Nerves of STEEL – erm – Jello

When I released Neverlove, I was so overly excited that I didn’t get to be nervous. Plus, I had my Partner in ParanormYA by my side, virtually that is, to address each day’s issues that came up. So when it came to Frailties of the Bond, I figured this would be “old hat business”. Been there. Done it. Thought about getting the t-shirt designed but couldn’t quite afford commissioning a custom art piece for the tee lol!

With March 20^th’s release date staring me eyeball to eyeball, I have nerves of STEEL – erm – Jello. They’re flimsy, flopping about like lightning struck live wires. I’m at the corner of not-quite-a-nervous-wreck and what-the-Frankenstein-makes-me-think-ANYONE-will-care-about-this-story-or-me?

Not a very confident place to be lol!!

But am I going to go ostrich and stick my head in the ground? Well, maybe for about two minutes – lol! – but not much longer than that. Nothing gets accomplished by doing nothing.

I’ve done something, taken a chance on me and believing that someone out there just might enjoy a short, quick read about two teens discovering things about themselves and about love-lust-love :-)

Yes, there will be vampires.

Sorry, they don’t sparkle.

About Angela Brown

Single mom, working author, lover of chocolate and Wild Cherry Pepsi addict. Story telling includes Neverlove, an upper YA novel with paranormal, action and romance elements woven throughout. Then there’s Frailties of the Bond, a YA urban fantasy where one bite can change a life.

Pieces of Me by Eisley Jacobs

I'm so excited to announce the upcoming release of my Young Adult Science-Fantasy Novel, PIECES OF ME.  

Blurb: Forget everything you know. Forget your name. Forget any memory of your parents. Forget your own face in the mirror. Then, and only then, can you understand my world. My name is Braidan, and I'm seventeen years old. I wake every day with no memory of what happened yesterday. No recollection of who I am. Only a series of sticky notes hint at the life I supposedly lead. But no matter how hard I try, I can't dismiss the thought that this isn't my life or my true identity. Notes plastered all over my room and school books tell me to search for answers. But how can I learn the truth when I'll forget everything the moment my mind drifts to sleep? Ian, the new boy at school, claims he has the key to my walking coma. If what he says is true, I'm far more than just a girl with amnesia... and I've got precious little time to unlock my past. Pieces of Me depend on it.

About the Novel: PIECES OF ME started out as a log line rolling around my head at 1:30 in the morning. I jotted it down in my phone (otherwise I wouldn't have slept) and let it sit there for weeks (maybe it was months, time just seems to zip by these days). Then, after the publication of my first two novels (BORN TO BE A DRAGON and RUNAWAY CHOICES), I came to a lull in my writing schedule and happened to look at my phone one day and WHAMMO, it just sort of happened. The novel flew from my fingertips faster than almost any novel I'd written in my life, but somewhere around 3/4ths of the way, I stalled and stared at the screen, wondering what was next. Wondering how my timeline would work itself out. I charted and charted timeline after timeline, hoping to figure out the algorithms down to the minute. And when I did, I stared at it for days and still wrote nothing. The breaking point happened when I realized I'd come to a stalemate because I didn't want to see the novel end. After I allowed myself time to mourn, and mourn I did, I finished the novel. I cried when I closed the file for the last time and realized (to the tune of Gracie's Theme by Paul Cardall) that my characters have so much to live for and so much hope. The PIECES OF ME that were placed in this novel were now ready for the readers. I sat on this novel a long time, unwilling to open my fists and release it into the wild. So, after a couple months of dragging the feet of indecision, I finally made the plunge and shimmied up the Indie ladder once again. The view from up here is amazing. I can see the book in the hands of the world, and it's exciting. I'm excited about this release and hope it lives up to the reviews I've already received.

About the Author: Eisley Jacobs Eisley Jacobs lives in Shingle Springs, California with her three children and husband. Eisley actively writes the characters that stroll through her head. The first YA Novel she completed was in high school, but somehow got lost in the shuffle into real life. While studying at college, stories began to plague her mind and she tried her best to keep them at bay while she did more important things like... like... Who are we kidding? Her grades suffered because the voices wouldn't stop. So instead of going insane, she wrote. In 2010, a blue dragon named Deglan interfered in her attempts to finish the final book in the YA series and thus the series starter for DRAGONS FOREVER, BORN TO BE A DRAGON, was hatched and has found a home in the hearts of many children. Eisley's first YA Sci-Fantasy, PIECES OF ME, is due out March 27. To learn more about Eisley and her novels click here.

