First Day of Spring: Imbolc, Publishing and a Cover Reveal Coming

Blessed Imbolc!

Today marks on the modern Catholic calendar, St. Brigid's Day, the patroness of Ireland. While the modern calendar says winter and in some places snow is on the ground, on the old calendar it is an approximate date for Imbolc, the first day of Spring. It translates from Old Irish as "in the belly" and is said marked the pregnancy of the ewes. It is one of the fire festivals, or major festivals, on the Druid calendar. With Beltane, it is one of the two that are goddess-centered days.  There are several traditional ways to mark Imbolc/St Brigid's Day. Many of these carry whispers of pre-christian traditions.

This is a symbolic time for me. In November, just after Samhain (the Celtic New Year) I launched Three Worlds Press as a full-fledged publishing company. The early months have been exciting. As with the Spring, we are poised for the new, explosive growth of Spring. Everything smells new, green and earthy. Who cares if snow is in the forecast for today.

Pay attention...this is a double blog day as a cover reveal from Three Worlds Press follows shortly!

I want to share just a few links with you to explore and celebrate.

From the Irish Central website: http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/St-Brigids-Day-February-1-marks-start-of-Celtic-Spring-138470479.html

Wikipedia gives an acceptable overview here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc

Imbolc is the date of the second event on my upcoming novel Dark Dealings. While Micaela does not realized it, the event marks the beginning of a new cycle of her life and the birth of her "true" self in a dangerous world of magic, vampires and shapeshifters .

Sunday Selfie: Mountains, Chemistry and Publishing

No I do not take selfies! I generally don’t like pictures of myself that others take so why would I take one of myself. But I have begun sharing on Sundays a piece of my life and thoughts, so instead of Jumping Back In (if you’ve followed those posts) I am re-titling these musings as Selfie Sunday.

I just finished watching Neil Gaiman’s 2012 Commencement Address at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. If you have never watched it… do it right after you finish reading this blog (link at the end). If you’ve watched it before..watch it again.   His advice about when life gets complicated at the end it funny and priceless.

He says in the beginning that he never had a career, just a ride. People with careers have a plan know the rules and therefore what is possible and impossible. If you are along for the ride, improvising you are less likely to be held back because some rule says it’s impossible. You have your mountain and you're going to climb it and do things that take you one step closer to the mountaintop. 

That resonates with me, I have had jobs but never a career in the sense that my parents’ generation and others since then have viewed it. But it is a ride. I have been on Wall Street, banking, a teacher, owned a gourmet shop, and unemployed. I have been a deal maker, an administrative assistant, and now a CEO (shhh secret project underway). Not a career but a journey, each step along the way has brought me to where I am now.

A journey like this is not understood by everyone, but it’s not supposed to be. They have their own journey or career, however they choose to view it.

Journeys are exciting and scary. They often take on the attributes of chemical or nuclear reactions. In some chemical reactions, titration is required because after 99 drops of a reagent the 100^th drop, a mere drop, will trigger the ultimate reaction creating the end products. (For geeks like me, watch this video. You can fast forward to about the 2 minute mark). Chloride Titration

The difference between this chemical reaction and life is that the dramatic moment in the reaction is called an endpoint. In life I call that a beginning. In nuclear reactions there is critical mass, where once the right amount of a material is it goes from nothing to KABOOM and massive amounts of energy are created.

My dating journey is still early days. The last two week have been busy ones for Sean at work and more importantly with the final journey and passing of one of his sisters after a long battle. During these events, we have maintained contact even if it has been smiley faces and quick notes and hellos throughout the day and evening. Like titration, we are looking adding drop by drop to the process.

The momentum is building on the writing and publishing side, things are moving even faster than I could have imagined. One of my dreams from three years ago, is on the verge of exploding into reality. Watch for more news on this in the coming months. However if you are an editor, formatter, cover artist, copy editor or author get in touch and stay in touch.

Gaiman talks about the mountain. Publishing is that mountain for me. Not only to publish my own work, but that of others. If you know me, you know that I am a mentor and supporter at heart, particularly of the arts. I derive pleasure from the success of others especially if I think I played some small part in it.

And as he so wisely says enjoy the ride and make good art.

Oh and here's that link... Neil Gaiman Address 2012 

Review: The Ulfric's Mates by Leona Bushman

I had the pleasure of reading The Ulfric’s Mate by Leona Bushman and published by Breathless Press.

It is the classic conflict between warring factions, Hatfields and McCoys, the Montagues and the Capulets.  That is not to say it is not an original story.  Ms. Bushman takes the same universal themes that have been explored through the centuries and weaves them into a well-built world of werewolves and werecats that carries a very Native American (First Peoples) flavor.

