Ashley R. Carlson's Blog, page 2

Update on the Life of this Author (Win a signed paperback of my novel!)

A photo posted by Ashley R. Carlson (@ashleyrcarlson1) on Feb 8, 2015 at 9:36pm PST

Wow. I haven't written a blog post in over a month. *kisses your feet in apology.*
Why have I been so MIA lately?

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING FULLTIME AT A RESTAURANT. How does ANYONE get ANYTHING done with a fulltime job?! ("Time management, you imbecile," is what you're probably thinking.)

A photo posted by Ashley R. Carlson (@ashleyrcarlson1) on Jan 10, 2015 at 1:23pm PST

January was quite possibly the BUSIEST month in all of time for a Seahawks bar (Seattle fans are INSANE, the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl, and it JUST so happened to be IN PHOENIX THIS YEAR), and I was clocking 50- and even 70-hour weeks. Yeah.
Besides that, I've also been working freelance for Arizona Foothills Magazine, and am planning on offering editing services through Fiverr.com (look for future updates on this soon) and was also offered a position with my friends Jessica Schmeidler's and Marissa Fuller's new company, PostScript Services.

I WILL NOT WORK AT A RESTAURANT A DAY LONGER THAN I HAVE TO.

With all of this in the works, I've been severely neglecting my novella, Misery and Marlene. But now that things have died down a little I plan to devote ALL of my free time to finishing it and sending it to my beta readers by the end of February. (want to be one? Email me!)

I WAS in the Fountain Hills Times newspaper in January, which was very exciting,
and I gave a presentation about "How To Live The Life You Dream Of" at my old high school last week to rave reviews.

A photo posted by Ashley R. Carlson (@ashleyrcarlson1) on Jan 14, 2015 at 10:50am PST

A photo posted by Ashley R. Carlson (@ashleyrcarlson1) on Feb 11, 2015 at 9:20am PST

I plan to take this presentation to high schools across the state, hopefully to inspire kids with my personal story of academic struggles in college, a degree I'm not using, quitting my job to write a book ten months ago and the final result: LIVING A LIFE THAT I LOVE (most days).
Want me to present at your school/function/event/grandmother's house? Email me!
I've also actually gotten "The Charismatics" on a store's shelf! A friend of mine who works at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale agreed to carry a copy of my novel, so it is in a PHYSICAL store. It also has 18 reviews on Amazon so far! I am so thankful to everyone who has read it and reviewed. If you haven't yet, here's the link to Amazon, or email me for a free copy!

I've also made a couple of fantastic friends in the last few weeks: a super reader who has been SO supportive of "The Charismatics" (even going to the lengths of buying more copies to GIVE to friends at Changing Hands Bookstore, another location that I may be able to sell my book at), and gifts me with works of some of his other favorite authors. He is a fantastic person, and a fan that I hope every author is lucky enough to have in their career.

A photo posted by Ashley R. Carlson (@ashleyrcarlson1) on Feb 2, 2015 at 4:40pm PST

I also recently met another indie author named Jesse Walters, who will be publishing a memoir entitled "The Church Next Door: My Cult Experience and How to Get Out While Staying Close to God," about his harrowing experiences in a cult disguised as a Christian church sometime this summer. Apparently this is a serious, widespread issue throughout the U.S. and the world, where churches with dysfunctional belief systems and cult-like behaviors infiltrate the minds of attendees and can tear families apart, many times causing serious emotional and mental instabilities in church-goers.
Jesse suffered this and got out, and has now made it his mission to help those in the same situation. Let's support him! He's also pretty easy on the eyes. So there's that...
AND finally....

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY.

I just got a shipment of "The Charismatics" paperbacks, and I think one of my newsletter subscribers (who lives in the U.S.) should GET A SIGNED COPY, and perhaps maybe another newsletter subscriber should get a $25 Amazon giftcard!
Sound good?! GOOD.
So if you haven't subscribed yet, go do it. Takes a minute. And look for my newsletter in your inbox NEXT weekend, with THREE easy questions about my short story "Cruel" and/or maybe how many animals I have (hint, hint.) Whoever answers correctly first WILL WIN!
I'll be hard at work on #MiseryandMarlene for you all as well as getting your prizes ready.

If you want a free copy of "Cruel" to brush up, email me!

How To Turn A Girl Off On Tinder

An obvious Tinder fail above, courtesy of Buzzfeed. Tinder. Everyone who's been single within the last year knows what it is.
A "Hot or Not" app for your phone.
A "booty call."
A legitimate and free way to meet your future partner (two of my friends have actually met their long-term, serious boyfriends through Tinder).

If you've been following this blog in any capacity since it began last summer, you know that I've been single awhile now, essentially since I began writing my novel, "The Charismatics," in June. (It's up to 13 reviews on Amazon now! Not that I look at it every hour, or anything ...)

