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Awethors Event: Interview with Kelly Marsden

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our fifteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Kelly Marsden. Kelly isn’t just taking part in Awethors discussions, Cover Wars, and giveaways, she’s also holding an event for Awethors on her blog!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’m really looking forward to the organized chaos! I’ll be giving away ebook copies of my entire Witch-Hunter trilogy, the first book of which will be battling it out in the ecover contest (I hope you’ll all come and vote!).

I will also be hosting an Awethors takeover all day on my precious blog – The Northern Witch’s Book Blog – including lovely giveaways.

There will be a discussion on the Awethors board about who people support in the above trilogy. Are they #TeamWitch or #TeamMMC?

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My most recent publication is The Shadow Falls, the exciting finale of the Witch-Hunter trilogy. It was a lot of fun to write – it has its own twists and turns and answers all the mysteries of the previous two books (while opening many more). I hope people will appreciate the mix of historical facts and modern trials.

It is available in ebook and paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I always have music on in the background. I find that the silence is overwhelming if I don’t, and I need something to engage my senses.

It can also help when that one line in a song stands out and directs your thoughts down a track you might not have considered, but turns out to be inspiring.

My music of choice will always be rock and British indie bands.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Just one? Okay, in that case I will go with the book on my shelf that has been read so many times that the cover is all crumpled and faded, and the pages are held together by tape: The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell.

My best friend gave it to me for my tenth birthday (actually, the same best friend who, 17 years later, persuaded me to become an indie-published writer), and I have read and re-read it. I fell in love with the characters, and it allowed me to escape to another place full of excitement and loyalty. It was the first book that really inspired me to dream.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will endeavour to be there as much as possible, I’m excited to see what is going to roll out. I’m based in the UK, so I’ll be running on British Summer Time!

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Author Bio

Kelly Marsden grew up in Yorkshire, and there were two constants in her life – books and horses. Graduating with an equine degree from Aberystwyth University, she has spent most of her life since trying to experience everything the horse world has to offer. She is currently settled into a nutritionist role for a horse feed company in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Her first book, The Shadow Rises, was published in January 2013. The entire Witch-Hunter trilogy is now available as paperback and download.

Connect with Kelly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6905238.K_S_Marsden
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KSMarsden
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KSMarsden
Website: http://kellymarsden.wix.com/home
Blog: http://thenorthernwitchbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Book links:

The Shadow Rises – free to download
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shadow-rises-k-s-marsden/1119501646?ean=9781499271607
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=5Xu8BAAAQBAJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476391
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-shadow-rises/id921005166?mt=11
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Rises-Witch-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B00AWRN8YQ/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Rises-Witch-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B00AWRN8YQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17972985-the-shadow-rises

Awethors Event: Interview with Claire Plaisted

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our fourteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Claire Plaisted. She has ten books on the market and counting, including romance and a children’s book – quite varied!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I am giving away an ebook version of Malachy’s Unit, which is the first book in Garrett Malachy's Unit 2nd EditionEbook Investigation Bureau (GIB) series. I will also participate in the character talks, chat and Cover Wars.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My latest work is Book 5 in the Garrett Investigation Bureau (GIB) series. It’s called Mascosta’s Dreamgirl. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Apple and many more online stores.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

My fingers drive me to write, as do my generally noisy characters, who seem to argue a lot at times. I have no idea where the plots or anything else comes from. I tend to do as I’m told. Muse or pixie on my shoulder is what I like to think.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

There are two books. Valley of Song by Elizabeth Goudge and The Chronicles of Narnia (series) by C S Lewis.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’m about 18 hours ahead of the USA, so I will be there for as long as possible, though when it hits Monday here, I have a volunteer job to do.

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Author Bio

Hi everyone! My name is Claire Plaisted. I live in Rotorua, New Zealand with my family and two cats. Rotorua is one of the main tourist stops for a cultural Maori experience with lots of things to do, be it walking, cycling, museums, spa days, etc.

