Today’s YouTube Presentation: Free Speech
Tag Archives: Twitter
Two Lives to Separate
Just a PSA… I am cleaning up my PERSONAL Facebook account. Please, please, please do not be offended if you find yourself “unfriended.” It’s nothing personal at all. I had someone get mad at me today for doing the sweep. The fact is, I have never met most of the people who were swept off. I probably communicated with most of the people who were swept in my capacity as an author. However, if I’m to be true to my quest of separating my two lives, then I must continue with the separation. My author page is welcome to all. My personal life has to stay that way… personal.
Facebook tends to be an area of stress for me. If it weren’t for the author page, I would probably deactivate the account altogether. There’s too much fighting and bickering and horror on that site. For someone with PTSD and Anxiety Disorder, it can be a little overwhelming. It has its pluses, such as finding businesses, keeping up with “pages,” and information about various other things. All in all, I think it plays a more negative role in my life.
I use this blog, sometimes, as a personal journal. That’s my right. This isn’t some place I go to read about people hating one another or smacking each other in the face for personal belief differences. If I want to view that junk, all I have to do is log into Facebook.
I have actually limited my presence on several social media sites. I’m off of Tsu and LinkedIn. I don’t really get on Twitter much either. I feel that if someone likes my books, they will look me up on Amazon or Createspace or Smashwords.
The truth is, it’s time for a break from writing. I’ve put out four books. I need time to relax and think and recharge. Holding myself to time frames for writing isn’t what it’s about for me. I did that for this last book. I didn’t like how it made me feel. I felt rushed. I need to write because I want to, not because I feel like I have to. So, this summer, if I choose to work on a book that’s great. If not. That’s okay, too. If I never put out another book in my life, that’s fine also. I wasn’t ever looking to be famous. I wrote those books because I enjoyed the process and the creativity, especially The Between Worlds Books. The fourth book, Blessing of the Elements, was more of a personal catharsis, which I’ve stated before. And now that it’s done, I feel free and sort of empty, but not in a bad way. It was a way for me to move on from all of the pain from enduring 2014.
So, again, do not be upset if you are not on my personal profile’s “friends” list. You can always find me on http://www.facebook.com/tracee.ford.author. I post there regularly and it’s usually inspirational quotes. I also have this blog hooked up to it, so when Teaser Tuesday goes live here, it goes live there also.
Have a peaceful Saturday. I hope mine stays that way, too.
June’s Featured Services: Marketing
So, you’ve published a book? Now what? How do you drive traffic toward your work? During the month of June, Ozwind Publishing is focusing on the marketing services that are offered. Many people are finding it very difficult to publicize their books. Why? Sometimes they don’t know the right avenues to take. Sometimes they feel uncomfortable talking about their books. We can help!
It doesn’t matter who your work is published through, if you need someone to make folks aware of who you are and what you’re about, look to us for marketing solutions. A 3 month marketing package for $100 ensures that you will have the 90 days of tweeting, posting, and cheer-leading. Our yearly package for $400 offers the same perks, just for a longer period of time. Both of these include a spotlighted blog post here once a month. Keep in mind that the blog feature will be reblogged by my own followers and I will be networking with other bloggers to advocate for a feature about the author.
Also included are tweets up to 3 per day on my Twitter account as well as Ozwind’s, 3 times per week. Additionally, is posts on Ozwind’s Facebook page and my page up to 3 per days 3 times per week. Our marketing department will also place phone calls to set up books signings. Lastly, 2 posts per day on TSU.co 2 times per week is included in the package. 
Book trailers are $170. Banners are $20. Facebook parties are $10 (2 hour hosting). Book teasers are $20. Posters range from $10 to $30. An ad on Ozwind’s website is $10 per month.One last perk? I have my own radio show and any author who is being marketing through Ozwind will automatically be eligible to be a guest on the show and have your work regularly advertised on the broadcasts.
Please visit our website for contact information. Have a wonderful day!
Ozwind & Marketing
Each day I discover something brand new that Ozwind can do. So, I’m focusing on marketing for the post. I didn’t realize that clarification was needed about our marketing benefits until today. So, I wanted to relay some information about what we do as a provider.
There are two options available not only to Ozwind authors but also to those simply needing support. There is a 3 month package for $100 and there is a yearly package for $400. Both of these include a spotlighted blog post here once a month. Keep in mind that the blog feature will be reblogged by my own followers and I will be networking with other bloggers to advocate for a feature about the author.
Also included are tweets up to 3 per day on my Twitter account as well as Ozwind’s, 3 times per week. Additionally, is posts on Ozwind’s Facebook page and my page up to 3 per days 3 times per week. Our marketing department will also place phone calls to set up books signings. Lastly, 2 posts per day on TSU.co 2 times per week is included in the package. 
For authors taking advantage of the AUTHOR BUNDLES, 3 months of marketing is included in the bundles. This means that the marketing begins once the book is published and lasts for 3 months. Thereafter, an author can choose to renew for another 3 months or for 1 year.Book trailers are $170. Banners are $20. Facebook parties are $10 (2 hour hosting). Book teasers are $20. Posters range from $10 to $30. An ad on Ozwind’s website is $10 per month.Please visit our website for contact information. Have a wonderful night!
The New Face in Social Media: TSU.co
When Facebook began changing its mission and made announcements about how things would change in 2015, I started researching a website that was recommended to me. When my author profile on Facebook was forced to become a “page,” I delved further into researching.
When my profile was converted, I even went out on a limb and paid for a few weeks so that my page would be seen by more people. As of today I have 6279 followers. Most of those were from my old author page merged to the new one. However, since I have decided NOT to pay for another few weeks, I lose a follower each day. Out of the over 6000 followers I have, only an average of 151 of them see my posts. I find that extremely sad and, most of all, I find it infuriating! It has been said and is obvious within the last month that if you do not pay, you remain hidden to the masses. Those very people you are trying to engage are not seeing a thing you post.
The better question is this: Are the “followers” gained from paying BOTS or real, breathing people? I don’t know the answer to that.
