Sage Nestler's Blog, page 55

Publishing Tip: Marketing Yourself

Happy Friday, Loves!

I thought today would be a fantastic day to start a series of blog posts about how to market yourself as a self-published author.  As many of you know, self-publishing ALONE is extremely difficult, and marketing is just a cherry on top of that cake – an expensive cherry.  But I have some great news for you!  MARKETING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE.  In fact, it can be free and quite simple.  All you have to do is know where to go for help, and I am here to bring you the ideas and resources that you need.

1) Blog Posts/Starting Your Own Blog

Do you have a blog?  If not, I highly suggest starting one.  It will help you connect to readers and other writers, and it will help you market yourself.  But if you don’t have a blog and you still want blog exposure, then don’t fear!  I am here to help you.

Blog exposure is particularly helpful when it comes to starting excitement for your novel.  One great way to market your novel before it even releases is to create a set of “teasers” that can be shared on blogs, generally one each week before your book releases.  Teasers are generally a picture that features the cover of your novel, or the title and your author name, and a few lines from your novel to grab the reader’s attention.  A good example of this is:

You can generally hire someone to do this for you, but it is not necessary.  One super easy way to make a teaser is to use the basic paint feature on your computer so that you can type of the picture and add your cover or author name and title.  I personally use Gimp which is a free photoshop-esque software that lets you create your own graphics.  Gimp can be downloaded here.

Next is actually finding bloggers who would want to share your teasers and book information for you.  Well, fortunately for you I am a blogger with Brain to Books, a website of authors who help other authors with their writing to help them gain exposure.  Through this website you can request a blog tour and all of our bloggers have the option of choosing to be a part of your tour.  This is extremely helpful, because this gives you the chance to reach out to many bloggers and have your work featured on multiple websites.  What will happen is that if your tour is approved, Angela B. Chrysler, the owner of Brain to Books, will email all bloggers with your information and they can then email you if they are interested in partaking.

2) Using social media to your advantage

Social media, social media, social media!  It is so extremely important.  Right now, the hottest form of social media is Instagram, and the bookish community on Instagram is HUGE!  That being said, you need to create an Instagram account if you want to have a very active presence as an author.  Through Instagram you can post photos that relate to your novel, and you can even post the teasers that you create!  This is also a great avenue for you to gain reviewers through those who are interested in your novel.  The best way to make Instagram successful is to post once a day so your followers don’t lost interest.

3) Make sure your cover is eye catching

This may seem shallow, but let’s be honest.  Readers will, many times, turn away from a novel if they don’t like the cover.  It doesn’t matter how great your story is, the cover is the first impression.  If you plan on posting on Instagram and trying to get bloggers interested in you, then you need an eye catching novel that people won’t just look away from.  The best way to find a great cover is Self Pub Book Covers, but if you can’t afford a cover and are making your own, PLEASE make sure that it is professional looking and that the image resolution is high enough that it won’t come out blurry.  Take a stroll through your own library to get an idea of which covers really catch the eye, and go from there.

I hope that these first three tips will help you to get started on your marketing endeavor and that they don’t overwhelm you too much!  If you are still confused and concerned, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for help: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

I will be posting more marketing tips in the coming week, but these are the best tips to get started on.  I want all of you to be successful, and please know that I am always here for you!

Much love,

Ashley

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Soulbound by Christen Stovall

Title: Soulbound

Author: Christen Stovall

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Living in the quaint farming village of Brittendell offered a simple life of home and family. When Aislynn, the daughter of a local farmer, and Rorin, the son of a wealthy horse trader, married, another charming love story enlivened the tranquil town. Aislynn and Rorin were profoundly connected, but their relationship came to a screeching halt when Rorin was killed in a tragic accident. Their bond sends Aislynn into a spiraling depression as she continues sensing Rorin’s presence. Soon, Aislynn finds herself thrust into a dangerous world of magic filled with hobgoblins, elves, and wizards. When Aislynn is captured by the future king of Venallis and forced to help him uncover a mysterious magical artifact she discovers that fate has far greater plans for her than she ever imagined. Perhaps death is not always the end.

Review:

Christen Stovall is quite literally my writing soulmate.  While reading Soulbound I found so many similarities between her ideas and writing style when compared to my own writing in my novel Into The Fog.  She explores life and death, and how death might not always be the end, while also exploring the human psych and how humans grasp death and life beyond.

Soulbound is a heartbreaking novel.  I felt so connected to Aislynn and her pain from losing her mate, Rorin.  Stovall portrayed Aislynn’s pain so that it flew off of the page and penetrated the reader’s heart, only to drag them back into the story.  I couldn’t put down this heartbreaking and mystifying novel, and I immediately knew upon completing it that I wanted to read the rest of the series.

Stovall knew how to incorporate realistic life matters with fantasy elements, and at no point did I find the story far – fetched.  Many times depression and tragedy can transform a person’s life, and that is all that happened to Aislynn.  Her mate’s death opened up a door for her to understand more about life and the magic that lies within, and I could sense her growing throughout the novel.

