Andy Peloquin's Blog, page 22

Awesome Resources for Creative Writing: Facebook Live

Facebook is your worst enemy when it comes to creative writing, but it’s great for promoting yourself as a writer!

If you’re looking for new ways to make your social media platform work for you, it’s vital that you stay up to date. That means not only understanding the newest changes to the algorithms, but also the new tools provided.

Facebook released the Live video streaming in 2015, and it has already become one of the most popular tools for savvy social media users—not just marketers, but people and companies looking to build a brand. Facebook Live videos allow you to reach your followers and fans instantly, and interact with you in a whole new way. Facebook Live can be a valuable asset in increasing social media engagement. We’ve come up with a few ways you can use Facebook Live videos for your business:

Promote an Event

Writing clever copy for an ad, marketing campaign, or email is a great way to pique your customers’ interest, but it’s not the only way. Why not talk to them IN PERSON?

With Facebook Live, you can set up an event and talk to people about the event yourself. You can give them the most important details, let them know about the incentives you’re offering, and answer any questions they may have. It’s much more fun to receive the notification of the event in person, via Live video, than in an email. You can still use emails to follow up after the video and provide further information, but the Live video allows you to give the first details in person.

Answer Questions

If your customers have questions, it’s up to you to answer them. Thanks to Facebook Live, it’s easier than ever! For example, if one of your readers has questions about your book, you can give them answers personally.

Or, why not use it to answer questions about your upcoming release? You can get on Facebook Live and talk to people directly about the even. It’s a way to provide your followers and fans with INSTANT access to answers.

Introduce a New Book

If you’re rolling out a new book or series, consider hosting a Facebook Live session to roll it out in style. You can make it a whole product launch video, complete with someone (beta reader, editor, ARC reader, etc.) giving their feedback on the book. It’s a much more interactive, personalized way to launch a novel via social media.

Share Content

Facebook users respond to other people, not necessarily products. They want to hear from YOU, the person behind the company, brand, or event. Help them get to know you, and you’ll have much better engagement.

Share content you find interesting, or that has helped you. Perhaps you’re doing research for a new book or trying to figure out a new story. When you find content that provides value, share it with your followers. Help people get to know YOU, and they’re far more likely to connect with your brand and message.

Go Behind the Scenes

Attending a conference or participating in a book reading? Set up a Facebook Live video and use your smartphone to take your viewers back-stage, into the producers’ rooms, or even to interact with your fellow authors or performers. This “behind the scenes” insight can make your social media followers feel like they are getting exclusive access to something that no one else is. That right there is adding value and capitalizing on people’s desire to feel special and exclusive.

You can use Facebook Live to show the team preparing the event or doing the planning of the event itself. Your social media followers can be a valuable resource to help you plan the event, as they can provide input in the early stages.

Interview People

You’d be amazed by how many people in your circle or team have interesting things to say!

Set up a weekly or monthly Facebook Live interview with fellow authors, your favorite reviewers, or editors. Heck, even step outside your circle and interview people who are important in your niche. Give these people a chance to share their insight, advice, and thoughts. It will provide value to the people who follow your brand, and will increase customer engagement.

Broadcast Events

Not everyone will be able to attend your event, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on everything. Facebook Live allows you to broadcast your event as it’s happening, so your followers and fans can still be part of what’s going on even if they’re not there in person.

Set up a Facebook Live video stream at the best part of your events: the book launch, reading, etc. This gives your followers a chance to follow along and participate even if they can’t attend personally. It’s a way to provide value and keep fans engaged no matter what.

 

Facebook Live can be an invaluable tool for not just reaching more fans, but for keeping your current fans as close and engaged as possible. After all, Facebook users don’t want just regular content or ads. They want to get to know PEOPLE, as that’s what the platform is about. Using Facebook Live will help you to engage with your fans and followers, and it will encourage them to continue commenting, posting, Liking, and sharing what you have to say.

 

 

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Politics in Speculative Fiction: How to Make it Work

It’s amazing how much of a role politics plays in our lives! Everything we do is affected by politics—local, state, federal, or international—to a certain degree. It makes sense that our fictional characters should be equally affected.

When it comes to politics, I’m not ashamed to admit my lack of expertise. However, when I realized that politics play a large role in not just modern fiction, but fantasy and sci-fi as well, I knew I had to get a better understanding of it. I sat down with a few of my more politically-savvy friends to talk about politics in speculative fiction and how to make it work.

P.S.: Check out this awesome article on Fantasy Faction about different types of governments to use in speculative fiction.

About the Panelists:

Alycia Christine Sears

Alycia Christine is an award-winning artist and author of six books. Her fiction has received wide praise for its unique characters and vivid storytelling. Her award-winning art photography has been featured in Times Square. Whether writing speculative fiction, poignant nonfiction, or shooting vivid photography, her goal is to share the dramatic beauty and blessing found in every aspect of life—even the painful parts. When she isn’t writing or shooting photos, Alycia enjoys long walks with her husband, drinking copious amounts of tea, and coaxing her skittish cat out from under the living room furniture. Don’t miss her latest book DREAMDRIFTER, the captivating sequel to SKINSHIFTER.

Find her at http://alyciachristine.com/.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alycia-Christine-102673903123325/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyciaCZS

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alyciaczs/

Michael Baker

A few things about me. My name is Michael and I’m 25 years old, live in the United Kingdom, and basically just a friendly guy (just ask my parole officer), who loves gaming and writing, and talking about random stuff in general. I’ll be posting loads of stuff about games I love, books I like, films I like, some news updates which I feel matter to me too.