So, I’m posting this today, not only to vent my frustration, but to let you know that there is another website for those of us that are trying to engage people. It is tsu.co. From what I can see, it appears to be the new face of social media or at least that is what I am hoping. You actually get royalties for gaining followers. If you would like to get on the wagon, you can friend me there. Once you do that, you can create your own followers, for which you will receive royalties. Here is my link. Follow the prompts to create your own account and there you have it. A way to reach and engage your friends and followers. https://www.tsu.co/Author_Tracee_Ford
Of course you can follow me on my Facebook page, not that you would ever see my posts unless I PAY to let you see them. You can also ask to friend me on my personal profile.
https://www.facebook.com/tracee.ford.author
https://www.facebook.com/tracy.ricewilson
To conclude, I would like to update you on other places you can find me. And I want to send out a big thank you for those that already do follow and engage!
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/httpgoodreadscomTracee_Ford
https://twitter.com/FordTracee
RebelMouse
https://www.rebelmouse.com/FordTracee/
Google+
https://plus.google.com/+TraceeFord
http://www.youtube.com/user/authortraceeford
http://www.pinterest.com/traceeford76/
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Tracee-Ford/e/B00AXL5538/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1418653415&sr=1-2-ent
Spring Fever Blog Tour featured Author: Kate Marie Robbins
Kate Marie Robbins, a newly published author has joined us for the 6:30 p.m. spot. She has just published her first novel, which is a milestone in any author’s life. It sets the tone for anything else you write and it is a very exciting yet turbulent time. I want to wish Kate all of the success she can handle and thank her for participating!
Title: Indigo (Book 1 of the Indigo trilogy)
Author: Kate Marie Robbins
Genre: Fantasy
Blog: http://indigo-the-novel.tumblr.com/
Social Media connections:
e-mail: novakfan21@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/novakfan21
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigo.the.novel
Release Date: Tentatively set for the end of May.
Where to buy: When released, it will be on Amazon
Other Work: Two short stories: Cinder, and Flesh & Soul. Neither have been released yet.
Please provide a snippet from your most recently released book.
From Indigo:
“I don’t expect you to say anything. I just thought that you should know. No, that isn’t why I chose to help you. You needed help. I wasn’t about to let a fellow guard be punished because he doesn’t have a mind for battle strategy. I don’t expect anything in return from you. It’s enough knowing that my ideas will be used to keep us all safe from the Dark Warriors.” She turned away, to hide the fact that she was blushing. “It is getting late,” she continued, once she had regained her composure. “We both need to get some sleep, especially you.”
“Yes, of course.” Stupid, stupid, stupid. You cannot leave things like this. Do not walk out of this room without telling her the truth. I had to do it. After all she had done for me, all she was risking for me. I couldn’t lie to her. I just couldn’t. Could I?
I finished my wine, and stood, frozen in place. Somehow, I forced one foot in front of the other, moving towards her. She looked at me, nervous, confused. I don’t think she knew what to say or do at that point.
I pulled her into my arms, holding her gently. I swept the hair away from her eyes, her gorgeous wisteria eyes, and placed it behind her ears. I leaned in slowly, and kissed her, feeling her lips pressed softly against mine. They lingered there, as long as I dared. “You’re not the only one with secrets. Once this is all over with, I fully intend to marry you. To hell with what anyone thinks or says. That is, if you’ll have me.” It left her breathless.
I tried to pull away from her, knowing that I needed to go. I would need to sleep. She held onto me and wouldn’t let go. “Stay,” she pleaded.
Who was I to tell her no?
Mini Interview:
1 When did you first start writing? I started writing poetry at the age of 13. Indigo is my first novel.
2 Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be? I didn’t. For a long time I wanted to be a forensic psychologist. I actually went to college and got my bachelor’s degree in psychology, but upon finishing, I just wasn’t feeling it anymore. One day I heard a song and the story idea for Indigo just clicked. After that, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
3 What genre do you prefer to work within? Or do you mix it up? I dabble a bit in a few genres. Mainly fantasy and science fiction though.
4 Where does your inspiration for these stories (this story) come from? The story idea for the Indigo trilogy sparked from a song, like I mentioned in question 2. That song is “Hot Air Balloon” by Owl City. The opening lines of the song are: “We wrote a prelude to our own fairytale, and bought a parachute at a church rummage sale, and with a mean sewing machine and miles of thread, we sewed the day above L.A. in navy and red, we round the racetrack through your mom’s kitchen chairs, and fought the shadows back down your dark basement stairs, I lit a match and let it catch to light up the room, and then you yelled as we beheld an old maroon hot air balloon.” I thought it would make for an intriguing take on a fairytale, which is what I originally intended for Indigo. It was to be a children’s fairytale, but as I started writing, it progressed into something deeper and more intricate.
6 Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair? I don’t have a routine, other than as soon as I get an idea, I write it down immediately. Even if it’s just fleeting, maybe someday I’ll be able to put it to good use. I do tend to listen to music when I write, but I tend to listen to music all the time.
7 How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books? Most of my character names came from baby name websites. All of the place names came from color names, going along with the theme.
8 In your most recent work, who is your favorite character and why? My favorite character would have to be Ava, mostly because I can see so much of me in her. It wasn’t actually intentional, it just kind of happened.
9 Did you learn anything from writing your book? What was it? I learned to believe in myself. That you can pretty much accomplish anything, if you set your mind to it.
10 How did you/do you market your work? Mainly on facebook. I started out sharing it with my friends and around some of the book pages, and things progressed from there.
11 Favorite authors? L.A. Meyer, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, Bruce Coville, Franz Kafka, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Lewis Stevenson. I’m a huge fan of the classics, obviously.
12 Have you ever suffered from a “writer’s block”? What did you do to get past the “block”? Yes, I have, many, many times. What seems to work for me is sitting down and having a chat with my youngest brother. I just start talking, trying to work things out verbally. He usually has suggestions for me. Sometimes not, but just vocalizing what is going on in the book usually helps me work out the details of what should come next.
