Randi Cooley Wilson's Blog, page 9
May 15, 2014
Congratulations to the Revelation Winners!
Congratulations Marissa and Christina! Each won a signed copy of Revelation yesterday.
Thank you all so much for entering and supporting Revelation.
I'm humbled by the show of interest and I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thank you!
Hugs.
Randi Cooley Wilson
Thank you all so much for entering and supporting Revelation.
I'm humbled by the show of interest and I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thank you!
Hugs.
Randi Cooley Wilson
April 8, 2014
Meet The Characters Behind The Story!
Book characters are similar to real people. Some you meet and connect with instantly. Others you get to know over time and maybe a few glasses of wine. Then there are the few that turn you off from the instant of introduction.
When I sat down to write this blog, I tried to come up with a clever and safe way to introduce you to the main characters of Revelation without spoiling their stories.
After racking my brain, I finally decided the best way to get to know them would be to hold a Q&A regarding their favorite things.
Following each character’s answer, you’ll see an author’s comment. A little unknown fact about either the series, or the character that only the author knows.
Their answers (direct from their mouths) are below. Please note that none of the answers the characters provided are spoilers for the book series. Enjoy!
Q: What is your favorite color and why?
Eve: “Indigo Blue because it’s the color of Asher’s eyes.”
Asher: “Black for obvious reasons. Although, hazel is nice too (winks at Eve).”
Gage: “Black but my reason is simple, I look hot in it.”
Callan: “Um, definitely green.”
Abby: “Green as well.”
Keegan: “Red without question.”
Kenna: “Red.”
Aria: “I have two, pink and black. It’s super hard to decide.”
Author’s Comment: Eve’s eye color is in honor of my daughter Maddison who has the most beautiful shade of hazel eyes I’ve seen to date.
Q: What is your favorite snack food?
Eve: “Nachos, fully loaded. No beans though.”
Asher: “French fries covered with bacon, sour cream, and chives.”
Gage: “Does coffee count?”
Callan: “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Oh, you have to freeze them in the freezer.”
Abby: “Guacamole and Chips.”
Keegan: “Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing.”
Kenna: “I don’t really snack.”
Aria: “Donuts.”
Author’s Comment: Dinner and food is something in my house that brings our family together. So food is used the same way in the book, to bring everyone together.
Q: What is your favorite word?
Eve: “Um, it’s definitely crap.”
Asher: “Siren is by far my favorite word in the English language.”
Gage: “Pendulum.”
Callan: “I’m partial to Callan.”
Abby: “I don’t know. Maybe Hi?” (She giggles)
Keegan: “Honor.”
Kenna: “I don’t have a favorite word that is appropriate.”
Aria: “Sahweet.”
Author’s Comment: There might have been a game of rock, paper, and scissor played in deciding the color of Aria’s hair.
Q: Who is your favorite band?
Eve: “Of Monsters and Men.”
Asher: “Pearl Jam.”
Gage: “Paper Route.”
Callan: “Phish.”
Abby: “Mumford and Sons.”
Keegan: “Without a doubt it’s The Steve Miller Band.”
Kenna: “Sara Mclachlan.”
Aria: “One Direction. They’re hot!”
Author’s Comment: Asher and Eve’s theme song is ‘Flames’ by Vast.
Q: What is your favorite book or what are you reading right now?
Eve: “Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens.”
Asher: “I love all things James Patterson. I’m reading Private L.A. right now.”
Gage: “The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore.”
Callan: “That Fifty Shades book was pretty cool, and informative.”
Abby: “Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.”
Keegan: “The Art of War by Sun Tzu.”
Kenna: “Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Aria: “I love the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead.”
Author’s Comment: Gage was originally named Bane. I changed his name when the incredibly talented Cassandra Clare released The Bane Chronicles.
When I sat down to write this blog, I tried to come up with a clever and safe way to introduce you to the main characters of Revelation without spoiling their stories.
After racking my brain, I finally decided the best way to get to know them would be to hold a Q&A regarding their favorite things.
Following each character’s answer, you’ll see an author’s comment. A little unknown fact about either the series, or the character that only the author knows.
Their answers (direct from their mouths) are below. Please note that none of the answers the characters provided are spoilers for the book series. Enjoy!
