Stacie Simpson's Blog, page 4
October 31, 2013
A Quote From Solomon
A Quote From Solomon
Here’s a quote from Solomon’s book, my current project and the third installment in the Myths and Legends series.
“If ever you doubt what you mean to me you only have to look into my mind to know the truth. Someday we will share everything through the mating bond, but for now my mind is an open book that I invite you to read.”
I hope to publish Solomon’s book in early 2014. I’ll let you know as soon as it is available for preorder.
October 25, 2013
Spotlight on Bebe Knight!
This week's featured author is Bebe Knight!
About Bebe:
Bebe Knight is the author of the paranormal romance series, The Eternal Flame Books. She lives in Upstate NY with her husband and son. Writing has always been a part of her life whether it be books, plays, or handwritten letters to friends and family. It’s a dream come true for her to be able to share her stories with others.
She graduated from the State University of New York at Albany and holds a B.A. in Fine Arts and Art History. She is currently a member of the Romance Writers of America and has started working on the second book in this series. In her spare time, she also writes for her romance novel review blog at Reading Until I Fall Asleep (www.readinguntilifallasleep.com).
Connect with Bebe at: http://www.bebeknight.com
Bebe’s Latest Book:
An Element of Time
A vampire and a slayer walk into a bar… Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but for Veronica and Mackenzie, it’s the beginning of the rest of their lives…
The world has seen its fair share of evil, but Veronica Chase had no idea such monsters truly existed. Werewolves, poltergeists, witches… even vampires. Ignorance was bliss. But her reality was crushed on that horrid da…y her family was taken away from her. Now, Veronica has devoted her entire life to hunting those very creatures, searching for the werewolf pack that murdered her parents in hopes of finding her abducted sister. Nothing will get in her way of settling the score for the hand she was unjustly dealt. That is until her newest assignment brings her to her knees.
After one hundred and eight years on earth, Mackenzie Jones thought he had seen it all. With the exception of daylight of course, but that’s what comes with the territory being a vampire and all. Perpetually damned to live his life as a bartender in the shadows of the night, nothing has sparked his interest lately. Just once he wished something exciting would happen in his mundane life. Little did he know, his wish was about to come true. Walking through the door to his bar, and into his heart, Mackenzie allows love to take the wheel for the first time. There’s just one slight problem. She’s there to kill him.
Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/An-Element-of-T...
About Bebe:
Bebe Knight is the author of the paranormal romance series, The Eternal Flame Books. She lives in Upstate NY with her husband and son. Writing has always been a part of her life whether it be books, plays, or handwritten letters to friends and family. It’s a dream come true for her to be able to share her stories with others.
She graduated from the State University of New York at Albany and holds a B.A. in Fine Arts and Art History. She is currently a member of the Romance Writers of America and has started working on the second book in this series. In her spare time, she also writes for her romance novel review blog at Reading Until I Fall Asleep (www.readinguntilifallasleep.com).
Connect with Bebe at: http://www.bebeknight.com
Bebe’s Latest Book:
An Element of Time
A vampire and a slayer walk into a bar… Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but for Veronica and Mackenzie, it’s the beginning of the rest of their lives…
The world has seen its fair share of evil, but Veronica Chase had no idea such monsters truly existed. Werewolves, poltergeists, witches… even vampires. Ignorance was bliss. But her reality was crushed on that horrid da…y her family was taken away from her. Now, Veronica has devoted her entire life to hunting those very creatures, searching for the werewolf pack that murdered her parents in hopes of finding her abducted sister. Nothing will get in her way of settling the score for the hand she was unjustly dealt. That is until her newest assignment brings her to her knees.
After one hundred and eight years on earth, Mackenzie Jones thought he had seen it all. With the exception of daylight of course, but that’s what comes with the territory being a vampire and all. Perpetually damned to live his life as a bartender in the shadows of the night, nothing has sparked his interest lately. Just once he wished something exciting would happen in his mundane life. Little did he know, his wish was about to come true. Walking through the door to his bar, and into his heart, Mackenzie allows love to take the wheel for the first time. There’s just one slight problem. She’s there to kill him.
Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/An-Element-of-T...
October 10, 2013
Author Spotlight: Kyra Halland!
Author Spotlight: Kyra Halland!
Each week I like to shine a spotlight on one of my fellow indie authors. This week’s featured author is Kyra Halland!
About Kyra
Beginning with the Prydain books by Lloyd Alexander and the Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula K. Leguin, Kyra Halland has always loved fantasy. She has also always loved a good love story. In 1990, as a new stay-at-home mom with a young baby, she finally decided to combine those two loves – like chocolate and peanut butter! – by writing the kin...
Meet The Characters
Meet The Characters
Welcome to the Meet the Characters Blogfest!
Readers, get ready for a whole month of some of the most interesting, hottest, attention grabbing characters in today’s YA, NA, Romance, Horror, and Paranormal fiction!
All month long I’ll be introducing readers to amazing characters through character bios, artwork, interviews, and contests. Check out the schedule below from what you’ll find each day this month.
That’s Not All…
We’ll be having some fabulous contests, each of which ha...
Welcome to the Meet the Characters Blogfest!
Readers, get ready for a whole month of some of the most interesting, hottest, attention grabbing characters in today’s YA, NA, Romance, Horror, and Paranormal fiction!
All month long I’ll be introducing readers to amazing characters through character bios, artwork, interviews, and contests. Check out the schedule below from what you’ll find each day this month.
That’s Not All…
We’ll be having some fabulous contests, each of which ha...
August 29, 2013
An Interview with Stacie Simpson from Smashwords
Smashwords recently came out with a new feature for indie authors called "Smashwords Interviews". Here is the link to my interview which I will post below: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/...
Please feel free to comment or ask your own questions :)
Interview with Stacie Simpson
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
My father was in the military so I've lived in several states including Texas, Hawaii, and Michigan as well as two foreign countries; Germany and Italy. Coming from a military family taught me that there is always something new and different over the horizon. That “something” might not always be what you expected to find, or what you wanted to find, but in the end it’s what you make of your surroundings that’s important. I think that attitude was very evident in my first book Releasing the Dragon when Serafina wakes up to discover she’s mated to the Dragon King. At one point she feels like curling up in bed alone but decides that wouldn’t make the situation any better, so instead she faces her new reality head on and makes the most of it.
When did you first start writing?
I always enjoyed writing assignments when I was in school but I never really thought about writing for any other reason. Then early in 2011 my life took a dramatic turn that I like to think of as starting a new book, rather than a new chapter. The beginning of that book was very dark and during that time I actually wrote quite a few poems. Even though the poems were more about expressing my emotional turmoil Max, the man I share my life with, loved each and every one of them and encouraged me to continue writing. Then in June of 2012 I was inspired by one of my favorite authors, Ilona Andrews, while browsing her website. I liked the idea of a husband and wife writing team and I asked Max if he wanted to write a book with me. He said he’d give it a shot but in the end I wound up doing all the writing. Max was however a good sounding board for my ideas and we always enjoy discussing my characters and storylines together.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
When I originally started writing my first book, Releasing the Dragon I was just looking for something fun for me and Max to do together. I love vampires and all things supernatural and he loves super heroes and comic book characters. I thought together we might come up with some unique and interesting ideas. Eventually I started wondering if anyone would actually want to read what I was writing and I started looking into publishing the book. Very early in my research I discovered the possibility of self-publishing and never even considered sending my book to a traditional publisher. I just wanted to write a book and put it out there so people could enjoy it. With self-publishing my book was published within days after I finished writing it, whereas it might have taken years or possibly might have never been published if I tried the traditional route. Besides, at heart I’m a little bit of a control freak so self-publishing seemed like my best option.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love those moments when I’m writing a story and all of a sudden the characters do something that was completely unplanned and somehow ties in with a seemingly unimportant event or detail from earlier in the story.