I sincerely look forward to read more work by this author, and I am so honored to have come across her work.  If you are interested in the paranormal and the magic that lies within daily life, then this book would be a perfect read for you.  By all means, go out now and pick it up.

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Midnight Sky Spotlight – Amy Braun

The second novel in an epic steampunk horror series, MIDNIGHT SKY is the sequel to CRIMSON SKY, where secrets buried in the past are uncovered, and choices are made that will affect not only the lives of desperate characters, but of their world as a whole…

Buy it here:

 

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

MIDNIGHT SKY continues its journey in Westraven, following the aftermath of the Behemoth’s destruction and the freeing of its citizens after a decade of oppression and terror. Though the skies and streets of Westraven have been cleared of any bloodthirsty Hellions, young engineer Claire Abernathy and the crew of the Dauntless Wanderer have their hands full. They’ve been unable to find the location of the ship Claire’s parents used to locate the Breach– the tear between worlds that brought the Hellions and their horrors into the once glorious trade city– which could prove vital to sealing the Breach and locking the Hellions away for good. When Claire’s younger sister Abby suddenly becomes violently ill, Claire begins her expedition to uncover the true story of how the Breach was opened. She hopes to find a solution that will close the Breach forever, but she begins to uncover truths about those she trusts which could force her to make a sacrifice that will cost her everything she loves.

MIDNIGHT SKY was probably the most challenging novel in the series to write. Sequels need to carry the events of the first story and act as the gateway to the grand finale. I wanted this story to have a dramatic end, but I needed events to carry the story and close certain questions. I was excited to delve back into the world of Westraven and add new history to the story. I decided to focus on the backstories of Claire’s parents, since their actions are crucial to the series and the story as a whole.

 

The map I sketched of Westraven became more detailed, and I think my favorite setting to write in this story was the Barren, a haunting, once militarized portion of Westraven that holds history for more than one member of the Dauntless crew. World-building is one of my favorite things to write about, and I was excited to jump back into Westraven and expand its setting.

 

Another exciting element was the love triangle between Claire, Sawyer, and Riley. I’d always planned for a rocky relationship between Claire and Sawyer, given their strong wills and butting-heads, but I’ve never written a love triangle. Riley was a late addition to the DARK SKY universe, and I was so glad to include him. His story is a complex, terrifying one, and since he seeks Claire’s affection, it forces Sawyer to consider his attitude when the risk of losing Claire’s heart becomes evident. He doesn’t trust Riley and fears for Claire’s safety, but to win her over he’ll have to change. By the time the story was over, I could tell that all of the characters had grown, though Sawyer’s arc was perhaps the most apparent.

 

Starting the story took a little longer than I intended, but I was flying through it by the end. The final scenes were written at 2:00AM because I couldn’t sleep without the idea jotted down. I was very happy it ended the way it did, considering what will be coming in the final novel. Since MIDNIGHT SKY grew so close to my heart, I decided to put more effort into its promotion, seeking the help of XPresso Tours and En Pointe Author Services to help with blog tours, release blitzes, and review opportunities. I’m so pleased to have taken that risk, since it has definitely paid off.

 

There was a fair amount of editing recommended by both my Beta reader and my editor, but I was grateful for their insight. I constantly strive to improve my writing, and correcting my bad writing habits helps produce a stronger story.

 

One of the best moments in this journey was seeing the cover for MIDNIGHT SKY, created by Deranged Doctor Design. They blew me away with the CRIMSON SKY cover (and every other cover they’ve made for me), and I decided to put a little more insight into what I wanted from the sequel’s cover. The result was stellar. I couldn’t be happier with the look of the cover, and am dying to see what they’ll create for the final novel and two novellas of the DARK SKY series.

 

Writing sequels is always daunting. You want to carry on with what readers love, but you also want to introduce new elements to make the series stronger as a whole. I’ve never written an ending like this before, so I hope my efforts paid off. I know that I’m happy and proud and passionate about MIDNIGHT SKY, and I think new readers and fans of the previous novel will find it to their liking.

Q & A: Amy Braun and Midnight Sky– MINOR SPOILERS BELOW.

 

 

 

 

Q: Did you have any specific events in mind when you began Midnight Sky?

A: For the most part, yes. I knew I wanted to clear up basically all of the secrets carried over from Crimson Sky since the final novel will have lots of action. That meant many of the characters and their relationships had to grow. To me, this feels like a short novel. But reading over it, I realize how much occurred and how deeply it might impact readers. I think the only major event I really, truly planned concerns Riley. After introducing him in Crimson Sky, I knew I wanted him to be absolutely integral to the plot. His big event doesn’t come until the end of the novel, and I have to say, I was thrilled to get to that point. I’ve never really written a cliffhanger before, and I have to say that I understand why authors love them so much. As a reader, they can be a beautiful nightmare (read Julie Kagawa’s Eternity Cure if you don’t believe me), but as an author? Talk about exciting!

 Q: What challenges did you face writing Midnight Sky?

