Andy Peloquin's Blog, page 20

Doing Romance in Fantasy Right

As you all know very well, I am NOT a romance writer. I’ve never had the desire to write romance-heavy novels, but I prefer to use romance as an element in my books rather than their driving force.

However, the truth is that a well-written romance can make any story more well-rounded, deeper, and more engaging. After all, we all love to picture that “perfect love” or “happy ending” in our minds. Romance can bring you closer to the characters, give real depth to both antagonist and protagonist, and even provide the motivation for the characters to do what they do.

So as I sat down to write Thief of the Night Guild (Book 2 of Queen of Thieves), I knew I wanted a hint of romance in there. I turned to a few experts on the topic to find out how to write romance in fantasy the right way. The video below is the result of that conversation:

The Panelists

Susan Tizdale

USA Today Bestselling Author, storyteller and cheeky wench, SUZAN TISDALE lives in the Midwest with her verra handsome carpenter husband. Her children have all left the nest. Her pets consist of dust bunnies and a dozen poodle-sized, backyard-dwelling groundhogs – all of which run as free and unrestrained as the voices in her head.

Suzan published her first novel, a 14th century Scottish Historical Romance titled Laiden’s Daughter, in December, 2011. To date, she has written and published more than 15 books. More than 300,000 copies of her books have been sold around the world.

You will find her books at Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Kindle, Audible, and iTunes. Paperback and hardcover versions at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Suzan’s Website: www.suzantisdale.com

Connect with her on Facebook: suzantisdaleromance

Tweet at her: @suzantisdale

Get text messages on new releases! Text: CheekyWenchUS to 24587

Kathryn LeVeque

KATHRYN LE VEQUE is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, an Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance and Historical Fiction. She has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES and on USA TODAY’s HEA blog. In March 2015, Kathryn was the featured cover story for the March issue of InD’Tale Magazine, the premier Indie author magazine. She is also a quadruple nominee (a record!) for the prestigious RONE awards for 2015. Her bestselling novel, THE WOLFE, is also a semi finalist for the 2015 Kindle Book Reviews award for Best Romance.

Her website: www.kathrynleveque.com

Micheal Foster

Michael Wayne Foster is an American actor and producer.  Born in Monroe, Michigan to Rowland Foster (Educator) and Emilie Foster (R.N.).  Michael excelled in sports his 12th grade year and chose to pursue that path to Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio.  He spent two years on the baseball and basketball teams before focusing on a career in education.  As a high school English teacher for 9 years, Michael sharpened his improv skills, which were called upon in 2005 when he first appeared on national television.  “A chance to get out and work in New York learning of the opportunities the entertainment industry provides was overwhelming.  It (Hollywood) had my attention and I wanted to see what possibilities I could explore.”   With a M.A. in education and a B.A. in English, Michael set his sights on a newfound passion: Show Business.  In less than a year he resigned from education and moved to Los Angeles. “Teaching was an incredible journey and I am so lucky to have been a part of so many great kid’s lives.  However; every journey has to end when another begins,” he reflected.

His website: http://www.michaelwaynefoster.com/

Sean Hampton

Sean Hampton is the more handsome half of Cover 2 Cover Book Reviews, the only male model romance book review website in the world.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cover2coverreviews/

Instagram: SeanHamptonForever

SnapChat: ElSeanHampton

The post Doing Romance in Fantasy Right appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Short Stories by Joshua Robertson

Today, instead of one book for you to read, I’ve got two short stories. They’re both written by Joshua Robertson, the author of Anaerfell. The stories are set in the dark fantasy world he’s created, and they flesh out other details of the world and novels he’s written.

When Blood Falls

Defending against the demons of the Deep has long given Tyr Og’s brethren purpose. When Tyr’s mother is robbed from him during childhood, he loses his will to live. Now, filled with rage and regret, Tyr hungers for a worthy death to bring an end to the futility of his life. In a short tale of blood and self-loathing, Tyr seeks the most honorable path to finally join his mother in the afterlife.

The Name of Death

Drada Koehn is a fearless, formidable fighter ensnared in a presaged war against the northern humans. When the Speaker foretells their victory upon discovery of the name of death, she sets out to unravel the mysterious prophecy. Now, bound by duty and honor, Drada faces untold horrors with her companions, searching for what may never be found. In a story of unexpected twists, she soon finds that her resolve to see the quest done will be the fortune or doom of her people.

