Chrys Fey's Blog, page 56

Nature Pictures

These pictures were taken at Erna Nixon Park in Central Brevard Florida.




Can you see the heart?




I call this a gnome door. :)

How to do a Cover Reveal

I know many people think cover reveals are irrelevant, annoying, and unnecessary, but they can actually be useful to help authors promote their books before they are released, and it especially helps new writers to get their covers in front of the eyes of potential readers.
A Few Cover Reveal Techniques:
1.Some authors set up elaborate cover reveals on dozens of blogs. While this gets your cover out far and wide, keep in mind that many people follow several blogs in the same communities and will end up seeing your cover reveal over and over again in their blog feed, which they don’t like. On the other hand, I still argue that doing the reveal this way (although I don’t do it this way anymore) can help authors to find new readers.
2.When Hurricane Crimes came out, I did a cover reveal on maybe five other blogs as well as my own. And that’s because I got the cover a couple of weeks before it was to be published! So I had to work fast. I think pinpointing a handful of blogs 5-10 with a big following and a lot of traffic to host your cover reveal is a good idea instead of going to 20+ blogs and bombarding the same people with your cover. 

3. For 30 Seconds, I did the cover reveal solely on my blog, which is what I’ll be doing from now on. The next day, I shared it on my Faceback page for those who didn’t catch it on my blog. This approach may not reach as many people as the first two options, but it’s more intimate. Besides, if you do a blog tour, your cover will certainly get around then.

TIP #1: If you do a cover reveal on your blog, or on other blogs, include the blurb so readers can have more to grasp onto than just an image. You can also share an excerpt.

Tip #2:If you have a newsletter, you can give your followers a sneak peak of your cover before the actual reveal. If they follow your newsletter, they’re most likely big fans and will enjoy this opportunity to see it before everyone else.

QUESTIONS: Authors: Do you do cover reveals? If so, how do you go about it? Readers: Do you like cover reveals? Bloggers: Do you host cover reveals?
I love cover reveals because I adore cover art. I still host them for that reason.

Feng Shui For Writers / M.C. Simon Author Interview

I’ve got a special author interview today! M.C. Simon is talking about a book that can benefit all writers: FENG SHUI FOR WRITERS. Check out the details below and her interview. 
Title: Feng Shui For WritersSeries: How To Master Your LifeAuthor: M.C. SimonGenre: Non-FictionFormat: Paperback and KindleLength: 152 pagesPublication Date: June 16, 2015Publisher: IML PublishingKindle Price: $7.99 KindlePaperback Price: $29.26 Kindle
DISCOVER HOW TO MASTER YOUR WRITING LIFEThe fully illustrated, comprehensive FENG SHUI FOR WRITERS provides all the dots that you have to connect to control the flowing Chi for each writing category. What is harmony for a romantic novel writer is different from what is harmony for a journalist writer, and for sure very different than for the writer writing for the horror domain. To bring the Feng Shui technique into the writer’s life, it is not enough to merely explain general principles and ideas; we have to dig deeper because the branches of writing are so numerous.
Find Out HOW TO:Attract productivity, successful publishing and money using Feng ShuiOvercome writer’s block with Feng Shui helpOrganize your writing place to achieve your goalsInfluence your writing life through colorsUse crystals for creative writingUse lighting to Feng Shui your writing spaceChoose the plants that will boost your creativityInfluence your “writer’s zone” and the creative mindBoost your children’s creativity (yes… children are young writers also)And much more.
Books Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU / Amazon INAmazon DE / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT / Amazon BRAmazon NL / Amazon MX