So besides working on my next piece, a contemporary novella entitled "Misery and Marlene," and slinging beers at a local Irish pub/Seahawks bar (I cannot WAIT until football season is over), I've tried my hand at online dating recently. This was partly due to a New Year's resolution I made with another single friend to make some online dating profiles again (I eschewed them since September when I wanted to focus solely on the book), and also because frankly, I'm tired of being alone. 
In the last two weeks I maintained an OkCupid account, Christian Mingle account, Plentyoffish account, AND a Tinder account (I've since deleted some).
It was exhausting. And frustrating.
At one point I thought every man on Earth was conspiring to turn me into a nun or something. A celibate. A cat lady. A #ForeverAlone hashtag user for eternity.

So I started making a list. A list of the ridiculous, hilariously stupid things I noticed guys doing on Tinder (and others, but Tinder as the main offender), so that I could share it with you all.
If you're in a healthy, stable relationship ... you are very blessed. Give you girlfriend or boyfriend or husband or wife or life partner a big kiss, and be thankful that you have someone to cuddle with, someone to eat dinner with, and someone to dream big life dreams with.
Because it is wilderness out there. A wilderness full of mirror selfies and shirtless pics and deep V-neck t-shirts.
How to Turn a Girl Off on Tinder
1. Make sure that someone viewing your profile picture can still see the hair/arm/dress of the girl you cropped out of it. Extra points if you've got your arm around her.
2. Take a mirror selfie with only a towel on, so that a viewer can see the top of your pubic hair. Extra points for flexing/making a face like you're constipated.
3. Send a girl you match with a bizarre or disturbing message to get the conversation going. Examples include: "If you were a pizza, what toppings would you have?" or "Want to break stuff and set it on fire?" (Sidenote: these are two messages I legitimately received from matches on Tinder. It didn't go anywhere. SHOCKER, I know).
4. In your description/bio, succinctly state your purpose for being on the app. Something like "Wanna f*ck" or "I'm in town for two more hours bitches!!!!!!!!!!" will do the job nicely.
5. Be sure that every picture you have is with you and a child or a dog. Also be sure to clarify that they are "not your kid" and "not your dog." Don't specify who's kids/dogs they ACTUALLY are.
6. Every picture you include is with you and a bunch of friends, so that a viewer has no idea which person YOU are.
7. Choose photos that don't show your face or body, but instead are obscure and blurry pixelated images of someone "surfing" or "skiing" or "rock climbing." Extra points for having a face mask on in every photo.
8. Start your bio off with "I love qwerky girls." Include many more typos and odd phrases, preferably those with creepy connotations like "I'm a pleaser" and "I never expect more than I plan to give."
9. Choose a profile picture in which you are wearing a turtleneck with a blingin' silver chain over it.
10. Include a photo of you in a car, on a car, on an ATV, on a quad, on a motorcycle, or just a vehicle with you nowhere near the picture.
11. Let a girl know up front that "you're just here to expand your LinkedIn network."
12. AND FINALLY... Forget that every girl on Tinder--or any dating site for that matter--is a PERSON. A daughter, a sister, a friend to someone. She is another HUMAN BEING and not someone to be degraded or victimized or slut-shamed.


NOW LET'S GET SERIOUS.
We are all looking for acceptance. We are all looking for love and companionship. Let's try to be kind to one another, okay? Let's try to be gracious and respectful, and show love.

Now, on to writing, working and dating. Never stop. Never give up. Hold on a little bit longer--your bliss is coming. And you'll appreciate it all the more because of your life's current struggles. I KNOW I will.

So You Published Your First Book ... Now What?

A sweet card from my writer friend, Jenny Bravo, of Blots & Plots Publishing your first novel can be quite an odd, surreal, harrowing experience.
I should know--I published my first full-length work, "The Charismatics," two and a half weeks ago.
During the last six months, I've felt a lot of things--excitement with my new fantasy world, finding my true passion in life, and beginning the journey to turn said passion into a career--doing something I loved day in and day out and planning to make a living with it.

I imagined changing lives with my writing. Making a lot of money so that I could give it away, starting charities and bringing awareness to current ones, all while I continued to translate the beauty and sadness and feelings from this Earth into stories that readers would relate to, love, remember. Hold onto. Cry from.
As I said, my debut novel, "The Charismatics," released a few weeks ago. Reception has been fantastic so far--I've got a number of four and five star reviews on Amazon, some from readers I don't even know (this is huge; validation that their words and critiques are not because they personally know me).
But how have I felt since the release? In one word?

BLAH. 
You heard me. Blah. BLAH.

But why? Well ... I think the main reason is something a lot of authors go through when they've published their first novel; you've spent two months or six months (in my case) or one year or five years honing this thing into something readable, sellable, and now it's out there in the world, and NOW all you can do is wait.
Wait.
Wait for the reviews to come.
Wait for the numbers to get higher.
Wait for your royalties from Amazon to deposit in your account sixty days after a sale.
Wait for that better-known author/reviewer to give your work a chance, possibly to share it with their readership and gain more sales and more clout.