A: It was all in the details! My knowledge of technical things is basic at best. I definitely don’t have the skills Claire has, and I spent a lot of time researching engineering terms and coming up with ideas to help her use her abilities. I had to really get in the mindset of Claire and explain how certain things worked in terms that, well, I understood. One scene kept me up until around 2:00AM because I consulted a technician friend of mine who worked on an oil field. He gave me an idea about oxygen tanks and flamethrowers, and soon I had a crazy idea that kept me up until I wrote the last page of the epilogue. I loathe writers block, but once I get past it, I refuse to stop writing.

Q: Is there anything you wish you’d kept in Midnight Sky? Any deleted scenes or other secrets?

A: Not really. One of the comments I received from my Beta reader was that I should delve more into the stories of side characters Gemma and Nash. I was already one step ahead, having written two prequel novellas centering around them and their introduction to Sawyer’s crew. I also introduced another new character named Moira at the Beta reader’s suggestion, and was happy to add her. I love building characters and became more attached to her than I realized. For the most part, I concentrated on the story I was building, knowing that there were a couple secrets I could leave until the final novel.

Q: Are you Team Sawyer or Team Riley?

A: This is kind of a double-edged question. From a writer’s perspective, I can say that I’m Team Sawyer. I love writing his mood swings, even though I know they must drive some readers (and certainly Claire) crazy. Since the third and final novel will be told in two perspectives, I wanted him to grow and be prepared for all the madness he sent his way. Plus, it was a lot of fun to write his romance attempts with Claire. All this being said, as a reader, if I didn’t know anything about this story or the pasts of the pirate and the soldier, I might be more inclined to join Team Riley. Who doesn’t love a damaged man who can still be kind and generous despite all the horrors he’s endured and continues to be traumatized by, and who’s not afraid to stand up to the self-proclaimed alpha male of the group to fight for what he desires?

Q: Can you go into more detail about the final novel and the novellas?

A: I can… but what fun would that be? Since I mapped out the rest of my writing and release schedule for the year, here’s what I’m willing to share: The next Dark Sky story will be an ebook prequel novella called Amber Sky, which will be released October 2016 and told from Nash’s perspective, focusing on his time with his old marauder clan before he met Sawyer. Following that story will be a short story called Engineered Deceit. I wrote it on a whim for Mocha Memoirs Press’ upcoming steampunk horror anthology, Gears, Ghosts, and Grimoires, to be released in November. It’s a shorter prequel with Sawyer as the lead voice and telling a story about what happens when someone really loses their mind after The Storm. December will be Smoke Sky, another prequel novella featuring Gemma as she worked her way into Sawyer’s crew and Nash’s heart. Finally, the last novel in the Dark Sky series– Obsidian Sky. It will be released in February 2017 and told from both Claire and Sawyer’s points-of-view. I loved writing the final story, and I hope the novellas and short stories will continue to build the hype.

About Amy Braun

She has short stories in various horror and urban fantasy anthologies such as Call From The Grave, Hotel Hell, Survivalism in The Dead Walk: Volume 2, Dismantle in The Steam Chronicles, Lost Sky in Avast, Ye Airships!, Secret Suicide in That Hoodoo, Voodoo, That You Do, Bring Back The Hound in Stomping Grounds, Charlatan Charade in Lost in the Witching Hour, and her award winning short Dark Intentions And Blood in AMOK!

 

More From Amy Braun

CURSED

DEMON’S DAUGHTER | DARK DIVINITY | DAMNATION’S DOOR

DARK SKY

 

CRIMSON SKY

STANDALONE NOVELS AND NOVELLAS

STORM BORN

PATH OF THE HORSEMAN

NEEDFIRE

Social Media Links

 

Literary Braun (Blog) | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

Oak & Misletoe by J.Z.N. McCauley

Title: Oak & Misletoe

Author: J.Z.N. McCauley

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

A Druid Curse, A Prophesied Love, A Consuming Vengeance…

Catherine Green, along with her twin sister and older brother, travels to Ireland on a college graduation trip. Her vacation takes a permanent turn when she lands her dream job at an art and history museum on her beloved Emerald Isle. She meets a handsome stranger named Bowen, an expert of sorts on local ancient studies. Though their first meetings are turbulent at best, Catherine finds herself drawn to him.

Unaware that she is the key to breaking a hidden curse, Catherine unleashes the evil madman Conall and his druid followers, imprisoned since ancient times. Tragedy and loss ensue, sprouting within Catherine the deep seeds of rage that thrust her onto the damaging path of vengeance. Confused by the enigma that is Bowen, his mixed signals, and her own feelings, she is swept away with him on an unexpected journey surrounded by myth and long-forgotten knowledge. In order to stop the evil plans of Conall and his reunified army, Catherine must entwine her fate with peril. Her survival is trivial to her as long as Conall dies. She’ll do whatever it takes.

Review:

Oak & Misletoe is a new adult novel about Druids, Celtic myth, and coming of age.  J.Z.N. McCauley did an excellent job of intertwining current events with fantasy and the past, and I was intrigued by how she was able to create a contemporary cast of characters, but was also able to make fantasy become believable and alive.

