Sage Nestler's Blog, page 59

Brain to Books Author Marketing

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

As some of you know, I am part of the Brain to Books team that helps undiscovered authors market themselves and learn how to have an online, and in person, presence.

This year, the Brain to Books Con that is in April will have open registration beginning October 1.  If you work with our author marketing experts before then, you can create a very effective marketing strategy at this year’s con.  Please check out the brochure below, and visit our website to learn more about how you can get started in your marketing career.  As independent authors, it is vital that we all know how to market ourselves since we are, essentially, one man teams when it comes to our publishing experiences.  This year I have multiple positions in the Brain to Books Con, and I will have my own booth as well as a blog tour, video discussion, and customer assistance.  If you need anything at all please don’t hesitate to ask, and please click the link below to start your marketing adventure today!

Click Here to Get Started

Please also feel free to reach out to me if you have any upcoming new releases that you would like publicized.  I would be happy to post about your new release here on the blog, as well as all of my social media.  I am here for you, and together we will help you succeed!  And as always, all of our services are free of charge.

Author Interview: Susan Ferrell

This week’s author spotlight is on the lovely Susan Ferrell!  Susan is the author of The Whipple Wash Chronicles, an adorable fantasy series that urges readers to believe in who they are and who they can be.  She is very passionate about her writing and making a difference, and I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing her for this spotlight.

Author Interview

What is your favorite genre to write, and do you write across different genres?

I do not have a favorite genre to write in, but I do have a fondness for comedy, which often finds its way into whatever genre I am writing in. I have self-published works in fantasy adventure, adult comedy, and cozy erotica. Patiently waiting in the background are a Sci-fi and a Paranormal Drama.

 

What has your publishing experience been like?

Self-publishing is an interesting path to take, which as in anything, has its ups and downs. I am a bit of a control freak, but I am a good sport about it. I like the freedom and the control that self-publishing gives me. I also like that I have no one to answer to, no one watching over me, and no one taking a huge chunk of my profits. However, it can also be quite lonely and daunting. Most days I find myself winging it. Testing the waters, seeing what works and doesn’t by trial and error. A traditional publishing house already has that knowledge base and the funding to make things happen. It is quite awesome that Indie Authors are so willing to share our experiences and help each other out. Now, all most of us need is a backer that believes in the vision and can make things happen.

 

What is your advice to aspiring authors?

If there is a story within you to tell, tell it. Don’t worry so much about whether someone else will like it. Just put pen to paper and write it. Be honest with the telling of the story. Which means, tell it from your point of view, not how you think others will see it. They are not inside your head; only you can tell the story. Do your research, to make what you are telling plausible in the reader’s mind. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most Indie authors are quite willing to share their knowledge and experiences. And lastly, have fun. Writing is a spectacular, creative, art form that will take you down paths; you never imagined you would walk on before you began to write.

What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?

That is kind of a tough question to answer because I write in different genres. I suppose for the Whipple Wash Chronicles, which is what I am currently working on, I would hope that readers see that: no matter how small or insignificant you think you are, how desperate the journey is, how insurmountable the odds are, if you have faith in yourself, you can achieve anything, you need only believe.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on the third installment of The Whipple Wash Chronicles – The Long Road Home. I am also working with a very talented artist, Evee Fex-Chriszt, who has come on board to help with the 4th book, which will be a field guide of all things Whipple Washian. There is also a special project I am working on for the release of the third book, a board game. I am very excited about the possibilities of “What If.”

Author Bio

S.D. Ferrell is a writer, self-published author, and creative artist. Ms. Ferrell was born the 1st of October 1960 in Norfolk General Hospital, in Simcoe Ontario Canada. She grew up on a small hobby farm just outside of Simcoe in Windham Centre, with her parents, six sisters and one brother.

Her fondest memories of childhood was on the farm and the time she spent outside with her siblings. They had grand adventures in the forest that curved around the property. She remembers a majestic willow tree with long flowing branches that grew beside the laneway – they swung from those branches until they were giddy with laughter. There were also cherry trees in the front yard that she climbed, and sat on the branches for what seemed like hours on end. Among the leaves she was free to allow her mind to take flights of fancy.

Nature; was a wonderful playground for a little girl with a vivid imagination who would one day grow-up to be a writer. Is it any wonder, Ms. Ferrell says, that my debut novel starts in a forest and one of the main characters throughout the series is a tree.