13 What piece of advice would you give to a new writer? Just start writing, let it all come pouring out. The first draft doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be written. (I read that quote somewhere, and it stuck with me.)
14 Are you working on anything new? If so, can you tell me about it? Once I finish Indigo, I’ll be working on a collection of poetry (yet to be named), as well as a science fiction novel called Distorted Reality, a murder/revenge story (also yet to be named), and of course, book two of the Indigo trilogy, called Roisin.
Spring Fever Blog Tour featured Author: Roxanne Kade
Hello everyone. Tonight the spotlight is on Roxanne Kade, a young adult paranormal romance writer. Thank you so much Roxanne for coming along on the blog tour.
Enjoy the interview everyone!
Title: Therian (The Bloody Crescent #1)
Author: Roxanne Kade
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Blog: http://roxykade.blogspot.com
Social Media connections:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bloody-Crescent-Book-1-Therian/268069359875004
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxyKade
48fourteen: http://www.48fourteen.com/users/roxanne-kade
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5133405.Roxanne_Kade
Release Date: Oct 2011
Where to buy:
48fourteen: http://www.48fourteen.com/catalog/therian
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WJC9HQ
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005WJC9HQ
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/therian-roxanne-kade/1111479566
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Therian/book-T2npOpi8c02a_zs36Ydqpg/page1.html
Reviews:
“I was impressed with how Kade walks the line between the burgeoning world of college freshman, full of discovery and exploration, and the deeper, darker Gothic underworld of myths and legends with its secrets, pain, and violence.” ~ Denise DeSio, Author of Rose’s Will.
“Vampires, paranormal creatures, mystery and romance…be aware, this book will have you totally sucked in from its first page.” ~ Books to Remember
“Roxanne has a talent for spinning a supernatural tale with her magical words. Her writing is beautiful and I felt every emotion Amber felt. I was scared, happy, confused, sad…which is the only thing I look for in a story. If you can’t pull me in, it’s over. She had no issue doing this.” ~ Candace Knoebel, Author of Born in Flames
Other Work:
Please provide a snippet from your most recently released book.
Her head ached, the cold air wrapped around her bare skin, and the damp earth was hard against her cheek. Amber slowly opened her eyes. Was she still dreaming? She thought so. The tall trees that stretched to the heavens along with the lush green vegetation seemed all too familiar. Almost every night for the past few weeks she had dreamt of this exact place.
The dream was always the same…
She was running, terrified, but from what, she never knew. The more she ran, the stranger she felt. Her vision sharpened and her sense of smell brought forward such overpowering scents. Amber could smell the sweet nectar of every flower in the woods. The musty smell of moss and damp tree trunks filled her nostrils and relaxed her. She was at home in this strange place.
In one swift movement, she was on all fours and running faster than ever. Whatever she was trying to escape was no match for her speed. A sudden movement to her right brought Amber to a quick halt. The heartbeat of the tiny rabbit was almost deafening. She could taste its warm blood before she even took a bite. The poor creature didn’t stand a chance. That’s when she realized that she was not running from something, but after something. With lightning speed she grabbed the rabbit, crushing its small frame with her powerful hands. The rush of the kill empowered her…
Amber never saw further into her dreams, always jerking awake before she saw the monster she had become. Not wanting to feel the sensation of joy as she ripped the animal’s heart out and drank its blood. She’d never had such vivid dreams before; she didn’t even have a vivid imagination, but since coming to CFU they were becoming more frequent.
Only now, as she lay on the ground looking up at the dark sky through the branches of the trees, she knew this was not a dream. She lay in this strange place, not confident and powerful like in her dreams, but confused and vulnerable. The air was thick with a fog that seemed to cling to the lower branches of the trees, and although it was cold, her body was on fire. Amber tried to sit and the stiffness from lying in one position shot through her side. She stretched her body, but it didn’t help ease the pain. Amber listened, trying to hear anything, but there was nothing. The silence was frightening. She lifted a hand to her clammy forehead. The perspiration ran down her spine and her hands were wet and sticky. Her breathe came in quick gasps with the fear that rose inside her every second she sat in this cold, dark, damp forest.
Amber lifted herself slowly, testing her legs for balance. Her blue cotton pajamas were badly messed up by the thick mud that clung to them. She walked slowly, not really knowing which direction to go in. She never knew how far into the woods she was. Should she just choose a path to take and hope it leads to civilization, back to campus? The fear in her grew stronger and the fuzziness in her head made it difficult to focus. Amber stumbled along, slipping over the mossy ground. As she walked, not recognizing anything in her path, a strange sense of familiarity welled up inside her. She continued forward and when she caught sight of the road not too far ahead, her heart beat faster, relief washing over her.
That is when she heard it piercing the silence. The long and anguished howl of a wolf. It sounded close, too close. The fear gripped her again. She found the strength to move a bit faster as the adrenalin began to pump through her veins and she ran toward the road. Was it her imagination or did she hear the snapping of branches behind her? She was not alone; a fierce growl confirmed that. Amber turned slowly and stared back into the thick bushes she had just ran through, but she saw nothing. She sensed, however, that there was something watching her and whatever it was, was not friendly. Goosebumps spread over her skin and she turned to run again. The sound of something behind her forced her to quicken her pace.
Amber raced forward and, clearing the remaining trees, finally made it to the road, landing on the graveled path. A sudden flash of light stopped her dead in her tracks. She was blinded by a set of headlights only a short distance from her that were growing brighter with each passing second. There was no way that the person driving could stop in time. This was not the way she had ever imagined dying. Amber screamed and covered her face with her hands, as if that would lessen the impact of the car as it hit her fragile frame. She waited for it to strike her. She was prepared to die now, only because she knew there was no way to avoid being hit. But the pain she was expecting never came. Had it happened so quickly she hadn’t even felt it? Was her life over? No! She was still breathing, crouched on the road, her hands over her face. By some miracle the car had stopped, only inches from her.