1. What inspired you to write this Feng Shui For Writers?
To make the explanation short, while I was working on a novel, I realized that my surroundings didn’t influence me as I wanted.
I suddenly noticed that the Chi flow around my desk and office was stagnant for what I needed to write. Instantly the cogwheels in my brain started working at a high-speed level, and a new creative idea was born… I have to Feng Shui my office, to let the Chi flow freely, to accurately boost my environment for this writing project. I did it… and for some time I wrote like never before; I almost couldn’t be stopped by any external influences.
But… after a while I realized something; I couldn’t keep this information only to myself. I had to share it with my fellow writers. Thus started the process I dubbed “the birth of my second first book”. Yes, like this I referred to my project through which the book “Feng Shui for Writers” was born. I called it “the birth” because even the smallest ideas we have, cross through a birth process before manifesting into this world. I called it “my second first book” because it is my first published book, but the second one to be implemented and emerge from the embryo phase.
And this book was born for YOU - the Writer!
2. What books would you compare to Feng Shui For Writers?
As I know, Feng Shui for Writers can’t be compared with any other book. There are tons of books talking about Feng Shui, but none are dedicated to the writers. There are also several articles on this subject, but all of them are general and don’t treat each writing genre, as this one does. I can say that until this moment, Feng Shui for Writers is unique.
3. Did you do special research for Feng Shui For Writers?
Yes and no. Because Feng Shui was one of my subject of interest ever since I’ve decided to be a writer, all the research I have done during my life, I applied in this book for the writer’s world, trying to separate the information according with the type of writer everyone is. For more details about this, you can check an extract from the book on my website: Who Is A Writer?
4. If you have a pen name, can you explain how you came up with it?
M.C. Simon is my pen name indeed. I really love my real name, but it is hard to spell in English. At least until now, each time when an English speaker wanted to say my name, it brought a huge smile on my face. None of them succeeded to say it correctly. Therefore, I decided to choose M.C. Simon as a Pen Name, which, in fact, is only a short form of my real one. This gave my readers the chance to say my name with a correct pronunciation.
5. What are a few things we would find in or on your desk?
Other than a regular laptop for my daily computer activities like checking emails, and the writing laptop that I use only for writing articles and books, you can sure find tons of “To Do” lists, notebooks, and colored watermarks. I simply love colors and everywhere around me that’s all you see; the only exception to this rule are my clothes because I mainly prefer black clothing.
6. Can you tell us about your journey to publication?
Since the moment when I decided to self-publish, I focused only on the steps that I must do to reach my goal. I have to admit here that the main role was played by my husband, who is my webmaster and designer also. Because he is an expert in these fields, it was not too hard to first see my Kindle book up on Amazon and after that even easier to touch the physical version of Feng Shui for Writers. For us, the hardest part of this process was the painting phase for the illustrations in the book. We decided to manage all the steps ourselves. 
Therefore, all the paintings included in the book are our own doing also; I painted all of them and my designer converted the paintings to digital format. This process was… let’s say about 60% of the time dedicated to publishing our book.
7. How long have you been writing?
I suppose I have been writing since the first day I learned to write J . But the decision to become a writer and a published author was made exactly one year ago, when at the same time I decided to quit my job as an engineer and also to move from the country in which I was born and lived.
8. What lessons did you learn early on in your writing career?
Maybe it will sound like a common lesson, but I think the main one that I learned was to always believe in myself. If anyone can do anything on this planet, this means I can do it, also!
9. If you could write anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Anywhere where there is an ocean or a sea, and I can hear the waves crashing on the shore.
10. Your advice to new writers.
Never forget that the real power in this world belongs to the writers. Through their words, through their imagination, they can really influence on all levels life on this planet. My advice is to never forget this important mission that a writer has: to make this world a better one. Always write from your heart. Nothing else matters. Always, always, always rise up after a fall. Never give up. Your book is there inside you. Your mission is to make it real.



BIO:
Writer, translator, engineer, researcher, project manager, blogger, eternal student… these are only a few words to describe MC Simon.
She strongly believes that energy is ours to use freely, and we need only to open our hearts to regain the lost perception of our true powers. She thinks that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. For this reason, M.C. Simon has never hunted the information but rather waited for the right moment when she would be ready for the information to find her. In the same way, she knows that when someone needs her, the Universe will proceed in such a way that the meeting will take place.

Author Links:Amazon Author Page / MCSimonWrites.com / FengShuiForWriters.com
Facebook Fan Page / Twitter / GooglePlus / LinkedIn

Please leave a comment for M.C.! :)

My Sunflowers

Doesn't look like much... My nephews and I planted sunflower seeds in April. My youngest nephew
put a few too many seeds in this spot. haha Look at my sprouts! Look how tall! 6 Weeks. The first bloom. This one is ready to bloom Check it out! Pretty! My sunflowers! Can you see my hand? I'm holding a yard stick.  Sunflowers aren't tall blooms for long. When they start growing seeds, their heads droop, their petals fall off, and their leaves turn brown. They look pathetic, but it's what they do. I tied them to dowels to keep them upright and put a mesh around the heads to keep critters from stealing the seeds. One of my big sunflower has babies growing off it! This is the first sunflower I harvested. Check out all of the sunflower seeds. The flower head after the seeds were removed. All of the seeds from just one sunflower. See how big they are?
Now I can plant these seeds and grow even more, bigger sunflowers! 
QUESTION: Have you ever tried to grow sunflowers?
I live in Florida and found it very easy.