My Review: 4 Stars

I found both of these short stories highly compelling and fascinating, pulling me into the world. The descriptions were vivid, the scene painted beautifully dark, the action scenes gripping, and the stories well-rounded. They were the kind of short stories I enjoy reading: they introduce a character, give him/her an objective, and reach a clear ending.

On the downside, the dialogue felt a bit stiff and stilted. The stories also relied heavily on a reader understanding the world built in his novels, so as someone who hasn’t read them, I felt a bit lost sometimes.

Still, if you enjoy a good action-filled short story set in a dark fantasy world, these are worth the read!

Here’s a Taste:

When Blood Falls

Vaghor did not budge. He pushed his tangled, red hair from his eyes. “Your mother is dead, and your father is a madman. We all know it. Why can you not accept it?”

“What of your father, Vaghor Fhar?” Tyr rolled the name off his tongue venomously. His voice carried further than he intended. “Your entire family is nothing but a legacy of half-wits and drunkards. Best hold your tongue unless you welcome death.”

He noticed the other sentries shuffle backward as he bellowed.

Tyr felt Gharkis close the distance from behind him with a single step. The man attempted to pull Tyr’s attention from Vaghor’s glaring gaze. “Where is your sister, Tyr? She had gone with you, did she not?”

“I bet she is dead, too,” Vaghor flared his nostrils, his eyes darkened with hate.

Tyr’s chest tightened. His deep voice rattled from his lips. “She is dead. Killed by a bear.” Gharkis grated from behind him with a sense of sympathy. His footsteps crunched against the ground as he moved away.

“Let him be,” Gharkis said.

Vaghor puffed his chest, inching closer. “Mother killed by a Witiko. Sister killed by a bear.” Vaghor cocked his chin, and clicked his tongue. “Where is the bear? We need food and resources.”

Tyr explained with a single word. “Taken.”

“Taken?” Vaghor echoed.

“Vaghor,” Gharkis warned.

“No,” Vaghor pressed. His breath was hot against Tyr’s frozen cheek. “We should expect better from Tyr Og, the son of an Elder.”

Tyr’s muscles instinctively flexed, causing his injured arm to throb from shoulder to wrist. “Bah! You haven’t been outside of Almdalir for three months. Try to provide before demanding from those who keep your belly filled.”

Vaghor growled, balling his fists. Gharkis reached past Tyr to calm the giant, only to have his hand swatted away by Vaghor. The Ispolini sneered. “Are you wishing to join your sister and mother?”

“I welcome it!” Tyr’s left hand clamped onto the jugular of Vaghor seconds before his fist connected with the giant’s nose and upper lip. Bones crunched. Blood gushed.

It was not enough.

 

The Name of Death

Seigfeld dipped his head. “I found Farthr chained in a hollow in that cave, captured and meant to be eaten by the Witiko scum. He had watched handfuls of his own—and humans—slaughtered at the hands of the demons.”

Drada felt her heart twist, the smoke of the fire burning her nostrils. “Your sister?”

Seigfeld turned his eyes from her. “Forever lost. Farthr agreed to help find her, unsure if he had witnessed her death among the many humans. We searched for a while, but the tunnels beneath the mountain ran long and deep in more directions than the two of us could have ever traveled in a single lifetime.”

Wrylyc looked over his shoulder, scrunching his hooked nose. “I don’t understand how Farthr disapproves of this story.”

“He is shamed to have been captured,” Drada said matter-of-factly, “and you stole from him an honorable death. He would have died with his brethren in that cave had you not come along.”

“He would have been eaten alive,” Seigfeld protested.

“Ah,” Wrylyc grinned, “but the Svet have eaten the living, even their own battle-fallen, since their creation.”

Drada recoiled, catching bile in her throat. She filled the space with words. “So, he is bound to you now because you saved him from an unsavory death?”

Seigfeld dipped his head in acknowledgement.

“Absurd,” she replied. “A life of servitude is far worse than a glorified death. He should have sought more Witiko in the caves to kill.”

“Oh, we killed many more in the search of my sister—”

“I hear little mourning for her in your breath,” Drada challenged, folding her arms.

Seigfeld continued, “…but many paths were so thick with the demons, we were forced to retreat.”

“Retreat?” Drada scoffed. “I know few who would be so eager to tell a story of defeat.”

Seigfeld’s gaze darkened from across the fire. “You do not know the horrors—”

“No. I do not. Because Uvil do not know fear.”

