Freddie DiFranco's Blog, page 3
April 18, 2016
Fiction Feature goes magical! Welcome back, Ariella Moon!
Ahoy lovely readers!
I hope you're all enjoying this lovely spring weather. Perfect time of year to take your reading addiction outside for some fun in the sun ;)
And I've got another great YA title to add to your Goodreads list! This YA fantasy title comes from my most-featured author. Welcome Ariella Moon back to the Marsjaws scene with her latest title, The Beltane Escape
Lady Fenella, ever surrounded by guards, knows only responsibility and duty. She believes Merlin and the Lady of the Lake are myths, Gran’s warnings about Fairy are superstition, and Fairy was invented to make children behave.
But then Gran brands her, Lord Argonshire kidnaps her, and the Lady of the Lake makes her a pawn. The Highland heiress must betray her newly betrothed and fend for herself when she dives into a wormhole to save her cousin. She lands in a part of Fairy even fairies avoid, and joins forces with a half-Viking/half-Fairy.
Fenella must use her wits to find her cousin, free the Lady of the Lake, and reach the wormhole in Glastonbury by Beltane. Nine days to unshackle herself from a sorceress, prevent a war between two clans, and decide in which realm—and with which lad—she truly belongs. Oh, and The Most Powerful Wizard stands in her way.
I don't know about y'all, but I'm a sucker for anything involving Arthurian legend. I also enjoy a good high fantasy tale, and this is one of the greatest new releases in the YA high fantasy genre! You won't be disappointed by this fast paced, magical adventure that will take you through a world of fairies and self-discovery.
But, as always, I got a little taste to really rope ya in ;)
~*~*~*~
Trapped within the doeskin pouch, Merlin’s spell book pulsed like an angry heart. Viviane, the young Lady of the Lake, pushed her qualms aside and knotted the stolen treasure to her waist. An eerie quiet settled over the woods. Either the tree spirits sleep, or they watch me in silence, Viviane surmised as she carefully surveyed the canopy. Knees quaking, she deftly concealed the pouch beneath her cloak, then ran. Shallow breaths caught in her throat, and a sharp pain needled her side as she quickened her pace. She pressed her hand against the twinge and kept running. With each pounding stride, the prize slapped vehemently against her hip.
Viviane chanced a glance over her shoulder. Hah! No sign of Merlin. In her arrogance, she stumbled, her heel catching on her long indigo cape. Her heart cartwheeled. With an oath, she righted herself. Ahead, the Enchanted Forest’s dark mantle ended, and gloaming’s early light shone. She bolted towards the dawn.
Dry pine needles crunched beneath her deerskin sandals. The spell book’s muffled rage beat louder, waking a nearby tree spirit whose angry screech roused others. As one, they grabbed at Viviane with their prickly branches. A wizen-faced pine scratched Viviane’s cheek, stirring the creature marked into the skin above her cheekbone. Agitated, the blue sea serpent threaded itself around the crescent moon inked near her eye. Its nostrils flared, assessing the danger. Viviane shoved the impudent branch away. Catching scent of the lake, she broke through the trees. Her lungs heaved as an ache bloomed between her shoulders where the tree spirits’ angry glares thrust against her.
Viviane ran to the coracle moored at the water’s edge. The woven willow boat creaked when she scrambled into its hull and drew in the rope. Her long gown and flowing cape pooled around her as she crouched. Clutching the boat’s wooden sides, she commanded, “Hasten to the isle!”
The water surrounding the boat surged, forming a current that propelled the craft forward. A flock of startled grebes took flight, their wings thrumming.
“Mist, cloak me from Merlin’s sight.” Viviane arced her arm above her head. Her prisoner pummeled against her hip. But the spell book’s blows were futile and inconsequential.
~*~*~*~
You can find The Beltane Escape at these e-retailers:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beltane-Escape-Book-Realms-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01AKUA0EU/
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beltane-escape-nook-ariella-moon/1123352952?ean=2940158052552
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-beltane-escape/id1079976497?mt=11
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beltane-Escape-Book-Realms-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01AKUA0EU/
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-beltane-esscape
And, since it's been a bit, let's reintroduce our lovely author!
Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her Two Realms Trilogy is a medieval fantasy adventure series. The Teen Wytche Saga is a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances.
Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students that mistook her for a leaning post marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. She lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and a media-shy dragon.
Ariella loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at:
http://www.ariellamoon.com
http://www.ariellamoon.blogspot.com
And that's it for today! Stay tune for all things Lucid, writing, and YA fiction! Enjoy your week, and until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
I hope you're all enjoying this lovely spring weather. Perfect time of year to take your reading addiction outside for some fun in the sun ;)
And I've got another great YA title to add to your Goodreads list! This YA fantasy title comes from my most-featured author. Welcome Ariella Moon back to the Marsjaws scene with her latest title, The Beltane Escape
Lady Fenella, ever surrounded by guards, knows only responsibility and duty. She believes Merlin and the Lady of the Lake are myths, Gran’s warnings about Fairy are superstition, and Fairy was invented to make children behave.
But then Gran brands her, Lord Argonshire kidnaps her, and the Lady of the Lake makes her a pawn. The Highland heiress must betray her newly betrothed and fend for herself when she dives into a wormhole to save her cousin. She lands in a part of Fairy even fairies avoid, and joins forces with a half-Viking/half-Fairy.
Fenella must use her wits to find her cousin, free the Lady of the Lake, and reach the wormhole in Glastonbury by Beltane. Nine days to unshackle herself from a sorceress, prevent a war between two clans, and decide in which realm—and with which lad—she truly belongs. Oh, and The Most Powerful Wizard stands in her way.
I don't know about y'all, but I'm a sucker for anything involving Arthurian legend. I also enjoy a good high fantasy tale, and this is one of the greatest new releases in the YA high fantasy genre! You won't be disappointed by this fast paced, magical adventure that will take you through a world of fairies and self-discovery.
But, as always, I got a little taste to really rope ya in ;)
~*~*~*~
Trapped within the doeskin pouch, Merlin’s spell book pulsed like an angry heart. Viviane, the young Lady of the Lake, pushed her qualms aside and knotted the stolen treasure to her waist. An eerie quiet settled over the woods. Either the tree spirits sleep, or they watch me in silence, Viviane surmised as she carefully surveyed the canopy. Knees quaking, she deftly concealed the pouch beneath her cloak, then ran. Shallow breaths caught in her throat, and a sharp pain needled her side as she quickened her pace. She pressed her hand against the twinge and kept running. With each pounding stride, the prize slapped vehemently against her hip.
Viviane chanced a glance over her shoulder. Hah! No sign of Merlin. In her arrogance, she stumbled, her heel catching on her long indigo cape. Her heart cartwheeled. With an oath, she righted herself. Ahead, the Enchanted Forest’s dark mantle ended, and gloaming’s early light shone. She bolted towards the dawn.
Dry pine needles crunched beneath her deerskin sandals. The spell book’s muffled rage beat louder, waking a nearby tree spirit whose angry screech roused others. As one, they grabbed at Viviane with their prickly branches. A wizen-faced pine scratched Viviane’s cheek, stirring the creature marked into the skin above her cheekbone. Agitated, the blue sea serpent threaded itself around the crescent moon inked near her eye. Its nostrils flared, assessing the danger. Viviane shoved the impudent branch away. Catching scent of the lake, she broke through the trees. Her lungs heaved as an ache bloomed between her shoulders where the tree spirits’ angry glares thrust against her.
Viviane ran to the coracle moored at the water’s edge. The woven willow boat creaked when she scrambled into its hull and drew in the rope. Her long gown and flowing cape pooled around her as she crouched. Clutching the boat’s wooden sides, she commanded, “Hasten to the isle!”
The water surrounding the boat surged, forming a current that propelled the craft forward. A flock of startled grebes took flight, their wings thrumming.
“Mist, cloak me from Merlin’s sight.” Viviane arced her arm above her head. Her prisoner pummeled against her hip. But the spell book’s blows were futile and inconsequential.
~*~*~*~
You can find The Beltane Escape at these e-retailers:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beltane-Escape-Book-Realms-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01AKUA0EU/
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beltane-escape-nook-ariella-moon/1123352952?ean=2940158052552
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-beltane-escape/id1079976497?mt=11
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beltane-Escape-Book-Realms-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01AKUA0EU/
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-beltane-esscape
And, since it's been a bit, let's reintroduce our lovely author!
Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her Two Realms Trilogy is a medieval fantasy adventure series. The Teen Wytche Saga is a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances.
Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students that mistook her for a leaning post marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. She lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and a media-shy dragon.
Ariella loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at:
http://www.ariellamoon.com
http://www.ariellamoon.blogspot.com
And that's it for today! Stay tune for all things Lucid, writing, and YA fiction! Enjoy your week, and until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
April 4, 2016
A Fiction Feature that's Everlasting!
Ahoy lovely readers!
With Reverie out on the e-shelves and spring in the air, I've decided that now's a good time to bring back my Fiction Features!
Currently, I'm teaching 5th grade at a local elementary school, so of course I'm having a poke around to see what the whipper snappers are reading nowadays. It seems that paranormal romance is still a huge hitter for tween girls, so I'm doing a Fiction Feature that's right up my students' alley.
And I'm also hosting a first timer on the MarsJaws blog.
So, everyone, meet L.K. Kuhl and her novel Everlasting!
Seventeen-year-old Sophia Bandell is scared of boys, and her biggest fear is dying. Boys make her uncomfortable and itchy and dying is …well …dying. She is ecstatic when her long lost friend calls her, inviting her to spend the summer with her on the beach at Charleston, South Carolina.
When a plastic saucer hits her in the head as she’s sunbathing, Sophia has no idea it will forever change the course of her life. It is there she comes face to face with the impressive Tate Forester.
She is scared and …itchy, but he’s gorgeous and she can’t shake him from her mind. They begin dating and Sophia soon knows he’s the one.
But things turn dark when she learns Tate isn’t the person she thinks he is, and the real reason her friend has brought her to the beach will teach her about life after death.
This everlasting summer on the beach gives Sophia a sweet taste of first love—the happiness as well as the heartbreak.
Isn't it a great read for a budding tween? I'm definitely pimping out Everlasting to my kiddos tomorrow, but if you need more of an incentive, give this excerpt a read:
*****
We stood there and looked around, an awkward silence playing between us. Then he stepped closer and took my hand in his, sending a bolt of staggering electricity zipping through my chest. “Her hand fits perfectly in mine.” He whispered this, as if confirming it with someone. His gaze locked on it, analyzing, then with a shake of his head, he spoke louder. “Sophia, I’m sorry. I …I lied to you.”
I looked at him—bewilderment crinkling my face—and tried to understand. “Lied?” My voice broke. “I don’t get it.”
“I wasn’t sick that day. Well, in a way I was, I guess. The truth is, I was gut-sick. That guy …he was sitting by you the whole day ...and …and he never left your side. I’d check throughout the day, but he was still there. I couldn’t help it. I was insanely jealous.” He looked down, his tone deepening as he flexed his fingers that were still laced through mine.
“What?” His words astounded me. I swiped my brow with my free hand. “You were jealous …of me?”