Writing About: School

I'm on the A to Z Challenge blog for Theme that Rocked! Check it out HERE.
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School is a common setting in YA books. If you’re writing YA for the first time, or never wrote about middle/high school settings, I am sharing 11 things to keep in mind. I included personal stories for you to get to know teenage me. :)
1. Name
Most schools are named after people or even directions. My elementary school was Westside, my middle school was Southwest, and my high school was Bayside. You can use your old school names for inspiration or even use someone’s last name. Think: Brown, Stanford.
2. Mascot and School Colors
Middle schools and especially high schools have mascots and school colors. In middle school, we were the Broncos with maroon, gray, and white as out colors. In high school, we were the Bears with teal, black and white as our colors. You can choose your favorite animal and trio of colors, or use a symbolic animal.
Animals and their meanings:Tiger – willpower, strength, and courageWolf – IntelligenceLion - Strength, assertiveness, and powerBear- Strength and confidence
Color Combinations:Orange, black and whiteRed, black and grayGold, purple and white
Bayside's Bear Logo
3. Layout of the School
Although you won’t have to describe the layout of the school in great detail, being able to picture the school’s grounds will help your imagination and aid you while you write.

Personal Story: My middle school was divided into three buildings that were painted different colors to help the students from getting lost. The furthest building had red trim, the one in the middle was blue, and the third was green. The lockers inside these buildings matched the color on the outside.

TIP:Picture your high school or design a new school in your head with characteristics from famous schools/buildings.

Example: Alnwick Castle was as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies.

4. Teachers
The school in your book will need teachers, but you won’t have to create a teacher for everyone class your character goes to, just the one’s you’ll want to highlight, such as math class and gym, or whatever class will be important for your character. And fashion a teacher perfect for that class.

Is the teacher male or female?What’s the teacher’s name?How does the teacher dress and act?

TIP: Use your old teachers for inspiration.

5. Classes
What classes does your character have? Is he or she in all Honors/AP classes, normal classes, or intermediate classes? Also consider the grade your character is in as math and science change with each grade.
Image from Wikimedia6. Cafeteria
Lunchtime is always a scary time. Or at least it was for me. I was shy and never had friends during my lunch period, so finding a place to sit was a nightmare.
Where does your character sit? Who does your character sit with?

Personal Story: I remember groups of Goths and punks would sit at one table on one side of the cafeteria and on the other side would be the cooler kids; football players would take half a table and the cheerleaders would take the other half.

Most schools in America are usually divided like this; each group/clique of friends sticking together everywhere they go.
7. Students
Who is the popular girl/boy in the school? Is there a group of “Plastics” on Mean Girlswith their own version of Regina George? Most importantly, what type of student is your main character: a nerd, outcast, troublemaker, or cool kid?

Personal Story: In high school, I was the shy and quiet nerdy girl who was too skinny and was in Art Club in ninth grade. I always had a small group of friends, but without them, I was lost.

8. Buses
Being on a bus sucks! First you have to find somewhere to sit. Then you may have to suffer the long ride with no air conditioner or radio if you get stuck with a crappy bus or mean bus driver. On top of that, there is relentless bullying and fights.

Personal Story: When I was in elementary school, I was bullied by this girl in my class every afternoon on the bus. I dreaded having to get on that bus after school when I’d know she’d be there. Moving my seat never helped, because she’d just find me and sit in the seat in front of me.

Image from Wikimedia9. Hangout Spots
Where does your main character and his/her friends handout before and after school? Do they have a special spot where they always go to talk before the bell rings? Year after year, me and my friends went to the same concrete block at the very end of the school to sit and chat.
10. School Events
Don’t just write about boring classes! Write about dances and games. Does your character go to homecoming or prom? What about football games? Every year my school put together a fun Renaissance night. Add events like this to your story and let something important (good or bad) happen during it.
11. The Bad
Schools are places for learning, memory building, and first loves, but they also contain tragedies. Students are committing suicide because they’re being bullied, they’re bringing guns to school and shooting everyone they can out of hate and vengeance. These two things are growing more frequent and devastating every year.
There are also deaths from drunk driving, rape at parties, and teen pregnancies.

Personal Story: I remember when I was in tenth grade I’d see a girl walking to class early with a belly ready to pop. I also felt sympathy toward her. Also in high school, a sweet cheerleader everyone loves was killed in an ATV accident. Her boyfriend and two others were also killed. I think about her a lot...

