Chrys Fey's Blog, page 45

Author Interview with Julie Tuovi / The Sirens of Falkeld Series

Today I have Julie Tuovi as my guest. She is the YA Fantasy writer of the Sirens of Falkeld series. Her news novella is The Last Nine Winter of Aidan Finley. If you’re as much of a fan of fantasy and sirens as I am, I know you’ll enjoy her visit. :)

Welcome, Julie! Please tell us about your current release.
My latest book is called, The Last Nine Winters of Aidan Finley…

Aidan Finley dreamed of marrying the girl with the red hair who stole his heart as a lad. He dreamed of a family and growing old together in a cottage atop Muireall’s wind-swept cliffs. 

But Aidan didn’t know what swam beneath the island’s dark, fathomless waves. 

He never realized what fragile things dreams can be. 

After a storm ravishes the island one summer day, he finds a creature caught beneath a rock in a cave. His choice to save her will alter his world forever—for even dreams aren’t safe from the siren’s song.

I have to give a huge shout out to the fans for this one. Aidan came about—in large part—because of them clamoring for more Aidan after I released The Sirens of Falkeld. With requests like that, what’s a girl to do, right? Write! Hopefully fans of Sirens will love this further glimpse into Finley history! 
AmazonGoodreads
1. What inspired you to write this book?
My DAD was the first person to inspire me to write about mermaids (if you can believe it!) He said it in passing one day, and I honestly wasn’t too interested. I wanted to write something dark and gritty, and at that point, I was a little mermaid sheltered, and didn’t realize mermaids were capable of being dark.
Aaand then I saw a certain Pirates of the Caribbean movie...
Um, hello there, evil mermaids!
After a little digging, I realized that almost every culture and every country in the world has SOME type of mer-folklore, and that most of them actually aren’t your Disney-princess-sparkly-nicein the slightest. After thatrealization, there was no going back. From there on it was all folklore, myths and research and I’ve loved every second of the journey. Thanks, dad ( ;
2. I loved those evil mermaids! What books would you compare to The Last Nine Winters of Aidan Finley?
There are TWO books that I absolutely love, and actually reread a couple times while writing my own book, because they were good at getting me in the mood:

1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, and

2. The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Both of these books are FABULOUS! They are both a bit darker and more moody, and they also both deal with aspects of Celtic folklore. (Win, win!) If you’re into that kinda thing, you’ll definitely want to read these!
3. Is this part of a series?
Yes! The Last Nine Winters of Aidan Finley is actually a companion novella that goes with The Sirens of Falkeld. Technically, it’s a prequel. But I highly recommend reading Sirensfirst, as it gives you context to the world and characters that will make Aidan a more interesting read!
4. Why did you choose the setting of Scotland?
I knew when I started, that I wanted a setting that would reflect the mood of the novel I was going to write. I basically just looked at a map and decided that the cold seas, high cliffs and rich folklore history of Scotland fit the bill perfectly! (Super scientific, I know)  
5. If you have a pen name, can you explain how you came up with it?
Julie Tuovi is my real name… although Tuovi is technically my middle name. When I was in junior high, it embarrassed me so bad. That’s the age you just really want to fit in, ya know? And my middle name most decidedly, did NOT fit in! I tried to keep it on the down low, until one day, I was at a party, and somehow the topic of middle names came up. I grudgingly mentioned that my middle name was Tuovi, at which point my friend exclaimed, “Tuovi?! You could be famous with a name like Tuovi!” Haha! I seriously doubted her mental stability at the time, but when it came time to picking a pen name, I decided, “Why the heck not?!”
(P.s. I don’t hate the name anymore… I’ve actually grown rather fond of it! Thanks, ‘rents!)  
6. I think that's a neat middle name. What are a few things we would find in or on your desk?
A mess. (HA!) Consisting of knickknacks, a miniature grand piano, a little ceramic orange bowl I made in kindergarten (currently serving as my push pin holder), post it notes, LOTS of pictures, multi-colored pens and markers, oh and lookie here—fingernail clippers!
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7. Fingernail clips. haha Can you tell us about your journey to publication?
I self published The Sirens of Falkeld, last year (2015), after being rejected about a billion times by agents. I got lots and LOTS of full ms requests, but for some reason or another, I couldn’t—for the life of me!—get one to stick! Frustrated, I decided to put Sirens out there on my own. I wanted it to get read, and I didn’t want to wait around any longer *puts foot down*!!
Fast forward a year later… I’m getting ready to release Aidan, meanwhile, another book I had on submission was getting some hits by agents (Yessss!!) One of the agents I queried was Moe Ferrara of Bookends Literary. I found her through a blog contest hosted by Miss Snark’s First Victim and thought she sounded like a great match for my book. I sent her a cold query and she requested a full! A few months later, I noticed Moe was attending a writing conference I was planning on going to. I emailed her and asked her if she’d like to meet in person (because, you know… why not?) And she did! We met, and the first thing out of her mouth was, “Heeeey, I actually wanted to talk to you, do you mind stepping out into the hall with me?”
*cue hyperventilating into paper bag*
She then proceeded to tell me she loved my book and wanted to rep me! AHHHHHHH!!! I totally played it cool (HA! Not.), but there was much screaming and jumping up and down in the bathroom afterwards.
A few days later, we made it official and the contract was signed! *squeeeee*
You guys, THIS ALL JUST HAPPENED, so I’m kind of still in freak out mode here. But when I’m not still scratching my head and reminding myself that—yes, I DO (finally!) have an agent—you can find me working on some revisions to said book. Once it’s in tip-top shape, hopefully we’ll be able to go out on submission sometime this year!
8. Share three random facts about you.
1) I can’t crack an egg to save my life—I get bits of shell in the pan EVERY time!2) I can wiggle my nose the way some people can wiggle their ears3) My thumbs are double jointed
9. I can't wiggle my nose or ears! Do you listen to music while you write?
Sometimes, but it HAS to be wordless. Lyrics mess with my mind when I write! If the music has words, I’ll inevitably start singing along, which is kinda detrimental when you’re trying to think of your own words.
10. Share your advice to new writers.
NEVER give up. NEVER stop improving!! I’m 1,000% convinced that the vast majority of success stories out there are because they were just too stubborn to let go of a dream! BE STUBBORN, OKAY?!! 