S.D. is a proud mother to five daughters and a grandmother to fourteen wonderful grandchildren. She presently resides in Simcoe Ontario and is working on the third book in the series, The Long Road Home.

Connect with Susan

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/elsbrier.ink/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/justmesuzied

WordPress:  https://elsbrierink.wordpress.com/

Amazon: amazon.com/author/sdferrell

Connect with her Artist

Evee Fex Chriszt: http://www.evzart.com/

 

Angel by Katrina Kahler

Title: Angel

Author: Katrina Kahler

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

– He seemed like Ella’s dream guy…fun, handsome and loving, but there was a darker side to Taylor. Ella was head over heels in love with him…until his jealous aggressive streak destroyed their relationship. Luckily for Ella, her guardian angel protects her from his darkness…until one day when he is forbidden to intervene. –

A totally compelling story that you won’t be able to put down.

Review:

Angel is an intriguing story that involves myth, spirituality, and abuse.  I enjoyed the concept of the storyline; however, I found that the lack of editing hindered my reading experience.

Katrina Kahler has a vivid imagination.  Her take on angels and spirituality was eye opening, but her characters came off as a bit flat.  I felt that instead of letting me live her story, she was telling it to me and I didn’t feel completely immersed.  Each character seemed to be trying a bit too hard to show their personality which, in turn, made them come off as superficial.  However, I feel that if the characters were better evolved and the novel was revised in terms of run-on sentences, this novel would shine.

If you are interested in novels about guardian angels and saviors, then this novel is a great choice.  Once the minor editing issues are looked past, the story does come to life.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Weekly Update: 08/29/16 -09/04/16

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

This week I will be reviewing:

The Northern Queen by Kelly Evans
Anchor of Hope by Kiah Stephens

We also only have seven more spots open for our special edition Celtic Lore: Myths & Legends Box through Go Indie Now!, and these spots won’t last!  Click on the link above to order your box, and they will ship out in early October.  The author of our chosen novel for this box helped to curate it with me, and it is going to be a real treat.

I have also decided that I will not be imposing a fee on my reviews for new requests, but I will ONLY be accepting paperback versions from here on out as my e-book list is completely full.

I hope you all have a great week!

~Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN, EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Plot, Plot…And More Plot

Plot is your most important aspect in a novel.  Why?  Well, your plot will define everything.  It will define how your characters turn out to be, what their actions are, and it will even drive your setting and every other aspect you pump into the novel.

Plot has become an element of great interest recently, and I thought it was high time that I discussed it as well.

Many times, when a person doesn’t like a novel, it is either because the characters are too flat (the reader doesn’t care about them), or the story is too slow.  Well, one major way to fix these issues is to re-examine your plot.  Whether you outline your plot in the beginning or write as you go along, you must do one thing upon finishing your manuscript – go back through your novel and write down what the plot is, from beginning to end, and how the events shape your characters.  Are some of your characters too flat?  Then perhaps you didn’t provide those characters with enough plot in terms of personal events.  Much like humans, characters are a product of what they have been through.  If you characters haven’t gone through any struggles or notable events, they will be forgettable and your reader most likely won’t care about them.  To better assess your manuscript and plot, I have provided you with a checklist of things to look for:

1) Are there any plot holes?  Are any of your characters unaffected by events in your plot that should have changed them?

2) Are there any subplots in your manuscript?  Would subplots make the manuscript better?

3) Read your plot backwards.  Do the events at the end make sense based on the events in the beginning of the manuscript?

For example, if one of your characters had a perfect childhood, and ended up a criminal, would that make sense?  Do you have any form of mental incapacities to explain for their criminality?  But more importantly, will your reader believe you if your character has no scars, but has gone down a dark road?  By examining your characters, you need to examine their experiences, and add in extra events if necessary.

Think of plot as the backbone of your novel.  Without a well-executed plot, anything else you put into your writing won’t matter.  You also need to make sure that your plot is original and of your original ideas.  By going back through your manuscript, outlining it and reading it backwards, you will be able to determine if there are any holes you can fill, ideas you can change, as well as making sure that you retain continuity.  Many times authors mix up details in their writing, which can produce a broken plot.  In all circumstances, the author must know more information than the reader, and you don’t want your reader to catch your mistakes.