You don’t have to write a tragedy like these into your book, but they are worth considering as long as you can work your plot around it.
A Word on Plot: A YA story isn’t just about going to school. Something else has to happen. Is there romance from your character falling in love for the first time? Does she try to fun for prom queen? There could even be a paranormal element that takes your character away from school.

TIP: If your school is in the past or future, you’ll have to adjust certain aspects accordingly.

QUESTIONS:What kind of teen were you in high school? What was your high school’s mascot? Have you written YA with the main character in school?

Scene Spotlight for The Bear Who Wouldn't Leave by J.H. Moncrieff

I am thrilled to bring you a scene spotlight from The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave by J.H. Moncrieff. I read this book recently and was blown away by it. I didn’t see the twists coming and was biting my nails during the suspenseful parts. And there are many! Edgar is meant to be feared. I’ll let J.H. demonstrate why....
Title: The Bear Who Wouldn’t LeaveAuthor: J.H. MoncrieffGenre:HorrorPublisher:Samhain PublishingRelease Date: May 5, 2015
Book Links:Amazon | Samhain | Kobo | B&N | Trailer
SCENE SPOTLIGHT:We lowered our heads again and pushed off, the rain striking our necks and backs and legs. Our clothing was soaked, but it made me feel better to think that Edgar was probably soaked too, as my backpack wasn’t waterproof. Let him drown in there, I thought, and as I did, I felt my pack jostle against my back. I panicked, nearly losing my balance. My hands tightened on the handlebars.It’s only your imagination.But I knew it hadn’t been.We’d gotten out of the forest just in time. There was a loud cracking noise, and another blinding flash behind us. We both skidded to a stop and turned to watch.“Holy assbat Jesus.” Sean whistled. “Did you see that?”I was too stunned to reply. Lightning was hitting the trees. One by one they caught fire and fell. Soon a steady stream of chipmunks, squirrels, and birds was fleeing the forest. We even saw a deer run past.The lightning continued to flash, every strike a direct hit. With each crackle and hiss, we both jumped. Our shoulders were so hunched they almost touched our ears. Sean stared at me, wincing into the rain, his eyes wide with fear. “This isn’t right, man.”“Let’s get out of here.” I didn’t need to ask him twice. Soon we were moving away from McGiver’s Forest as fast as we could go, fighting for purchase on the slick sidewalk.We hadn’t gone much farther, maybe another mile or two, when we saw the worms. They covered the path ahead in thick, pink ropes. I could almost hear the squelching. One thing I’d never told Sean is that I was afraid of worms. It wasn’t something a boy my age would ever admit to his buddies, unless he wanted to find a few worms in his sleeping bag on the next camping trip.My chest tightened as I saw their disgusting, slimy bodies. They were night crawlers, the biggest of the big, and they were everywhere. My mouth went as dry as dust. I couldn’t swallow.I could hear Sean swearing up ahead. The scene was enough to gross him out, and as far as I knew, he wasn’t afraid of worms. Apparently deciding that the best thing to do was get it over with, my friend picked up speed. Cold worm guts splashed me in the face. My stomach clenched with the need to puke, but I kept on going, focusing on my friend’s broad back.I could avoid seeing them, but I couldn’t stop hearing the sickening splat they made as our tires ran over them, crushing them into the concrete. Still, we were nearly past. My spirits rose, and even the rain seemed to be letting up. We could do this! We would do this.And then Sean braked so suddenly I almost crashed into him.
QUESTIONS:

1. Where does this scene take place?

This scene takes place in small-town Minnesota. Josh and his friend Sean are attempting to get rid of Edgar, an evil teddy bear that was a “gift” from Josh’s stepfather.

2. What inspired this scene?

I was actually caught in a crazy, sudden storm like this. When I was a child, I was camping in a provincial park with my family, and these gale-force winds came out of nowhere. Suddenly, all the trees started falling down, and they were huge trees. It was terrifying.
And, while this wasn’t intentional, I see the influence of Stephen King’s IT in this scene, as Edgar can apparently manifest what the boys are afraid of.
Or can he?

3. Edgar is one nasty teddy bear. What do you love the most about this scene?

I love that so much is happening—the storm, the bear in the backpack, Josh’s fear, his friend’s crazy energy and determination, the worms. I was terrified of worms as a child too, and I still don’t think I’d have the guts to ride over them like the boys did. Too gross for me!
At this point in the story, Josh still isn’t convinced that Edgar is more than a teddy bear. He thinks his stepfather is playing tricks on him, but he’s about to discover otherwise.