Nolan Littlebull is the alpha of the Wahpawhat pack of Werewolves and the lead detective on a series of murders of pregnant women from his pack. Torn between human justice and were justice, he travels deep onto the Yakama Reservation tracking the ones responsible. He is attacked by one of the rival pack, only to be defended by another from the rival pack.

Alexandria George is the healer for the Lupins. She defends the mysterious wolf in their territory from her pack's bully and escapes with the stranger, only to find that they are bonded as a true mated pair.

This is a well written story with strong main characters. Both the fight and sex scenes are well done. The sexual tension between Nolan and Alex is palpable and the consummation is HOT.

Alex is particularly well conceived and I felt that, while this was written from multiple points of view, this was her story. She is emotionally scarred because, despite being her pack’s healer and a human doctor, she is an outsider in her pack. I won’t go into details as to why to avoid a spoiler.

There are the necessary battles for dominance at the end, but we are left with sufficient loose ends to want the next book in the series. And I can’t wait!

My only qualm is that I would like to see more texture to Nolan. I am a fan of the troubled hero and as of the first book, we get only vague references to any inner conflicts he may have.  They do not have the same depth as her exploration of Alex’s “issues” I hope that Ms. Bushman digs deeper into his psyche in future books. 

That said I anxiously await the next book in the series and highly recommend this paranormal romance.

I give Ulfric’s Mate 4.5 triskeles.

 

Leona Bushman lives in Central/Eastern Washington with her husband and children writing, painting, gardening, running, camping, or just reading or crafting. She also loves to swim but rarely gets a chance to as she's busy chasing after the three of five children still left at home.

Want to read, the PRINT edition will be available tomorrow.

Prefer eBook or need it NOW!  check these sites for this and more by Leona Bushman:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ulfrics-Mate-War-Weres-Book-ebook/dp/B008I30BLE

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ulfrics-mate-leona-j-bushman/1112220049?ean=2940044709539

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theulfric039smate-859491-340.html

Sassy and saucy, she can be found writing about her trials and errors as a mom and writer at the following places:

Blog: http://lbushman.blogspot.com

The website http://www.leonajbushman.com

And don't forget Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeonaBushman

If you want more of her, she's found on twitter as often as not at @L_Bushman just follow and don't be a spammer. She follows back if you look like a real person. Besides werewolves, she also likes zombies, vampires, and fairies. Oh and don't forget the dragons. You're likely to catch her attention if you talk to her about any of the above. Or sports. She loves sports but rarely gets a chance to indulge that love. So speak up!

Jumping Back In: Romance, Writing, Curveballs and Nightmares

So a quiet week on the romance front…hey everyone needs a breather now and then. But I think (crosses fingers) that I may be able to get a routine going. My dad who was in the hospital for a month and then in a rehab facility for a month has been home for a month now and doing okay.

What can you say, he is 81 years old and 8 years into an emphysema diagnosis. Fifty years of smoking will do that. He has had two occurrences of aggressive sarcoma-type skin cancer that required lots of radiation. But things are stable and he has adjusted to his new normal.

Life always throws curveballs and the last two years has been replete with changes and curveballs. But I remain positive about the future.

Things are good at the day job and so far so good with Sean. I am chipping away at some home/personal to-dos that were pushed to the side.  I have turned my focus now to writing, editing and publishing. So many doors are appearing and will open that it is occasionally daunting. But that’s top secret stuff for now.

As a writer, my biggest dilemma is what to work on. During all the bumps and detours, I have accumulated a collection of projects in various states of development.  One is a full manuscript, Ogham Court that dates back to NaNoWriMo 2012. It is a great concept but writing that much in 30 days left a ton of edits to do.

It’s a paraquel to Dark Dealings. Then there is the beginnings of a sequel to Dark Dealings, tentatively titled Dark Moon.  It is in the plotting/slash writing stage but Dark Dealings screams to be followed up on.  There are two (or is it three) novellas that are in process and a sketch of a prequel to Dark Dealings floating in my head. Oh and then there is an erotica piece that may get published under a different name.

I need to pick no more than two projects and FOCUS. Ogham Court must be finished, I think. It has good bones and to have 60,000 words unpolished frustrates me and I think impedes progress on other fronts. I think despite the others being further along I must get the next part of Micaela’s (Dark Dealings) story out. 

Of course that’s what I think. We’ll see what the characters tell me to do. They can be so demanding sometimes. I won’t even think about the strange nightmarish dream I had that when I described it to Sean he said…. Another novel? As I said, he has potential.

How do you handle multiple projects/priorities in any area of your life: creative, job, home, wherever?