I am an indie author with sidelines in genealogy where I research and format family history books for clients. I have also developed a business to help indie authors self-publish. I have published six books for clients so far.

Plaisted Publishing House will format your draft books into ebook and print format; along with this we will help you find an editor and book cover designer if they are needed. My main aim is to get as many indie authors published and online as possible with reasonable costs. After all, not everyone is computer savvy.

Back to me! I have published ten of my own books so far. Two are short stories and five are part of a series called Garrett Investigation Bureau. I have one erotic fantasy, one children’s mythical story and a contemporary romance under my pen name, Beth Bayley.

I started to write in 2012 quite by accident and ended up with a Regency historical novel, which still needs editing and publishing. From that time on, I have not stopped. My work has been a continual learning curve that includes designing websites and learning how to use Word more efficiently.

At present I am working on a war diary and attending college to help enhance my small business management skills.

Enjoy looking at my books. I will be updating and leaving teasers as I learn to use WordPress more efficiently.

Connect with Claire

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rotosis1

My Buy Links
http://geni.us/3EMp
http://geni.us/O4N
http://geni.us/13o2
http://geni.us/O4O
http://geni.us/2fb1
http://geni.us/vn1
http://geni.us/M8J
http://geni.us/2W5y
http://geni.us/23H7

Awethors Event: Interview with Tory Gates

Apr 9, 2015 | Authors

Our thirteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Tory Gates, otherwise known as DJ Riff. Tory writes literary fiction that deals with relevant cultural issues in a readable way, and his upcoming book will be YA/Mainstream.

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

A free copy of my first book, Parasite Girls; the cover is also entered in the Cover Wars competition.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

Parasite Girls is available through Amazon.com, either in physical or Kindle form. E-readers of other kinds may also purchase the book through Smashwords.

I am currently in the editing process for my next work, A Moment in the Sun, a Young Adult/Mainstream crossover story that will be released later this year by Sunbury Press.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

There are so many different forces that have inspired me over the years. Music is indeed one of these; as a broadcaster I was exposed to so much over the years, it’s hard to not be inspired in another creative direction.

Writing was another expression beyond what I did for a living. I also found it became a great form of therapy. I was unable at first to write about myself, but I found I could write about other people’s experiences. Then I gradually began to chip away at the things inside me, which were even better, as I lived them.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

That’s a tie: The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I read the former for the first time when I was nine, and LOTR at ten (so I read them long before they were cool!). Tolken’s creation of Middle Earth (which spanned over 20 years) is a journey of imagination that I’ve never encountered before or since, and I don’t think we ever will. It proved to me from an early age there were no boundaries for creativity and storytelling.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will be on for the midday hours, hopefully. As I have promoted the event on this, I’ll shamelessly plug: I host a Sunday afternoon program called The Music Club on Radio-Airwaves Station from 4-6 pm Eastern, at www.radio-airwaves.co.uk – perhaps I can provide some music of interest for you during that time!

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Author Bio

Tory Gates is a broadcast professional with over 30 years of radio experience. He has worked nearly every format as a DJ, news anchor, journalist, talk show host and producer. Tory is currently a reporter with the GeoTraffic Network, plus a sports anchor for the Radio Pennsylvania Network. He is also known on the Internet as “DJ Riff,” host of the The Music Club for the London-based Radio-Airwaves Station.

His second book, A Moment in the Sun, a Young Adult/Mainstream work will be released this year on Sunbury Press. Parasite Girls, Tory’s debut novel, was released in 2013 and is available through Amazon.com and Smashwords.

Tory is also a songwriter/musician with the indie folk duo the Dharma Fools, and an actor with experience in stage and independent film. Occasional thoughts and observations can be found on his blog, Words of a Pre-Curmudgeonly Zen Pagan.

A native of Vermont, Tory lives in York, Pennsylvania with his five cats and the herd of deer that come to sleep on his lawn each evening.