The clipping of Farthr’s hooves against the ground drew their attention. Towering over them, crossbow in hand, he stared at Drada with a haunting gaze, the darkness looming behind his massive breadth. His words fell on her like a curse. “You will.”

About the Author:

Joshua Robertson was born in Kingman, Kansas on May 23, 1984. A graduate of Norwich High School, Robertson attended Wichita State University where he received his Masters in Social Work with minors in Psychology and Sociology. His bestselling novel, Melkorka, the first in The Kaelandur Series, was released in 2015. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers. He counts R.A. Salvatore and J.R.R. Tolkien among his literary influences.

Find the stories on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/When-Blood-Falls-Joshua-Robertson-ebook/dp/B01MQZTIS4/

Read his thoughts on his website: http://www.robertsonwrites.com/

Tweet at him: https://twitter.com/robertsonwrites

Follow his on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaRobertson/

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The Guilt-Free Criminal Mindset

In preparing to write Child of the Night Guild, I had to do a lot of research. I wanted to understand everything that went into the character’s story—from the skills she’d need as a thief to the mindset of a criminal to the techniques used to “brainwash” her to the effects of the life she led.

In my research, I found an interesting article on Psychology Today that put the criminal mindset into very fascinating perspective. The article states:

“Their mentality is well expressed by an offender who told me during a psychological evaluation, “I can make anything right wrong.  I can make anything wrong right.  Right is what I want to do at the time.”  Individuals who think like this are perfectly capable of warning others, including siblings, not to do things that are wrong because they could get into trouble or hurt someone.  However, with respect to their own contemplated action, criminals have a chilling capacity to shut off from immediate awareness any consideration of right and wrong, obliterate any sentiment, and banish any thought of how they might harm others.  Once they have honed in on what they intend to do, in their mind the act is as good as accomplished without any adverse consequence to them.  This usually is borne out by their experience in getting away with many offenses in the past.  Criminals do not have to rationalize what they are doing to anyone.  That comes later if they are apprehended.”

Think about that! The sort of people who commit crimes are able to rationalize what they’re doing—not to others, but only in their own minds. It’s only if/when they get caught that they have to explain.

I’ve found this a common theme in cop/detective shows. The detective has the suspect in custody and they’re sitting in the interrogation room, grilling them or trying to get them to crack. Finally, the criminal says, “I did it because of X”. Most of the time they almost say it like it’s a logical defense, like their actions are acceptable because of X reason.

“He hurt me so I killed him.”
“She was nasty so I stole from her.”
“X company owed me money so I robbed their bank account.”

Now, thinking about my own characters, I can see how that is real.

For example, the Hunter of Voramis (from Blade of the Destroyer) believes that killing out of vengeance is justified because the people who he’s killing deserve it. Talk about wild rationalization! That “eye for an eye” mentality is common among murderers who commit crimes of passion, but also vengeance killers (like the Hunter).

In Child of the Night Guild, the character Ilanna doesn’t really have that justification yet. She’s stealing because she has no choice, and because it’s all she knows. But later in the story, she’s able to rationalize her actions because of actions other people have taken. It’s that same “eye for an eye”, “you hurt me so I hurt you” mentality that’s common among criminals.

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A Way With Words: Emotions and Feelings

As a writer, I always have a hard time trying to put the emotions of my characters into words on a page. I can feel what the characters do, but it can be difficult to communicate that clearly to the reader. It’s probably the hardest part of the writing process for me. The fact that those feelings and emotions are so important for character growth and depth just makes it all the more challenging.

Thankfully, I have a few writer friends in my circles who happen to be AWESOME at writing emotions and feelings. In the first video of my new series “A Way With Words”, I get some valuable advice on how best to infuse my stories with emotions and feelings:

The Panelists

Angela Ackerman

Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of five bestselling writing books, including The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. She is passionate about helping writers succeed. Her site, One Stop For Writers is a powerhouse online library like no other, filled with description, story structure, and brainstorming tools to help writers elevate their storytelling. You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook and at her blog, Writers Helping Writers.

Her websites: https://www.onestopforwriters.com/ and http://writershelpingwriters.net/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaAckerman

Tweet at her: https://twitter.com/Angela Ackerman

Rachel Marks

Rachel A. Marks is an award-winning author and professional artist, a SoCal girl, cancer survivor, a surfer and dirt-bike rider, chocolate lover and keeper of faerie secrets. She was voted: Most Likely to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, but hopes she’ll never have to test the theory. Her debut series The Dark Cycle, described as Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” meets TV’s “Supernatural”, begins with the Amazon Bestseller, DARKNESS BRUTAL.

