Kim Iverson Headlee's Blog: Book Musings from the Maze of Twisty Passages, page 10

Angusel teaches his comrades a new cavalry tactic in Ch 13/Sc 1a of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay (c)2016 by Kim Headlee. Very little is known about the Picts, the ancient aboriginal inhabitants of what is now Scotland. Their only written records survive in the form of stones carved with glyphs whose meanings defy explanation and precise interpretation.

Some of those glyphs, however, depict warriors armed with what appear to be javelins rather than spears. I have chosen to incorporate that interpretation into my historical Arthurian series, The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, as one of the battle tactics that distinguishes Pictish—excuse me, Caledonach—warfare from that of their opponents.

Although Angusel has been ostracized from Caledonach society, he well remembers his training in the javelin-armed cavalry charge. In today's excerpt from Raging Sea , he is pleased to be sharing this knowledge with his Breatanach comrades-in-arms.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings  Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 1d | Sc 1e |
Chapter 10: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2a | Sc 2b | Sc 3a | Sc 3b | Sc 3c |
Chapter 11: Sc 1a |  Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 12: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4a | Sc 4b | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Raging Sea Chapter 13, Scene1a©2016 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.
Angusel trotted Stonn away from the straw target, flexing the soreness from his shoulder and letting the whistles and lauds from the other soldiers tell him that he’d scored a perfect hit.

“That’s how it’s done, lads,” he said as he rejoined them and halted Stonn. “Your turn. Form a single line, and each of you have a go.”

The men did as he bade them without so much as a single curled lip, and one by one they began racing off to fling their javelins at the target. In between casts, ala drudges removed the spent weapons from target or turf and ran them back to the starting line while Angusel offered the soldiers suggestions for improving their approach, aim, and timing.

That the five turma decurions, who outranked him, were also practicing the drill made his chest swell, but when Centurion Cato stepped up to the line, Angusel all but dropped his teeth.

The centurion grinned at him. “Can’t have my men learning a tactic that I haven’t mastered.”

“Right, sir.” What to say to a man with more years in the legion than he had on this earth? Angusel sucked in a breath, praying for wisdom. “Just be patient, gauge the distance, mind your mount’s speed and course, heed your instincts, and throw it as hard as you can.”

The centurion saluted Angusel with the javelin and pricked his horse’s flanks to send him leaping toward the target.

To say that Angusel’s unofficial training sessions with Drustanus and, more recently, Gawain, had been noticed was an understatement. Their commander began foregoing his own evening free time to join them, sometimes offering suggestions, participating on rare occasions, but most often just observing from behind the fence. He’d demonstrated particular interest in the javelin drill, which the all-Caledonach alae practiced constantly since it was a fundamental battle tactic for them. The mainly Breatanach First Ala was trained to run the enemy through with leveled spears upon initial engagement, a tactic Angusel was pleased to learn; he could see combining both in mounted combat. Breatanaich never used javelins.

Until today.

“A fine cast, sir!” he said as the centurion returned. Though two hands wide of center, the height of the javelin’s strike was good. In battle it might mean missing the intended mark but felling an adjacent enemy. “You’ll improve your aim with practice.”

“Indeed you will, Cato,” said a deep male voice behind him. “Well done.”

Angusel knew that voice, and fought the sudden churning of his gut as he turned Stonn to face the newcomer.

***

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See award-winning #KASIWC by @KimHeadlee at #ALAac2016 booth 1434! #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court
by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee
on display in booth 1434 at  2016 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition.
View my award-winning science fiction/fantasy time travel sequel to Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court in Orlando, FL June 23-28!
Can't make it to the American Library Association's annual conference this year?No worries; check out this great book trailer! :)



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Author @KimHeadlee's appearance schedule at Chautauqua Festival #giveaway #ASMSG #MFRWOrg

After a two-year hiatus, I will once again be appearing with my books at the annual Chautauqua Festival being held in my hometown of Wytheville, VA. Nestled in the mountains of what I fondly call the "knuckle of the toe" of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Wytheville guards the crossroads of interstates 77 and 81 and draws travelers from all across the mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

The eight-day Chautauqua Festival is chock full of activities for all ages, including hot air balloons, antique cars, a pet show, an art and photography show, a creative writing competition, craft workshops and demonstrations, kids' crafts, music, food, and fun. All concerts and many exhibits are free; some of the workshops and exhibits may ask a small fee to cover the cost of materials or for staging the exhibit.

Do bring your credit cards in addition to cash; I and most of the other festival vendors are equipped to process them! And please do plan on checking out the shops and eateries bordering the festival grounds too. :)

Before I launch into my appearance schedule, I would like to mention a festival event I plan to attend as an audience member: the farewell performance of local Celtic band Night Crossing. The lead singer, Denise Hoots, is a friend and was my daughter's high school art teacher. I have used, with permission of course, some of their music to grace the audiobook editions of The Challenge and The Color of Vengeance .