Q: What is your favorite color and why?
Eve: “Indigo Blue because it’s the color of Asher’s eyes.”
Asher: “Black for obvious reasons. Although, hazel is nice too (winks at Eve).”
Gage: “Black but my reason is simple, I look hot in it.”
Callan: “Um, definitely green.”
Abby: “Green as well.”
Keegan: “Red without question.”
Kenna: “Red.”
Aria: “I have two, pink and black. It’s super hard to decide.”
Author’s Comment: Eve’s eye color is in honor of my daughter Maddison who has the most beautiful shade of hazel eyes I’ve seen to date.
Q: What is your favorite snack food?
Eve: “Nachos, fully loaded. No beans though.”
Asher: “French fries covered with bacon, sour cream, and chives.”
Gage: “Does coffee count?”
Callan: “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Oh, you have to freeze them in the freezer.”
Abby: “Guacamole and Chips.”
Keegan: “Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing.”
Kenna: “I don’t really snack.”
Aria: “Donuts.”
Author’s Comment: Dinner and food is something in my house that brings our family together. So food is used the same way in the book, to bring everyone together.
Q: What is your favorite word?
Eve: “Um, it’s definitely crap.”
Asher: “Siren is by far my favorite word in the English language.”
Gage: “Pendulum.”
Callan: “I’m partial to Callan.”
Abby: “I don’t know. Maybe Hi?” (She giggles)
Keegan: “Honor.”
Kenna: “I don’t have a favorite word that is appropriate.”
Aria: “Sahweet.”
Author’s Comment: There might have been a game of rock, paper, and scissor played in deciding the color of Aria’s hair.
Q: Who is your favorite band?
Eve: “Of Monsters and Men.”
Asher: “Pearl Jam.”
Gage: “Paper Route.”
Callan: “Phish.”
Abby: “Mumford and Sons.”
Keegan: “Without a doubt it’s The Steve Miller Band.”
Kenna: “Sara Mclachlan.”
Aria: “One Direction. They’re hot!”
Author’s Comment: Asher and Eve’s theme song is ‘Flames’ by Vast.
Q: What is your favorite book or what are you reading right now?
Eve: “Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens.”
Asher: “I love all things James Patterson. I’m reading Private L.A. right now.”
Gage: “The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore.”
Callan: “That Fifty Shades book was pretty cool, and informative.”
Abby: “Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.”
Keegan: “The Art of War by Sun Tzu.”
Kenna: “Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Aria: “I love the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead.”
Author’s Comment: Gage was originally named Bane. I changed his name when the incredibly talented Cassandra Clare released The Bane Chronicles.
March 1, 2014
The Birth of The Revelation Series
RevelationRandi Cooley WilsonI thought it might be a fun idea to write three blogs leading up to the release of
Revelation
that give insight into the series.
A ‘behind the scenes’ look, if you will into: the series conception, plot creations, character development and finally some scenes and chapters that are exclusive!
Not to sound cliché, but I thought I would start at the beginning. Every story has one, right?
As a reader, I’ve always started with the last page first. I like knowing how a story ends as I progress through it. Not because I don’t like suspense, twists and surprises, but for the reason that, I like to see the exploration of a plot line. How the characters mature over the course of a storyline, and the thinking behind choices that lead to the outcome. I realize it seems like a great deal of work for a casual read – lol.
I applied my reading philosophy to my writing. I began The Revelation Series by writing the final chapter of the series in 2008. That’s right! Eve and Asher’s fate has been sealed since 2008 and won’t be changing.
Then, I worked backwards and wrote the final chapters to each of the remaining four books. Once each book had an ending, I wrote the first chapter to each of the five books. All in 2008, again, none of which will be changing.
After that, I walked away from the computer. Life went on. I focused on work, friends, family and being a wife and new mom. But the story was still there, under my skin, itching to be heard.
The characters voices were a soft rumbling at first. A line of dialogue, some witty retort and then at times, full-blown scenes of interaction. All of which I wrote down each time I heard them speak to me. I kept sticky notes in every room, just in case. My husband started to worry about the voices in my head, but other than an occasional side-glance, he let me flitter about. Never questioning the little yellow squares all over the house with random crap on them.