Connect with Tory

https://www.facebook.com/ToryGatesMedia?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/tory.gates
https://www.behance.net/torygates
https://twitter.com/ToryGates (or @ToryGates)
http://tgfabthunderbird.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-deals-writing-and-other-stuff.html?zx=c6436b1550baed91
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tory-gates.html

Awethors Event: Interview with Lynne Murray

Apr 9, 2015 | Authors

Our twelfth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Lynne Murray, who writes to bring readers into new worlds and unique situations.

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’ve entered the Gravitas cover in the Cover Wars contest. I also hope to give away a Mobi and/or EPub copy of Bride of the Living Dead, a romantic comedy about a woman who loves monster movies too much. I’ll be happy to talk about anything on the day.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

GRAVITAS: VALKYRIE IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE. Available for Kindle at http://amzn.com/B00U4EOBR0
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00U4EOBR0

In all other formats at
https://draft2digital.com/book/84993
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25055762-gravitas

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

When I read, I want to be surprised, captivated and taken away to another world where things are different. Writing fiction delivers that experience for me even more strongly! As an author, I infinitely prefer making people laugh out loud to making them shiver in fear or cry, but sometimes those things happen as well.

Every book springs from a different need, seed or craving. Usually it’s my need to turn things upside down. For example, in Bride of the Living Dead, I wanted to write a romance about a woman who hates weddings, loves monster movie T-shirts and finds herself trapped in a formal wedding planned by her control freak sister.

Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone sprang from a desire to write about Valkyrie, a planet where women rule, an aphrodisiac is the major export and a secret relationship with the planet Earth and its inhabitants goes back 30,000 years.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

I must join the legions admiring Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a book to live for and live in.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will definitely be there from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, but I may drop in before or after too, just because it sounds like too much fun to stay away.

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Author Bio

Reading, writing and what we can charitably call an active fantasy life have been very central to who I am for as long as I can remember. My father was a scientist working for the military, so I grew up in Illinois, Texas, Alaska, Washington, and finally Southern California. I wrote my first book before I could read. I loved the books my parents read to me and was certain I could write one. I was a much-indulged only child and they typed it up for me to illustrate with crayons.

Another early memory was being driven across the Golden Gate Bridge. My parents told me what it was called, and I protested that it was not gold. I know orange when I see it and that bridge was and is orange (okay, dark reddish-orange). The idea that the bridge was across the Golden Gate, the opening into San Francisco Bay, was way too complicated for me at that age. But I never forgot the bridge, the sun and the water. I always expected to move to San Francisco.

In 1968 I moved here and not long afterward I started to practice Buddhism, which I still do daily. I got a degree in psychology and decided to devote my life to writing fiction. Not a sane move financially. But the dream has been so strong that I had to make whatever sacrifices necessary to follow it.

Fast-forward 47 years: I’ve had nine novels published with large and small presses and now I’m self-published. When not reading or writing, I spend my time staring at the ocean and catering to the whims of a small group of formerly feral felines, rescued cats who daily return the favor.

Connect with Lynne

Website: http://www.lmurray.com
Blog: http://lynnemurray.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynne.murray.7771
Twitter: @lynnemurray
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzje2HN4yeetetuXVqoC8PA

Just in Time for Halloween: The New Mrs. Collins

Oct 27, 2014 | Authors

Quanie Miller made a great first impression with her hilarious romantic comedy, It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy. Her second book is considerably different – Southern Paranormal genre – and she proves that her writing is both versatile and consistently engaging. Her characters, whether funny or intense, are unforgettable, her creativity knows no bounds. This is not only an exciting read, but one you’ll want to talk about.