Blog: https://thousandscarsblog.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thethousandscar

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

Aaron Smith

Aaron Smith is an author and attorney living in San Diego, CA with his lovely wife and two pitbulls. He’s decided to put the voices in his head to work. His fiction has been featured at LibertyIsland.com, Microhorror.com and he has provided social and media analysis for PJLifestyles.com. Aaron is currently working on an urban fantasy novel, Identity, and a horror/adventure graphic novel, Inner Demons.

Twitter: @AaronCSmith1

Facebook: @aaronsmithauthor

Amanda Langlinais Pepper

Award-winning screenwriter, produced playwright, and author. Her latest novel CHANGERS: MANIFESTING DESTINY, first in a new YA fantasy trilogy, is now available from Evernight Teen.

M holds a Master of Arts in Writing, Literature and Publishing and a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film. She has a love of Shakespeare, having both performed and taught his work, and has also interned on Hollywood film sets. M worked for Houghton Mifflin and Pearson before deciding to devote her full time to writing (and occasionally parenting). She lives in Livermore, California with her family, cat, and hamster.

Find out more about her and her books at http://PepperWords.com.

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sh8kspeare

Josh Rutherford

Joshua Rutherford is a Fantasy and Sci-Fi writer who resides in San Diego, CA. His debut novel, the epic fantasy tale SONS OF CHENIA, came out in December 2014. His second novel, MIDNIGHT, a feminist fantasy project, will be released in early 2017.

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692346163

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJKR

 

The post Politics in Speculative Fiction: How to Make it Work appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Book Review: The Prince’s Son by Deborah Jay

It’s Book Review Wednesday, and today I’m going back to my roots with epic fantasy. It’s not a book I expected to enjoy, but one I was glad I kept reading by the time I finished!

The Prince’s Son

Nessa Haddo has been raised to pursue what every young noblewoman needs: a suitable husband. Unfortunately for her, as a younger twin, her prospects are limited. Things start to look up when she lays eyes on the handsome foreign envoy sent to escort her sister to an arranged marriage, but her romantic fantasies quickly entangle her in events beyond her darkest nightmares.

Compared to his last mission, ex-spy Rustam Chalice’s new assignment sounds simple: wrangle an unwieldy bridal caravan across a mountain range populated by bandits, trolls, werecats, and worse, try to cajole a traumatized princess out of her self-imposed isolation, and arrive on time for the politically sensitive wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

Meanwhile, Lady Risada—the woman who haunts Rustam’s dreams—is struggling to adjust to a normal life. All her carefully honed assassin’s instincts scream warnings of foul play, yet she can find nothing obviously amiss.

And deep in the halls of a mountain clan, an old enemy plucks his victims’ strings with expert malice.

My Review: 4 Stars

This book started out a tad slow for my tastes. It was the classic romance-heavy fantasy story at the beginning: two people pining for their impossible love, a girl envious of her sister’s happily ever after, and romance out the wazoo.

The story picked up at about the 20% mark, and it kept up a steady pace all the way to the end. The characters were well-written and fleshed out, and the book was beautifully free of grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and typos (a personal pet peeve of mine).

I give it four stars because the story was a bit more focused on the romantic side of things than I’d like. A lot of the characters are defined by their feelings for others, rather than having the romance be a subplot in a larger story.

But overall, it was a well-crafted fantasy tale I’d recommend for any fantasy readers.

Here’s a Taste:

Small tapping sounds drew Risada’s attention back to the stairwell. About two thirds of the way up, the crouched figure was driving something into the wall. Without fully straightening, he moved across to the spindle opposite and wrapped something around it before tugging it taught.

“You promised no one would get hurt!” Bel protested. “If they trip over that they might break their necks!”

“That, my sweet Bel, is the idea.”

Risada’s maid took a step back, and although she faced away from the corner where her employer hid, her horrified comprehension radiated from her stiffened back all the way down to her shaking knees.

“And now, dear Bel, it’s time for your reward.”

Bel turned and fled, straight towards the entrance beside Risada’s hiding place. Risada caught the glint of steel in the assassin’s hand and barely stopping to think, thrust out a foot and tripped the running girl. A hefty dagger whistled through the space where Bel’s torso had been a moment before. Bel squealed and scrabbled along the ground, stumbling to her feet as she vanished around the corner.

Risada peeked around the shoulder of the statue shielding her and her eyes met those of the man on the stair. He shrugged. “Oh well, this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen, but I suppose it will do as well.”

Lowering her estimation of her opponent’s professionalism for wasting time on speech, Risada slipped her small dagger from its concealed sheath beneath her breast, and assessed the situation. Screaming for help would do nothing. As Bel had stated earlier, the guards were all outside at this time of night, and the bedrooms were towards the back of the house, so too far away for anyone to hear. Bel had vanished, but whether she would raise the alarm was doubtful; she would probably think only of herself. Risada’s sole weapon was her small dagger, and she was hardly in peak physical shape for this sort of work.

On the other hand, as she watched the cocky son-of-a-whore swaggering down the staircase towards her, she realised she still possessed an element of surprise. He clearly had no idea she, like him, was a trained assassin.