He released my hand and paced back and forth, the nervousness seeping through as he wrung his hands. “I know it’s stupid, but I couldn’t help myself. I love the way you laugh and …I like you, Sophia …a lot, and it hurt me to see you with someone else.”
He lifted his hair off his forehead, pushing it up. His eyes locked on mine again, captivating me. I couldn’t look away. My self-consciousness took over—heckling me. The way I looked right now—with my hair a matted mess from the mist, and no makeup on—must look ridiculous. I drew away, making myself smaller.
I laughed my nervous laugh and kicked the sand with my shoe. “Who, him? You mean …Brian?” My words wobbled, but I giggled, unable to believe that Brian talking to me could make anyone jealous.
*****
You can find Everlasting at these links below:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BW8WRK4?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everlasting-lk-kuhl/1123437578?ean=2940157684952
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/everlasting-26
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/everlasting/id1085166596?mt=11
Now, since we have a new author, let's learn a little bit about her!
L.K. Kuhl lives in Nebraska with her husband Gene of twenty-nine years, young son, Nathan, and Greg, their Black Lab dog. She has two older daughters, Morgan and Brittani and son-in-law, Trevor. L.K. has been writing for over twenty years. She first began writing children’s books and poetry, moved on to writing music, and is now writing Young Adult and Adult novels. She loves spending time with her family, vacationing, writing, reading, and taking long walks. It’s the characters who write their own stories in her novels, and she is just their messenger, sharing it with the world.
You can reach out to L.K. and see her other works at these following sites:
Website: http://kuhlreads.com/
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kuhlreads
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynettehoff1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lynettehofferbe/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28674602-everlasting
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01BXDJGIY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.k.kuhl/
Blogger: http://kuhlreads.blogspot.com/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/lkkuhl1stuff
And that's it for today! Enjoy your week, and until next time keep readin' and dreamin'
-Fred
With Reverie out on the e-shelves and spring in the air, I've decided that now's a good time to bring back my Fiction Features!
Currently, I'm teaching 5th grade at a local elementary school, so of course I'm having a poke around to see what the whipper snappers are reading nowadays. It seems that paranormal romance is still a huge hitter for tween girls, so I'm doing a Fiction Feature that's right up my students' alley.
And I'm also hosting a first timer on the MarsJaws blog.
So, everyone, meet L.K. Kuhl and her novel Everlasting!
Seventeen-year-old Sophia Bandell is scared of boys, and her biggest fear is dying. Boys make her uncomfortable and itchy and dying is …well …dying. She is ecstatic when her long lost friend calls her, inviting her to spend the summer with her on the beach at Charleston, South Carolina.
When a plastic saucer hits her in the head as she’s sunbathing, Sophia has no idea it will forever change the course of her life. It is there she comes face to face with the impressive Tate Forester.
She is scared and …itchy, but he’s gorgeous and she can’t shake him from her mind. They begin dating and Sophia soon knows he’s the one.
But things turn dark when she learns Tate isn’t the person she thinks he is, and the real reason her friend has brought her to the beach will teach her about life after death.
This everlasting summer on the beach gives Sophia a sweet taste of first love—the happiness as well as the heartbreak.
Isn't it a great read for a budding tween? I'm definitely pimping out Everlasting to my kiddos tomorrow, but if you need more of an incentive, give this excerpt a read:
*****
We stood there and looked around, an awkward silence playing between us. Then he stepped closer and took my hand in his, sending a bolt of staggering electricity zipping through my chest. “Her hand fits perfectly in mine.” He whispered this, as if confirming it with someone. His gaze locked on it, analyzing, then with a shake of his head, he spoke louder. “Sophia, I’m sorry. I …I lied to you.”
I looked at him—bewilderment crinkling my face—and tried to understand. “Lied?” My voice broke. “I don’t get it.”
“I wasn’t sick that day. Well, in a way I was, I guess. The truth is, I was gut-sick. That guy …he was sitting by you the whole day ...and …and he never left your side. I’d check throughout the day, but he was still there. I couldn’t help it. I was insanely jealous.” He looked down, his tone deepening as he flexed his fingers that were still laced through mine.
“What?” His words astounded me. I swiped my brow with my free hand. “You were jealous …of me?”
He released my hand and paced back and forth, the nervousness seeping through as he wrung his hands. “I know it’s stupid, but I couldn’t help myself. I love the way you laugh and …I like you, Sophia …a lot, and it hurt me to see you with someone else.”
He lifted his hair off his forehead, pushing it up. His eyes locked on mine again, captivating me. I couldn’t look away. My self-consciousness took over—heckling me. The way I looked right now—with my hair a matted mess from the mist, and no makeup on—must look ridiculous. I drew away, making myself smaller.
I laughed my nervous laugh and kicked the sand with my shoe. “Who, him? You mean …Brian?” My words wobbled, but I giggled, unable to believe that Brian talking to me could make anyone jealous.
*****
You can find Everlasting at these links below:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BW8WRK4?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everlasting-lk-kuhl/1123437578?ean=2940157684952
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/everlasting-26
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/everlasting/id1085166596?mt=11
Now, since we have a new author, let's learn a little bit about her!
L.K. Kuhl lives in Nebraska with her husband Gene of twenty-nine years, young son, Nathan, and Greg, their Black Lab dog. She has two older daughters, Morgan and Brittani and son-in-law, Trevor. L.K. has been writing for over twenty years. She first began writing children’s books and poetry, moved on to writing music, and is now writing Young Adult and Adult novels. She loves spending time with her family, vacationing, writing, reading, and taking long walks. It’s the characters who write their own stories in her novels, and she is just their messenger, sharing it with the world.
You can reach out to L.K. and see her other works at these following sites:
Website: http://kuhlreads.com/
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kuhlreads
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynettehoff1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lynettehofferbe/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28674602-everlasting
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01BXDJGIY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.k.kuhl/
Blogger: http://kuhlreads.blogspot.com/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/lkkuhl1stuff
And that's it for today! Enjoy your week, and until next time keep readin' and dreamin'
-Fred
March 15, 2016
From dreams to print: a writer's tale.
Ahoy everybody!
I want to thank you all again for making last week a fantastic book release week! Reverie started off stronger than Lucid did, spreading the love far and wide! I hope those of you who are reading it are enjoying the second installment of Devon's story.
And if you haven't bought it, get to it! As a reminder, it's sitting pretty on Amazon waiting to be bought ;) http://www.amazon.com/Reverie-L-E-Fred-ebook/dp/B01CRRS168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458097820&sr=8-1&keywords=reverie+l.e.+fred
I've gotten to do a lot of neat things with my writing lately, one of them being participating at my high school's career day. Truthfully, if you would've told me a few years ago that I would be asked to speak about being an author at my alma mater, I would have laughed. It was a nice little reminder that acting on your dreams, even the wildest ones, is never a bad thing.
me after talking to my fellow UA girls
And I also got to provide a service to the youngsters that I would have greatly benefited from in high school, when I realized I wanted to do the whole author thing. I gave them the low-down on the writing to publishing process.
Now, I've done a few blog posts about editing, reviews, etc. but I'd like to condense the steps on how to publish into one, nice little post.
SO, if YOU wanna be a writer, you've come to the...write place!
and I wonder why I'm not a famous author
Step 1: WRITE!
Back to business.
Of course, this step is a given for all aspiring authors. But it's a hard one to follow. Think of how many people you've heard say that they wanna write a book one day. I bet it's a lot. That, acting, and opening a restaurant are the top three aspirations most people have (I think that's a stat. Idk, go Google it yourself.) Actually writing a story already puts you a cut above the rest.
So, if you're writing, you're off to a great start. Yeah!
Step 2: Revise and beta test!
This part is equally as important as the first one.
So you finally got your novel? That's great! But that draft is probably gonna read like crap.
Think about it. Writing is exciting. You have this great story and all these wonderful characters and you rush to get everything that's going on in your head out into written form. Think about the thoughts that go through your head on an average day. If they're anything like mine, they will make sense to no one other than yourself.
And that's how most first draft novels read. So, as painful as it sometimes is, revision is just as important as writing the damn thing. Get in there and constantly ask yourself the question, "Will others get it?" It'll help you sort through your story and make the best version it can be.
Beta testing your novel is also crucial. I'm gonna assume you'll have some degree of love for your pride and joy that is your novel. It's human nature to be proud of our own work. It's also human nature to overlook our own flawed products and have this idealized impression of our own stuff. You gotta get some feedback to make sure your novel is as great as you think it is.
There are a few rules regarding beta readers. First, get someone you trust. The Internet is a shady place with quite a few plagiarizers running a muck. Keep away from strangers, and go with a close friend or relative who will give you constructive criticism. Make sure they enjoy reading your genre, too. Grandma might not be the best person to read over your erotic Western.
Or maybe she is, I don't know your grandmother's life.
Step 3: Find your agent or publisher!
You've written your story, you've revised it a bajillion times, and you made sure to include your grandmother's feedback to make it a swell novel.
Great! On to the next process: finding an agent or a publisher!
While you're querying for someone to take on your book, you're gonna want to submit your stuff to both agents and publishers. There are pros and cons to both, but it's best to read up on the individual agents/publishers you want to see what they can offer for your book.
The best way to find all of these people in the book business is by purchasing The Writer's Market. A new edition comes out every year, so it's best to replenish your copy every so often.
Speaking of, I need to get a new one to replace my outdated 2013...
But, anyway, you're gonna want your own copy of this thing to mark and highlight while you're going through the list. Not every agent/publisher will want to review your YA sci-fi manuscript. (In fact, a lot of the people listed in my version of the Market explicitly stated that they won't consider YA sci-fi, as it had been exhausted in the early 2010s.) The Market also includes tips on how to write a query letter, synopsis, and other neat things to really make your submissions emails stand out.
Gandalf used the Market to find the perfect publisher for his erotic Western.
It will take some time, but once you've marked out all the ones accepting stuff from your genre, you'll have a smoother time for your next go-around, I promise!
Step 4: Don't give up!
This is, by far, the most important step. I don't know about my fellow authors, but I thought once I got a publisher that it was only a matter of time before I became the next J.K. Rowling.
Boy oh boy was I naive.
Not that it doesn't happen! Your story might be great, and you'll snag the perfect agent/publisher to help your book take off like a rocket to the moon. I honestly hope that happens if your story can bring about some goodness in this world. But you also have to have a reality check.
Like all creative businesses, the writing one is tough to crack into. Chances are that you'll start off small and build your reader base and reputation to eventually make a mark in the writing world.
So many famous authors have books from their past that no one's heard of. If your first book is rejected a million times or your first published book is somewhat of a flop, do not let it discourage you! You'll be stronger and wiser for it, and it'll make your autobiography that much more interesting ;)
a message from your future novels
And that's what I told a bunch of high schoolers today! Was I too real? Too optimistic? Too boring?
Let me know in the comments section below!
And don't forget to enter my Lucid giveaway if you haven't already! You can enter to win a free copy of my first e-book here: https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/ffc734ba77724d5b?ref_=pe_1771210_134854370#ln-fo
Stay tuned for more fun stuff!
And keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
I want to thank you all again for making last week a fantastic book release week! Reverie started off stronger than Lucid did, spreading the love far and wide! I hope those of you who are reading it are enjoying the second installment of Devon's story.