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Book Info

Title: The New Mrs. Collins
Author: Quanie Miller
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: October 13, 2014

Book Blurb

In the small town of Carolville, Louisiana, no one knows that Adira Collins inherited mystical powers from her great-grandmother. All they know is that she’s beautiful, poised, graceful, and ruthless — especially when it comes to love. And no one knows that more than Leena Williams, who was all set to marry the man of her dreams until Adira swooped into town and stole the man’s heart.

Being left at the altar is bad enough, but Leena and her ex share custody of their son, so she has to see the new Mrs. Collins on a regular basis.

And it burns every time she does.

But soon, Leena starts to suspect that there is more to Adira Collins than meets the eye. And it’s not because she owns some kinky lingerie shop or allegedly insulted the pastor’s wife — it’s the strange way she can make a door close without touching it, or take one look at something and make it drop dead at her feet.

Leena starts digging for answers and soon discovers that, unlike her public persona, Adira’s true nature is somewhere on the other side of grace. She also learns, a little too late, that some secrets are better left buried.

Excerpt

Even though Johnny’s house was a good ten miles away, it did not occur to Leena to put on a pair of shoes, or to comb her hair, or wash her face. She walked along Elmer Drive until she got to Stoney Way. She ambled along, not paying attention to anything in particular, when she looked up and saw a woman in a white nightgown walking towards her. There was nothing really remarkable about her except for the fact that her face was on fire. Leena stopped and pointed at the woman. She was going to ask her if she knew her face was on fire when the woman smiled at her. To Leena’s horror, the woman’s face transformed into her face. The woman was her. She looked at her reflection in a store window and saw that it was true: her face was ablaze.

Leena looked down at her fingertips and noticed that they were on fire as well. She wondered — if she touched something, would it burn? She turned her attention to a mailbox on the corner and winced when it blurred, went back into focus, disappeared, and then returned. She walked towards it, stuck her burning finger out, and was shocked to discover that the mailbox wasn’t real. Her finger went right through it as if the mailbox were made of clouds. She was stumped. She looked at her hand again when it dawned on her what she had gone to the kitchen for that morning — to cut the tips from her fingers.

She turned around, headed back to her house and wondered who left her front door wide open. When she got to the kitchen, she laid her hand on the cutting board and took the biggest knife from the cutlery set. She would start with the pinky first. She laid the little finger there, raised the knife high in the air, and just as she was coming down to slice, heard the whisper once more, and this time, it was as clear as a blue diamond sitting in a shallow pool of water: Go to McCullens Bridge.

McCullens Bridge! Well, that made sense. Her face was on fire so it was logical that she should go to McCullens Bridge and stick her head in to put the fire out. Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She walked outside and noticed that the sun was hanging lower than usual, almost on top of her neighbor’s house. She wagged her finger as she walked past it, thinking that if it fell on her head, she’d be in a world of trouble. She looked at it one more time to make sure it would stay put, then she continued walking.

Author Bio

Quanie Miller grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana. She fell in love with reading at an early age and spent most of her time at the Iberia Parish Library discovering authors like R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike (she was often found walking back home from the library with a stack of books that went up to her chin). She holds degrees from Louisiana State University and San Jose State University. She has been the recipient of the James Phelan Literary Award, the Louis King Thore Scholarship, the BEA Student Scriptwriting Award, and the Vicki Hudson Emerging Writing Prize. She is the author of The New Mrs. Collins, a southern paranormal novel, and It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy, a romantic comedy. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and is currently, as always, working on another novel. To find out more about Quanie and her works in progress visit quanietalkswriting.com.

Book Purchase Links

Amazon (US) http://www.amazon.com/New-Mrs-Collins-Quanie-Miller-ebook/dp/B00OAC362I

Amazon (UK) http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Mrs-Collins-Quanie-Miller-ebook/dp/B00OAC362I

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/483357

Social Media Links

Twitter: @quaniemiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuanieMillerAuthor
Blog: http://www.quanietalkswriting.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/QuanieMiller
Website: quaniemiller.com
Email: quanie@quanietalkswriting.com

Need Inspiration?

