Bre Faucheux's Blog, page 58

The Resurgence of Violet Blake has a cover!

The title explains it all. I finally bought a cover for the introduction of my upcoming novella series. I am currently finishing the final edits of the first book, and starting my fifth (yes, you read right, the fifth) rewrite of the second book.

Believe me. I am aware that this cover screams “creepy as fuck,” and maybe it should. The story has some dark elements. But I didn’t want that as the only element. There is a lot mystery involved that will be explained over time.

Soon to come, a synopsis. I hope to have “The Resurgence of Violet Blake” out very soon.

 

Does it leave you curious??

Meet Shawn Cassidy!! Or should I say Violet Blake??

Introducing: My new leading lady for my upcoming novella series.

How do I describe Shawn in a few words?

Awkward, frizzy and curly red hair, near photographic memory, pale, a bit of an outcast (and satisfied to be so), independent, self-less, as well as a healer. She comes from a long line of ancestors who can heal people with their touch, and literally bring them back if they are inches from death. This last bit is a very well kept secret. Although she has had a few instances where she nearly revealed her family’s extraordinary abilities. Completely by accident of course.

Or did she? She learns after a mere accident of circumstance that their secret may not be as well kept as she has assumed her whole life.

Shawn’s main goal in life is to get into med school one day, which is why she tolerates her low level status in high school. She has other goals in mind. Not that she is opposed to the sudden attention Carter Peterson is showing her.

She is level-headed, scientific minded, motivated, and completely adores her best friend Lucas.

Soon I will be posting the first few pages of my new novella “The Resurgence of Violet Blake.” Where do Violet Blake and Shawn Cassidy meet? To be continued…

Here is an image of what I imagine her to look like in my head, although the girl in this picture has much smoother hair. Shawn had to learn the epic-ness that is straightening irons after constant taunting at school about her wild frizz. Not that this ever happened to me over the years. Har har.

February 2014 Wrap Up

Everything I read in February of 2014.

Hope you enjoy!!

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Referred links:

Ruby Red Book Review: http://youtu.be/q3SuufX_eY4

The Maze Runner Book Review: http://youtu.be/maBZGjowoYI

Freelee the Banana Girl: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLwUd5KtYONsRJ3UAOojZ0w

40BelowFruity: https://www.youtube.com/user/40BelowFruity

DurianRider: https://www.youtube.com/user/durianriders

VlogBrothers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGaVdbSav8xWuFWTadK6loA

Royalty Free Music: Sunny Stories – Martin Mittone

Writing Slumps

So anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis *shakes head in doubt* would know that I have been experiencing a bit of a writing slump lately. What to do when these situations occur? And fortunately, mine has not been due to writer’s block or a lack of time or ideas. I have ideas coming out of my ears (actually that bit has been a tad overwhelming… ironically).

The real problem: emotion duress…for lack of a better term. I am emotionally exhausted because of personal things going on in my personal life. And I feel guilty about not working because of it. Which just leads to a vicious cycle of self-loathing. I read somewhere that writers have a high suicide rate for this reason (don’t get any ideas, I am no where even on the same playing field as that), but I can understand where it comes from.

The need to create is something that I think most writers can understand. I often think that writing comes from a place of need rather than a place of want. I need to write in order to feel productive, because being productive means that I have accomplished something. Accomplishing something means that the day wasn’t a total waste. And that ultimately makes me feel better about myself as a whole.

I often find it difficult to sit down and accomplish the task. Some writers say they write compulsively. I can’t do that. It takes effort to sit my butt down and do it. But when I am motivated, I can do that easily.

Right now, no such motivation exists.

The drama in my personal life has drained me to my core. For the first time last night, I got a full night of sleep. I am used to being woken up sometimes over five times in one night. As said previously, I am on 24 hours care mode for a relative, and that sometimes requires my own health and sanity to go out the door. And today, for the first time in a really long time, I feel that energy slowly coming back.

Soon I will be posting an intro to my new novella series. At this point I am considering calling it “The Resurgence of Violet Blake.” I know, maybe it’s not perfect yet. But I really like this style of title, kinda like what I am reading right now. “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.” I just think it sounds neat by the title alone. And the cover of that particular book…genius!

So at least I will have something else to post about other than the fact that I have been doing poorly in all aspects of life…should just be fired as Kathy Griffin says. FIRED FROM LIFE!

So… here’s to hopefully a “resurgence” of my creative juices.

I have been visiting lots of websites on how to getting your writing groove back, and here’s the thing. It doesn’t always help. It’s rather like hearing the “it’s gets better” thing while being bullied in high school (or in my case, junior high). But when you are in the actual situation, you don’t want to hear that. It can be downright detrimental to realize that there is no cure for current life suck.

So I am just going to have to go my own way and hope that things slowly start getting better all around and that I get some work done on a regular basis. While writing this blog post, I got some good news from a family member that something I have been stressing about for months is finally going through and happening. So yay! My family has been long overdue for some good news.

Woop woop!!!!

I leave you with something I have shared before, but I am going to share again. Because it is a stunning piece that I can’t get enough of. It somehow reminds me that great things need to be done and created.

Has Zimmer – you are a genius!

Ruby Red Book Review

Here is my latest review, “Ruby Red” by Kerstin Gier. I give it 5 stars.

