Isabella Modra's Blog, page 7

WRITEONCON

Anyone who's interested in participating in something amazing, today is the day when WriteOnCon - a website dedicated to helping authors reach out to agents, publishers and other authors - hosts their very special LIVE chats!

The wonderful guests include agents Sarah La Polla, Katie Grimm, Brooks Sherman and Victoria Marini.

I participated in a pitch-fest a few months ago (back when I wasn't self-publishing) and had the privilege of entering the competition where I was assigned an Agent who actually read my pitch and make comments on it. The experience was amazing, and not something you get to participate in everyday. So I encourage you, if you're an aspiring author or are just interested in hearing agents opinions on all things writing, head over to the live event scheduled at 5:00pm on Tuesday 13th August at this website:

WriteOnCon 

They also have other live events scheduled and forum discussions happening RIGHT NOW. It's freaking awesome! So what are you waiting for??

EARLY RELEASE!

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

So... it turns out the review process for my book went a lot quicker than I anticipated, and my book is now set to be released within - and I quote - 'the next 5-7 business days' on Amazon.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Excuse me whilst I sit here at my computer and comprehend the super-mega-amazing-unbelievable-mind-blowing moment that is right. now.

...........

Okay I'm done freaking out. So once the link for the page comes up on Amazon, I'll be posting it here IMMEDIATELY. And then the real business starts.

Holy shit. I'm not gonna lie, I'm still freaking out. Slightly embarrassing, but you would be too if your book was about to be published. In 5-7 business days.

Look out for more updates, and PLEASE tell your friends!!! It's freaking AMAZING!

REVIEW - FANTASY LOVER

I’m going to be flat out honest here and say that this book was a bit too dull for me. There was really no meaning behind it. You know how most erotic fantasy books have the tortured, irresistible hero who always falls for the average girl just because she was only slightly different? That is Fantasy Lover.

Of course I loved Julian. He is a Greek (sorry, Spartan) love-slave trapped in a book forever damned to be summoned by women and forced to obey their every kinky commands. He is everything that is hot, sexy and mouthwatering, and he’s a superstar in the bedroom. Best of all, he has the history of being the most badass Spartan warrior ever and he’s all broody and tormented because of it.

Then Grace, your run-of-the-mill woman who works as a psychiatrist and has never been with a man who didn’t use her for sex, summons Julian, not really believing it would happen. And they fall madly in love with each other, thereby endeavoring to break Julian’s curse so they can live happily ever after. Some stuff with Julian’s mother Aphrodite and other gods happen in the center.

Truthfully, I was just waiting for the sex scene they weren’t allowed to have until the end (part of breaking the curse) and was disappointed. Sure, there were other pleasures in the middle, but that’s part of the only reason why I read these erotic novels. The characters never really get to me because they’re too predictable and too perfect and too fantasized.

So really, I’m giving this book 2 stars, because while the connection between the two worlds was good and the scenes between the hero and heroine were loving and steamy at once, the writing was repetitively annoying, the POV between the two characters wasn’t clear and their selfless decision making towards the end annoyed me a little. Seriously, you’re allowed to be selfish and want to be with Grace, you hunk of sex! You’ve been trapped in a book for thousands of years and you want to go back in the book so poor Grace can avoid danger from other gods she’s already been in contact with in just the past month of her living with him! What is that??

Blah.

Failing at Life

Okay I'm really afraid for myself right now. Finally God granted me the words to start the third book in my series (the first being Rouge, set to be released next month) and now that I've started putting words to paper I've come across an issue:

I CAN NO LONGER BLOG.

There are several reasons why.

First, and most obviously, is that I've now turned into a hermit (or more of a hermit than I already am). My creative juices are flowing and so I'm behind my computer with a word document and have so far written 7000 words just this weekend (Whoop!!). Yay for me, but also holy crap... I have no life.

The second reason is that the world of blogging scares me. I'm totally not a social networker. I hate Twitter, I never post on Facebook because I get so frustrated with those people that post idiotic and irrelevant jargon like 'today I baked a cake!' and 'like for an inbox!'. Urgh.

But honestly, don't you sometimes feel like there is SO much stuff in our internet galaxy that by the time I've seen it all, I'll be 85 and brainwashed by the computer? What is the secret to being a successful blogger or an internet sensation or a Twitter God with billions of followers?

Sometimes... it's just too much for a little author like myself. I much prefer complicated plots and characters than complicated webpages and the disappointment of having 5 blog views a day.

So I apologize for not being disciplined with my blog posts, and also for being a terrible marketer for my book. But let's face it; that's why people hire others to do this shit. It's that simple. And what do you need to hire people to be your publicist, webpage designer and social butt-kicker?

Money.

And I have a limited supply of that.

So there, that's my rant for the week. It just proves how much I truly fail at life. I was supposed to be born in the 1950s so I could grow up in the hippy era, so don't blame me for that.

