Follow Friday

For all aspiring writers, I'm teaching a blurb writing class starting Monday. It will also be a crash course in plot, and it's the method that got me a 50% full request rate.

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison and Parajunkee.

Q: What is your preferred reading format? Hardcover, eBooks, paperback etc?

This is a hard one. I think I prefer pretty hardbacks, but ebooks are easier to read. I can hold the kindle w/ one hand while chasing ELF with the other, and I can make the font larger if I need to.

Brainstorming Help & A Give Away From Author Catherine Stine

Before we get started, I'm teaching the blurb writing process that got me a 50% full request rate here starting Monday. It will be the last one for a while.

Blurb: “Seventeen year-old Ruby and her little brother Thorn, have only known a life blighted by the extremist Fireseed Cult. The night Ruby is set to be claimed by one of its cruelest and oldest leaders, she makes a bid for freedom. With Thorn in tow, she stumbles into the world beyond, and finds an opportunity for a fresh start in Skull’s Wrath under the guidance of Nevada Pilgrim, a woman who may not be all she seems. Ruby's new life could bring her friendship, love, even fortune, but nothing comes without a price. Is Ruby's talent for elixirs keeping the roof over their heads, or do some of her associates have a more sinister and lucrative interest in them? Life outside a strange cult isn't without its dangers, and the experience leaves Ruby transformed and communing with the Fireseed more closely than she ever would have imagined. Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by an exciting cast of characters, and the romance is really well handled.”   Availabe at: ebook print

Asking What If?

Brainstorming is one of my favorite things. Especially if I’m lounging on my deck, feet up, gazing at the clouds. I may look like I’m doing nothing, but my mind is literally storming. I explain brainstorming this way. It’s a curious, persistent voice inside you that keeps asking, “What if… what if… what if?”

For Fireseed One, the first of my YA sci-fi novels, I started with the premise that in 2089 the earth was overheated and much of the world became desert so the food source was scarce. And then I brainstormed. If the temp was super-hot, what if the arctic ice all dissipated, and the frozen underwater lakebeds melted, releasing all of the toxic methane now trapped in ice? And what if tropical oceans plants migrated north? You’d have new invasive species choking northern waters, so you’d have to grow fish, but you’d have advanced biotech, and could genetically hybridize fish with grape vines to create fish that wound up on vines in floating factories. To complete brainstorming your novel, you just keep on applying the “What if?” to your characters, your plot, and to every detail of the world.

In Ruby’s Fire, my newly released Fireseed novel, I wanted to have a female lead, Ruby, and I wanted to explore extremist cult life. I also wanted to talk about drug addiction, and what it would take for her to get off drugs. I asked the question what if she was haunted by the fact that in this cult, young girls were pledged to older men when they were very young? And what if the story opened on the night that improper relationship was supposed to be consummated? And what if Ruby was a drug addict, sniffing in her own concoction of Oblivion that she crafted from lizard venom in order to quell those horrid dreams? And what if that very drug that quieted her nightmares, in large quantity, could knock out the man who was about to assault her? What then? That, folks, is how Ruby’s Fire starts.

Will Ruby make it out of the Fireseed cult? Will she ever kick her Oblivion habit? For that, you have to read Ruby’s Fire!

Beth, thanks for letting me guest host. I really enjoyed it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Show Day 4

I used Grammarly as a grammar check for today's post, because I hate proofreading. Besides, Grammarly had it done in the time it took Beth to eat an Oreo ;).

If you want to know more about show days, you can find it here. Geez, it's hard to believe I started this six week series in March and still haven't managed to finish it. Sorry, guys.

So we've made it through the first 3 weeks of "Show Days," where I attempted to write characters in a situation they wouldn't typically be in and let you guess the scenario. Now we're looking at books that do "showing" right. Today's section is from my friend and former teacher Nova Ren Summa's Imaginary Girls.

Excerpt
"We had no idea--this was before the blue-flashing strobe through the pines; the spotlit glare on water; the skidding over rocks; the grabbing of shoes, any shoes, of clothes, any clothes. Before we went running through the brush and the sharp sticks cut out feet. Before the heart in my chest went pounding, all while wondering, Is this really happening? when it was, most definitely it was. Before all that--all we wanted to do was go swimming."

Aside from being a powerful use of language, it also clearly paints a picture of teens running from the cops.  A less talented writer might have said, "This was before the cops showed up and we went running through the woods."

10 Things I've Learned About Marketing From Author Liz Czukas

Author Liz Czukas is here to show off the cover of her book Ask Again Later coming from Harper Teen in 2014.

"Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all..."

1.  It is hard work!  Even as a Big 6 (or is it 5 now? I can't keep track!) author, I have to do my part.  There's a lot to think about, people to deal with, emails to keep up with, social networks to attend to.  People who can juggle this and another full-time job are my heroes!  Do NOT think you can drop your book into the fray at Amazon, wander away, and come back a few days later to discover you're a bestseller.  It doesn't work like that.

2.  A web designer is a beautiful thing.  My website was designed by the amazing Tessa Elwood at ipopcolor (http://ipopcolor.com/).  She not only worked fast and held my hand through every step of the hosting changes, etc., she took even the vaguest suggestions from me and made them better than I expected.  There is simply no way I could have done it on my own!

3.  You need friends!  On-line and face-to-face, there is just no substitute for getting involved with other writers.  Writers are not only readers, they know what you're going through.  Sit, listen.  You never know what tidbit you might soak up.

4.  Swag isn't an easy decision.  People seem really mixed on swag--some love it, some hate it.  I know for me, it's not a priority.  If I love an author, I want their book!  On the other hand, I've seen people go nutso over some innovative stuff at conferences and they're practically throwing elbows to get at it.  Does it equal book sales?  I don't know.  But I think you have to trust your gut.