Night Crossing will play their final notes together at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21.

My 2016 Chautauqua Festival and related appearances:
Wednesday, June 22, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Chautauqua Artist in Residence, on the lawn of Elizabeth Brown Park outside the Wytheville Community Center.Thursday, June 23, 10 a.m. – 12 noon: Signing and selling my books at the Black Horse Artisan Guild, 115 East Main St, Wytheville.Friday, June 24, 12 noon – 8:00 p.m.: Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Wytheville Community Center, main level, 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville.Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Wytheville Community Center, main level, 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville.
I hope to see you there! :)

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Safe to Love You by Jude Ouvrard (@AuthorJude_O) book spotlight @MoBPromos

by

Jude Ouvrard
Editor: The Pedantic Punctuator
Proofreader: MNoelle Editing
Cover Designer: Kari March DesignsOfficial genre of book: Contemporary Romance/Drama


This book contains scenes that might be disturbing to some readers. Scenes of violence and domestic violence.


Abbie…

After wasting years of her life to an abusive man, the love Abbie Rylee once felt for him is replaced by fear. One last fight for her freedom leaves her hurt but fulsome after a gentleman saves her from the brutal hands of her evil ex-boyfriend.

Presley…

Presley Williams has been moping around for too long after being dumped by a beautiful model. It's not until a chance meeting and an opportunity to be the hero that he starts to feel alive again. Craving the flame who brightens his life, the tattooed photographer sets out on a mission to find the girl who left him breathless.

When Abbie and Presley see each other, their mutual attraction flares first. The unconventional guy seems like an intriguing choice for the still-wounded Abbie, but is he actually someone she can feel safe with? Will she be able to move on, continuing with her life unscarred?



Tonight, my favorite band is in town, playing a gig. I decided this is going to be my night. I need to start afresh and move on from the Kelly situation. First though, I need to call Joshua, my brother. I haven't seen him much lately and I miss his company. We get along well; at least, we did until Hurricane Kelly happened.
''Joshua, do you still have my ticket to the concert, or did you find someone else to take it?'' I ask.

"I knew you'd decide to come! I still have it, it's yours, man.''

''Great! I'll meet you at the bar before the concert.'' Already I feel my mood lifting—for the first time in weeks. This is already shaping up to a good night.

''Alright!” Joshua sounds pleased. “Ali is coming along, too,'' he adds and I can hear the smile in his voice when he mentions his girlfriend.

“Great! See you then! Take care, Josh.'' I'm smiling...I'm finally smiling again. Baby steps, but I already feel better.

I've been pretty boring lately. I haven’t gone out much in recent weeks, I was too upset about the Kelly situation, and quite frankly, I thought I was missing her. It never occurred to me that she was going to be the girl I married, but honestly, being with her was crazily addictive. I didn’t care about anything else when I was with Kelly. Her wildness engulfed me, blinded me to everything else. All that existed was Kelly–the parties, the drinking and...that sex. I was carried away by her intoxicating lifestyle and I drank it up faster that the shots of tequila she used to pour down my throat.

At first, after she left, I missed it. Then, after a while, I figured out that maybe it wasn’t right to live like that on a long term basis. After months of living the life of a rock star, a break was needed. Hell, my body needed it.

So for a long while, I stayed in my apartment most of the time; did some painting, worked on my photos or caught up on sleep. To be honest, I’d had my feelings crushed by her and I turned into a bit of a hermit.

I realize that it has to change. I want a social life again–-I need to get out and about, with my real friends, not the fake people I spent time with when I was with Kelly. I’ve missed hanging out with my siblings. I'm done moping around because of a girl. She kicked down my pride, and it hurt; but today is the beginning of a new chapter in my life.


Amazon US ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads




Body Ink & Soul ✯ Music Ink & Love ✯ Not Afraid to Love You



"Drama, true love, tattoos...and everything in between!"

Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.

A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.

Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of many years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.

Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon ✯ Facebook

MoB Promotions

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Camilla recruits help to right a wrong in Ch 12/Sc 5b of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay c2016  by Kim Headlee. Though the summer solstice isn't for a few days, summer on the Headlee Farm is in full swing: the garden is planted, major inroads have been made on the weed beds (not the kind that would make us any money, but I bet I made you think twice :D), and we already have several face-cords of firewood stacked and ready.

We're either going to have the mildest winter in Appalachian Mountain history, or we'll be snowed in for weeks and still won't have enough firewood to carry us through.

Ah, summer.