“Please,” she added a small quaver to her entreaty. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Oh, but I do. My employer would be so put out with me if I didn’t tidy up after myself, and although it would have been neater if you’d just tripped the way you were meant to, at least now I don’t have to leave the outcome to chance. And with any fortune your husband will find my wire instead; that way I get both of you at once.”

The over-long speech was clearly designed to intimidate Risada into staying put while his long strides ate up the tiled floor space between them, and Risada obliged. She had the best cover she could, given the circumstances, and was also between the villain and the large dagger he’d thrown at Bel. Risada was under no illusion that would be his only weapon, but it was probably his favourite.

Keeping the hand clutching her own dagger hidden behind the stone figure, she allowed her eyes to widen, imitating fear. “We can pay you. Twice what your employer offered. Three times!”

The spy shook his head. “This isn’t about money; it’s about honour and revenge. You—”

Mid-sentence, he lunged. Anticipating the tactic, Risada’s reactions carried her around the statue and out of range of the stiletto that spiked the air where she’d stood.

Still not realising his mistake, her adversary wagged his head and tutted. “If you hold still, I’ll make it quick.” He slithered a foot smoothly in her direction, shifting his weight with such subtlety his movements were almost imperceptible. “I—”

Making the fatal error of repeating his pattern, Risada sidestepped his lunge with ease, despite her compromised balance. In fact, in the thrill of the moment, she barely noticed her cumbersome bulk, her muscles reacting with the smooth skill of years of training, adjusting her posture as though she simply stood on uneven ground.

Her erstwhile foe crashed to one knee before keeling over to slide down the front of the stone statue, leaving a gory trail in his wake. His fingers fumbled with the tiny jewelled hilt sticking out of his ribcage, the blade sheathed with precision between the fourth and fifth rib with its tip penetrating his heart. He had the good grace to laugh, tiny red flecks bubbling at the corners of his mouth. “Always knew over-confidence would get me in the end. Who would have thought you, of all people, would be a player? He coughed, scarlet spittle staining his skin. “Goddess, you’re fast enough to be Dart. But you can’t…”

A dawning look of comprehension crossed his face even as his eyes began to glaze.

Risada said nothing to confirm his guess; she didn’t need to.

About the Author:

Deborah Jay writes fast-paced fantasy adventures featuring quirky characters and multi-layered plots – just what she likes to read.

Living mostly on the UK South coast, she has already invested in her ultimate retirement plan – a farmhouse in the majestic, mystery-filled Scottish Highlands where she retreats to write when she can find time. Her taste for the good things in life is kept in check by the expense of keeping too many dressage horses, and her complete inability to cook.

Jay’s debut novel, epic fantasy THE PRINCE’S MAN, won a UK Arts Board award, and was an Amazon Hot 100 New Release. THE PRINCE’S SON is second in the series, but can be read as a standalone story.

Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1NKYVB

Read her thoughts on her website: http://deborahjayauthor.com/

Tweet at her: https://twitter.com/DeborahJay2

Stalk her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeborahJay

The post Book Review: The Prince’s Son by Deborah Jay appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Awesome Resources for Creative Writing: Grammar Check

On this week’s Creative Writing Resources post, I want to share a tool that was brought to my attention. While it’s something I haven’t personally used (I have PERFECT grammar, after all) yet, it’s definitely something that could come in handy.

Grammar Check is a free grammar and checker that you can use to search your writing (web copy, marketing content, or novel) for errors. It works best with small chunks of text at a time, and (it seems) you have to pay a fee for a deeper check—which is done via Grammarly, not through Grammar Check itself. However, even the free check is good enough to help you clean up some of your more common grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.

The checker catches:

Spelling mistakes
Style mistakes
Punctuation mistakes
Grammar mistakes

It also makes suggestions on how you can clean up your writing.

To test it out, I snatched a paragraph from the excerpt of Anaerfell I posted last week. (Apologies to Joshua Robertson for using his work as a crash dummy):

Original text:

“Erzebeth convulsed. Her fur and skin shedding away while she wheeled about on the ground in agony. The bones readjusted and organs reset from beast to human. Where a beast had stood was now the naked figure of Erzebeth. Cuts and scratches patterned her body, but none were fatal.”

The free check only found the name Erzebeth as mistakes, but the Deep Check found a few more issues:

Not bad!

In addition to the Grammar Check, the site has a number of handy infographics to educate you on writing-related topics.

For more advanced writers, the tools may not be useful. However, if you’re a writer just learning the art of painting pictures with words, you’d do well to check out the site.

 

The post Awesome Resources for Creative Writing: Grammar Check appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Book Review: Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson

For Book Review Wednesday, I’m taking you to the world of dark fantasy.

Anaerfell

Drast, cunning but reckless, is on the hunt for admiration. Tyran, calculating but tactless, is in search of affection. Bound by a friendship thicker than blood, the two brothers have been hardened by their father’s ambitions.

Drast and Tyran are forced to set aside their own hopes and dreams during their struggle to fulfill their father’s desire for immortality. The two will face skin-switchers and dragons, ultimately leading to a final clash with Wolos, God of the Dead.

My Review: 4 Stars

Let’s start off with the good:

When I read this, I kept thinking back to the Drizzt Do’Urden stories set in the Underdark. It had that same tones of political intrigue, backstabbing, and darkness that I enjoyed about the tales of Menzoberranzan. I half-expected to hear someone cursing “Lolth!”

The magic system of the world was well-developed, and the characters were pretty well-written. They were perhaps a bit “grimmer” than I was expecting, and sometimes it felt like they went dark just to see how far the author could push it. But all in all, it sold the tone of the darkness very well.

