The End of Chapter 2012

12/31/2012 0 Comments

2012 is just about done, the end of another chapter. Tomorrow we’ll be starting chapter 2013. Too bad we can’t skim through it to see what’s going to happen. :)

2012 was a year of growth and education for me, which makes me wonder what 2013 has in store. Here are some of the things that happened to me in 2012:

1.) I got my editor, and he’s awesome. I’m grateful to have him in my life.

2.) I got a day job. I had taken over a year off to write, but then felt bad because Kevin was working and I wasn’t. Besides, I figured the extra income would help us out a lot and allow us to reach our future goals faster. I was right, and I have one of the best jobs in town for a girl–I think.

3.) I learned how to publish my book.

4.) I got a wonderful cover artist who is now doing the cover to Dark Spirits. She’s great.

5.) I learned how to do a book trailer, and despite being illiterate in technology, I did it. Yay, me.

6.) I learned a lot about the mechanics in publishing, which includes ISBN, copyrighting, etc.

7.) I published Beyond the Eyes.

8.) I faced some of my fears, which is a BIG one. The following are the fears I had to face.

     A.) Nobody liking my book and getting nothing but bad reviews.

     B.) Doing a podcast. I was so scared about being interviewed on internet radio, but come to find out we had the highest rating, outranking their affiliates that same night. Not bad for my first time doing something like that.

     C.) Doing a book signing. I was so scared nobody would show up, but they did!

     D.) Doing a TV interview. Ohmygod! I was scared to death! The day before the interview, I found out I had pneumonia, but I did it anyway. :)

9.) I joined Goodreads, which I love. I also joined Pinterest, Twitter, and finally created an author page on Facebook. I joined other sites as well, but those are the main ones.

10.) I met and became friends with some awesome authors. They’re all great!

11.) I’ve learned, and I’m still learning this whole marketing thing. However, things are clicking, and I think by the end of 2013, I’ll have a formula down that will work. If so, I’ll share it with you guys. :)

There are other things, but those are the ones I can recall at the moment. I think 2013 could be an interesting chapter. Dark Spirits will be published in February (hopefully), and I’m aiming to publish The Devil’s Third at the end of 2013. I still have a lot to learn, but that’s okay. That’s one of the main reasons why we’re here, right? To learn and grow.

I hope you guys have a safe and Happy New Year! :)

0 comments:

Book Review-Time’s Twisted Arrow by Rysa Walker

12/28/2012 2 Comments

The genre this book falls under is young adult with a sci-fi, historical flair to it. However, it can be enjoyed by adults as well. There is no doubt about that. I’m an adult, although I don’t feel like one, and I totally got into this book.

I give this book five stars *****

Seventeen-year-old Kate is the main character in this imaginative tale. When Kate’s grandmother tells her she has inherited designer DNA from the time-traveling historians of CHRONOS (Chrono-Historical Research Organization and Natural Observation Society), Kate is taken aback by this information. However, she can’t deny how she can see a blaring blue light cast by an odd looking medallion her grandmother carries with her. Nobody can see its brilliance, but Kate and the people who carry this gene. And when Kate holds it, she can feel an intense pulse of energy.
 
Kate’s grandmother was born in 2282, and she’s a historian who used to work for CHRONOS. When she worked for them, she specialized in women’s political movements and would travel to the sites where history was being made. The key or medallion is a portable unit that allowed Kate’s grandmother and other people who worked for CHRONOS to return to headquarters when their research was complete. Because Kate has the gene, it gives her the ability to activate the medallion, and she can set the coordinates to where she wants to be transported to.

Each continent has a certain number of destination points, which are called stable points, where you can transport to, like for example a barn in Chicago. Kate’s grandfather Saul had sabotaged CHRONOS for his own personal agenda, which stranded the teams at their various locations. Kate’s grandmother was stranded in 1969, and unbeknownst to Saul, she was pregnant with twins. One of the twins was Kate’s mother. But the kicker is this, Katherine (grandmother) was murdered at the age of twenty-two on a research trip, which means she never gave birth, and therefore Kate doesn’t exist. Of course she does because of the medallion. But one night, a rogue time-traveler takes it from her grandmother, and she blinks out of existence. Now it’s up to Kate to go back to 1893 and restore the time line.

It seems like a piece-of-cake, right? Go back in time, change a few things, and jump back to your time line. It’s not though. Kate’s grandfather Saul has people working for him. His objective is to change the world by tweaking history and becoming its leader through a religious group he invented called Cyrist. He fashions himself as a Messiah, making predictions that obviously come true because he knows about them ahead of time, and the people working for him aims to thwart Kate’s plans in saving her grandmother’s life.

And then there’s Kiernan. He’s not only good-looking, but Kate’s ally and somebody she had a love affair with when she was in a different time line but doesn’t remember it. Kiernan remembers, though, and does what he can to help her.

Now throw Trey into the mix. Trey is another hot guy Kate falls in love with, and he knows about her lot in life. She meets him after a temporal aberration in the time line occurs, where now her mom doesn’t exist, and her dad doesn’t know her.

I have to say this story is a mind *BLEEP*. It reminds me of the movie The Butterfly Effect. I think Rysa is brilliant for creating a tale that makes you wonder if there’s some truth to this.

Are there time-travelers that can alter the time line to bend history a bit?

Who the *BLEEP* knows?

This is the first book in a series, and I can’t wait to read the second one. I definitely recommend this book, and I have to say, this story would make a cool movie.
 
 

2 comments:

Thank You

12/27/2012 0 Comments

I want to thank everybody for participating in this blog hop. This was my first time doing one, and I had fun. I already picked and contacted the winner. I do think I’m a day ahead of myself, but if you remember, I had problems with that Rafflecopter. For some reason it wouldn’t allow me to set the time or add more than two options.

Oh, well.

I will be doing more awesome giveaways in the near future. My second book to my YA paranormal series will be out sometime in February, and I have really cool prizes planned for it.

I can’t wait!

You guys will love it.

I also want to thank you for your holiday wishes and support. It means a lot to me. I wish all of you the same and to have a Happy New Year! :)

I'll be back tomorrow with a book review.

Until then, sweet dreams. <3

0 comments:

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop December 21st -27th

12/20/2012 133 Comments




The Mid-Winters Eve Blog hop is hosted by Kathy at ‘I Am A Reader, Not A Writer’ and is Co-hosted by ‘Oasis for YA.’ Here is how it works: A bunch of blogs sign up to host a giveaway and then we link up together (using the linky list below) which enables everyone who’s participating in the hop, as well as all of our collective followers, to visit each giveaway blog. This allows blogs to get new followers and followers to find new blogs. Not to mention it’s fun to enter the giveaways.

The Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop begins December 21st at 12:00 a.m. and ends December 27th at 11:59 p.m.