In today's excerpt of Raging Sea , I introduce the fortress of Caer Gwenion, located on the site of an AD first century Roman fortress in northern England dubbed Vinovium and known today as Binchester, near the town of Bishop Aukland. The battle fought between Arthur's forces and the Saxons at Caer Gwennion will take place in a future book, but the seeds of the idea are sown in this installment.


Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings  Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 1d | Sc 1e |
Chapter 10: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2a | Sc 2b | Sc 3a | Sc 3b | Sc 3c |
Chapter 11: Sc 1a |  Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 12: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4a | Sc 4b | Sc 5a |
Raging Sea Chapter 12, Scene 5b©2016 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.
“What we seek,” said Ælle, “is to right a wrong—a wrong that was perpetrated against yourself, as well, in the murdering of your brother’s son.”

Cissa regarded them for so long that Camilla felt as if she could start looking for a bolt hole in earnest. That marble tile over there looked promising. Perhaps she could pry it loose…

Finally, he rose and bade them follow him to his private reception chamber. The same guards that had conducted her and her father into Cissa’s presence accompanied the party. At the doors, Cissa ordered his men to wait outside.

Cued by the king’s entrance, thralls appeared through doorways to adjoining rooms bearing food and drink, which they arranged upon the table before retreating. The entire time, Cissa stared at a deerhide map of Brædæn tacked to one stone wall.

Ælle and Camilla helped themselves to wine goblets from the table and joined him. Camilla pressed another goblet into the hand of her almost-uncle-by-marriage, and he nodded his thanks.

Cissa tapped a scarlet X above the crook of a river at the edge of blue-marked Eingel territory. On all Saxon maps, scarlet represented holdings controlled by or allied with the Bræde Dragon King. This particular X sat just a little more than two score miles south and east of the Dragon King’s home fortress.

“The White Fort?” Camilla dared to ask. Ælle shot her an annoyed look, which she ignored.

“Caer Gwenion in the tongue of the Brædeas,” Cissa supplied.

She asked, “What has that Brædan stronghold to do with our venture?”

“Perhaps nothing, my dear… or everything.” Cissa gave her an indulgent smile. “It all depends upon whether Caer Gwenion’s chief, Melwas, a trading partner of mine, hates Arthur and Guenevara as much as we do.”

Camilla shrugged. “He’s a Bræde. Of course he’s allied with Arthur.”

“There are alliances… and alliances.” Cissa tipped his goblet to his lips and took a long draught. “I shall make discreet inquiries regarding the firmness of Melwas’s association with Arthur. I expect an answer by the Thor’s Day after next. You are both welcome to stay here until then if you wish. The news shall determine which course of action we shall take next.”

Camilla noted the we and broke into the biggest grin she’d felt in weeks.

“Thank you!” She hoped the kiss she planted on Cissa’s bewhiskered cheek conveyed the full depth of her appreciation.

A campaign into northern Brædæn was going to require months of planning and staging—perhaps even a year or more. But she saw Cissa’s participation as a sign that the gods were on her side in this endeavor.

With that being the case, she couldn’t possibly lose.
 
*** The end of Chapter 12 ***


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The Business of Writing: Better Tweets for Your Books! #MFRWOrg #ASMSG #IARTG

Back in February, I blogged about Twitter marketing for authors in this post. It focuses mainly on how to manage your Twitter account to maximize your network following and grow your list of people who faithfully retweet your posts.

Today I'm diving into the nuts and bolts of creating better tweets for your books. 

If you're just getting started, you can read some solid general tweeting advice (if a bit dated, since Twitter has abandoned its longer-tweet plan, and thank heaven for that mercy) by Teena Thach for the Socedo blog.

For those of you who have been around the Twitter block a time or two, I invite you to consider the following examples.

Tweet Example 1

Wil's Winter: Five years later (Red Summer Book 2) Antoinette Houston (Author) http://ow.ly/1018L9 @1975Okame

Does that tweet induce you to click on the book's link? Maybe, if you're already a fan of the series or are familiar with the author's other work.

Better: aim for a unique, intriguing hook, such as:

Even a small town with a stupid name like Horsenose can have big-city drama.
WIL'S WINTER: 5 Yrs Later by @1975Okame http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00OE9QVG0/systemsupportser

Note that I had to shorten the subtitle and didn't have room for the author's name. I prefer to embed my Twitter handle (@KimHeadlee, and thanks for the follow! :) in my tweets whenever I have room for it so I can track its reach. But then I was fortunate enough to claim a Twitter handle that's recognizable as my name.

The other issue with the tweet in Example 1 is that the shortened link expands to point to the paperback edition of the book, rather than the Kindle edition I coded into my version. That's not a "Twitter sin" per se, but I've learned that most customers will be more likely to impulse-buy the less expensive digital version rather than paying far more to kill a tree.