I remember loving that aspect of the Harry Potter books when I read them years ago. When I came to the end of that series I was impressed with how many little things I overlooked throughout the story that actually had a profound impact on the eventual outcome. I was awed by JK Rowling and her ability to hide key details in a way that readers would subconsciously take note of them but wouldn’t really think about them until it was time to bring everything together at the end. Now I am still awed by her writing abilities but I wonder if she planned all those little twists and turns, or was she surprised like I often am to find she was putting a puzzle together without even realizing it.
What do your fans mean to you?
The concept of “my fans” is still so mind-boggling to me. Of course I love my books and my characters or I wouldn’t have published them for the world to see. And sure my friends and family tell me they love the books, but I could chalk that up to their being my friends and family. But when I think about all the positive feedback I’ve gotten from people I’ve never even met I am blown away. I never imagined so many people could not only be interested in something I wrote, but actually love it and be eager to read more. I remember the first review that was written about Releasing the Dragon on Goodreads. When I read it the only thought in my mind was “Wow!” Once I recovered from the shock I thought about how invested I can get in the books I read and the characters in those stories, and I realized I wasn’t only writing for myself anymore. Knowing there are people who truly enjoy reading my books is immensely gratifying and the reason I strive to be a better writer every day.
What types of books do you like to read?
Mostly I like to read series because one book is never enough, and most of what I read could be classified as paranormal romances or urban fantasies. Some of my favorites include the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward, the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian, the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, the Vampire Academy series and the Bloodlines series by Richelle Meade, the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine, The Hollows by Kim Harrison, and the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh.
What is your writing process?
I basically just make it up as I go. I’ve never been very good at making outlines. When I was in school and had to turn one in for an assignment I usually wrote the entire paper then went back and made the outline based on what I’d written. That’s completely backwards, I know, but I just have a hard time making a map before I set out on a journey. That is another reason I’m not sure traditional publishing would ever be for me. Sometimes my approach means I have to go back and do a lot of rearranging and rewriting when things don’t work out, but in the end I think it works out for the best.
How do you approach cover design?
At this point in my life I don’t have the skills necessary to create stunning covers that would draw attention to my books. I’m sure I could take classes or watch hundreds of YouTube videos to learn which software to buy and how to use it, but that would take time away from my writing. Therefore, I hire Fiona Jayde Media to create the covers for my books. I tell Fiona the basic elements I would like to see on the covers and she magically combines them with her own ideas to create dazzling covers.
How do I come up with the key elements I want to see on the covers? I think about the stories.
With Releasing the Dragon the key elements of the story were the passionate romance between the couple, the castle that represents the Myths and Legends Casino Resort, and of course the dragon with a fiery background.
For the Destined for Time cover I searched all over the internet for the right couple and finally found the one we went with on Shutterstock. The embrace and the kiss they’re sharing had just the right emotion even if the couple didn’t quite match the description of the characters in the book. The blue color scheme and the water droplets represent an important element of that story as does the clock with the hint of the Myths and Legends castle barely showing behind it.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I read on my iPad or my iPhone using either the Kindle app or the Bluefire app.
Describe your desk.
Desk? I do all my writing on my iPad using the Pages app. Eventually I have to sit down at a computer for editing since the Pages app only checks spelling and not grammar, but that comes at the end of the book. I write wherever inspiration strikes - on my lunch hour at work, waiting in line at the movies, siting on the couch while Max watches TV - with an iPad my options are almost limitless. When I sit down to edit and format my writing, I sit at an old kitchen table where my computer sits behind a 32" TV. It's usually pretty dusty since it's not used that often and dusting is my least favorite chore.
Please feel free to comment or ask your own questions :)
Interview with Stacie Simpson
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
My father was in the military so I've lived in several states including Texas, Hawaii, and Michigan as well as two foreign countries; Germany and Italy. Coming from a military family taught me that there is always something new and different over the horizon. That “something” might not always be what you expected to find, or what you wanted to find, but in the end it’s what you make of your surroundings that’s important. I think that attitude was very evident in my first book Releasing the Dragon when Serafina wakes up to discover she’s mated to the Dragon King. At one point she feels like curling up in bed alone but decides that wouldn’t make the situation any better, so instead she faces her new reality head on and makes the most of it.