THE PRIZE

One lucky follow will win a $15.00 gift card to Amazon

THE RULES

This prize will be delivered by email, typically within 24 hours of responding to my notification email. Everyone who enters must be legally able to do so. Please follow all the rules for the hop entries. I do check them, so don’t cheat. The winner will have 48 hours to respond after I send out the notification email, if I do not hear from you, I’ll choose an alternate winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

F.Y.I.

This is the first time I've used this Rafflecopter and for some reason it's only allowing me to give two options in this giveaway. So, if you like my Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/RebekkahFord2012 and tweet about the giveaway, I'll add two more points each to your entry, which will then give you 4 extra points. However, you need to let me know so I can add them to your entry.


Don’t forget to hop down the line and enter ALL the giveaways!


List of blogs

133 comments:

Book Review on Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade/Young Adult

Hardcover: 496 pages

Blurb:

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath–someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s somewhere she does belong, and that staying with her family will put her in grave danger. In a blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come "home." There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory–secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans–that other people desperately want. Would even kill her.

I give this story 4 stars


I’ve been following Shannon Messenger for a while now and remember when she was going through edits with this book and how hard she worked on it. I think her hard work has paid off, and she’s a delightful author to follow.

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster is a wonderful character. When she was five, she had hit her head which somehow triggered her telepathic abilities. She now can hear people’s thoughts; however, she never tells anybody about it, and she silently suffers through all the noises in her head and the migraines it produces.

Sophie is a prodigy, and although she’s only twelve, she has advanced to the twelfth grade to the dismay of some of her senior classmates.

The story begins with Sophie on a class field trip at a museum. She notices a strikingly good-looking boy with dark hair and startling blue eyes, staring at her. His name is Fitz. He’s a Telepath like Sophie, and he tells her she’s not human–she’s an elf like him. Of course she laughs in his face, and she says, "Fine. I’m an elf. Am I supposed to help Frodo destroy the ring and save Middle-earth? Or do I have to make toys in the North Pole?" Shannon made me chuckle when I read that line.

Anyway, Fitz pulls out his pathfinder–a silver wand with a small, round crystal on its tip–and convinces her to go with him. Sophie is whisked away to another realm. Shannon did a marvelous job creating a world with crystal castles, snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys and people with abilities us as humans would consider magic.

Sophie and Fitz land in Lumenari, which is one of the lost cities. It’s where all the worlds come together: gnomes, dwarves, ogres, goblins, trolls. Fitz explains to her about the government structure, cast system, and generally how everything works in the lost cities. I thought the whole set-up was awesome, and it made me want to live there. Maybe because money has nothing to do with social rank. Everybody has a fine house. Their world is based on talent, and there’s a city designed for the type of work they do.

I thought this was a good book, but what bothered me about it was I thought Shannon was channeling Harry Potter’s world a bit. For example, Sophie is taken to a working-class city called Mysterium, to get some medicine. The town reminded me of Diagon Alley. Especially, when Sophie enters a shop called "SLURPS AND BURPS: YOUR MERRY APOTHECARY." However, she did meet Dex there, and he’s one of my favorite characters.

Another example is when Sophie had to lick a silver strip on her locker which uses her DNA to open it. The strip has a flavor that each faculty member choices, and it reminded me of Bertie Botts. And honestly, if this story had continued mirroring Harry Potter’s world, I would have stopped reading it.

Thank god it didn’t.

So to sum the story up before this review becomes a book itself, Sophie is a prodigy. She has gifts that were stored into her memory but nobody knows by whom. This tale shows how she’s adjusting to her new world and discovering who she really is. It doesn’t answer who her real parents are or who created her and why? I guess we’ll have to wait for the next book to find out, which I’ll definitely be reading when it comes out.

0 comments:

Author Feature

I’m doing an author feature on Amelia Mah. Check out what she sent me. 





FANGS RULE

A self help guide by Amy Mah (vampire) for teenage vampire girls, the guide is fully illustrated by manga Artist Heby and is written in an easy to follow A - Z format explaining everything a teenage vampire girl would need to know about living life as a modern vampire. What is fashionable to wear when eating out? Fang maintenance & how to keep your claws sharp. Should you let a boy bite you on the first date? Easy to understand clear advice is given to every day problems. Example: When you get an urge to bite: We all get those normal urges to bite things, and I must point out it is very normal. Claws are all well and good in a fight but a bite gives the extra advantage of getting a refreshing drink at the same time. Lots of girls worry about showing their fangs in public believing that to show your fangs is rude, but don't be shy, they can be a girls greatest asset (ok second greatest asset). If a boy is being rude to you, don't just snarl at him, bite him! You are a vampire, why do you think you have sharp teeth, if not for sinking them into a boy that is being rude to you. Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yMhjAR4nDg 
 
VAMPIRE


Today's world is difficult for everyone, especially teenagers. They face the stresses of school, deciding whom to date, and the biggie of sex, just to name a few. Imagine all of those things ten times worse, and you might get an idea of what it's like being a living, breathing teenage vampire. At last, the world can read about the life of a girl with good teeth, her problems with strong sunlight that gave her spots, and the sunblock that made her hair go yucky and produced more spots. Yes, sunlight was dangerous, as she could be the first teenager in history to die from terminal acne! In her everyday life, older vampires expected her to walk about at night in the traditional female uniform, a see-through, 18th-century nightdress, without undies! Well, this female vampire knew why the cold winds blowing along the corridors were called, "male winds," so she wore her see-through nightdress over jeans and a very thick jumper. To be sure that people would still know she was a vampire, the jumper had a very large, pink bat on it. And as to guys, well, it was normal for a girl to dream about guys; she just wished the dreams could have involved chocolates and holding hands, not leaping out at someone, ripping off his shirt, and demanding to know what blood type he was (at least not on the first date).

About the Author

The Author Amelia Mah is a 20 something snarky, sarcastic and cynical author who has a very popular blog of how she sees the world from the point of view of a modern teenage vampire. Following the success of her first book "FANGS RULE A girls guide to being a vampire" she had now expanded the idea of life as a teenage vampire into a full novel. Amelia has given her avatar her own name so you can see the world first hand from a very bored teenage vampire that has been forced to remain a teenager for far too long. She may have very good teeth and the ability to hang from ceilings, but life is far from easy. Today's world is difficult for everyone, especially teenagers. They face the stresses of school, deciding whom to date, and the biggie of sex, just to name a few. Imagine all of those things ten times worse, and you might get an idea of what it's like being a living, breathing teenage vampire. At last, the world can read about the life of a girl with good teeth, her problems with strong sunlight that gave her spots, and the sunblock that made her hair go yucky and produced more spots. Yes, sunlight was dangerous, as she could be the first teenager in history to die from terminal acne!

