Konstanz Silverbow's Blog, page 26

A letter to pirates of the e-book thieving kind.

Dear pirate,

I don't hate you. I'm not even mad. I just want you to understand how stealing my book and putting it out there for the world to take for free kinda hurts. You see, I don't really *need* the money. That's not what this is about. I write because I love to write. I write because it is my escape, because characters tell me their stories to share with the world.

But did you know that it cost me money to publish my book? Yep! It did. The cover? That was a couple hundred dollars. Did you know that's my family's budget for food for two months? The formatting? Another hundred (plus some). Well there wen't any clothes or shoes we needed. Oh and the editing? Well the editing was a couple car payments. Let that sink in, for a minute.

So say our roles were reversed. And I was helping others walk away with your car, groceries for  two months, and your entire clothing budget. Well you would be walking around, starving to death and butt naked. But don't worry about me! Somehow despite your thievery I'll manage. I mean, clearly as a debut author I am just rolling in the dough!

Take into consideration that the book you're stealing, and helping others steal took me nine months to complete. Nine months of hard work that you're giving away for free. Is $2.99 so much that it's worth hurting me for? What could you possibly buy with that $2.99 that's so important? Coffee on your way to work? Maybe lunch at McDonalds?

Guess what! If you'd asked me I would've gladly given you a copy of the book. So I hope you enjoy your McDonalds or Coffee. (If you buy off the dollar menu you could get both! Just helping with your tight budget and all.)

Sincerely,
The Sarcastic Indie Author

Writing Tip #3: You'll fight with yourself and that's okay - just as long as you win!

You know how some days you write and think "Dude! I'm genius!" And then the next day you think "Crap! This is horrible and I should quit writing!" You know? You know what I mean? You get what I'm talking about?  Well I am here to tell you that if you go through this you are defined as a Rapunzel writer.  (Okay so I just made that up, but at least let me explain before scoffing at the ridiculousness and walking away).

In Disney's Tangled, Rapunzel has this hilarious scene in which she is walking through the forest with Flynn Rider. And she is fighting with herself (much like Gollum) about leaving the tower even though her mother told her not to. And here is what she says:

(And to help keep everyone from getting confused, BOLD means she is saying it in an excited tone. And NORMAL means she is saying it in a sad "aww crap!" voice.)



"I can't believe I did this!! 
I can't believe I did this.
I can't believe I did this. 
Mother would be so furious
Well that's okay, what she doesn't know won't kill her, right? 
Oh my gosh, this is gonna kill her.
This is so fun.
I am a horrible daughter, I'm going back.
I am never going back.
I am a despicable human being.
Whoohooooo! Best day ever! 
*Sniffle*

So you see? No? Okay let me use the same idea and change it to the writing situation I am trying to describe.

I can't believe I am writing a book! 
I can't believe I am writing a book!
I can't believe I am writing a book! 
I'm awful! This is terrible!
Well, no! I am going to do this! I got this! 
Oh my gosh, I want to die.
THIS IS SO MUCH FUN! 
I am a horrible writer, I am going back to normal stuff.
I am never going back! 
I am a horrible writer!
Whoooohooo! Best word count ever!! 
*Sniffle*

Alright, now you see what I'm talking about?

So now that you know what a Rapunzel writer is, are you one? No? *Wipes forehead* "Good!" Yes?  Well. . . .than I have some advice for you.  Ready? Take notes.
Don't ever give up. If you have to, be Gollum instead of Rapunzel. (CLICK HERE to see what I'm talking about)Don't ever give up! Know that you will have low moments and still don't  give up.  And most importantly remember the end of Rapunzel's story. You are going to finish that book, and though you may not get in a boat with a really cute guy, you're going to sing! Yep, sing! "AND AT LAST I SEE THE LIGHT, AND IT'S LIKE THE FOG HAS LIFTED." Cause you will have finished a book and you will get it published and you will have learned.
And when it is time to write your next book, open the document, and whisper quietly to it "You are my new dream."  
And always remember, no matter what, you can still succeed. 
There is no expiration date on success.  