Her website: http://www.rachelannemarks.com/

See her work on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S6Z3S82/

Angie Grigaliunas

Angie Grigaliunas (grig-ah-LOO-nahs) is a fantasy writer and blogger. She’s a country girl at heart, in the sense that she wants to be in nature and away from civilization. She loves Jesus, the woods, and the stars, and has always wanted to be a superhero with a secret identity. Seriously.

She has completed three books: one about elves that needs a massive revision before it ever sees the light of day, one that is part of her current story but also needs a massive revision to fit a new storyline, and the actual first book (Sowing) in her dystopian/medieval/grimdark/semi-romance series (The Purification Era). When she’s not writing, she’s usually Facebooking – ack! – or thinking about story stuff. Despite several of her writing friends claiming she’s Canadian, she is not; she lives in Ohio with her dear husband and their crazy cats.

Connect on Facebook www.facebook.com/angiegrigaliunaszewriter

Her website: www.angiegrigaliunas.blogspot.com

Tweet at her: www.twitter.com/Angie_ZeWriter

See her work on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ck9So6

Sarah Buhrman

Sarah has been writing for more than 20 years. She lives in the middle of nowhere with two monsters (the kids), an ogre (the hubby), and whatever drama-llama is coming to visit this week. Sarah is the author of Too Wyrd and the Life 101 series. She has short stories in several anthologies, including Visions IV: Between the Stars, and The Pop Culture Grimoire: 2.0.

Her website: http://www.authorgoddess.com/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahB/

Tweet at her: https://twitter.com/AuthorGoddess

See her work on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Wyrd-Runespell-Book-1/dp/1612967523/

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Book Review: Hometaker by Dean Wilson

Today, for Book Review Wednesday, I have a book I’ve been looking forward to: the FINAL book in The Great Iron War series by Dean Wilson. I’ve read the books since the beginning, and I’m thrilled to have closure to the story of Jacob, Whistler, Rommond, and all the others.

Hometaker

The Resistance races against time to complete the missile-launcher known as the Hometaker, capable of opening a gateway to the land the Regime came from, and exposing the Iron Emperor for all the evils he has done.

Everything rests on the secrecy of the mission, but from day one tongues are wagging. The atmosphere is like dynamite. An overheard word could light the fuse. With no time left on the clock, General Rommond is forced to make an audacious plan: finish the construction of the Hometaker on the move, driving straight towards the enemy, who have assembled in unimaginable force.

The Great Iron War is coming to an end. It’s all or nothing—their world or ours.

My Review: 4 Stars

What I loved about this story: The circle is closed!

After years of reading these great books, I was happy to finally reach the end and receive that satisfying conclusion to the story. It did the rest of the series justice and closed the story in a way that I felt good about. Not necessarily a “happy  ending”, but the fitting ending the series deserved.

I LOVED the various plot twists and turns in this book. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I’d have to say “I didn’t see that coming!” They totally caught me by surprise, and I found they made for a much more realistic plot.

What I didn’t love: I felt the book was a bit more “rushed” than the previous ones. There were parts that felt downright choppy and “first draft” than Dean’s usual writing style.

But all in all, it was a satisfying ending to a book series I’ve enjoyed from the very beginning. Can’t wait to see what comes next!

Here’s a Taste:

And so the fire came.

The first jet of flame reached out over thirty metres. There was no one in its path, but it fulfilled its aim: sending fear before them even faster. The light illuminated the black armour and black masks. Even the coverings of the eyes were dark. These troops did not really need to see. They were here to burn everything.

Rommond’s men split apart, spreading out as he gestured for them to take cover. They hid behind the upturned landships, but only those at the front of the battlefield. They could not retreat any further or they would leave the carrier exposed. If that was set alight, the aim of it all was lost.

Rommond used a rifle from one of his fallen comrades to make his first shot. It only had a single bullet left, with most already wasted on the mines, but it was enough. There were a lot of fallen rifles littered around the sand, and not enough hands to use them. The bullet struck one of the closest fire-flingers straight in the forehead. He halted suddenly, then toppled forward, still clutching his flamethrower. His mate instinctively unleashed a jet of flame before him, but was still out of range to hit the general.

Then the other Resistance fighters unleashed a spray of bullets into the oncoming force, killing several of them, making them look a little less daunting than they did before.

And then the gas came.