But most of all, write and write and write.  It isn’t important to examine your plot before you write the manuscript, but make sure to outline it once you are finished to make that novel shine.  Your plot is your tool, and your plot will be what your readers fall in love with.  Know who you are writing for, and work your plot to match that audience.

The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes by L.V. Krause

Title: The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes

Author: L.V. Krause

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: 

Plucky attorney Audrey Blue has to infiltrate the world of the 1% to figure out who’s killing her law firm’s biggest clients. (And who wants her dead.)

What happens when you get in the way of a billionaire-to-be? Audrey Blue, a young attorney at a prestigious Chicago law firm, finds out when she discovers damaging information that could harm her law firm’s biggest clients, who will become billionaires when their financial firm goes public in one short week’s time. Before she knows it, Audrey’s accused of murder, drummed from her firm, and in a race for her life.

To save herself, she must find the real killer, who might be the dangerously charming head of the takeover firm himself. As the debonair financier plans his multi-million-dollar birthday bash, Audrey must infiltrate the world of the wealthy financiers, their trophy wives, and their spoiled kids—who all live in fear of disinheritance—as she spars with the handsome Chicago detective assigned to her case.

Review:

The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes is an interesting chick – lit/ mystery, but it just didn’t hold my attention.  The writing was a bit choppy, and I didn’t find myself caring for the characters like I should have.  While the premise of this mystery is, in itself, interesting, I think that the novel focused more on the chick-lit side of the novel, while making the mystery a bit hokey.  I also found that the storyline had been done before in numerous novels, and I am not sure if this novel would stand out in its genre. This story was yet another story where a woman is under the thumb of a wealthy male, and I found that age old situation to be a bit dry.

However, L.V. Krause did a great job of keeping her novel consistent in terms of details, which can sometimes be sloppy in mysteries.  They did well with keeping the characters consistent, and that made the novel readable and a nice beach read.  This novel would be nice for women who are looking for a light-hearted novel to pass the time, and I am sure that many of them will want to continue with the other books in the series.  Even though it wasn’t my cup of tea, I am sure that it will be popular with any woman who loves a good female based mystery.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Announcement: Brain to Books Con 2017

Hello, Everyone!

I know that this week’s update is a bit late, and I apologize, but it has been a crazy week already!  My social work college courses started back up, and that mixed with running the Go Indie Now! Book Box, as well as this blog and finalizing my own novels for publication, I have gotten a bit winded.  That being said, I am working on reviewing “The Woman in the Jimmy Choo Shoes”, which I didn’t get to last week, and I promise to have it up in a jiffy.  Thank you for bearing with me!

Now, as some of you know, there is an online book con for indie authors called Brain to Books Con.  I attended as an author last year and had my own booth, and I ended up winning the Fantasy jackpot which was awesome!  This year, however, Go Indie Now! Book Box is going to be a sponsor for the con, and I will be a part of the panel discussions, where I will talk with other authors on camera about topics that the audience votes on.  I will also be hosting a blog tour on this blog to feature different authors attending the con, and I am also a genre scout.  That being said, we are looking for authors who are preferably not fantasy authors so that we have a more diverse collection of authors to present to our readers.  Last year, most of the authors who attended were fantasy authors, and we need more authors to represent the other genres.  If this speaks to you, please visit http://braintobooks.com/brain-to-book... and register as an author!  This is a great opportunity for you to market your own books while picking up some great new books as well.

Please also invite anyone you know who is a reader and would like to find new books and authors.  This con is specifically for readers, and is not a writing convention, so we need all of the readers we can get!

More information will come in February since the con is in April, but preparations are beginning NOW!  I am very excited to be a big part of the con this year, and I look forward to seeing all of you at the panel discussions, and in the fairgrounds!

Have a great week!

Ashley

Shadow Fall Cover Reveal!

Hello, Everyone!

Yesterday was cover reveal day for “Shadow Fall” by Audrey Grey!  I just finished my ARC of this novel, which will be released November 22, and I am IN LOVE.  My review will be up soon, but please enjoy a glimpse of its gorgeous cover and teaser text in the meantime:

The asteroid hurtling toward the earth will kill billions.

The Emperor and his Gold Court will be safe in their space station, watching from the stars. The Silvers will be protected underground. But the Bronzes must fight it out at the Shadow Trials for the few remaining spots left on the space station.