5.  Start early!  Promoting your book cannot be done in one week before it hits the shelves.  There is a balance to be found between being a spambot for a year, and gently reminding your friends/family/followers that your book is on the way.  Aim for the latter.

6.  Don't be afraid to ask.  I have trouble "imposing" on people.  I don't like to ask for favors.  I would always rather be on the giving end than the receiving.  But that has to change when it comes to promoting your book.  It is okay to ask your writing/blogging/tweeting friends to help boost your signal.  You'd do the same for them, right?

7.  People actually want to read your book.  I know, right?  Despite the fact that I've been trying to claw my way onto bookshelves for years, I still sort of feel like I'm asking people to look at my vacation photos--torture!!  But here's the thing:  I love to read, and so do a lot of people I know.  It's only natural they'd be interested in reading something by someone they know.  Trust me, they're way more excited about your book than your blurry shots of the Grand Canyon.

8.  You don't have to go it alone!  There are plenty of groups out there for authors.  Especially debut authors.  I am a member of OneFourKidLit, and the Class of 2k14.  Both groups are all about helping their members promote together.  It's great to have other minds working on the same issues you're facing.  And fantastic to pool resources when it comes to bigger ticket items.  As soon as you figure out when you're book is coming out, look for people with similar debut dates and see what they're up to!

9.  Think outside the Internet.  It seems like we all focus so much energy on our social media networks when it comes to promotion.  But there are plenty of other outlets.  There are traditional media options, like magazines, newspapers, radio, and television if you've got the right contacts.  For people who write kidlit, like me, there are also school visits, library visits.

10.  Don't be afraid to cut your losses.  Not every promotional effort is going to pay off.  Not every method of promotion is going to speak to you.  For example, I am a terrible blogger.  I don't keep up with it regularly enough to keep readers coming back.  I just don't enjoy it.  I know it works wonderfully for a lot of people and they should absolutely go for it.  But I had to give myself permission to be a terrible blogger.  It's okay that I only put up a post once in a while when the mood strikes, or I actually have something important to share--like my cover.  Could I be forfeiting a few loyal readers who might turn into book buyers?  Sure, I suppose I could be.  But is that handful of sales worth me resenting my blog and cutting into my time that I should be writing another book?  Definitely.  Figure out what works for you and don't waste your time on the rest.

Rules for Disappearing

"She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival."

This book starts out with the "Suits" waking them up in the middle of the night to relocate the family. There is lots of action. It's set in Louisiana and I love that it was written by a Southern girl or at least someone who has spent some time in the South, because I'm sick of books with cliche stereotypes and fake accents. Also, if the hero weren't a Southern gentlemen something that happens in the resolution could not have happened, which I love.

And Ethan--the hero. He's a perfect Southern gentleman. Now, I think for some the way he always manages to show up at exactly the right time to save the day will be off-putting. (Too convenient of the plot) but for me, I loved it. What's the point in having your own Southern gentleman if he can't happen to show up when you need him? LOL. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. But I did deduct a star because while I was enjoying it, it didn't get un-putdownable for me until 60% though.

Romancing The R.A.

"Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl.

And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.

But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?"

I really liked this novella! It was cute, short and sweet. It was really funny in places too, almost like a romantic comedy. I don't read much NA because I like to keep things PG-13, but this story was not graphic at all. Noelle was a shy freshman trying to come out of her shell and learning to push boundaries at college. (And boy did she succeed at that). Her friend Julie was one of my favorite parts of the book. Julie said what she thought, and brought in a lot of the humor. Andy, the R.A. was great too. He was a straight shooter, but still managed to be light and carefree. Overall this was a light story. A chick-flick if you will. I deducted a star, because Noelle made a decision that really bothered me. More than that, she had just said she didn't want to be the girl who did that kind of thing then did it. I'd planned to deduct two stars for this, but the ending was SO CUTE it made my heart jump which made it impossible for me to give this book anything less than a 4 star rating. Although, I do wish it had been a full length. There is nothing wrong with it as written, and I'm so behind on everything I'm appreciating novellas right now, but I think I would have liked to see more of these characters and this relationship. The next book in this series is Julie's and I'm kind of looking forward to it, since she was one of my favorite characters.

Free Ebooks For Street Team Members

Hi all! I'm looking for street team members to help with some pre-release marketing before my book A Missing Peace comes out on Sept. 1. I'll give anyone who participates a free ebook  and I'll be doing  a give away for a $10 Amazon gift card for street team members on release day. The blurb of the book is below. So if you think you would enjoy this, please fill out the form under the blurb. Thanks!!!!

Angry seventeen-year-old Iraqi war refugee Mirriam Yohanna hates her new life in Killeen,Texas, where the main attraction is a military base, and army brats like Caleb Miller think it's okay to comment on a girl's looks before he's even met her. 

After Mirriam turns him down in front of everyone, Caleb rises to the challenge of taking her to prom when his friends dare him. As the two start spending time together to work on a government assignment, Mirriam proves to be a good friend to have. When Caleb's leg is crushed in a hit and run, Mirriam is there to pull him out of the street and push him to keep living. She's also able to tell him the shocking truth about his father's death, which she has firsthand information about. Something the other soldiers would never do. That single truth changes both of their lives and strengthens their bond.

Caleb and Mirriam have fallen hard for each other, but when Caleb finds out the truth about his father's death, he is determined to uncover who is at fault. And the truth will have consequences for Mirriam's safety. When her family finds out the two are together, they decide it's time to arrange Mirriam's marriage to a proper Iraqi man. Will Caleb find justice for his family? Will Mirriam find a way to be true to herself?