The first came in a barrel, launched from a modified artillery gun parked far back with the troop carriers, which formed a black wall across the horizon. The barrel burst open in the midst of the Resistance soldiers, swiftly unleashing a green cloud of vapour, which spread out in all directions, thick and blinding. They were now the vermin-killers, here to weed out the rats.

Rommond yanked open the escape hatch of the upturned landship he hid behind and crawled inside. On its side, it was difficult to get his bearings, but this was not the first time he was in a vehicle like this. He quickly rummaged through the debris, pushing the bodies of the driver and gunner out of the way. He was certain that there was a gas mask in there somewhere, but he could not find it. He could barely see anything. If it was not the night, which entered with him, it was the dark of the interior itself. Everything was charred from the explosion that knocked the vehicle over, even the faces of its unmoving occupants. Even the gas mask that he eventually put his fingers on. Much of it was burned clean through.

He clambered swiftly back outside, where the green cloud was expanding, and the black-masked horde was approaching. He could no longer see his companions, but he could hear periodic gunfire, along with the screams and shouts of someone, punctured by his vomiting. If he was lucky, he would vomit blood. It would be over quicker then. Yet it would never be over quick enough.

Rommond dived out into the clear air, dodging a wall of flame that spat out from a nearby gun, and charged towards another fallen landship. That one was less damaged than the previous, but it was a lot more out in the open, in the eyeline of the fire-flingers, and not long before it was in their jet-line as well. He pulled at the escape hatch door, but it would not budge. It was buckled slightly on one side. Brute force alone would not do it, and yet he had to try. He could already feel the good air fleeing from the battlefield, not just from his frantic tussle. He could already see the sky darkening, not just from the encroaching night.

He felt a sudden heat and only narrowly missed the lashing tongue of flame that came at him. It singed the whiskers of his moustache and left little embers in the rim of his cap. As he span away, he unleashed his pistol, firing two shots. It was more than he needed, he knew, but he was caught off guard. That would get you killed. Yet, having no bullets left would do it too.

The fire-flinger crashed to the ground, almost falling into his own flame. It was then that Rommond thought to grab the gas mask from the corpse. It remained just a thought, however, because another approached behind him, and another, both alive and breathing fire.

Rommond barely had time to pull the trigger before a stream of fire whisked by him as he ran. He was forced to dive into the toxic cloud, gasping one last puff of fresh air before he disappeared inside. From there, laying with his back on the ground, he could barely make out the shapes of people and objects outside. He had to hope they were as blinded by their goggles as he was by the stinging vapour. He also had to hope they did not stray too far, because he was going on guesswork now to fire his remaining bullets.

The first clearly hit, because he heard the squelch of flesh, and the squeal of the man it entered. The second struck metal, and the third seemed to make no noise at all. Who knew what it hit further afield. The fourth—there was no fourth, he realised, as the revolver clicked idly. He was out. He knew his pistol was out too. That one he had kept track of. There were cartridges and bullet boxes in the landships. He even recalled feeling one as he searched for the gas mask, but never thought to grab it in the frenzy.

And now his breath was out too.

He gasped, feeling the first needle-points of the gas prick away at his lungs. He coughed, then tried to disguise the cough, knowing it would lead the fire-flingers to him. He covered his mouth and nose with the edge of his coat and tried not to suck in any more of the noxious fumes, but his lungs chugged along like little pumps and pistons on autopilot. If he took a breath, he would soon die. Yet if he did not breathe, he would die even swifter.

Better to burn than go like this, he thought.

So he rolled back out into the open, where he was greeted with a breath of fire.

About the Author:

Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11, when he began his first (unpublished) novel, entitled The Power Source. He won a TAP Educational Award from Trinity College Dublin for an early draft of The Call of Agon (then called Protos Mythos) in 2001.

He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy and the Great Iron War steampunk series.

Dean also works as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer

Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hometaker-Stea...

Read his thoughts on his website: http://www.deanfwilson.com

Connect with Dean on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deanfwilson

Tweet at him: https://twitter.com/deanfwilson

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DeanFWilson

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Is Brainwashing Real?

“Brainwashing” is one of those terms you’ll often find portrayed in movies about religious cults or the CIA. It’s usually perceived as fantastical and not even slightly real, and, in reality, there is no such thing as “brainwashing”. However, there are certain things that can be used for psychological manipulation, indoctrination, and behavior modification.