The Writing Life: Be Prepared

When I discovered my post on the Indie E blog was set for March 12^th, I knew I had to do something related to the birthday of the Girl Scouts / Girl Guides organization (https://www.girlguides.ca). Here I am getting “sworn in” as a Brownie way back in the 70s:

Besides my enduring love of the cookies, I’d have to say my time in the Canadian Girl Guides as a Brownie, Guide, and Pathfinder – has impacted my writing life. Through Girl Guides I was able to try numerous creative, physical, and mentally challenging activities. To volunteer, to survive winter and summer campouts, to fundraise, to perform, to sing - to fail and allow myself to try again.

That’s right, my friends, when you embark on a writing career it’s best to have a few merit badges under your belt. Ones perhaps along the lines of:

Thick Skin Badge,

Show Don’t Tell Badge

I Wrote a Query and Then I Wrote 100 More Badge

There’s No Such Thing as a New Story Badge

But That Was My Idea Badge

My Book Was Optioned But There’s Still No Movie Badge

I Self-Published My Rejected Novels as EBooks Badge

I Have Seventeen Social Media Sites to Maintain Badge

My Ass Gets Bigger With Each Book I Write Badge

But, seriously? Yes, I’d say my time selling cookies door-to-door and in malls around town has influenced my writing today. Girl Guides introduced me to the thrill of a good campfire ghost story, taught me tragic songs about the Titanic and so I understood the power of a sad ending, but mostly I absorbed their motto: Be Prepared.

That’s really it. Writing life will challenge you, scare you, thrill / astonish / uplift you and just as easily break your heart. So read all the manuals. Learn from your fellow writers. Lend a hand and be kind to each other along the journey.

And be prepared for the ride of your life.

You can follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judithgraveswrites

On the Twitter: @judithgraves

Or via my website: www.judithgraves.com

Full-Blown Panic

The year is getting away from me and it's only March.
Early March at that.

Some days I feel there is so much to do I have to lie down for a while, which turns into a nap, which then turns into panic that I've slept so long I've missed the school pickup.

There are forms on the desk that need filling out. Appointments to make. Exercises to do (because the physiotherapy bills are pretty huge so there's no point paying all that money if I don't then do the work).

Oh, and a manuscript to finish. And four book covers to design.

Which will also necessitate the redesign of my website and then the promotions on top of that . . .

Oh, and I'd better format the books into all those different, um, formats, so they can go on sale.

Breathe, Ebs, breathe!

The thing is, everyone I know is insanely busy just about every single day. We get done what we can, and try not to beat ourselves up about it.

One of my new years resolutions this year was to look after my back. I have pathetic posture from slumping over a keyboard all day for the past mumble-twenty-mumble years. I'm getting there, with loads of help from the physiotherapist. That's one thing I'm sorting out.

The other resolution was to launch my Ondine novels into the USA, starting in June. (Only 3 months away. Breathe, Ebs, breathe!)

But the big resolution this year was to say 'No' more often.
I've stepped down from fundraising at my son's school. I still help out with some things, but I'm not on the committee. I'm not carrying that load around with me.

I said no to my writers' group committee - I could not see that I'd have the time to be the treasurer. I did say yes to being the Librarian, because I'm a control freak and I've downloaded an app to put the collection on and it's feeding my OCD.

I'm making LISTS.
Lists, people.

Lists are helping me get through the pile of things that need doing. Then, when I've done them, I can draw a line through them.

You may have noticed I like structure in my novels. The same applies to life. I like structure in my life. I like knowing, more of less, what is going to happen each day. I love surprises (like when my husband comes home from work with chocolate. Not the kind of surprises where I start thinking about what to make for dinner and the refrigerator is empty).

Lists are my structure. Lists are my friend. Lists will get me through this. Lists stop me spinning wildly like the Tasmanian Devil of cartoon fame (not the real ones, which don't spin. Not even if you give them a push).

How about you? Do you make lists or do you find them too restrictive? What are your tips for getting through a pile of "things" that need doing?

~Ebony McKenna

Author of the Ondine series. The Ondine books are a sparkling combination of romance and magic – perfect for teen girls. Written with genuine humour and unique eccentricity, the series is an obvious choice for fans of The Princess Bride and Ella Enchanted.

Loss of Indie Free-dom

Many an indie author has gained notice and a foothold in sales by actually giving their book away for free, but the benefits of such a thing may be going the way of the dinosaur. 

For those of you scratching your head and wondering, "Free, you say? How can that possibly help sales?" worry not, I haven't gone off my rocker. In the past, when an author listed their book for free, spread the word, and got as many people to download it as possible, it climbed the ranks of free books, and if they were lucky, made it into the top 'selling' free books. Lists of top selling free books in all different types of genres were extremely popular trolling grounds on Amazon for readers looking for a free read. One way this helps sales is that people are more likely to buy your second, third, and following books if they have read the first. Another way is that it got the author up on the lists, got them noticed, and if they were lucky, the sales picked right up where the downloads left off as soon as their book went back to paid. Sounds crazy, but it worked. 