Oct 13, 2014 | Genre Talk

by Sandra Ardoin, Inspirational Historical Romance Author

The Shack, A Log Cabin Christmas, Into the Free, Dying to Read, the Left Behind series. Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, Wanda Brunstetter, Terri Blackstock, Cindy Woodsmall.

What do these books and authors have in common? First, the novels are written from a Christian world view. Second, each title and author has made the New York Times Best Sellers list. And I could name more of each.

For a long time, most fiction from a Christian world view revolved around sweet romance. Then Frank Perretti (another NY Times best seller) took up where C. S. Lewis of Narnia fame ended and opened the market to fiction that dealt with stronger issues than prairie romance—namely, demons and spiritual warfare. From then on, it was no longer grandma’s Christian fiction.

Or maybe it still is.

Middle-class female adults make up the bulk of readers, and romance tops the genre list. It doesn’t matter if it’s contemporary romance, romantic suspense, or historical romance. People love love whether it’s between a fictional hero and heroine or in their own relationship with God.

I recently conducted an informal survey and asked readers why they chose Christian fiction. Here are some of the reasons they repeated over and over:

It’s clean – This was number one. Not everyone wants to read scenes with explicit sex or coarse language. These readers are not prudes or ostriches. They simply want G and PG stories that won’t leave certain images and words lodged in their minds. It’s the old computer philosophy of “garbage in/garbage out.” (The Biblical version can be found in Philippians 4:8. J)

It’s relevant – One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard against books in this market is what I call the “roses and lollipops” impression. Characters live in an unrealistic world. (See paragraph three above.)

When I asked what has changed over the last decade and what readers would like to see, I got the same basic answer: relevancy. People were happy to see that authors now tackled subjects they dealt with in everyday life—single parenting, alcoholism, divorce, etc. And they want to see more of it. But they want those topics addressed in a Biblical manner.

It has expanded its reach – Yes, sweet romance is still published because there is still a large market (check out the success of Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint). Today, you’ll find suspense, thrillers—including medical and military—mystery, historicals set in various periods, Amish, contemporary women’s fiction, westerns, science fiction and speculative fiction.

It’s well written – In years past, these novels lacked respect writing-wise, and there was some basis for it. That’s no longer the case. Like the best mainstream authors, those who write for the Christian market are well trained. With the formation of organizations like American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) with its nearly 3,000 members in the U.S. and internationally, writers are privy to educational resources, networking opportunities, critique groups, and contests—all meant to help them improve their craft.

It speaks to readers, spiritually – Many times, Jesus taught through story. Readers want Christian authors to do the same—without being “preachy.” It isn’t just a matter of throwing out a verse or prayer here and there. Readers want to see a character whose struggle either teaches them something they can use in their own lives or brings them into a deeper relationship with God.

It’s little wonder that large mainstream publishers such as Hachette, Random House, and HarperCollins decided to join in on the growing popularity of the Christian (or Inspirational) publishing market by either starting their own imprints or buying existing Christian houses.

Remember, these aren’t your grandma’s novels. They’re entertaining, funny, and emotionally moving. They’re waiting for you to try them.

Bio:

Sandra Ardoin writes inspirational historical romance. Her Christmas novella, The Yuletide Angel, releases October 2014 and is up for pre-order on Amazon. She’s the married mother of a young adult and lives in North Carolina. Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and on the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Go That Extra Mile!

Sep 8, 2014 | Writing

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

Your book is edited, polished, published, and out there for the world to enjoy. You’ve got it listed on Amazon, its beautiful cover (that you agonized over getting just right) beckoning readers with its siren call, “You want me!”

Is that enough? No, it’s just the beginning.

You need to write a good come-hither summary for your Amazon listing. Something that whets readers’ appetites for your story, a real teaser that shows them your characters are interesting and your story is one they just must read.