(Note: I found all of this out as I did research for Child of the Night Guild)

Low-protein, high-sugar diet. A low-protein diet deprives the brain of vital nutrients. A lack of protein can lead to impaired memory, concentration, and critical thinking. The addition of excessive sugar only adds to the cognitive impairment. It’s basically used to break down mental barriers.

Physical exhaustion. Pushing people beyond the limits of their endurance through hard labor is one of the most common techniques used for this type of manipulation. When you’re too tired to think clearly, you are often more vulnerable to suggestions and less able to resist other manipulation techniques.

Lack of sleep. This only adds to the physical exhaustion caused by excessive work and poor diet. The human mind needs a sleep routine as much as the body does. Take away the routine and force the person to sleep/wake at random times, and it can break their mental barriers.

Elimination of Time and Location. “Time” and “place” are two very important factors in human consciousness. Take away anything that could give an indication of time and location (dark, lightless environment in an unknown place), and you take away the foundation of what human consciousness is built on.

Elimination of Sense of Identity. We all know who we are. I’ve been “me” since birth, and will continue to be until death. But the erasure of identity is possible—often by the removal of names in favor of a number or designation. With the mind so broken by fatigue, lack of sleep, and improper diet, it’s possible to suppress one’s identity.

Repetition of Mantras. AA is a sort of cult, as is Nike, Apple, or Coca Cola. The use of mantras (“one day at a time” or “Just Do It”) is a form of though reformation.

Of course, these are just a few of the techniques used for psychological manipulation, thought reformation, or indoctrination. There are many more—this is a great link to check out.

Pretty scary stuff, right? Imagine being a person who goes through that!

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Marketing Advice from a Fellow Writer

Today, I’m bringing a post on marketing from a good friend, EM Whittaker, author of the Turbulence book. I did an interview with her in early December, and her interview had some GREAT information on marketing I had to put into a separate post to share.

EM’s Marketing Advice

First: Writers cannot find all their own mistakes, no matter how hard they try. The first large message I received in my track changes (manuscript editing doc) was using over 600 em-dashes, and transposing words like “when” and “as” within a sentence. A good editor will help you find your mistakes, build upon your style and help you build a better voice while improving your writing at the same time. It’s a partnership, not a hand-off or a one-and-done type deal.

A good editor will help you SELL your books – a bad editor will not force you to grow and correct your mistakes. Readers will notice and will leave bad reviews if the editing’s shoddy, characters aren’t thought out, head-hopping occurs (transitioning POVs for no reason in the same scene) or if the book’s bad in general.

Amazon will remove these reviews if the author edits their manuscript and uploads a cleaner version later. However, new writers shouldn’t learn this way after being docked the first time.

Editors are valuable, and can make or break an author’s career. Make sure to schedule some extra time inside your editing window for your and the editor, in case extenuating circumstances occur. I also say this because you could have issues that need fixing that you didn’t know about (like timing issues, or parts that may need complete overhauls because they don’t work for the story). We ran into one of these scenes in Chapter Two, and it took four tries to fix.

All authors should find an editor, even if you need to use payment arrangements for services if you’re an indie author. I did this method, and it was money well spent, considering the book is 10 times better then when I first submitted it to Shay.

Second: While I’m on the subject of investing, cover art means everything. It is the focal point of why readers will pick up your book, whether printed or ebook. Therefore, if you’re not with a publishing house who offers editors and cover art, invest with a good cover artist you’re comfortable with.

If you’re a graphic designer or know someone else doing this for you, you can skip the next few paragraphs. Otherwise, please read. You don’t want to make the same mistake I did.

Shop and get recommendations. Ask in the community and look for feedback. Query and see what their process is and if you get on with your artist. It’s easier to work with someone who thinks on your lines and gets back in a timely fashion rather than someone who drops from the face of the planet every time something goes wrong.

Also. when working with the cover artist (no matter which way you publish), stay within industry standard when doing your covers. The human brain cannot process too much stuff on a cover (or, as we call it, looking busy). So, before you hire a cover artist or work with one, look in your genre and see what bestselling authors are doing to hook people in. You don’t want your book to look like a different genre or like a graphic novel, which is what happened to mine. It was nice for promotional art, but not as a book cover, which was a costly lesson.

So, cover artist is a must. Establish a relationship with them, and be nice. They’re doing you a huge favor.

In addition, please listen when the cover artist asks you not to share their “proofing images” around on the internet. I know one person who lost their cover artist for not honoring this request years ago when I first got into writing. Your artist may allow you to share with a close friend or colleague if you ask, explaining it’s for feedback purposes, not for influencing their work or your cover design. Examples of this are if the artist needs feedback on certain elements of the cover, not for changes.