BIO:
Julie Tuovi is a read-a-holic, Diet Coke addict, and like her maighdean mhara, loves all things sparkly. Especially nail polish. In her spare time Julie likes to hunt zombies, debate the merits of pirate v. ninja, and rescue small kittens from trees. Oh . . . and plot ways to take over the universe. A history enthusiast, concert pianist, and attorney (but only when there’s nothing better to do), she currently lives in Ohio with her knight and wee baby princess, where you can often find her writing and dreaming of far-off, magical places. She is represented by Moe Ferrara of Bookends Literary.
Author Links:Blog / Facebook / Twitter

M - Mother Earth/Nature + Teaser

Mother Earth/Nature is an important character in the Disaster Crimes Series. Although she’s not a character in human form with eye and hair, and although she doesn’t have dialogue, she is always present. In the form of a hurricane, an earthquake and the upcoming disasters, she makes an impact. Without her, Hurricane Crimes and Seismic Crimes would be Florida Crimes and San Francisco Crimes. They’d have the romantic element and the criminal element, but the intensity of the disasters, which makes these stories unique, would be gone.
Mother Earth is a personification of nature and all of its forces in the form of a mother. She is everything that is good, pure as well as chaotic, dangerous.

TEASER:
He dropped his hands to the table, rattling the silverware. “You’re lucky the quake happened when it did, or he could’ve riddled the two of you with bullets. I think Mother Earth had your back.”
“Yeah, I owe her big time.” While sipping the last of her green tea, Beth realized Mother Earth had introduced her to Donovan too. Without Hurricane Sabrina, they never would’ve met. Now Mother Earth had saved their asses with a seven-point-four earthquake. If Mother Earth were in human form, she would be the Maid of Honor at their wedding.
Wedding? Beth shook her head to dislodge that thought from her brain. She was positive Donovan wasn’t ready to talk about Holy Matrimony. She wasn’t even sure if she was ready.

To read more from Seismic Crimes, go to Amazon.

QUESTION: Do you believe in Mother Earth?


HURRICANE CRIMES 99¢ SALE!
DIGITAL LINKS:Amazon US / Amazon UK Amazon CA / NOOK / KOBO All Romance eBooks


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Writing About: Wrestlers

Out of all of my mortal (human) characters, the wrestlers in my WIP are my favorite characters because I get to be creative while writing about their career. Wrestlers aren’t usual characters in a book, but I couldn’t resist writing this post. And I figured wrestling fans may enjoy it.

Names –
Wrestlers can use their real name such as John Cena or Jeff Hardy, or a wrestler can have a ring name such as Sting or The Rock. A strong real name, or a ring name that matches their wrestling style and look, is a must.
Colors –
All wrestlers have theme colors that they incorporate into their attire or face paint (if the wrestler uses it). Think Eva Marie from WWE who has bright red hair and wears red. She even has a hashtag. #AllRedEverything
Outfit –
Wrestling is entertainment and the wrestlers are very much like actors, as well as athletes. Actors have costumes for their roles and so do wrestlers. These outfits incorporate their colors and match their personality. John Cena is All-American, so he wears jean shorts. Female wrestlers tend to wear skimpier clothing, but not all of them do. Some wear full-body leather outfits.
Theme Song –
What the wrestler walks into the arena to is another part of their package. The song has to fit the wrestler’s personality and excite the crowd when they hear it.
Finisher Move –
Every wrestler has a signature move they use to finish off their opponent and win the match. With Jeff Hardy, it’s the Swanton Bomb. Researching wrestling moves, watching videos, and combining stunts or putting a twist on one can help you come up with a new one. And you’ll get to name it!