And if you haven't bought it, get to it! As a reminder, it's sitting pretty on Amazon waiting to be bought ;) http://www.amazon.com/Reverie-L-E-Fred-ebook/dp/B01CRRS168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458097820&sr=8-1&keywords=reverie+l.e.+fred
I've gotten to do a lot of neat things with my writing lately, one of them being participating at my high school's career day. Truthfully, if you would've told me a few years ago that I would be asked to speak about being an author at my alma mater, I would have laughed. It was a nice little reminder that acting on your dreams, even the wildest ones, is never a bad thing.
me after talking to my fellow UA girls And I also got to provide a service to the youngsters that I would have greatly benefited from in high school, when I realized I wanted to do the whole author thing. I gave them the low-down on the writing to publishing process.
Now, I've done a few blog posts about editing, reviews, etc. but I'd like to condense the steps on how to publish into one, nice little post.
SO, if YOU wanna be a writer, you've come to the...write place!
and I wonder why I'm not a famous authorStep 1: WRITE!
Back to business.
Of course, this step is a given for all aspiring authors. But it's a hard one to follow. Think of how many people you've heard say that they wanna write a book one day. I bet it's a lot. That, acting, and opening a restaurant are the top three aspirations most people have (I think that's a stat. Idk, go Google it yourself.) Actually writing a story already puts you a cut above the rest.
So, if you're writing, you're off to a great start. Yeah!
Step 2: Revise and beta test!
This part is equally as important as the first one.
So you finally got your novel? That's great! But that draft is probably gonna read like crap.
Think about it. Writing is exciting. You have this great story and all these wonderful characters and you rush to get everything that's going on in your head out into written form. Think about the thoughts that go through your head on an average day. If they're anything like mine, they will make sense to no one other than yourself.
And that's how most first draft novels read. So, as painful as it sometimes is, revision is just as important as writing the damn thing. Get in there and constantly ask yourself the question, "Will others get it?" It'll help you sort through your story and make the best version it can be.
Beta testing your novel is also crucial. I'm gonna assume you'll have some degree of love for your pride and joy that is your novel. It's human nature to be proud of our own work. It's also human nature to overlook our own flawed products and have this idealized impression of our own stuff. You gotta get some feedback to make sure your novel is as great as you think it is.
There are a few rules regarding beta readers. First, get someone you trust. The Internet is a shady place with quite a few plagiarizers running a muck. Keep away from strangers, and go with a close friend or relative who will give you constructive criticism. Make sure they enjoy reading your genre, too. Grandma might not be the best person to read over your erotic Western.
Or maybe she is, I don't know your grandmother's life.
Step 3: Find your agent or publisher!
You've written your story, you've revised it a bajillion times, and you made sure to include your grandmother's feedback to make it a swell novel.
Great! On to the next process: finding an agent or a publisher!
While you're querying for someone to take on your book, you're gonna want to submit your stuff to both agents and publishers. There are pros and cons to both, but it's best to read up on the individual agents/publishers you want to see what they can offer for your book.
The best way to find all of these people in the book business is by purchasing The Writer's Market. A new edition comes out every year, so it's best to replenish your copy every so often.
Speaking of, I need to get a new one to replace my outdated 2013...
But, anyway, you're gonna want your own copy of this thing to mark and highlight while you're going through the list. Not every agent/publisher will want to review your YA sci-fi manuscript. (In fact, a lot of the people listed in my version of the Market explicitly stated that they won't consider YA sci-fi, as it had been exhausted in the early 2010s.) The Market also includes tips on how to write a query letter, synopsis, and other neat things to really make your submissions emails stand out.
Gandalf used the Market to find the perfect publisher for his erotic Western. It will take some time, but once you've marked out all the ones accepting stuff from your genre, you'll have a smoother time for your next go-around, I promise!
Step 4: Don't give up!
This is, by far, the most important step. I don't know about my fellow authors, but I thought once I got a publisher that it was only a matter of time before I became the next J.K. Rowling.
Boy oh boy was I naive.
Not that it doesn't happen! Your story might be great, and you'll snag the perfect agent/publisher to help your book take off like a rocket to the moon. I honestly hope that happens if your story can bring about some goodness in this world. But you also have to have a reality check.
Like all creative businesses, the writing one is tough to crack into. Chances are that you'll start off small and build your reader base and reputation to eventually make a mark in the writing world.
So many famous authors have books from their past that no one's heard of. If your first book is rejected a million times or your first published book is somewhat of a flop, do not let it discourage you! You'll be stronger and wiser for it, and it'll make your autobiography that much more interesting ;)
a message from your future novelsAnd that's what I told a bunch of high schoolers today! Was I too real? Too optimistic? Too boring?
Let me know in the comments section below!
And don't forget to enter my Lucid giveaway if you haven't already! You can enter to win a free copy of my first e-book here: https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/ffc734ba77724d5b?ref_=pe_1771210_134854370#ln-fo
Stay tuned for more fun stuff!
And keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
March 10, 2016
The Dream Continues! Reverie is OUT today!
Ahoy lovely readers!
Today's the glorious day where my Lucid trilogy continues with its second installment, Reverie! You can view the beautiful Amazon page here: http://www.amazon.com/Reverie-L-E-Fred-ebook/dp/B01CRRS168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457630865&sr=8-1&keywords=reverie+l.e.+fred
What a beaut, eh?
Being the good little author that I am (see: try to be) I took this day off to devote solely to my new book. I've learned a lot about the publishing world since my start two years ago, and I've written a lot about the publication process. But I've realized that I haven't written that much about my actual stories.
So, today, for the first time in blog history, I'm gonna fiction feature myself.
Promasturbate if you will ;)
I'm not gonna bore you with re-posting my excerpt or blurbs. I'm gonna give you my synopsis, my explanation of this story.
Ever since I was a teenager, I've suffered from this annoying thing called sleep paralysis. The first time I had had an episode, I thought I was going to die. When it happens, I'm either just falling asleep or just waking up. That's what inspired the no-man's land that Devon, Kyle, and Mitch have to walk before reaching Leona's resort area.
Anyway, in this in-between universe is where the fear begins. Your body does this neat little thing during sleep where it paralyzes itself. This is actually good, and it's the reason why most of us don't go acting out our dreams with our eyes shut every night. However, during your slip phase, the paralysis is on, but your consciousness is too.
Most people who suffer from sleep paralysis experience hallucinations. These are usually negative, as the sleeper is already spooked by being paralyzed, Demons, ghosts, and other hideous entities are often attacking the defenseless sleeper, making for a real nightmare of a time.
And that's where my Nightmares come in. I thought about all of the things people are usually afraid of: shark teeth, horns, gravelly voices, and put them into one spooky being. If I could draw, I'd sketch what I was thinking of in my head. I'm sure readers probably consider them walking sharks...oops.
We all know Devon, Kyle, and Mitch are the Three Stooges of my books!
But the monster beings aren't what bother me about sleep paralysis. What's worse is having to wait out being trapped in this pseudo-dream world while I slowly untangle myself from this sleep prison. Sometimes during this limbo, I think about the possibility of being stuck like this. What would my mom do if she found me immobilized on the couch? Would doctors be able to fix me? Would they think I was in some inexplicable coma?
And that's where I got the idea for Lucid. The blood-sport resort motive behind Leona's enslavement of humanity was purely fiction, but it all sprouted from my fascination with the Dream World being a separate reality. I've always had a huge fascination with fantasy worlds and stores, so transitioning from a sci-fi horror to a world of magical beings and fascinating lands was a no-brainer for me. It was my paying homage to the things that inspired me the most!
Fun fact: I value inspiration over any other virtue in the world. It's one of the most personal things you can do for someone, and it only takes a smile or a well-worded remark to set the inspiration in motion.
If someone can inspire DiCaprio to get an Oscar, you can inspire someone to do something great today!
Lastly, people are probably wondering why I chose to tell my tale fro ma 15 year old boy's POV. That's got to do with my personal history.
No, I was not once a 15 year-old boy. But I did work at a summer camp where all the CITs were tween boys. One, in particular, was a gem. He'd always do what was asked of him and rarely complain. But when no one else noticed, he'd have the sassiest comebacks and retorts for the jerk counselors. I caught a few, and when he saw me chuckle, he'd open up more around me. This wise-cracking kid is Devon, in my mind, and I wanna thank him for being my camper-turned-counselor-turned-book protagonist.
And that's about all I got for you today! Maybe I'll post more of these author insights in the future. Maybe not. Idk, I don't like talking about myself.
Go away and read now!
And remember to keep readin' and dreamin'
-Fred
***And if you haven't or someone you know hasn't read Lucid yet, I'm doing a giveaway on Amazon! Enter to win here! https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/ffc734ba77724d5b?ref_=pe_1771210_134854370#ln-fo
Today's the glorious day where my Lucid trilogy continues with its second installment, Reverie! You can view the beautiful Amazon page here: http://www.amazon.com/Reverie-L-E-Fred-ebook/dp/B01CRRS168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457630865&sr=8-1&keywords=reverie+l.e.+fred
What a beaut, eh?
Being the good little author that I am (see: try to be) I took this day off to devote solely to my new book. I've learned a lot about the publishing world since my start two years ago, and I've written a lot about the publication process. But I've realized that I haven't written that much about my actual stories.
So, today, for the first time in blog history, I'm gonna fiction feature myself.
Promasturbate if you will ;)
I'm not gonna bore you with re-posting my excerpt or blurbs. I'm gonna give you my synopsis, my explanation of this story.
Ever since I was a teenager, I've suffered from this annoying thing called sleep paralysis. The first time I had had an episode, I thought I was going to die. When it happens, I'm either just falling asleep or just waking up. That's what inspired the no-man's land that Devon, Kyle, and Mitch have to walk before reaching Leona's resort area.
Anyway, in this in-between universe is where the fear begins. Your body does this neat little thing during sleep where it paralyzes itself. This is actually good, and it's the reason why most of us don't go acting out our dreams with our eyes shut every night. However, during your slip phase, the paralysis is on, but your consciousness is too.
Most people who suffer from sleep paralysis experience hallucinations. These are usually negative, as the sleeper is already spooked by being paralyzed, Demons, ghosts, and other hideous entities are often attacking the defenseless sleeper, making for a real nightmare of a time.
And that's where my Nightmares come in. I thought about all of the things people are usually afraid of: shark teeth, horns, gravelly voices, and put them into one spooky being. If I could draw, I'd sketch what I was thinking of in my head. I'm sure readers probably consider them walking sharks...oops.
We all know Devon, Kyle, and Mitch are the Three Stooges of my books!
But the monster beings aren't what bother me about sleep paralysis. What's worse is having to wait out being trapped in this pseudo-dream world while I slowly untangle myself from this sleep prison. Sometimes during this limbo, I think about the possibility of being stuck like this. What would my mom do if she found me immobilized on the couch? Would doctors be able to fix me? Would they think I was in some inexplicable coma?
And that's where I got the idea for Lucid. The blood-sport resort motive behind Leona's enslavement of humanity was purely fiction, but it all sprouted from my fascination with the Dream World being a separate reality. I've always had a huge fascination with fantasy worlds and stores, so transitioning from a sci-fi horror to a world of magical beings and fascinating lands was a no-brainer for me. It was my paying homage to the things that inspired me the most!