McCauley’s novel is a perfect book for anyone looking into Celtic mythology simply because it connects mythology to modern life, and it makes it understandable.  I also always look for strong, female protagonists in fantasy/adventure novels, and I couldn’t have asked for a better heroine than Cathleen Green.  She is one of the best characters that I have read who develops so much in such a short novel.  Cathleen begins as a shy, naive woman but ends up being a powerhouse who takes on evil forces and tries to make everything right.  She is super woman, and she is an excellent role model for readers in this age group.  McCauley didn’t dwell on physical aspects of the characters, and I think that this helped me as a reader to connect to the characters in the way that I saw them.

I particularly liked the beautiful descriptions in this novel of Ireland and the mythology that is part of the country.  I could see the landscape for myself, and reading the pages was like me traveling to Ireland myself.  McCauley was able to portray to the reader a beautiful setting with an intriguing plot to fill it, and I felt myself falling into McCauley’s beautiful words as I read on.

Even though I was not fond of the romance in this novel due to the fact that it came off as cliche, I did like learning about the different legends of Ireland itself.  It is a great novel to help you escape to another place and time, and I would highly recommend it as a beautiful, fall read.

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Crimson Sky Highlight – Amy Braun

Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. She is the recipient of April Moon Books Editor Award for “author voice, world-building and general bad-assery,” and the One Book Two Standout Award in 2015 for her Cursed trilogy. She has been featured on various author blogs and publishing websites, and is an active member of the Writing GIAM and Weekend Writing Warrior communities. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, and struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction.

Amy’s current work includes the full length novels Demon’s Daughter, Dark Divinity, Crimson Sky, and Path of the Horseman, and the novella Needfire. She has short stories in various horror and urban fantasy anthologies such as Call From The Grave, Hotel Hell, Survivalism in The Dead Walk: Volume 2, Dismantle in The Steam Chronicles, Lost Sky in Avast, Ye Airships!, Secret Suicide in That Hoodoo, Voodoo, That You Do, Bring Back The Hound in Stomping Grounds, Charlatan Charade in Lost in the Witching Hour, and her award winning short Dark Intentions And Blood in AMOK! Amy can be found online through her frequently updated blog, Literary Braun (literarybraun.blogspot.ca), as well as on Twitter (@amybraunauthor) and Facebook (facebook.com/amybraunauthor).

 

The first novel in a brand new series, CRIMSON SKY, the first 238 page novel of the DARK SKY books, marks the beginning of new characters as they forge their way through a shattered world, struggling to erase the perceptions left behind by their families, and relying on unlikely allies to survive horrors that have become commonplace…

 

CRIMSON SKY is a steampunk horror novel set in the ruined city of Westraven, once a powerful city filled with trade, airships, and daring pirates. Ten years after a cataclysmic event known as The Storm, when the human populace has been desecrated by savage monsters– deemed Hellions– from another dimension, the remaining survivors are forced to hide underground, using their skills and instincts to scavenge and endure. Among these survivors is a young engineer named Claire Abernathy. Claire is shunned by her fellow survivors because of her parents failure in The Storm, and the only light in her life is her younger sister, Abby. But on a scavenging mission, Abby is kidnapped by the Hellions. When Claire is discovered by roguish marauders, she is desperate enough to make a deal with them, and their fickle captain, Sawyer. As their adventures begin and unexpected relationships begin to form, Claire learns secrets about her past, as well as Sawyer’s, and realizes that she could be connected to the Hellions in ways she never imagined.

 

 

 

I’ve wanted to write the DARK SKY series since I was fourteen years old. I love vampires and I love pirates, and I wondered what it would be like to mesh the ideas together. I was tempted to go the obvious route– a crew of pirates crosses paths with a vampire crew, and chaos ensues– but I just couldn’t fall into the idea the way I wanted to. So I left it alone for a little while, and a few years ago, the solution came to me when I discovered the amazingness that is steampunk. It’s a genre where literally anything is possible, and I saw no reason why I couldn’t meld the ideas into something cohesive.

 

I worked on creating a new, fantasy world with rich history (I made a map and everything!), adding more elements as I worked harder on the details. I did my research to understand what Claire would be capable of creating, and I thought carefully about how desperate people would become after living in a wasteland for a decade, barely seeing the sun. I especially thought about who would hold the power in a steampunk world filled with grounded pirates, and how they would mingle. Or clash. I’ve enjoyed building this world as much as any story I’ve ever written.

 

Just as exciting was writing the characters of Claire and Sawyer. While I have fun with the secondary characters, both protagonists are at the forefront. I loved writing the banter between them, and they have some of my favorite interactions. They’re both so different from one another, yet alarmingly alike in certain elements. They’re stubborn and strong-willed, loyal and defensive, and they both suffer from the burden of carrying secrets to preserve their family’s honor.