4. I got chills while reading about them riding over those worms. Was this scene difficult or easy to write?

I found this entire book extremely easy to write. It just flowed, from start to finish, although I was really surprised by how dark things got between Josh and his stepfather. Before I began writing, I’d thought that Edgar had belonged to Josh’s dad, but once I discovered that it was a “gift” from a stepfather, I knew the situation wasn’t going to turn out well.
I’m an organic writer, meaning I don’t have outlines. I start with an initial idea, and in this case I knew I wanted to write about a cursed toy, because I always enjoy those stories. This trope has been used before, of course, but I was confident I could bring something new to it. I also knew how I wanted to end the story in this case, but that was it. Josh, Edgar, Sean, and the stepfather came out of nowhere, but I’m glad they did.

5. I truly hated Josh's stepfather. Can you tell us a secret about this scene?

Even though the boys are having a lot thrown at them in this scene, it gets a lot worse. And this is actually the easiest time they’ll have when trying to get rid of Edgar.

Blurb:
Sometimes evil looks like a fuzzy teddy bear.Still grieving the untimely death of his dad, ten-year-old Josh Leary is reluctant to accept a well-worn stuffed teddy bear from his new stepfather. He soon learns he was right to be wary. Edgar is no ordinary toy...and he doesn’t like being rejected. When Josh banishes him to the closet, terrible things begin to happen.Desperate to be rid of the bear, Josh engages the help of a friend. As the boys’ efforts rebound on them with horrifying results, Josh is forced to accept the truth—Edgar will always get even.

BIO:
J.H. Moncrieff loves scaring the crap out of people with her books—when she’s not busy being a journalist, editor, book doctor, and publicist. In her “spare” time, she loves to travel to exotic locales, advocate for animal rights, and muay thai kickbox. She blogs about unsolved mysteries, creepy travel, and the supernatural on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Author Links:Website | Twitter | Facebook

Please leave J.H. a comment. And you might have to say hi to Edgar or he might get mad....

My Declaration of Independence for the World (Written as a Teen)

A couple of months ago I mentioned that I rewrote the Declaration of Independence for a contest when I was in high school. The topic for the essay was “What Freedom Means to Me.” I won first place in my school and third place in the district. I am still super proud of the plaque I got. As a matter of fact, it hangs on my wall near my desk.
Below is the essay. The part of the Declaration I rewrote is indented. Please keep in mind that I was fifteen when I wrote this. I also won't tolerate negative comments about any of the freedoms that I mention in my speech. Thanks!

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“Freedom means many things. You have the right to be who you want to be whether it’s the President of the United States, a lawyer of the best court, or a makeup and red nose wearing clown. You also have the right to do what you want, even if it’s dancing the funky chicken in your apartment or writing a comic and sending it to the newspaper to be published. But mostly importantly, you’re not owned by another like a slave.

“Freedom can be shown millions of ways such as dying your hair red, white and blue; joining the army to fight for your country; or going to school to get an education. I demonstrate my greatly appreciated freedom, given to me by those who gave their lives for mine, by writing my own Declaration of Independence, which I desperately wish applied to this divided world today. Because I am free, I can write my own Declaration as long as I don’t forget the real Declaration. Who could forget about this famous document signed by the most intelligent and wise men that states our freedom? I don’t think anyone can.

“My World Declaration of Independence starts and ends like so:

“We the people of this large and over-populated world are free. We have the rights of speech, marriage, presidency, education, life, happiness, safety, and choice. No president, government, senate, mayor, or any other high powered, crown-wearing, kingdom and throne bearing person can ignore these rights or make laws against them. If they do, we have the choice to overthrow them with the snap of a finger. Once they are robed of their position, we then have the full power in our hands to find and vote for a new eligible person to take their place. 

The certificate I received. The plaque doesn't show up well in pictures.

Freedom of Speech grants us the honor to express our opinions, as long as they are not hurtful, and not get in trouble. 

Freedom of Marriage allows gays to marry with no protest. 

Freedom of Presidencypermits men and women of different races, religions, cultures, or any other feature that separates us from one another to be the President of the United States of America. 

Freedom of Education aids children in foreign countries to go to school. Students from all over the world will have the opportunity to learn from books, computers, and teachers. 

Freedom of Life gives us the chance to live as we see fit. 

Freedom of Happiness admits everyone the chance to find satisfaction and bliss in any way they can, within legal limits, and no one can stop them. 