I had to dock a star for two reasons:

The story didn’t hook me. It’s the way things are with stories—they can be hit or miss. I found myself sort of “slogging” through the book. It had plenty of action scenes, but it didn’t really draw me in or make me care for the characters.
There were a number of grammatical and punctuation errors, and A LOT of misused words.

All in all, a solid effort, one that I’d recommend for anyone who enjoys very dark fantasy.

Here’s a Taste:

Erzebeth convulsed. Her fur and skin shedding away while she wheeled about on the ground in agony. The bones readjusted and organs reset from beast to human. Where a beast had stood was now the naked figure of Erzebeth. Cuts and scratches patterned her body, but none were fatal.

Tyran had no place for modesty. The Vucari woman, within the privacy of the ice dome, struggled to her feet. Again, her dark eyes met his own, filled with compassion.

“You need to be put down, young Red.” Her voice was calm as her feet crossed in front of one another, closing the distance between them. “Your power is greater than any I have seen before, even from the Anshedar.”

“What?” Tyran said, forehead wrinkled with confusion. He had never heard of the race before, whether beast or otherwise.

“You are like a rabid dog, young Red. You are the perfect companion, loyal, and possibly even loving somewhere deep inside,” Erzebeth bit her lip. Her breasts, barely covered by her dark hair, touched the front of his chest. She halted her feet. “But, you are tainted by a disease that is stronger than the goodness in you. You cannot be left to live in this world, or you will corrupt every living thing around you.”

Tyran tilted his chin, lips parting. His free hand touched her pale skin, as whitish as the ice fortress that veiled this moment.

“You would taint me, young Red.” She stepped up on her tiptoes. “As with the rabid dog, you need to be put down.”

He grabbed her by the back of the neck, and pulled her to him. He kissed her with more force than he had ever kissed any woman.

This woman was not Isolde. This woman was battle hardened, and a warrior. She was not plain.

She grabbed his shoulders and returned the embrace, her tongue touching his lips. Her body was far warmer than his own, as if it were heated by the darkness.

He did not know what he was doing in this moment. It may have likely been the first time that his mind was clear from thought, acting without thinking. Though, in time, he may consider that when his death was nigh, he found that this was something he wanted to do before death found him.

The crashing against the ice pulled him from the moment. Tyran pulled back, moving the Vucari’s hair from her cheek. “You won’t kill me, Erzebeth.”

“No,” she breathed. Her hands fell to his chest. “But, it still needs to be done.”

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 and ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers. He counts R.A. Salvatore and J.R.R. Tolkien among his literary influences.

Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anaerfell-Joshua-Robertson-ebook/dp/B0164VAUNA/

Visit the Anaerfell Website: https://www.crimsonedgepress.com/

 

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Book Review: Sanyare The Last Descendant by Megan Haskell

It’s Bonus Book Review Saturday, and I’ve got something with a dark fantasy flavor. It’s actually a book I read about a month ago and am only now getting around to reviewing. (Sorry, Megan!)

Sanyare: The Last Descendant (Book 1)

A woman torn between honor and survival…

Raised in a realm where humans are no better than slaves, Rie Lhethannien has struggled for decades to earn a meager post in the High Court messenger service. Even training as an elite fighter isn’t enough to earn the respect she craves. Scorned by the high elves who rely on her loyalty, Rie’s closest allies are the fierce carnivorous pixies who travel by her side.

When she’s attacked on a routine delivery by assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm, Rie’s martial prowess keeps her alive…and frames her as a traitor. Facing execution at the hand of an unmerciful king, Rie must forsake her oaths and flee into enemy lands to prove her innocence. With surprising help from a bastard prince and an ambitious blood sidhe, Rie searches for the truth behind the attack. The secrets she uncovers may threaten more than her honor or even her life…for war is looming in the nine faerie realms.

My Review: 4 Stars

If I had to describe this book as anything, I’d say it’s “Good, bordering on great”.

From the opening scene, I was intrigued by the character, the world, and everything going on. I LOVED the pixies that hang around Rie—a great use of humor in a mostly dark book.

Rie was a strong, competent character overall, skilled enough to be believable and neither a Mary Sue nor an overly emotional character. There were a few slip-ups with her character and personality traits (her insecurities were an unusual choice, and they came across too strongly for her personality), but overall she was very well-written.

The sequence of events felt a bit odd. At first it felt like a spy book, then it felt more like Drizzt’s return to the Underdark, then it seemed like a book about a new recruit joining a mercenary/military group. I’d have to say it changed the overall tone of the story a bit too much.

But all in all, it was a great read, and I can’t wait to pick up the second book in the series.

Here’s a Taste:

“Before we go in, I should probably warn you, The Crossroads is more than geography.  It’s a meeting place for all fae, an equal opportunity establishment.”

“Meaning?”

“It gets a bit rowdy.”  Braegan grinned, a teasing light in his eyes.  “Try not to piss anyone off, okay?”

Pushing her forward with his arm, Braegan ushered her through the heavy wood gates.  A pea gravel path led the way into a natural bowl amphitheater filled with fae of every description.  The pixies dashed ahead into the crowd while Rie struggled to gather her bearings.  She had never seen so many different creatures gathered in one place.  The noise and smells crowded into her brain, clamoring for attention.