And while a good summary is important, people also want to know something about the writer behind the words. Too many authors miss this prime opportunity to connect with potential readers. They forget about Amazon’s Author Pages, a great way to introduce yourself to your readers. It doesn’t need to be a lengthy life story – nor should it be – just enough information relative to you as an author.

If you want, you can also include a short paragraph at the end about your next work in progress, but remember to update that part when the work in progress becomes a published book. Make sure to include a good picture of yourself with your bio, one that suits the types of books you write.

With both the summary and your bio, double check, triple check, and quadruple check for errors. You can lose lots of sales if readers see obvious mistakes; they’ll naturally figure the book will be poorly written too. And we’ve read endless accounts, from blogs all the way up to the New York Times, about how much readers hate seeing too many typos, misspellings, and other mistakes, not to mention plot and character inconsistencies and other errors. In fact, many books have been returned to Amazon with complaints about numerous errors – and Amazon has refunded the buyers’ money. Don’t be that author.

On the other hand, books that have been well proofread are noticed and appreciated. In a review of book Proof Positive proofread, the reviewer wrote, “I appreciate that she gave her readers clean spelling and punctuation.”

Reviews are important to sales on Amazon, so ask for them from friends, family members, and readers who are willing to write reviews in exchange for a free copy of your book.

Go the extra mile and you may be rewarded with extra sales!

Meet Author TC Michael

Aug 1, 2014 | Authors

Author TC Michael describes himself as being “an epic daydreamer with a wild imagination”, and nothing could better prove this description than his first full-length novel, Secret of the Last Born. The first in the Dark Rising series, Michael mixes common fables and folklore with his own complex fantasy world in a unique, action-packed book of mystery, romance, and self-discovery. Proof Positive is excited to share our interview with this burgeoning young author.

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Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

Yes and no. This is my first full-length book, but I have had a few short pieces published in the past. With this being my first novel I realized after I wrote the book that there is no “too much” or “too long” on planning. I spent roughly two months in the planning phase before I started the first rough draft.

Is this book part of a series? If so, when can we look forward to the next book being published?

Yes! Secret of the Last Born is book 1 in the Dark Rising series. Book two will be out no later than the end of February, but there isn’t an official release date yet.

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

So far I have only written in the fantasy genre, but I definitely have plans in the future to expand that reach.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

Secret of the Last Born is a story about magic, love, and loss. It’s full of twists, turns, and conflicts. But I think the main reason that it stands out from the rest is because it has a good sense of realism. Not in a direct way, but in a way where magic doesn’t take over and the reader forgets about the real world that the characters live in. You will always be able to find a sense of connection with the characters because they are like you, and probably in more than one way.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

I would say most of the characters seen in Secret of the Last Born are based upon multiple characteristics from multiple people. I definitely like to base fictional characters on people in real life, but in this book that isn’t the case. As planning continued I decided the characters would just slowly come together, and that’s what happened.

Do your friends and family know you’re a writer? Were they surprised when you told them?

Most know that I am a writer. There are still a few who don’t know, but all of those close to me know that I’m a writer, and that’s what I love doing. I would say “surprised” would describe maybe a quarter of them. Most of them expected it because I’ve always loved writing. I have had a really supportive family to keep me going.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

Many things! Other books, wonderful authors, mostly life events – both bad and good, and a very good imagination. Throughout my younger years I used to spend countless hours every day imagining different worlds, and imagining our world if things had gone differently in the past.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

I am not part of any writers’ groups…yet. But I will be soon!

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

I think many authors have one set routine, and some authors just go with whatever they think will work for that specific story they want to tell. In a sense, I’m the type that will go with whatever they think will help the situation the best, but I am beginning to form my own routine. With Secret of the Last Born, I realized the method that works very well is as follows: Get idea>brainstorm details>list details>character ideas>form characters and character backgrounds>outline (at least two drafts)>ask others what they think about the idea. This is the basic structure of preparing; there are several smaller details that I didn’t add, but you get the point.