So what do you do now that you've published this book baby and it's ALL in the readers' hands? What do you do as a debut indie author, someone who has perhaps slaved over this written work for many, MANY nights, infusing it with your heart and soul and fears and doubts and desires and hopes?
I'm just gonna lay it all out there on the table for you--from one writer to another. There's nothing to be ashamed of in feeling sad about your sales numbers, or apathetic when it comes to sending the novel to more book bloggers for reviews, or dejected when the library refuses to carry your self-pubbed masterpiece. Here are the things I've thought, learned from, and plan to do since publishing my first book ... and maybe they will help you a little to consider, too.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED:
1. Your sales numbers are not going to be very high.
You are a debuting indie; an unknown. People don't care who you are; don't expect to sell three hundred copies in one day (unless you have a HUGE and supportive extended family). Don't even expect to sell twenty in one day. I sold ten. (I'M NOT ASHAMED!!!!!!)
2. Your early readers are everything.
A number of friends who purchased "The Charismatics" at my book launch party have texted me lately with encouraging words; "I can't put your book down! Seriously! It's really good!"
Or even better ... "I LOVE Roan, but Merry is such a brat!" etc. etc. When your friends talk to you about your characters, and their favorite scenes ... these are the best conversations ever. You wrote a book! People are reading it! They are LOVING it!
3. Book reviews are REALLY hard to get.
Um...yeah. I still haven't figured this one out yet. I thought that "book bloggers" and "vloggers" and "reviewers" would *want* a free e-book to read at their leisure? Not so, at least, not for me. I've contacted several dozens to barely a peep in response.
I'm not sure what to make of it besides the age-old "oversaturation" of the market right now regarding reading material...there are so many books out there, and so many good ones, and so many written by authors people KNOW about, that the chances of your indie debut being chosen by a reviewer seem to be slim to none. I have had one vlogger respond, and she is currently reading "The Charismatics." So it's not impossible; just time-consuming with some rejection along the way. So prepare yourself, and be SUPER thankful and professional and FOLLOW THROUGH with the reviewers who show interest.
4. Social media can be hard to maintain.
Another thing I'm figuring out now. For the months leading up to "The Charismatics'" release, I had book cover releases and giveaways and newsletter contests and guest posts and interviews and TONS OF OTHER STUFF and now that it's over ... I don't have much to talk about. (I *have* been taking a lot more pictures of my cats though, in various poses. I'm sure my IG followers appreciate that greatly.)
5. It can just all be sort of ... sad sometimes.
The week before I released my novel, I got a job at a local restaurant because I'd officially run out of money. So that weekend was my release, and the next Monday I was ... serving Black and Tans. Yep. Spilling ranch dressing and Guinness on myself. Kissing ass for a 12% tip.
Now--as my sister and mom and friends and even *I* have told myself--I AM LUCKY AND BLESSED TO HAVE A JOB. Absolutely. I am a Caucasian, young American female with ALL the undeserved blessings one can think of. Truly, I know that, and I remind myself of it everyday.
HOWEVER ... it all did feel somewhat insignificant after what I'd just experienced. What I'd just spent months doing--writing a novel and creating a social media platform and collaborating with art professionals to perfect it to something I could be proud to have my name slapped on--and yes, there I was again, serving beers.
Do you feel that way at your day job? That there is something else you should be doing, some better way you could be contributing to society?
I don't have an answer on how to make it better. I just wanted to tell you that I feel the same way.

BUT! But. There are things you can do now. Things I plan to do now, to bolster this fledgling writing career that much more. It's a marathon after all, not a sprint ...

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
1. Write something new!
After pouring so much energy into a fantasy novel, I wanted to try a new genre; contemporary. I am currently working on the first draft of a novella called "Misery and Marlene"; this has accomplished a few things for me. 1) I'm not focusing on my sales numbers for "The Charismatics," because I'm excited to be working on something new! 2) I now have something else to share about on social media. 3) What does Hugh Howey, amazing indie author, say? KEEP WRITING/PRODUCING TO SELL MORE BOOKS. Backlist, backlist, backlist. Keep growing it with new titles to increase exposure.
2. Let my readers do the marketing for me.
I didn't pay for any marketing, and I don't plan to. Partly because I'm poor, but also because I hoped that my work would be good enough that readers would share it themselves. Take selfies with it, use the hashtag #TheCharismatics, etc. So far it's been working; a small but growing following has begun. I've sold an e-book nearly every day since release, and three days ago I sold five in one day. This thing is growing organically; that's how I want it to.
3. Get involved in the community.
I am scheduled to give a talk at my local high school in January about "Pursuing Your Dreams;" I had reached out to the superintendent right before my release to suggest it. I have since sent my presentation to the principal who stated he LOVED it; he encouraged me to contact other high schools in the Phoenix area and offer my services. Not only am I doing one of the things I love to do (community outreach), but I'm going to be hitting my TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC--teenagers. So things can happen, ya' know? I'm supposed to be featured in the local newspaper for this talk as well as an interview I did with them a week ago; more publicity while also doing something to benefit others.
4. Connect with small bookstores and the library.
No idea how this is going to go. When my mom went into her local library and asked whether they carried indie books, apparently the employee stated only those reviewed by reputable (see "Publishers Weekly") reviewers would be accepted. Doesn't mean I'm not going to try. I mean, come on; if you see that my book is well-made and beautiful and I'm willing to give you FREE COPIES, why not carry it? What's the harm? Same goes for the bookstores; a girl's gotta try. Updates on my success to follow.
5. Send it into contests/awards for consideration.
I'm going to search for various contests and awards to send "The Charismatics" into. I really believe in this book; the response so far is that it's something special. Winning something would help to cement the validation needed as a debut indie author that it's something a reader will be satisfied with.