Freedom of Safety authorizes people to fight for themselves and their loved ones when faced with dangerous situations or people. 

And Freedom of Choice grants women full control over their bodies and the power to say “No!” 

Because we are all free, we are all free to do as we want and please, as long as we do not hurt one another. No king, dictator, or legislator can make us do anything against our dreams, morals, or wishes. We can stand up for ourselves and what we believe in because we can! 

No man can be sold to another man. No man is a slave to another man. No man has the right to start war where loves ones are parted countries away, deprived of many things, and sometimes killed while fighting for their country. No there won’t be any more war likes that or any other kind! 

We have all suffered from slavery, war, poverty, murder, and the list goes on and on full of the evil things we have done to each other. But that ends now with this Declaration! There will be no more terrorism, flag burnings, cults, riots, massacres, bombings, looting, or any other hurtful crime that has happened in the past. 

To make this so, all states and countries will have massive prisons for a sentencing of so many years. The world will be a better place for all and all to come. 

So therefore, unto I speak to you, I declare the people of the world FREE!” 

Every year I visit the moving wall that comes down to Florida. I stare in awe at all the little white names blanketing the movable black marble. I wonder what their last thoughts were before they died in those bloody, life-taking, and freedom-giving battles. Maybe one of them thought, as he lay on the bullet covered ground, “I changed the world with my life and one day we’ll be free so one little girl can write her own Declaration of Independence.”

QUESTION: What would you put in your World Declaration of Independence? 


(P.S. hateful comments will be ignored and deleted.)

Working with an Editor + July Question of the Month

When you get a publishing contract you will find that your editor is your new best friend. You will work closely with your editor to perfect your book and you will go to your editor with concerns and questions. You have to be able to trust your editor, and they have to be able to trust you. This is very much a relationship, but please don’t tell him/her about your bad date...keep it professional and all conversation geared toward your book.
What should you expect?
Well, after you sign your contract, your editor will review your manuscript and send it back to your with their edits. This is always a moment full of anxiety. I can’t even begin to tell you how much my heart races when I see that email sitting in my inbox, but I remind myself that my book is good. After all, it’s being published. And that the editor’s job is to help me iron out any wrinkles to make it shine.
When you open the document you’ll most likely see a lot of Track Changes where the editor cut out words, fixed spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. You’ll also see comments on the side. These comments can be on anything. Some editors stick strictly to pointing out the things that need to be fixed such as awkward phrasing or point-of-view issues, while others like to highlight things they liked.
Image from Wikipedia
Try not to panic when you see all the markings. Tell yourself that once you address the editor’s concerns, you’ll have a far more beautiful manuscript than you started out with. Then take a deep breath and begin with the first comment or change.
But what if you think you editor is wrong?
Never start a fight! Calmly tell your editor how you feel and politely ask him/her to explain their suggestion so you can understand. Maybe the two of you can work together to find a path you’ll both be satisfied with.

TIP:Reading through your manuscript during each round is a must as many sentences will be altered by your editor, and you may have to fix some scenes.

Editing with your editor usually involves three or more rounds until the book is set into a galley. Even when you get that galley, though, you still have to review it closely to make sure you didn’t miss anything.
Whatever you do, always be respectful! When that final galley is sent to your publisher, thank your editor for their time and help. He/she will appreciate it. Thanking them in your dedications/acknowledgements is also a nice gesture.

See: Dedications and Acknowledgements

QUESTION: What’s been your experience with editors?

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July Question of the Month:
QUESTION: What are three things that you'd do tomorrow if you weren't blocked by fear?
1. Get a beta reader for the first book in my unpublished supernatural-thriller series. This is the story featuring Avrianna Heavenborn (from Ghost of Death). I first created her when I was twelve and rewrote her series at seventeen. I’ve been perfecting her first book ever since. I am SUPER protective of it and afraid a beta would hate it or suggest I change everything, so I haven’t had a single beta look at it. It’s hard to explain how I feel.
2. Drive a car. I’ve been terrified of driving for a very long time, which is another fear that people don’t understand. Let’s just leave it at that.
3. Sign myself up for an online dating service. Wow. That’s personal, huh? Well, with my writing career and solitude life, I don’t get out much to meet people. One day, I’ll have to get the guts to join a dating service. At least to see what happens....

That's all for now!