Wrestling Match –
Watching wrestling matches is the only way to know how to write one. There are so many different types too: tag team, street match, cage match, weapons watch, etc. You can even create your own. Matches also have rules. Pin fall is the usually way to win. This is when a wrestler pins their opponent’s shoulders to the mat for a full three-count. But being the last in the ring in a group match where everyone is fighting everyone, or escaping the cage first are other ways to win.

TIP #1: Build up the tension. Let the match start off slow and get more intense with crazy stunts, “pain”, and close calls (two-counts).

TIP #2: Plan the match out. Know the beginning, middle and end. This will make it so much easier to write.

TIP #3: Include the audience. Have them cheer for the face (good) wrestler and boo the heal (bad) wrestler. They can chant too. A few favorite chants are “You can’t wrestle”, “You suck”, and “This is awesome!”

Wrestling is entertaining in real life and in fiction. One day, I hope to share my contemporary-romance wrestling story with all of you!

QUESTION: Are you a fan of wrestling? Do you have a favorite wrestler? Mine is obviously Jeff Hardy. haha

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Harry Potter Wand Art Project + You.I.Us Blog Tour

You. I. Us. is a collection of vignettes, small scenes which hint at the story beneath. Annalisa Crawford has taken that idea to another level, because she asked 15 bloggers to ask her one question each, creating small insights into her life and writing.

MY QUESTION: If you could be any Harry Potter character (good or bad), who would you be and why?
ANNALISA'S ANSWER: When I first saw your question, Chrys, I knew my answer straight away!
I would be Luna Lovegood.
She’s weird, and everyone gives her a wide berth to begin with, but she—like so many of the other minor characters—steps up when needed and proves her true worth. She has the strength to be herself no matter what everyone else says, and to stick to her beliefs. Over time, the other characters come to appreciate her for who she is.
I think that’s such a great lesson to teach kids, and adults to some extent. I was never that popular at school, but I learned to embrace who I was.
You. I. Us.Publication date: June 10, 2016Genre: Short Stories (Single Author)

Amazon  //  Barnes & Noble  //  Book Depository  //  Kobo  //  iBooks  //  Nook

In You. I. Us., Annalisa Crawford captures everyday people during  poignant defining moments in their lives: An artist puts his heart into his latest sketch, an elderly couple endures scrutiny by a fellow diner, an ex-student attempts to make amends with a girl she bullied at school, a teenager holds vigil at his friend’s hospital bedside, long distance lovers promise complete devotion, a broken-hearted widow stares into the sea from the edge of a cliff where her husband died, a grieving son contacts the only person he can rely on in a moment of crisis, a group of middle-aged friends inspire each other to live remarkable lives.
Day after day, we make the same choices. But after reading You. I. Us., you’ll ask yourself, “What if we didn’t?”


About the Author:
Annalisa Crawford lives in Cornwall UK, with a good supply of moorland and beaches to keep her inspired. She lives with her husband, two sons, a dog and a cat. Annalisa writes dark contemporary, character-driven stories. She has been winning competitions and publishing short stories in small press journals for many years, and is the author of Cat & The Dreamer and Our Beautiful Child. www.annalisacrawford.com

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Harry Potter Wand Project
By Chrys Fey
During winter break I watched the Harry Potter movies with my nephews for the first time, and they became so crazy in love with the world of Harry Potter that they wanted to play with wands and run around outside shouting spells at each other. Being the cool, clever, child-at-heart auntie that I am, I created a fun art project so we could all play together like real wizards. 
What You Need:-       A smooth stick-       Kid-safe paint-       Paint brushes-       Glitter-       Fabric-       Feathers (not necessary)-       Elmer’s Glue-       Newspaper

My youngest nephew's wand is the blue one. Mine is in the middle.
And the black one with the feather is my oldest nephew's wand.
Instructions:
1. Hunt along the side of the road, near the woods, or in your backyard for smooth sticks that are about a foot long. Clean the sticks and lay down newspaper on the surface you want to use.
2. Let the kids paint one side of their stick. Once it’s dried, turn it over, and have them paint the other side. Unless you have a stand so they can paint all around it at once.
3. Paint glue around the tip of the stick, about two inches, and sprinkle it with glitter. This is the magic coming out of their wand. ;)
4. Put glue on the opposite end and fix a piece of fabric around the stick to create a handle. If the fabric is long and wraps around a few times, you’ll need to add more glue. This piece of fabric is mostly for comfort.
5. You can add feathers to the end of the wand where the fabric handle is, or any other decoration you want, such as ribbons.