Amber’s breath came in quick gasps and her lungs burned. She just couldn’t get the air she craved and tears were streaming down her face. She crouched further until her cheek touched the warm asphalt. Her mind swam, remembering the dreams and the odd place where she had just woken up. The howl she had heard played over and over in her mind, like an evil echo sent to torment her. Amber tried to focus her thoughts, but she knew it was no use. Her breathing was getting worse and the loss of oxygen was making it hard for her to keep her eyes open. She heard someone speak; their voice was muffled, but they were calling her name. She caught the hint of a southern accent but couldn’t be sure because the person speaking sounded like they were miles away. A blurry figure appeared next to her. Strong arms lifted her, then the blackness took over and she was gone.
Mini Interview:
1 When did you first start writing?
I’ve been writing for what feels like forever. I used to plot stories and create characters on my Grandmother’s old typewriter, but I never got further than a few pages before jumping on to the next adventure. I only really started writing complete stories when I reached 5th grade. My creative writing teacher, Mrs Bower, encouraged me to write and she even turned a blind eye every time I exceeded the allotted story word limit by a few thousand words. My passion for writing waned a bit when I left high school but I found it again a few years ago, and I’ve never been more excited to be living my dream.
2 Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
The idea of writing as a profession never crossed my mind until I finished Therian. Growing up I wanted to be a marine biologist, then I wanted to own my own hotel, and I finally settled on being an event planner. While studying I got into finance and that is where I have been ever since. I love number-crunching but I really want to get more involved in the publishing industry, and not only as an author. I would also love to own a bakery/coffeeshop/bookstore, yup, all three in one. Hey, a girl’s gotta have dreams, right?
3 What genre do you prefer to work within? Or do you mix it up?
I have always loved paranormal romances, so it seemed fitting that this was the genre to go for. I have recently found a love for contemporary romances though, so I’m branching out, but I will target a more adult audience for this genre.
4 Where does your inspiration for these stories (this story) come from?
My inspiration to write comes from so many different things. I draw inspiration from every day interaction with people around me. I’m inspired by true life stories and experiences. I also have a bit of a habit of re-writing movie plots. If something doesn’t go quite as I thought it would, I make up my own story and this often sparks a new idea for a character or a plot for a new story.
5 What has your publishing experience been like?
Exciting. I will never forget the first email I received from my publisher, Juanita Samborski, of 48fourteen. It was 5am, and all I wanted to do was call everyone I knew to tell them about the offer. I squealed and there was some dancing involved.
The road to getting Therian out into the world was a little stressful, only because I was a newbie and had no idea what to expect, or what was expected of me. Many hours of sleep were lost editing my manuscript, but I didn’t care. I was on such a high and nothing could dampen my spirits. I can’t wait to go through the experience again with my next release.
6 Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
It depends on what stage of the writing process I’m in. When I start plotting and outlining a story I prefer to curl up on my reading chair with a pen and notebook. Once I’ve jotted down all the important points of my story I move over to a writing desk and continue on my laptop.
I prefer total peace and quiet when writing because I’m easily distracted.
7 How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
As names pop into my head I write them down, and then I match them with different characters. Sometimes names will jump out at me while I’m on the net, or reading a magazine etc. For place names, I usually look around me for inspiration. I combine street names or the names of different suburbs to come up with something new.
8 In your most recent work, who is your favorite character and why?
My favorite character in Therian has to be Tayelon…no wait, Amber…no, no, no, it’s Luna! Oh how can you make me choose!!
If I really have to choose just one, I’d say Amber is my favorite. She goes through so much in the first book and discovers some devastating things about her family, but I particularly love the complexity of her character as the story continues. There’s a lot more to her and no one should underestimate her powers. Readers will have to wait for book two to find out what I mean by that *winks*
9 Did you learn anything from writing your book? What was it?
Writing has taught me patience and perseverance. Writing is not as easy as it seems, and if you do not have the determination to go the distance, you will crumble before you’ve even started. I have a profound respect for authors and I’m proud of my own accomplishments. The important thing is to never give up.
10 How did you/do you market your work?
There are so many ways for authors to market their work these days, and think it’s important to find one or two ways that really work for you than trying every route. You may find yourself spending more time marketing than getting down to the task of writing.
I think Twitter is one of the most amazing marketing tools, no matter what type of business or product needs marketing. Facebook can be useful but it’s not my main choice. Obviously book sites like Goodreads etc. are a great way to market books. The aim is to bring as much attention to your work as possible and I think that reviewers are the most important form of marketing for any author or publisher. Book bloggers are invaluable. It’s amazing what Blog Tours and the like can do for the sales of a single book.
11 Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?
It was surreal. The day my publisher’s site went live, I logged on and there was my baby. My hard work— weeks and weeks of blood, sweat and tears, set free for the entire world to see. I went through a range of emotions. I was excited and nervous, but there was such a great sense of pride that nothing else mattered.
12 Favorite authors?
There are so many! Laurell K Hamilton, Melissa Marr, Penelope King, David Estes, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Katie McGarry, Stephen Leather…I could go on for days, but these are just a few of my top picks.
13 Have you ever suffered from a “writer’s block”? What did you do to get past the “block”?
Yes, although I prefer to call it “procrastination”. Sometimes I’ll sit with my laptop and write for hours, other times I sit for hours and write nothing. It’s the latter that allows my fear of (mentally) not being able to write to creep in and fester to the point where I’d rather not even try than feel the anguish of not being able to. The only way to get over this is to focus and get my head back in the game, even if it means shifting focus to another project for a while.
14 What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Read, read, read, but don’t allow your writing time to suffer because of this. Write as much as possible every day. Keep an open mind and take in as much as you can from fellow authors. another important lesson any new writer needs to learn is to never take criticism to heart. Don’t allow a bad review to bring out your bad side.
15 Are you working on anything new? If so, can you tell me about it?
I’m currently working on the second book in The Bloody Crescent Trilogy. Tainted is a little more dark and intense than the first book. New characters will be introduced, whilst the characters from the first book will have many new challenges to face. Amber also has a very difficult decision to make, one that could mean life or death for a very important character…but that’s all I can say…sorry !!
