Niki Livingston's Blog, page 5

Eyes Wide Shut Excerpt

“Why are you in such a hurry, I can barely keep up with you and you are hurting my arm,” she daringly shot at him.             He laughed out loud and sneered down at her as he grasped her arm firmer, “Wouldn’t you like to know.  I will tell you this; if I find your little friends I will rip them apart.  Too bad you are not out there to warn them.  Instead you get to sit in your little cage like a good little woman and think about what I might be doing to them.”             She wished she had not asked.  She knew if Dario had survived he would be waiting for a chance to free her and he could possibly get caught.  Not to mention Alex and Levi would never leave her or Dario.  If Dario was dead, the unthinkable, she knew Alex and Levi were out there waiting to find a way to get her out.  The thought made her cringe.  She had to escape or else she was afraid they could all be dead.  She was just grateful the rest of the group got away and they were hopefully on their way to meet up with the bigger group. 
As they got closer to the cage, Malkia examined the area around it.  There were tents surrounding it and the forest was at least fifty yards away.  Theia loomed above the forest, her presence creating a feeling of home, which made Malkia’s desire to end this imprisonment even more important.  If she could get away, hopefully Parowan will be waiting for her and she could just whistle.  Of course then she would have to fly fast enough to out run their arrows.  She knew she could not escape that way.  Her escape had to be thought out carefully in order to keep everyone safe, including Parowan.
             When they reached the cage, the wolf-man opened the door and softly shoved her in there.  The door slammed behind her and she heard him lock it before he walked away.  She looked around her and noticed everyone was lying down either sleeping or staring at her. 

Theia's Moons Giveaway

Hi all!

I am finally getting around to starting my giveaways for Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut.  There will be five printed copies given away!  Good luck and please stay tuned for more giveaways over the month of July!

 Click the link below to enter to win...

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/a4a35dddca8b7609

Theia's Moons Proofs Received

Today was exciting for me!  I received my proofs for Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut!

It felt amazing to hold my very own published book in my hands.  Having it as an E-book was awesome, but holding the book in my hands was enchanting! 



I spent a few hours this evening going over each page and slightly changing the format and some of my fonts.  I also added a cover page and an acknowledgement page.

Now I have resubmitted it to Createspace and I am waiting for it to be reviewed.  Once that is complete, it will be available to purchase in print!

Stay tuned for giveaways and news!  You can visit my author website at:

nikilivingstonauthor.com

I will continue to update my blog, but most of my work will be done on my website.

Thanks for all of the support and love! 

My Lessons For the Year

My one year publishing anniversary is creeping up on me. 
I am still in the infant/toddler stage of anything writing and although I have learned so much, it can still be frustrating.  The steps to being a success in writing can be exhausting and taxing on the soul. 
This past year I have learned a great amount of lessons:First off, it takes time to create a masterpiece.  Although I spent four years writing and editing Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut, I realize now I should have taken even more time to edit more, read more and edit even more.Asking family and friends to read your book, just because they are your family and friends AND THEN asking for them to give you a review or honest feedback, is a request most family and friends will ignore.  In fact 99.9% of them will do this.  They have their reasons and expecting them to do it will only turn into disappointment.Creating a platform BEFORE you publish is not only necessary, but crucial.  I am still creating my platform through Twitter, Google+, FaceBook, Blogger, Goodreads, Amazon and now through my own website.  I realize now, I should have done this a year ago.When the ideas are flowing and the writers block is down, this is the time to focus on writing.When the writers block is in full swing, this is the time to work on blogs and websites and all other platforms.Writers block is also a time to outline new ideas and free write.  This is the time to write about the silly things of the world, because just by doing this the writers block starts to break down.Invest.  Even when you think you can do it all on your own, invest in your book and writing.  Whether it is hiring an editor or someone to critique your book or investing in your own webpage, whatever it may be; invest. On those off days, when nothing is fitting into the box I have created and no one is liking or reviewing or purchasing my book, I have learned to put everything away and go back to the basics.  I refuse to let this turn into a failure.  I refuse to let my lessons be anything more than a lesson.  Learn and move on.Here I am, feeling a little down, feeling a little defeated.  However, I know I will be okay and I will keep climbing this mountain.  I know I will, because that is how I am.  I have learned a large amount of lessons this past year and I guarantee I will learn even more over the next year.  I am excited for the journey to continue and grateful I even have the chance and the ability to do what I am doing.
Cheers to all those who do not give up and take each moment as a win or a lesson!