Groups of dark elves, mostly women, sprawled on the grassy hills surrounding the center courtyard, lounging on blankets and looking bored.  Two trolls wearing nothing but leather leggings drank beer out of gallon jugs and pounded their fists on a flat rock while shouting profanities at one another.  One of them burped as Rie passed by, the stench of sour milk sending her stomach into her throat.  A half dozen leprechauns huddled together on the next small rise, smoking long pipes that reeked of something that wasn’t tobacco.

The crowd grew thicker and angrier the closer she got to the center.  Braegan seemed to have no trouble navigating his way through the crush of people, but Rie clutched his arm like a lifeline while trying to watch everyone and everything around her.  Nearing the bowl of the amphitheater, Rie caught sight of the horde’s focus.  Two men fought inside a dirt ring with fists and magic.

“Fight night!”  Braegan’s eyes were wide with excitement, his teeth bared in a gleeful snarl. “And the Commander’s fighting Cendir.  That explains the crowd.”

On the left, a dark elf with mocha skin and uncharacteristic strawberry red highlights in his white hair pulled his arm back and threw a fireball the size of a small goblin at his opponent.  The crowd gasped, watching the dark elf with the more typical black skin and silvery hair face down the flame.  A fraction of a second before impact, the fireball spread out in a wide shield, forcing the dark elf to dodge to the right.   The fire-thrower charged after his creation, but the dark elf was ready, blocking several punches and landing a few of his own.  The crowd cheered every hit.

As they walked around the edge of the ring, Braegan continued his animated explanation.  “The fire elf is Prince Daenor, Commander of the Shadow Guard, and the dark elf is Cendir, the Queen’s brother and Daenor’s technical second in command.  They don’t get along too well.”

“Why not?”

“Prince Daenor fought and defeated Cendir in a fight just like this one about twenty years ago, taking over as Commander.  Cendir’s been trying to take it back ever since.”

Rie pursed her lips, considering.  In the High Court, leadership positions were chosen by the king, usually granted to his toadies. She wondered if this system wasn’t a little more fair, even if it still didn’t seem to grant power to the people that truly deserved it.

Rie couldn’t take her eyes off the mocha-skinned elf.  Wearing only black trousers, the man was a master at hand-to-hand combat.  Wiry muscles glinted in the blue wisp-light, his abs bunched and contracted as he lunged into a whirling series of kicks aimed at the silver-haired elf’s head.

“Why fight here?” Rie asked.

“Entertainment.  Once a month, give or take, the Shadow Guard holds a fight night here at the Crossroads.  Fighters interested in joining use it as an audition, and there are hierarchy fights for those already under contract.  They used to do it at guard headquarters, but as it turns out, people like to watch, and the crowds got too big to fit into their practice arena, especially on nights when Daenor has a match.”

Catching the prince’s leg, Cendir threw him to the ground.  The fire-thrower rolled, coming up to his feet near the barrier as Rie and Braegan walked by.  He caught her gaze and held it for a moment, just long enough for Rie’s heartbeat to race and for Cendir to land a kick to Daenor’s head.  Rebounding off the barrier, the prince flicked a small missile at Cendir, who dodged to the side and out of the way. The two came together in a vicious tangle of limbs until the prince pushed Cendir into the opposite edge of the arena.

Rie couldn’t take her eyes off the fight.  Even injured, with blood slicking down his face, the fire-thrower moved with grace and speed that could only be honed by centuries of practice.  His technique was perfect, his speed and agility superior to anything she’d seen before.  His body flowed from one form to another, incorporating multiple fighting styles with precision.  Overwhelmed, the silver-haired elf finally fell to the ground. He breathed, but would require a powerful healer.

Tearing her attention away from the arena, Rie followed Braegan to a covered patio that housed a massive stacked stone bar, serving customers of every description.  Six bartenders of different races — including a troll and two leprechauns, who carried stools to reach the bottles and serve customers — served the guests who pushed and shoved against each other in an attempt to get a drink.  Accent lighting under the shelves and along the edge of the bar provided a soft glow that illuminated the area without damaging the customer’s night vision.

Keeping Rie tucked into his side, Braegan squeezed into an empty space near the troll.  At Braegan’s wave, the troll nodded, finished unloading the tray of drinks and food, and lumbered over.

“What’ll ye be having?”

About the Author:

Legend has it I was born with a book in my hands. Thirty-ish years later, I’m a stay-at-home-mom who prefers a good story over doing the dishes. Only now, I’m building my own fantasy worlds! Sanyare: The Last Descendant is my first published novel, but the sequel, Sanyare: The Heir Apparent, is set to release on September 21, 2016. I am also the Program Director of O.C. Writers, A Network of Published and Aspiring Authors, located in Orange County, CA.

Find the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sanyare-Last-Descendant-Universe-Book-ebook/dp/B00ROBHMFY/

Visit her website: www.meganhaskell.com!

Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/meganhaskellauthor

Tweet at Megan: www.twitter.com/meganphaskell

Connect on Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/109428672595505357182/+MeganhaskellAuthor/posts

 

 

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What’s Beneath Your Mask?

If you were to judge me by my writing alone, you would perceive me as a fairly dark, grim person. After all, the stories I tell are well in the realm of dark and grimdark fantasy.

But that’s not me at all. In fact, I’m actually quite a cheerful, optimistic person. I like to see the good in human nature, and I give people the benefit of the doubt. I like to joke that when I’m writing characters like the Hunter, I think “What would I do in this instance?” and make him do the exact opposite.