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiAPGb2PPnw 
Email: amymahvampire@aol.com

Website: www.fangsrule.com

Amazon links:

http://www.amazon.com/Fangs-Rule-Girls-Guide-Vampire/dp/1874192480/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1351539992&sr=8-5&keywords=amy+mah+vampire 
http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Night-Life-Amy-Mah/dp/1874192626/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351540030&sr=1-4&keywords=amy+mah+vampire 
goodread links

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9676513-fangs-rulehttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15751638-amy-mah-vampire 

0 comments:

Rough Draft

12/10/2012 , 0 Comments

I did something I’m not suppose to do with my rough draft: I reread what I have written so far in my third book to my YA paranormal series. However, I have a good excuse. I haven’t touched it in months and need to finish writing it. Honestly, I forgot some of the things I wrote. So yeah, I broke one of the rules to writing a novel, but I had to. I finished rereading it on Saturday morning, so now I can complete the rest of the story.

Yay!

I do see revisions in my future, but that’s okay. Every book goes through revisions, and once I’m done with THE DEVIL’S THIRD it’ll kickass.

Anyway, I enjoy writing the rough draft to all my stories. I generally make it a rule not to go over the book or try to edit it until the draft is complete. There are writers who will write a chapter and afterwards they’ll review it for errors. If you’re one of them don’t do that. It slows the process and takes longer to churn out your novel. You’ll have plenty of time to go over it afterwards.


Believe me.

Of course, I’d love to have my first draft be perfect. Who wouldn’t? But in reality that doesn’t happen, and take it from Ernest Hemingway who said, "The first draft is always shit." So park the critic in you and write your story.

0 comments:

Quick Update

12/07/2012 , , 0 Comments

I’ve been crazy busy this week at work which has put me behind in my writing stuff. But here’s a quick update on where I am on my continuous writing and publishing journey . . .

1.) My editor finished editing DARK SPIRITS and now the manuscript is resting until I decide to read it one more time before I get it formatted. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my work and want my manuscript to sparkle--like Edward Cullens does on a sunny day--before I publish it. I think I’ll start reading it sometime next week.

2.) This week I’ve been reading over what I have written in my third book to my YA paranormal series. The rough draft is only halfway done; however, I wanted to read what I have so far before I finish drafting it. Because frankly, it’s been months since I’ve worked on it, and I need to get reacquainted with the story. I’ve forgotten some of the things I’ve written, and I’m having fun reading it.

3.) I’m still trying to figure out this whole marketing thing. Did you know you’re only suppose to spend 30% of your time marketing and 70% of your time writing? I’ll have to work on that.

4.) Last weekend I finally did a Facebook author page, thanks to an author friend of mine who gave me the push to do so. I was afraid it would eat up more of my time, which I have very little of, but it hasn’t. Honestly, I have to admit, I really like it. I’ve been meeting other authors through liking their Facebook author pages.

If you’re an author, I strongly suggest doing a Facebook author page. After you do it, go to World Literary Caf
é. Here’s the link: http://www.worldliterarycafe.com/
Join their site and click on Facebook Likes. There’s a huge list of authors you can click on and like their Facebook page, and if you’re lucky they’ll return the favor. Once you like their pages, you get their posts and that’s how you connect with them. I think. It’s fun, and I love connecting with other authors. Here’s my Facebook author page link: http://www.facebook.com/RebekkahFord2012
I’d appreciate it if you would check it out and click the like button. As of this moment, I’m almost to 100 likes, which rocks. :)

5.) I’m doing a giveaway on Goodreads, as you can see on the side of this post. I’m giving away two signed paperback copies of BEYOND THE EYES with a cool bookmark to go with it. It’s free to enter and really easy to do. In fact, if you go to Goodreads and click on their giveaways, it’s like being in a candy store–at least for me it is. There are tons and tons of book giveaways you can enter. It’s awesome.

6.) I’ve been working with my cover artist, and I’m hoping it’ll be done when I’m ready to format DARK SPIRITS.

7.) I met an author who is totally cool. Her name is Rysa Walker. I just bought her book TIME’S TWISTED ARROW and will be doing a book review for her. You can check out her book here:

http://www.amazon.com/Times-Twisted-Arrow-CHRONOS-ebook/dp/B009Z6BGJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354759897&sr=1-1&keywords=rysa+walker+in+kindle

She bought my book as well and will be reviewing it.

Authors helping authors. Isn’t it great?
 

0 comments:

Interview With YA Author Felicia Tatum

12/03/2012 , , 0 Comments

Author Felicia Tatum is here today to talk about her YA book ‘The White Aura.’ I’m happy to have her here, and I’m looking forward to reading her book.
Hi, Felicia. Thanks for stopping by. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Heya, Rebekkah! Let’s see…I’m 25 and a single mommy to a 4 year old girl and a cat. I love reading, writing, and cooking. Not all at the same time though, I’d burn the house down. I dance while I drive. I’m a really random person, if you can’t tell. Did I mention I love writing? J

Tell us about your debut novel ‘The White Aura’ and how you came up with the concept for this book.

Here is the info about the book: How do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name.

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?


The idea came to me after two months of me dreaming I became an author. I didn’t know the book or any information, just that I was an author. So I started writing…another story. That night, I dreamed of this one and the words just flowed after that.



Did you do an outline of this story before you wrote it?

Nope. I didn’t know anything about writing a novel and had no clue people even outlined at that point.

What character do you identify the most with?

I think I’m most like Olivia, one of my main characters. She’s really insecure about herself at times, which is so me, and she’s in the process of finding herself. I’m still finding myself, so I can realllllly relate to that. Luckily, writing helps me. I can’t tell you what ends up helping her ;)

Who is your favorite character in this book and why?

Sadie! She is so sassy and I love it. She’s blunt and loves to put everyone in their place. She’s a bit like me, too.

Do you have plans to write another book after this series?

Oh, yes! I literally dream up my book ideas. I’ve got a notebook full of dreams I’ve had that are going to be wonderful books.

What is your writing schedule like?

Lately, it’s been crazy. I never have enough time to write. But I try to do writing and related things Friday-Sunday, and worry about my grad school classes Monday-Thursday. When classes end, I hope to write A LOT.

Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, what do you do to overcome it?

I actually haven’t experienced this yet…fingers crossed I don’t.

When is your next book in this series coming out? Do you have a title for it yet?

I’m aiming for early spring, but I make no promises. I have a maybe title in my head, but I’m not ready to release it yet. The White Aura actually came to me about half way through writing, so I want to wait and make sure this one is right.

If you can give any advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?

Read, research, write. Connect with other authors, they have much to teach you.

Before we end this interview, is there anything you’d like to tell your readers?