My Books Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bre%20faucheux&sprefix=Bre+Fau%2Caps%2C244&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abre%20faucheux

Follow Me on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7258303.Bre_Faucheux

Blog: brefaucheux.com

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBreFaucheux

Twitter: Bre_Faucheux

Instagram: tribalfaerie

Royalty Free Music: Martin Mittone – Sunny Stories

4 Things I Have Learned About Self-Publishing

I think that everyone can benefit from someone else’s experiences. That is why I want to share a few points that I have discovered about self publishing my work rather than going to traditional publishers. I used to be dead set against it and wanted to go the traditional publishing route at any cost. Now, I don’t think I ever will unless I get handed just the right contract for my work. (Probably never gonna happen). I have heard too many traditional publishing horror stories.

1.) eBOOKS: Self-publishing used to mean that you wrote your work, perfected it, ordered the copies, and maybe a few friends and family would read it. The rest of the copies sit in your garage in a sad and sorry box. Well, that’s not the case anymore. eBooks changed everything.

2.) EFFORT: You have to be everywhere at once. I have a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and a YouTube channel. I am a member of several forums for writers. I do NaNoWriMo. I am going to a writing convention come May, and I am working on more platforms as we speak. Everything you do will help to sell books.

If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. I want more books out. I have to change something in my schedule and sit down to write in order to make that happen. Self-publishing is probably harder than traditional in some ways because you have no extra hands doing everything else for you. You are your own marketer, designer, editor (unless you hire someone or have a beta). And you have to put in the time to do everything and do it well in order for that wheel to turn.

3.) CONTROL: You have so much more control. You can control your covers, your pricing, your own deadlines. I have everything at my finger tips. I can decide where my story is going to go, and not my editor or my agent. (Which don’t have anyway). I can make my own choices and that is so priceless. I had too many teachers telling me that I had to do things their way for years and years and years. I love that I can do things my way.

4.) PERCEPTION: Like I previously said, I always thought that self-publishing was just outrageous and a waste of time. I wanted to see my books in bookstores. And to be fair, I would still love that. But I don’t think of self-publishing the same way I did a year ago. Although others do. You say you are SELF-published and suddenly your credibility goes the other way. People sometimes think that writers are a dime a dozen, and saying that you are actually selling books just shocks them. So I just tell people that I publish exclusively to Amazon rather than saying I am self-published (when people ask). It just sounds cleaner. People who don’t write or are not trying to publish, don’t usually understand that self-publishing isn’t what it used to be.

My First Review!!

Today is a special day, because the lovely C’s. Big. Reading. in Japan did a GoodReads review as well as a video book review of my novel, “The Keeper’s Realm.” I am so flattered that she took the time to write a nice review and make a video regarding my book.

She describes the book in detail and also gave some tips as far as what could be made better in the future.

Thank you C!

 

GoodReads review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18626341-the-keeper-s-realm

‘The Fault in Our Stars’ Book Review

Here is my latest book review. I hope you enjoy!

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Blog: BreFaucheux.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bre_faucheux

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbrefaucheux

Instagram: tribalfaerie

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7258303.Bre_Faucheux

My Books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Bre%20Faucheux&sprefix=Bre+Fa%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3ABre%20Faucheux

Long time, No Writing

This is officially the longest block (although I am not calling it writer’s block in my head because I HATE that term) that I have had in over 18 months. Sorry to say.

I think that the desire to write something good has possibly overshadowed my ability to actually write something that I love. The story that I have been working on for quite some time (maybe 5 months which for me is a long time) is finally coming together and I have decided that I am going to release book one of the novella series relatively soon regardless of whether or not I am completely ready. I am so sick and tired of waiting to be ready and thinking that things are never good enough or not where they should be. Maybe I just need to put things out there, even if they aren’t perfect and see what happens.

I had a strange occurrence when I was in college. It was a creative writing class. Possibly the worst one I ever had and one that I have mentioned before on this blog. Creepy teacher. In her seventies (or at least she looked it), arm sleeve tattoos scaling her wrinkles and waist length dread locks. I never quite figured her out. Because regardless of appearances and assuming that this hippie must have some open minded thoughts about writing, she was in fact the biggest stinker for “write this way or no way at all” that I ever met in my life. And SO utterly against genre fiction of any kind that she would make the best dystopian writers out there question their very existence.

Anyway, one day I was writing an assignment. We had to create five prompts and write them out as if they were the first few pages to story. I went for the dramatic. One was a kidnapping story that I really thought had potential. The other three who cares, and that last one, about a boy being forced to go trick or treating by his mother. I really hated it. It was literally written in the span of five minutes just to fill up the page.

Guess which story she ended up reading to the entire class and thought was just SO interesting??!! Yeah, the trick or treating story. Never understood this woman, because I literally pulled that one out of a hat just to get the assignment done and thought it was the stupidest thing ever put on a written page. And she liked it. In fact, she said it was massively interesting because of the dynamics at play…or something to that effect. *head desk*

Bottom line, maybe what I think is crap, isn’t necessarily crap to others. Maybe I need to take that risk and upload eBooks to Amazon that I don’t necessarily think are my best works. Because someone else out there might really like it and ask for a sequel. My main goal right now is to write a novella that people want a sequel to. Or at least one person. So as you can tell, my ambitions are not aiming too high and are hopefully realistic.

 

February 2014 To Be Read