When did you first start writing?
I always enjoyed writing assignments when I was in school but I never really thought about writing for any other reason. Then early in 2011 my life took a dramatic turn that I like to think of as starting a new book, rather than a new chapter. The beginning of that book was very dark and during that time I actually wrote quite a few poems. Even though the poems were more about expressing my emotional turmoil Max, the man I share my life with, loved each and every one of them and encouraged me to continue writing. Then in June of 2012 I was inspired by one of my favorite authors, Ilona Andrews, while browsing her website. I liked the idea of a husband and wife writing team and I asked Max if he wanted to write a book with me. He said he’d give it a shot but in the end I wound up doing all the writing. Max was however a good sounding board for my ideas and we always enjoy discussing my characters and storylines together.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
When I originally started writing my first book, Releasing the Dragon I was just looking for something fun for me and Max to do together. I love vampires and all things supernatural and he loves super heroes and comic book characters. I thought together we might come up with some unique and interesting ideas. Eventually I started wondering if anyone would actually want to read what I was writing and I started looking into publishing the book. Very early in my research I discovered the possibility of self-publishing and never even considered sending my book to a traditional publisher. I just wanted to write a book and put it out there so people could enjoy it. With self-publishing my book was published within days after I finished writing it, whereas it might have taken years or possibly might have never been published if I tried the traditional route. Besides, at heart I’m a little bit of a control freak so self-publishing seemed like my best option.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love those moments when I’m writing a story and all of a sudden the characters do something that was completely unplanned and somehow ties in with a seemingly unimportant event or detail from earlier in the story.
I remember loving that aspect of the Harry Potter books when I read them years ago. When I came to the end of that series I was impressed with how many little things I overlooked throughout the story that actually had a profound impact on the eventual outcome. I was awed by JK Rowling and her ability to hide key details in a way that readers would subconsciously take note of them but wouldn’t really think about them until it was time to bring everything together at the end. Now I am still awed by her writing abilities but I wonder if she planned all those little twists and turns, or was she surprised like I often am to find she was putting a puzzle together without even realizing it.
What do your fans mean to you?
The concept of “my fans” is still so mind-boggling to me. Of course I love my books and my characters or I wouldn’t have published them for the world to see. And sure my friends and family tell me they love the books, but I could chalk that up to their being my friends and family. But when I think about all the positive feedback I’ve gotten from people I’ve never even met I am blown away. I never imagined so many people could not only be interested in something I wrote, but actually love it and be eager to read more. I remember the first review that was written about Releasing the Dragon on Goodreads. When I read it the only thought in my mind was “Wow!” Once I recovered from the shock I thought about how invested I can get in the books I read and the characters in those stories, and I realized I wasn’t only writing for myself anymore. Knowing there are people who truly enjoy reading my books is immensely gratifying and the reason I strive to be a better writer every day.
What types of books do you like to read?
Mostly I like to read series because one book is never enough, and most of what I read could be classified as paranormal romances or urban fantasies. Some of my favorites include the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward, the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian, the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, the Vampire Academy series and the Bloodlines series by Richelle Meade, the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine, The Hollows by Kim Harrison, and the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh.
What is your writing process?
I basically just make it up as I go. I’ve never been very good at making outlines. When I was in school and had to turn one in for an assignment I usually wrote the entire paper then went back and made the outline based on what I’d written. That’s completely backwards, I know, but I just have a hard time making a map before I set out on a journey. That is another reason I’m not sure traditional publishing would ever be for me. Sometimes my approach means I have to go back and do a lot of rearranging and rewriting when things don’t work out, but in the end I think it works out for the best.
How do you approach cover design?
At this point in my life I don’t have the skills necessary to create stunning covers that would draw attention to my books. I’m sure I could take classes or watch hundreds of YouTube videos to learn which software to buy and how to use it, but that would take time away from my writing. Therefore, I hire Fiona Jayde Media to create the covers for my books. I tell Fiona the basic elements I would like to see on the covers and she magically combines them with her own ideas to create dazzling covers.