Our Harry Potter Game:
-          Decide who will be bad and who will be good. There’s usually one bad one among the three of us.  Pick names. I’m Hermione when I’m good, and Bellatrix LeStrange when I’m bad.
-          For a list of spells go to HarryPotter.wikia.com
-          Have the bad witch or wizard count to ten while the good witches/wizards run and hide.
-          For certain spells, create rules. Ex: If someone yells “Expelliarmus,” which is the disarming spell, you have to toss your wand to the ground.
-          If someone says "Reducto," you have to pause for about five seconds (dazed or wounded) before you can start running again.
-          If someone says the killing spell before you can say a spell, you’re done. LOL

Now go out and have fun! This is surprisingly great cardio.

IWSG Post Day Announcement / L - Looting + Excerpt

ATTENTION IWSGERS!
NEW IWSG Day Feature!
We’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive.
Every month we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.The first IWSG Day question is for July 6th.

JULY 6TH QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

Add this question and your answer to your July 6th IWSG Day post. And please visit other members to read their answers. If you’re not signed up, please join HERE. 
See you on July 6th!



Looting is a crime that always follows in the wake of a natural disaster or an intense situation (i.e. riots). People who seek to take advantage of good people will break into stores and houses and grab whatever they can get their greedy hands on.
What’s the most popular item looted? Alcohol. After that would come electronics and clothes. I’m sure we all remember the looting that took place in Ferguson in 2014 after the verdict came down, and the large crowd of people fighting their way into the liquor stores.
In Seismic Crimes, after the earthquake, a lot of looting goes on in San Francisco. Here’s a little teaser for you.
EXCERPT:
Beth took off at a run. As she ran, she noticed several shop windows had already been smashed. A glance into an electronics store revealed two men destroying display cases to get at the laptops and cell phones. A third stuffed random merchandise from shelves into a black trash bag.
She pushed her legs to take her faster, farther. Her heart ticked frantically, her thoughts tumbled in her head. Where do I go? How do I get out of here?
A group of woman teetered out of a shop on high heels, their arms piled high with designer jeans, tops, purses, and shoes. One of them even had a fist full of thongs.
Across the way, a looter slid a wide screen TV into the trunk of a car and hopped into the passenger seat. The car sped away with loud music blaring from its speakers.

To read more from Seismic Crimes, go to Amazon.


QUESTION: If you were in the middle of looting, what would you do?


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Is Your Character Naked? + Cover Reveal for At First Blush by Beth Ellyn Summer

NOTE: I had to close my blog to comments for an hour to stop a spammer who commented on 67 consecutive blog posts. Name: Eva Nurlela I really hate that Blogger doesn't let you block a commenter who is not a follower. Keep an eye out for this person!


Today I am happy to help Beth Ellyn Summer with the cover reveal for her debut novel At First Blush. Beth is such a sweetheart, so please show her some love. :)


Genre: Contemporary YA

BLURB: 

Lacey Robbins has one goal for the summer: hit one million subscribers on her YouTube beauty channel. Working as an On Trend magazine video blogger is just the platform she needs to get there, but falling for the cover boy, rock star Tyler Lance, was not part of her plan--especially since his dating history is longer than her Sephora wishlist.
She can't avoid him for long though, not when it's her job to film vlogs with him. As Lacey and Tyler grow closer on and off camera, her channel becomes popular for all the wrong reasons, and the two YouTubers she's working with officially hate her. Lacey's only solace is spending time with Kendall Wynn, On Trend's resident makeup artist. Kendall's scattered, carefree approach to makeup reminds Lacey why she ever picked up a tube of lipstick in the first place.
Nothing about this summer is going according to Lacey's perfect plan, and pretty soon she learns that filming makeup tutorials is easy. It's real life that could use some editing.


BIO:


Beth Ellyn Summer writes contemporary young adult fiction that somehow always includes the following elements: fame, makeup, and television. She graduated from Long Island University with a degree in Print and Electronic Journalism. Interning for Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon was the highlight of her college years. When she's not writing, Beth can be found swatching eyeshadows, solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles, and playing with her adorable cat, Penny Belle. Beth lives on Long Island in a cookie cutter town that, in an ironic twist of fate, doesn't have a single decent bakery.
Many writers don’t bother to describe what their characters wear. This could be good and bad. Good because long-winded descriptions of attire is boring and unnecessary. Readers will skip it. Bad because this is an opportunity to express your character and show their personality with what they wear. Clothing says a lot about a person in real life and it can do the same with characters in fiction.