And here is a wonderful random video that always makes me laugh. (This is what I do on the internet that doesn't require much thinking or attention, so once again, don't judge me). Peace X

Reading is Sexy

Trying to design a logo for the evil company in my 2nd bo...

Trying to design a logo for the evil company in my 2nd book. (Unknown Name, coming soon!)

You can tell I was born to be a writer, not a designer. Oh well, you use what talents you were given :)

PS, if anyone who sees this IS a designer, contact me asap and we'll talk business. (https://www.facebook.com/RougeNovel)

When Writer's Brains Don't Work

I don’t know if anyone ever feels like this (because, let’s face it, about 3% of the world’s population are aspiring or currently published authors), but sometimes there are those days when my mind is so completely useless that it won’t actually work. Not… you know, shut down or anything. I’m not a vegetable. What I mean is that I was born to be a writer, and today my brain turns to me and says:

“Sorry, but no. I’ve decided to turn off the creative juices for today. No writing your wonderfully inspiring and very well put together stories. Sorry. No.”

And, at first I’m like -



So I try again. My brain simply does not understand that I actually have to start my book, or I can’t get into it. Without the beginning… there is no book.

“Pretty please brain!” I beg.

 
2 hours later. Still nothing. Then I start to get a little frustrated.

    
 
You get the drift. Sometimes… parts of your body that should be cooperating just tend to… not cooperate. Yeah yeah, I know it’s a Sunday and I had a pretty pumping weekend (jokes, I have no life). I suppose even talented authors like myself -


– need a bit of a break.

So people. When you finish a novel and you check online to see when the next one is released and you discover that you have to wait another entire year until the story continues, and you’re like -



 
Just remember: we’re only human. It's hard writing a story, and it's even harder to start one. And sometimes… our brains are wankers. End of discussion.
Sorry about the gif overload, and thanks for your attention.

(PS – the above post is what happens when I’m bored and my brain refuses to write. I’m sorry, I have no control over it. Peace X)

Was feeling superhero-inspired today. And I just love thi...

Was feeling superhero-inspired today. And I just love this <3

The Clockwork Princess: REVIEW

My reaction to the end of the Infernal Devices series was a bit of the above image (how can I go on without this story in my life??), some gazing-dreamily-out-my-bedroom-window-with-happiness-in-my-heart, and then I sort of slumped back against my bed and thought to myself that the last time I felt such a strong sadness when I finished a book series was the day I finished Harry Potter. 

GASP! I know! I’m comparing this book to Harry Potter! It must be good.

The Clockwork books have been one of my favorites since I first read began them in 2011. The three main characters (as well as the other minor characters) are so well-written that I feel as if I actually know them. The romance is believable and wonderful and profound and completely heart-breaking. The story is very well-written for such a difficult era to write in, and I though the author did an incredible job at researching the scenery, even using real poems, songs and prose from books from that century. Even the language was perfect. Brava, Ms. Clare, brava.

What I particularly loved about the series in general, was that the relationships didn’t feel forced like they do in most books. There were several clever plot twists that were quite unexpected and very well thought out. I was also surprised at my inability to choose between the two male protagonists, William Herondale and James Carstairs. Usually it’s ‘Team Edward!’ or ‘Team Eric!’ or ‘Team Peeta!’. With this series, it’s ‘Team Will! No wait, Team Jem! No, actually, Team… Team… screw it, just split me in half and let me have both!’

When it comes to this final book in the trilogy, I was a tad iffy about the length. Admittedly, this book took me all of… three months to get through. Now that’s not because it was terrible (I’m also a writer, therefore I am so busy focusing on my own story that I can’t get into someone else’s. I know, it’s a terrible excuse) but… it wasn’t altogether enthralling in some parts. There were many scenes that – although needed – were a little dull. But the ending… woah. I completely forgot the rest of the book once I stuck my head in the last few chapters. And don’t even get me started on the Epilogue. I haven’t cried reading a book in a long time. The circle-of-life factor was (even if a little cliché) beautiful in itself. The wonderful way that Cassandra Clare managed to make an entire lifetime feel so real in just one final chapter is brilliant in itself. I put the book down satisfied that everything ended the way it should have, and for that, I will rate this book 4.5 stars.

A brilliant story of sacrifice, selfless honor, tragic endings and the bond of true love, The Infernal Devices series is definitely a favorite. And who can resist a blue-eyed Shadowhunter with a heart for books and a British accent? Who am I kidding, Will! Team Will!

‘Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.’ – Sarah Williams, “The Old Astronomer”

I actually got emotional just watching this trailer. Some...

I actually got emotional just watching this trailer. Sometimes, there are just no words for how excited I am. Except maybe, ARGHfbdlsbuibvcur93[yt94'whag'fzhibfdhi'ah9'wqh!!!;i@#$*%fiwfndis'fnds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!