Michelle Irwin's Blog: Write On Shell, page 11

Promotion of self

Now that things are getting closer to the pointy end of my first book release (with second hot on it's heels), I'm coming to the point of this journey that I knew would come, but that I've been a little fearful of: self promotion.

It's a necessary evil, but necessary doesn't = easy. Approaching a blog owner or reviewer, even one where the people who run it are really lovely (which pretty much covers all the blogs I follow regularly), is scary. I find the process of asking others to invest their time in me and my writing. Even if it's something as simple as a blog post or a share of my Facebook page.

I am extremely grateful to all those who do these things, especially those who do it without being asked and out of the kindness of their heart.

I know I've mentioned before how I am my moments of self-doubt and low self-confidence so trying to sell myself is a big deal for me. There's something I've realized over the last few months of writing, editing, rewriting, adding, getting beta-readers and feedback etc, it's that my writing is worth it. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm okay with that. Nothing will please everyone. I think though that those who do like it, will love it. I've got a confidence that I didn't have a year ago. I am invested in my stories and my writing, but that doesn't stop me from feeling a bit like this every time I ask for attention:

Tone, Intention, and the Typed Word

With a recent post to Facebook, I started thinking about how easy things can be to be misconstrued. I tend to be one of those super polite people who say "Sorry" even if you were the one who ran into me, so I hate to ever think there is a possibility that something I've said could be interpreted in a bad way. Facebook, text messaging, chat screens, email, they all take away the personable side of communication. Where in conversation I might be able to say to one of my friends, "Shut your face!" and be able to inflict the right level of tone and humor into my voice to let them know I'm just expressing my disbelief and not telling them to literally stop talking. In a text environment, that emotional aspect is removed. You have no control over the way the reader will interpret the words you type. You have no idea what has happened in their lives that day, month, year, that might have put up a filter over their eyes and leaves the most innocent expression open to be misconstrued.

In the particular example I'm thinking of there was nothing bad that came of it. I posted about how waiting was sometimes the hardest part of being a writer (as regular blog vistors would know from my blogging about it in the past) and it wasn't until one of the beta readers for my current novel commented on the post that I realized there was a very distinct possibility that my update could have been seen to be a nudge along for information. Now don't get me wrong, it was all perfectly innocent above board messages. There was no negativity about it at all from either side, and I was probably just being overly cautious (it's that whole saying sorry when I'm tripped up thing). However, it did make me wonder about the possibility for misinterpretation. It was a little reminder that what you mean to express and what is understood can be two vastly different thing.

Of course the same can applies to novels, only there, you can give the reader hints and clues about how people interpret information, and about how the speaker intended it to be taken. There's still a risk for misrepresentation by the reader (and always by the characters, because let's face it that's half the fun) but it's greatly minimized because the reader is provided with all those emotional clues that are entirely absent in other written formats.

Even on this blog, I occasionally worry that some little statement will be misinterpreted. At the end of the day though, I can only be me and this is who I am :)

Happily Evan After

COVER REVEAL:
HAPPILY EVAN AFTER
Synopsis:
Cover by: Soxsational Cover ArtEvan is a reluctant cupid. Facing an unknown term of servitude to repay his debt to the world, it is his responsibility to guide couples together. Despite initial hesitancy, he has learned to handle every case with care and he now basks in the afterglow of new-found love and relishes in the energy it provides him. But his end goal is still the promise of paradise in return for his penance.
It's all going according to plan until he receives an assignment that is inconceivable to him. He has to find a mate for Becca, within whom lives the reincarnated soul of his one true love. Bound by his duty to find her a match, he must resist her charm and suppress his own desires. It is his job and he cannot fail, even if his own paradise now seems lost.
For a cupid, falling is love is against the rules.
Isn't it?
Author Bio:
Michelle Irwin has been many things in her life: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; a young girl willing to fight for the love of a vampire; and a time-travelling madman in a box. She achieved all of these feats and many more through her voracious reading habit. Eventually, so much reading had to have an effect and the cast of characters inside her mind took over and spilled out onto the page. 
Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under with her surprisingly patient husband and ever-intriguing daughter, carving out precious moments of writing and reading time around her accounts-based day job. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes paranormal and fantasy romance.
Author Links:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Website

Giveaway:a Rafflecopter giveaway

Taking the bull by the horns

Sometimes there are moments in life where you just have to grab onto an idea with both hands and just do it. Sometimes these work out, sometimes they don't. There's no way of knowing what it will be before you take the plunge, you just have to have faith. I had one of those moments today. I'm not going to say that it all worked out well, or badly, because honestly I don't know how it's going to work yet. If something comes of it, I'll let you know. If nothing comes from it, I'll probably forget about it in a few weeks time.