Eyes Wide Shut Edition Four

Come take a look at my new author website...
nikilivingstonauthor.com 
About a month ago I submitted another edition for Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut.  It is now available to purchase on Amazon for $2.99.  Below is the link...
Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut

Now I have plans for this book.  I am having it critiqued as we speak (or write) and once that is complete I will be editing again.  Haha!  It never ends! 
After this edition I will finally submit it to publishers.  I stink at marketing.  I do not have the time or the knowledge to do it right or consistently.  As much as I think I am always right (no laughing), I have to admit marketing my book is my least favorite thing to do and I genuinely suck at it ;)
I hope, if you have already purchased Eyes Wide Shut, that you have enjoyed what you have read.  If you have not purchased it and you would rather wait until the next edition, I am hoping it will be available before Memorial Day.  Please stay tuned... And if you have read this book, please take a moment and leave a review on Amazon.  I would love to hear what you think of it!
Until next time!

My Gigantic Goal

I have goals.

I am determined to achieve these goals.

One of my long term goals, is to live in a place like this...



I belong next to the ocean.  Maybe it is because it is a rare commodity that I get to experience, but I have spent most of my 38 years living in the mountains.  Someday soon I want to change my scenery and live where I can see, smell, hear and feel the ocean.

I want to write by the ocean.  I want to wake up every single day to my family and to my writing, as well as the ocean.

Right now I am working hard.  I am doing the best I can with the job I have.  No, it is not my dream job.  Yes, it is a part of my journey to get to where I want to be.  And for that reason alone, I love my job.  And it is a fantastic job at that.

I live to write.  When I am writing my blanket of peace covers me and I am swept off to my own imagination.  So, for now I write when I can and work hard so someday I can be where I want to be and do what I want to do.

My first e-book is available on Amazon for free until Friday.  Some day I hope my books sell and make me a decent living, but for now I am doing what I can to get my name out there and my books in people's hands.  Please download my e-book and share it with others.  Then if you really want to help me out, add a review to Amazon so I can know what I did well and where I can improve.

Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut

Thanks for reading and sharing in my goal!  Let me know what you think of Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut.  I can only improve with the help of others.  And I can only get my name out there if people are willing to share and spread the word!

Eyes Wide Shut Edition Three

I did not want to busy myself with editing Eyes Wide Shut again, but after some feedback from some family and friends I decided I would do some minor changes with words I used too much.  I am actually happy with the changes and it did not take as long as I thought it would.  I have gone ahead and submitted the new changes to Amazon and the third edition is now available!

I debated on having my own book cover designed.  A friend of mine told me about Fiverr and I have been looking around on there for a month or two.  I finally found someone who I thought could design what I was looking for, not only for the E-book but for a hard copy if I choose to go that route. He did a fantastic job!  I am very satisfied with his design!  Here is the final print...



I am looking into printing my book through Createspace through Amazon.  I am also looking into submitting the book to some agents.  I am still working on book two and I am excited to have Alerrandre design the next cover as well! 
Please share the link to my e-book and download if you have not done so already!
Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut

And if you are looking for a graphic designer, here is Alerrandre's link:
https://www.fiverr.com/alerrandre
Thanks friends!

My Writer's Block

It seems like I am spending every day thinking and dreaming of writing.  My childhood was spent daydreaming of different worlds, different people, different creatures and I would write random stories describing them.  My mom once told me, if we dream it, God has created it.  In my life now and my questions about god, I am not sure about what she said.  However, in my heart I want to believe in all of it.  I want there to be dragons, pixies, mermaids, magic, etc.  I want there to be more.


My books will not be perfect.  Especially my first book.  It was edited only by myself.  I had no outside influence.  And even if I did, there would still be people who do not like it.  I have not received much feedback, but I am determined to let Theia's Moons take the life it deserves.  This next book in the series will be better and the one after that will be even better.  It has been difficult, because my writer's block has been consistent and I feel only getting a paragraph here and there is holding me back.

I see it.

I feel it.

The story is in my mind.  I have seen it from beginning to end.  I know what I want the story to BE.  I just have this challenging writer's block.  I can not seem to get it from my brain to the paper.  It comes at such a snails pace that I want to give up at times.  I have a library of stories to tell, but moving them from my mind to the keyboard has been more than problematic.

This, my friends, is the worst of writer's block.  Knowing you have the story, knowing you have so much to say, but for some reason it feels impossible to express.

If you have read Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut, please send your feedback.  I can use the assistance.  I can use the constructive criticism.  If you have not downloaded the book, below is the link to the e-book on Amazon.

Theia's Moons Eyes Wide Shut

Let me know what you think.

The good, the bad and even the ugly.

Thanks friends.

Theia's Moons Book Two - Sneak peek

Malkia could feel the sadness before she walked into the kitchen.  She knew someone had maliciously taken these people’s lives and whoever it was wanted her to see it.  Her eyes scanned the room from the doorway and noticed the woman sitting on the chair next to the cleaning sink.  Her head had been leaned back onto the edge of the sink, her eyes wide with fear but drained of all life.  There was the hushed dripping of blood in the basin, which grew deafening as she stared at the dead eyes.  Malkia noticed the direction the woman’s eyes were focused towards and her gut hurt as she turned to see the view.

Writing Wisdom - Neil Gaiman