If I have any readers, I just want to say, THANK YOU! I seriously appreciate it if you’ve taken time out of your life, schedule, and time to read words that I’ve written. I truly hope you enjoyed it and know that it makes me smile. And hey, connect with me! I love talking to people who enjoy reading.


Thank you Felicia for stopping by. I enjoyed chatting with you, and I’m looking forward to reading your book.

Thank you for having me! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did J And I hope you enjoy The White Aura!



Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/The-White-Aura-Felicia-Tatum/dp/1481023012/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354326126&sr=8-1&keywords=the+white+aura+felicia+tatum
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFP3AXO
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260220
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-aura-felicia-tatum/1113871339?ean=2940015808216



0 comments:

Book Review on Endlessly by Kiersten White

This is what it says inside the cover of Endlessly:  
  
Evie’s paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie’s hands.

So much for normal.

I give this book 2 Stars **

Before I go into this review, I just want to say I respect every single author out there. The reason why is because so many people say they’re going to write a book and never do. Also, it takes a lot of hard work, persistence, and determination to complete a novel. I know because I’m an author myself. So even if a book sucks ass or is the greatest thing since peanut butter and chocolate, I still admire the writer, regardless if they’ve written a good or bad story.

Now with that being said, I’m going to point out the things I liked about this third and final book in this trilogy, then I’ll air out my grievances.

Paranormalcy is the first novel in this series. I really enjoyed it. I think Kiersten White is brilliant coming up with this concept–a teenage girl, who works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, can see through glamours, and humans working with and manipulating the Faerie realm in order to keep our world safe from paranormals–is totally thinking outside the box and nothing I’ve ever read before.

Supernaturally is the second one. I also enjoyed it as well and couldn’t wait to read Endlessly.

What I like most about Endlessly is Reth. He’s the beautiful Faerie . . . well, actually, all faeries are gorgeous. But he loves Evie and helps her out a lot. Sure he tricks her, but I think he has a valid reason. Then he gets sick, and we get to see that Reth can be vulnerable too.

I also like how Kiersten gets Arianna and Vivian involved in this tale and what she does with them in the end. It’s believable and the scenes they’re in add to the plot. They help propel the story and is a definite asset to it.

Jack is in this third book, and I have to say, I do like him. I don’t trust him, but he’s not a boring character, and you never know what might come out of his mouth or is up his sleeve. I’m glad Kiersten didn’t dispose of his character because he made me curious enough to wonder if he’s being genuine or not.

Oh. The faerie realm is really cool. I always enjoy reading about it.

Okay, now for what I didn’t like about Endlessly . . .

I really couldn't get into the story, and it took me a while to finish it because of how predictable it was. It seemed like this final installment in the series was rushed. There was no flavor, no color, no . . .



Evie basically only thinks about herself and what she wants. Also, her character hasn’t grown much, which is important to show in a series. And Lend . . .

I really liked Lend in the other two books, but in this one he’s 2 dimensional. I didn’t connect with him or Evie. Also, the spell Lend is put under is kinda lame.

Then there’s Evie’s good friend Carlee. I don’t want to do spoil it for those of you who haven’t read this book yet, so all I’ll say is . . . really?

Would you be nonchalant about the situation Carlee found herself in?

Ahhh, no.

At least, not right away.

You’d be asking some hard hitting questions about it if you were in her shoes. But when Kiersten wrote that scene, she didn’t take the time to have Carlee adjust to her situation or even had her ask Evie about what the hell was going on. That’s one of the reasons why I think this final story was written in a rush.

Anyway, I did like how it ended with the gate and what happened with Arianna, Vivian, and Reth. Kiersten did well with that. And although I’m disappointed in this book, I am looking forward to reading Kiersten White’s new novel coming out called Mind Games.

I suggest that if you have already read the first two books in this series to go ahead and read this one as well. I mean, just because I didn’t care for it, doesn’t mean you’ll feel the same way. Besides, don’t you want to know how it ends?
 
 

0 comments:

Author Q & A

Lately people have been asking me questions regarding writing and publishing, so I figured I’d do a post on it. I mean, maybe whoever is reading this might have been wondering the same thing, right? Okay, here goes . . .
Should I publish my book even though I’m afraid nobody will buy it?
Absolutely. Don’t ever allow fear get in the way of your goals. If nobody buys your book or your sales aren’t very good . . . so what? Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, it would hurt your feelings, but like the old saying goes: Rome wasn’t built in one day. If you love to write and are determine to do it for a living than keep writing. Try not to focus on sales or compare yourself to other authors. It’s hard I know, but we all have our own paths to take. You just have to believe in yourself and trust in it. If writing stories makes you happy, don’t give up. Walt Disney’s first animation company went bankrupt. He was also fired by a news editor because he was told he lacked imagination. And he was turned down countless times before he got financing to create Disney World.  So just think if he would have allowed his fear or all those rejections get in the way of his dream; this world would have missed out on a lot of cool shit.
If I get a bad review, I’m going to cry. How do you handle bad reviews?
You need to toughen up, missy.  Every single artist has had bad reviews. You can’t please everyone. When I get a bad review I have the sudden urge to explain to them why the things they didn’t like about the story was written that way. I want to defend it like why my main character in Beyond the Eyes is stubborn, naive, seems selfish and cries a lot halfway through the book. There’s a reason for it. However, it’s best to let it go and move on. Don’t ever base your self-worth on other people’s opinions. If all your reviews are bad, it just means you need to improve on your writing or story telling.  It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You’re not. You wrote a book for Christ sakes! You are the bomb.

Should I copyright my book?
That’s a personal choice. Legally your book is already copyrighted. However, if you pay to get it copyrighted it goes into public record, and you get a certificate of registration.  So if somebody were to steal your work, it would be a lot easier to press charges because your story is registered.

I have a critique partner, and I’m really good at editing. I don’t have the money for an editor so I think I’m going to go ahead and publish my book without having it professionally edited. What do you think?
Bad, bad idea. I know money is tight, but you need to have your book professionally edited. I don’t care if you rock at editing. You need another set of eyes who edits for a living. If you don’t have the funds, try the barter system. Go to some writing forums and see if you can hook-up with one there. I did that with my cover artist who designed the cover for Beyond the Eyes. The deal was this: she would do my cover for free if I’d mention her in my acknowledgment page. It was a smoking deal. She did an awesome job & is now working on my cover for my next book in this series.
What are the things you’re doing to market your book?
I’ve been doing everything I can think of to spread the word about my book. Soon I’ll have to do that with Dark Spirits as well, which is going to be a whole new can of worms. But anyway, to answer your question I’ve done the following . . . blog, Goodreads, Podcast, book signing, radio interview, press release, book bloggers, giveaways, blog interviews, TV interview, and I just created an author page on Facebook. Oh! I’m also on Twitter, Pinterest, Book Daily and some other sites as well. So yeah, I’ve been marketing the shit out of this book, but I’m still learning about it.
Sales are not my thing. I’m horrible at it and much rather write.
Yeah, me too! I’m hoping someday I can pay somebody to do most of my marketing because sales are not my thing either. However, even if you traditionally publish, you’ll still have to market your book. So buck-up because marketing and selling your book is part of the package.  Writing books is a business. If you really want to succeed and write stories for a living, you’re going to have to sale it. Sorry. It sucks ass. I know. But it is what it is.