Note also that I didn't bother to shorten my link. That's because Twitter dedicates 23 characters to a link regardless of its length. If you don't believe me, try it!


Tweet Example 2

A romantic comedy adventure for anyone who likes a good story. @kezzamac
http://ow.ly/1019m3  #beezeebooks

Okay... so we've got a romantic comedy-adventure story. What's the title? Removing the extra space between the link and the hashtag leaves 28 characters in which to give the title. Potential customers need to see an item at least seven times before deciding to buy it. They won't know what to buy if you don't tell them!


Tweet Example 3

INVISIBLE CHILD is about a boy who is hidden and then abandoned by parents @GolondrinaBooks http://amzn.to/1URVEcl

When I see passive voice in a tweet, I wonder whether the book was written that way too. To solve that problem, I would rewrite the tweet as:

What happened to @GolondrinaBooks's INVISIBLE CHILD, who was hidden then abandoned by his parents? http://amzn.to/1URVEcl

Note that I reworded the hook as a question that cannot be answered by either "yes" or "no."

Why? Because the yes-or-no question is the weakest form of writing because it's the easiest to dismiss. You do not want to give potential readers any excuse to dismiss your books!

Of course you can also incorporate review blurbs and excerpts in your tweets.


In every case, select language designed to engage and entice your readers.

Happy tweeting and marketing!


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All this month, you are invited to…

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— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
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In Irina's Cards by @chris_a_hart release tour @MoBPromos NA paranormal

THE VARIANT CONSPIRACY

by

Christine Hart

Editor & Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Cover Designer: Covers by RamonaOfficial Genre: NA Paranormal Sci-Fi Romance


In Irina’s Cards is the story of 19-year-old Irina Proffer who discovers a world of fringe genetic science and supernatural mystery. Following visions inspired by a strange deck of tarot cards, Irina learns of an amazing variation in her genetic code. She has the ability to see the past, present and future, in her life and the lives around her.

Irina sets out from her northern home for BC's coastal capital to get answers. She is drawn in by a powerful first love and a compelling, yet dangerous mystery. Working at Innoviro Industries and meeting other 'variants' brings Irina closer and closer to the dark truth about her origins. She finds herself at the heart of two overlapping love triangles as she scrambles to escape her employer's grip. At the close of the novel, Irina realizes she has merely scratched the surface of a frightening conspiracy on a global scale.



We reached the end of the Harbour and the coastline opened up around the corner. I saw a sign for ferries to the US in front of a giant concrete breakwater and a pub decorated with a helm wheel and a mural with starfish and orcas. The hazy soft blues of the ocean and sky were broken by the jagged edges of American snow-capped mountains on the horizon. The seaside sidewalk had a mix of young families, dog-walkers, and spry seniors in trendy windbreakers.

“You know what they say about the people here in Victoria, right?” said Jonah, as he watched me watch everyone else.

“No, I can’t say that I do. More money than they know what to do with?”

“True, but not as bad as Vancouver. Ever heard of the saying ‘newlyweds and nearly deads’ or as my mom says, ‘God’s waiting room.’”

“Kind of a dark way to look at things, isn’t it?”

“My mom’s a dark lady, but hilarious. I hope you don’t mind, but I also invited Cole and his sister. You’ll love this little restaurant. It’s got awesome food and live music, but not too hipster-ish,” said Jonah.

Something dropped in my chest. If Cole brought his sister, we were just a group of friends going for dinner. I felt silly for having thought that we were going on a date. We turned another corner and Jonah pulled the car over next to a brick building with a 50’s style neon sign that read ‘Cymbals’ next to a caricature of a drum set. I followed Jonah through the wrought iron gate and looked up at the oak tree on the lawn next to the patio. Tiny fresh leaves and new buds covered the gnarled old tree. It was also home to dozens and dozens of sneakers, canvas shoes, skate shoes, oxfords – basically any kind of shoe with laces to tie together.

The air felt warm enough to linger, so I walked over to the tree and looked upward. I smiled. I reached up to one of the lower branches and touched one of the shoes. The yard and the tree melted away. I saw the face of a girl with faintly bluish skin and platinum hair. She turned and I saw two leather-like wings flex and relax. Her shirt had been cut to make room for her wings which stretched out past the frayed edges of the fabric. She was standing in a sewer or catacomb.

Faces milled around the winged girl. It wasn’t quite like a party, maybe more like a camp. An older lady standing next to the winged girl reached down to the ground. She pinched the concrete and plucked something, maybe a stone, off the surface. The stone wriggled. It was a camouflaged beetle, exactly like the one I’d seen on my first day in the city. She lifted the beetle to her mouth and I reeled back.