Third: For marketing, use a method that works for you, not what everyone else is using and failing at. For example, a good horror author I talk to uses his bad reviews to sell his books, and makes a killing piquing the reader’s curiosity over the 1 or 2 star review. Most writers wouldn’t be so bold, but this seems to work for Jim.

I like to share  snippets (between 250-850 words) on my personal Facebook page while in the middle of drafting. This is how I’ve garnered a lot of interest before the book’s even sold, and gained valuable feedback. It’s also how I found my beta readers.

When NaNoWriMo happened, we had threads where we shared snippets, such as first and last lines of scenes. Some posted entire ones, while others just did the bare minimum. However, I acquired interested parties for ARCs this way this month, based on the few pieces I posted for the next book. This made people ask about the first, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Last: Network! You never know who you’ll talk to or what opportunities will arise within the industry.

Networking was how I got with my publisher (J. Ellington Ashton) originally.  I participated in a writing short based off a picture someone posted for a writing challenge. After I made the 4500 short story and got honest feedback, I started submitting for them. While I decided to continue submitting short stories for JEA, it gave me the confidence to branch out my writing and self-publish my novels. I’ll continue this trend, and start submitting to other houses later in 2017 to grow my portfolio.

Networking on Facebook and various groups was how I connected with several people I work closely with, including my editor, formatter PR/PA company and cover artist. So social media is a powerful tool if used correctly.

 

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Book Review: The Tao of Book Publicity by Paula Margulies

For today’s Book Review Wednesday, I’ve got a non-fiction book that offers a lot of excellent information on book publicity…

The Tao of Book Publicity: A Beginner’s Guide to Book Promotion

In The Tao of Book Publicity, publicist Paula Margulies outlines the basics of book promotion and explains how the business of publicizing a book works. Designed for beginning authors but also useful for those with some experience in book publishing, The Tao of Book Publicity provides information on the importance of writing a good book and the need for developing a platform, as well as how-to explanations for developing publicity material, including front and back cover text, press releases, Q&As, media and blog tour queries, and newsletter and media lists.

The Tao of Book Publicity also covers social media, book pricing and sales, book tours and media interviews, and author websites. In addition to explaining how book publicity works, this valuable handbook explores practical topics such as publicity costs, timing, and considerations when hiring a publicist.

Simple, straightforward, and informative, The Tao of Book Publicity includes expert advice on all aspects of book promotion and is a go-to reference guide for beginning and experienced authors alike.

My Review: 5 Stars

I purchased this book from Paula at a local author event, and I have to say that I found it VERY helpful. It contains a lot of useful information on book publicity–which, as most people don’t understand, is different from marketing.

The book has information on smart marketing tips, but it also takes a look at book publicity. It’s a great look at the ins and outs of publicity, how to find a publicist you can trust, and a lot more.

It’s definitely a must-have for authors who want to be as effective as possible with their book launches–a handy road-map to success as an author!

About the Author

Paula Margulies is the owner of Paula Margulies Communications, a public relations firm for authors and artists. She has received numerous awards for her essays and books, including her nonfiction handbook, The Tao of Book Publicity, her historical novel, Favorite Daughter, Part One, her debut novel, Coyote Heart, and her short story collection, Face Value: Collected Stories. She has been awarded artist residencies at Caldera, Red Cinder Artist Colony, the Vermont Studio Center, and Centrum. Margulies resides in San Diego, California.

Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CS5DS6W/

Visit Paula’s website: http://www.paulamargulies.com

Tweet at her: https://twitter.com/paulamargulies

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The Odd Dichotomy of Asperger’s

Asperger’s, like all of the Autism Spectrum Disorders, comes with its own unique range of challenges that few “neurotypical” people understand. One of the main difficulties most “Aspies” face is in the realm of social interaction. We have a hard time understanding social cues and nonverbal communications, which makes socializing and social activities much more challenging.

In an article on Psychology Today, I found a very interesting article that talked about the unusual dichotomy that comes with autism. The writer says:

“It seems a common thread that I tend to love the things I hate and hate the things I love. Most activities I enjoy have some component of pain and vice versa. And it also seems that a lot of that has to do with autism, namely problems socializing and sensory sensitivity.”