So those have been the questions I’ve been asked lately. If more comes my way, I’ll share them with you. I hope this helps some of you. I know I didn’t know some of those things when I first started writing.
Have a good weekend! J  









2 comments:

The Vampire Diaries–Elena & Damon?

Did you guys watch last Thursday’s episode of The Vampire Diaries? If you haven’t, it’s online so you can still watch it.

It kicked ass.

After Elena kills the vampire hunter Connor, she starts having hallucinations. The reason why is if a vampire takes the life of those type of hunters, they go mad until another hunter takes the place of the one who just died.

Klaus knows how to help Elena because he went through the same thing. He tells her the hallucinations will drive her to commit suicide, then he locks her in a room to prevent her from ending her life. Of course, Stefan finds a way to free Elena; however, when he enters the chamber she’s being held in, she’s tripping out and stabs him. She escapes and finds herself on Wickery bridge.

Meanwhile, Jeremy (Elena’s brother) discovers he’s to take Connor’s place. You see, after Elena killed the hunter, a tattoo appeared on Jeremy’s hand. Only potential hunters can see it, so Jeremy can. The thing about the marking is it grows every time the hunter kills a vampire. So the curse Elena is under will break if Jeremy kills a vampire.

When Elena is on Wickery bridge, her mom appears before her. She tells Elena how proud she is of her, but Elena shouldn’t have cheated death. She’s supposed to be dead–not a vampire. It’s an emotional scene that I think was well played out. Elena decides to take her dayring off and tosses it into the river. As she’s waiting for the sun to rise, Damon shows up. During this time, Jeremy kills a hybred (half vampire, half wolf). The curse breaks right when the sun rises. Elena’s hands start to burn. She looks at Damon with wide, fearful eyes and says, "Damon." Damon jumps into action, grabs her, and they plunge into the river. He recovers her ring, and when Elena awakes, she’s in her bed with Damon quietly sitting nearby.

Okay, now, we get to the ending of this episode and this is where I get a stupid grin on my face because I think the writers are listening to their fans . . . Check this scene out
 

 
Yeah, that's right, Elena breaks up with Stefan. I do feel bad for Stefan but . . .

*goofy grin*

I do like Stefan. I do, but in a previous episode he basically tells Damon he prefers Elena to how she was before she became a vampire. Damon’s comment to Stefan’s confession is he loves Elena either way. So that right there solidifies it for me–Damon and Elena belong together. And it looks like they’ll finally get their chance. I hope.

Here’s the preview to the next episode.


Now the anticipation begins. Let's just hope the writers don't disappoint the fans who have been waiting for this to happen for so long.

0 comments:

Character Interview

Warning: To those who haven’t read BEYOND THE EYES, there are some spoilers in this.

Four months ago, I interviewed Paige Reed, the main character in my YA paranormal series. The chat was cut short because she and Nathan had to meet Tree and Carrie at the movie theater. Paige promised to meet with me again and since the second book in this series (DARK SPIRITS) will be coming out at the beginning of 2013, I thought this would be a good time to get back together.

Right now, she’s at a hidden location, so we can’t do a video chat. I have to say before I start the interview that I love her raspy voice. It reminds me of Demi Moore’s, but not as abrasive.


Me: "Good evening, Paige. How are you?"

Paige: "I’m doing well. Thanks."

Me: "I’m going to get this interview rolling by asking you some hard hitting questions . . . if you don’t mind?"

Paige: "I still feel bad for bailing on you in our last interview, so I’m totally fine with it."

Me: "No worries . . . Before you became immortal, you had to deal with a lot of shit that you harbored inside yourself for so long. I know you’ve shed many tears, and now you’re a stronger person, not only physically but mentally-"

Paige: "Yeah, I am."

Me: "But don’t you still feel sad about your parents?"

Paige: "Sometimes I do, but it’s not like the same kind of sadness as before. I understand now why they made their decisions. Also, they haven’t abandoned me. Your readers will discover that in your third book–The Devil’s Third. However, there are times when I miss them, and that’s when the sorrow creeps into my heart."

Me: "I know Nathan told you immortals’ emotions are heightened exponentially. How are you dealing with your intense feelings?"


She laughs.

Paige: "The people who read Dark Spirits will find out I’ve had a hard time controlling my temper at first. I am getting better, though, at switching off the feelings I don’t want."

Me: "I know you get premonitions from a ghostly voice only you can hear; however, you’re starting to discover other gifts you have as well. Am I right?"

Paige: "Yeah, you are. I do come from an ancient line of witches; however, I’m something different. I mean . . . *sighs* I really don’t know what to think about it, to be honest–about what I am."

Me: "What can you tell us about Dark Spirits?"

Paige: "Well, in Dark Spirits, I find out one of the abilities I have comes from Solomon. It’s an awesome gift I hope to keep if his power ever leaves me."

Me: "What else can you tell us without spoiling it for the readers?"

Paige: "There’s an ancient dark spirit named Volac who wants to destroy me. He has a following, and they plan to help him do just that. One night they ambush us, and Nathan finds out some disturbing news. Also, in this book Nathan and I have some relationship problems, but I don’t want to talk about that."

Me: "I understand. What about Brayden? Or do you not want to talk about him? I know he had stepped over the line towards the end of Beyond the Eyes."

Paige: "He did totally screw up there. However, he's back to Astoria and genuinely sorry for that."

Me: "You forgave him?"

Paige: "Well . . . yeah. I’ve known him since I was five, and he would never hurt me."

Me: "Is he coming between you and Nathan?"

Paige: "Brayden still believes we belong together, and he did offer me something I want from Nathan–a partnership of equal standing. You see, Nathan is overprotective. I mean, I can understand why because I almost died. But still . . . The readers will find out about his secretive behavior and why. I also find out he has an ally in an unlikely source. It totally shocked me when I found that out."

Me: "What about Aosoth? The last we read about her, Nathan had cast her out of Carrie and used one of his homemade incantations to prolong her suffering."

Paige: "All I can say is the reader will get to find out where she went and what happens after she regains her energy."

Me: "So Carrie and Tree play a bigger role in these next two books?"

Paige: "Yeah, and unfortunately they’re now involved in my dark world."

Me: "Carrie tells you a shocking secret that greatly impacts her life. I know in book three it gets worse for her, and you do everything in your power to help her, including casting a circle and doing magic."