Fun fact: I value inspiration over any other virtue in the world. It's one of the most personal things you can do for someone, and it only takes a smile or a well-worded remark to set the inspiration in motion.
If someone can inspire DiCaprio to get an Oscar, you can inspire someone to do something great today!Lastly, people are probably wondering why I chose to tell my tale fro ma 15 year old boy's POV. That's got to do with my personal history.
No, I was not once a 15 year-old boy. But I did work at a summer camp where all the CITs were tween boys. One, in particular, was a gem. He'd always do what was asked of him and rarely complain. But when no one else noticed, he'd have the sassiest comebacks and retorts for the jerk counselors. I caught a few, and when he saw me chuckle, he'd open up more around me. This wise-cracking kid is Devon, in my mind, and I wanna thank him for being my camper-turned-counselor-turned-book protagonist.
And that's about all I got for you today! Maybe I'll post more of these author insights in the future. Maybe not. Idk, I don't like talking about myself.
Go away and read now!
And remember to keep readin' and dreamin'
-Fred
***And if you haven't or someone you know hasn't read Lucid yet, I'm doing a giveaway on Amazon! Enter to win here! https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/ffc734ba77724d5b?ref_=pe_1771210_134854370#ln-fo
March 2, 2016
Prepping for promotion: a panicked writer's take.
Ahoy lovely readers!
Here's yet another installment of my writing journey blog posts. With my sequel well on its way to the e-shelves, I've taken some time to reflect on a major part of keeping one's novel alive.
If you're a part of the vast majority of writers, you're gonna get your start with a small publishing company or self-publish. This is completely normal and, I'm told, a great and humbling way to start your budding writing career.
Small house publishing companies come with tons of perks, too. You get your feet wet in what's usually an accepting community of writers who sincerely wish their fellow pub writers success. Before Lucid came to be, I had a slew of authors from my publishing company offering me advice and spots on their blogs. I've said it one, and I'll say it a million times: I am grateful every day for my publisher, and I wouldn't change anything about my intro into the author world.
But that doesn't make self-promotion any easier.
Like starting a garden, marketing and promotional skills help fertilize your book before it takes root on the market. You need to sew the seeds by creating blogs, author pages on social media, and joining a crap-ton of writing groups you'll probably forget your username for and never log in again.
Most other authors are probably vastly more successful at promotions than I am, but I was never a stellar gardener, either ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Me after Lucid promptly plummeted in ranks.
But, like all things, you can get better with time, practice, and a little sweat. So, if you're a newly published author, or you're an old dog up for learning some new tricks, here's what I've found has helped:
Make a media kit ASAP
This is especially true for small house publishers and indie authors with tight communities. In the beginning, I felt really self-conscious about asking people to host Lucid on their blogs. I didn't want to bother my author superiors by pestering them to host me. It wasn't until I started meeting new writers and having my own blog that I realized the blog hosting works both ways.
People are gonna wanna host you. Not only does it give you exposure with people you never would have thought of reaching out to, it'll also give that author some foot traffic on his/her blog. Think about it: you'll share their blog post, they'll share their blog post. It's like an amoeba and a clown fish. Y'all are both helping each other.
Don't give me that look, that was witty.
So, it's really important to have information ready to give to these authors who're so kind to host you. A media kit is about 1-2 pages of book and author information. You'll usually include a blurb/synopsis, an excerpt, your buy links, your (short) author bio, and your personal links.
Oftentimes the buy links won't be available til the day your book comes out, so I've found it handy to create a little book website. I used Wix, which is totally free for their basic site, and made the first page all about Reverie. Once Reverie comes out, the authors who are hosting me will post my Wix page, which the readers can go to and find all of my buy links sitting pretty for them.
If you want an example, you can check mine out here: Simple, no?
Twitter is your friend
When I was younger, I hated Twitter. I mean, hated it. I remember sitting in my Intro to Mass Comm class, listening to the professor gush over this new social media tool. Here were a few thoughts I had in Fall of 2008:
What am I supposed to do with 140 characters?
Facebook lets you write more than that, and it has fun games to play!
This will never take off. So stupid.
Actual photo for my freshman college ID
It wasn't until much later, and long after Lucid came to be, that I realized how much of an impact writers can have on Twitter.
The # is an all-powerful tool that can connect you with hundreds of potential readers and followers.
For example, I started posting #scifi on all of my posts about Lucid. I gained about 10 followers in one day (which is a lot for someone of my humble reputation) just by doing that.
I also try to tweet each day with a trending hashtag. Not only does it give me exposure in new demographics, but it also serves as a nice little writing exercise each day. Sometimes, in the midst of all the marketing and social media, I forget that I'm doing this because I am a writer. Weird, right?
Try a new outlet (but don't stay if it's not your thing)
The world of social media, book promotions, etc. is constantly changing. The Internet basically turns us all into middle schoolers who are ready to jump onto the next fad train whether it's a good idea or not. Authors constantly have to chase their fanbase from one social media platform to the next.
Which can be an exciting thing, if you have a gratuitous amount of time on your hands. Most of us do not, however, so it's important to move on to something new if something isn't working for you.
For example, I know that Facebook and Twitter are gonna be my bros for a long time. I have all of my family, friends, and fellow authors on my Facebook page, so that's a standard. Twitter, despite my beliefs 8 years ago, ain't going anywhere either, and is great for attracting new potential readers. I'll keep my author stuff active on those social media sites for as long as they're around.
But, some other social media have not drunk from the fountain of immortality, and you have to know when to leave them for another thing.
Did authors promote stuff on MySpace? I was too busy worrying about my Top 5 and sweet layouts to care.
And some social media works better for other genres. I tried out Google+ with my YA sci-fi/fantasy a few months ago. That was a flop. I didn't get a significant amount of new views on my blog, and my book still sat at the bottom of the barrel on Amazon's ranks. So, instead of hanging on to something that was dead, I've moved on.
After this blog, I'm gonna try Tumblr. I see all the whipper snappers on there nowadays, and I wanna be hip with the cool kids. Wish me luck!
I didn't know my image and likeness were in so many memes. I'm famous!
Any other authors care to chip in about promo prep and social media sweet spots? I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments!
And until next time, keep readin and dreamin!
-Fred
Here's yet another installment of my writing journey blog posts. With my sequel well on its way to the e-shelves, I've taken some time to reflect on a major part of keeping one's novel alive.
If you're a part of the vast majority of writers, you're gonna get your start with a small publishing company or self-publish. This is completely normal and, I'm told, a great and humbling way to start your budding writing career.
Small house publishing companies come with tons of perks, too. You get your feet wet in what's usually an accepting community of writers who sincerely wish their fellow pub writers success. Before Lucid came to be, I had a slew of authors from my publishing company offering me advice and spots on their blogs. I've said it one, and I'll say it a million times: I am grateful every day for my publisher, and I wouldn't change anything about my intro into the author world.
But that doesn't make self-promotion any easier.
Like starting a garden, marketing and promotional skills help fertilize your book before it takes root on the market. You need to sew the seeds by creating blogs, author pages on social media, and joining a crap-ton of writing groups you'll probably forget your username for and never log in again.
Most other authors are probably vastly more successful at promotions than I am, but I was never a stellar gardener, either ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Me after Lucid promptly plummeted in ranks.
But, like all things, you can get better with time, practice, and a little sweat. So, if you're a newly published author, or you're an old dog up for learning some new tricks, here's what I've found has helped:
Make a media kit ASAP
This is especially true for small house publishers and indie authors with tight communities. In the beginning, I felt really self-conscious about asking people to host Lucid on their blogs. I didn't want to bother my author superiors by pestering them to host me. It wasn't until I started meeting new writers and having my own blog that I realized the blog hosting works both ways.
People are gonna wanna host you. Not only does it give you exposure with people you never would have thought of reaching out to, it'll also give that author some foot traffic on his/her blog. Think about it: you'll share their blog post, they'll share their blog post. It's like an amoeba and a clown fish. Y'all are both helping each other.
Don't give me that look, that was witty.
So, it's really important to have information ready to give to these authors who're so kind to host you. A media kit is about 1-2 pages of book and author information. You'll usually include a blurb/synopsis, an excerpt, your buy links, your (short) author bio, and your personal links.
Oftentimes the buy links won't be available til the day your book comes out, so I've found it handy to create a little book website. I used Wix, which is totally free for their basic site, and made the first page all about Reverie. Once Reverie comes out, the authors who are hosting me will post my Wix page, which the readers can go to and find all of my buy links sitting pretty for them.
If you want an example, you can check mine out here: Simple, no?
Twitter is your friend
When I was younger, I hated Twitter. I mean, hated it. I remember sitting in my Intro to Mass Comm class, listening to the professor gush over this new social media tool. Here were a few thoughts I had in Fall of 2008:
What am I supposed to do with 140 characters?
Facebook lets you write more than that, and it has fun games to play!
This will never take off. So stupid.
Actual photo for my freshman college ID
It wasn't until much later, and long after Lucid came to be, that I realized how much of an impact writers can have on Twitter.
The # is an all-powerful tool that can connect you with hundreds of potential readers and followers.
For example, I started posting #scifi on all of my posts about Lucid. I gained about 10 followers in one day (which is a lot for someone of my humble reputation) just by doing that.
I also try to tweet each day with a trending hashtag. Not only does it give me exposure in new demographics, but it also serves as a nice little writing exercise each day. Sometimes, in the midst of all the marketing and social media, I forget that I'm doing this because I am a writer. Weird, right?
Try a new outlet (but don't stay if it's not your thing)
The world of social media, book promotions, etc. is constantly changing. The Internet basically turns us all into middle schoolers who are ready to jump onto the next fad train whether it's a good idea or not. Authors constantly have to chase their fanbase from one social media platform to the next.
Which can be an exciting thing, if you have a gratuitous amount of time on your hands. Most of us do not, however, so it's important to move on to something new if something isn't working for you.
For example, I know that Facebook and Twitter are gonna be my bros for a long time. I have all of my family, friends, and fellow authors on my Facebook page, so that's a standard. Twitter, despite my beliefs 8 years ago, ain't going anywhere either, and is great for attracting new potential readers. I'll keep my author stuff active on those social media sites for as long as they're around.
But, some other social media have not drunk from the fountain of immortality, and you have to know when to leave them for another thing.
Did authors promote stuff on MySpace? I was too busy worrying about my Top 5 and sweet layouts to care.
And some social media works better for other genres. I tried out Google+ with my YA sci-fi/fantasy a few months ago. That was a flop. I didn't get a significant amount of new views on my blog, and my book still sat at the bottom of the barrel on Amazon's ranks. So, instead of hanging on to something that was dead, I've moved on.
After this blog, I'm gonna try Tumblr. I see all the whipper snappers on there nowadays, and I wanna be hip with the cool kids. Wish me luck!
I didn't know my image and likeness were in so many memes. I'm famous!
Any other authors care to chip in about promo prep and social media sweet spots? I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments!
And until next time, keep readin and dreamin!
-Fred
February 29, 2016
Fiction Feature gets a little sweet with Heather Gray!