Did you do any research for this book?

Yes, and research is harder work than most think! You have to search for long periods of time until you find exactly what you’re looking for. Even if it’s only a minor detail. With this being my first full-length book I feel like I could’ve done a bit more research, but hey, it takes practice to become a great writer. Research is very important for all books, and I think without it you would have a story that no one is interested in.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

Oh you better believe it. I read all kinds of books, but probably 85% of them are in the same genre I’m writing. Movies are a little different; I’m a huge move fanatic, I love watching movies of all kinds. I certainly watch a lot of movies in the same genre though!

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or non-fictional place – where would you write?

1. At home 2. At any huge, quiet, shady park 3. On the mountains. There are too many fictional places to count, but I would write at all of those places too!

~~~

Connect with TC Michael:
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Goodreads
Facebook

Check out Secret of the Last Born:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Meet Author Michelle Diana Lowe

Jul 5, 2014 | Authors

“Fearless” is the best word to describe Michelle Diana Lowe’s just-published book, The Glass Heart Girl. Lowe’s incredible book breaks barriers rarely crossed in such detail with grace and honesty you won’t readily find elsewhere. The Glass Heart Girl was just published yesterday, and Lowe took the time to write a guest post about herself as a writer, her book, and why she wrote on such a sensitive topic.

~~~

About Me

I am Michelle Diana Lowe, the author of the new adult romance novel The Glass Heart Girl. I was born in East London and continue to live in this area. I wrote my very first children’s book of 20,000 words at the tender age of nine and since then, I have loved writing. I adore creative writing and seeing a character grow and develop before my very eyes. I now write professionally and have two published books, Heaven Calls For An Angel and Dangerous Calculations. The Glass Heart Girl is my third book, but my first full-length fiction novel. This book is the standalone sequel of Dangerous Calculations.

What Is The Glass Heart Girl About?

A unique but powerful book, The Glass Heart Girl set to take the new adult romance genre to a whole new level. It is a deep and riveting story about one young woman’s momentous journey as she strives to overcome her traumatic past, learns about the true meaning of love and tries to embrace a new life with the man she loves.

Twenty year old Alena Pavlis is a beautiful college student who meets the gorgeous Phillip Gregson during the Freshers’ Fair at The University of Leicester. She is immediately drawn to Phillip and falls head over heels in love with him. But her past is seeping into her consciousness and threatens to destroy their special relationship. Phillip and Becca, her floormate and best friend, support her as best they can, but when a face from five years ago comes back into Alena’s life, her world spins into chaos and she finds herself at a dangerous crossroads. It is at this crucial moment that Alena must decide to vanquish the demons of the past and fight for the beautiful life that she deserves – or let the past devour her.

Personal and Positive Perspectives

The Glass Heart Girl carries a very positive and hopeful message about a woman’s courage and bravery to face her innermost fears and work towards a happier future. It also serves as a guide for young women who are facing similar issues. I sculpted Alena’s character in such a way that she would be relatable to women 17 and older, and so that people could understand and/or identify with her situation better. I am so thankful that I have created a novel covering real issues that can help women in Alena’s position move forward with their lives.

What to expect from The Glass Heart Girl

The Glass Heart Girl is full of life and zest – it deals with both the fun and challenges of university life. There are strong, honest friendships, deep romantic relationships, painful past experiences coming to the surface and the normal things you’d expect from 20-year-old college students – mucking about in the dorm corridors, petty arguments between friends, jealousy, breakups and make ups and more.

On a more serious note, wider issues in society are addressed in a sensible and appropriate fashion, and the book does tackle young people’s attitudes towards love and relationships.

Younger women between 17 and 30 will be able to relate to and understand the young, vibrant characters that I have created. Not only will they laugh out loud in certain chapters, but they will also be moved by the emotional and heartfelt aspects to the book. For the many women who are going through what Alena has experienced, this novel will not only help them on the road to recovery, but will also help them realize they are not alone. I think that more books like The Glass Heart Girl should be written to heal, bolster and empower women.