Blogger Interview with DL Hammons

Today I am welcoming the great DL Hammons to my blog. He is another awesome blogging in the same boat as Alex J. Cavanaugh and Arlee Bird. DL has contributed greatly to the blogosphere by bringing us Blog Blitz and WRiTE CLUB. Let’s all give him a hearty welcome!

1. I have to start with the most obvious question for those who don’t already know...What is Blog Blitz?
I’m always looking for ways to stir the pot and the Blog Blitz is something I came up with to help focus the energy of this wonderful blogosphere in a way that was both fun and useful. I liken it to a game we used to play as kids...Tag! One boy or girl would be deemed “IT” and it was everyone else’s job to chase them down and pile on top of them. The game was both exciting and fun…and that’s the way the Blog Blitz is. How it works is you join the Blitz team by registering on a linky tool I set up…located HERE…and at random times throughout the month I’ll arbitrarily pick someone from that list and send an email to everyone on the team with their blog link…and on a specific date we will all bombard the unsuspecting victims with comments.  Usually someone who is “tagged” will receive close to 100 comments. I’ll also take suggestions from time to time for Blitz targets…and those usually involve team members who are struggling in some way or just need a pick-me-up.
The Blog Blitz has been a huge success and its one of my contributions to the blogging community I’m most proud of. 

2. Blog Blitz is a fabulous idea. Do you recall the first “victim” to be blitzed?
No, I can’t recall the first victim, but I do recall one of the early ones. We turned our attention to Jeff Hargett for support after he lost his wife suddenly. 
3. I'm sure that meant a lot to him. What was your very first blog post?
Wow…talk about a blast from the past.  My very first blog post happened on January 22nd, 2009.  I had a previous blog on Myspace before that, although I hesitate to really call that a blog…more like brain vomit.
My first post on Blogger never garnered a single comment, but that was okay because I didn’t send it out into the world looking for any. It was a really random post about a boy and his bike…and you can read it HERE if you’re interested.  All I can say is that I’ve come a long way since then!

4. You’ve been super busy on your blog lately. Can you tell us about WRiTE CLUB?
Glad to.  WRiTE CLUB is another one of my projects I’m extremely proud of. It’s a contest that just entered its fifth year and became so popular that the DFW Writers Conferencein Dallas helps sponsors it now.  The rules of the contest are loosely based on the movie Fight Club, and involve writers submitting 500 word samples of their work – anonymously – using only a pen name. Those samples get matched in head to head bouts and the winner is chosen by the readers with votes left in the comments section. The winners continue to move through the rounds until finally only two remain, and then a panel of celebrity judges made up from famous authors, agents, editors, and past WRiTE CLUB winners pick who becomes the new champion.  WRiTE CLUB is going on right now and everyone is more than welcome to stop by and leave a vote.

5. Sounds like Fun! What are the top 5 most-viewed posts on your blog?
Two of my most-viewed posts (based on page views) I’ve already talked about.  Those are the post where I introduced the BLOG BLITZ, and the other is the current years WRiTE CLUB kick-off post.
My 3rdmost popular post is from another blogfest that I conduct called The Déjà vu Blogfest. That is an annual blog-hop where everyone who participates re-posts their favorite blog from the current year…or a particular blog that they felt deserved more attention than it received.  I’ll be holding the blogfest again this year…in December.
Most popular #4 goes to my first post in April 2012 when I was a co-host for the A-Z Challenge.
And my fifth most popular post…that may not have had a lot of pageviews, but did garner me the 3rd most comments I’ve ever received…was my post for another blogfest I hosted called Origins. 
6. Share your number one tip to bloggers just starting out.
Building a successful blog (and that definition of successfulis extremely subjective) is about two things…content and traffic.  I can’t help you with the content…that has to come from you and any attempt to copy somebody else’s formula will not come across as sincere. But traffic…the best way to attract readers to your blog is to visit – and comment – other blogs.  And I mean LOTS of them.  That’s how I did it. It is time consuming and occasionally demanding, but so so worth it.

Hyper Round:
1. Favorite time to post blogs? Sunday mornings.2. Blogger or Wordpress? Blogger. Never tried Wordpress.3. Do you host guests? Love to! 4. Where are you when you’re blogging? At home at my writing desk.