I've had similar moments before:

When I decided to send out the query for the first in my series (we all know that worked out well as we anxious await October). When I took the chance on getting some replicas of the chain that features in my Daughter of Fire/Son of Rain series (which worked out awesome and I can't wait to start giving these out as prizes, ideally to readers who get the importance behind them after the first 2 books). When I took the plunge to try my hand at self-publishing my stand-alone book (which is progressing thanks to a number of wonderful people who have volunteered their time to be beta readers for me, and thanks to the wonderful cover designer who has designed the beautiful cover I'll be revealing on Sunday). It's these little moments that can seem monumental at the time, even if they are small in the grand scheme of things. You know them from the flutters they cause in your stomach and the way they make your heart race. 
Maybe it's the time you passed the note to your crush. Or the time you went for a job that you know is just outside of your skillset but that you'd be perfect for. When was the last time one of these presented themselves to you? Did it work out the way you'd hoped? 

Supernatural Enforcement Bureau Release Day

As Director of the Supernatural Enforcement Bureau, powerful Vampire Ronan, thought he had seen it all...until he discovers that Dragons actually exist. Can he help the Dragon being hunted on his patch? He certainly has the means at his disposal...if they can find it first...before the dark magic-wielding Witches and their Vampire cohorts.
After seeing the magnificent beast with his own eyes he can't turn from the task, even if he wanted to. Especially as his Sire, Josef, gives him a direct command to find the Dragon and keep it safe. No matter the cost.

With rogue Vampires and Witches on its trail, it's only a matter of time before they capture it. That's not something Ronan will allow...not on his watch! He will do whatever it takes to find and save the Dragon, using every powerful being at his disposal, including the dark and dangerous Creed.




Purchase Link: http://authl.it/B00MQQMWXO?d

A Little Faith by Emma James Cover Reveal

I had no idea a carefree island vacation would tear my life apart.But now it’s time to put my walls up, make them impenetrable.It’s the only way to survive.~Faith
Six Years Later…Harley, the protector. Retro, the straight shooter.Keanu, the funny bone. Levi, the model. And Text, who can’t seem to find himself.All their lives were permanently altered by one event.With a pact made, these five best friends need something from Faith.Is she ready now to give themJoin Faith as she goes on an emotional and heartwarming discovery where all may not be what it seems.But with every ending, comes a new beginning, a second chance.You just gotta have A Little Faith...
Welcome to Ocean Beach.“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”~ Bob Marley

Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22813902-a-little-faith?from_search=true  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma James lives in Queensland, Australia with her smexi husband ,three children and a big black Labrador. Life is busy and most entertaining in the James household. She often bounces ideas off her family and gets very creative responses. She loves to read as much as write. Daytime for writing, night time for reading.
She hopes to surprise you with her debut book, A Little Faith.
AUTHOR LINKSTwitter : @emmajamesbooksFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/emmajamesauthor?ref=hlGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8415027.Emma_James
 GIVEAWAY5 x Mobi files – A Little Faith , up for grabs. Prizes will be sent out on 10th October 2014.http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a89a87f881/"

Cover Reveal - Arkadia

Book Title: Arkadia
Author: Dzintra Sullivan
Genre: Paranormal Paradox Book Cover Designs
Synopsis:
I am Arkadia Castner. I am beautiful. I am popular. I am also the most messed-up witch you will ever meet. I can’t make water boil, or make the wind blow; I can’t even light a match without the aid of a flint. My 18th birthday is in six months, and if I don’t pass the Paranormal Safety Exams (PSEs) by then, I will be banished to the Isle of Shadows for eternity, never to be seen again – it will be as though I never existed.

I found myself at the halfway house under the supervision and guidance of Den Mother and telepathic empath, Eloise Mayflower. The halfway house is the last chance for troubled paranormal teens like me to pass our PSEs and avoid banishment. Eloise knows everything I think and feel, and is supposed to be helping me, but I still can’t do basic spells a six-year-old can do. I hate it here, but I have no choice. This is my last chance.