The yard outside Cymbals surrounded me again in a blink. Jonah stared at me. I noticed my arm had stayed raised beneath the shoes and withdrew it.

“Are you all right?”

I heard fear in his voice.

“Rubin mentioned that you were psychic, but I never knew what it actually looked like. I mean, I’ve never witnessed anyone ‘see’ something if that makes sense.”

“Oh, I … what does it look like? It’s still pretty new for me. I’ve always been alone when that happens, but I hadn’t even wondered what somebody watching me gets to see.”

“You looked sort of, gone. And then your eyes rolled back for a moment. I thought you were having a seizure.”

I looked around the yard and fortunately we were alone. Still, I didn’t want to keep talking about this stuff where we could be overheard. More importantly, what was Rubin doing sharing my personal information while giving me his best poker face?

“Let’s go inside. I’m hungry.” I didn’t much feel like sitting down to a social night anymore.

Cole waved from a table on the other side of the building. Sitting next to him, a girl with purple dreadlocks looked up from her purse and smiled.

The restaurant was full and the combined conversations created a loud chatter. Dim candlelight, a few glass chandeliers, and an antique-looking piano in the corner set a romantic atmosphere that sparked another twinge of embarrassment. On the other hand, the abstract and industrial mixed media wall décor had me looking around for art and film students. Aside from a few biker bars, the edgiest hangout I knew of in Prince George was an indie coffee shop – and it had only been open for a few years when I left.

We made our way around and between tables. Everyone in the restaurant looked like an artist or an intellectual. I felt like an ugly duckling in my plain, boring clothes, but I was glad for the first time since starting my new job that not all of the blue dye had gone from my hair. Jonah reached the table and pulled out a chair for me. We sat down and Cole scowled.

“Dude, what’s up with the timeline fail? We’ve been here for like, half an hour,” said Cole.

“Ignore his attitude. I’m Faith,” the girl said as she extended her hand to me and grinned happily. The flickering light glinted off a stud in her nose and a ring in her eyebrow. She wore dark makeup on her eyes and mouth. She had the same coffee brown eyes as Cole. I couldn’t tell if it was her features or the eyeliner and lipstick, but she looked striking in a bold, exotic way. As we shook hands, her gaze shifted over to Jonah.

We looked at our menus in awkward silence, waiting for a server, sipping our water. I sighed and put down my menu. I could feel Cole’s eyes on me as I watched Faith stare at Jonah, the only person still looking at his menu. I gave in and glanced back at Cole briefly with a small smile. This was all heading in the wrong direction. The time for tact expired along with my patience.

“So I take it we’re all mutants here,” I said casually.

Jonah sprayed water onto his menu and coughed. Cole looked at me urgently. Faith’s mouth made a small ‘O’ under her confused frown.



Amazon US ✯ SoulMate Publishing ✯ Goodreads


Tell us a bit about In Irina’s Cards and The Variant Conspiracy trilogy.I’d definitely classify this NA trilogy as a cross-genre story. They’re a racy blend of paranormal and sci-fi with a strong romantic sub-plot. The story follows a group of renegade mutants tracking an evil corporate conspiracy from the West Coast of North America into the Mojave Desert and hopping to London, Greece, Egypt, and Kenya. But why don’t I just share the blurb?
In Irina’s Cards is the story of 19-year-old Irina Proffer who discovers a world of fringe genetic science and supernatural mystery. Following visions inspired by a strange deck of tarot cards, Irina learns of an amazing variation in her genetic code. She has the ability to see the past, present and future, in her life and the lives around her.
Irina sets out from her northern home for BC's coastal capital to get answers. She is drawn in by a powerful first love and a compelling, yet dangerous mystery. Working at Innoviro Industries and meeting other 'variants' brings Irina closer and closer to the dark truth about her origins. She finds herself at the heart of two overlapping love triangles as she scrambles to escape her employer's grip. At the close of the novel, Irina realizes she has merely scratched the surface of a frightening conspiracy on a global scale.

How did you get started as a writer?I’ve been a writer most of my adult life, but I didn’t set out to be. I went to university with law school in mind, but my first year English teacher encouraged me to be a writer. I didn’t embrace the change right away, but I took a few writing courses. I was 18 when I published my first story in the student newspaper. When I saw my byline in print, I was hooked!
I changed gears into a BA degree with an English major and Professional Writing minor, the latter of which was intended to prepare students for working at newspapers and magazines, as well as corporate communications departments and public relations firms. I figured out pretty quickly that journalism wasn’t my thing. I focused on communications instead. I didn’t switch to fiction until my mid-twenties, experimenting with children’s picture books and short stories before I hit my stride writing young adult. When I realized some of the themes and plots I wanted to explore were more mature than most young adult publishers would tackle, I started considering the new adult market. In Canada, new adult is still being incorporated into the publishing landscape, so the opportunities up here are slim. Fortunately I found an amazing home for The Variant Conspiracy at NY-based Soul Mate Publishing.