LINKS:Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Goodreads

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Many writers don’t bother to describe what their characters wear. This could be good and bad. Good because long-winded descriptions of attire is boring and unnecessary. Readers will skip it. Bad because this is an opportunity to express your character and show their personality with what they wear. Clothing says a lot about a person in real life, and it can do the same with characters in fiction.
Let’s take a look at how:
1. Is your character quirky?
A quirky character will use clothes and jewelry as an artistic outlet. They may mix and match patterns, wear combat boots with sundresses, pearls with overalls, or paint splattered sneakers. Anything that seems a bit odd, this character can wear it and will wear it proudly.
2. What does your character wear to work?
What we wear to work says a lot about us and our position. It also shows how seriously we take our role/success/responsibility. Imagine a man in a suit and tie, or a woman in a dress and heels. But different jobs require different apparel.
Doctors/nurses – scrubs, lab coat, sneakers.Cops/firefighters – uniform, protective gear, boots.Construction worker – shorts, cotton T-shirt, hat, work boots, towel/bandana.Full-time writers – pajamas. :P
Image from Flickr3. What does your character wear at home?
This one will really reveal who your character is if their work is a major part of the plot/story. As soon as your character comes home, does she kick off her heels and put on sweats and fuzzy slippers? Does he take off his shirts and pants and walk around in only his boxers? Show how comfortable they are and how they relax at home.
4. What does your character wear to a date?
If we really like someone, we dress to impress. Women might wear a low cut something-something or a short something-something. What your characters are doing also factors into what your character wears to the date. Jeans and a T-shirt is perfect for the fair. Black, flashy, and stretchy is good for a bar.
Image from FlickrUse these opportunities to briefly describe what your characters are wearing, or more specifically the MC (or hero and heroine in a romance story). Not only does it reveal a lot about your characters, but it lends to the realistic factor. Because if you don’t mention your character’s clothes at all, is he/she naked throughout your story? Well…that’ll work for erotica. ;)

TIP #1: Clothing is especially important for historical stories. They won't wear what we wear now, so we need to know how they dress. Corsets and hoop skirts. Trousers and stockings. Cowboy hat and chaps. These details help enforce the time period and genre.

TIP #2: The same can be said for culture. For example, if you're writing about an Islamic woman, she'll need to wear a a hijab (headscarf), niqab (face veil) or burqa (full veil with a mesh screen to see out of). 

QUESTIONS: What is your MC wearing right now in your WIP? If you’re a full-time writer, do you wear pajamas while your write? What do you think of the cover for At First Blush?

Blogger Interview with Denise Covey, WEP Creator

I'm over at Unicorn Bell with Dear Unfocused Writer 
+ Dear Writer with an Editor


After having Gary from Klahine (who hates blog hops) on my blog last month, I decided to switch tracks and have someone here who helped to create a rather fun blog hop that helps writers to share their work, get feedback, and build relationships. Today I have the lovely Denise Covey as my guest. Please help me welcome her!

1.    Tell us about the blog hop Write…Edit…Publishand how you came up with it.
Write…Edit…Publish (WEP) was the brainchild of Francine Howarth and myself in 2010. We called it Romantic Friday Writers to give romance writers a platform to work on their craft and receive feedback from like-minded writers. Good blogging friend Donna Hole partnered up with me when Francine’s career went gangbusters. We took the ‘romance’ out of the title as that is a scary word to some. Finally, with Yolanda Renee in 2015, we re-branded as WEP, where writers all around the world respond to set challenges with flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, and occasionally some great artwork.
     2.    What is the WEP challenge for June?
WEP has been a casualty of the A-Z challenge. Many of our writers were burned out, so we moved the June challenge to August. ‘Gardens’ is the challenge, and it can be tackled any way in any genre.