I had all but given up hope, when in walks Bohdan Drak. Tall, dark, and so damn sexy it hurts to look at him – even his muscles had muscles. He is a dragon shifter and wears the mark of having passed his PSEs. When our souls meet, we realize we have found our soul mates and perfect matches. My dying hope has found life again, and I finally have a reason to look forward to a future.

I thought everything would be fine, but darkness and despair creep into my future. I have been framed for a murder, and everyone believes I am guilty. The paranormal council now watches my every move. Can I trust Bohdan and true love? I fear my destiny is to be banished forever …

Book Cover

Goodreads
Teasers


About the Author

Dzintra Sullivan is a happily married mother of four amazing children. She lives on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. She has always been an avid reader starting with Enid Blyton and Judy Blume as a young girl. Quickly falling in love with the Paranormal creatures in her teen years.
Dzintra owns and runs the FB page Book Friends Forever, having started it to connect with other book addicts from around the world. Dzintra has always had a dream to write, and she is now living her dream. "Arkadia" is her debut novel, and book one in the Halfway House Series.
Stalk Dzintra
FacebookTwitterGoodreads
Give-away
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Take a trip to funky town

At the moment I'm in a little bit of a funk. The post-completion funk. It usually lasts between a few days and a week. It's hard to explain what it's like, but I'd say it's similar to writer's block but also almost the reverse of it. Instead of not having words or not being sure how best to get what's there out, it's more having an abundance of ideas and not being able to work out which ones are genuine, and workable, and which ones are just a little on the ridiculous side.

The usual post-completion funk is being made a little worse at the moment because between now and the end of 2014 there is so much buzzing around that it's hard to get my brain to settle into one idea for long enough to get it moving. So what's coming up exactly? Well, I have a cover reveal to organize, beta-read edits for Happily Evan After to arrange, trying to organize everything I need for my self-publishing adventure, getting ready for the two author signings next year, edits (through to release) for Through the Fire, as well as my day job and life in general. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not complaining, quite the opposite in fact. I'm so excited by the way everything is amping up and getting that much closer to the moment when I can finally share my words with you all.

I know that will come with it's own challenges and things that try to pull my focus away from my words, but I won't let that happen. I'm going to keep writing regardless of any distractions, I've just got to learn to get funky with it.

How about you, what are you looking forward to for the rest of 2014?

Very Revealing

Sorry everyone, I've been very heavily head down, bum up trying to get everything done with stories, covers, and a few other bits and pieces that are hanging around. So I'm just dropping by with a really quick blog post today. I wanted to let you all know that I have set a cover reveal date for my stand-alone novel, Happily Evan After, the cover will be revealed here and across a number of other blogs on 7th September.

I'm going to have a Facebook event for this, so if you want to come along, feel free to jump in and join up:
Cover Reveal Party
I'll be hosting some giveaways, posting the blurb and hopefully some teasers, and just generally trying to have a good time.

If you want to be one of the blogs to do the cover reveal, you can still sign up for that here:
Cover Reveal Signup

Thank you for your ongoing support and I promise, I'll be back to regular posting soon.

Say it . . . out loud.

One of the first thing's you'll be told when it comes to editing is to read things out loud. It is often a good opportunity to find inconsistencies in the text or word repetition that can be missed on a read-through. This is particularly important for dialogue and making sure it sound "real." This advice is brilliant and should definitely be done. However, sometimes it's impractical to be reading a story aloud. Especially if you're in a crowded place, at a coffee-shop or something similar.

There is something that can help though, something my publishers put me onto a while ago, a PDF to speech app. There are a variety available, from free ones to paid ones. I have downloaded one onto my phone and, combined with a set of headphones, it is a great way to listen to the story out loud without having to look like you're talking to yourself. Providing of course that you don't mind a robotic tone and no infliction of tone.

That's where listening to a PDF to speech app can be a little bit different from reading text aloud, but providing you know why, it's still a good tool to have in your writing toolbox.

Of course, both reading aloud and PDF to speech apps differ from an actual audio book. With an audio book, it is paid voice actors reading and interpreting the text, giving it a warmth and a depth that a simple app can't have and that you're unlikely to adopt yourself if you're reading your own text back.That's why despite developments in these apps, audio books will always have a place in the world for those who like to "read" books that way.

What do you think about listening to books? Have you used a text to speech reader? Audio books? Or do you prefer text in front of you to read and absorb? I've listened to a couple of books as audio books, when I'm reading for enjoyment, nothing beats reading physical text.