Ahoy lovely readers!
Hope you're all enjoying this lovely Leap Day! We only get one of these beauties every 4 years, so spend this time wisely.
Since this is a extraordinary day, I've decided to deviate from my YA features to a genre I'm honestly not too familiar with: sweet romance.
"What it sweet romance?" my fellow YA enthusiasts ask. Well, I'm glad you asked, because it allowed me to do a little research on the genre! Sweet Romance is classified as romance novels or stories that steer clear of any erotica. Think of all those tweenage sitcoms that are popular on children's TV shows. You get all the warm fuzzies from the relationships building without the hot and steamy parts. Those are also good, but leaving them out of a romance genre calls for the author of sweet romance to be a little more creative and urges them to be master character developers in order to crank out a good romance story.
I'm honored to have a master of the genre, Heather Gray, on my spotlight today! She's on a roll with this latest book, which ties romance in with illness, recovery, redemption, and faith! So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce y'all to An Informal Arrangement!
Holden Jenkins receives a diagnosis that alters the course of his life. His slow recovery is pockmarked with discouragement and puts his future in question. Will he ever again walk without pain? Or be well enough to return home?
A heart-rending day in the ICU leaves Nurse Maddie Smith hurting in more ways than she can identify. In need of a change — and drawn to a man she barely knows — she goes on sabbatical and takes up the fight to get Holden back on his feet.
As he searches for his identity in the midst of this new life, Holden struggles with a deep hurt. Why would God allow this? Meanwhile Maddie, shaped by her own emotional scars, battles against an unseen God she’s not sure she can believe in. Will these two be able to find peace — and a future together — or will the difficulties they face push them apart?
Sounds good, yeah? You know I don't like to branch away from my sci-fi and fantasy, so if I'm tempted, I know y'all have to be! As always, I've an excerpt to really hook you:
*****
“You mentioned something about a toad…” Her remark hung between them like a two-day old helium balloon.
The worry wrinkles on his forehead faded away, melting into his hairline and drawing her eyes to light chestnut hair that couldn’t seem to make up its mind whether it wanted to stand at attention or lie down and take a nap.
“Umm, I guess I remember. Huh. I wonder where that dream came from.” If his nonchalance was anything to go by, he had to dream about toads on a regular basis.
“And you mentioned the toilet.” Maddie took a deep breath and went about her morning routine. Shift had just started, and she still needed to do her patient assessment.
She put the blood pressure cuff on Mr. Jenkins as he told her about his dream. “There was an albino horned toad that got out of its terrarium. It was in the toilet for some reason, but because the commode was white, nobody could see it. Which doesn’t make sense. Albino animals aren’t pure white, but what can I say? A hand reached for the lever to flush, and I panicked. That’s when you woke me.”
After she charted his blood pressure and listened to his heart and lungs, she asked, “What exactly is a horned toad? I’m picturing something froggish.”
Mr. Jenkins laughed, disturbing Maddie’s attempt to count his pulse. He reined himself in, and she began counting again. “Frogs and toads are different, you know, and a horned toad isn’t even a toad. Not really, anyway. It’s a lizard.”
Her eyes darted around the room again. Maddie worked with people — and not animals — for a reason. “So toads and frogs are different, but a horned toad isn’t a toad.”
“That’s right. The people who discovered and named it must have been confused.”
Maddie held up an index finger. “Hold on a second.” Then she marched over to the small attached bathroom. An empty toilet had never been so beautiful. She stepped back into the room. “Whew. All clear.”
When her patient chuckled, she knew she’d hit the mark.
“Are you sure you’re not the one who’s confused? A toad that’s not a toad?” She quirked her eyebrow as laughter sparkled in Mr. Jenkins’ eyes.
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
*****
This is book 2 of the Informal Romance series, so be sure to get the first book to be in the know. You can find An Informal Arrangement on the Amazon Kindle Store: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AUF0FS6/
And you can get to know more about Heather Gray and the world of Sweet Romance at her social media and blog links:
http://www.facebook.com/heathergraywriting
http://www.twitter.com/laughdreamwrite
http://www.instagram.com/laughdreamwrite
http://www.pinterest.com/laughdreamwrite
http://www.heathergraywriting.com
Stay tuned for more information about Reverie! T-minus 11 days til the release!
And my Thunderclap is still going strong. You can sign up to pimp my book freely here: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/3...
Stay tuned to my book site to get the links when Reverie goes live: http://lefredwrites.wix.com/marsjaws
And that's it for now!
Keep readin' and dreamin'
-Fred
Hope you're all enjoying this lovely Leap Day! We only get one of these beauties every 4 years, so spend this time wisely.
Since this is a extraordinary day, I've decided to deviate from my YA features to a genre I'm honestly not too familiar with: sweet romance.
"What it sweet romance?" my fellow YA enthusiasts ask. Well, I'm glad you asked, because it allowed me to do a little research on the genre! Sweet Romance is classified as romance novels or stories that steer clear of any erotica. Think of all those tweenage sitcoms that are popular on children's TV shows. You get all the warm fuzzies from the relationships building without the hot and steamy parts. Those are also good, but leaving them out of a romance genre calls for the author of sweet romance to be a little more creative and urges them to be master character developers in order to crank out a good romance story.
I'm honored to have a master of the genre, Heather Gray, on my spotlight today! She's on a roll with this latest book, which ties romance in with illness, recovery, redemption, and faith! So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce y'all to An Informal Arrangement!
Holden Jenkins receives a diagnosis that alters the course of his life. His slow recovery is pockmarked with discouragement and puts his future in question. Will he ever again walk without pain? Or be well enough to return home?
A heart-rending day in the ICU leaves Nurse Maddie Smith hurting in more ways than she can identify. In need of a change — and drawn to a man she barely knows — she goes on sabbatical and takes up the fight to get Holden back on his feet.
As he searches for his identity in the midst of this new life, Holden struggles with a deep hurt. Why would God allow this? Meanwhile Maddie, shaped by her own emotional scars, battles against an unseen God she’s not sure she can believe in. Will these two be able to find peace — and a future together — or will the difficulties they face push them apart?
Sounds good, yeah? You know I don't like to branch away from my sci-fi and fantasy, so if I'm tempted, I know y'all have to be! As always, I've an excerpt to really hook you:
*****
“You mentioned something about a toad…” Her remark hung between them like a two-day old helium balloon.
The worry wrinkles on his forehead faded away, melting into his hairline and drawing her eyes to light chestnut hair that couldn’t seem to make up its mind whether it wanted to stand at attention or lie down and take a nap.
“Umm, I guess I remember. Huh. I wonder where that dream came from.” If his nonchalance was anything to go by, he had to dream about toads on a regular basis.
“And you mentioned the toilet.” Maddie took a deep breath and went about her morning routine. Shift had just started, and she still needed to do her patient assessment.
She put the blood pressure cuff on Mr. Jenkins as he told her about his dream. “There was an albino horned toad that got out of its terrarium. It was in the toilet for some reason, but because the commode was white, nobody could see it. Which doesn’t make sense. Albino animals aren’t pure white, but what can I say? A hand reached for the lever to flush, and I panicked. That’s when you woke me.”
After she charted his blood pressure and listened to his heart and lungs, she asked, “What exactly is a horned toad? I’m picturing something froggish.”
Mr. Jenkins laughed, disturbing Maddie’s attempt to count his pulse. He reined himself in, and she began counting again. “Frogs and toads are different, you know, and a horned toad isn’t even a toad. Not really, anyway. It’s a lizard.”
Her eyes darted around the room again. Maddie worked with people — and not animals — for a reason. “So toads and frogs are different, but a horned toad isn’t a toad.”
“That’s right. The people who discovered and named it must have been confused.”
Maddie held up an index finger. “Hold on a second.” Then she marched over to the small attached bathroom. An empty toilet had never been so beautiful. She stepped back into the room. “Whew. All clear.”
When her patient chuckled, she knew she’d hit the mark.
“Are you sure you’re not the one who’s confused? A toad that’s not a toad?” She quirked her eyebrow as laughter sparkled in Mr. Jenkins’ eyes.
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
*****
This is book 2 of the Informal Romance series, so be sure to get the first book to be in the know. You can find An Informal Arrangement on the Amazon Kindle Store: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AUF0FS6/
And you can get to know more about Heather Gray and the world of Sweet Romance at her social media and blog links:
http://www.facebook.com/heathergraywriting
http://www.twitter.com/laughdreamwrite
http://www.instagram.com/laughdreamwrite
http://www.pinterest.com/laughdreamwrite
http://www.heathergraywriting.com
Stay tuned for more information about Reverie! T-minus 11 days til the release!
And my Thunderclap is still going strong. You can sign up to pimp my book freely here: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/3...
Stay tuned to my book site to get the links when Reverie goes live: http://lefredwrites.wix.com/marsjaws
And that's it for now!
Keep readin' and dreamin'
-Fred
February 22, 2016
What's in a review? How readers and authors interact,
Ahoy lovely readers!
It's a rainy Monday here down South, which is the perfect atmosphere for some bloggin'. I had a Fiction Feature cancel on me, so I've decided to do something you don't really see on my blog: actual blog posts about writing and stuff. I'll make a conscious effort to do more of these from now on, as this one was fun to write.
So, first writing topic of 2016 will be: Book Reviews!
If you're friends with any author on social media, you've probably read the "book reviews are authors' gold" sort of thing. I'd love to be able to spurn these self-promoting authors...actually, no, I don't. Being an indie author is tough work, and it takes a lot of guts and dignity hiding to shamelessly promote one's work all hours of the day. And, sadly, those authors are right: book reviews are everything for authors.
But it's a lot more than a rankings boost, Reviews establish the relationship an author will have with its readers. It gives other readers insight on more than just whether or not the book will be worth a read. Oftentimes, it gives the readers insight on how the book starts, what the tone is like, and how the pacing is throughout the book. Potential readers can see how the book feels without giving away any spoilers (usually.) Reviews used to be the reader's voice and take on a book with no insight or explanation from the author.
Then reviews on the Internet came about. For the most part, authors are still good with not responding to online reviews, save the few "Thank you so much!" kinds of comments. Those kinds of responses are fine, but when it starts turning into an explanation from the author, it needs to be shut down. Even the comments from authors that are like "Well, I delayed the plot at this point because...." Nope. That review section ain't a creative writing workshop.
"But why, Fred? What's wrong with an author explaining his/her reasons for doing something?"
Good question, dear reader, and I have your answer. It's a slippery slope with those kinds of things. Writing is a very personal profession. Authors have these stories that came from the recesses of our imaginations. A bit of our soul resides in each character, and there's probably very few things we care about more than our stories. Querying for publishers and agents is nerve-wracking enough, but actually publishing the book for the masses to read is a true act of humility.
And that brings about a defensive side for most authors. Not gonna lie, when I saw my first one-star Review on Goodreads, I got really sad. Someone out there didn't like my book? How could they, when I spent years on that story?! Do they not realize how much heart and soul went into my story? But, instead of telling the reader all of this, I reread what they had to say. For funsies, I'll go ahead and post what they put:
"Wanted to like it, but couldn't finish it. Characters didn't feel real and events were choppy."
