J.B. Garner's Blog, page 9
June 12, 2016
We are still being killed.
There’s nothing I can add here that isn’t already said in the main body of the blog. Definitely read it though.
“A massacre at an Orlando gay nightclub early Sunday morning has been described as a “domestic terror incident” with at least 50 dead and 53 injured, officials said, making it the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil since the events of Sept. 11, 2001.” ()
If you don’t think LGBTQ people are still at risk just because we are allowed to marry, you haven’t been paying attention. This is the DEADLIEST terror attack since 9/11, and it specifically targeted people of the LGBT community. This massacre didn’t happen in some foreign country. It didn’t happen in a place you consider “backwards” or “regressed.” This happened HERE.
The other day, I had someone ask me, “What’s it like moving around in the world as a lesbian?”
This is what it’s like. It’s fear. It’s suspicion. It’s not knowing who you can…
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June 11, 2016
Writing Is A Bad Habit: CRITICAL REVIEW! a.k.a. Critical Review and Professionalism
I promised content and I deliver!
Today, we talk about book blogging in terms of the book review, critical and objective critiques, and the need for professionalism when you do professional reviews (remember, the moment you exchange anything for a review, you’re a professional now!).
Enjoy and please feel free to discuss or comment below!
June 10, 2016
General News:Yeah, It’s Been Slow a.k.a. Apologies and Delays!
There’s not too much to say here. If you’ve been following the blog, you know it’s been dead here. For good reasons, yes, but it just goes to show the problems with being an indie author at times. Even when busy with writing, no matter how busy, there still needs to be updates and a real presence here, just to keep the promotional momentum!
So let me at least add some vital updates:
I hope to get reviews worked back in soon, but that mainly hinges on the outcome of the next few days.
As to what has occupied so much of my time lately, I still can’t reveal too many details, but I can say that I’m under contract for co-writing a trilogy of urban fantasy books, all to be released (hopefully) this year.
Which basic math and time sense tells you why I am stupid, crazy busy.
Add to this some possible big changes in other releases (new and old) and things turn to INSANITY LEVELS!
At the least, expect more writing articles and podcasts to come in the weeks ahead!
For those of you still hanging in there, thank you for your continued support and expect things to move forward now. Stay tuned for more release information to come soon enough!
Until next time, good reading, good writing, and good luck!
June 4, 2016
Review of The Opening Bell by J. B. Garner
It’s always a good start to the weekend to find a new review up for a book! Thank you, Sara, and enjoy folks!
Opening Bell
Author: J. B. Garner
Series: Three Seconds to Legend Book 1
Publication Date: August 7, 2015
Genre: Coming of Age
Synopsis
Leilana Ito knew her family had a long history in the wrestling world, but she never knew how much had been kept secret from her. When Leilana wanted to follow in the family footsteps, she was shocked when her father adamantly refused to let her proceed with no reason why.
Leilana couldn’t deny the fighting spirit in her heart. Refusing his prohibition, she had no idea what terrible events her defiance would set into motion!
Now a rookie wrestler in the heart of Oklahoma, Leilana faces ring rivalries, impossible odds, corporate machinations, and threats she could never imagine as she struggles to prove herself. As the truth behind her family’s history becomes clear, the stakes continue to rise. Will Leilana rise to the challenge and win it…
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June 1, 2016
Writing Is A Bad Habit: Time to Edit? a.k.a. Time and Self-Editing
Okay, so we all know that it’s generally a bad idea to self-edit. When you edit your own work, it is quite easy to let your knowledge of the story and your own intentions to color the editing job. The human mind is a master of filling in the blanks and you’ll find missing words inserted, misspelled words corrected, and extraneous words edited out, all because YOU know what’s up.
Of course, the problem arises that, well, many of us out in Starving Authorland simply don’t have the cash to get professional editing, even if you have cheap sources for it (SHAMELESS PLUG INSERTED HERE). So I’m going to reveal what, to me, is the secret if you find that you must self-edit.
Now, let me preface this again with the disclaimer that this may be true for ME ALONE, but I don’t think that’s the case.
With that being said, for me, time is the key.
What this means is that if I try to self-edit a piece shortly after writing it, my fresh memories make it incredibly hard to properly edit. I miss many mistakes I made and sometimes create new problems based on my preconceptions. Basically, I make a total mess of things!