How do I come up with the key elements I want to see on the covers? I think about the stories.
With Releasing the Dragon the key elements of the story were the passionate romance between the couple, the castle that represents the Myths and Legends Casino Resort, and of course the dragon with a fiery background.
For the Destined for Time cover I searched all over the internet for the right couple and finally found the one we went with on Shutterstock. The embrace and the kiss they’re sharing had just the right emotion even if the couple didn’t quite match the description of the characters in the book. The blue color scheme and the water droplets represent an important element of that story as does the clock with the hint of the Myths and Legends castle barely showing behind it.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I read on my iPad or my iPhone using either the Kindle app or the Bluefire app.
Describe your desk.
Desk? I do all my writing on my iPad using the Pages app. Eventually I have to sit down at a computer for editing since the Pages app only checks spelling and not grammar, but that comes at the end of the book. I write wherever inspiration strikes - on my lunch hour at work, waiting in line at the movies, siting on the couch while Max watches TV - with an iPad my options are almost limitless. When I sit down to edit and format my writing, I sit at an old kitchen table where my computer sits behind a 32" TV. It's usually pretty dusty since it's not used that often and dusting is my least favorite chore.
August 12, 2013
Today is the Day!
Destined for Time is now available in multiple eBook formats for $3.99 at these and other online retailers:
Apple iBookstore
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Time-M...
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/desti...
Also available in paperback at:
CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/4370771
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Time-M...
Apple iBookstore
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Time-M...
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/desti...
Also available in paperback at:
CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/4370771
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Time-M...
August 3, 2013
Nine More Days!
Destined for Time will be available in nine more days and I couldn't be more excited!
It is already available for pre-order on Kobo and Barnes and Noble and should appear in the Apple iBookstore any day now.
Thank you to Smashwords for their new pre-release program!
Unfortunately, Amazon does not have pre-release for indie authors so I will approve Destined for Time for sale through Kindle Direct Publishing on the morning of August 12th but it may take them several hours to get it on the Amazon website.
Print copies will be available at CreateSpace.com on August 12th but again it may take some time before they make it to Amazon.
I'm still so new to self-publishing but I have to say it's been a lot of fun. I've learned a lot about formatting with this second book that I didn't know the first time around so I've updated Releasing the Dragon and added an excerpt of Destined for Time to the eBook versions while I was at it.
I hope all of you enjoy these books as much as I enjoy writing them. I'll keep you posted on the next book in the series which I hope to publish by December or Janaury at the latest.
It is already available for pre-order on Kobo and Barnes and Noble and should appear in the Apple iBookstore any day now.
Thank you to Smashwords for their new pre-release program!
Unfortunately, Amazon does not have pre-release for indie authors so I will approve Destined for Time for sale through Kindle Direct Publishing on the morning of August 12th but it may take them several hours to get it on the Amazon website.
Print copies will be available at CreateSpace.com on August 12th but again it may take some time before they make it to Amazon.
I'm still so new to self-publishing but I have to say it's been a lot of fun. I've learned a lot about formatting with this second book that I didn't know the first time around so I've updated Releasing the Dragon and added an excerpt of Destined for Time to the eBook versions while I was at it.
I hope all of you enjoy these books as much as I enjoy writing them. I'll keep you posted on the next book in the series which I hope to publish by December or Janaury at the latest.
July 5, 2013
July Sale!
Releasing the Dragon is 75% off for the month of July at Smashwords using coupon code SSW75. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Releasing the Dragon
Releasing the Dragon
July 3, 2013
Myths and Legends Book Two
I'm just about finished writing the second book in the Myths and Legends series and will soon be moving on to the editing phase. Currently it is titled Destined for Time and I hope to publish it on Amazon and Smashwords on August 12th. It will then trickle out to the other online retailers that Smashwords distributes to such as Apple, Sony, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble over the next few days to weeks.