Expecting Miracles!

I was going through a really hard time. I mean, life just kinda sucked all around. I didn't want to write, my rankings were going down, and honestly I just kinda wanted to give up. "Expect miracles and they will happen." That's what my friend kept telling me.

I couldn't complain once without her telling me to "expect miracles." And honestly, I had no idea what that meant. Expect miracles? Oh yeah, that's gonna happen. Not. I hated those two words more than I thought imaginable. I finally stopped complaining to her. I mean, come on she's my bestie but I was sick of being told to just expect stuff to happen.

Then things got a little better. Inspiration struck and I began writing again. Voila! I told my friend that things were better. Wanna know what she said? "See! If you expect miracles, they happen." Wha?! I wasn't expecting anything. What is this woman talking about?!

But because things were getting better I let it go. Fine, if she thinks it got better because I was expecting miracles, so be it. And boom! Another miracle hit me! WHA?!?! So I kinda gave in . . .

Skip ahead to Monday. Inventory day at work (mega UGH). And I told her that. Ugh. I hate doing inventory at work. We seriously have a million little things that need to be counted. It is terrible! And it takes forever. And once everything is counted? I have to fix anything that's off in the computer. Even bigger UGH!

But it gets worse. You see I also have a deadline. I MUST have Missing Royal written, edited, and off to beta readers by this upcoming Monday. That means I have to write roughly 60k in LESS than a week and then edit the book too! Mega UGH. And I told all of this to my friend. Wanna guess what she told me? Expect miracles!

So I tell my boss at work that I can't stay late to finish inventory because I *HAVE* to get this book done. And he said he really needed me to stay late because we had to get the inventory done.

And then a brilliant idea came to mind. "Alright, I will stay late Monday and Tuesday night. But then I get *Wednesday AND Thursday off to write." *Wednesday is my regular day off.
And he (the boss) agreed! WHA? Okay so I expected things to work out and . . . they did!

But wait! It gets better. Thursday I was supposed to go into work late and thanks to some snow? I got the whole day off. Did I mention I also get Friday off? So yeah, my miracle was kinda huge.

That doesn't even top off my week. Two other HUGE miracles have happened this week. All because I opened up and expected them. Prayed for them. And allowed them to happen.

And now? Now the same friend who taught me to expect them is needing one of her own! PLEASE help her miracle happen by checking out her GoFundMe project! Even $10 goes a long way!

Expect Miracles! 

Exciting news from Andrea Pearson ~ Author of the Kilenya Series!

Hi, Everyone!

My name is Andrea Pearson and I'm an author of middle grade and young adult fantasy. In celebration of the completion of my Kilenya Series, I'm giving away eBooks! Read on for more details. :-)

The Key of Kilenya, first book in the Kilenya Series (with 50 five-star reviews on Amazon), is available everywhere for free (Kindle, Nook, Smashwords), but only until the 18th of January.

It's originally $3.99, and is geared to readers 10 and older. If it were a movie, it would be rated PG. No swearing or vulgarity, and very minimal violence.

Here's the book description:

We all have a choice—but we can’t choose the consequences.

Jacob Clark is chased down a path that takes him to another world—a world where he is a wanted young man. The Lorkon want to control him and the special powers he possesses. The people of the new world want him to save them from the destruction of the Lorkon. All Jacob wants is to go home, but even that choice has consequences. He doesn’t know what to do and if he waits too long, the new world and the one he came from will be destroyed. As Jacob looks for people he can trust, he finds himself in the center of the fight for freedom—both for himself and the people he’s come to know.

Jacob has no idea where the path he chooses will take him, but once the choice has been made—bring on the consequences.