Spring Fever Blog Tour featured Author: Nely Cab
Today I’m spotlighting Nely Cab, a young adult writer. Nely, thank you so much for the interview and I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Title: Creatura , Deus: A Creatura Novella
Author: Nely Cab
Genre: YA
Website: http://www.nelycab.com
Blog: http://www.nelycab.blogspot.com
Social Media connections: www.twitter.com/nelycab
www.facebook.com/Creatura.by.NelyCab
Release Date: 06/15/2011
Where to buy: Amazon, B&N, Books-a-million, Book Depository, Apple iBooks and most online retailers
Reviews:
REVIEW FOR CREATURA:
“So lets say I was a little apprehensive when I started to read [Creatura]because I thought maybe I had read other stories like this one BUT, once I got one chapter in, I was SO wrong!! What a page turning book, I could not put it down just about as soon as I started.”
—Bella, Paranormal Book Club
REVIEW FOR DEUS: A CREATURA NOVELLA:
“Deus: A Creatura Novella is an intriguing tale enlightening us to the creation of the word found in Creatura. Deus and Starr provided intense and comical dialog that kept me enchanted all the way til the end. As each page bestowed insights to the beginning of Creatura, my curiosity was quenched as well as stimulated, piquing my interest in to what happens next. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!”
—Kathryn V. Spell Grimes, Tsk Tsk What to Read
Other Work: Deus: A Creatura Novella (Coming Soon), Love is Lethal: A Short Collection of Poems Inspired by Fans of Creatura
“In the clouds, I begin to shape her. I name her Starr.
My fingers work with precision to complete her. I’m still in awe over the level of craftsmanship in my hands. I pause and take a step back to admire my work. She’s like a small wax statue, and something is missing.
I skip back to the split second when I formed my own body. It’s strange to see myself from this outer perspective. As I observe the image of how I looked yesterday, I notice that I’m a hand’s width taller and my wings have grown. I also look very young. I smirk at the thought of what the people in the future would think if they ever discovered that the creation of the Universe was a child’s doing.”
—Deus: A Creatura Novella, Nely Cab
Mini Interview:
1 When did you first start writing?
I started writing when I was 10 years old, but stopped because I got a rejection from a publishing company. Yes, I was crazy as a child. I submitted a manuscript illustrated in crayons and handwritten in pencil…and stapled together. After that rejection, I thought I needed to learn more about writing, before I submitted anymore works. During my teenage years, I only wrote for my literature classes. I got pretty good grades. It wasn’t until I had resigned from my job to take care of my family and home that I took up writing again—almost 7 years ago.
2 Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
No. I did want to be Rainbow Bright, though, along with a whole bunch of other make-believe characters. I was making up stories in my head since I was a kid, but I didn’t think I would really end up writing for others.
3 What genre do you prefer to work within? Or do you mix it up?
YA and New Adult are my favorites.
4 Where does your inspiration for these stories (this story) come from?
Music, dreams and daydreaming to a degree that I don’t even blink. I just let my mind wander and they come to me. My fans inspire me to keep writing, too.
5 What has your publishing experience been like?
It’s been long, hard, educational and well worth it. Everyday, I learn something new about the publishing world and about marketing and writing. It’s a great daily adventure.
6 Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
Depending on the book I’m writing, depends
7 How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
I pick names that sound like they fit the character. Sometimes I Google, sometimes I use people’s names that I know.
8 In your most recent work, who is your favorite character and why?
Starr because she’s just got so much going on in her head and she’s really good at playing dumb.
9 Did you learn anything from writing your book? What was it?
I learned that it’s really fun and really hard to plot out the story, the time line, the characters. It’s become like an alternate world in my head. I love every bit of this writing, even the writer’s block because afterwards, the ideas that come are pure genius.
10 How did you/do you market your work?
Giveaways, interviews, guest posts, Tweets, book trailer, lots and lots of swag. You name it, I’ll do it.
11 Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?
I cried. I couldn’t believe I was holding a book that I wrote. It was my childhood dream come true, like when you go to Walt Disney World and you can’t get over the fact that it really is the happiest place on Earth.
12 Favorite authors?
My favorite writers tend to change with time. Right now, I’m totally enamored with Aimée Carter; Cassandra Clare is next on my list, but I have plenty more.
13 Have you ever suffered from a “writer’s block”? What did you do to get past the “block”?
Yes! It can last from a few hours to weeks! I learned that to over come it, I have to forget it’s there and ignore it. My writer’s block usually comes from me stressing over how I think that my story is slow and uninteresting. As writers, we are very judgmental of our own writing, and always our worst critic. I find it helps to have a beta reader give me feedback, and that helps me rear me back into the writing process.
14 What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Start off slow and build. Write short stories and plot them well. One of those short stories is sure to embed itself so deep into your brain that it’ll turn into a full-length book. Pay attention to writing styles, and don’t bury yourself into one single style. Your words are a work of art. Let others see how diverse you are and how much of an artist you truly are. Most of all, don’t be afraid of what people may think. Your writing will get better with every word you type. You’ll never know how good you can be unless you try. They say fear is the killer of dreams, and I believe it.
15 Are you working on anything new? If so, can you tell me about it?
I’m working on the second book in the Creatura series, and a secret New Adult project that’s completely different from what readers are used to seeing from me.
Spring Fever Blog Tour featured Author: Meg Mims
Meg Mims is the featured author for this evening. She is an award winning author and artist, as you’ll see from her interview. Thanks so much Meg for participating in this event! Enjoy the blog everyone!
BIO
Meg Mims is an award-winning author and artist. She writes blended genres – historical, western, adventure, romance, suspense and mystery. Her first book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Spur Award for Best First Novel from Western Writers of America and was named a Finalist in the Best Books of 2012 from USA Book News for Fiction: Western. The sequel, Double or Nothing, is being released on March 15, 2013.