However, if I give it some time, say a few weeks to a month, enough of those initial preconceptions fade. While I know my core concepts and ideas, that specificity that clouds my editorial instincts evaporates. Suddenly, I can see the misspellings, the horrid grammar, and the repetitive word choices. It’s practically night and day in the quality difference.
So if you do find yourself forced to do your own editing (something I still don’t advise, especially if you don’t have experience and the time to look up grammar and style rules), try this technique. Do your writing, then set it aside for a good bit of time before coming back to it. You just might find your editing will be a hundred times better than it was before!
Got any other excellent editing tips? Drop them off in the comments below! Until next time, good reading, good writing, and good luck!
May 30, 2016
Monday Musings: MobiCon 2016 After-Action Report!
Well, we are back safe and sound from Mobicon 2016 and it was quite a blast!
I certainly feel like the whole ‘baptism-of-fire’ thing has come and gone. There are certainly things I could have done better, both in planning and in execution, but I’ve been lucky to have gotten tons of advice from my fellow local authors. All in all, things felt like they went well and I certainly felt like I hit a certain groove by late Friday.
The big things I learned to improve on for the future:
Get prepared EVEN SOONER. It allows for greater flexibility and fiscal planning.
Branded tat! I knew this ahead of time, but I failed to take full advantage due to some last minute changes of planning and unexpected front-end expenses.
Incorporate some more three-dimensionality in the displays, both to improve table use and to help catch eyes.
So the next confirmed con visit is Kansas City Comic Con in August! More info and updates to come!
May 23, 2016
Monday Musings: It’s Almost Time! a.k.a. Mobicon This Weekend
Right, so it’s almost time. Now, I’ve been to conventions before, even been to conventions for ‘business’ reasons. The last two Pensacons I’ve attended have been more for promotion and networking than just for the fun of it. Mobicon, though, will be the first time I’ll be sitting at a table, trying to get you to buy my books.
It’s a step forward, but it’s a step on uncertain ground. At least psychologically, this could be a make-or-break moment. It’s one thing to sit back, behind the shield of the internet, and excuse away any lack of success or moments of failure as there’s a certain distance involved. This, though, will be personal, face-to-face, nitty-gritty. Basically, this is where I either grow up or drop out.
Well, not so dramatic as that, of course! While this is a stressful moment, it would also be short sighted to lay everything on one convention, especially my first! No, while this will remain a big step, it’s entirely a step forward, a step in the right direction. At worst, it will be a learning experience, letting me know what I need to do for future conventions. At best, I’ll come home with empty book boxes and the knowledge that I’m doing things the right way. Either way, it’ll be fun!
In other quick news, my free promotion for Indomitable went like gangbusters. Just a reminder, though, that all of The Push Chronicles are available for free through Kindle Unlimited. If you have that, swing by my Released Books list and start reading! Also, don’t forget that The Songstress Murders will be released at the start of Mobicon! You can still pre-order your Kindle copy from Amazon. Physical copies will be available for order around the time of the e-book release.
Until next time, good reading, good writing, and good luck!
May 20, 2016
The World Of The Songstress Murders: Exposition Position! a.k.a. Types of Exposition And How To Use Them!
Today, we finish up (probably) a series of articles and podcasts in relation to my next book, The Songstress Murders, available for pre-order now! Our topic of the moment is exposition, various types of that, and how it relates to genre fiction and world-building!
Enjoy!
May 17, 2016
Book News: Free Book For You, Please! a.k.a. Indomitable On Sale!
Quick update during the harried advancement of THE SEKRIT PROJIKT and preparation for Mobicon next weekend! And that update is …
Indomitable, the first of The Push Chronicles, is now on sale! FOR FREE! FOR A LIMITED TIME! You can get it the Kindle edition for free from today to this Sunday, 5-22-2016!
So click the link and get your copy today!
May 13, 2016
The World Of The Songstress Murders: That Old Timey Religion! a.k.a. Religion, Culture, and Characters
This week’s The World Of .. focuses on fantasy gods and religions, as well as how those things can influence and inform us about the cultures and characters in those worlds, using examples from my next book, The Songstress Murders!
Remember, there’s a little less than two weeks left to get your pre-order of The Songstress Murders!