Paige: "I do. She’s my best friend, and I’d go to hell and back if I had to to save her."

Me: "I’m going to leave it at that because I don’t want to spoil the next two books for the fans of this series."

Paige: "Good idea."

Me: "I think I’ll end our interview now because it’s getting a bit lengthy. Please tell Tree, I’ve been hearing from quite a few people that he’s their favorite character."

She laughs.

Paige: "I will."

Me: "Thanks for talking to me and looking out for humanity."

Paige: "You’re welcome, and thank you for telling my story."

Me: "How could I not? If only they knew . . . Take care."

Paige: "You too."

So there you have it. My editor just finished editing Dark Spirits and said the plotting and characterization was excellent, which of course made me happy. The cover is almost complete, except for the testimonies I’ll be receiving from a couple of authors. I will do a cover reveal before I publish this book. So it’s all coming together. I can’t wait for you to read it and join in on the fun. I will be doing some awesome giveaways such as the claddagh ring Nathan gave Paige. I can’t wait for you to see it. It’s beautiful! :)

2 comments:

Book Review for Clutch I Am Just Junco-by J.A. Huss

I give this book five stars *****      

This futuristic story, set in the year 2152 surprised me because honestly I don’t read these types of books. However, as the story progressed, twisting around dark corners from scene to scene, I was pleased at how the author managed to sprinkle some horror into this stewing pot of illegal bioengineering and deception.

Nineteen-year-old Junco Coot is the main character in this imaginative tale. As a child she was trained to be a soldier in the Rural Republic where her father was ranking commander. She knows how to handle a gun and in fact is a trained sniper. I was hoping for more scenes displaying her sniper skills, but that’s just because I’m personally interested in expert marksmanship. But Junco is one tough chick who knows how to handle herself and has a foul-mouth that fits her character perfectly. And although she’s a capable person–a survivor who not only can put up a good fight but knows how to live off the land–she’s also emotionally fragile and harbors fears that grounds her and makes her a believable character.

After Junco crashes a military vehicle called a Goat, she meets Tier. He’s an avian which is basically a human with wings and talons for feet. He’s considered an alien because avians don’t live on earth. I liked his character except it annoyed me when he called Junco "darlin’" but that’s just my own personal pet peeve. Aside from that, I enjoyed getting to know him and the history of his people. At first, though, Junco views Tier as the enemy and attempts to kill him several times. However, circumstances bring them together, and Junco finds herself struggling to trust him.

Here–in my opinion–is where the story picks up and captures my interest. They end up in a cavern inside a mountain which happens to be a breeding ground for nightdogs. Those creatures freaked me out, and I shared Junco’s horror when they chased and attacked her. I was pleasantly surprised when the author threw this into the story. Another scene that chilled me to the bone was when the bots were chasing after them down underground tunnels. After Junco fires at them, they explode, then self-reassemble into more bots.

Holy, shit!

They cannot be totally eliminated.

This was one of many action-packed scenes throughout the book.

Junco also has a house that’s a sentient being.

How cool is that?

The author has a great imagination, and she skillfully intertwines these surprises without overwhelming or diminishing the story. I have to admit, I was hoping Junco and Tier’s relationship would develop more. It ran hot and cold throughout the story, leaving me to wonder if they truly have feelings for each other.

During the chaos Junco faces, she discovers she’s been betrayed by the people closest to her and just about everything in her entire life is smoke and mirrors. I’m not going to go into the whole sordid detail about how tragic it is to find out you’ve been manipulated mentally and physically by a sinister government for their own twisted agendas. You’ll have to read the book to find out. I don’t want to spoil it for you.

I was going to give this story 4 stars. However, the author’s awesome imagination and ingenuity deserves 5 stars. I recommend this outrageous book because it’s worth reading.

Here’s where you can buy CLUTCH and connect with this wonderful author:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/CLUTCH-Just-Junco-Dot-ebook/dp/B009BIOJTU
Website: http://www.iamjustjunco.com/
Author Blog: http://jahuss.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAmJustJunco
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JAHuss
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446815.J A Huss
 
 
 

4 comments:

Guest Post With Sci-Fi/Fantasy Author J.A. Huss–Creator Of The I Am Just Junco series

Who am I? Am I real? Am I just another copy? Did I crawl out of these vats? When did I crawl out? A few weeks ago. The day I ran away? Are there girls just like me lurking somewhere? Here?–Junco

Ya Get What Ya Need-by J.A. Huss
Author of CLUTCH-book one in the I Am Just Junco series
It’s available at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/CLUTCH-Just-Junco-Dot-ebook/dp/B009BIOJTU
  
It turns out The Rolling Stones got it right after all. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need. No truer lesson has ever been learned as a young adult. I mean, what’s the journey into adulthood anyway if not sitting around being "angsty" or lamenting the one who got away?

Yes, The Stones knew what they were talking about because regardless of what you thought wanted in life, sometimes you only ever get what you need. Call it fate, call it destiny, or simply call it hard luck. It doesn’t matter what you call it because unless you purposefully go out and make something happen, you won’t get far.

And even if you set your sights high and make all the necessary preparations, life can still get in the way.

So you’re left with what, then?

Acceptance? That may or may not be the answer – it has the potential to sound a little like giving up to me. So what is one to do when life gets in the way of your plans?

Stephen King came up with a really good analogy about his characters meeting their fate in his Dark Tower series. He called it travelling the path of the beam. It simply means, do what you’ve been created to do and things become clear.

In my new science fiction series my main character, a nineteen year old female named Junco, is forced to give up her childhood dream of being a mother and wife and instead, embark on a grand journey to meet her fate. A journey that takes her off earth for a period of time to search her soul and decide who she is and how far she’ll really go to set things right.

She can fight her fate, maybe run away with her one true love and take what she’s wanted all along. But that would mean ignoring all the terrible things that are about to happen to her friends, not to mention an entire race of people.

Sometimes life is about accepting who you are and your place in the world. This is Junco’s greatest lesson and while she might not like who she is, it’s out of her control. She can only move forward.

Acceptance is not a bad lesson, but there are more lessons for Junco to learn before she fulfills her destiny in book five. If you’re looking for a fun read filled with mystery and meaning, then give the I Am Just Junco series a try.

Thank you J.A. for your wonderful post.

Check out her book trailer. It's awesome.

 
 
 
 

1 comments:

Interview With Science Fiction/Fantasy Novelist J. A. Huss

Author J. A. Huss is here today to tell us about her science fiction/fantasy novel Clutch-I Am Just Junco. This is the first book in the I Am Just Junco series.