Meg also wrote two contemporary romance novellas, Santa Paws and The Key to Love. Her short story ‘Seafire‘ is included in the charity anthology Hazard Yet Forward to benefit a fellow writer battling breast cancer. Meg is a staff writer for Lake Effect Living, a West Coast of Michigan tourist on-line magazine, and for RE/MAX Platinum in Brighton. Meg earned an M.A. from Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. She is a member of RWA, WWA, Women Writing the West, Western Fictioneers and Sisters in Crime. Born and raised in Michigan, she lives with her husband, a “Make My Day” white Malti-poo and a rescue Lhasa Apso, plus a drooling black cat. Meg’s artistic work is in watercolor, acrylic and pen/ink media.
Title: The DOUBLE SERIES – Double Crossing and Double or Nothing
Author: Meg Mims
Genre: Western Historical Mystery
Website: http://www.megmims.com
Blog: http://www.megmims.com/musings
Social Media connections: Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Goodreads, LinkedIn
Release Date: Double Crossing out, Double or Nothing March 15, 2013
Where to buy: Amazon for Kindle, B&N for Nook, Smashwords
Reviews: Lots of 5 stars on Amazon for Double Crossing!
Other Work: The Key to Love, Santa Paws
Mini Interview:
1 When did you first start writing? Twenty years ago. Yep. With a few breaks here and there.
2 Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be? Oh yeah.
3 What genre do you prefer to work within? Or do you mix it up? I love writing blended genres, but mystery is primarily “my bag of tricks.”
4 Where does your inspiration for these stories (this story) come from?
True Grit, both movies plus Charles Portis’ book – plus Murder on the Orient Express for Double Crossing. Double or Nothing sprang out of that, with inspiration from Rooster Cogburn and a book about dynamite.
5 What has your publishing experience been like? A rollercoaster!!
6 Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair? I have the “Sheldon spot” on my sofa, I do listen to movie soundtracks, plus my “make my day” Malti-poo dog usually lays beside me. The other dog either watches out the window on top of my second sofa, or lays on his UM Go Blue pillow. LOL
7 How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books? The characters usually tell me, oddly enough – and the place names too. I can’t explain it better than that. Your instincts will tell you what’s right. For Double Crossing, the heroine changed names – and personalities – until Lily was “born.” But “Ace” Diamond was always Ace. LOL
8 In your most recent work, who is your favorite character and why? I really like Lily and I’ll be sad when her story ends. She’s courageous yet vulnerable. She realizes when she’s too naive, and yet has a great instinct for trust/danger. And she relies on her faith. Much like I do.
9 Did you learn anything from writing your book? What was it? Trust is important to me, and also faith. I think Double Crossing gave me the chance to show both, and Double or Nothing will show the importance of redemption. I do love to utilize themes in my writing.
10 How did you/do you market your work? I have Facebook pages for each book, plus an author page, I am on Twitter and I blog, plus I have Pinterest boards for my books and characters. I try to promote something each day.
11 Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time? It’s an AWESOME feeling – seeing your name on that cover, with your title and your story inside!! And it was double the awesomeness when the hardcover large print edition came out for libraries. Now Double Crossing is available as an Audiobook too!
12 Favorite authors? J.R.R. Tolkien, Conan Doyle, Christie, Sayers, and lots of modern mystery authors like Kate Ross, Sharan Newman, Judith Merkle Riley, Will Thomas, Charles Todd, Cleo Coyle, Kate Collins, Janet Evonavich, Victoria Thompson, plus romance authors like LaVyrle Spencer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Cheryl St. John, Pamela Morsi…. LOL
13 Have you ever suffered from a “writer’s block”? What did you do to get past the “block”? If I’m “stuck,” which is rare, I try to vacuum, take a walk with the dogs, take a shower, watch a DVD or read a book, let the “chewing the cud” take over in my brain. But it happens. I’ve also worked on a different craft like stamping, watercolor, even cleaning my house or office.
14 What piece of advice would you give to a new writer? Hone the craft, learn as much as possible about self-editing and proofreading or hire it out. Revision *IS* writing too. I’ve seen too many first draft products out there, and new authors wonder why sales don’t follow. Put your very best work out there and build your brand, your readership. Sales will follow.
15 Are you working on anything new? If so, can you tell me about it? The sequel to Double Crossing will be out March 15th, titled Double or Nothing – it picks up my heroine’s story and follows her new adventures and mystery, of course, in California.
Spring Fever Blog Tour featured Author: David Estes
Hi everyone! Well, the month of April is ending, but that doesn’t mean the blog tour is over. Another entire month lay ahead filled with authors and interviews. To end this month, David Estes is the author for this evening. Enjoy the read everyone and thank you David for joining the blog tour!
Title: Fire Country (The Country Saga, #1), Ice Country (The Country Saga, #2)
Author: David Estes
Genre: YA dystopian
Website: http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com
Blog: Same as website
Social Media connections:
David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Estes/130852990343920
My blog: http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/davidestes100
Release Date: Fire Country- February 2nd, Ice Country- April 4th
Where to buy: Links to buy Fire Country:
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-country-david-estes/1114268064?ean=2940015975475
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/280371
Amazon Print: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Country-Volume-David-Estes/dp/1482055988
Reviews: Early reviews can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17250818-ice-country
Other Work:
The Dwellers Saga:
Book One—The Moon Dwellers
Book Two—The Star Dwellers
Book Three—The Sun Dwellers
Book Four—The Earth Dwellers (coming September 2013!)
The Country Saga (A Dwellers sister series):
Book One—Fire Country
Book Two—Ice Country
Book Three—Water and Storm Country (Coming June 7th, 2013!)
The Evolution Trilogy:
Book One—Angel Evolution
Book Two—Demon Evolution
Book Three—Archangel Evolution
Children’s Books by David Estes
The Nikki Powergloves Adventures:
Nikki Powergloves—A Hero Is Born
Nikki Powergloves and the Power Council
Nikki Powergloves and the Power Trappers
Nikki Powergloves and the Great Adventure
Nikki Powergloves vs. the Power Outlaws (Coming in 2013!)
Please provide a snippet from your most recently released book.
Excerpt from Fire Country
When I’m sixteen and reach the midpoint of my life, I’ll have my first child. Not ’cause I want to, or ’cause I made a silly decision with a strapping young boy after sneaking a few sips of my father’s fire juice, but ’cause I must. It’s the Law of my people, the Heaters; a Law that’s kept us alive and thriving for many years. A Law I fear.