I started by looking at the positives in the comment. The reader wanted to like my story. That's good, right? My synopsis was strong enough for this person to purchase and read my novel. Great!
Then I read into the criticism. I didn't find the remarks insulting or uncalled for. My characters didn't feel real. That's a valid point, honestly. I knew I published Lucid a little too quickly and should have had more time to revise. If anything, this comment and my own realization caused me to be more careful with Reverie and develop my characters better for the sequel.
With the part about having choppy events, I frowned a bit, I won't even lie. Most of my first book takes place in a dream journal, which usually do read choppily. I wanted the first half of the book to emulate that while having Devon slowly delve into the dream world. But the first half of the book should rope a reader in from the beginning, and I clearly failed on that aspect. Again, I used that bit of information to make my sequel run a little more smoothly this time around.
The best thing I did was look up a famous author's reviews on Goodreads. I chose The Lightning Thief from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and guess what I saw? A whole slew of one-star ratings for that beautiful book! If Uncle Rick gets one-star reviews, then it must be a rite of passage for authors to get some negative feedback. And that's OK! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Well, every one-star rating for your first book will help you get more 5-star ratings for your next! Progress, y'all~
Me writing Lucid
My personal story of battling with reviews is just one of the millions of authors who probably did the same thing. I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't respond to negative reviews, and I even applaud the people who take the time to thank readers for the positive ones. My recommended course of action is to smile at the good ones and learn from the bad ones.
A wonderful lesson on what not to do comes in a form of the comments war about a Goodreads book from the Tales of Onora series. The comments have since been deleted, but this lovely blog writer immortalized the situation on her own site. You can check out the full story here: http://frizzyroselle.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-not-to-respond-to-negative-review.html
Now that I've given authors a good talkin to on how to handle negative reviews, I'll turn to the readers for a bit. I, too, am a reader (gasp!) and I sometimes come across books I really despise. It might be a wonderful book for others, but for me, it's just not my cup of tea. When reviewing said books, I always try to remain civil. Refrain from personal attacks on the author who did put in lots of time and love to write this story. Keep it civil, constructive, and think about how you'd respond if someone said the same thing about your line of work. That way, the author-reader relationship can remain a happy and progressive one, even during the Age of Trolling on the Internet :)
So, keep on reading and reviewing! Authors love feedback, and want it in all shapes and sizes!
And until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
February 16, 2016
Achievement Unlocked!
Ahoy readers!
What's this? Another blog post from your old pal Fred? But I just posted a Fiction Feature. What could I possibly have to tell you this time?
Well, for once, I'm featuring my own fiction. That's right, Reverie has a release date and it's--well, this wonderful banner made by a dear friend will tell you.
Fancy, huh? But why did I pick today to tell y'all about the long-anticipated sequel? Well, that's because my Facebook page finally got 400 likes! That's a huge achievement in my book, so I'm in a giddy and generous mood!
And if you haven't liked my Facebook page yet, you can do so at this link: http://facebook.com/only.but.a.dream where I post inspirational and funny things almost daily!
So, without further ado, I give you my first excerpt from Reverie! Hint: the speaker is not the same little boy from the first one ;)
*****
I was alone and feeling sick about what I was about to do. It didn`t change the fact that I still had to go through with it. This entire mountain was doomed. The least I could do now was get what I needed to help my friends and hope the Aquarii tribe forgave me.
Iven was right about one thing. Reverie kicked into leader-mode as soon as I stepped out of the chasm. Without even thinking about it, I swung my sword in a high arc, shattering stones the mountain was hurling in my direction. Reverie hummed after the last attack, pulling my hand to the ground. I saw the wider, but still very narrow, path leading up to the platform at the top of the mountain. Even though the platform`s blinding light and dizzy feeling of being so high up were hindrances, I trusted my sword as it propelled my feet across the pathway.
There were a few times I doubted I could get to the top successfully, and those were the times I almost fell to my death. I thought back to those times Devon would seem to have control of his magic only to have it vanish in the next second. It was no secret the kid had self-confidence issues, which seemed key to doing what one needed to survive in the dream world. Reverie`s humming and my strong grip on the sword kept the self-doubt out of my head, but a shadow of doubt kept creeping into my mind. The people of Aquarii didn`t deserve to die. They had been sheltered for so long. They deserved to be in the sun one last time. If only another sacrifice could be made…
I glanced down, now nearly to the top, and saw that the platform that held Fabrica was exactly across from the lake entrance. It would`ve been a pretty awesome zip line ride if the mountain hadn`t decided to go crazy. I looked down at Reverie, who seemed to grow oddly calm in my hand. It was as if the sword knew what I was planning and had no opinion on the matter.
“Thanks, sword,” I muttered, realizing my other hand was now trembling. I looked up at the talisman as the mountain grew oddly still as well. It was as if the Mother of the mountain was taunting me. Daring me to do what I was struggling to.
“It`s either me or them,” I muttered to myself, wondering what would happen after I carried out my act. I shut down thinking as I tore a strip from my long tunic. It would be enough to wrap Fabrica around Reverie. Would it be enough to send the two down to the lake?
“It`s either me or them,” I repeated, forcing my feet up to the pedestal. I could now see Fabrica. It was a silver staff, probably as tall as Devon, with intricate sapphire twine spiraling around the shaft. At the top, a wolf`s head, similar to the one on Reverie`s hilt, was adorned with two aqua eyes. It was beautiful and kept me in a trance for a few moments. I shook my head. There was work to be done.
“It`s either me or them,” I said a third time. I had never mastered meditation, but I realized I had my own mantra. Maybe I`d return to the waking world after jumping off of this platform. Did I want to, though? Did I want to return to a world where my parents, who barely seemed to care that I was missing, would expect me to get a boring job and marry a boring girl that I didn`t want? Would they expect me to continue studying business even though it would pale in comparison to my short time in the dream world? At least I was a hero, a Champion, in this world. Back home, I was just my parents` puppet.
“And this decision is mine alone,” I finally said to myself, my feet dragging me to the staff. The mountain held its breath as it awaited my move. I looked down once at the still sleepy Aquarii village. I took one final breath and one look at Reverie before pulling the staff from its spot and having all hell break loose.
Naturally, the mountain decided to put up yet another fight, and I only had mere seconds to do what needed to be done. Using Reverie to maintain a sense of balance, I knelt down and made my best alpine butterfly loop to secure the two talisman together. I thought it would be a fight, but it seemed the two talisman were happy to be reunited, like two old friends meeting after a very long time.
“OK, you know where to go,” I muttered to the talismans. Though Reverie was the only one who hummed in response, I put my trust in the sword propelling itself and its friend along. I didn`t have much ground to stand on in order to aim properly, the platform was now crumbling at its ends as it continued to rock violently, but I knew it was now or never.
“Safe flight,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice from breaking. Reverie grew still and its voice hummed in my head. You have chosen well before leaving my hands to sail across the mountain.
Now, the mountain was pitching me violently but I didn`t need the platform any longer. I looked at the village one last time, hoping my sacrifice would be enough to save these people.
Reverie approved of my decision and that was enough to cause me to leap over the edge into the darkness below.
*****
I hope that's enough of a teaser for you! Stay tuned for more very exciting things to come, including the official blog cover reveal!
Until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
What's this? Another blog post from your old pal Fred? But I just posted a Fiction Feature. What could I possibly have to tell you this time?
Well, for once, I'm featuring my own fiction. That's right, Reverie has a release date and it's--well, this wonderful banner made by a dear friend will tell you.
Fancy, huh? But why did I pick today to tell y'all about the long-anticipated sequel? Well, that's because my Facebook page finally got 400 likes! That's a huge achievement in my book, so I'm in a giddy and generous mood!
And if you haven't liked my Facebook page yet, you can do so at this link: http://facebook.com/only.but.a.dream where I post inspirational and funny things almost daily!
So, without further ado, I give you my first excerpt from Reverie! Hint: the speaker is not the same little boy from the first one ;)
*****
I was alone and feeling sick about what I was about to do. It didn`t change the fact that I still had to go through with it. This entire mountain was doomed. The least I could do now was get what I needed to help my friends and hope the Aquarii tribe forgave me.
Iven was right about one thing. Reverie kicked into leader-mode as soon as I stepped out of the chasm. Without even thinking about it, I swung my sword in a high arc, shattering stones the mountain was hurling in my direction. Reverie hummed after the last attack, pulling my hand to the ground. I saw the wider, but still very narrow, path leading up to the platform at the top of the mountain. Even though the platform`s blinding light and dizzy feeling of being so high up were hindrances, I trusted my sword as it propelled my feet across the pathway.
There were a few times I doubted I could get to the top successfully, and those were the times I almost fell to my death. I thought back to those times Devon would seem to have control of his magic only to have it vanish in the next second. It was no secret the kid had self-confidence issues, which seemed key to doing what one needed to survive in the dream world. Reverie`s humming and my strong grip on the sword kept the self-doubt out of my head, but a shadow of doubt kept creeping into my mind. The people of Aquarii didn`t deserve to die. They had been sheltered for so long. They deserved to be in the sun one last time. If only another sacrifice could be made…
I glanced down, now nearly to the top, and saw that the platform that held Fabrica was exactly across from the lake entrance. It would`ve been a pretty awesome zip line ride if the mountain hadn`t decided to go crazy. I looked down at Reverie, who seemed to grow oddly calm in my hand. It was as if the sword knew what I was planning and had no opinion on the matter.
“Thanks, sword,” I muttered, realizing my other hand was now trembling. I looked up at the talisman as the mountain grew oddly still as well. It was as if the Mother of the mountain was taunting me. Daring me to do what I was struggling to.
“It`s either me or them,” I muttered to myself, wondering what would happen after I carried out my act. I shut down thinking as I tore a strip from my long tunic. It would be enough to wrap Fabrica around Reverie. Would it be enough to send the two down to the lake?
“It`s either me or them,” I repeated, forcing my feet up to the pedestal. I could now see Fabrica. It was a silver staff, probably as tall as Devon, with intricate sapphire twine spiraling around the shaft. At the top, a wolf`s head, similar to the one on Reverie`s hilt, was adorned with two aqua eyes. It was beautiful and kept me in a trance for a few moments. I shook my head. There was work to be done.
“It`s either me or them,” I said a third time. I had never mastered meditation, but I realized I had my own mantra. Maybe I`d return to the waking world after jumping off of this platform. Did I want to, though? Did I want to return to a world where my parents, who barely seemed to care that I was missing, would expect me to get a boring job and marry a boring girl that I didn`t want? Would they expect me to continue studying business even though it would pale in comparison to my short time in the dream world? At least I was a hero, a Champion, in this world. Back home, I was just my parents` puppet.
“And this decision is mine alone,” I finally said to myself, my feet dragging me to the staff. The mountain held its breath as it awaited my move. I looked down once at the still sleepy Aquarii village. I took one final breath and one look at Reverie before pulling the staff from its spot and having all hell break loose.
Naturally, the mountain decided to put up yet another fight, and I only had mere seconds to do what needed to be done. Using Reverie to maintain a sense of balance, I knelt down and made my best alpine butterfly loop to secure the two talisman together. I thought it would be a fight, but it seemed the two talisman were happy to be reunited, like two old friends meeting after a very long time.