As an author, I have to wear a mask to tell the stories I want to tell. I slip into this mask of grittiness and darkness, and the stories flow out onto the page. But when I’m done writing, I take off the mask and return to the life of a normal, everyday person.

A friend told me: “I have mild panics and panic attacks all the time…my mind is always on, even to the degree of obsessing over one word or statement for weeks. When I was a kid, I was called highly strung. I had a stress induced stomach ulcer as a young teen. It’s part of the reason I love drama and writing so much. When I pull on that “mask” I don’t have to be me and I don’t have to stress about what to say, they words are already laid out ready to speak–or the characters are there able to be funneled through.”

All of us wear a mask of some sort. The masks aren’t intended to hide who we truly are, but they are a way for us to connect with the world in a way we aren’t able to in real life. By slipping on these masks, we can see through fresh eyes, and it gives us a glimpse into what is totally “normal” for someone else.

Our mask allows us to present a certain face to the world—the face we want others to see. For some of us, it’s the face of a cool, calm, and confident person when really we’re wrestling with insecurities every second of the day. For others, it’s a face of intelligence even though we feel insufficient in many areas. For many, it’s a face of strength when we want nothing more than to curl up into a ball and hide.

So what’s under your mask? We can all see the face you show to the world, but what’s underneath? The real you is someone worth showing as well!

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Book Review: The Hunted Tribe by Roma Grey

It’s Book Review Wednesday, and I’ve got an unusual one for you today! This is an intriguing mix of dinosaurs and Native American lore with a Young Adult twist. Pretty solid read, all things considered…

The Hunted Tribe

The War has Begun… Deep in the North American forests lurks an animal spirit known as the Grishla. The Grishla is so ancient it pre-dates the human race by several million years, and it is so powerful and reclusive only very insightful witches know of its existence.

Five hundred years ago, the Dwanake tribe possessed such witches. Drunk on their own power and arrogance, these witches attempted to enslave the Grishla. Enraged, the creature began hunting and killing the Dwanake.

Desperate, the tribal elders ordered experiments on the Dwanake children to create the ultimate witch to defend their people.

Sixteen-year-old Sean Wolf is that witch.

But Sean is so powerful that he cannot control his own magic. Will he be able to defeat the Grishla or will he destroy himself and everyone that he loves?

My Review: 4.5 Stars

An implacable terror. An ancient curse. A young teenager is the world’s only hope.

Sean is an angry teenaged boy with a terrible power locked within him. Elizabeth is a desperate grandmother who wants to ensure the survival of not just her family, but her entire tribe. When they are faced with a monster that has hunted their tribe for centuries, the two must bring together the secrets of witchcraft and modern ingenuity to defeat the unstoppable evil.

The Hunted Tribe weaves together Native American and Druidic lore with a deft hand, mixing the two in a tale that will grip you until the very end. Blood sacrifices, creatures of nightmare, and animal spirits–hang onto your hat for a heart-stopping tale of horror that will have you questioning everything you believe to be true.

Here’s a Taste:

The unseen creature in the woods stared unwaveringly at the three boys, the sound of its heavy breathing rose hauntingly out of the fog.
I’ve got to get them out of here, Sean thought. I’ve got to get them moving, or we’re all dead!

A strong wind kicked up ash from the fire, and Sean felt his eyes sting. Blinking hard, he saw the fire was growing substantially dimmer by the moment. Eventually, he realized something else was happening a well. A dark shadow moved across the campground, turning everything gray. Searching for the source of the growing gloom, Sean looked up. Overhead, dark clouds were passing across the large orange moon, blotting out their main source of light. He glanced to the fire once more—only a few red embers shimmered in the dark.

“The fire is almost gone,” said Sean, reaching the end of the log. He reached down and picked up Jimmy’s bag. “We need to leave. We need to leave now!”

“No, no, it’s fine,” said Bear, although Sean noted his voice was growing nervous as well. “He’s more scared of us than we are of him.”

Sean seriously doubted that.

He looked back up into the sky. The clouds had now completely blocked out the moon. Checking the status of the fire yet again, he watched as the last ember turned dark. Slowly, with deep apprehension, Sean’s gaze returned to the creature. Its red eyes seemed to be glowing even more brightly now.

“Hey, guys,” came Tom’s voice. “Jimmy doesn’t know about the bear. He’s in the woods. He’s going to come out any second, and he doesn’t know!”

“It’s ok. We’re between the coyote and Jimmy,” said Bear, stressing the word coyote. “We have his full attention. Besides, one coyote isn’t going to attack us. We’re too big.”

“I’m telling you guys, that is not a coyote!” insisted Tom. Sean heard Tom taking a few steps back. “He’s too big!”

“You’re nuts, he’s not…” Said Bear, but abruptly cut himself off.

The eyes moved. Not toward them, but up and up as if the creature were standing on its hind legs. The eyes finally stopped moving when they reached a height of about seven feet. In the fog and darkness, Sean could faintly make out a dark impression of a body, a black shadow nearly hidden within the gray shade of the trees.

He figured maybe Bear would say something like, “Ok, it’s a bear, but he’ll still keep his distance.” Only Bear, Tom, and Sean never got a chance to say anything. Suddenly the creature let out an impossibly loud, high-pitched shriek that continued to build and build until it ended in a horrific roar. The sound was beyond loud, beyond terrifying, and Sean clamped his hands over his ears as the penetrating roar drowned out all reasonable thought.