      3.    What was your very first blog post?
My first blog post was titled ‘An Aussie Loses it in Genova, Italy’ in 2008. Travel post, of course. I got 1 comment. I still love that post even if only 2 people have read it, ha ha ha.
      4.    You travel to Paris a lot and blog about your adventures. What do you like most about this city?
Paris was love at first sight for me. I’ll never forget flying over Paris and into Charles de Gaulle airport the first time. I usually visit every couple of years; I once stayed 6 months to work on my French-speaking skills! But…hard to say just one thing I like most about her, but I’ll try.
Paris is a sensory feast—the architecture, wow, how design has always been upmost in the planners’ thoughts ever since Haussmann was hired to beautify the city in 1853. This attention to detail translates into a stunning experience when you walk the streets, linger for coffee and people watching along the Seine or enjoy a simple meal with excellent wine in the Latin Quarter, or just relax with a baguette on the stairs below Sacre Coeur in Montmartre and enjoy the view of the city laid out before you while you listen to classical musicians plucking at their harp strings.
      5.    You’ve taught English for years and share your current students' curriculum on your English Resources blog. What do you think is most important for kids these days to learn in English class?
I don’t teach in the classroom any longer; I am a private tutor running my own business teaching English/English Literature at the State Library of Queensland. My students are predominantly international; currently they hail from Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Bahrain. I get the biggest thrill when a science-y student (aren’t they all?) confesses that he now loves English instead of hating it. I think it is so important for students to appreciate how a love of English—books, plays, poetry, speech, creative writing— can enrich them both present and future. The high school from which most of my students are drawn has Shakespeare on the curriculum in every year level, so if I can get students to love the bard, understand the history of the time, and the timelessness of good literature, I’m hilariously happy.
      6.    What are the top 5 most-viewed posts on your blog?
Most-viewed in order…I got quite a surprise to see how many views I’ve had on some of the older posts I’d forgotten about, so this was a worthwhile exercise.
IWSG—Exploring your creativity in a writer’s group
Copyright Education (on sharing images)
Genre favourites blogfest
Is the pen mightier than the sword?
Frustrated with self-publishing?
      7.    Share your number one tip to bloggers just starting out.
Don’t get frustrated if you don’t get a heap of followers right off. It takes awhile to be discovered (there are ways to hasten this process if you are really into it), so just plug away, write good content, visit blogs like yours, leave comments, and you will find people often reciprocate. And as much as Chrys’ previous guest, the lovely klahanie, hates bloghops, these are a great way to promote your blog and show people who you are and, yes, to find new followers. And it is crucial that people find your blog easy to read. A new blogger can get carried away with cute, busy backgrounds, and fonts that are too small, too big, too white, too grey etc, so take care if you’re designing your blog yourself. Find some blogs you like and copy ideas.

Hyper Round: 
1.    Favorite time to post blogs?8.30 pm Pacific Time (Brisbane).

2.    Blogger or Wordpress?Both. Makes me more accessible.

3.    Do you host guests?Sure. I love my guests.  

4.    Where are you when you’re blogging? Usually in libraries – Brisbane/Sunshine Coast.

BIO:


Denise Covey hails from that land Down Under, where she publishes flash fiction, short stories and travelogues in Australian magazines. When not writing, she teaches English to her rapt senior students who think it’s way cool to have a writer for a teacher. She loves writing edgy romantic stories set in Paris and currently has two Paris novellas under construction. Under the Tuscan Moon is her first, but not last, paranormal romance which she recently self-published. Denise has decided it’s way cool to live in a world of vampires and werewolves. Now she’ll have to invite them to Paris when they’re hunted out of Italy.
LINKS:Denise Covey writing blogDenise Covey WordPress blogWrite…Edit…PubllishPichets in Paris blogAmazon Author PageGoodreads Author PageFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestWattpad

Thank you, Denise, for making me wish I could go to Paris. ;)
Please leave a comment for Denise.

Scoliosis Awareness + Question of the Month

I'm at Unicorn Bell with Dear Beta Readers and Critique Partners.

Scoliosis Awareness is not something people tend to think or talk about, but it is a condition that everyone should be aware of, especially if you have children. Teenagers (mostly girls) are susceptible to scoliosis during their peak growing years. Every 6 months, parents should check their children’s backs. An easy way to view the spine is by having them bend at the waist. If you notice a curve, take them to see a doctor. Catching it early will allow you and the doctors to monitor it and treat it with simple, less evasive techniques.

Below is my experience with scoliosis. I’m sharing these details to shine light on this medical condition and what scoliosis survivors go through.
Pain –
Before and after I was diagnosed with scoliosis I was riddled with pain day and night. I had to take over-the-counter pain reliever a lot, and my mom would massage my back so I could go to sleep. The pain is what led to the discovery that I had scoliosis. After I complained about it enough, my mom took a look and could clearly see the curve of my spine.

Deformity –
I don’t know exactly when my spine started to get out-of-whack, how long it took to get to the point where I was in pain all the time, or when the sudden growth spurt happened that triggered it, but my entire body changed because of it. I never realized it, and no one close to me said anything, but the curve pushed my right hip out and lifted my left shoulder so I looked crooked.
Image from 43rdmedical.com
Treatment –
After countless x-rays and an MRI, the results came in that my spine was at a 48-degree angle and was twisted around. To relieve the pain and to stop my spine from twisting further, surgery was scheduled. Another treatment for less severe cases are back braces.

