Fantasy Novel
By: Emilyann Girdner
The tale of a young woman who discovers that although labyrinth walls confine her and her enemies try to repress her, the power of hope can set her free…
Araina’s isolated teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man emerge through a rippling wall into the dark labyrinth she calls home. As a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s Creators have unleashed a series of magical attacks using the labyrinth against its inhabitants. Now Araina must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to reach safety on the other side of the labyrinth wall.
Release Date:
Ebook: January 2nd 2014 - Amazon (Free download Jan 2nd - 6th2014)Paperback: January through Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Excerpt: (Find a different excerpt at each blog participating in this event)
I glance around at the large crowd. Like tiny pebbles that gather at a river bank, we coat the barren landscape sweeping out in front of the castle, only to be dissected at its edges by the openings of labyrinth passageways. The dark cylindrical fortress stretches far above us like a snake looming over its prey; Simul’s words the venom it sprays. We’re all enemies to each other by the Creators’ design, competing for food that only comes to us at the Creators’ mercy.
And even more fun: can you help Araina escape the labyrinth…
To subscribe for more updates, play games, and grab goodies (some are FREE), visit
www.thelabyrinthwall.com
!Don’t forget to hop around to all the participating sites, count Araina’s quotes and comment how many you found on Anything Imagined (Emilyann’s website) for a chance to win that $15 Starbucks giftcard J
The Labyrinth Challenge Sites:
Want to participate in the The Labyrinth Wall Monster Party Book Release Event? Sign up here.
A quick heads up, I'm being featured today over at The Cover Contessa. Haven't been convinced to read Moonless yet? Well Crystal (a different Crystal) thinks you should.
December 18, 2013
Announcement...and Writerly Wednesday
It's been coming for a while. And I knew it, too.
*sigh*
Image courtesy of Regine Debatty.You know the blogosphere is my favorite place to hang, right? I mean, other than my house, but since I can kind of hang out both places at the same time...wait, does that make me a trans-dimensional traveler? A split soul? Existing in two realms at once? *tapping finger to chin*
Ahem. Back on topic, I have a new schedule for the new year. I love you all and I'm going to be around a couple times a week to visit my bloggies, but for the time being I have to amend my weekly posting schedule to Wednesdays only. Writerly Wednesdays will continue, and I'll occasionally post off schedule *gasp* but my Funny Fridays/Motivational Mondays will all be squished into the same post as the weekly truth or lie game and giveaway. Can you handle all that awesomeness in a single day?
ALSO, Christmas is coming, and I'm giving away a special gift to everyone who signs up for my newsletter by Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. EDT. (Check out the form on the sidebar or bottom of this post.)
On to the fun of the day, eh?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
This week I'm excited to share with you not one, but three books! You read right. Rachel Morgan has been a bloggy buddy for, oh, five years or so, and I've read and love her work. Recently she's donned all new covers for her amazing series. Check it out:
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.
Get your copies HERE.
Ready to meet Rachel?
Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa where she spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends most of her time creating fictional worlds for young adults. When she isn't writing, she's reading (duh!), catching up on addictive TV series, and baking things that almost always include chocolate.
Ideally, you might find Rachel on a wine estate somewhere in the Cape, eating Brie with fig preserve.
She gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win a copy of one of her books--your choice! Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, December 24th at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on December 26th to see if you won.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Rachel has read every Harry Potter book at least 8 times.
2. When she was little, she had an imaginary friend who was sometimes a boy and sometimes a girl.
3. To relieve exam stress, Rachel and her high school girlfriends used to hit the middle of the school field and scream.
Okay, which is the lie? And are you a dual dimension dweller? Have you signed up for my newsletter? What brand of cheese will you be eating this Christmas?
Oh, and be sure to stop back Friday for a really cool game provided by Emilyann Girdner.
*sigh*
Image courtesy of Regine Debatty.You know the blogosphere is my favorite place to hang, right? I mean, other than my house, but since I can kind of hang out both places at the same time...wait, does that make me a trans-dimensional traveler? A split soul? Existing in two realms at once? *tapping finger to chin*Ahem. Back on topic, I have a new schedule for the new year. I love you all and I'm going to be around a couple times a week to visit my bloggies, but for the time being I have to amend my weekly posting schedule to Wednesdays only. Writerly Wednesdays will continue, and I'll occasionally post off schedule *gasp* but my Funny Fridays/Motivational Mondays will all be squished into the same post as the weekly truth or lie game and giveaway. Can you handle all that awesomeness in a single day?
ALSO, Christmas is coming, and I'm giving away a special gift to everyone who signs up for my newsletter by Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. EDT. (Check out the form on the sidebar or bottom of this post.)
On to the fun of the day, eh?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
This week I'm excited to share with you not one, but three books! You read right. Rachel Morgan has been a bloggy buddy for, oh, five years or so, and I've read and love her work. Recently she's donned all new covers for her amazing series. Check it out:
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.
Get your copies HERE.
Ready to meet Rachel?
Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa where she spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends most of her time creating fictional worlds for young adults. When she isn't writing, she's reading (duh!), catching up on addictive TV series, and baking things that almost always include chocolate.Ideally, you might find Rachel on a wine estate somewhere in the Cape, eating Brie with fig preserve.
She gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win a copy of one of her books--your choice! Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, December 24th at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on December 26th to see if you won.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Rachel has read every Harry Potter book at least 8 times.
2. When she was little, she had an imaginary friend who was sometimes a boy and sometimes a girl.
3. To relieve exam stress, Rachel and her high school girlfriends used to hit the middle of the school field and scream.
Okay, which is the lie? And are you a dual dimension dweller? Have you signed up for my newsletter? What brand of cheese will you be eating this Christmas?
Oh, and be sure to stop back Friday for a really cool game provided by Emilyann Girdner.
December 16, 2013
Saying Goodbye
You know that sense of loss? --It's not quite a death, but it feels similar.We said goodbye to some friends yesterday whom I'm really going to miss. They're moving out west for a wonderful job, and while I'm so happy for them, I'm really sad for me.
That sounds selfish, right?
My husband and I have moved way too many times--like once a year for first 13 years worth of marriage. Granted, there were stints where we lived in the same place for 3 or more years, but it was always easy to move: the excitement of a new adventure, the thrill of the next place...
Until we moved to Florida. We stayed in the same house for three years, and so many of our good friends (the kind who may as well be family) moved away and left us behind.
Ouch.
The first one, we survived. We even recovered okay.
The second one hurt more.
That's it, I'm done.The third time was like opening an old wound with a cheese grater.The fourth time I held my bleeding heart, hugged my husband, and confessed I didn't think I could do it again. I was done making CLOSE friends just to lose them.
I once heard a wise man say, pain is a symptom of healing. If you're aching, you are growing. You're making progress toward recovery. It's when you stop feeling that you should be concerned.
That's comforting to me. Whether it's a separation from loved ones, or the aches of physical discomfort, experiencing pain means you are living to your fullest. The worst thing we can do is stop living, stop investing, stop trying.
We've since purchased a house and anticipate being quite stable, but saying goodbye to my friends was a reminder of how much I have and haven't opened my heart after these experiences. My wounds are still raw, but I'm trying.
It's times like this I'm especially grateful for this amazing network of global friends. No matter how far we live from one another, we're just a mouse click away. I love you peoples!
What are you especially grateful for today? Have you had a similar experience?