Sean recognized the cry. He had heard it once before in his dream with Srinam. Any hope that he possessed that this was an ordinary animal had now died. They were, beyond any doubt, staring into the eyes of the Grishla.

“RUN!!!” yelled Sean, pivoting on his right foot and taking off at full speed into the woods. He prayed the other two would follow his lead, but feared Bear and Tom would hold their ground. He knew in his heart, if they hesitated, they would be dead and nothing Sean could do would save them.

About the Author:

Roma Gray began writing at the age of 8 and wrote her first novel when she was 13. Her two published books are “Gray Shadows Under a Harvest Moon” (short story collection) and “The Hunted Tribe: Declaration of War” (novel).

Her favorite holiday of the year is Halloween. This is why she writes what she refers to as ‘Trick-or-Treat Thrillers’, stories with a Halloween feel about them.

She lives in Oregon with her two cats, dog and parrot.

Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Tribe-Book-Declaration-War/dp/1530508088/

Visit her website: http://trickortreatthrillers.com

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005601256861

 

 

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What Publishers Look for in a Good Book

What’s your #1 worry when planning to submit your book to a publisher? I’m going to go out on a limb and guess it’s: “What if this book isn’t good enough?”

Writing a book that’s “good enough” is definitely the first step toward getting that publishing deal, but it’s not the ONLY thing to think about. There are many more things that can affect your chances of a deal, including:

Plot, characters, and setting
Correct grammar and punctuation
Coherence, adherence to structure
YOU, the author
and so much more…

It’s tough to know what a publisher is thinking when they read over your work. I know I’ve anguished for weeks and months as my work was in the hands of an acquisition editor.

Thankfully, I got a chance to sit down with a few publishers and ask them the question: What do you look for in a good book?

The Cliff Notes

What do you look for in a good book?

An idea that is a twist or unique to something that exists.
Quality, coherent writing that’s well-organized.
Solid plot line—in terms of character development, not just stories.
Can we work with the author? Are they polite, friendly, and easy to work with?
Draws them in, brings out some emotion or resonates with you.
Unique, well-developed characters that readers can identify with.
Author personality. What are they like on social media/in public?
Hook us quickly! Three chapters to hook us, or no thank you.
Follow the rules of submission!
Ending done right. Good pacing, solid story.
Does the book have series potential? Closure of the story, but threads to lead into the next one. It should be complete and close the circle.
Can we build a relationship with that author? For future books—publishers see authors as an investment.

What makes you turn down a book?

Poorly written.
Lack of basic editing.
Didn’t follow submission guidelines.
Lack of beta-reading: too many plot holes and mistakes.
Too many mistakes!
Unclear or lack of character/setting/plot development.
A book that isn’t engaging enough.

Marketing ability vs. writing/story quality: story quality is more important—you can learn to market anything if the story is good enough!

How important is an author’s platform? Story matters more than platform. A great story can build a platform, but a large platform may not be enough to sell a crappy story. ALWAYS look at the book first, then platform second.

The Panelists

Joshua Robertson for Crimson Edge: We are a small press specializing in Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, and Historical Fiction. Please note that we are not a vanity press or a self-publishing company.

At Crimson Edge, our mission is to publish quality, progressive fiction to meet the literary needs of readers. The market for reading books has changed drastically and the competition in the publishing world cannot be ignored. As an author, you will find a familial group of writers with an appreciation for creative collaboration. And, readers will discover books that are written with prestige that contends with your favorite bestsellers.

www.crimsonedgepress.com

Edd Sowder for Burning Willow Press: BWC is an independent publisher of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. We are here to tantalize your thoughts, spark your imagination, and tap into your most primal fears.

We pride ourselves in being a home to authors of other worlds. We saw an industry that grossly profited off of the creativity of others. We wanted to do something different. By cultivating and caring for our authors in a way no other publishing company does, we hope to produce a better quality story for our loyal customers.

www.burningwillowpressllc.com

Nikki Yager for Dragon’s Rocketship Publishing

TDR Pubishing is an indie publishing company run by sister-in-laws out of Florida and Texas. The company started in February 2016, and publishes fantasy, science fiction, horror, thriller, and paranormal.

www.tdrpublishing.com/

Monique Lewis Happy for Winlock Press:

In just a few years, Winlock Press has introduced over a dozen new writers and debuted even more stories and series, professionally edited and beautifully made. We are at the leading edge of multi-format, independent publishing.

Think you’ve read the best of Zombie, Vampire, and Post-Apocalypse fiction? Winlock believes there are an infinite number of amazing new stories waiting to be told in these solid and popular genres, and we’ve recruited great writers, both new and well-seasoned — to bring their unique perspectives to the horror we love.

Winlock Press: www.winlockpress.com

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Book Review: Salt in the Water by J. Ray and S. Cushaway

For Bonus Book Review Saturday, I’ve got a book that I found myself immediately drawn into. It had potential to be the best book I’ve read all year, but sadly it fell a bit short…

Salt in the Water

There are a thousand ways to die in the desert—desperate outlaws, deadly predators, murderous elements, and betrayal. . .

Kaitar Besh, a veteran scout as legendary for his cynicism as his skills, is ordered to brave the deadly Shy’war-Anquai desert one last time. Escorting Leigh Enderi—a greenhorn Enforcer with a reputation as shady as his own—he soon realizes the ghosts of his past have come to haunt more than his nightmares.