Back to Andrea. :-) I had so much fun writing this book! I came up with the idea for the magical key when I was 10 - the same age as many of my readers - and built on it until I was 22, when I sat down and actually wrote the book. The Kilenya Series has sold really well and I've been so excited to find people just as passionate about the books as I am. :-)

The second book, The Ember Gods, is available for $0.99 until January 18, but you don't have to buy it if you don't want to, because I'm giving it away for free. In fact, I'm giving away three different eBooks. The only thing required on your part is to decide which one you want, mention it on this blog post, then email me the info, and I'll send you the file. :-)

Here are the books to choose from:

The Ember Gods, Kilenya Series Book Two

Original and discounted price: $3.99 to $0.99
(or free, if you choose this eBook :-))Discounted Until January 18thGenre and target audience: Fantasy for teensIf this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PGIf you don't want it for free (ha ha :-)), you can download it from: Kindle, Nook
Book description: 

Jacob Clark’s new abilities are a blessing and a curse. He’s a hero for returning the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners, but at school he's starting to get noticed for something other than his basketball skills. And the attention is freaking him out.
Balancing both worlds is tricky enough, but Jacob has tasked himself with saving Aloren who’s trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods. He doesn't want to wait for the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon, but the desire to prove himself to the high school basketball coach conflicts with his plans to rescue her.

Feeling pulled by both sides, Jacob must walk a tightrope of warring worlds with lives on the line. Lives that will be lost if he doesn’t figure out how to complete his quest and balance his abilities. Fast.

August Fortress, Kilenya Series Book Three

Price: $3.99 (or free, if you choose this eBook :-))
Genre and target audience: Fantasy for teens
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PG
If you don't want it for free, you can download it from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Book description:

Since Jacob Clark discovered his abilities, his life has changed for the better—and the worse.

The basketball coach won't notice him and high school is much more complicated than before. Jacob finds himself needed more and more in Eklaron where his abilities are saving lives. And then the call comes—he and his friends must rescue the powerful Sheingols from August Fortress where they've been held for fifteen years. The only problem is, Lorkon traps are everywhere and getting past them might be impossible.

The closer he gets to his goal, the harder the traps are to overcome. Can he master more of his powers to fight the traps? Or has Jacob finally met his match?

Samara: A Kilenya Romance

Original price:$1.99 (or free, if you choose this eBook :-))
Genre and target audience: Clean teen romance
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? G (or a very, very soft PG)
If you don't want it for free, you can download it from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Book description:

When Samara Oldroyd meets the most amazing guy ever, she's frustrated their conversation is cut short. Her wishes that they'll run into each other again come true when she meets her sister's new boyfriend. It's him! Eeek!
Inspired by the film Dan in Real Life, this novella will tickle you pink as Samara tries—in vain—to undo her crush.

(There is no magic involved in this story. It contains characters you'll meet in the Kilenya Series and can be read separately.)


Now that you've chosen which free eBook you want, here's how you get it:
Comment on this blog, saying which eBook you wantSend me an email(ap@andreapearsonbooks.com) and tell me:The title of the book The name of the blog that sent youWhich format you want the eBook in (Kindle, Nook, etc.) And that's all!

I can't wait for you to delve into the world of Kilenya and discover the magic, monsters, and people there!


Andrea Pearson, author of the Kilenya Series, Kilenya Romances, and Katon University series, lives with her husband and daughter in a small valley framed with hills. She is Executive Director of the Indie Author Hub group and creator of the writing application, Writer’s Progress Bar. She is an editor for the website Gather.com.

Andrea spends as much time with her husband and daughter as possible. Favorite activities include painting, watching movies, collecting and listening to music, and discussing books and authors.

Her mother says they can't possibly be related because Andrea isn't in love with chocolate and tomatoes, though she’ll eat either. (But not together.) She would much rather snack on toasted English muffins with lots of butter or nearly anything with cheese.

The Faerie War by Rachel Morgan ~ A Book Review

The fate of the fae world is in her hands ...

Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.

As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?

~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ 

My review: 
The Faerie War was a bittersweet read. I took as long as I possibly could to read it because I didn't want it to end. But once I got past the first sentence, there was no tearing me away from the book!

Creepy Hollow is like a second home to me and to see what it goes through, what the characters go through was pure torture. Warning: You will want to have tissues on hand! If you do not like people seeing you cry/emotional, *do not read in public*!

You cannot ask for a more action packed, romantic, EPIC (YA) Fantasy novel/series full of emotion, trials, triumphs, and twists that will blow you away! There is simply nothing that compares!

Ryn . . . oh my goodness, Ryn! Yep, I'm in love! Serious crush going on over here! He is the freaking cutest, hottest, kick-butt, love-dovey, faerie I have ever read about! <3

Violet is one of my all-time favorite heroines! Talk about the best mix of sassy, sweet, and kick-butt! Definitely the kind of person I want as my best friend!

Don't tell me 5 stars is the limit, I can't give this book any less than 10!



~ About the Author ~ 

Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn't for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.
~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~

Writing Tip #2: Tell the voice "Leave, and never come back!"

You know the voice I'm talking about? No, no, not the ones that belong to your characters. But the OTHER voice. The one that says things like "Quit now." and "You'll never succeed," and "Why bother? You're horrible at this," I'm talking about the voice that tells you to give up.  I'm talking about the voice that doesn't believe in you.  That voice? Yeah I want you to treat that voice the same way Smeagol talks to Gollum.


 You know this conversation from the movie?  Here, let me refresh your memory: 
Gollum:  “You don’t have any friends, nobody likes you!” Smeagol:  “I’m not listening, I’m not listening.” Gollum:  “You’re a liar and a thief.” Smeagol: “No!” Gollum: “Mur-der-er.” Smeagol: “Go away!”Gollum: “Go away?” *Insert Gollum laugh here* Smeagol:  *Insert Smeagol crying* “I hate you, I hate you!” Gollum: “Where would you be without me? Gollum! Gollum saved us! It was me! We survived because of me!” Smeagol:  *Smeagol crying stops* “Not anymore.” Gollum: “What did you say?”Smeagol: “Master looks after us now, we don’t need you anymore. Leave now, and never come back!” Gollum: “What?” Smeagol: “LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!”  (Repeat 2x) 
Now pretend this conversation is happening between you and that little voice: 
Evil voice:  “You don’t have any talent, nobody likes your writing!” You:  “I’m not listening, I’m not listening.” Evil Voice:  “You’re a horrible writer.” You: “No!” Evil voice: “Word killer.” You: “Go away!”Evil voice : “Go away?” *Insert Gollum Evil voice laugh here*  You:  *Insert Smeagolyou crying* “I hate you, I hate you!” Evil voice: “Where would you be without me? Gollum! GollumEvil voice saved us! It was me! We survived because of me!” You:  *Smeagol your crying stops* “Not anymore.” Evil Voice: “What did you say?”You: “Master I look after us me now, weI don’t need you anymore. Leave now, and never come back!” Evil Voice: “What?” You: “LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!”  (Repeat 2x)
Don't listen to the little voice! Send it away and tell it to never come back! 
Because you are good enough, and you can do this!  

TWO VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS!**

One princess destroyed the world. One princess must save it. 

When Shanice was little, she wished to be a princess. Now as a teenager, she just wishes she fit in. But Shanice doesn't feel like she belongs—she never has.

When her parents tell her she is the last known princess from another world, it all makes sense—a world full of magic in place of technology, one where she is more than just royalty. She is their last chance to stop the one who is bent on destroying it: Mendina. 