And if you are wondering who Sean is or what the romance angle thing is... check out the other Jumping Back In posts and all the rest of the posts here too .

Jumping Back In: Confidence, Auras, Law of Attraction in Dating and More

So Sean and I continue to see each other, dinners, concerts, and quiet evenings on a porch or deck. It’s fun and neither of us seem to be in any rush to make it serious. What is interesting is how that fun and relaxation seems to impact the universe. People I know well keep telling me how great I look when nothing has physically changed about me, including that 20 pounds that HAS TO GO!

I’m no cover model but I’m attractive enough that I’ve gotten sufficient attention from men. But as I said in the first of this series, I hadn’t met anyone that I really wanted to spend time with that was available and not a hot mess. Since then, I’ve had several overtures from other men. One is a musician, who actually has a real paying job and is available…the hot mess question remains unanswered and he lives too far away. Another is a writer friend, who only half joking, invited me to move to Western Canada and marry him. I think he wants me for my passport. He is available and may be a hot mess and is definitely too far away. There are others but I want to keep this brief.

So why the sudden attention? I am a believer in the Law of Attraction and, if you’ve read Dark Dealings  (look to your right), in auras. I think that what YOU believe changes your aura and so changes what you attract. The vast majority of people cannot see auras, but they sense them at a very primitive level. It is why, I can meet so many people who will be just friends or not even that. When I met Sean, it was not love at first sight, but there was an instant comfort level that made many things feel easy and familiar for both of us. Perhaps our auras are compatible, perhaps we knew each other in a past life.  That is a discussion for a later post.

I had made a decision when I joined the online dating site, to open myself up (cautiously) to the possibility. Once I was open to that, others seemed to pick up on that and a received more compliments, flirtations, and it extends to my professional life.

I have been asked to be a member of a panel on women’s empowerment, invited to return to my role or more in an annual conference for 2015. My goal of launching my LLC as a full-fledged publishing company is gaining momentum daily. The day job continues to go well, but that is there to pay the bills until the rest of this can replace it. Is everyday glorious…HELL NO. It’s life and it has its bumps small and large.  I look forward to this October panel and am using it as a deadline to see how many of my other goals I can advance by then.

Oh and Sean is a smoker. I don’t smoke and know that is a personal decision. However, he smokes on my front porch and has been informed that if we are still seeing each other come winter, snow or no snow, it’s still the porch. He’s finding out, bit by bit, that I am who I am. I am more comfortable in my own skin than I have ever been. The proviso to that is I will not give up my goals and dreams to suit another.  It’s a package deal. And a pretty great package too, at least I think so. Nor would I ask another to change their dreams and goals for me. The trick is to find a partner who will grow alongside you.

Law of Attraction includes knowing the difference between confidence and arrogance. Confidence is knowing your value; Arrogance is thinking you are more valuable than others and that they should believe it, too. Confidence is knowing you aren't perfect, no one is but you like you for all that you are. You are on your journey and it's towards a more authentic you. I'm on my journey, too.

Dating or anywhere else in your life know your value and you will attract people of value who will recognize a kindred spirit.

More updates next week on Sean and other topics.

If you missed the previous entries, feel free to scroll through prior posts to catch up.

Panters, Plotter or culotter? How do you approach NaNoWriMo?

                For those who don't know this is National Novel Writing Month ...NaNoWriMo for short. The goal is to write a 50,000 word first draft of a novel in 30 days.

               I have tried NaNoWriMo twice with no success.  Part of it was timing.  I worked full time and cooked Thanksgiving dinner with lots of from-scratch items.  Then, of course, there are the Christmas holiday preparations.  

               Another part was my inability to turn off my inner editor and organizer.  I am not a full blown plotter but I am not a pantser, either.   When I wrote Dark Dealings, I could not get momentum going until I had a vision (no, nothing requiring medication, I think) of a beginning middle and end and a very clear picture of my main characters and, at least, most of their goals, motivations and conflicts. But I also don't work with a full-blown outline.

                Ogham Court started as a NaNoWriMo project but didn't get finished in the month.   I did learn a few things about myself and my characters as a result. One of the things I am working on is the ability to turn down, if not turn off the editor.  I can’t do it completely which is a good thing.  In pushing myself to move Ogham Court forward I am discovering things about Nora, the main character and the course of the story.  Unfortunately it means some revisions.  One night I went to bed thinking that a seduction plot line felt wrong.  I had the antagonist romancing Nora.  In the meantime I had introduced her mother, a quirky divorcee.  A woke one morning with one of those writer’s light bulb moments and realized that the romancing had to be of the mother as a way to get to Nora.  It means rewriting some scenes, but I think it gives me the piece I needed to lead to the middle and the end.  At least that’s what I think today. Then again, I could be wrong. My characters will set me straight.