When an enigmatic benefactor hands Maia Graystone a spot in the Trials, she won’t just get a chance at salvation for her and her baby brother, Max: She gets to confront the mother who abandoned her in prison, the mad Emperor who murdered her father, and the Gold prince who once loved her. But it’s the dark bastard prince she’s partnered with that will make her question everything, including her own heart. With the asteroid racing closer every day, Maia must trust someone to survive. The question is who?
 
http://www.blazepub.com/books/shadow-fall/

Author:

Audrey Grey lives in the charming state of Oklahoma, with her husband, two little people, and four mischievous dogs. You can usually find her hiding out in her office from said little people and dogs, surrounded by books and sipping kombucha while dreaming up wondrous worlds for her characters to live in.

Author Links:
Website  Facebook  Twitter

I highly recommend that you pre-order your copy today, since this is not a book to miss!

Summer Author Interview: Anna Kringle

Happy Monday Everyone!

Today’s featured author is the beautiful Anna Kringle!  She was kind enough to sit down with me for an interview, and I loved being able to hear more about her work.  Enjoy!

Author Interview

  1)What is your favorite genre to write, and do you write across different genres?

I really do love to mix and match, but my current favorite is Steampunk. I love the gadgets and fashion and fun quirks for my characters to play with!

2) What has your publishing experience been like?

Exciting, adventurous… a little bewildering at times. But I love it. As a self-published author I’ve gotten to learn business management skills as well as developing my writing. I’ve found it to be very rewarding.

3) What is your advice to aspiring authors?

Honestly, my best advice is to do it. Now. RIGHT now. You’ll never have all the information, and life will never be perfect. But in these moments in between the noise and craziness, you can do it. And you should.

4) What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?

I hope they realize the strength they have for themselves. All my characters, no matter how strong and stunning they appear, are hidden gems; people who are scared, afraid, bitter and broken, just like everyday people. The amazing things happen when we realize that we are able to breathe, to stand, to put something else above ourselves.

I want them to know that happiness comes in the small things, and every so often overflows. And that’s worth fighting for.

5) What are you currently working on?

My current work is A Risky Gamble: Book Two of the Trivial Venture! We’ve jumped aboard with Captain Ithaca and crew for another swashbuckling descent into mayhem, and it’ll be glorious. Keep a lookout this August for it!

Author Bio

Anna is a bubbly fairy princess from a small country town far, far away. Raised around rednecks and obsessively muddy trucks, She was faced with a strange need to fill empty paper with words. So she decided she might as well write stories. With the help of her friendly mice and other neighborhood animals, she has worked very hard to make this hobby a profession, and hopes to make the world a bright and colorful place through her works.

Anna discovers new stories in between slaying dragons and leading the children of her realm on a musical revolt against normality.

Contact Anna

www.annakringle.blogspot.com

AnnaKtheAuthor@outlook.com

www.facebook.com/annatheauthor

The Cheating Wives Club by D.J. Jouett

Title: The Cheating Wives Club

Author: D.J. Jouett

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

When women in her hometown become the victims of a vicious killer, Psychiatrist, Lana Reed is pulled into a world of serial killers and cheating wives. As her acquaintances die, she suspects one of her patients. Dr. Reed finds herself struggling with doctor-patient confidentiality. As the murders continue, Lana must decide between her professional ethics and helping the man she loves to solve the heinous crimes. As ME Risa Mercer and Detectives Adam Reed and Colt Layne work to solve the Cheating Wives Club murders, they must also work other cases that challenge the police department and medical examiner’s office. Romance, Love, Suspense, Thriller. Great detective work. A real cliffhanger.

Review:

Before starting The Cheating Wives Club I expected it to be a fun chick-lit novel.  But as I got further into the story, I realized how much of an exciting thriller this book was.  To my surprise, this novel ended up being a murder mystery, and there is nothing that I love more.

Despite the choppy writing of this novel due to poor editing, the suspense kept me reading.  I found it eerie how our main character’s friends were all dying and it saddened me to put myself in her situation.  D.J. Jouett clearly had a firm handle on the characters and plot in this novel, and I was interested in the story because it wasn’t one that I felt had been done many times before.  If only the novel were touched up a bit more, this book would shine.  But I found the writing hard to understand, and the English used to be quite poor.  These problems did detract my attention from the story, and I did have to remind myself to look past them.

Overall, this book has an interesting concept and riveting plot, and crime buffs will adore it.  However, it would fair much better if the manuscript were re-edited.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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