Is there anything you’d like your readers to know about you?First of all I’d like my readers to know how grateful I am that they found me and gave me a chance. With a dizzying array of choices in contemporary fiction, I value every single reader who chooses to spend time with my stories and characters.
Second, I’d like everyone to know that my story ideas come from the heart. I want to entertain and inspire, but I also want my readers to think deeply about human nature, modern society, and the future of our world. It sounds heavy for NA fiction. Hopefully my work is fun at the same time!

What do you think makes a good story?Above all, I think a story needs a rollercoaster plot. From there, relatable and likeable characters are critical. When I shape my story ideas – both novels and shorts – I think about the stories and characters from my favourite authors that really stuck with me over the years. Who are those favourite authors? To name just a few, I’ll start with contemporary authors like Neil Gaiman, Charlaine Harris, Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King. Going back a bit farther, I love John Wyndham, Ray Bradbury, J.R.R. Tolkien, and H.P. Lovecraft. Although my personal list of amazing writers is miles longer, those are the really recognizable names that top my picks for master story-crafters.

What do you get up to when you’re not writing fiction?I used to work in the corporate world, specifically marketing and communications. I did mostly business writing – from copywriting, blogging, and press releases to huge policy documents, instruction manuals, and contracts. These days I’m a mom to two toddlers, ages 4 and 1 at the moment.
I also have a bizarre habit of breaking stuff and making stuff for my Etsy shop Sleepless Storyteller. I take apart watches, computers, electronics, and vintage jewellery to create new wearable art. It sounds odd and it is, but turning trash into treasure is too much fun to stop at my own jewellery box. I had to start selling online to make room for new creations.


Located on BC’s beautiful West Coast, I write from my suburban Burnaby home staring at North Vancouver’s iconic Coast Mountains. I love writing about places and spaces with rich history and visually fascinating elements as a backdrop for the surreal and spectacular.

In addition to my undergraduate degree in writing and literature, my background also includes corporate communications and design. I am a current member of the Federation of BC Writers and SF Canada.

When not writing, I have a habit of breaking stuff and making stuff – in that order – under the guise of my Etsy alter-ego Sleepless Storyteller. I share my eclectic home and lifestyle with my husband, baby daughter and preschool son.

Facebook ✯ Goodreads ✯ Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Google+ ✯ Linkedin ✯ Amazon

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Camilla wants to crawl into a hole in Ch 12/Sc 5a of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay c2016  by Kim Headlee. The Picts—Scotland's ancient aboriginal inhabitants who likely migrated to the Highlands from India, a theory based on root language similarities—created some amazing art left behind on their standing stones.

The subjects of these etchings are varied and vast in scope.

Geometric shapes such as arcs, circles, and rods; domestic items, including combs, mirrors, tongs, cauldrons, and mirror cases; people of various social classes and occupations; wild (including boars, bears, lions, birds, and fish) and domestic animals (bulls, dogs, cats, horses, and geese); flowers; and my favorite category, mythological beasts.

Dragons, centaurs, "Nessie" (or an elephant, or a dolphin; no one is quite sure), and, yes, griffins, such as the design I've selected for the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, shown on this page.

Camilla's glyph is adapted from a photograph of the stone designated as "Meigle 26", now located on display in the Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum of Meigle, Scotland.

In today's excerpt of Raging Sea , Camilla wishes she could climb into the hole dug for one of these monuments and then pull the stone back on top of herself.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings  Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 1d | Sc 1e |
Chapter 10: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2a | Sc 2b | Sc 3a | Sc 3b | Sc 3c |
Chapter 11: Sc 1a |  Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 12: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4a | Sc 4b |
Raging Sea Chapter 12, Scene 5a©2016 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.
In spite of the steel and leather battle-gear that covered her from the neck down, Camilla felt naked as she strode beside her father King Ælle, traversing the length of Wintaceaster Hall, flanked by King Cissa’s royal guardsmen.

It seemed as if all the West Saxon nobles’ gazes were fixed upon her, brimming with pity.

Not only had that demon-queen Guenevara killed the man she loved, Camilla’s attempt to exact revenge had failed in the most humiliating way conceivable: as an attack—a failed attack—on the wrong woman.

Her cheeks burned afresh from the memory of her father’s wrath when he had confronted Camilla about the incident, against the Dragon King’s own sister, no less. It was a miracle that Ælle hadn’t removed her from command of the Cymensora garrison, and an even bigger miracle that she’d been able to convince him to accompany her here, to request the help of King Cissa.