“When it comes to the social world, my feelings have frequently been conflicted. There’ve been many times I have wondered if I am not an extrovert in an introvert’s body. Going back to my earliest memories, they are dominated with an interest in other human beings. But slowly, over time, those feelings became dampened, replaced by a wariness born of an awareness of how my attempts at connection were received. A fear of pain and of rejection.”

“As a result, my feelings have solidified into the knowledge that the desire to socialize is not the same as successfully socializing. The gap between my feelings and my skills is a painful one, one that despite all I’ve learned and experienced, never seems to fully go away.  It’s a gap that in many ways, controls my life.”

That is something I can DEFINITELY relate to!

It’s such an odd balance when it comes to social interactions, even with people that I should feel very comfortable with (close friends, family, etc.). For example, my sister just came to visit us, and I had a lot of fun talking with her, hanging out with her boyfriend, and socializing with friends together. However, there came a point when my “social energy” had run out, and it felt like I was forcing myself to engage in social activities. That “introversion” came despite my enjoyment of the “extrovert” activities.

Conversations can be quite difficult after a while. I can talk for HOURS about something that I’m interested in—and I’m interested in an odd and broad assortment of topics. However, I have a very hard time talking to people about things that have little interest to me. It goes beyond just showing a polite interest—it’s like I’m chewing off my own arm just to keep myself listening when I’d rather be anywhere else at that time.

I wish I could say I had an answer to this dichotomy, but it’s just something that I—like all people with Asperger’s and ASD—will have to struggle with for the rest of our lives. It’s not anyone’s fault that we have a hard time with socializing and interactions. We don’t think that topic of conversation is boring, or that you’re boring. It’s just the way our brains are!

 

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Duel to the Death: Conor O’Leagaire

I, Andy Peloquin, challenge you, Michael Bolan, to a duel to the death! But it is not we who will fight, but our characters…

In the black corner, weighing in at 180 pounds, standing a cool 6 feet tall, the Hunter of Voramis!

Tale of the Tape:

Superhuman reflexes, strength, speed–think Captain America, but stronger
Thousands of years of weapons training
Body has accelerated healing factor–can survive a sword to the heart (can be killed by drowning, iron weapons, beheading, and suffocation)
Cannot be killed by anything but iron
Accursed dagger that heals him when he kills
No magical abilities whatsoever
No hesitation to kill if he perceives opponent as a threat/obstacle to his desires–classic anti-hero

In the green corner, standing at 6′ 2″ and weighing a solid 220, we have Conor O’Leagaire of the Fianna.

Tale of the Tape:

Has spent most of his two hundred years of life running, climbing, fighting, and hunting
Descendant of the old gods of Ireland (who were in fact the angels who took neither side in the Great Fall, and were subsequently exiled from Heaven, but not cast down into Hell)
Directly descended from Lugh Lamfada, an anthropomorphisation of the sun; the Dagda, who represents the earth; Manannan MacLir, the god of the sea; and the Morrigan, goddess of battle
Effectively the coalescence of earth, air, fire and water.
He has no soul
Graceful and athletic, and determined
Prefers to fight with a bastard sword and a small buckler, but will happily switch to longstaff/ spear, double axes, or projectile weapons

Two enter the ring, only one can leave alive!

How would (your character) kill the Hunter? Two centuries of fighting and training has given Conor the confidence to face any challenge. His skill with his bastard sword would be a match for any opponent–human or otherwise.

To kill (your character): The Hunter would try to overwhelm Conor with his inhuman speed, strength, and skill. Not even someone with considerable magical abilities can survive Soulhunger’s bite–it was created to kill demons.  All he has to do is pierce Conor’s skin with Soulhunger, but he has no idea there is no soul for the dagger to consume.

The warriors are well-matched, each with centuries of experience under their belt and a calm confidence in their own skill. They circle their opponent, looking for a weakness to exploit. A quick test of skill, a lighting series of attacks and parries, and they would fall back to continue circling.

The Hunter’s inhuman speed would give him an advantage, but Soulhunger’s ability would be negated by the fact that the Fianna warrior has no soul. Conor’s skill and reflexes could keep him away from the Hunter’s blade long enough to find a way to defeat the half-demon assassin.

Winner: Too close to call!

Want to find out more about this Irish champion who would dare challenge the legendary assassin of Voramis to the death? Click here to read about him …

 

Who do YOU think would win? Did we get the match-up right? Leave a comment below and let me know…

Want to match your character against the Hunter? Click here to enter your protagonist/antagonist in a duel to the death!

 

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