“OK, you know where to go,” I muttered to the talismans. Though Reverie was the only one who hummed in response, I put my trust in the sword propelling itself and its friend along. I didn`t have much ground to stand on in order to aim properly, the platform was now crumbling at its ends as it continued to rock violently, but I knew it was now or never.
“Safe flight,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice from breaking. Reverie grew still and its voice hummed in my head. You have chosen well before leaving my hands to sail across the mountain.
Now, the mountain was pitching me violently but I didn`t need the platform any longer. I looked at the village one last time, hoping my sacrifice would be enough to save these people.
Reverie approved of my decision and that was enough to cause me to leap over the edge into the darkness below.
*****
I hope that's enough of a teaser for you! Stay tuned for more very exciting things to come, including the official blog cover reveal!
Until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
February 15, 2016
Fiction Feature meets Feng Shui!
Ahoy lovely readers!
I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! Maybe some of you even celebrated Valentine's Day with that special someone? I decided to keep the romance going strong with a quirky and fresh romance novel by Kathy Bosman!
Kathy is no stranger to my blog, and I'm happy to introduce her latest novel, It's Called Feng Shui!
Renni has burned out from being on tour as the drummer of ‘Eat Your Words.’ When she visits Nolan’s spa at Block Island for a day, she impulsively applies for a position as the assistant massage therapist as a means to drop out of tour.
Nolan is taken aback by the woman in his office with pitch black hair and body piercings. He can’t imagine her working in his spa, but her persistence fascinates him so he gives her the job — on one condition — she gets rids of the excess piercings.
The attraction between Nolan and Renni is immediate despite being opposite personalities. Renni’s fresh energy and charm draws Nolan as does his intensity attract her. Finding they have a lot more in common than expected, they fall in love, but Nolan has a secret and Renni carries baggage from past hurt. Will they focus on their differences or the things that draw them close?
Sounds like the perfect Romance novel to finish off the month on a lovely foot, yeah? Classic boy-meets-girl and opposites attract with a little bit of rock and roll and massage therapy peppered in for a good plot! As per Kathy's standard, her latest romance novel brings you all good things a compelling story should have!
But, as per my standard, I'll give you an excerpt to really whet your palate :)
*****
“Hi, Mr. Richie. Am I allowed to swim here?”He nodded. “Yes, of course.”“Oh. You looked upset. I don’t want to trespass on private property.” She came up to about a foot from him, smelling of sea and flowers.“It’s a public beach.”“Oh, it’s so quiet I wondered about that. Is it safe to swim here?”“Depends on the weather, but I’d say today is perfect.”“Isn’t it?” She gave a pleasant smile and took in a deep whiff of the ocean air, turning her gaze to the sea with adoration. If she didn’t have such a womanly body, and oh so delicious—his errant gaze was proof of that—he’d think she was a child. Everything seemed so new and exciting to her, completely taking him by surprise as he’d always thought popular rock band members would have lost their childish innocence years ago.“What are you running away from?” He surprised himself. Usually he didn’t get involved in the personal lives of his staff.She whipped her head around, eyes haunted, and just stared at him.“Why Block Island exactly? I thought you were a famous musician.”Her gaze shifted back and forth, and she shuffled from one foot to the other.“Look, I’m sorry. I suppose it’s none of my business.” He should leave before he said something wrong from a boss stance.“No, it’s fine. It’s just a bit painful and raw at the moment.”His heart squeezed. He’d experienced painful and raw. Although it had been a while since something that intense had happened in his life — and he’d managed to numb the pain by being so busy keeping his business afloat — suddenly his pain reached the surface again in the form of compassion.“You don’t have to share it, but I am a good listener.” He still couldn’t believe how different she looked from when she first walked in the door.“Oh.” Her soft gasp sent an unwanted shiver through him. Her tear-soaked eyes made him press a warm hand on her shoulder.“We all have those moments.” He couldn’t believe the side of his personality she brought out of him — the deep, compassionate side. He’d been on “boss auto-pilot” the last few years and had hardened himself against people, except for his customer’s needs.She looked down and drew a paisley-type curl in the sand with her big toe. It reminded him a little of the yin-yang sign — a big part of the feng shui philosophy — how contrasting aspects worked together to create a harmonious whole. How opposites could attract. Is that why he was so drawn to her? Yet, getting better acquainted with her, she wasn’t as opposite as he’d initially thought.“Touring is hard. It takes everything out of me. The fans are relentless. The sleeping arrangements suck. Do you know how nice it is to have my own room?” She looked up at him with a mischievous smile.“Oh, I really need to fix it up for you. I’ll do that this weekend.”“It’s okay. I’m relishing the freedom of my own space and have barely noticed the broken things.”
He’d never seen being famous as possibly difficult. Shows how many people had blinders on when it came to considering the lives of other people, which appeared idyllic from the outside.
*****
You can find It's Called Feng Shui at the links below:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Called-Feng-Shui-Kathy-Bosman-ebook/dp/B017I49JE8
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/its-called-feng-shui-kathy-bosman/1122889523?ean=2940151220767
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/590288
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/it-s-called-feng-shui
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/288523804/It-s-Called-Feng-Shui
And, just in case you've forgotten, let's learn a bit about our dear author!
Kathy loves reading and writing even more. She homeschools her three kids, so in between unsuccessfully explaining the difference between subject and predicate or how to divide fractions, she enters an imaginary world of troubled and passionate characters whose stories take over the page. Kathy lives in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters cool, and bugs thrive. Her first published novel, Wedding Gown Girl, came out in 2012 with Astraea Press (Clean Reads). She belongs to the Romance Writers of South Africa Group (ROSA) which has been her greatest support and inspiration the last few years.
You can reach out to Kathy at the links below:
Website and blog: http://www.kathybosman.com/
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5257900.Kathy_Bosman
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gracewalk17
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Bosman/e/B007GCQBNK
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxifimh0X62uZLvKkon8tDQ
Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/NokET
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KathleenLBosman
And that's all I got for this Fiction Feature! Tons of exciting things are happening in the world of Lucid though so stay tuned for a great cover reveal and excerpt from Reverie!
Until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! Maybe some of you even celebrated Valentine's Day with that special someone? I decided to keep the romance going strong with a quirky and fresh romance novel by Kathy Bosman!
Kathy is no stranger to my blog, and I'm happy to introduce her latest novel, It's Called Feng Shui!
Renni has burned out from being on tour as the drummer of ‘Eat Your Words.’ When she visits Nolan’s spa at Block Island for a day, she impulsively applies for a position as the assistant massage therapist as a means to drop out of tour.
Nolan is taken aback by the woman in his office with pitch black hair and body piercings. He can’t imagine her working in his spa, but her persistence fascinates him so he gives her the job — on one condition — she gets rids of the excess piercings.
The attraction between Nolan and Renni is immediate despite being opposite personalities. Renni’s fresh energy and charm draws Nolan as does his intensity attract her. Finding they have a lot more in common than expected, they fall in love, but Nolan has a secret and Renni carries baggage from past hurt. Will they focus on their differences or the things that draw them close?
Sounds like the perfect Romance novel to finish off the month on a lovely foot, yeah? Classic boy-meets-girl and opposites attract with a little bit of rock and roll and massage therapy peppered in for a good plot! As per Kathy's standard, her latest romance novel brings you all good things a compelling story should have!
But, as per my standard, I'll give you an excerpt to really whet your palate :)
*****
“Hi, Mr. Richie. Am I allowed to swim here?”He nodded. “Yes, of course.”“Oh. You looked upset. I don’t want to trespass on private property.” She came up to about a foot from him, smelling of sea and flowers.“It’s a public beach.”“Oh, it’s so quiet I wondered about that. Is it safe to swim here?”“Depends on the weather, but I’d say today is perfect.”“Isn’t it?” She gave a pleasant smile and took in a deep whiff of the ocean air, turning her gaze to the sea with adoration. If she didn’t have such a womanly body, and oh so delicious—his errant gaze was proof of that—he’d think she was a child. Everything seemed so new and exciting to her, completely taking him by surprise as he’d always thought popular rock band members would have lost their childish innocence years ago.“What are you running away from?” He surprised himself. Usually he didn’t get involved in the personal lives of his staff.She whipped her head around, eyes haunted, and just stared at him.“Why Block Island exactly? I thought you were a famous musician.”Her gaze shifted back and forth, and she shuffled from one foot to the other.“Look, I’m sorry. I suppose it’s none of my business.” He should leave before he said something wrong from a boss stance.“No, it’s fine. It’s just a bit painful and raw at the moment.”His heart squeezed. He’d experienced painful and raw. Although it had been a while since something that intense had happened in his life — and he’d managed to numb the pain by being so busy keeping his business afloat — suddenly his pain reached the surface again in the form of compassion.“You don’t have to share it, but I am a good listener.” He still couldn’t believe how different she looked from when she first walked in the door.“Oh.” Her soft gasp sent an unwanted shiver through him. Her tear-soaked eyes made him press a warm hand on her shoulder.“We all have those moments.” He couldn’t believe the side of his personality she brought out of him — the deep, compassionate side. He’d been on “boss auto-pilot” the last few years and had hardened himself against people, except for his customer’s needs.She looked down and drew a paisley-type curl in the sand with her big toe. It reminded him a little of the yin-yang sign — a big part of the feng shui philosophy — how contrasting aspects worked together to create a harmonious whole. How opposites could attract. Is that why he was so drawn to her? Yet, getting better acquainted with her, she wasn’t as opposite as he’d initially thought.“Touring is hard. It takes everything out of me. The fans are relentless. The sleeping arrangements suck. Do you know how nice it is to have my own room?” She looked up at him with a mischievous smile.“Oh, I really need to fix it up for you. I’ll do that this weekend.”“It’s okay. I’m relishing the freedom of my own space and have barely noticed the broken things.”
He’d never seen being famous as possibly difficult. Shows how many people had blinders on when it came to considering the lives of other people, which appeared idyllic from the outside.
*****
You can find It's Called Feng Shui at the links below:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Called-Feng-Shui-Kathy-Bosman-ebook/dp/B017I49JE8
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/its-called-feng-shui-kathy-bosman/1122889523?ean=2940151220767
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/590288
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/it-s-called-feng-shui
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/288523804/It-s-Called-Feng-Shui
And, just in case you've forgotten, let's learn a bit about our dear author!
Kathy loves reading and writing even more. She homeschools her three kids, so in between unsuccessfully explaining the difference between subject and predicate or how to divide fractions, she enters an imaginary world of troubled and passionate characters whose stories take over the page. Kathy lives in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters cool, and bugs thrive. Her first published novel, Wedding Gown Girl, came out in 2012 with Astraea Press (Clean Reads). She belongs to the Romance Writers of South Africa Group (ROSA) which has been her greatest support and inspiration the last few years.
You can reach out to Kathy at the links below:
Website and blog: http://www.kathybosman.com/
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5257900.Kathy_Bosman
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gracewalk17
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Bosman/e/B007GCQBNK
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxifimh0X62uZLvKkon8tDQ
Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/NokET
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KathleenLBosman
And that's all I got for this Fiction Feature! Tons of exciting things are happening in the world of Lucid though so stay tuned for a great cover reveal and excerpt from Reverie!
Until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
February 8, 2016
Fiction Feature Descends!
Ahoy, lovely readers!
Happy Lundi Gras to all of my fellow New Orleanians! While the rest of the world has to go to work and be adults, we're fortunate enough to have a week to revel in the Carnival season! But of course, I'm more than happy to take a little break from my Mardi Gras festivities to give you another great fiction feature!
This one is a really riveting YA Dystopian that will have you on the edge of your seat the moment you start reading it. I hope you don't have a very busy schedule, because once I introduce you to Jaclyn E. Brod's The Descendants you'll be hooked!
And instead of a blurb to go with this book, Jaclyn's given me this wonderful trailer to do all the talking! Sit back and enjoy a little taste of this amazing tale: The Descendants Trailer
But if that wasn't enough for you, here's an action-packed excerpt that'll have you buying this compelling read today!
*****
Genevieve. It was poor Genevieve who was blocking the front door with bruises adorning her flesh like a molting fledgling. Blood trickled down from the corners of her hazel eyes. Her arms were thrown out to her sides as if that motion alone could stop Theo’s guards and the Experiments.
“Move,” Jaxs hissed, her hands blazing with a midnight glow, but Theo stepped in front of her as fear for the heiress surged in his veins. He heard the safety of Sage’s gun switch from safe to fire. Genevieve said nothing; her knotted golden hair did not even twitch.
Hazel eyes bored into Theo, pleading for him to turn around and give up. He knew that this was the moment. This was the moment where he chose. He looked at Jaxs with the disheveled sneer hanging on her face with frightened eyes and then back Genevieve’s hardened visage.
“You could have come with us,” Theo muttered just loudly enough for her to hear. He knew that time had passed, that there was nothing that would change her mind now, but he had to be sure that this was what she wanted. The blood pouring from her eyes only increased as her eyes watered slightly. “We both know that is not true. You belong here. I belong here. The Confinement harbors souls, Theo, because we need to be kept safe from the world. You don’t know what you are getting into. You don’t know what that thing,” she gestured to Jaxs,
“Will do to you. You don’t know what you are causing here, but I do. Stay here and trust me.” She held out a hand, ignoring the clatter of footsteps echoing down the hall toward them. Theo felt a vice tighten around his throat as he shook his head.
This was not the wonderful girl that he had come to know before. She was not the freedom loving, loyal soul that he once knew. “No, Genevieve.” He shook his head. “I don’t trust you.” The golden-haired young woman reached into her thin pocket and before anyone could stop her, she shoved a syringe into her own exposed neck. It was as if a bomb had gone off.
Manic laughter echoed off of the cobblestone floors of the castle and melded with the yells of approaching guards. Genevieve dropped her hands to her sides, her head twitching upon her neck as shadows fell over her face.
The once graceful mouth twisted into a maleficent sneer and hazel eyes glazed over with black pigment. “I will obey my Mother!” Genevieve said, or what was left of her. Theo took a step back in horror as thick blackened tendrils exploded throughout Genevieve’s body. Her delicate hands rose to the ceiling with smoke flying from her fingertips.
Her hysterical laughter revealed blackened, charcoal teeth just below the surface that housed bleeding gums. At some point in the transformation Jaxs had moved from her position behind Theo without him noticing. Her outstretched hands pushed him behind her as she let loose a surge of power directed at Genevieve.
There was nothing Theo could do except scream as Jaxs’s blast threw Genevieve to the ground. The former head guard just stared at her twitching body on the cold floor as Sage dragged him out the front door.
The five of them made it outside, but when the heavy door closed behind him Theo swore that he heard a weak, mournful whisper of, “I told you to be careful.” The door clicked shut.
Guards rushed into the room. Some ran to Genevieve’s fallen form, but they were quickly waved away by Dr. Grant. The foreboding woman crossed the lobby with her head held high, a cold mask settled over her face. She did not react. Stilettos clicked across the uneven cobblestone, echoing eerily across the floor. The stilettos dug into flesh as she stepped on her daughter’s shuddering body.
Blood washed over the bottom of Dr. Grant’s heels, which she ignored in favor of pulling open the door. The weeping willows were churning in the wind as Dr. Grant felt a snicker rise up in her throat. The darkened sky did not allow the woman to see the escapees, but she knew where they were going. A laugh permeated the silence of the outside world as she dug her heels into Genevieve’s flesh. Dr. Grant stood there for a moment before she looked down upon the girl.
“Get up, my love,” she cooed. “We have some work to do.”
There was no hesitation. “Yes, Mother.”
*****
You can buy The Descendants at the links below:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/613084
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Descendants-Souls-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B01BFYBQ6Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454968203&sr=8-1&keywords=the+descendants+jaclyn+brod
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-descendants-jaclyn-e-brod/1123358215?ean=2940157653484
Now, let's learn a little more about our author!
Jaclyn E. Brod is a full time writer and student, currently going to school for medical billing as a background but her true passion is writing. She has one cat named Zazzie whos she loves more than anything and a fiancé whos a cook and a gamer nerd.
When Jaclyn Isn’t writing she is spending time with her best friends and her best friends children who she calls her niece and nephew.
She is the author of the newly debut novel The Descendants.
Many of her inspiration from stories comes from music and reading.
And her biggest inspiration of all, Harry Potter.
You can reach out to Jaclyn at these links below:
Facebook Author Page: Jaclyn E. Brod
Instagram: Jaclyn E. Brod
Tumblr: Itsjaclynebrod
Email: Jaclynbrod1@Gmail.com
Twitter: @JaclynBrod
That's it for now! Stay tuned for some exciting news about Devon & Co's latest adventure, including a cover reveal for Reverie!
Until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
Happy Lundi Gras to all of my fellow New Orleanians! While the rest of the world has to go to work and be adults, we're fortunate enough to have a week to revel in the Carnival season! But of course, I'm more than happy to take a little break from my Mardi Gras festivities to give you another great fiction feature!
This one is a really riveting YA Dystopian that will have you on the edge of your seat the moment you start reading it. I hope you don't have a very busy schedule, because once I introduce you to Jaclyn E. Brod's The Descendants you'll be hooked!
And instead of a blurb to go with this book, Jaclyn's given me this wonderful trailer to do all the talking! Sit back and enjoy a little taste of this amazing tale: The Descendants Trailer
But if that wasn't enough for you, here's an action-packed excerpt that'll have you buying this compelling read today!
*****
Genevieve. It was poor Genevieve who was blocking the front door with bruises adorning her flesh like a molting fledgling. Blood trickled down from the corners of her hazel eyes. Her arms were thrown out to her sides as if that motion alone could stop Theo’s guards and the Experiments.
“Move,” Jaxs hissed, her hands blazing with a midnight glow, but Theo stepped in front of her as fear for the heiress surged in his veins. He heard the safety of Sage’s gun switch from safe to fire. Genevieve said nothing; her knotted golden hair did not even twitch.
Hazel eyes bored into Theo, pleading for him to turn around and give up. He knew that this was the moment. This was the moment where he chose. He looked at Jaxs with the disheveled sneer hanging on her face with frightened eyes and then back Genevieve’s hardened visage.
“You could have come with us,” Theo muttered just loudly enough for her to hear. He knew that time had passed, that there was nothing that would change her mind now, but he had to be sure that this was what she wanted. The blood pouring from her eyes only increased as her eyes watered slightly. “We both know that is not true. You belong here. I belong here. The Confinement harbors souls, Theo, because we need to be kept safe from the world. You don’t know what you are getting into. You don’t know what that thing,” she gestured to Jaxs,
“Will do to you. You don’t know what you are causing here, but I do. Stay here and trust me.” She held out a hand, ignoring the clatter of footsteps echoing down the hall toward them. Theo felt a vice tighten around his throat as he shook his head.
This was not the wonderful girl that he had come to know before. She was not the freedom loving, loyal soul that he once knew. “No, Genevieve.” He shook his head. “I don’t trust you.” The golden-haired young woman reached into her thin pocket and before anyone could stop her, she shoved a syringe into her own exposed neck. It was as if a bomb had gone off.
Manic laughter echoed off of the cobblestone floors of the castle and melded with the yells of approaching guards. Genevieve dropped her hands to her sides, her head twitching upon her neck as shadows fell over her face.
The once graceful mouth twisted into a maleficent sneer and hazel eyes glazed over with black pigment. “I will obey my Mother!” Genevieve said, or what was left of her. Theo took a step back in horror as thick blackened tendrils exploded throughout Genevieve’s body. Her delicate hands rose to the ceiling with smoke flying from her fingertips.
Her hysterical laughter revealed blackened, charcoal teeth just below the surface that housed bleeding gums. At some point in the transformation Jaxs had moved from her position behind Theo without him noticing. Her outstretched hands pushed him behind her as she let loose a surge of power directed at Genevieve.
There was nothing Theo could do except scream as Jaxs’s blast threw Genevieve to the ground. The former head guard just stared at her twitching body on the cold floor as Sage dragged him out the front door.
The five of them made it outside, but when the heavy door closed behind him Theo swore that he heard a weak, mournful whisper of, “I told you to be careful.” The door clicked shut.
Guards rushed into the room. Some ran to Genevieve’s fallen form, but they were quickly waved away by Dr. Grant. The foreboding woman crossed the lobby with her head held high, a cold mask settled over her face. She did not react. Stilettos clicked across the uneven cobblestone, echoing eerily across the floor. The stilettos dug into flesh as she stepped on her daughter’s shuddering body.
Blood washed over the bottom of Dr. Grant’s heels, which she ignored in favor of pulling open the door. The weeping willows were churning in the wind as Dr. Grant felt a snicker rise up in her throat. The darkened sky did not allow the woman to see the escapees, but she knew where they were going. A laugh permeated the silence of the outside world as she dug her heels into Genevieve’s flesh. Dr. Grant stood there for a moment before she looked down upon the girl.
“Get up, my love,” she cooed. “We have some work to do.”
There was no hesitation. “Yes, Mother.”
*****
You can buy The Descendants at the links below:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/613084
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Descendants-Souls-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B01BFYBQ6Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454968203&sr=8-1&keywords=the+descendants+jaclyn+brod
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-descendants-jaclyn-e-brod/1123358215?ean=2940157653484
Now, let's learn a little more about our author!
Jaclyn E. Brod is a full time writer and student, currently going to school for medical billing as a background but her true passion is writing. She has one cat named Zazzie whos she loves more than anything and a fiancé whos a cook and a gamer nerd.
When Jaclyn Isn’t writing she is spending time with her best friends and her best friends children who she calls her niece and nephew.
She is the author of the newly debut novel The Descendants.
Many of her inspiration from stories comes from music and reading.
And her biggest inspiration of all, Harry Potter.
You can reach out to Jaclyn at these links below:
Facebook Author Page: Jaclyn E. Brod
Instagram: Jaclyn E. Brod
Tumblr: Itsjaclynebrod
Email: Jaclynbrod1@Gmail.com
Twitter: @JaclynBrod
That's it for now! Stay tuned for some exciting news about Devon & Co's latest adventure, including a cover reveal for Reverie!
Until next time, keep readin' and dreamin'!
-Fred