Late at night, when my daughter was sleeping I began writing character bios; back stories, personality traits, and anything else that I thought would make my characters come to life. Usually, while sitting in her nursery listening to her breathe.
Fast forward to 2014. When my husband and I decided to move back to Massachusetts from California, I was blessed that my job allowed me to continue to work from the East Coast. Maddison, now five, started school full-time and between the time difference and her school, I found I had more time to explore my writing.
So I did at the encouragement of my husband, friends and family. I kept everything I had written in 2008 and began to write the story in between each of the pervious words.
In less than six months book one, Revelation was born. It went through multiple rounds of editing and changes before I handed it over to a professional editor. Then more changes before being delivered to a beta group, then final changes, and more and more editing. To be honest, some days, it felt like the editing would never stop. But it did, and when it did, it felt amazing.
I picked the title Revelation because it has two meanings, both of which encapsulated my story perfectly. Revelation: (1) a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way and (2) the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.
I like the idea of the book title summarizing a book completely and being used within the context of the material. So each book in the series: Revelation, Restraint, Redemption, Revolution and Resurrection will do just that.
A cover was designed, a title was created, copyrights were filed, a publishing date was chosen and a marketing plan was developed and The Revelation Series was born.
It’s an amazing thing, the power of the written word. Words can impact your emotions, teach you things about yourself, take you to new worlds and expand your knowledge far beyond what we experience day-to-day. Hopefully this series will do that for you.
Get to know the characters next month!
A ‘behind the scenes’ look, if you will into: the series conception, plot creations, character development and finally some scenes and chapters that are exclusive!
Not to sound cliché, but I thought I would start at the beginning. Every story has one, right?
As a reader, I’ve always started with the last page first. I like knowing how a story ends as I progress through it. Not because I don’t like suspense, twists and surprises, but for the reason that, I like to see the exploration of a plot line. How the characters mature over the course of a storyline, and the thinking behind choices that lead to the outcome. I realize it seems like a great deal of work for a casual read – lol.
I applied my reading philosophy to my writing. I began The Revelation Series by writing the final chapter of the series in 2008. That’s right! Eve and Asher’s fate has been sealed since 2008 and won’t be changing.
Then, I worked backwards and wrote the final chapters to each of the remaining four books. Once each book had an ending, I wrote the first chapter to each of the five books. All in 2008, again, none of which will be changing.
After that, I walked away from the computer. Life went on. I focused on work, friends, family and being a wife and new mom. But the story was still there, under my skin, itching to be heard.
The characters voices were a soft rumbling at first. A line of dialogue, some witty retort and then at times, full-blown scenes of interaction. All of which I wrote down each time I heard them speak to me. I kept sticky notes in every room, just in case. My husband started to worry about the voices in my head, but other than an occasional side-glance, he let me flitter about. Never questioning the little yellow squares all over the house with random crap on them.
Late at night, when my daughter was sleeping I began writing character bios; back stories, personality traits, and anything else that I thought would make my characters come to life. Usually, while sitting in her nursery listening to her breathe.
Fast forward to 2014. When my husband and I decided to move back to Massachusetts from California, I was blessed that my job allowed me to continue to work from the East Coast. Maddison, now five, started school full-time and between the time difference and her school, I found I had more time to explore my writing.
So I did at the encouragement of my husband, friends and family. I kept everything I had written in 2008 and began to write the story in between each of the pervious words.
In less than six months book one, Revelation was born. It went through multiple rounds of editing and changes before I handed it over to a professional editor. Then more changes before being delivered to a beta group, then final changes, and more and more editing. To be honest, some days, it felt like the editing would never stop. But it did, and when it did, it felt amazing.
I picked the title Revelation because it has two meanings, both of which encapsulated my story perfectly. Revelation: (1) a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way and (2) the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.
I like the idea of the book title summarizing a book completely and being used within the context of the material. So each book in the series: Revelation, Restraint, Redemption, Revolution and Resurrection will do just that.
A cover was designed, a title was created, copyrights were filed, a publishing date was chosen and a marketing plan was developed and The Revelation Series was born.
It’s an amazing thing, the power of the written word. Words can impact your emotions, teach you things about yourself, take you to new worlds and expand your knowledge far beyond what we experience day-to-day. Hopefully this series will do that for you.
Get to know the characters next month!