Spine surgery –
My doctors manipulated my spine back into place and set it with fusion and a titanium rod. During the surgery, my right lung collapsed. I needed a tube, placed through my side, to drain the fluid so I could breathe. I woke with an oxygen mask on, unaware that the surgery had actually taken place. I spent five days in the hospital in the worst pain I had ever experienced.
*To read a more in-depth, personal account of this check out my easy Woman of Steel.
Recovery –
I was confined to a hospital bed in my living room for a month until I had the strength to sit up past ten minutes. I had to practice walking further distances each day. For my showers, I had to sit on a stool and use a hand-held shower head. It took many months for me to get used to having limited movement in my back. For a year, I needed a pillow behind my back wherever I sat to cushion a part of my spine that sticks out and is sensitive to hard surfaces.

The Scar –
I have a foot-long scar that starts at my right hip and curves around my side to the middle of my back. It took me years to feel comfortable wearing a two-piece at the beach. Now I don’t care who sees it. It’s my battle scar. I’m a warrior!
Disability –
Many people who have this surgery end up suffering from pain as well as muscle spasms. Then there’s the limitations. Many people can’t sit in one place or stand very long without experiencing pain. This makes working next to impossible, but trying to get disability is also a battle for scoliosis survivors.
Living with a Titanium Rod –
I can’t do a lot of things because of my rod, and if I try to do something fun, I suffer for days later. Even my body isn’t what it had been before my diagnosis. Although my shoulders and hips adjusted, my right hip is still shaped a bit odd and the top of my back has a slight curve to it. I’m also naturally thin and tall, so these things stand out more on my frame. And, yes, they make me insecure.
If you were to ask me today, knowing what I know now, if I would have the corrective surgery again, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. There are many pros and cons to it, at least for me, and it was the hardest thing I ever had to go through. But I suppose I would’ve done it anyway to save my spine and my body.
Although scoliosis isn’t life-threatening (usually), those of us who had it are definitely survivors. 


QUESTIONS: Do you know someone with scoliosis? Do you have a medical condition? Have you ever had surgery? Tell me about it.



Question of the Month Bloghop 

QUESTION: Of all the places in the world that you haven’t yet been to, where would you like to go next?
My Answer: There are so many places I haven’t been to. Let me begin by telling you where I have been: a few places in Florida (St. Augustine, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Daytona, Kissimmee, and Orlando), and Michigan for a visit to unexciting places. There. Now you’re all caught up to speed.
I’ve always wanted to go on a road trip across the United States, but number one on my list is Ireland. Always Ireland. It is my dream. I’m saving up for it…slowly.


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What are Yahoo Groups (Loops)? / IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a safe place for insecure writers.Sign up here: Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group

I'm over at Denise Covey's blog with Tips to Defeat the Insecurity Monster. 


Last month I mentioned that I used Yahoo Loops (more commonly known as Groups) for my release day promo efforts, and I was shocked to hear that nearly everyone had never heard of them before.
Yahoo Groups (or Loops) – Gathering places for people to connect. They are much like Google Hangouts, but the people are more supportive and willing to share your good news. 
In these groups you’ll find many conversations that you can reply to that members posted, which get sent to your inbox in a digest after you join. Or you can send out your own conversation. For writers, these conversations can be introductions, release announcements, giveaways, sales, writing/editing/marketing/publishing questions, etc. Many of these groups have rules though, so make sure you read them. Some only allow promos on certain days. I’ve gotten to know many writers this way.
NOTE: You do need a Yahoo account to access them.
Here are a few I use:Coffee Time Romance & More ChattersRomance JunkiesExquisite Quills Marketing for Romance WritersNovel Spotters Authors Helping Authors 


Promo Efforts:
I'm sharing this to show what worked for me, hoping it'll help others. :)
Goodreads Event: I like to do these when I have a new release as an announcement. This time I also mentioned the sale and giveaway. Not many people replied to it, but I don't need a reply. I just need them to see it.
Blog Tour: I see new people saying they got my book, which is awesome. I still think blog tours are great, but I do fear that people are growing tired of them. I may try something different for my next release...
Giveaway: This is my first giveaway during a blog tour and the results are nice. *I chose not to offer my book, though, because I want people to buy it.
Sale: Hurricane Crimes will be on sale during my blog tour. It's a marketing strategy...I want people to get it during the tour...and the sales are decent.

That's the rundown as of now.

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Twitter for Writers

I joined Twitter June of last year. Sort of a late comer. I did that though because I was focused on building my blog and Facebook page. Once I got to a place I was happy with for those, I decided to make the Twitter plunge. Before I did, though, I read "The Tao of Twitter" by Mark W. Schaefer. This book really gave me a leg up so I highly recommend it if you’re new to Twitter. I will be mentioning what I learned in that book and on my own in this post.
1. Join! 
Use your name/pen name when you sign up and create an easy Twitter handle. Some people’s Twitter handles are complicated and I could never remember them, but if you can use your name as your handle (if it’s not already taken) then use it! If it is taken, add “author” or a dash (like this _ or like this -) between your first and last name or before “author). You can even add a number, but remember simpler is better.
I was lucky that my pen name is unique, so my Twitter handle is @ChrysFey

TIP 1: Add your Twitter link to all social media profiles, your email signature and to your business cards.