BIO:
The first thing DL ever officially wrote was in tenth grade...and it was to impress a girl. He wrote a scary script about a young boy who becomes enamored with his reflection in an antique full-length mirror for a school project. The story was well received by the class, but the teacher pulled him aside afterwards and told him she couldn't believe that the material was original. After he finally convinced her that it was written it from scratch, she suggested that he submit it to a short story contest. (Which he never did)
 After that DL joined the school newspaper and made a name for himself writing mostly sports articles, but occasionally they would throw him a bone and let him write some feature pieces. His favorite (and most controversial) was an article entitled...The Art of Skipping. 
DL attended college at LSU and started off majoring in Journalism, but soon realized that life in that world could prove to be financially challenging.  So he decided to pursue more lucrative majors (ending up graduating with business degree) and writing slowly faded into the background as the realities of everything that tend to induce follicle disembarkation and enlarged prostrates took over his life. It wasn’t until most of his children had flown the coop that he found himself with spare time and all it took was a sprinkle of attention and the warmth of his interest to rekindle a decades old love.
Today DL is represented by Sarah Negovitech of the Corvisiero Literary Agency and together they are submitting his YA Paranormal/Mystery book to publishers.

LINKS:Blog / Facebook / TwitterGoogle + / About.Me / Instagram

Please leave DL some blog love!



HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!! Stay safe!

A Kick in the Butt / IWSG

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


FIRST...
I joined Twitter on Monday. I tried to follow as many people as I could think of following, so if you're on Twitter, follow me and I'll follow you back!
 https://twitter.com/ChrysFey @ChrysFey

A couple of weeks ago I came across a link about how writers can get published on Huffington Post. I wouldn’t mind an article of mine to be featured on this site, so I clicked to check it out. I had to enter my email address in order to retrieve the strategy guide. Shortly after I got another email from Jon, the blogger/writer who created the guide. The subject line read: A friendly kick in the butt. The email was funny, clever, and I thought it would be perfect for those of us who really do need a kick in the butt, so I copied and pasted it here. I hope Jon doesn’t mind.
First, here’s the link to sign up to get the guide yourself. CLICK HERE.
Now read the email and be entertained:

A friendly kick in the butt:

You deserve one. You know that right?  

I know, I know. It’s a little strange hearing that from me, a complete stranger.  

But listen…  

I saw you just grabbed one of our strategy guides. 

Good for you. Smartest decision you ever made. 

I have to level with you, though. Chances are, it’s not going to do you any good. 

Why the hell not?  

Because you’re probably not going to do anything with it. 

You might give it a quick skim. Learn a thing or two. 

If you’re really dedicated, you might even read it a few times. You know, give your mind a chance to chew on it a bit. 

But then you’ll forget about it. 

The phone will ring. You’ll have to go to a meeting. Your kids will make a mess. 

Whatever. Bottom line is, you’ll get distracted. 

Left to your own devices, you might even forget about all this for forever. Never accomplish anything at all. 

“Now hold on a minute,” you might be thinking. “You’re being awfully negative. I just joined your email list, and you’re already calling me distracted and forgetful!” 

Yep, I am. 

Before you go getting indignant though, let me ask you a question… 

How long have you been thinking about becoming a writer? 

Months? Years? Decades? 

How many websites about writing have you visited? How many articles have you read? How many books? 

How many times have you downloaded a resource exactly like the one I gave you, but then you forgot about it and didn’t do a damn thing with it? 

I bet it’s not the first time. Maybe not even the 100th time. 

In fact, I’d guess you’ve been going through this routine your entire life. 

Well, I have good news: 

Today, I’m putting an end to it. Today, I’m going to snap you out of the vicious cycle. Today, I’m going to change your life. 

How? 

By sticking my foot up your ass. That’s how. 

Other people might permit you to download their resources and forget about it. Other people might not care if you ever accomplish anything at all. 

But I do. 

You have too much potential. You have too much wisdom. You have too much to share with the world. 

So, I’m kicking you in the butt. Right now. 

Go on, bend over. 

Stick your behind in the air. 

Clench your teeth, and say a prayer. Because here it comes: 

STOP SCREWING AROUND AND FOCUS. 

STOP LETTING YOURSELF GET DISTRACTED. 

STOP WASTING THE TALENT GOD GAVE YOU. 

No more delays. No more excuses. 

It’s time to write! 

So, get to it! 

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you a little story to keep you going when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Who knows, I might even give you another kick or two. 

Until then, read the strategy guide I sent you. 

No more screwing around. You don’t even want to know what happens if I catch you slacking off. :-) 

Get to work. I’ll talk with you tomorrow. 

Your new friend, 
Jon 

Jon doesn’t know me at all, because I always read and use the information that I download, but I could still use a kick in the butt. Couldn’t we all?



QUESTION: Did you need a kick in the butt to get writing?