SO. There you have it. My plans for the weeks and months after publishing my debut ... writing something new, continuing to share the novel, and enjoying any positive response I get. Hopefully this list helps you as well, and if you have any others thoughts, PLEASE share in the comments below!

As always, keep writing and keep dreaming!

How To Publish A Book From Start To Finish In Six Months

Photo: My book signing! It is DECEMBER 15th! Which means my novel, "The Charismatics," is AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon. I wanted to write a post detailing all that took place to create the book from start to finish.
If you haven't ordered a copy yet, "The Charismatics" is only $2.99 in e-book (free for Kindle Unlimited) and $11.69 for a print copy through Amazon (They've discounted it for some reason... I'm not complaining!).
I've heard really positive feedback from early readers about it--my novel has fantasy elements, but also deals with issues like self-esteem, the dichotomy of extreme wealth vs. extreme poor, and the decision to do what is easy/comfortable, or what is right.
Read on to see how I wrote "The Charismatics" from START to FINISH in six months!
Six months ago I quit my job to write a book.

Because I was blessed financially, I decided that if I were to get some roommates I could feasibly leave the job I hated and pursue my real dream—to write a novel. And I did. My debut novel, a steampunk fantasy called “The Charismatics,” released on December 13th on Amazon and my website.
How was I able to produce something in such a timely fashion? Well, I want to share my experiences and timeline with you.
Firstly—the main reason I was able to publish a book in six months is because I wasn’t working a 9-to-5. I wasn’t exhausted all the time, and it allowed me to really unleash my creativity when I was mentally, physically and emotionally strong.
I know that quitting a position isn’t feasible for 99% of you—but what I want to impart here is that in order to complete your book in a timely fashion, you need to be diligent about setting aside TIME, SPACE and QUIET to allow yourself to write. This isn’t easy, especially with a family and/or other obligations. But you know what? You can either keep making excuses and finding other things to do, or you can WRITE THE DANG BOOK. The choice is always up to you.
The second thing that allowed me to write “The Charismatics” from start to finish in six months was eschewing a social life during that time. Literally—if I wasn’t writing or editing, I was maintaining my social media outlets, writing blog posts and guest posts, researching the self-publishing industry, or reading another’s writing.
So even though I wasn’t working at a job anymore, I actually had more work to do than ever before—I kissed parties and movies and dating goodbye. Truly, I did. But because I holed up inside my office, living and breathing my book nearly every waking moment, it allowed me to complete it much more quickly than my previous attempts at writing (I have numerous half-finished manuscripts floating around on my computers from years past).

Again, this isn’t something that is feasible for many. Maybe it’s not even something you want to do. But this is my experience—these are the decisions I had to make in order to create and polish a completed product from June to December.
So now you know what kind of diligence it takes to write a 378-page novel in half a year, here’s my timeline to depict the schedule of it all:
Early June 2014 to mid-August 2014: Wrote the entire first draft, 102,000 words. I was also doing two internships during this time or it would’ve been finished earlier. I generally wrote at least 3,000 words a day at the beginning, but as I continued to write, I wrote faster. Soon I was clocking in at 5,000 words a day, and once I wrote 7,000 words in 7 hours (during the climax). A huge help here was #WordSprints—find those friends on Twitter and join in on writing competitions.
Mid-August 2014 to early-September 2014: Took a two-week break to let my first draft “sit.” Stephen King recommends six weeks at least, but I didn’t have the time or patience. After two weeks I read my manuscript on my iPad (to keep from editing) with notecards and post-its in hand, writing down plot holes, questions, areas that needed improvement, etc.
Early-September 2014 to late-September 2014: Wrote the second draft at 88,000 words, going through the entire manuscript with my notes to fix the previous issues. I also cut scenes that didn’t make sense and added scenes that were needed. Sent to first round of beta-readers.
Late-September 2014 to mid-October 2014: received feedback from first round of beta-readers, and made note of their critiques. Begin third draft and ended it at 90,000 words. Sent out to second round of beta-readers.
Mid-October 2014 to late-October 2014: received feedback from second round of beta-readers, and utilized their critiques for my fourth draft (mainly more character development and world-building). This landed my fourth draft at 93,000 words. Sent to my editor (Midnight Publishing) on Halloween.
Late-October 2014 to early-November 2014: found and hired a cover designer (M.S. Corley) and formatter (Crenel Publishing) to design my e-books and interior print book. Received numerous concepts from cover designer and received finalized manuscript from editor and finalized cover art in mid-November.
Mid-November 2014-late November 2014: Wrote the fifth draft, taking into account editor’s comments. Sent my finalized draft to formatter to be designed in various book formats. Found numerous typos and changes desired so I wrote the sixth draft in late November. Received formatted print book late November and ordered copies from CreateSpace.
Late-November to early-December 2014: Received first 20 copies from CreateSpace on December 3rd (see my “unboxing” video here). Wanted numerous adjustments to the interior and cover design, and received those early December as well. Also began to find numerous websites to write guest posts for, and offered e-book to numerous early readers for review.
December 9th, 2014: Opened a P.O. Box to receive check payments for signed copies of “The Charismatics” in the mail, as well as other fan mail/correspondence. Submitted final e-book file to Amazon and final print files to CreateSpace December 9th so that print book would be linked in to Amazon e-book page by release date.
December 12th, 2014: Goodreads print book giveaway closed, 843 total entries and three winners. Preparation for book launch party on December 13th, 2014 at family home. Schedule updates on Twitter and Facebook through Hootsuite to advertise the release date. Write and schedule newsletter through MailChimp to go out to newsletter subscribers on December 13th at midnight encouraging them to purchase a book on release date and increase Amazon ranking. Also encourage readers to use the hashtag #TheCharismatics to increase awareness and interaction about the book release.
December 13th, 2014: Book launch party in person and social media! Realizing a dream come true—having written a novel that will hopefully reach thousands of readers who enjoy it.