But she can't do it alone. First, she must find the other missing royals. In her quest, Shanice will be forced to choose between the course prophecy set for her and the one that leads to the man who possesses her heart.
~ Add it to your Goodreads shelf! ~ 
And now . . . the first special announcement! 
Missing Royal is special to me. This is my first book, the one I worked on for seven years, the one that I will always hold dear. Only Half Alive may have been my first book to be published but Missing Royal is truly what has me excited. I have been waiting a LONG time to put this book out there. 
And now that the time has come I have decided to make it extra special with a special edition of the book. 
*To clarify - there will be two versions of the book. The regular edition and the special edition. 
This special edition will include things like character drawings, creature designs, the original map, the official map, bonus scenes, and a sneak peak of the second book in the Finding Gold series, The Enchanted Rose. 
There will only ever be 100 copies of the special edition in existence  And guess what, it is available for pre-order NOW! 
You can check it out HERE! Get your copy quick because once all 100 copies are sold, there will be no more. 
You can also pre-order the regular edition through me HERE! 
And now . . . the second special announcement!
 I have created a GoFundMe store to help with publishing books. 
Go HERE to check it out! 
Everyone who participates in either of these - whether your pre-order Missing Royal or support the GoFundMe Project - will be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card!

How to Date a Nerd ~ A Book Review

Zoe has a great pair of legs, perky boobs, and wears exactly what she needs to show it all off. She works hard for the easy sleazy ‘you only wish you were me’ reputation, burying who she really is—an all-out nerd.

The only time Zoe gets to be herself is when she hides under her comforter to read X-Men comics, sending jealousy stabs at everyone who attends Comic-Con. Keeping up her popular rep is too important, and she’s so damn insecure to care about the consequences. But when Zoe’s sister takes her car for a ‘crash and burn into a tree’ joyride, her parents get her a replacement. A manual. Something she doesn’t know how to operate, but her next door neighbor Zak sure as heck does.

Zak’s a geek to the core, shunned by everyone in school for playing Dungeons and Dragons at lunch and wearing “Use the Force” t-shirts. And Zoe’s got it bad for the boy. Only Zak doesn’t want Popular Zoe. He wants Geek Zoe.

She has to shove her insecurities and the fear of dropping a few rungs on the social ladder aside to prove to Zak who she really is and who she wants to be… if she can figure it out herself.

~Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ 
My Review:  I can honestly say this book took me by surprise. First off, I read it in two hours. I couldn't put it down! Second, I LOVE Zoe! I mean, I can seriously understand what she went through and the choice she has to make. And oh my goodness, Zak? Yeah, LOOOOOOVE him! 
The writing is fantastic, totally believable for high school. Cassie definitely has a way with words! And my goodness, she really knows her stuff!  I am a huge fan of all the shows, comics, movies, and books mentioned in How to Date a Nerd so it was awesome to see so many fun facts put in there. Plus I actually learned a few nerdy facts! Score! 
*Warning: There is language and some not so kid friendly discussions. I definitely recommend this book for older teenagers. 


~ About the author ~ 
Cassie Mae (sometimes writes as Becca Ann ;)) is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. Her angel children and perfect husband fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate. 
 ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Blog ~ 

Finding Gold ~ The Golden Ticket

I have talked about Missing Royal pretty much non-stop since I decided to self-publish it. This story means everything to me and I want YOU to enjoy it and be just as excited! 
The series title is Finding Gold. And today that title is a little more literal. You see, I have twelve copies of Only Half Alive left. Each copy will be sold on Etsy, HERE.
Inside ONE of those copies is a golden ticket for ONE Paperback copy of Missing Royal (Special Edition - a $30 value). 


The ticket has been placed randomly in one of the books by one of my siblings and is small enough that until you open the book, it can't be seen. This means I don't know which book its in. One lucky person who purchases one of the last twelve copies of Only Half Alive is going to get this ticket. 

*Three Golden Tickets have been created. The remaining two will be given away at other times but only this ONE is for a special edition of Missing Royal. The other two are for regular editions. 

Missing Royal Teaser

Add Missing Royal to your Goodreads TBR list HERE.