"Because the voices in my head only ever tell me to do one thing, and that’s kill people. In very interesting ways."–Junco

Hi, Julie. Thanks for stopping by. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
 


Hey, Rebekkah! Thanks for having me on your blog. I’m a recent fiction author, having only started writing in January on 2012. But I’ve been writing non-fiction for several years now and own a small company that sells science curriculum to home learners.



Can you tell us about your debut novel Clutch and how you came up with the concept for this imaginative book?


Clutch is a character driven novel that revolves around a nineteen year old soldier named Junco. When we first meet her she is in the middle of making a decision that will change the course of her life. It pretty much all falls apart from there and we begin to realize there’s something really wrong with her. I came up with Junco a long time after I built the futuristic world she lives in. In fact, this first book was supposed to be a paranormal romance but Junco was a little too crazy for such a tame plot and Clutch ended up being a science fiction thriller.


Did you do an outline on this story before you wrote it?


I am a fastidious plotter – so yes. I made about twenty plot planners, had a plot consultation with a "guru" and the book was heavily edited twice, for plot alone. While I love to focus my stories on characters, plot drives the car. I’m not a seat of my pants writer at all.


What character do you identify the most with? Who is your favorite character in this book and why?


I identify with Junco the most. It’s hard not to when you’re writing first person present. But my favorite character in the series is not introduced until book three, his name is Gideon. I love Gideon because he’s totally 100% on Junco’s side and he won’t put up with her crap. Most of the others are either afraid of her or love her too much to say anything. But Gideon tells it like it is. He’s Junco’s reality check.


In the next book in this series Fledge, does the relationship between Junco and Tier get more in depth?


Hmmmm…sort of. :) Tier is not in a good place in book two. Neither is Junco. It’s a long hard struggle.


If you could choose between being a human or an avian (a winged creature with human characteristics), which would it be and why?


Human. Definitely. After writing about characters with wings for the past year I’ve come to the conclusion that wings are a major annoyance! And trying to dress yourself with wings is not easy! Even my illustrator started asking me about how they get dressed! No thanks, I’ll stay human.


As an author, whether you traditionally or self-publish, you have to market your book. What tactics have you found so far that work in selling your book?


I am an excellent marketer and I’ve been hawking my non-fiction books for several years now so I’ve gotten to know the tricks to getting attention. I like Twitter right now, but definitely blogging along with other book bloggers is a tactic that helps in many ways. It allows you the room to develop relationships with bloggers that have nothing to do with our book and it gives you insight into how book bloggers and readers think about certain plot devices and what really turns them off in a story.


Do you have any plans for another book after this series?


Yes, I have the first book in my next series plotted out already. I can’t say much about it but it will definitely be more speculative in nature – set in the near future, and will feature another female protagonist. It will be a true paranormal romance.


What is your writing schedule like?


I have to juggle marketing and writing my non-fiction products with my fiction so it’s quite difficult to find time to write fiction at times. Since it’s NaNoWriMo right now I’ve devoted November to finishing up book four in the Junco series.


If you found a time machine, which year would you go to and why?


I’d go forward about a thousand years so I could see how far humans have advanced. Or maybe we’d be gone, who knows. Well, I’d know! I guess that’s the point. I want to know.


If you were driving down a deserted road one night and saw an alien craft crash in a woods nearby, what would you do?


Drive the other way. I’m with Stephen Hawking on this one – if aliens show up we’re probably screwed.


If you can give any advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?


Learn to plot your stories correctly using the standard story structure. It helps bring it all together.


Is there anything you’d like to tell your readers?


Thank you for believing in Junco. She’s got a foul mouth, she could use some lessons in the relationship department, and she’s terrible at following directions. And yet, they like her. So, thanks for that.
 
 

2 comments:

Dark Spirits–An Excerpt

Dark Spirits is my second book in my YA paranormal series. It’s going through edits right now and will be available at the beginning of 2013. I thought I’d give you a sneak peek to one of the scenes in this next book. There might be some changes before it gets published, so you're basically reading part of the ARC (advanced readers copy).

Anyway, in this scene, Paige and Nathan are at the Sunday Market, finishing up eating their corndogs . . . Enjoy!

I rose and stuck my hand out for him to give me his corndog stick. He handed it to me, and I went to the overflowing trash can a couple yards away. Then my ears began to ring. I looked at Nathan, and he hurried to me at a painfully human pace. We looked around, but the few people strolling by were immersed in conversation and paid no attention to us.

Nathan took my hand and steered me in the other direction. "C’mon, let’s get back to the truck." As we rushed off, Nathan kept glancing over his shoulder, his posture stiff and alert.

Our ears continued to ring, but still nothing out of the ordinary caught my eyes. When we reached the parking lot, there were people filing into their vehicles and exiting the premises. I wondered if one of them could be a dark spirit. I was just about to get inside the truck when a soft crying noise tore at my heart. It sounded heartbroken and lost. I followed the sound while Nathan stuck our bags in the backseat. I moved to the front of the truck and there sitting on the curb was the most angelic-looking little girl I’d ever seen. She had to be about five years old, and I wondered where her mommy was. My heart immediately went out to her. She was crying in her tiny hands, leaning forward on her knees, her blonde curls tumbling over her face. She scooted her elbows above her knees while she continued to cry, pushing her blue dress up,
revealing black patent leather shoes and white laced socks.

"What’s wrong, sweetie? Did you lose your mommy?" I asked, kneeling in front of her.

"Paige, no!" Nathan hollered at the same time she dropped her hands and grabbed my wrist, yanking me toward her. She was amazingly strong, completely throwing me off guard.

She slowly rolled her head around her neck, her baby face contorting into a ghastly mask, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Then her dark glowing eyes poured into mine. I was too stunned to do anything but stare, even though her grip was like a tourniquet around my wrist.

"Let. Her. Go," Nathan demanded, now by my side.

The girl jerked her head up, her glowing orbs on Nathan now. "You have no power over me," a man’s deep voice spewed forth from her pink, pouty lips, chilling me to the bone.

"No?" Nathan said, bending so his eyes were leveled with hers. "But I can break her neck, which will take you out of the equation."

"You can’t do that, Nathan," I gasped. "She’s a child!"

"She’s soulless, Paige," he said, keeping his eyes trained on her. "I’m going to tell you one more time. . . Let. Her. Go."

Nathan wasn’t playing around. He was serious, and his ears were red, signaling the rage boiling inside him. The dark spirit must have realized it because he released me. I stumbled sideways, falling into Nathan’s quick arms. The sheer force of it knocked us to a sitting position on the asphalt.

The little girl hopped to her feet and moved her head clockwise in little jerks, her mouth opened in a silent scream. She stepped forward and stopped in front of us. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, then focused on me, dark and glowing. She grimaced, then blinked, and her eyes turned blue. "Help me," she said in a sweet toddler voice.