There you have it—my timeline for publishing “The Charismatics” from start to finish in six months! I hope this gives you a little insight into how it can be done.

Above all, the most important thing through it all is belief in yourself. Belief that you can accomplish it, and envisioning yourself doing so. As William James said:  “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome.”

That quote was on a post-it note taped to my desk, and I read it every single day.
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9 Qualities Your Book Boyfriend Has That Your Real One Doesn't

Expectations Reality THREE DAYS UNTIL "The Charismatics" RELEASES.
Three days. Three DAYS. Did you order the e-book on Amazon yet? Did you buy a signed print copy here on my site yet?
To celebrate my book release, I've decided to write a fun post about guys. And books. Guys IN books. And how said guys can give us unrealistic ... expectations for how real-life men should act when it comes to our romantic interludes.
BUT FIRST: have you signed up for my Goodreads print giveaway? I have 421 people currently signed up, and I'd LOVE to see 500. That would be unreal. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter for your free copy of my short story, "Cruel," and a chance to win another print book of "The Charismatics" in early February.
Ahhhhh, book boyfriends ... HERE WE GO!
1. Book boyfriends never experience bodily functions.
Does Christian Grey, multi-millionaire and S&M extraordinaire, ever stink up a commode with his personal business? HELL NO. I don't even think Edward Cullen has the ability to use the bathroom. Oh, and he doesn't need sleep either. He just watches you in bed when you're conked out. 'Cuz that's not creepy.
2. They like classical/eclectic music.
Book boyfriends are drawn to dark, evocative tunes from another time and place--music written by composers and not "I got my mind on my money" and "Move bitch" and "Let's get wasted down by the river and ride some quads." (I swear every damn country song I accidently come across is about drinking Budweiser at the lake. Ew.)
3. They have hidden talents, like playing instruments and baking bread and starting rebellions.
Whether your book boyfriend is more of a softie (Peeta Mellark?! Kind of a wimp if you ask me, but I bet he makes a mean scone...) or lives to break the rules, he is bound to do something incredible and book-worthy.
He definitely wouldn't come home from a day at work, get undressed, throw his sweaty underpants on the freshly-washed bedspread, and proceed to do a "windmill" naked in your direction before stepping into the shower.
(Don't know what a windmill is? Consider yourself lucky).
4. They can do magic.
'Nuff said.
5. They're really really good in bed, and you don't have to worry about gonorrhea.
Book boyfriends know exactly where to kiss you, and exactly where to stay away from (not sure who sent the memo that we like wet-willies in our ears, but yeah ... please keep your tongue out of that orifice). They also never have diseases. So they obviously didn't attend my alma mater, ASU.
6. They save you from life-threatening situations.  
Be it a car swerving in your direction or a drunken guy trying to grope you, book boyfriends always swoop in to save the day. They are more than ready to fight for your honor and safety--and their muscles glisten and ripple in the sun as they do so.
7. They are mean to you because they secretly love you.
Mr. Darcy, anyone? In books, guys that have sour attitudes are only doing it to push you away--they know you're too good for them. Of course, this normally has the opposite effect ... and then he ends up being the broken bad boy you get to fix.
8. They are wealthy and from noble birth.
Noble birth can come in many different forms--prince, aristocratic family, wealthy upper-crust family, businessman, vampires who have accrued millions over the years ...
Basically, he's different. And that different is richer, and better. Better than the regular 'ol guy who's got only one throne--the one you get to clean on the weekends.
9. They love your weird, annoying, quirky imperfections.
Are you clumsy? He loves it (and probably catches you when you trip). Are you annoyingly talkative? He thinks it's endearing. Do you have a giant pimple on your chin? He's going to kiss it and tell you you're gorgeous. Are you farty and bloated from your period? He's going to buy you chocolates and put a heating pad on your belly and watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with you while he massages your swollen feet. Book boyfriends LOVE to see us at our worst--they get off on it. Just one more way they can prove their perfection in all things.