 

I wrote the story like a madwoman, loving it more and more. When I was presented with the opportunity to submit a story for Mocha Memoirs Press’s steampunk anthology, AVAST, YE AIRSHIPS!, I thought it would be a good idea to test CRIMSON SKY out. This was a new series after all, and completely different from my other urban fantasy trilogy, CURSED. I revised the work into a short story called LOST SKY, and submitted it. I was delighted to hear back from the anthology’s editor, Rie Sheridan Rose, who absolutely loved the story and was excited to include it. I learned a lot during that period, understanding how spotlights and blog tours could help in promoting my work. It definitely helped that my story was well received and enjoyed by many readers.

 

CRIMSON SKY had a fair amount of editing to do once it was finished. It was the first time I’d used a professional Beta reader, and I was amazed at how in depth they could be. I made some important changes and worked with my editor to revise and perfect the story. Every reader gave me positive feedback, particularly with the characters of Claire and Sawyer.

 

I continued to work with Deranged Doctor Design for the cover and promotional work, and while their covers for my CURSED series have been absolutely gorgeous, I got the best responses for CRIMSON SKY. The promotional material is incredible, and I find every opportunity I can to use it.

 

I think every author gets nervous when they have a new book released, especially one that’s part of a new series, but at time of putting this media kit together, I’ve found I’m not as terrified as I think I should be. I mean, yeah, the nerves are still there, but I feel confident with CRIMSON SKY and the DARK SKY series in general. I think a lot of readers will like it, and find it different from traditional vampire and steampunk stories. It’s a mix of everything– steampunk, horror, post-apocalyptic, fantasy– so hopefully it will cater to a wide audience. I loved writing it, so hopefully there will be people who love reading it.

 

 

Q & A: Amy Braun and Crimson Sky– MINOR SPOILERS BELOW.

 

 

 

 

Q: When you began writing Crimson Sky, did you know the direction the series would take?

 

A: Yes and no. I had an idea of what I wanted the characters to achieve, but I had no idea how they would get there. I didn’t really know what Claire’s key from her mother would be used for, and I was still working on the history between her parents and the Hellions. But the more I wrote, the better understanding I had of the series and how it should progress. Hopefully readers will want to continue reading into the second book, which will be just as exciting as the first.

 

Q: What were the challenges in writing Crimson Sky?

 

A: To be honest, I don’t remember the story being that challenging as compared to some of my other work. Oh, there were times where I had to sit back and really think about what I was doing, and the research was bland as ever, but I knew I had to move past the roadblocks and just get the story done. The more I wrote, the more eager I was to reach the end, just to see how it ended.

 

Q: What inspired the design of Westraven?

 

A: One of my favorite movies is The Lord of the Rings. They’re beautiful films and the set design is incredible. I loved the look of Gondor, and I actually based the setting of Westraven off that city. A flatter, less medieval version to be sure, but I liked the idea of a crumbling city of white stones. I have another steampunk series planned that follows the more traditional ideas of a derelict steampunk town, but I didn’t want to write the same setting for two very different series’. I also think that Westraven’s stony, broken look gives a certain, haunting echo to the story, and I think a lot of readers will like it. There are still places in and outside of Westraven that haven’t been seen yet, and I can’t wait for readers to see them.

 

Q: Why did you choose vampires as the monsters?

 

A: It’s true that vampires are overused in fiction. It’s not something that’s lost on me. But the thing with vampires is that they’re such a changeable species, and when you stick to the tradition (more or less), they will always be terrifying. I modeled them after the vampires from Thirty Days of Night– they hide in the shadows, are super fast and savage, and have their own, animalistic language. I can’t read those books or watch that movie without getting chills when I see those vampires. Plus, I like the idea that even after its destruction, the Hellions continue to suck the life out of Westraven and its inhabitants. That definitely seems to raise the stakes.

 

Q: What can we expect in future books in the series?

 

A: Dark Sky will be a collection of three full length novels and two prequel novellas when it’s all said and done. Right now, the sequel, Midnight Sky, is scheduled for release in August 2016, with the novellas to be released in October and December. The final novel is scheduled for February 2017. Midnight Sky will have a lot of surprise reveals and twists, and an ending I seriously doubt anyone will expect. There will also be a lot more chemistry and interactions between Claire and Sawyer, which I think will leave a lot of readers happy. The novellas will focus on the secondary characters, Gemma and Nash, and chronicle their adventures before they joined Sawyer’s crew. I won’t say anything about the third and final novel, because I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say that things are going to get dark for our heroes, and they’ll find themselves in places they never expected. And that’s a good thing, because you can’t write a steampunk pirate story without some wild adventures.

 

Amber Sky Blog Tour – Amy Braun

AMBER SKY is the first prequel novella preceding the adventurous steampunk horror tale CRIMSON SKY, and tells the story of Nash before he joined the Dauntless Wanderer when his only means of survival was to fight to the death, and how he was forced to make a choice that would change his life forever…

Enter Giveaway

Buy it here:

 

Kindle | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

 

AMBER SKY is set two years before the first novel in the DARK SKY series, CRIMSON SKY, and is told from the perspective of the Dauntless Wanderer’s quartermaster, Nash. It delves into his life when he was a pit-fighter for Ryland, the ruthless leader of the Stray Dogs, and tells the strange story of how he met Sawyer, his future friend and captain. Their friendship was forged out of hard-won battles and trust, both young men taking risks and fighting for something greater and more meaningful.