Worked being the key word. There was a time when we could 'tag' books on Amazon. This helped people find books that were tagged with words like 'fantasy', 'dragons', 'vampires', etc. Amazon tags disappeared. You may have noticed the Amazon 'Like' buttons are disappearing as well. Some books have them, some don't. Authors and published are unable to control which do and which don't. The 'Amazon Gods' are the only ones who know why this is disappearing. The 'Likes' helped books get noticed by easily promoting them on FaceBook, as well as in other ways, such as the effect how many likes a book had on the mysterious algorithms. 

And now, Amazon is messing with free books. The 'best selling' lists of free books are getting harder to find, some are even disappearing. Many websites offer links to books on Amazon. This is part of Amazon's 'Associate' plan. Those sites (blogs included) can get a percentage off books sold to customers who click on them through the website listing them. Amazon has put their foot down on those websites who promote mostly free books, saying they won't pay them for advertising if the majority of the books they advertise are free. This means authors who used such websites to spread the word about their free book, will find fewer websites willing to spread the word for them. Which honestly, was the best way to get your downloads up and get onto the 'best selling' free lists. 

Whether you're a reader who enjoyed discovering new authors through free books, building your reading list with them, or you're an author who used them as part of your marketing plan, this will effect you. The only constant in this business, is change. 

~Heather

Author of the paranormal Earth-conscious channeler series: Born of Fire (FREE novella), The Secret of Spruce Knoll, Channeler's Choice, Rise of a Rector, and the historical fantasy, To Ride A Puca. Heather also has stories in the following anthologies: In His Eyes  and Winter Wonders. 

Why We Write

I spent last weekend with an amazing lady, and indie author—Syd Blue. As I watched Syd sell her books at cost, it reminded me how powerful the gift of writing can be. Her attitude is to inspire our children, at whatever cost. What a great reason to write.

For the young ladies, Fly Girl is a story of sixteen year-old Jill who learns to fly the hard way. Jill has far less than the perfect life—more responsibility than a teen should have. But despite the challenges Jill faces throughout the story she calls life, she learns to believe in herself and takes responsibility for the consequences of her actions. This is a book that (secretly) teaches, while it entertains and inspires. I wish I had this book when my kids were young.

Syd did not want to leave out the boys, so she wrote a second book, Circle. Imagine Indiana Jones meets ET, and you have Circle. Fun flying scenes and excitement for all ages, and the girls will love this too. What would your son do if an extraterrestrial girl turned up under his bed?

A pilot herself, Syd knows the power behind taking control of a plane and how it fuels confidence. Something that we all want our children to have. There is a great analogy between being in control of your life, and flying a plane where you literally are.

Please take a moment to visit Syd at:  

Fly Girl, Life in the Skies.
Follow her on Twitter @SydBlue

If you know any child you want to inspire, and stuff their Easter Basket with something yummy for the soul… Circle and Fly Girl are both priced right and found at Amazon.

Syd, Linda, Heather and Karlene at the SFO writers conference 2010~

Why do you write?

Enjoy the Journey!
XO~ Karlene


Karlene is the author of Flight For Control, an aviation thriller that will change the way you look at flying forever.

Writing in the Sensitive

Get your copy at Amazon

My novel, Neverlove, tackles a few heavy-hitting topics:

Familial sexual abuse

Suicide

Unrealistic expectations

When topics like these aren’t handled well (determining this is, of course, subjective to each reader), they can result in a DNF – did not finish – like the review I saw for a novel.  A rape scene caused the DNF, not so much because it was in the novel, but because it had no purpose, it played no part in driving the story forward so the reviewers couldn’t appreciate the way it was handled.

For Neverlove, I tread delicately when addressing the familial sexual abuse in particular. There is a deeply painful violation in the real life act. Bringing this matter into the story, I didn’t want to add insult to injury for readers who may have experienced it before by treating it as some instant I’m-over-it kind of thing.

It was suggested to me, once, to leave it out altogether. I gave that suggestion a great deal of thought. But my main character, Abby, came back with a response of her own, “I came to you broken and in need of mending, in need of sharing the pain of my past so others can know they are not alone as I’ve always thought I was alone.”

Nuff said.

What about you? Have you ever written about (or considered writing about) a very sensitive topic? Perhaps you’ve read a book that deals with a very touchy or even taboo subject. What was your response to the way it was handled?

~ Angela Brown, a lover of Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate/chocolate covered delicious-ness, also author of the dark YA Neverlove with elements of paranormal, romance and action woven throughout.

Visit her at:

Amazon author page | Twitter @neostateofmind |Partners in ParanormYA blog | Newsletter |Publishness blog