2. Upload your author photo and a short bio to say who you are.
This is mine: #Author of the Disaster Crimes Series. I write for @WildRosePress. Editor. Blogger. Reader. Auntie. Vegetarian. Cat Lover. Gardner. #IWSG Admin
Image from Pixabay
3. Follow, follow, follow!
Twitter will find email contacts for you, follow all them who are on Twitter and you are acquainted with. Twitter will also recommend a bunch of people based off those contacts and the people you follow. (You can find the recommendations on the left. It’s always there.) You will find many people you know this way. Follow them! Then refresh this page and check again. Repeat.
4. Stalk lists and follow more!
Go to a few people you follow who know a lot of people. Check their “lists.” This is a page you can click on; every Twitter profile has one at the top. A list is an easy way to keep people grouped together. Explore their lists and follow the people you recognize.
5. Did I not say follow?
Go to your other social media profiles and hunt down the people you have connected with there. Who have you added to your circles on Google +? Who have you liked on Facebook? Who is in your blog feed? Follow them!

TIP 2: Aim to follow 200 then 500 followers. The more people you follow, the more followers you will get and the more often you’ll get noticed. 

TIP 3: After a while, people you don’t know will start following you. Follow back those who are interested in the same thing you are and have a lot of people in common with you. Don’t be stingy with your follows!

Image from Wikimedia
6. Make your own lists.
Go to the “lists” page on your own profile and click “Create a List.” Give it a name, decide if you want it public, and then go to your “Following” page to find the people you want to add to your list. Click the tool symbol next to the “Following” button and select “Add or Remove from Lists.” Then check the list you want to add that person to.
You can make as many lists as you want.

FYI: the people you add to a list will be notified if it’s public.

I have lists for Awesome Bloggers/Writers and TWRP (The Wild Rose Press) Authors.
7. Send out your first tweet. It can be a simple, “Hello, Twitter!”
This was mine: I wish I had something funny or witty to post as my first tweet, but this is it: Hello, Twitter! :D #myfirsttweet
8. Get to know the people you’re following by sending them tweets and retweeting them. You can do both when you see their tweet in your feed. To tweet, click the single arrow. To retweet, click the two arrows that are in a circle. You can also “Favorite” tweets by clicking the heart.

TIP 4: Try to do at least one tweet a day when you first join, and 1-3 retweets. After a while, when you get the hang of Twitter, you’ll tweet more often.

TIP 5: Check in on Twitter every day to see any tweets and followers you’ve received. If you click on “Followers” on your page, you’ll see all of the accounts for the people who have followed you. Do this every time so you can follow back as needed.

9. Unfollow
After you’ve been on Twitter for 1-2 months, it’s time to unfollow some of those people you followed who haven’t reciprocated. Use ManageFilter. This website will examine your Twitter profile and show you all the people who haven’t followed you. Do this periodically. 

TIP 6: Before you unfollow, go to their pages and check them out. If they’ve tweeted recently, they most likely won’t follow you back if you followed them weeks ago. If you know this person pretty well, try to tweet them and retweet them to go noticed. If they still ignore you while they are active on Twitter, it’s time to unfollow. Don’t feel guilty about this!

Image from www.jisc.ac.uk
10. Tweet Trending Topics
Check out the trending topics, this is always located on the left. See something that interests you or is in your niche? Check out the activity under that topic and send out your own tweet with the hashtag.
11. #
That’s not called a pound symbol on Twitter. That is a hashtag. As in #WritingLife. Use one or two relevant hashtags when you tweet. As soon as you put the # symbol in a tweet and start typing, Twitter will offer suggestions. These suggestions are the most used hashtags. Use them!

Some hashtags you can use:

#FollowFriday or #FF (This is used only on Fridays to give shout outs to people you think are worthy of more followers.)

#MondayBlogs (Do you post a blog on Monday? Share a link on Twitter and add this hashtag.) 

#amblogging #amwriting #amediting

12. Join Twitter Chats.
There are chats that happen weekly and monthly on Twitter. Ask some people what chats they recommend you get involved in.
#1LineWed is a fun chat that happens every Wednesday. The purpose is to share one sentence from a WIP that fits the theme of that week. You can search #1LineWed to find out what the next theme will be.
#StoryDam is an online writing community that chats every Thursday at 8pm ET. Check out the StoryDam website for info on what the chat that Thursday will be about. There are questions you can answer about your own writing process and books.

There's also #KidLitChat and #K8Chat.

QUESTION: What are you favorite hashtags and Twitter chats?

HURRICANE CRIMES 99¢ SALE!
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