I reached for her, but Nathan snatched my wrist, locking his arms around mine. The girl scowled, then blinked, and her eyes were dark and glowing again. I sucked in a sharp breath, and her mouth formed a circle. Her head fell back in deep laughter. It was dark, sinister, and male.

She stopped, looked at me, and pointed. "Vos ero pessum ire," she said in the same deep man’s voice as before. Then she turned and ran away.

1 comments:

If You Could Speak With A Paranormal Creature Which One Would It Be?

I recently did a blog interview and was asked if I could speak with a paranormal creature which would it be and why? I thought it was a good question and had to give it some thought. I finally decided I’d want to talk to Lilith.

According to legend, Lilith was the first female created out of the earth, the same as Adam. One day Adam demanded she lay beneath him, and Lilith basically told Adam to piss off. She viewed herself as an equal to Adam and refused to be treated as a lesser being. That didn’t go over well. She left Adam and refused to go back to him. She sacrificed paradise for her beliefs in not serving or being oppressed by a man and now lives in darkness as a demon.

Then God created Eve who was an obedient and inferior person.

*sticks finger in mouth and gags*

Eve was a total Stepford’s wife.

I don’t know about you, but I’m team Lilith on this one. There is no way I’d allow a man to treat me like he owns me or be subservient to him.

Nope. Not me.

By the way, I honestly think a man came up with the story.

Anyway, Lilith is supposed to be a demon, and if I could talk to her I would. I’d want to know her side of the story, what the world was like back then and what she’s been up to?

I’m aware she could be like Aosoth in my book, Beyond the Eyes, but I’d still have to talk to her. I wouldn’t allow her in my house though, just in case. I’d follow that vampire rule where they can’t come into your house unless invited in.

I'm a dork. I know. But the imagination is a playground I love to visit every chance I get and have some fun. 

 
 

0 comments:

Is My Story Plausible?




I saw this photo and had to copy it.

I grew up watching A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the Thirteenth. However, I’ve never watched the movie Halloween.

I know.


I know.

You’d think somebody like me who loves horror stories would have watched it. But for some reason I haven’t. Maybe one day I will.

Anyway, as a kid, I wrote horror stories. As I got older, I wanted to write stories that could be more plausible like possession.

I don’t know if a spirit can actually possess a human being, but there is a possibility it can, right? To me, possession is one of the freakiest things ever and why I created the Beyond the Eyes series.

I sometimes wonder if there are people born without a soul. I mean, have you ever looked into a stranger’s eyes and there was nothing beyond them?

I used to work at a Pediatrics clinic. One day I was walking behind the front desk where the patient’s parents signed in. A small child was in one of those carrying seats. The mother had put it on the floor so she could fill out some paperwork. The child looked up at me, and I swear his eyes were empty. A chill went up my spine, and I immediately wondered if he was soulless.

I know it’s terrible to think such things about a cute, innocent child, but it is what it is. Since then, that moment has stuck with me throughout the years.

I did a press release for Beyond the Eyes a couple weeks ago and the following was part of the release:

This book, along with the other two in this series throws light on some of life’s darker mysteries.

Have you ever wondered why some people are vicious? Have you ever wondered if they had a soul? What if they were soulless and malevolent entities were able to possess them? Paige discovers the answers to those questions and more.

So is my story plausible?

My second book, Dark Spirits will be out at the beginning of 2013, so I’m going to have to start promoting it soon. I’m thinking about posting an excerpt.

What do you think?

It’s still in edits, but we’re getting close to finishing it. I’m also working with my cover artist right now on the cover.

It’s going to be creepy.

I’ll do a cover reveal when it’s done so you can see it first.

There’s still a lot to do, like the blurb and book trailer. However, things are coming together, and I’m getting excited about this next book.

I just received my edits on chapter 25 from my editor. Here’s what he wrote at the end of it:


"Really good chapter. I’m not being condescending by saying your already admirable writing is now better than ever."

See, it’s true. The more you write, the better you become . . . What an awesome comment!

*grins*

Now I better go tackle those edits.
  
 

2 comments:

I’ve Been Tagged In A Blog Hop

I’ve been tagged by an author friend of mine, which means I need to answer the following questions about my YA paranormal book, Beyond the Eyes.

1.) What is the working title of your book?

I have three books in a YA paranormal series. The first book, Beyond the Eyes is available now. The second book, Dark Spirits will be out at the beginning of next year, and right now I’m halfway done with the rough draft to the third book, The Devil’s Third.

2.) Where did the idea come from for your book Beyond the Eyes?

The idea came to me in many ways: the movie The Exorcist, my own personal experiences, conversations I’ve had with my husband, and my imagination.

3.) What genre does your book fall under?

It falls under the young adult paranormal genre. However, adults who are into this type of story would enjoy it as well.

4.) Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I would choose unknown actors so they’re not already typecast from previous shows or movies they’ve done.

5.) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Paige knows evil exists in this world, but she never imagined it would want something from her.

6.) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I self-published this book and will continue to do so with the next two in this series. I did have some agents interested in this book, but for personal reasons I decided to self-publish. I do respect agents though, and if one of my dream agents was to approach me on representing this series, I would seriously consider it.

7.) How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Three months.

8.) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

To be honest, I really don’t know. Let’s see . . . The romance would be compared to Twilight. However, my main character Paige is not like Bella in the sense she’s not meek, clumsy or self-depreciating. Paige does cry and is emotional in the first half of this book, but it’s because she’s finally dealing with the feelings she’s been harboring since her father died when she was four. She has to in order to step into the next phase of her life and become a stronger person for what’s ahead of her. Nathan (Paige’s love interest) isn’t controlling like Edward.

The paranormal world in this book would be compared to . . . Okay, check this out . . . If Evermore, The House of Night series, and The Witching Hour, were able to spin their magic and world together, my Beyond the Eyes series would be the result of it, with my own twist to it of course.

The friendship in this series is nothing like I’ve read before. Paige’s relationship with Carrie, Tree, and Brayden is very deep and meaningful.
 
9.) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My inspiration came from my passion for writing, my deep interest in the paranormal, and my experiences and knowledge from growing up in a family who have dealt with the unknown. My parents were paranormal investigators. They investigated UFOs, Bigfoot, and hauntings. And although, my parents divorced and stopped their investigations, the paranormal world had always been a constant in our household, and we still dealt with spiritual encounters.

10.) What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The paranormal world I created with the dark spirits brings something new to the table in this genre. Also, I take the reader deeper into the rabbit hole in the next two books. I think readers who are into the unknown and continue to read this series, will appreciate this fresh new idea. At least, I’m hoping so.

So there you have it. I’m supposed to tag five other authors, but frankly all the authors I know have already done this blog hop. Therefore, if you’re an author reading this, I pass the torch to you. :)
 
 
 
 
 

2 comments: