Author Interview – Robert Davies @ahundredstories

What made you want to be a writer?
The joy of creating worlds and people and whole lives, and letting them write themselves once I’ve started them off. Maybe I have some sort of God complex. I prefer to think I have a restless imagination that needs an outlet. It’s also one of the most accessible and affordable means of expression – I don’t need to keep buying supplies or spending money on production. As long as there are words, there will always be stories.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
What I found very difficult with both novels was consistency – I am unfortunately not the most consistent person, so after having planned out my storyline and chapters, I’d find myself having a brilliant idea halfway through and having to change everything else to fit around it. Tracking down every part that would need changing was so laborious, it almost made me want to keep everything the way I’d originally planned, but ultimately I can’t write anything if my heart isn’t in it. Also I’d find that quite often my mood changed significantly enough to have an impact on writing style, sometimes partway through the same chapter. Again, keeping the balance between consistency and being heartfelt was difficult. I suppose it all comes down to the age-old heart vs. head tug-of-war that needs to be balanced for anything to work.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
Research! And that on a budget too. Since I was out of work, in debt, and mostly penniless, I had to do as much research on places as I could without being able to visit them. Tourist sites, travel blogs, and YouTube videos all provided necessary input into what a place looked and felt like. Thankfully I found work and was able to actually do some travelling around Britain afterward, visiting a few of the places I’d written about, and I was relieved to see I’d built up a fairly accurate picture. Then there is the difficulty in writing for events that have never taken place before – what is likely to happen, how are people and the governments likely to react? Maybe I got it all wrong, but by looking into how things are handled now, and what contingencies are in place, I felt ok with a bit of poetic license if it was at least based on a few grains of reality.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
Nothing would make me happier. If I can be talented, prolific and determined enough to do this for a living, then I’d be over the moon. Especially if it buys me a nice house in the countryside.
How did you come up with the title?
It’s actually the title of a short story I wrote years ago – the subject matter is completely different, but I liked the title so much I always wanted to do something bigger with it. In truth, I originally stole the idea from an album I’d bought, called The Light at the End of the World. I was captured by the word-picture and the whole play on “end”, and naturally decided to steal the idea… or is that “be inspired by”?

September, 2013: When the summer ended, so did the world.

Staggering under a volley of meteorite hits, cities the world over are evacuated by the military as violent earthquakes, floods, storms and fires rage across the planet.

The journey unfolds through the jaded yet childlike eyes of Silas Stanley, a recently escaped psychiatric patient who must travel hundreds of miles across a devastated Britain to find his dying daughter before the world ends. Through ruined and deserted cities, flooded countryside and burning fields, Silas makes his way from an evacuated London all the way to his old home town in the Lake District, all the while startled and amazed by the world around him. En route he must avoid the strict martial law that is in force, and steer clear of the huge nuclear explosions being set off by the military in a last-ditch attempt to correct the earth’s faltering orbit.

On a world knocked off course and brought to its knees, love for his family finally forces Silas to face the enormity of his own past with just as much bravery as his uncertain future.

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Genre - Apocalyptic fiction

Rating – PG

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Website http://robertdavies.co

Author Interview – Ian Truman @iantruman

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?
I’m from the working class, so I have absolutely no friends in the industry. I have graduated with a few people who are starting to get jobs and positions, but nothing big so far. There’s this one guy, Benoit Lelièvre, who we met because I did an interview on a Scottish blog. He’s got his masters in comparative literature and he’s sort of a social media specialist but that’s as far as it goes in terms of connections.
The only people I’ve met who are doing anything artistic had to work hard to get their jobs or names out there and they still work hard every day and I feel lucky to have met so many of them in Montreal. Just to name a few (and google them if you’re curious about up-and-coming artists) : my spouse, Mary Lee Maynard, Amy Blackmore from Mainline Theatre (Al and Emoli too), Sterling Pache from Romantic Child Studios, Olivier Carpentier and Gauthier Langevin from Front Froid/Studio Lounak etc…)
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
Standard 8 hours. I do write better if I’m rested but I’d what’s more important to “be my best” is to be stress free of all things of life (food, bills, work etc…) I can only write well if all the general details of my daily grind are actually taken care of.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
Benoit Lelièvre from DeadEndFollies.com. He’s into the whole noir stuff and we somehow met because of an Interview I did with a blog in Scotland and he commented on it and we got in touch after that. He edited A Teenage Suicide a few months later and I can safely say that the novel is much, much better thanks to him,
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
I’d like to make a living out of this, and I don’t necessarily mean become rich, but just make a decent living. I’d probably still work some other job because I fell I need to do something with my hands as much as I need to do something with my mind, but making a living out of writing would be a success to me.
I guess I’m a bit selfish about writing. I really do it because I have these stories inside of me that need to get out. If I put it out there and it happens to me meaningful to somebody else, then I’d be happy about that, but the original drive behind my writing is all about what I have inside of me and that needs to get out.
That’s why I can’t really write for a newspaper or ghost write anything. If I don’t feel the story in my guts I won’t see it through. So far I’ve been lucky enough to have jobs that pay the bills and allow me to write at the same time. I guess that success would be to only write things that I really care about for the rest of my life.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?
It is vital and it is hard. Marketing is also one of the things I hate the most. I have a hard time selling myself or selling my stuff. I do enjoy interviews and such because you actually get to talk about this or that and develop an idea. If you talk with someone long enough, there’s almost always a point when you’ll get into more interesting stuff like philosophy or how to write better stories, how to be more compelling visually, etc…
I like blog tours because you get to touch a bit of that but if someone put a camera to my face and say, “Sell us your shit.” I’d probably be terrible at it.
That said, the reality is that if you don’t look for your readers, they most likely will not find you so I have a few things going on. I have a blog tour, do a little bit of social networking (I’m not a fan of social networks, but I upkeep the necessary few like Facebook, Goodreads or WordPress). Also, since A Teenage Suicide is rooted in punk rock, I have the support of a few friends who have spent over a decade in various punk bands. They are starting a new label in Montreal, Sabotage, and they agreed to carry the paperback on their webstore. That’ll help me reach people who usually don’t buy that many books.
Aside from that, I do a few literary/artistic events every year. They add up to a few sales and some press in the local arts/college papers.
Anything helps in the end, so I do as much as possible.
Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?
The novel is titled A Teenage Suicide and it’s the story of a group of friends who are growing up in a one factory town. As the economy collapses and the factory closes, their outlook on life is challenged and the cluster of friends dissolves, leaving them to find their own paths and answer some tough questions.
In that sense, it’s very much a “traditional” coming of age story, very realistic. But since my background is close to punk rock and hardcore music, I wanted that aspect to be well developed as well. I’d like to think that anybody can read the novel and love/hate the characters without knowing anything about punk or skateboarding of hardcore. Maybe readers will get to understand why these kids spend so much time in shows and all.
The end result I was going for, what I was hoping that young readers would gain from the novel, is “the will to ambition.” You have all these characters who are starting to take different paths and they are all making decisions for better or worse. They are making these choices while friends and loved ones make different choices and question everything. Is it worth it to burn bridges? Is it necessary? Some friends are suffering, some are dying, are you going down the same path? Which path will you take as a person after you’ve read this?
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many good friends, so I’d say I have that diner party nearly every week…as long as I’m cooking. (Except for Sterling Pache, that guy can cook like a motherfucker!)
Maybe add Tim Barry. I’d like to meet Tim Barry someday.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
Coffee and videogames. I read only when I’m already relaxed (and somehow coffee relaxes me) and like most people my age, there are a few videogames I like to play but I wouldn’t call myself a “gamer”.
There’s also this one park near the St-Lawrence in the east end of town (It’s actually the only park in the city where you can get to the shore of the river). When I’m really at the end of my roll, I can sit there and look at the water for an hour or so. Water is always relaxing.
Do you have any tips on how writers can relax?
Find yourself a river and a good cup of coffee. A flannel shirt helps. It gets cold on the shore.
How often do you write? And when do you write?
I have to write every day. I get angry if I don’t. If I don’t come up with new pages, I’ll write a blog post. If I don’t feel like doing that, I’ll edit some new project or Il translate my old books if I’m really bored. I try to get some work done every day regardless of what it is.
I mostly write in the morning because by 10 AM, life’s unrelenting bullshit keeps dragging me down. The regular (“real”) job is piling up, trucks are waiting, paperwork gets mixed up, people are asking for things I don’t really care about. I try to get some more work done on my lunch hour. We get a full hour for lunch so that’s good. After work I got to pick up the kid from school make supper, clean up the cat shit form the litter, give baths and then I’m too tired to do anything else than watch one episode of Game of Thrones and go to bed.

“All they really wanted to do was fuck around, be creative, listen to music, skateboard or go to shows. People kept telling them growing up was supposed to be tough but it’s not like they didn’t know that already. Timmy had listened. Timmy had finished school and got himself a job. That didn’t stop him from running his van into a pillar one night so what was the fucking use? Nobody seemed to have an answer.“

Conor and his friends are growing up in a one factory town where the most likely employment prospect is the assembly line or the farmer’s coop. Aiming higher than the local college, Conor finds himself spending more and more time in downtown Montreal, discovering himself through punk and hardcore music. But as his girlfriend wants nothing to do with the city and his friend Jake loses his brother when the factory closes, Conor’s ambitions could require him to burn bridges he might not be ready to burn.

With A Teenage Suicide, Ian wanted to write a story about kids making decisions and kids making mistakes. Stylistically, it is fair to mention influences of Truman Capote and Mordecai Richler. Imagine of the “cold-hard-fact” descriptions of In Cold Blood mixed with the realistic and witty dialogue of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.

Ian Truman is a hardcore kid turned writer. He proudly claims to be from a working class family and has been straight edge and vegetarian for at least a decade now. He hopes to bring the passion, verve and dedication of hardcore into the art form of the novel. Born and raised in Montreal, he is a graduate of Concordia University’s creative writing program. A Teenage Suicide is his third novel.

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Genre - Literary, Coming of Age

Rating – PG13

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Website http://www.iantruman.com

Michelle Rabe – How to Create a Great Work Area for Inspiration @michrabe

How to Create a Great Work Area for Inspiration

I think how everyone creates their own space to let inspiration in is as unique as every writer. So I’ll tell you how I came up with my little nook. The first thing and most important part of any writing room is a door. Seems a little obvious but, you need a door that you can close. This isn’t my idea, I got it from Stephen King’s book On Writing. The reason you have to be able to close the door is so that you can shut the world out. You as a writer need the space to let go of the stresses of everyday life and give your imagination room to play. I’m a very visual person so staring at a blank wall drives me crazy. As a result, my writing space has masks and a cork board on them. I like working in low light, candle light is preferred but since it’s not always practical I have a string of funky lights along the wall. On my desk I have a lamp that’s a lit tree, that along with the other lights are enough to write by. My desk isn’t big, it’s an old fashioned writing desk that has a section that pulls out to write on. The desk has been in my family for as long as I can remember. The past few years it’s been tucked away in a spare room at my dad’s. In its long life it has been painted (by me) with a white and lavender crackle finish that I didn’t work for me anymore when I got it back this time. When I embarked on the long process of stripping and repainting it I had this crazy idea to paint the writing part with chalkboard paint. I get ideas in a lot of different places, they kind of hit me at strange moments so I like have a way to write things down quickly so that I don’t forget, hence the chalkboard. The rest of the desk is covered with little trinkets that help me get in the mood to work. I have a coffin, more masks, file folders with information that I might need, spare pens and a couple of candles. When I’m going to work, I turn on the lights on my desk and leave the main light off, turn on my music of choice and settle in. You can set up your work area however you like, if you need no distractions then maybe just a laptop cart or desk just big enough for your computer is the way to go. No matter what you like, I want to stress that you should have a regular writing space, especially if you’re a beginning writer. You’ll get used to working in that place and you’ll find yourself being able work better in that space. I wish you all happy writing nook making, have fun with it and remember to do what works for you.

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Genre - Paranormal Urban Fantasy

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://paperbackvamp.tumblr.com/

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Author Interview – Holy Ghost Writer @SultanOfSalem

What are you most proud of in your personal life? My children
What books did you love growing up? Strangely, the only book I recall the title of from childhood is The Ghost of Dibble Hallow because I am a late bloomer when it comes to my love for reading and writing.
Who is your favorite author? There are so many that I love, but I would have to say the one that influenced me most is Alexandre Dumas.
What book genre of books do you adore? I love a good mystery based adventure novel.
What book should everybody read at least once? For modern literature I would say either 1984 or Pride and Prejudice but for more ancient works, The King James Version of the Bible if English is your first language, otherwise, you would miss out on the world’s most influential collection of literature and not discover the seamless ingenuity of it.

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Genre – Action, Adventure

Rating – PG-15

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Website http://holyghostwriterbooks.blogspot.ca/

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Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Laila Ibrahim – “Are we rich?”

When my older daughter was 8 or so she asked me, “Are we rich?”  At the time she was flipping through an American Girl Doll catalogue considering how to spend her birthday money when the question popped out.

My reply: “You are shopping for a dog for you doll!  Yes, we are rich.  You have never once wondered if you would go to bed hungry because we did not have any food in the house.  We have a nice home that keeps us warm and dry throughout the year.  You have clothes, you go to school and you receive many of toys and cash on your birthday.  We have plenty of money for everything we need, and for many things that we want.  Yes, we are rich.”

As Unitarian Universalists it was important to Rinda and I that our kids understand how privileged they are.  My wife and I wanted them to be grateful for the most important things in life:  clean water, an abundance of food, trusting relationships, and good health.  We hoped to teach them to put the ups and downs of their lives in context and know to be grateful just for the chance to be alive.

Most nights before dinner we hold hands and bend our heads as one of us says these words, “Dear God, Thank you for this food and for all that went into brining it to our table.”  Though we take turns speaking, I am almost always the one who initiates saying grace.  To be honest, I feel intrusive and demanding when I bring it up.  Just before I mention it I wonder if it is worth interrupting everyone for this ritual that is important to me.  I have to push past my own doubts and my family’s actual or perceived resistance to insist upon this nightly ritual.  But during the prayer, with my eyes closed and a warm hand holding mine, in the moment when I actually feel grace, I never doubt.  Taking the time for gratitude, for remembering that we are wealthy enough, is always worth it.

In 1837, Lisbeth Wainwright is born to the white mistress of a sprawling Virginia plantation. Seconds later, she is delivered into the arms of her black wet nurse, Mattie. For a field hand like Mattie, her transfer to the big house is supposed to be considered an honor—except that the move tears Mattie away from her beloved grandfather and her infant son, Samuel. But Mattie is a slave, with no say in the matter, and so she devotes herself to her master’s daughter, though she longs to be raising her own child. Growing up under Mattie’s tender care, little Lisbeth adopts the woman’s deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring.

As the years pass, Lisbeth is drawn slowly back into her white parents’ world and begins to learn the ins and outs of life for a high-born young lady. Still she retains her connection to Mattie, befriending Samuel and drifting comfortably between the two worlds. She accepts her parents’ assertion that their slaves depend upon them for guidance and protection, yet that notion becomes more and more difficult to believe as she gains awareness of the inequality of life in the big house versus the slave quarters. When, on the threshold of her society wedding to debonair Edward Cunningham, Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Just twenty-one years old, she is forced to choose between what is socially acceptable and what is right, a decision that will change her life forever.

This compelling historical novel chronicles young Lisbeth Wainwright’s coming-of-age during one of the most difficult chapters of American history. Lisbeth’s powerful bond with Mattie makes her loss of innocence in the face of society’s ugly secrets all the more heartbreaking, and yet it is the courage she learns from her stand in mother that enables Lisbeth to blaze a new path for herself. Yellow Crocus offers moving proof of how the greatest social change often blooms forth from small personal acts of love.

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Genre - Historical Fiction

Rating – PG-13

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Matchplay Series (Three Book Boxed Set) by Dakota Madison @shortontimebook

THIS ROMANCE BOXED SET includes the COMPLETE MATCHPLAY SERIES (THREE FULL LENGTH NOVELS).

MATCHPLAY (Book One of the Series)

A Girl, a Guy, a Tournament and a Challenge

The Girl: At a time when most girls obsess about homecoming and high school prom, Rainy Dey spent her senior year caring for her dying mother. So when her father drops her off at college to start her freshman year, his words of advice to his bookish daughter are to start acting like a young person and finally have some fun.

The Guy: College senior, Aaron Donovan, aka Mr. Hot-and-Knows-It, is President of The Clubhouse, a social club for the college’s most wealthy and popular guys. Aaron can have any girl on campus except the one who challenges and excites him the most–Rainy Dey.

The Tournament: Every year, the senior members of The Clubhouse engage in a golf-inspired tournament to see who can sleep with the most freshman girls. When Rainy finds out about The Tournament, she believes Aaron’s only interest in her is to score points by taking her V-Card.

The Challenge: Can Aaron convince Rainy that his feelings for her are true and that she won’t be just another notch on his tournament scorecard?

FAIR PLAY (Book Two of the Series)

The Good-Girl, the Bad-Girl and the Boy They Both Want…FAIR PLAY begins where the New Adult romance MATCHPLAY left off.

Bad girls need love, too…

Keira Whitley is used to getting what she wants and what she wants is the sexy-and-smart, Aaron Donovan. They’re both from extremely wealthy and prominent families and their parents have talked about getting the two of them together since they were kids.

The only problem is that Aaron recently got engaged to the girl of his dreams, Rainy Dey.

But Keira knows she and Aaron are supposed to be together and she’s not about to let a little thing like Aaron’s declaration of true love for Rainy get in her way.

But is all really fair in love and war?

FINAL PLAY (Book Three of the Series)

A Guy, a Girl and the Deviled Egg they both want…

Straight-laced newbie engineer Lucas Young wasn’t looking for love when he attended his friend, Rainy Dey’s wedding reception. But what he did want was one of the delicious looking deviled eggs that were prominently displayed on the hors d’oeuvres table.

Unfortunately, the delectable treat was practically stolen out of his hand by…

Ella Warner, groomsman Evan Warner’s “crazy” younger sister and the black sheep of their well-to-do family. Ella does everything on her own terms, including snatching a yummy deviled egg from Lucas’s rather hungry clutches.

But it’s going to take a lot more than the perfect deviled egg to keep this completely mismatched couple from going completely off the rails as they negotiate an increasingly complicated relationship.

Opposites may attract but can they actually find true love with each other?

This NEW ADULT ROMANCE SERIES contains language and content indented for adult readers (18+).

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Genre – New Adult Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://12novels12months.tumblr.com/

Author Interview – A.M. Griffin @AMGriffinbooks #LovingDangerously

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick? Auto detailing. I keep looking at the pamphlets that they keep sending me. One day when my life settles down a bit I think I’ll take up classes. I think I’d look sexy in my overalls and goggles with paint in my hand, screaming, “Next!”

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk? Laptop. Sometimes I’m forced to write with pen and paper—only when I don’t have my laptop handy. But other than that I have my laptop propped on my lap or pillows and I’m clicking away.

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry? I have a group of wonderful author friends. Whenever we have issues, whether it is business or personal, we know that we are only an email away. We done judge and we often have a *cone of silence* that is invoked for various reasons. It’s good to be able to vent to a group of women that understand the business and have probably been in the same situation once or twice before. Plus writing can be a very solitary profession. It’s nice to talk to friends every now and then, to if nothing else, keep me sane.

How much sleep do you need to be your best? 8-10 hours. I can’t survive on anything less. If I don’t get a full 8 hours of sleep everyone knows about it. I’ll spend the entire day counting down to my bed time and I’m telling everyone about it. “I get to sleep in 6 more hours.” “Man, I can’t wait to go to bed.” “Is it bedtime yet?” LOL. I’m worse than the kids.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? Having readers that enjoy what I write. I like readers who ask me about my characters as if they are real people and readers who follow my story line. To me that’s success. To me, I’m writing to THAT person.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? My grandfather. I know a lot of people would say Jesus or something like that. I’d love to have a talk with Jesus, and that time will come. But I miss and think about my grandfather a lot. If I was given a dinner with him, I’d make it a seven course meal and talk. I’d talk to him about my kids—about his kids too (LOL because they are a handful) and I’d tell him everything that’s been going on in my life. I have a supportive family and I would expect the same from him. He would’ve been proud of me and of what I’ve become.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? On my bed with pillows propped up behind my head. I usually have the television on, but the volume is low and I’m tuning it out anyway. The house is clean and the kids are taken care of. That makes for a very good writing atmosphere. I need to take it a step further and turn off my phone so I won’t be tempted to take a peek on the goings on of FaceBook, but I haven’t gotten that far yet.

Jess hates aliens. After the invasion that destroyed Earth, the extraterrestrial bastards sold her to a brothel as a sex slave. She may have escaped but the old memories and fears still linger in the dark corners of her mind. Supposedly Sonis is just the place for her—somewhere safe, where she can heal and start fresh. She’s almost hopeful…until she meets Rasha, her new boss.

Rasha, captain of the Sonis Royal Guard, is a warrior through and through. He’s huge, sinfully sexy and could have any woman on Sonis—but the woman he wants is Jess. He’s very much an alien and Jess knows she should hate him or at least be wary, but whenever he’s around, she loses control. She tells herself it’s only sex—amazing, mind-blowing sex like nothing else she’s ever experienced—but there’s something about Rasha that shakes her soul. The feel of his skin against hers, the look in his eyes as he touches her—they make her want to believe it’s possible to find love and begin again.

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Genre - Science fiction

Rating – R

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Duty: a novel of Rhynan by Rachel Rossano @RachelRossano

Excerpt -
Eirianware led me to the southern edge of the village. The battlefield, still a mess of mud and frozen slush, spread across the gully between the village and the southern-most fields, which were occupied by Irvaine’s camp. The banners of Rathenridge and Landry flapped in the wind beneath Irvaine’s emblem of a golden hart on a field of green.
The king’s camp lay sprawled across the eastern-most fields. A great flag on a pole twice the height of a man marked the edge of the camp. A hawk, wings unfurled and claws spread, shown red on a field of caramel brown. Gilt highlighted the bird’s claws and crazed eyes. The sight of the banner was enough to slow my steps.
“Where am I to present myself?” I asked Eirianware.
“Outside the king’s pavilion. I was told we would be met at the edge of camp.”
As he spoke, I spotted a group of men lingering beneath the crimson bird. As we approached, they fell into formation, a tall but unassuming man at their head. He was the man who stepped forward to greet us.
“Lady Irvaine, I presume.” He bowed with the practiced air of a man who performed the movement often. As he straightened, we locked eyes.
“Lord Dentin, I presume.”
“Why do you assume I am he?”
“You have the look of a man more accustomed to the background than the focus of attention. Also, you wear the colors of Dentin’s household.”
His eyebrows rose in what I hoped was appreciation. “Tomas said you were bright, but he didn’t mention observant.”
A burst of warmth flooded my chest. Still, I remained outwardly reserved. Tomas indicated Lord Dentin could be a valuable ally or a dangerous friend. Considering the complicated depths of my husband, I expected the same of his friends.
“I don’t know whether to be afraid or flattered.”
“Why?” He smiled, but his eyes narrowed.
“The king sent the man responsible for the security of the realm to escort me to my presentation. Does he think I intend to assassinate him?”
“You are armed.” His eyebrows rose and his eyes challenged me, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
“It is intended to be for show. You may take it.” I offered the knife, but Dentin made no move to accept it.
“Keep it. Tomas sent me.”
I returned the dagger to its sheath. “Is he afraid I will assassinate the king?”
Dentin laughed. “Hardly. He thought you would need support, a conclusion I do not share.”
“So you are here as a friend?”
“In part.” He offered his left arm to me.
“The other part?” I laid my hand upon his forearm.
“Parts, my lady. First and foremost, I am a loyal subject of the king.” He led the way through the tent city. Our men fell into formation behind us like the train of a regal gown.
“I am as well.”
“So, treason does not run in the family?”
I tensed. “I am not my cousin, my lord. We are nothing alike.”
He turned to scan my face with a care. I met his scrutiny with a steady regard. His brown eyes were pleasantly shaped. He had even features, a strong jaw, well-proportioned nose, and a pleasing smile hidden behind the tension of the moment. I returned my gaze to his eyes. I had nothing to hide from this man.
“The king sent you, didn’t he?”
He focused straight ahead. “No, he didn’t, but I wouldn’t be much of a defender of the realm if I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity allotted me.”
“So, you are searching for an assassin?”

“Always.”

 

Duty to King

Tomas Dyrease, the newly made Earl of Irvaine and the village of Wisenvale, owes his good fortune to his king and the recent civil war. When his benefactor demands Tomas marry the cousin of a noble, he obeys. However, no one warned him that she wasn’t a typical noblewoman.

Duty to Others

Brielle Solarius struggles to keep her village from starvation under the new Lord Wisten, her cousin. The men rode off to war and never returned. The remaining women and children face a dire winter if they do not find a solution soon. When she learns her cousin sold her into marriage to save his life, she isn’t surprised. However, she is taken aback by Lord Irvaine’s unpolished ways. Was this man a noble or a foot soldier?

Duty to Each Other

Bound by the words of their vows, they face a rough future. They must forge a marriage while battling betrayal, accusations of treason, and villains from the past. Survival depends on their precarious trust in each other. Failure could mean death.

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Genre – Fantasy, Romance

Rating – G

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The Playmaker by Dakota Madison @ShortonTimeBook

THE PLAYMAKER is Part Two of the FIRE ON ICE series.

Kian Kavanagh, Mr. Fire on Ice, has just been called up to play hockey for the NHL’s new expansion team in Seattle. Finally playing in the NHL is a dream come true…except for one thing. Kian has to leave Northern Arizona and the love of his life, Taylor Thompson, to pursue his dream.

Taylor Thompson thinks she’s got life figured out. She’ll finish her final semester of college then move to Seattle to attend graduate school and be with her man. Until one fateful night when Taylor’s world is complete shattered and everything she’s ever wanted—everything she’s ever hoped for—is called into question.

Will Kian’s love be enough to help put Taylor’s shattered world back together again or will tragedy tear them apart?

This NEW ADULT ROMANCE contains MATURE LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE and CONTENT indented for ADULT READERS (18+).

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Genre – New Adult Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://12novels12months.tumblr.com/

Fire on Ice by Dakota Madison @ShortonTimeBook

This is BOOK ONE of the FIRE ON ICE series.

BOOK TWO, THE PLAYMAKER, is now available.

He’s Fire on Ice and she’s afraid to get burned again…

“You always think a guy is going to be different until he’s not.”

Firestorm Center Kian Kavanagh dominates the ice like a rock star dominates the stage. He’s the hottest new player to be recruited for the Firestorm, a newly established professional hockey team in Northern Arizona.

After Taylor Thompson’s heart was completely shattered by her high school’s most popular jock, she vowed never to date another athlete. And she keeps that promise through her first three years of college by putting up impenetrable walls to protect her from heartbreak.

But after a chance meeting with the charming and irresistible Kian Kavanagh, Taylor’s carefully constructed walls are in serious danger of being burned down by Mr. Fire on Ice.

This NEW ADULT ROMANCE contains MATURE LANGUAGE and CONTENT indented for adult readers (18+).

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Genre – New Adult Romance

Rating – R

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Hidden by Derick Parsons @1_DerickParsons

At last Kate spotted a sign proclaiming Deacon House to the world and swung her car into the entrance.  She paused, a frisson of excitement running through her; all her professional life she had heard stories about this place and now her curiosity knew no bounds.  However, between the black gates and massive granite walls Kate could see little beyond a glimpse of white driveway and overhanging branches.  Her initial impression was of isolation, even secrecy, and overall was not encouraging.  She had been invited there, however, and rolled down her window and pressed the intercom button mounted on a low post.

A crackling, metallic voice responded, ‘Deacon House, how can I help you?’

No mention of its full title, thought Kate with a touch of amusement, nor its present function.  ‘My name is Kate Bennett.  I have an appointment with…er, the director.’

She was hoping for a clue as to who her mysterious host was but was destined to be disappointed as, after a moment’s hesitation, the voice replied, ‘Yes, you’re expected, Dr. Bennett.  Please wait until the gates are fully open, then follow the driveway up to the house.’

Before she could reply the heavy gates began to swing open, making a suitably eerie creaking noise as they did so.  Wondering what effect this would have on the more nervous night-time visitors, Kate put her car in gear and rolled forward, crunching slowly onto the spotless gravel drive.  Behind the high stone wall the grounds were extensive and well tended, though the immense chestnut trees lining the driveway created a slightly gloomy atmosphere in the dull autumnal light.  The driveway itself was almost long enough to be considered a private road, causing her to wonder just how large the place was; these were not just grounds, this was a park.  Large as it was, however, as she rounded the very next bend she was afforded her first glimpse of the old house through a gap in the trees.

Deacon House Rest Home -far better than Insane Asylum!- had been the country seat of an Irish nobleman, and although now reduced from its former glory it still retained something of its old air of grandeur.  It was built of large gray granite blocks but in the watery sunshine the old stone looked warm and inviting rather than forbidding.  And the flight of stone steps that led up to the immense double-doors, flanked by high pillars, lent the mansion a graceful air in spite of its massive dimensions.  The house was at pleasant variance with the forbidding outer wall and gate, and was a far cry from the grim Bedlam of public fancy.  Some of the glittering windows were encased by iron bars, true, but nonetheless Kate could almost see the graceful carriages rolling up and the pink of society alighting in their finery for a ball.  Almost see it.  Because, beautiful though it was, and imposing, Deacon House was now an insane asylum, and no coy phrases like Rest Home could alter that cold fact.

Why has a beautiful young woman been committed to an insane asylum? What is the truth behind a shadowy past containing drug use, promiscuity and murder? What secrets does she hold that others will kill to keep HIDDEN? These are questions that psychologist Kate Bennett must answer if she is to save her patient’s sanity…and both their lives. But Kate has secrets of her own, and a dark past of her own that will come back to haunt her.

HIDDEN is a thriller, set in Dublin, but it is also a voyage of self-discovery for Kate, as she uncovers not just the truth about her patient but some truths about herself.

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Genre - Mystery, Thriller

Rating – PG-18

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Website http://www.derick-parsons.com/

Emily Kinney – Finding Your Voice: Writing in First Person @theshadylady

Finding Your Voice: Writing in First Person

Stories, no matter the topic, setting, or themes, can either be displayed one of two ways. Or, three of two ways, depending on how open-minded you are: First person, third person, or the rare and little used second person. Considering that second person tends to be used solely for self-help and build-your-own-adventure books, it isn’t ever really listed as a narrative option. Therefore, we will kindly acknowledge its existence and move on.

We are now left with first and third person. For those who failed to imprint this information in their brains in middle school, first person takes the form of ‘I’, and third takes that of ‘he’, ‘she,’ or ‘it’. That’s the simplified version, anyway. In storytelling, it means you can either write from the perspective of one specific person, or describe what is happening to one or several characters. Both ways have their advantages. As always, it’s best to choose based on what the story itself needs. How best would the story in question be told? Through the view of one person in particular, or via an all-encompassing narrative?

When you work with first person, it is amazing because you can contribute to the style of the writing based on the personality of that character. Where they were raised, their age, their opinions all influence the voice they use to describe what is happening to and around them. It can make for truly engaging and fascinating reading. It can also provide a measure of authenticity. For instance, the plight of a farmer in the Dust Bowl with him telling the reader what is going on, using his own words and emotions. This allows for slang, dialect, regional terms, and simple, raw feelings.

Third person, on the other hand, caters to ever-tempting god-complex that we writers love. As the all-knowing narrator, we are gifted with that insight into the story and future of the characters that could only exist if we had made it all up ourselves. Which, of course, we have. A character in first person only knows so much. He or she can reveal the extent of their knowledge, which can be much or next to nothing. The almighty Narrator, however, knows everything. The Narrator knows what the girl at far end of the ice-cream parlor bar did every summer of her life, and what she might have done in the summers of other lives, even though she was only mentioned twice in the passage, and never again in the whole book. The Narrator knows the deepest, inkiest secrets of the dankest, gloomiest forest on the map of the quest of the hero who has no idea what’s in store for him, but wants to try anyways.

Being the Narrator is helpful when wanting to relay pertinent information to the reader. It assists in establishing an overall atmosphere, by explaining and describing every person, place, or thing your main protagonist comes across. Or, perhaps not. As the Narrator, you are at liberty to reveal only as much as you see fit. Whether it is to benefit the story, or to tantalize the reader, the decision lies with you.

When choosing which style is best to write in, I personally consider the tone in which the story itself would best be told. Remember, it’s all about the story.

Milo Hestler is a lonely, unusual, fourteen-year-old girl. She is constantly moving from home to home with her oblivious parents. The only friend she has is her conscience, whom she has named Bob. Her only comforts are cooking and listening to hip-hop.

When her family moves yet again, Milo is bullied mercilessly by her classmates. Such treatment prompts her to travel to Australia for summer camp. During the plane ride, Milo awakens to find the plane deserted and about to crash.
After parachuting into the ocean, she discovers she is near an island. Milo passes out, and upon waking, learns she was rescued by a boy named Simon, who is cute, but can’t speak English. Not able to understand him, she accidentally says yes when he asks her to marry him.

He leads her to a small town on the island, where they locate someone who can translate for them. Milo is outraged to hear that she is engaged to Simon and wants to call it off, but learns that this island has rules that cannot be broken. She must go through with the marriage against her will.

After learning about the trick he played on her, Milo hates Simon, though it is obvious that sixteen-year-old Simon really likes her. What will happen next on The Island of Lote? From her earliest memories, Emily Kinney has wanted to be a writer. She lives in Maine. “This book is just the first of many to come, rest assured.” Publisher’s website: sbpra.com/EmilyKinney

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Genre - Young Adult Fiction

Rating – PG

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Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Do Something Bigger Than Your Old Habit – Beca Lewis @becalewis

I remember the first time I saw a marathon.  I was living in downtown Los Angeles in the loft district on Traction Avenue.  To get to the event I had walked a few blocks east to Little Tokyo.  I passed the many little stores and even the grocery store where I often shopped, but on this day, I was looking for a place to sit to watch the Los Angeles Marathon.

I finally found the perfect spot and settled myself on the curb.  The crowd was so thick I didn’t notice that I had chosen a seat on the curb just a half a block from where the Kodo drummers had set up.

When they started drumming, I felt as if the thunder of the gods was rolling down the street. I had never heard, or seen, such power and precision. The sound and rhythm felt like a thousand hearts beating next to me.

Adding to the drummer’s rhythm and beat was the pounding of the runners’ feet as they headed our way. Soon, runner after runner passed by, filling the entire street, shoulder-to-shoulder. One line would pass by and another would be right behind their heels. They just kept coming.  I had no idea there would be so many people.

Besides the sheer number of people, what intrigued me was the fact that although they were all moving down the same route, they were all unique.

There were fast runners, slow runners, walkers, people carrying things, men, women, people of all ages, people wearing costumes, people smiling, people waving, people concentrated on the task.  Each person ran that marathon in his or her own way and all of us present, either as runners, helpers, or watchers, were part of the experience.

It was hours before I got up from my seat, saturated with sounds of the Kodo drums, the thousands of feet hitting the pavement, and the energy that swelled and flowed from each runner as they went by.

Now all these years later, I am part of another kind of marathon. I am not sitting on a curb, there aren’t any Kodo drummers, and I am participating instead of just watching. No, I am not running a marathon with my feet; I am participating in the marathon of words, called NaNoWriMo, or National November Writing Month.

I heard of this event a few years ago, but was afraid to participate. The idea of writing a novel of at least 50, 000 words in one month seemed as beyond me as running the Los Angeles Marathon.

However, I harbored a secret wish to be part of the event. This year, I decided, that just as anyone can run a marathon in his or her own way, I could participate in this word marathon in my own way.

I decided I wouldn’t worry whether what I was writing was any good, or if I would use it later. I would write just to get into the habit of writing lots of words, every day, and get out of the habit of procrastinating writing.

A week into the marathon, I have kept up so far. Instead of going back and reading what I am writing, I am simply writing what comes next.  I told myself that I would follow whatever the characters took me, not worrying if it makes any sense. I am not editing, not checking spelling, just letting my fingers do the running. When the month is over I can edit all those words, or I can simply toss it out and begin again.

There are thousands and thousands of writers participating. If we were all running, it would take hours for all of us to pass one spectator watching in awe, as I was that day.

If you are one of those runners running the writing route with me, I say “Hey, so happy to be running with you!” If you have thought of doing this yourself, then join us next year, or make your own kind of marathon, because choosing to be in any kind of marathon is one of the most powerful ways to do something bigger than an old habit.

We are not all runners. We are not all writers.  However, every one of us can participate in a marathon of some kind, with a like-minded community.  Pick one that calls to you. Breaking old habits that keep us stuck, and making new ones that work for us, is always easier, and way more fun, within a community! Let me know what marathon you choose, and I will cheer you on!

“A refreshing and powerful new look at the results of shifting perceptions to your true spiritual nature.” Alan Cohen, author of My Father’s View

A profound, thought provoking guide to shifting perceptions to reveal what is hidden in plain sight: heaven on earth.

If you are tired of fooling around with material-based thinking that only puts Band-Aids on problems, and if you are ready to choose spiritual perception and the spiritual solution, than Living In Grace: The Shift to Spiritual Perception is the answer.

In this book, I will guide you through powerful-proven-practical-perception-shifting exercises and personally teach you useful tools for shifting anytime, anywhere, and any situation.

You will find yourself restudying the book over and over again because each time your perception shifts you will experience greater insight into Reality.

Living In Grace, provides practical tools like The 7 Steps To Shift and an eight step-by-step system based on the word GRACIOUS, which makes the necessary process of perception-shifting easy to remember and simple to use.

Chapter by chapter, the reader is taken on an inner journey that encourages her to achieve her goals, and in so doing, lead a spiritual life.

This book will be a constant companion for every advanced or beginning student of spirituality. It provides answers about the nature of God, and his children, for every honest seeker of Truth simply and elegantly.

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Genre – Spirituality, Non-Fiction

Rating – G

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Website http://www.becalewis.com

John H.T. Francis – Why Writing is a Form of Personal Therapy @JohnHTFrancis

Why Writing is a Form of Personal Therapy
I often find myself occupied with the same ideas. Whenever I find myself troubled and heavy inside, as if I am carrying a load of worries about the world around me, I seek shelter and relief in writing.
Whenever I am exposed to new, exciting ideas, to unexpected discoveries and theories that change the way I think, whenever my edifice of thought is shaken (that is positively shaken by something that is greatly stimulating), I find myself with many new ideas that I feel the urge to
put in writing. I again feel full, not with worries and questions this time, but with exciting ideas that want to find their way into my writing.
Whether it is in the good, wondrous, and exciting, or in the bad, worrying, and saddening, writing can be a great avenue for psychological growth and/or relief. It is also one of the most lasting and enduring ways of doing so. In fact, we can often find ourselves in life going back to problems and questions we have already treated and thought resolved – in other words, we commonly cycle back through the same important questions. If you write and keep a record of your reactions to these questions and difficulties the first times, you will find yourself better equipped the subsequent times they come around. Your consciousness, written in front of you,  can be, in many instances, your best doctor, your best advisor.
When you feel that something is not clicking well inside, that you may have lost perspective on things, writing can help you step back and see things differently. Writing is not only an avenue for offloading ideas and/or worries; it is equally a way of working through them toward something more mature and resilient. Writing not only comforts you momentarily, it actually changes you; when you read your written words, after a while, there is a good chance that you  will feel that you have become a different person.
Of course, as with most things human, writing can also be shallow, commercial, very narrowminded, or lacking in meaning and depth. But the range of possibilities, meanings, impressions, and ideas that can be expressed with writing are simply immense. The depth of writing, the
richness of ideas, and the quality and agency of words and sentences, all reflect the depth of the internal world of the author whether in the fiction or the non-fiction genre.

Addressing important questions that have been discussed across many times and cultures, this essay, written in a simple style, seeks to awaken you from the slumber of intellectual complacency. Author John H.T. Francis presents a multi-disciplinary look at prevalent interpretations and fundamental questions of human interest. He tackles many of humanity’s most important and difficult topics, drawing on many fields of knowledge and action, including science, philosophy, sociology, economics, politics, anthropology, and psychology. This study explores history, knowledge, the human mind and psyche, the nature of existence, the phenomenon of life, socio-economic and political dynamics, ethics, religions, and several current, pressing individual and collective challenges. It provides elements of answers and attempts to position subjects of general importance under a new light. Universal in his approach, Francis reaches out to those who are interested in delving deeper into the human understanding.

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Genre - Philosophy, Non-Fiction

Rating – G

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Website http://www.johnhtfrancis.com

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The Little Boy, Who Was Precious by Reagan Chesnut, Noemi Manalang @reaganchesnut

The Little Boy, Who Was Precious is a story about a child’s first long stay with his grandparents when his parents are away. The little boy, who is so brave against the beasts of his imagination, finds himself strangely lost without his mother and father. It takes a pair of loving grandparents to convince him that he is still the bravest and most precious little boy.

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Genre – Children’s

Rating – G

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Website http://www.reaganchesnut.com

Chain of Title by Robyn Roze @robynrozeauthor

Shayna Chastain has ended her marriage and is ready to move forward with her life. That’s hard to do when your ex wants you back and your angry daughter has taken his side. However, Shayna rediscovered herself during the separation, and she isn’t easily persuaded. She’s entered a new stage in life, and she’s enjoying it.

Now Sean Parker, the new younger man in her life, is determined to make sure she doesn’t look back. Their attraction is instant but the fallout will last a lifetime. Ultimately, their chance encounter will not only change Shayna’s life, but will have a profound effect on those closest to her. As Sean and Shayna fall deeper, secrets surface that will ultimately have far-reaching, deadly consequences.

By the end, you’ll be asking yourself: “Who is Sean Parker?”

Will the glimpse you get be enough?

How well do you know the people you love?

Even the one’s you’ve known most of your life…

(Mature themes and sexual content for 18+)

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Genre – Women’s Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://www.robynroze.com/

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About P.T. Macias @pt_macias

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About P.T. Macias
My name is Patricia T. Macias. I was born in San Jose, California. I currently live in Sacramento, California with my family.
I have three children. My eldest is my daughter Erica Crystal. My middle child is Andres Arturo, and my youngest child is Ricardo Emanuel. I have four beautiful grandchildren. I have three grandsons and one granddaughter. My granddaughter is only a few months old. My family is my pride and joy.
I also enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. I love to read romance and paranormal. My favorite book is Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I also enjoy reading J.R. Ward, Lindsey Sands, and lots more.
I always dreamed of writing and I’m extremely happy to be achieving my dream. I want to write since I was in elementary. My characters are my best friends. They’re always talking and living in my mind and dreams. I would tell you that writing is my passion.
I graduated from the University of Phoenix with a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management Administration.
I’ve been working for the same employer for 32 years. I started working with them when I was eighteen. I’ve been working in my current technical position for 28 years.
I’ve been writing for approximately three years. I realized one day that all of my dreams were stories and characters demanding to be told.
I write without an outline or plan. The stories flow out when I’m writing. Their personalities and their characteristics are developed. I see them clearly in my mine. Then direct the plot, the scenes, and the dialogue.
I wrote my first series, the De La Cruz Saga, in one year. The saga has a subtle influence of Spanish and the Spanish becomes more laced (as the story progresses).
I write in the present tense because I believe it puts the reader “IN” the action, rather than as part of an “after thought”. I believe it brings the characters to life!
This is my voice, my style. Dare to read the awesome De La Cruz Saga that’s full of passion and suspense. Enjoy my latest and greatest series is Razer 8. The new Razer 8 series is all about action, adventure, passion, and romance.
My latest and greatest goal is to write a Mexican Cook book. I hope you enjoy the recipes.

Ghost is an old-fashioned Southern boy fighting hard to forget his pain. He’s forced to protect his Mama and sister from their abusive Pa. Ghost is strong, silent, and soft spoken. He works hard against all obstacles and hurt.

Ghost grows up to become a Delta Force. He meets and falls for a hot Latina who sets him on fire! She captures his soul and brightens his world. He would do anything to protect her.

Duty calls and he’s forced to leave her unprotected. The unspeakable happens! Ghost calls on Infinity. Infinity aids to extract his woman from the clutches of a soulless prostitution mob. Time is running out!

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Genre – Romantic Suspense

Rating – PG13

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Website http://ptmacias.com/

Don’t Jump on the Best-seller Bandwagon – Johannah Reardon @JoHannahReardon

Don’t Jump on the Best-seller Bandwagon   
Every writer wants to be a success. Most of us look longingly at those authors who have become household names because of their runaway best-sellers. As soon as someone hits it big, dozens of other authors try to imitate their work—usually not as well and almost never as successfully.

But the temptation is so strong. If it worked for them, maybe it will work for me. If writing about teenage vampires worked for Stephenie Meyer, then I’ll write about them too. Or if Beverly Lewis can turn the Amish into best-sellers, then by gum, I’m going to make up what I think the Amish are like and write my heart out. If Martha Grimes writes mysteries about a policeman in London, then I’ll do it better! Never mind that I’ve never met anyone who works for the constabulary there. And if J. R. R. Tolkien can create a fantasy world, then so can I.

Now there is nothing wrong with being inspired by such writers. Reading great books is what makes us want to be writers in the first place. And if we love a certain genre, then of course that is what we will want to write. But my point is that we should not imitate, because we aren’t going to do it as well, and our readers will most likely be disappointed with our attempts.

So how can you write a unique book that is inspired by an author you love without simply imitating him or her? The answer is in thinking through why you like a certain author.

For example, why do you love the Twilight books? Is it really because they are about vampires? Or is there something else in the story that draws you? Find that element and concentrate on that instead of trying to stick with the vampire theme.

Why do you want to write about the Amish? Is it because you know the Amish community well and want to help others to understand their world? Or do you just like the rural setting and old-fashioned ways? If the latter, create your own unique take on such a story without feeling it has to be Amish.
Do you love Martha Grimes mysteries? Unless you have a good understanding of how the policemen of the UK operate, put your policeman in the setting in which you live. Incorporate the same things that you love about Grimes’s books, but make them uniquely your own.

And if you want to create a fantasy world such as Tolkien created, do not make it about a ring, elves, dwarves, and hobbits. You will need to come up with your own unique characters, plot line, and world.
So although imitation is the highest form of flattery, it is not how you will become a great author. You will write great books when you find your unique voice and create a story that not only you will love but many others as well.

Ella is a bored, inner-city girl trying to fill the long, monotonous days of her summer vacation. As she keeps a promise to her mother to clean the cellar, she discovers a crumbling brick behind an old trunk. Even though it’s raining outside, sunlight pours through the opening. Intrigued, she chips away at the brick to find the source of the light. To her astonishment, she finds another land beyond her cellar wall, gripped in the freshness of spring.

In the land of Neo, she makes new, unusual friends, discovers breathtaking beauty, and learns of Kosmeo who will guide and direct her during all of her adventures. She discovers Kosmeo has brought her here for a purpose. Princess Onyma must choose a suitor who will eventually rule all of Neo. Many of the citizens of Neo are threatened during this perilous time of choice between good and evil. Can Ella save this beautiful kingdom from disaster? THE CRUMBLING BRICK is told in the tradition of C. S. Lewis’s and George MacDonald’s fairy tales.

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Genre – Fairy tale, Fantasy

Rating – G

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Website https://www.johannahreardon.com

Author Interview – Ramz Artso @RamzArtso

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?

I grew up in the Swiss Alps and then moved to Geneva, Switzerland. Both of these amazing and beautiful locations influenced my writing very much, especially the former of the two.

How did you develop your writing?

I just wrote and wrote, read and read.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from movies, books and songs. Sometimes, I just randomly think of something and run to the keyboard to type it all down before the thought escapes me.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

I’d have to say getting published, if you pick the tradition route, but marketing if you’re an indie author. Writing isn’t easy either. Ask any other author, if you don’t believe me. Yet, it’s very enjoyable.

What marketing works for you?

The marketing that works for me is Twitter and getting book reviews, as well as doing giveaways.

Peter Simmons thinks he is an ordinary boy, before he is abducted by a man with certain special abilities, learns of his inescapable destiny, befriends immortals and becomes famous wordlwide. Why? Because Peter Simmons is mankind’s last hope for survival.

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Genre – Young-adult, Action and Adventure, Coming of Age, Sci-fi

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://ramzartso.blogspot.com/

Adrian Powell - 3 Tips on how to overcome fear when writing @AuthorAdrian

3 Tips on how to overcome fear when writing
If someone would I have told me a few years ago that a children’s picture book would be the first book that I would write I probably would have burst into laughter. Not because I didn’t think that I could actually complete it but because it would have been so far out of my own expectations I would have allowed fear to immediately shoot down the idea. Luckily I believed enough in myself to not only write but publish the book on my own. As humans we have a terrible habit of placing an imaginary box around our ideas thus limiting our immense potential. As writers our imagination is such a vital part of how we create stories we cannot allow fear to paralyze our thoughts. Below are some common obstacles and tips on how to overcome fear and hopefully allow your mind to be free.
1.) Make decisions based off of the good that may happen vs. the bad. “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Translation - fear isn’t real. If you really analyze the emotion, fear is based off an act, thought, or idea in the future that hasn’t come into fruition yet. We often think of the worst things that may happen and make decisions accordingly. If you retrain your brain to think of all the good things that may came from acting on an idea you will have the luxury of confidence and positivity on your side which makes for a great recipe for writing a good story.
2.) Don’t be afraid to fail. In order to be successful there has to be some learning points along the way. We commonly misinterpret these points as something bad, giving them the stigma of being called failures. Many people are terrified of stepping outside of their current genre or writing style because they think that they may not be successful. The only way to truly find if your new path is actually going to work out is to go through with it. Even if you are not as successful as you may like, completing the book will give you priceless experiences, more insight and vital information that you can use on the next novel you write. Failure is all a part of success.
3.) Nothing risked = nothing gained. Book tours, print copies, editing, proofreading, illustrators, and many other book expenses can grow to be very expensive. An author can look at these expenses and quickly become discouraged. The fear of not knowing if you will recoup your expenses in future book sales can be enough to delay an author from making the decision to publish. At that point you have to switch from author mode to entrepreneur mode and know that with any new venture there are risks involved. If you are still a little unsure publish a short story before you invest money and time into a complete novel. That way you are able to gauge interest and test the market before making the final financial investment.
Although you may not be able to control when you experience fear you can control how you react to it. Conquering fear will open up many doors for you to be able to mature as a writer and push through every boundary placed in your path of writing success. Now what are you waiting for? Go and become writing daredevil. That is if you aren’t afraid…..

Kenny wants nothing more than to learn how to fly high in the sky like his favorite cartoon character. But with everyone discouraging him, and no one willing to teach him the fundamentals of flight, will Kenny’s dream ever get cleared for takeoff?

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Genre - Children’s Book, YA

Rating – G

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