When the mission breaks down in the wake of bitter hatred and mistrust, even Kaitar’s fabled skills may not be enough to bring them home again. Stranded in the red wasteland without contact, food, or water, they uncover a betrayal that could bring all they hold dear crumbling to the dust. . . and tear down the wall of lies surrounding them.

My Review: 4 Stars

Let me start off by saying that the characters in this book are GOLD! I haven’t read characters so unique and intriguing since I put down the last Scott Lynch novel. Every person in this book is beautifully developed, serves a purpose, and has something to make you want to find out more about them. There is no clear villain, which is what made me love it all the more. Every one of the characters is simply trying to get what they want in a grim dystopian world. On characters alone, I would give this book six stars.

The world-building is where the book fell VERY flat.

Let me be clear: the world itself is very well-developed. While I wasn’t as drawn into the world as with other books, I always had a clear sense of setting and location. I could feel the desert heat, taste the grit in my mouth, and see the empty expanse.

But the world-building in terms of describing the world, politics, religion, and character backgrounds was VERY underdeveloped. There were a lot of names thrown around—Toros, Enetics, Bloom, Junkers, Harpers, and more—that snagged my imagination and made me crave to find out more about them. But the further into the book I read, the more frustrated I grew. By the end, I was actually angry (and still am) because I never found out as much of the backstory of the world as I wanted to.  While I’m not big on info dumps or backstory, I think the authors fell really short of giving me the details of the world and all these amazing, fascinating, and epic concepts. I may not read Book 2 because of this mistake.

Of course, that could be just me. Some people won’t care about what the Bloom is, why there’s a guy sitting in a shack guarding a well (and from who), what the hell’s the difference between Shyiine and Sulari, and what Toros is. But for someone who wants a rich, well-developed world, Ibelieve the book will leave you dissatisfied.

Here’s a Taste:

They’d heard her, and were coming closer. Their eyes glowed in the blackness as they crept around the acacia stump she’d been sitting against only a few moments before. One threk leaped onto it. Moonlight gleamed along its twelve-foot length, making scales and feathers shine like molten silver. Then, the beast slipped into the shadows and out of view once more. Leigh clutched the cell lantern so hard her fingers ached against the grip, and frost danced in front of her nose with each ragged breath.

Where did they go? What did Orin say about cell lights? Zres uses one out in the fields, doesn’t he? But—

Something brushed her leg. A shadow against shadow, big and smelling of blood.

Chirrrup? Hssss . . .

Leigh squeezed her eyes shut. She pictured the jaws ripping into her midsection, puncturing her flesh with poisonous teeth, her muscles falling slack from paralysis. They’d eat her alive, and she’d be unable to move or scream for help or—

The faint rasp of scales against her fatigues almost tore a scream from her throat, but she bit it back, teeth clamping down on her tongue. She tasted blood.

“Keep still. Keep still,” some hidden instinct whispered. “Keep still.”

Her eyelids opened as if pried by unseen fingers. There, just ahead of her and so close she could see it, a monstrous threk raised its head and sniffed the air. It regarded her with brilliant, sun-bright eyes as the wide jaws parted. A long, serpentine tongue flicked out, heralding breath that reeked of fresh blood. Strings of thick saliva glistened in the moonlight. Poison.

The threk sat on its haunches, studying her. Its curved claws flexed against the sand, leaving long gouges. Leigh tried to swallow, but her throat seized from the weight of the leaden fear hanging there.

Where’s the other one? Where did it—

A nudge from behind nearly knocked her down. She caught her balance, biting her lip to stop from crying out. The second threk glided by, peering up at her. Its shoulder brushed against her waist, bristling, stiff feathers grazing her fingertips. They rippled like water, silver and blue in the gloom. It circled again before joining the other, still crouched in front of her, close enough to touch. The first turned and nosed its companion, a low, raspy growl emanating from its throat. Leigh stared wide-eyed at the predators, her body numb. Beyond them, she could just see the campfire, looking impossibly small and far away. Kaitar Besh stood near the glowing coals, awake and alert, peering in her direction. His eyes shone every bit as brightly as a threk’s.

He sees everything and he’s doing nothing!

Chirrrup?

One threk slid toward her. Leigh watched, too afraid to move, as a scaled snout bumped against her thigh. The threk’s nostrils twitched as it sniffed her fatigues, its hot breath tickling her legs through the material. It hissed, staring directly at her, mouth opened to reveal a long tongue that flicked against the edge of her jacket.

It’s going to kill me. Kaitar! Why are you just standing there? I’m going to die!

“Keep still!” the voice—it sounded almost like the scout—whispered in her mind, more insistent now. “Don’t move, don’t reach for the Firebrand. Keep still.”

About the Author:

Sarah Cushaway lives in the snowy wastes of northwest lower Michigan with her husband (co-author Jeremy Ray) and their young daughter. She has a passion for historical fiction, but enjoy reading and writing many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, and speculative fiction.  Sarah began writing at a very early age, inspired by such books as the Little House series, Watership Down, the Hobbit, and Animal Farm.

When not busy working on writing the next books in the “A Lesser Dark” series, she enjoys spending time with her family and two grumpy cats, dabbling in art and music, and trying to hide from the snow eight months out of the year.

Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M6UR3JY/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31950623-salt-in-the-water

Read her thoughts on her website: https://srchushaway.wordpress.com/

Connect with Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorSCushaway/

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

 

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