She and Ælle reached the platform where Cissa was seated upon his throne, and they saluted him with dips of their heads. Cissa returned the nods with one of his own and bade Ælle to state his business.

“Our business,” said her father with a brief but pointed glance at her, “involves raising an army to attack the Dragon King and his consort, Guenevara of Caledonia. We invite our royal brother-in-arms to share in what shall surely prove to be a profitable venture.”

“So.” Cissa stroked his gray beard, a grin forming. “When subterfuge fails, a direct approach is sought.”

Camilla wanted to crawl into the nearest hole to get away from the glare of that piercing gaze.

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The Business of Writing: BookBub Lessons Learned #MFRWOrg #ASMSG #IARTG

BookBub meme c2016 by Kim Headlee.
Chalice photo c2010 by Marco Varro Depositphotos ID 8031476.
I've been marketing my books for three years now via several methods—blog tours and hops, Facebook parties and ads, informal author spotlight exchanges, Twitter, and most recently, email promotions, paid as well as free.

Free exposure is always good, of course, even if only one person sees your ad. When you're shelling out your pennies, however, the adage that "marketing is about exposure, not sales" (which is true) is tough leather to chew all the time.

The good news is that if you have a great book that has been professionally edited, features a professional cover, the Moon is in the Seventh House—and there's a big enough spot in your advertising budget—you might be lucky enough to score a BookBub "Featured Deal."

Why do I equate paying hundreds of dollars for a single book advertisement with luck? Because the BookBub promotion is the only marketing tool I've discovered to date wherein sales revenue has exceeded the investment in a timely fashion.

If you have achieved the Holy Grail of book marketing by landing a BookBub spot, these are the steps you need to take to maximize the return on investment for your ad:

Immediately: Decide on how long you want to keep the deal in place (I recommend no more than 5 days, inspired by the Kindle Unlimited free promo model), and confirm your assigned feature date.Immediately: Relay any specific instructions not already conveyed. "Let us know if there’s anything in particular we should be aware of about your listing — for instance, if there are multiple editions of the same book available, or if the cover has recently changed." (source: BookBub Deal Checklist).Immediately: If you code your own e-books, begin making sure all embedded product links are up to date for all major platforms (Amazon, Nook, iTunes, etc.), and all available books. If you have several titles, prioritize as follows: the featured book, other titles in the series, then all your other books.
If you don't code your own e-books, ask whether your formatter person/company will do this for you, whether they can complete the work at least three days prior to your BookBub feature, and how much those updates will cost.Immediately: Reschedule any upcoming Kindle Unlimited promotions that might adversely impact sales related to the featured book.You're already paying an arm and both legs to feature one book; let your readers have a shot at any free books either before or after the BookBub promotion, not on the same day. My rule of thumb is to wait three days before running another KU free promo.As soon as possible: Set up free and paid advertising with as many other email promoters as will fit within your budget. My favorites in the "paid" category include Books Butterfly (to get the tracking link), Book Barbarian (if the featured book is SciFi or Fantasy), Robin Reads, BookSends, Genre Pulse, BookZio, and Fussy Librarian. You may elect to schedule these promos to kick in a day or more after the BookBub promo to help keep your momentum going. Oftentimes a potential customer will decide to purchase an e-book if it has a decent Amazon rank already.10 days prior: drop prices on Nook, iTunes, Kobo (you can schedule the Kobo promo in advance), Google Play, and Smashwords for the FEATURED BOOK only. Ask your friends to "report lower price" to Amazon so that its regular Kindle price gets marked out in favor of the matched price. This is another marketing trick to help maximize the deal's "wow factor" in the customer's mind.1 day prior: Check the featured book's Amazon product page to see if they have matched the price of Nook, iTunes, Kobo, etc. If not, then manually lower the price.Day of: Relax. Don't start checking for sales until noon ET.
From the BookBub Deal Checklist: "Your deal will go live on our website between 6-9 a.m. PST, and the email will generally be delivered by 10 a.m.-noon PST."Evening of: Start checking Amazon category rankings. Log stats and take screen shots when appropriate. Post the exciting bits on Twitter, Facebook, etc. to reel in more customers. X days after: Raise prices on all platforms—Amazon, Nook, etc.—again. X = the day after the last day of the deal, decided when the BookBub feature was confirmed.
From the BookBub Policies page: "If a partner expires a deal early with us more than once, we unfortunately will not be able to continue working with them. Please let us know in advance of the promotion if you need to adjust the end date." Do take that bit of advice seriously; you want to keep drinking from this chalice as often as possible.
For more information:

If you've heard rumors, Carlyn Robertson reveals "BookBub Myths Busted" via BookBub's blog. Most of the "myths" are fairly common sense.