 

I’m a huge fan of novellas that take place in between or before the events of full length novels. I like reading new perspectives from characters who are fan favorites, but not necessarily key to the story or the plot. I love the Dark Sky world and wanted to tell more about it, but I didn’t want to write a story between Midnight Sky and the final Dark Sky novel, scheduled for February 2017. After the finale of Midnight Sky, I knew I couldn’t just leave readers hanging, so I decided to tell the stories of two side characters– Nash and Gemma.

 

In Midnight Sky, there are events that hint at Nash’s past. The more I wrote it, the more interested I became. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the full length novel, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to tell more of it in Amber Sky, the prequel novella. I worked on a simple, straightforward plot that was true to Nash’s character and expanded on his time with the ruthless Stray Dog Clan, steadily bringing Sawyer into the picture.

 

I have to say, that was my favorite part of writing this novella. Nash and Sawyer have a pretty easygoing relationship (as long as Sawyer isn’t feeling moody), but their banter always made me smile. Their friendship is unexpected for both of them, and forms out of a truly dark place.

 

As happy as I was to complete Amber Sky, there were of course steps to take to ensure it’s publication. The story was too short to send to print, so I chose to offer it as an ebook only. I like this exclusive, because it gives me a chance to offer something free to my newsletter subscribers. I had the manuscript edited by a Beta reader, who had great insights, and an editor who’s helped me with the Dark Sky series before.

 

After that came the absolutely stellar cover. Deranged Doctor Design always does amazing work, but this truly blew my mind. I was so happy with the end result that I approved the first draft. No nitpicking for this one!

 

The biggest challenge then came with promotion. I’m still learning the tricks of the independent publishing world, and tried my hand at creating my promotion without the use of a blog tour service. I’ll likely return to that for the final Dark Sky novel, but I wanted to try my own hand at it. I’m pretty impressed with the final result, and have nothing but gratitude for the reviewers and bloggers who have been kind enough to host me. Offering a free short story for newsletter subscribers is great, but I couldn’t have done this at all without the people I’ve listed above.

 

Writing Amber Sky has been a fun little challenge that I’m grateful I undertook. I feel it added to the experience and depth of the Dark Sky novels, and can’t wait for other readers to enjoy this new perspective.

Q & A: Amy Braun and Amber Sky – MINOR SPOILERS BELOW

Q: What inspired you to write Amber Sky ?

A: I’ve always been a fan of Nash, and wanted to tell the story of how he and Sawyer came to meet. They have a good relationship in Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky but it wasn’t always like that. They endured mistrust and battles the same as all sturdy friendships do, even trading blows a couple times. It was a lot of fun to not only tell their story, but to expand on an element of Midnight Sky that I enjoyed–– the crew’s journey to the Barren.  

Q: Why did you chose to tell the story from Nash’s perspective?

A: In the novels, Nash is a pretty quiet character. He’s often the voice of calm and reason, the one who knows how to relax Sawyer and Gemma. Ironic, since he’s heavily built and muscular. Readers who are familiar with him are likely used to his steady demeanor, and know little of the violence he used to be capable of. He’s a lot more complex than you would realize reading Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky, and after I hinted at his past in Midnight Sky, I knew I had to tell his story through his eyes.

Q: Did you find it easier to write a shorter story? Did you prefer it to writing a full length novel?

A: Easier? Yes. Definitely. My word count as just over 30,000, less than half of what a typical Dark Sky novel will run. I had a simple story line, a “simple problem” for the characters to solve, and no need to tie up a hundred different plot holes. But, if we’re talking about preference, I actually enjoy writing full length novels more. As an independent author, I’m not hindered by word counts and will write until the story is done. This means that I can experiment and add new elements to a story that I don’t usually get to do in a novella. That definitely doesn’t mean I’ll stick to novels my entire career– every big series I write will likely have at least two or three novellas attached to them– but they are definitely my comfort and creative zone.

Q: There was a serious lack of Gemma in Amber Sky. Where is she?

A: Ah, yes. Gemma. Readers of the novels will know that she’s Nash’s other half, the moon to his stars, the heat to his fire. They will also know that she is most definitely not in Amber Sky. When I planned to write some novellas after Midnight Sky, I definitely had a plan about what those two stories would be about. Nash’s story comes first, because the second novella, Smoke Sky, is all about how Gemma entered the lives of the crew. Her story is one of my absolute favorites, and I knew that her romance with Nash would be a key element. So while she’s not in the picture for Amber Sky, she’ll be entering it soon.

Q: What can you tell us about the next novella and novel in the Dark Sky series?