I learned all about the ways of the world when I turned seven: the bleeding time, what I would hafta do with a man when I turned sixteen, and how the baby—my baby—would grow inside me for nine full moons. Even though it all seemed like a hundred years distant at the time, I cried for two days. Now that it’s less’n a year away, I’m too scared to cry.
Veeva told me all ’bout the pain. She’s seventeen, and her baby’s five full moons old and “uglier’n one of the hairy ol’ warts on the Medicine Man’s feet.” Or at least that’s how she describes Polk. Me, I think he’s sorta cute, in a scrunched up, fat-cheeked kind of way. Well, anyway, she said to me, “Siena, you never felt pain so burnin’ fierce. I screamed and screamed…and then screamed some more. And then this ugly tug of a baby comes out all red-faced and oozy. And now I’m stuck with it.” I didn’t remind her Polk’s a him not an it.
I already knew about her screaming. Everyone in the village knew about Veeva’s screaming. She sounded like a three ton tug stuck in a bog hole. Veeva’s always cursing, too, throwing around words like burnin’ and searin’ and blaze—words that’d draw my father’s hand across my face like lightning if I ever let them slip out of my mouth like they’re nothing more’n common language.
In any case, everything she tells me about turning sixteen just makes me wish I didn’t hafta get older, could stay fifteen for the next seventeen or so years, until the Fire takes me.
It’s not fair, really, that boys get to wait until they’re eighteen ’fore their names get put in the Call. I’d kill for an extra two years of no baby.
Mini Interview:
1 When did you first start writing?
First off, thanks for having me!
Ahh, I have fond memories of when it all began. I started seriously writing in September 2010. Before then, like so many others out there, I’ve LOVED reading my entire life, more than any other activity. In the back of my mind, I always wanted to write my own books, but I always managed to come up with an excuse—either I’m too busy, too lazy, or I just don’t have good enough ideas—to not do it. Perhaps it was a fear of failure, I’m not really sure. But for whatever reason, I drifted along, reading, but not really writing.
Then I met my wife, Adele, a sweet and beautiful Australian, who encouraged me to put my dreams first. So, while I had a few weeks off before a new desk job in September 2010, I started writing a book using the first idea that came into my head, one about angels and demons that evolved from humans. Six weeks later, Angel Evolution was born!
I’d officially caught the writing bug, and so I kept writing, averaging 2,000 words a day, and slowly moving up to 3,000 words. I finished my first children’s book, Nikki Powergloves, 4 weeks later. Then I wrote Demon Evolution in another 6 weeks and followed it up with a middle grade book called I am Touch, which I have yet to publish. Finally, 10 months after starting Angel Evolution, I completed Archangel Evolution. So I had 5 books written in 10 months, but hadn’t published any of them!
So I just went for it! The rest has been a whirlwind adventure in which I’ve written 14 books in less than two and a half years, 12 of which are now published. On the back of The Moon Dwellers, I became a fulltime author in June of 2012, making what started out as a dream become a reality!
2 Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I always had dreams of being a writer but I never really took them that seriously. I never really wanted to do anything else. Now that my dreams have come true, I slap myself (literally, I sometimes raise my hand and bring is across my cheeks rather hard) for not taking a risk sooner. So many years lost when I could have been creating novels! Oh well, such is life.
3 What genre do you prefer to work within? Or do you mix it up?
Primarily YA dystopian, although I’ve dabbled in YA paranormal (one trilogy) and children’s superhero (one four book series). But since five of my books are YA dystopian, with two more to come in the next few months, I’ll focus there.
In short, I’m OBSESSED with dystopian novels at the moment. You have to write what you enjoy reading and what you can connect with, and for me that’s definitely dystopian. The genre has so much versatility and can be combined with many other genres too, although I haven’t really played around with that much (yet). I also LOVE how real dystopian books can feel, almost like it’s something that could really happen, if you just really think about it.
There’s also a real sense of good versus evil in dystopian books, which usually involves some form of an oppressive government. Bad things happen. People get hurt. But those dedicated to the cause fight on, almost like it’s their destiny.
Finally, dystopians have so much room for world building, which really excites me. Imagine if you could take pretty much a blank slate to the earth and start over. What would you build? What would you create? That’s dystopian. In The Moon Dwellers I decided to build my society underground, deep below the surface of the earth. With Fire Country, I took things back aboveground, but in the middle of a changed world where the sun is hotter than hell, the sky is red and the clouds yellow, and the air full of toxic fumes. Yeah, not the best place to live. And yet….humanity struggles on.
4 Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
Because most of my life revolves around writing and books, I’ll give you an idea of an average day for me. I sleep in (yeah, not a morning person) first. Get up around 9am, have breakfast with my wife. Then I start writing, putting in at least two hours in the morning (2,000+ words). Have lunch with my wife and then we try to do something fun together, like if we’re near a beach (which we usually are), we go to the beach, go swimming, read books together, etc. I’ll put in another hour or two of writing in the afternoon, too, to bring my word count to between 3 and 4 thousand, or the occasional 5,000+ word day. We have dinner and spend the evening either at home watching movies, watching our favorite TV shows, or hanging out with friends, or going to watch live music.
Throughout the day and into the evening I do all the other stuff that comes with being a writer, like interviews, blog appearances, answering reader mail, doing blog posts, and publishing my books.
I always read before bed, too, usually 50+ pages of whatever book I’ve currently got my nose in. That’s it! That’s a day in the life. Day in and day out I put in 3-4 hours a day, which is the commitment required to publish a book every 2-3 months. It’s a lot of work, but the flexible lifestyle and creativity of it makes it all worthwhile. And, of course, all the support from my readers, who are absolutely incredible, the best people in the world, and my dearest friends!
5 How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Honestly, I wish I had something interesting to say here, but I don’t really. Most of my character name’s just pop into my head and I know right away that they’re right. I never use name databases or anything like that. I don’t use a lot of place names, but when I do, they pretty much just appear in thin air and hover around long enough so that I can reach out and grab them, try them out on my tongue, on my keyboard.