There's an interesting take on BookBub by nonfiction author Mike Alvear via the Huffington Post. Many of the comments are well worth the read too, mine included. :D

The following article includes Bookbub's own advice on how to maximize one's chances of being accepted: http://insights.bookbub.com/how-bookbub-selection-process-works/

And another article from BookBub Insights about categories subscribers sign up for: http://insights.bookbub.com/what-else-are-your-bookbub-readers-reading/
It's all pretty much, "Well, no duh" stuff, actually, but the statistics are interesting if you're into that sort of thing.

British author Mary Smith's relates her success on BookBub with a free (as opposed to 99 cents) promo here: http://jackieweger.com/book-promotions-indie-authors-report-results/

My final BookBub lesson to impart to you:

Don't shy from selecting International promotion when submitting your book's deal for review, even though it's less expensive to do so. 

My medieval paranormal novel Snow in July recently was selected only for BookBub's non-US email lists (UK, Canada, Australia, and India). It's considerably less expensive than a US promotion (in my case, $50.00 versus several hundred for a 99-cent book deal), but I still was able to recoup my BookBub investment within the first 24 hours… even though this particular novel is a standalone, and no one has yet (as of two days after the BookBub international feature) bought any of my other novels.

The other advantage to accepting an International-only BookBub promotion is that they waive the 6-month restriction for the title in question, and you may submit it for US promotion consideration again in as little as one month.


Happy Grail hunting and book promoting!
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Accolon creates a memory to cherish in hell in Ch 12/ Sc 4b of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay c2016 by Kim Headlee. This past week I reached the decision to send part 2 of Raging Sea, Enemies & Allies, to my secondary editor for proofreading.

Part 2 represents chapters 7-14 and takes readers to about the halfway point of the story. I have just begun writing chapter 16.

My secondary editor is a longtime, in-the-flesh author-friend, and so I am bartering my e-book formatting services for her novels in exchange for her proofreading skills. This means that we are at the mercy of each other's schedules, but she completed her work on Raging Sea: Reckonings in about two months.

My plan is to make Raging Sea: Reckonings a permafree title once Raging Sea: Enemies & Allies becomes available.

Watch this space for further updates! :)

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings  Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 1d | Sc 1e |
Chapter 10: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2a | Sc 2b | Sc 3a | Sc 3b | Sc 3c |
Chapter 11: Sc 1a |  Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 12: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4a |
Raging Sea Chapter 12, Scene 4b©2016 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.
Morghe's lips parted in a sultry manner.

Accolon knew he should resist their tacit, tempting invitation. But he was already a dead man walking for having let her get wounded. He may as well take a memory of heaven with him into hell.

Bending so close that his face hovered over hers, he murmured, “It means that this day, Morghe ferch Uther, I am no man’s best friend.”

“Only this day?” She feigned a pretty pout, the corners of her mouth quirking upward.

“This is the only day that matters to me.”

As he lowered his lips to hers, she reached up with her good arm and pulled him the rest of the distance. Their mouths met with explosive, demanding force. While staying mindful of her injured shoulder, he slipped his hand beneath the coverlet to discover that the bandage was all she wore. It covered one breast, but the other he tweaked and teased until she began to gasp—and not from pain.

She tugged at the laces of his trews.

His hand stilled, and he pulled back.

He must have displayed an expression she didn’t like, for hers became annoyed. “Urien and I laid together last night. If I conceive, I won’t even know who the father is.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

She grinned. “You and he are not so dissimilar in appearance. He will gladly accept any son I bear as his.” The grin faded, and her gaze became unfocused, as if she were looking within herself. When she regarded him again, the look had turned sharp and shrewd. “By the time any other traits manifest, it will be too late.”

“Too late? Do you mean one of us will be dead?” Panic clawed at his gut; he knew damned well which of them it would be.

Her gaze softened. She combed the fingers of her hand through her hair and used it to grasp his hand, tugging him closer. He couldn’t resist. “My lord Accolon shall do well to remember that as chieftainess, I wield the power of life and death over all those who look to me for protection.”

She guided his hand to fondle her nethers. He couldn’t resist that silent command either. The way she arched and moaned excited him as no other woman had done before, and he quickened his sweet assault.

This time when she tugged at the knot of his laces, he helped her strip off his trews. She opened to him, and—mindful of her wound, which she seemed to have forgotten in her frenzy—he lost no time burying himself to the hilt. In no time she had him bucking and gasping past all capacity for rational thought.

He might doubt her ability to protect him from Urien’s wrath, but this… ah, this would be one damned fine memory to cherish for an eternity in hell.

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Please enter often, and good luck!