A: Smoke Sky, which will be released December 2016, will be told from Gemma’s perspective and tell the tale of how she first met Sawyer and fell in love with Nash, and the wild adventures they had before she was accepted to the crew. There will also be a short story told from Sawyer’s perspective called Engineered Deceit, which will be featured in Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires from Mocha Memoirs Press, as well as my collection for short stories called The Shadow Omnibus by the same publisher. Both will be released in the next few months, before Smoke Sky. The final novel in the series will be released in February 2017, and is titled Obsidian Sky. It’s perhaps my top favorite in the entire Dark Sky saga, as it’s full of action and told from both Claire and Sawyer’s perspectives. I went wild with the world in the third and final chapter of this series, and can’t wait for readers to experience the last adventures of the Dauntless Wanderer.   

About Amy Braun

Her short stories published by independent houses like Mocha Memoirs Press and April Moon Books, and she has independently published a collection of standalone and series novels including Storm Born, Path of the Horseman, and the Cursed and Dark Sky series. Many of her short stories have been featured in anthologies such as Amok!, Avast, Ye Airships!, and That Hoodoo, Voodoo, That You Do, and Stomping Grounds.

More From Amy Braun

CURSED

DEMON’S DAUGHTER | DARK DIVINITY | DAMNATION’S DOOR

DARK SKY

CRIMSON SKY | MIDNIGHT SKY

STANDALONE NOVELS AND NOVELLAS

STORM BORN

PATH OF THE HORSEMAN

NEEDFIRE

THE SHADOW OMNIBUS

Social Media Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Conch Shell of Doom by Ryan Hill

Title: The Conch Shell of Doom

Author: Ryan Hill

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Bailey didn’t mean to catch his parents plotting to unleash the sinister Trenton Maroney and his powerful oceanic army on the world. It was an honest mistake. Now, he’s got the horribly disfigured Mr. Lovell on his trail, which is doing wonders for Bailey’s anxiety. His only ally is Franklin, a burn-out several decades past wishing his brother Trenton was destroyed for good. Franklin has battled his brother for two thousand years, and has nothing to show for it except his beloved Mustang. To stop Mr. Lovell from awakening Trenton, Franklin and Bailey will have to get past his parents, a one-eyed stoner, crooked cops, giant Scotsmen, and Trenton’s army, which can only be summoned by one thing: the mysterious Conch Shell of Doom.

Review:

Ryan Hill is an excellent author.  He not only has an outstanding imagination, but he also knows how to intertwine humor into his writing in a way that doesn’t come off as tacky, but ingenious.

Going into reading The Conch Shell of Doom I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it.  It is not the type of book that I usually read, but I thought that I would give it a shot.  The book is described as a science fiction/fantasy novel, but reads more like a novel version of a comic book.  The story is full of action, and even though the synopsis makes it sounds as though it is a childish action adventure, the writing far surpassed that younger age group.  Hill’s writing is professional and witty, and none of it sounded forced.

It was clear to me that Hill was writing his story for himself, and that in turn made his writing suitable for all ages.  He didn’t talk towards a specific audience, and this allowed me to enjoy the story more.  I loved the concept of the oceanic army, and at no point during reading the novel was I bored.

Hill is clearly an author who I hope to see more work from.  He has an original voice, and I didn’t find his writing to be similar to another author’s.  I don’t like reading books that sound as though they have been done before, and The Conch Shell of Doom is not one of them.  It is must read for any science fiction or action fan.

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Mystical Mojo Box Review: October 2016

Mystical Mojo Box is a subscription that brings you boxes to help invoke soul transformation!  They have 3 monthly options – the Mega Mojo Box that includes 5 or more items linked to the monthly theme, the Crystal Mojo Box which includes 2 -3 stones to go along with the monthly theme, and the Mojo Jewels Box which includes 2 -3 jewelry/accessory items that incorporate mystical designs and stones.  The pricing of each box (plus shipping) is shown below.

Mega Mojo Box: $45 per month + shipping (US $6~CND $16~UK $20)
Crystal Mojo Box: $15 per month + shipping (US $6~CND $16~UK $20)
Mojo Jewels Box: $27 per month + shipping (shipping is free)
Order Here:

I received the October Mega Mojo Box right around the first of October since they bill you in the middle of the month, and the theme was Faerie Magick!  I have to say that I ADORED this theme, and all of the items inside.  It was such a unique box, and I love how Christina, the owner, picked out each item specifically to fit in with the theme and the mystical essence of the box.

Faerie Magick Mega Mojo Box

Mystical Mojo sends out their monthly boxes in plain white boxes with a small sticker presenting the logo on the front.  I personally love the white boxes because they are plain and reusable.  I like reusing the white boxes to organize my own mystical items in.

Upon opening the box, the items are wrapped in a royal purple tissue paper with a sticker of Mystical Mojo’s logo on front.  The rest of the items are packed in paper shavings.

The first thing that you find when opening the box is a card that lists the monthly theme (since it is always a surprise, and you don’t know what is included beforehand).  The card generally lists all items included, and a small description for some of the items.  It is good quality, and easy to read.  I always keep these cards so that I can use them as reference.  Since each card gives background on the spirituality included in the box, it is nice to know why the items included are important if you are unaware about the spirituality presented.

The first item included were these little seed bombs.  They are bombs that you can plant in the springtime, and they will flourish into beautiful flowers.  This was an excellent touch to this box because the box included items for a faerie garden, and you can use these bombs to create your own faerie garden in the spring.  These bombs are from Seed Paper Society: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SeedPaperSociety

The next item was a Hag Stone.  This was a perfect stone to send during this time, because it can be used when the veil between worlds is at it’s thinnest – on Beltane and Samhain – which are both around this time of year.  The lore is that if you look through the hole in the stone on either of these holidays, you may see Faerie Folk.  This tone is from Raw and Refined Earth: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FEATHEROAK

Also included in this box was a small faerie necklace, and I think that it is absolutely adorable!  You can never have enough faerie jewelry.

Now, the absolutely best part of this gorgeous box was the mini faerie garden set!  It came with a gorgeous dendritic agate stone, a pewter faerie statue, a mini planter, and an air plant.  What is best about the air plant is that it is real, but doesn’t need to be planted in soil or watered.  All you have to do is soak it in water for a minute each week, and it thrives on its own.  This little faerie garden is absolutely perfect for the winter when outside gardening is not possible, and in the spring you can transfer these items outside when you plant your seed bombs!

Planter is by Dream Fairy Gardens: https://www.etsy.com/shop/miniaturefairydreams
Air Plant is from Twisted Acres: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwistedAcres
“Faeries Welcome” sign is from Mini Etchers: http://www.minietchers.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

The last item included in this month’s box was a small bottle of solid perfume titled “The Green Fairy” from Aurora Artica: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AuroraArctica

The smell of this perfume is very light and rustic.  I love it!  It is a nice touch to keep that faerie essence with you all day.

Overall, I loved this box.  It was my favorite of theirs yet!  The mini faerie garden is perfect for my room during the winter, and the jewelry, stones, and perfume were excellent compliments.  The curation of this box is one of the best I have seen, and I am amazed that she gave us a small faerie garden for winter, and then wildflower seed bombs to grow an outdoor garden in the spring.

The Cellar by Natasha Preston

Title: The Cellar

Author: Natasha Preston

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

“Lily?”

My stomach dropped as a tall, dark-haired man stepped into view. Had he been hiding between the trees?

“No. Sorry.” Gulping, I took a step back. “I’m not Lily.”

He shook his head, a satisfied grin on his face. “No. You are Lily.”

“I’m Summer. You have the wrong person.” You utter freak!

I could hear my pulse crashing in my ears. How stupid to give him my real name. He continued to stare at me, smiling. It made me feel sick.

“You are Lily,” he repeated.

Before I could blink, he threw his arms forward and grabbed me. I tried to shout, but he clasped his hand over my mouth, muffling my screams. My heart raced. I’m going to die.

For months Summer is trapped in a cellar with the man who took her―and three other girls: Rose, Poppy, and Violet. His perfect, pure flowers. His family. But flowers can’t survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out…

Review:

I have to admit, I am always a bit suspicious about these novels that are essentially published straight from stories published on Wattpad.  In my experience, they have always read as though they are just a collection of snippets pulled from the internet and the editing is never great.  However, even though the editing of this novel left much to be desired, and it was rather choppy, it was a nice vacation read.

Kidnapping novels are always a favorite of mine, and the concept of this story was right down my alley.  Just the fact that the kidnapper renamed his victims after flowers and tried to keep them pure by hiding them in his basement was enough to catch my eye.  It wasn’t like any other kidnapping novel I have read, but I was not pleased with the way the story was written.

Each chapter was from the perspective of either the kidnapper, Summer (the kidnapped) or her boyfriend.  Unfortunately, it was hard to distinguish the different voices apart as they sounded very much the same, and I did not care for the boyfriend’s chapters at all.  When reading those chapters I just wanted to get back to hearing about the kidnapper and the kidnapped.  Throughout the novel the boyfriend’s chapters were extremely slow, and the timing in the novel didn’t make since.  The first few chapters were drawn out, and then out of nowhere six months had gone by.  It seems as though Natasha Preston was very into writing the story in the beginning, but then just rushed through the end in order to get it finished and published faster.  The story was intriguing until the middle of the novel, and then it turned into a train wreck.  Out of nowhere a character died somewhere between the end chapter and the epilogue, and there was very little explanation for it.  It also didn’t make since how Summer spent her entire time wanting to escape, and then immediately ended up turning into the “flower” the kidnapper wanted her to be as soon as she was rescued.  If this change in her had occurred before the end of the novel it would have made more sense.  Overall, this novel was rushed and poorly structured which was a shame, because I was genuinely interested in the premise.

If you are not expecting this novel to be anything other than a collection of writings from the internet, then go ahead and go for it.  But don’t expect it to be a fine piece of literature, because that, it is not.

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Weekly Update – 10/03/16 -10/09/16

Happy October Everyone!

October is such a beautiful month.  The wind is getting cooler and the leaves are falling…it is just the perfect reading time of year!  That being said, I hope you all read some amazing books this week.

This week I will be reviewing:

The Conch Shell of Doom by Ryan Hill
Mind Reader by Katrina Kahler

Have a lovely week everyone!

Much love,

Ashley

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