Why I Wrote This Book

I wanted to give a voice to young women who have gone through really difficult experiences. These people’s experiences are often overlooked or disregarded, in fiction and in real life too. I have always been someone who champions people who don’t have a real voice in society and am very passionate about bringing their experiences to the forefront. It is just in my nature to be this way. I also work with vulnerable clients as part of my job as an administrator. I listen to these people’s stories, sometimes sad and even heartbreaking, and I signpost or refer these clients to counselling services, therapy or Family Support Services, which will support their needs and that of their families while helping them work through difficult issues and emotions. So I can, to some degree, understand and can identify with Alena’s story.

In real life, women who have gone through the trauma of gender violence and abuse are often sidelined and marginalised. Their stories, usually told in nonfiction books, focus heavily on the negative and lasting effects these events have on their lives. Often the stories are very downbeat until the end, when the victim might possibly overcome the trauma. I did not want to depict Alena in this way. Firstly, it was important for me to make a victim of gender violence and abuse a heroine and give her a chance to be in the spotlight, and I really wanted to write a book that did not focus on her traumatic past so decidedly. From the very start, I inject hope and laughter into Alena’s world, giving her a zany but caring best friend in Becca, as well as a supportive boyfriend in Phillip.

As you can see, this all adds up to The Glass Heart Girl‘s publication date of July 4th being very significant. I published the novel on Independence Day to symbolise Alena’s bravery and determination to fight for her independence from the past and embrace her future.

Supporting the Cause

I am dedicated to raising awareness of issues relating to gender violence and abuse against women and girls to help society understand what such individuals go through. Raising awareness of these problems will also help others to be more supportive of those around them who might be suffering similar difficulties. I will be making a small donation per book sold to Women & Girls Network, a sensational London charity that supports women and children who have experienced gender violence, rape and domestic violence. They offer support and counselling services to help these individuals work through their problems and cope with the trauma of the past so they can hopefully move forward with their lives.

Commending the Editors

I really don’t think that Christie Stratos realises how amazing she is and how sensational her company Proof Positive is. From the moment I contacted her and she proofread the first five pages of The Glass Heart Girl, she totally embraced my characters and got exactly what the book is about. I cannot believe how Morgan and Christie who edited my book, understood my characters so deeply; namely Alena, my protagonist. They also recognised the positive and important messages the novel is sending to women suffering problems similar to Alena. I would like to thank them both from the bottom of my heart, for the extraordinary job they did on my manuscript. I was so tearful and blown away when I received it back, flawless and perfect, with my characters and story thoroughly polished. I can now see the true message of The Glass Heart Girl shining through the manuscript. I thank Morgan and Christie for their hard work, enthusiasm and sheer dedication. You guys are so great at what you do, and I will be recommending you to all of my writer friends.

The Glass Heart Girl will be released on July 4, 2014 and is available as an ebook and in paperback from Amazon, and in ebook format from Kobo.

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Connect with Michelle Diana Lowe:

Website
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads

THE GLASS HEART GIRL EBOOK COVER

Calling All Critiques: Cover Art Entry #7

Jun 3, 2014 | Offers

We’ve had a lot of amazing book covers in our cover art edition of Calling All Critiques! It’s been wonderful to see so much effort put into great design work to fit the storyline and genre. Speaking of which, our final cover is ready to be critiqued!

Author: Lucy Beebe Tobias
Website: http://www.LucyTobias.com
Title: Mary Margaret Manatee: the adventures of a young Florida manatee
Genre: picture book, grandparents, children ages 5-10

Thanks to everyone who participated in the cover art event, and thank you to all the wonderful authors who submitted their covers! We hope you’ve had plenty of useful feedback.

Don’t forget to enter our Rafflecopter giveaway whether you’ve critiqued a cover or submitted one.

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