6 In your most recent work, who is your favourite character and why?
In Fire Country, my favorite character is the main character, Siena, mostly because she spoke the loudest to me. It was incredible how she just started talking to me one day and then she wouldn’t shut up. She’s someone who speaks to you loud and clear, like no one else you’ve ever met before, and she basically just wrote herself, which is a rare and awesome thing. Her language is colorful and interesting and very, very, real, because like I said, she tells me each and every thing she wants to say! Yes, even now that the book is finished, she still talks to me ALL the time.
7 Did you learn anything from writing your book? What was it?
Writing is hard! I’ve heard a lot of people say, “I could write a book!” after reading a book by one of their favorite authors. It seems easy when you’re reading it, easy to identify the flaws, where it could have been better. I was definitely one of those people! But since I started writing 3 years and 13 books ago, I’ve learned that writing is extremely difficult and an ongoing learning process that requires years and years of hard work and dedication. There is no easy success to be gained in this industry. Once I recognized that, I was able to focus on improving, on taking constructive feedback, and on moving forward with my craft. Only then did success truly start to come.
8 How did you/do you market your work?
I wrote blog post a while back that has become quite popular amongst Indies, called My Dos and Don’ts for Attracting New Readers. Here’s a link for those who might be interested: http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-dos-and-donts-for-attracting-new.html
To boil it down to a few things:
- I’ve become part of the ever growing book community, particularly on Goodreads. I’ve made friends, talked about the books I love to read, helped people when they needed it. I love talking to other readers, much more than anything else. I don’t expect anyone to read my books, but many people do simply because I care about them and treat them with respect. And if they like them, they read more. I don’t overpromote because people just get turned off by it.
- I giveaway LOTS of free books. This is a great time to be an Indie. Publishing is easy. And giving away books is even easier because of ebooks. If someone doesn’t know who I am, why would they take a risk and buy my book? But if I give it to them for free, they might just give it a read. And if they do, they might just like it, and then I’ve got a reader for life, and likely a friend too (even if they don’t enjoy my books, I’ll likely become their friend too J
- I’m active online, but I DON’T only talk about my books. When I post on Facebook, I post about other things. What I’m doing, funny pictures, not just endless crap about buying my books.
- Appreciating my readers! I know that most people don’t have an endless budget to spend on books, so I value each and every person who spends even a small portion of it to buy one of my books. I thank as many of them as I can, personally if possible, and try to host lots of giveaways to show my appreciation.
Those are just a few of what I feel to be the most important aspects of attracting readers to my books, but I do lots more!
9 Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?
Giddiness. My wife and I were together when the proof arrived. Ebooks are cool, but nothing beats a paperback. We danced around a bit and then went out to celebrate. I still love when I do book signings and see all my books lined up together. Pure joy in seeing all that hard work pay off.
10 Favourite authors?
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is my all time favorite series! I read it a dozen times growing up. But in terms of current stuff, I love The Knife of Never Letting Go (and the rest of the Chaos Walking series) by Patrick Ness, UnWind and UnWholly by Neal Shusterman, and Divergent by Veronica Roth.
11 Have you ever suffered from a “writer’s block”? What did you do to get past the “block”?
To be honest, I find the writing part quite easy. I have a nutty imagination that works overtime, so I don’t really get writer’s block or anything like that. My wife always says how she’s amazed how I can just sit down and start writing. I read the last paragraph or page that I wrote, and just get going. I don’t worry too much about getting every word perfect, that’s what rewriting and editing is for; rather I focus on moving the plot along, feeling the emotions of the characters, and enjoying the ride. Occasionally, I will just have a little trouble getting started at the beginning of a writing session, but it’s usually because I’m not in the right state of mind. To fix it all I need to do it listen to a song I like or read a book I’m enjoying. That’s it!
12 What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
I’m going to cheat because I have way too much to say on this topic. I get a ton of messages from other Indies out there asking for advice and I think it boils down to just a few key things.
1) Write awesome books and always work to perfect your craft. No matter how good you think you are, you can always get better and there’s always someone who’s better than you, so listen to feedback, take on constructive feedback, and strive to make each book your best one yet.
2) Become part of the reading/writing community. Don’t do this to sell people your books! Do this because you love books and writing and want to talk to other likeminded people. People will respect you more as a peer than some omniscient writer who thinks they deserve attention just because they write books.
3) Don’t over promote! This is absolutely crucial, because there are so many Indies out there all shouting for people to read their books. So if you shout, too, you’ll just fade into the noise with the rest of them. Less is more. This goes hand in hand with number 2 above. Be a reader first, be helpful in the book community by recommending the books that you love, and never, ever recommend your own book! If your books are good, people will read them because they respect you as a person, and then they’ll tell all their friends to read them too.
4) Give away LOTS of free books. I know how hard this is, because I’ve been there. You work so hard to write a book and then you should give them away for free? Well, yeah, you have to because no one knows how you are or how good a writer you are. Focus on building a fan base over a LONG period of time. There are very few Amanda Hocking’s or Stephenie Meyer’s out there who will find almost instant success. Give your books away in exchange for reviews and over time, the readers will come. Be patient and never give up.
13 Are you working on anything new? If so, can you tell me about it?
Always! If there’s one thing that’s certain for me, it’s that I’m always in the middle of a new project while trying to publish my old projects. Well, given I’ve just published the sequel to Fire Country, I’m working on the third book in the series, Water & Storm Country. The first draft is complete and with beta readers, so I’m just waiting in anticipation for their feedback. To keep my occupied while I wait, I’ve begun work on the 4th book in the Dwellers Saga, which will consequently double as the 4th book in The Country Saga. Because the two sagas are sister series, they’ll come crashing together in the 7th and final book in the combined series, titled The Earth Dwellers or Glass Country. Confused? So am I!
After that, I’ve got plenty of ideas for my next series, but one in particular stands out, however, I can’t be too forthcoming with information at this time. Just know it has an awesome title and will combine more than one genre within YA.
Tracee Ford 