SO there you go--9 ways that book boyfriends give us unrealistic expectations for what a relationship IN THE REAL WORLD should look like.
I wrote this mostly for fun, but since I'm *such* an expert on dating--let me leave you with a little kernel of truth. Real-life guys are not going to change, and neither of you. Not much, at least. So look for a man who treats you with care, cherishes you, encourages your endeavors, takes care of you--and do the same for him. If you both share a similar value system and are better off because you are together-- then that's the real dream.
And it's possible. Just be patient. And read "The Charismatics" while you wait.
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Unboxing of "The Charismatics'" Print Book!

Wow. Got my first copies of "The Charismatics" in the mail today, and caught it on video for all of you to see.
This is the first moment I am seeing my books, ever, in the history of time. And I get to share it with you. I don't cry in the video (it happened afterwards for some reason), but I can assure you that the feelings coursing through my body are pure, unadulterated joy.  
In other news:
1) Arizona Foothills Magazine posted an interview with me on their website today. Check that out here!
2) I have also enabled a PRE-ORDER button for "The Charismatics'" e-book on Amazon, for those of you who would like it to show up on your e-reader PRECISELY AT MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 13TH. I encourage you to wait and purchase it on December 13th, as that helps my rankings with Amazon, however if you might forget then it is available to do so now. I will soon have print copies for $12.99 available through Amazon as well.
3) I am offering SIGNED print copies on my website now! Under the Books tab I have added a "signed copies" tab, and they are currently $14.99. This may change once I have calculated shipping, if it will cost me a lot more than I anticipate. SO roughly $17-ish, which is higher than I want, but we will see.

How To Keep Fighting In Writing & In Life

Why the music video, you ask? Well, because as I wrote this post, "The Walker" by Fitz And The Tantrums came on and it just fit everything so perfectly--my mood, the post, everything--so I decided to add it in. Listen while you read and dance along, because I AM RIGHT NOW. No I'm not. Yes I am. No. YES DON'T JUDGE ME.

For those of you who don't know (most of you probably DO know, however, since I won't shut up about it), my debut novel, "The Charismatics," is releasing on December 13, 2014. In precisely 21 days.
This will also be my 26th birthday, which--according to my sister and ex-boyfriend--means I'm "on the downward spiraling-end of my twenties" as well as that I'm "basically 30 at this point."
Awesome.
So aside from the fact that I'm frickin' terrified of releasing my first official "book"  (I HAVE written a short story called "Cruel," which you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter--it has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon right now and I'm FLOORED),
I'm also facing the fact that I am getting older and finally know what I want to do with my life, but am unsure whether I'll be successful at it.
In fact--99.9% of everyone and their mother says I WON'T BE, at least not until I have a backlist of about 10 books, have 1,000 diehard fans, etc. Now those are some big numbers to look up at, and they can be discouraging. They are meant to be a reality check, I get that, but sometimes a reality check can become a kick in your figurative (or maybe your literal) face.
So how do you keep going?
How do you start dating again after a bad breakup, abuse, divorce?
How do you find another job when you've been fired from/quit your current one?
How do you go about pursuing your life dream of traveling the world/getting married with kids/painting a masterpiece/writing a book/changing the world?

Come. I'll tell you what my personal experiences and tips are--mold them and consider whether they can be applied to your own life.
1. Dream BIG. This might seem counter-intuitive to what I'm discussing, and you may be thinking "Ashley--if I dream BIG, then I have that much more of a risk of being DISAPPOINTED if it doesn't happen, and never fighting again."
You know what I say to that?
POPPYCOCK.
Yep, POPPYCOCK. I REALLY LOVE SAYING POPPYCOCK.
Anyway....
Let's take ME for example. I dream about things like being friends with Jennifer Lawrence.
About my book being made into a movie. ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME. These dreams are huge. Insane. But they have changed my life, because a year ago, you want to know what else seemed impossibly huge?
WRITING AN ENTIRE BOOK. And I did it, to the best of my abilities. I gave it my all, poured my heart and soul into this novel for the last five months, eschewing a social life and proper hygiene and dating (tried it once and decided yeah...not doing that again for awhile) to birth this book into existence. And it's been the most exhausting, amazing, wonderful experience (probably like giving birth to a real baby), one that's made me so happy. But I still have those goals to reach. Those mountains to climb. And by DREAMING BIG, I can imagine also scaling those mountains and the exquisite bliss to be felt when I do, and I will FIGHT ON when the going gets tough.
The same goes for a relationship, job, family, traveling. LIFE. What do you see yourself doing? Accomplishing? Hold those thoughts in your mind and NEVER LET THEM GO.

2. Take reality in bite-sized chunks, and focus on the positives. I subscribe to The Book Designer's weekly blog updates, when they share awesome info that's been published on the web. Today were some great articles about marketing--one in particular, by www.writehacked.com. It was a comprehensive marketing plan for a book launch, and it made me realize something: HOLY SHIT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING FOR "THE CHARISMATICS" I'M GOING TO DIEEEEEEEE. Seriously. I yelled this. And my sister was worried. Just kidding. No I'm not.
What I'm getting at is this--instead of obsessing for hours about how I only have three weeks until my book release and how I haven't done everything this website recommends, I took a step back. I said "okay Ashley, calm down. Now would you rather have found this three weeks AFTER you launched 'The Charismatics?'" I put things into perspective.
I focused on the positives, which is that I have done a LOT of those things on the list, and that some just aren't feasible for me currently (I don't have $600 to pour into marketing at this time. I'm happy when I can afford groceries).
So my next tidbit of advice is this: when you are job searching, or boyfriend/girlfriend searching, and things are looking dire...take a little break. Give your heart and your mind some time to process the information. I guarantee that you will feel better prepared if you do this, because it also allows you the chance to look at things a certain way. You can ask yourself, "How do I want to take this rejection on Christian Mingle?" "How do I want to take this phone call from the job stating I wasn't right for the position?"
THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS COMES FROM MY NEXT POINT:

3. Find solace in your beliefs. I am a Christian, thus I believe in an Almighty God Who has a master plan. He has meaning for everything that happens in my life, and when things don't go the way I expect, I can rest on the fact that they are not meant to.
I also believe this principle can be applied to many belief systems--whether that be energy, happenstance, luck, divine destiny, other religious forums. If you have any belief system based in a power other than yourself affecting the potential outcomes for things, then you can rest in the peace that THINGS ARE HAPPENING THE WAY THEY ARE MEANT TO. You certainly have control regarding this, BUT when you feel that the load is too heavy, or that your relationship didn't work out, or that your book isn't selling enough copies (this is the hardest one for me to imagine), that's because it's not meant to. YET. There are still lessons to be learned, people to meet, jobs to apply for, experiences to strengthen you with.

4. And FINALLY. When you are discouraged, beaten down, depressed, disappointed (or even when you are not, and just want to boost your strength to keep fighting IN WRITING AND IN LIFE), then do this: REVEL IN THE SMALL THINGS.
I am here with my nephews and sister and brother-in-law in San Diego. And last night, we went to a park behind their house, and I unhooked my dogs from their leashes and I watched as they ran liked fiends across the bright green grass, as the laughter of neighborhood kids and my darling nephews filled the air, and the bright white sun was warm on my face as it dipped closer to the horizon. And I thought to myself: "This is Heaven. This is Heaven on Earth."
It was a small moment, out there on the lawn. But it filled my heart and my soul and it made me realize once again, it REMINDED me of why I am doing all of this. Why I wrote a novel, and why I dream of making it big--to be happy, and to bring happiness to others. Because THAT is what life is all about.

So please, if you felt inspired by this post, or you have thoughts to share, comment below and subscribe to my newsletter. Also, don't forget to add "The Charismatics" to your Goodreads TBR page and enter my print giveaway through it as well as my e-book giveaway!
It would make this girl's day, and I cannot wait to share more of my work with you.

And until then...keep writing and keep dreaming.

Cover Reveal Of "The Charismatics"

Gotta love those YouTube thumbnails (cue heavy sarcasm. I hate YouTube, obviously).

Are you ready for the cover? Are you? ARE YOU?!

Patience, grasshopper. Patience. First I want to share this video interview with you, another blog hop I was invited to participate in by the talented David Bruns. (I read one of his science fiction novellas called "The Yesterday Adjustment" a few weeks ago--WOW! So well-written, with an exciting James Bond vibe.) I will be handing off the blog to my award-winning friend, Ryan Hill, author of Dead New World and The Book Of Bart.

AND if you want to see me get legit teary-eyed, be sure to watch until 6:21. #getittogetherAshley. Yes, my cover designer's amazing artwork made me cry yesterday. Also, I love how in the "serious" moment of my quote reading, my dog is chasing her tail in the background. Way to enrich the moment, Nika.
The questions I answer are as follows:
1.  Include a quote that you like.
2. Why do you create what you do?
3. How does your creative process work?
4. How does your work differ from others in your genre?
5. What are you working on right now?

So do you want to see the final front cover art to "The Charismatics?"
Do you?











Did you subscribe to my newsletter yet?

















Did you ENTER FOR A FREE E-BOOK OF "The Charismatics" before it releases yet?!














DID YOU FIND ME A HOT SEXY BOYFRIEND YET?! (Okay, I'll let this one slide.)



Here she is my friends, in all her glory. "The Charismatics," my debut novel, has a cover. And it is GLORIOUS, if I do say so myself. Once you begin to read the book you will see what ALL the symbols mean (because everything has a meaning), and I think readers will enjoy that. Thank you M.S. Corley, for making me cry yesterday.
Get the steampunk vibes?! Any thoughts? Are you excited now? Do you really want to enter my giveaway now ? And guess what ... I'm planning on doing a NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ONLY signed printed copy giveaway, probably in January. So get signed up already, and make this writer a happy, happy girl! (I'm almost to 75 people!)
And just a heads up, I am having a special BACK COVER designed for printed copies too, so keep that in mind come December 13th. It will be of a map that is a pivotal part of the novel, so pretty exciting.

Also, for those of you who received my short story, "Cruel," I would be INDEBTED to you if you would leave me a review at Goodreads or Amazon with your honest opinion. The more reviews I can get, the more people will hear about my work and be interested in it. Help make my dreams come true!
And as always...keep writing and keep dreaming!

Blogger Book Fair: Morgan Wylie of "Silent Orchids." Last Day For Amazon gift cards!

Buy Links:
FREE!
Amazon | Other Formats
It's that time: the last day of the Blogger Book Fair--and less than a month until my YA fantasy novel, "The Charismatics" releases!
My final guest is Morgan Wylie, author of "Silent Orchids," Book One of the "Age Of Alandria" series. As always, make sure to get to the end and enter our giveaway for Amazon gift cards in $50, $30 and $20! Good luck and thanks again for your support, guys.
BOOK BLURB: A dying realm.
The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.
The Orchids have been silenced… but for how long?
Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.
Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there… somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.
Morgan Wylie published her first novel, Silent Orchids, one year after moving across the country with her family on a journey of new discovery. After an amazing three years in Nashville, TN and the release of two more books, Morgan and her family found their way back to the Northwest where they now reside. Still working everyday with great optimism, Morgan continues to embrace all things: "Mama", wife, teacher, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head... where it gets pretty loud!
Author Bio: Connect with Morgan:
Website | Twitter | Facebook
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Blogger Book Fair: K. Ferrin of "Magicless," and our Amazon gift card giveaway!

We are nearing the end of the week-long Blogger Book Fair, and I just want to thank you for sticking around! Author support is so important to build up a presence, so thank you again. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for our Amazon gift cards at the bottom! Now, I'd like to introduce my next guest: K. Ferrin, author of the Young Adult epic fantasy novel, "Magicless." Buy Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
BOOK BLURB: Deep in the Oakwood, a boy is born without magic.  
In a land where powers flow through one’s veins as naturally as water down a mountain stream, Micah is an aberration detested by everyone—everyone except Alekka, a gifted but solitary mage who understands the price of isolation. Her sensitivity to the thoughts of others drives her to seek solace in the forests surrounding Aclay, a small village that has been living under a malevolent shadow for hundreds of years.
As fear and loss ravage the countryside, the two outcasts form an unlikely bond forged in loneliness and surrounded by the flickering silhouettes of destiny. When their home is destroyed, the outcasts must join a volatile group of their peers on a journey that threatens to strip them of everything they cherish, imperil everything they’ve ever known, even force them to question the nature of reality itself. Can they find the key to stemming the tide of darkness without losing themselves along the way?
Author Bio: Connect with K.:
Website | Twitter | Facebook
During the daylight hours I live in a world filled with high technology - satellites, windowless buildings filled with humming machinery and robust HVAC systems, and networks spanning half the globe.
When the working-day ends the world around me shifts from one filled with engineers and machines to one filled with magic, myth and adventure. My heart lives here, along with my writing. I write fantasy of all kinds, some epic, some urban, and some dark, some young adult and some for mature readers.
You can find my young adult novel Magicless at all major online retailers. My next book, Desiderium, Monsters the First will be out in October 2014.
Interesting Info About "Magicless": An item of interest might be that the inspiration behind what this book turned out to be was my nephew and an issue he was having with bullying by some neighborhood kids. He was five at the time, had just moved into the neighborhood, and there was a group of kids who ruled the hood with an intolerant and cruel fist. It was mostly verbal taunting but there were a few scraps. And the truly bothersome thing, to me, was their parents were the same as their kids.
So I wanted to write something about the value of diversity, the importance of difference, and how everyone brings value to the quest. Thus was Magicless born.
Author Interview with K.: When did you start writing?
I've been writing stories since I first learned how to write. My mother always expected I'd grow into a writer one day. Stories, fantasy stories, are like breath to me. I must read them and write them or suffocate under the weight of the mundane.
What inspires your writing?
Literally everything. I might overhear a conversation in a coffee shop that sticks in my mind, something might grab me from a news article, random images can form story nuggets that linger. For me I think the key is curiosity - seeing or reading something and asking *why*, and then adding magic into the mix.
What is the best part about being a writer?
The easy answer to this is that I get to work in my PJs on my patio with my dogs everyday. The real answer is far more complex. Books subtly change us in a myriad of tiny ways. Particularly with speculative fiction, they allow us to see *possibility*, to see the world differently that what we've done before. Being involved in creating such objects of power is the coolest possible thing.
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