                So I am a half-pantser, or as I told a fellow writer, I am a culotter. No being a culotter does not involve rum, coconut and a blender. Okay maybe it does.  What it means is that I am somewhere in between a  plotter (full detailed outline) and a panster (seat of the pants) as a writer.  But most of all I am dedicated to writing the best damn story I can write.  That, in my mind, is the first and largest part of being a successful author –Write a damn good story that lots of people will want to read and share.

                And it all starts with the plot….tension, tension, tension. Even if your plot evolves like mine from just a beginning, a middle and an end.

                A few reminders as you work through NaNoWriMo:  Show don’t tell.  Dig deep into your characters to find out what makes them tick.  Then in NaNoEdMo (March) edit it and polish it until you can see your face in it.  When you think you’ve got it right,  give it to trusted betas readers with sharp red pens or pencils to have a go at it.  You may not accept everything they suggest but they will see things that you cannot because you have been too close for long to the words, the characters, and the story. They will help you be a better writer.

           Life sometimes gets in the way of things but I am working on a short story for an upcoming Breathless Press anthology and then I will attack Ogham Court.  The voices are back.

          But I have my first draft, the rest is just editing.... um JUST???

          By the way, I am also a Content Editor for Breathless Press, if you have that novel and it is looking for a home...message me. If you are just looking for some awesome reads, stop over and check out our selection. (Warning: Some are EXTREMELY steamy!)

        Are you a plotter, a pantser or a culotter?


              

                

Can Demon Save the World and Get the Girl?

I have just finished Life Cycle by Zoe Winters. It is Book 4 of her Preternaturals Series, and while reading the first three books would be equally pleasurable, it is not necessary.  I will warn you that once you read Life Cycle, you will want to devour everything she has written.

DESCRIPTION:

Immortality can be a bitch… 

Tamara has lived nearly two thousand years, trapped by a spell of her own creation. Hunted by her enemy and former lover, she knows there is only one man strong enough to release her from the curse. But will Cain honor her death wish, or keep her for himself, whatever the cost?

Two ancient souls. Two weary fighters, torn between love and hate, forced to decide if the other could be worth living for.

Heat Level 3 of 5.
Some sexually explicit content and innuendo.

EXCERPT:
***
“Are you sure this is how you want to engage with me, Tam? Do you know what my demons would have done to you if I hadn’t stopped them? They are very loyal. You don’t attack me here. Maybe in your silly human world, but not here.” He spoke without raising his voice at her. His tone was level. His eyes didn’t even glow, but they didn’t have to.

The energy ball faded and died in her hand. “You promised you’d kill me. Before you got to my house, I was going to come find you because I thought you’d do it.”

A look of surprise crossed his face, but he covered it. “And that promise still stands.” He moved toward her and stroked her cheek. “I will kill you when I tire of you. And there is nothing you can do about it. Throwing energy balls at me will only make me disinclined to put you out of your misery. Just enjoy the ride, sweetheart. You’ll die soon enough… when I get bored. Believe me, that’s never taken longer than a week. Surely you can struggle through a week of passion with me.”

Every fiber in her being screamed to kill him, not that she could. The second best option would be to seal him in a jar and bury it in the middle of his desert where no one would ever find it—an option she was considering.

“I’m not going to be your concubine.”

A smirk. “Of course you are. What other option do you have?”

Smug bastard.
***

In case my introduction didn’t tip you off, I loved this book. It is tightly written, the characters are well realized, and the plot flawless. I found no editing issues. No spoilers here. So even though I thought I knew how it would all end, I wanted to go along for the ride and experience it through the eyes of Tam and Cain. Zoe takes a Preternatural approach to the Jack the Ripper story with a light but deft hand that puts a paranormal twist to the story without over-reaching or over-doing the connection.  Jack, the antagonist is crazy and love stricken, which makes him even creepier. Cain is a doomed demon in more ways than one. Tam is smart and snarky and tough and tormented; all the things I love in a female character. The energy between Cain and Tam is fun and sexy.

I give it 5 triskeles!

    

***

Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance. Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear.

To receive updates on new releases from the author, send an email to: zoewintersbooks AT gmail DOT com with "Subscribe" in the subject line. Newsletters go out only when there is an actual new release or a big contest. Your inbox will not be cluttered, newsletters won't go out more frequently than once a month, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

You can visit the author at: http://www.zoewintersbook.com

Be sure also to visit http://www.theriantype.com for some fun supplemental material.

Twitter Page

Like her on Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Profile

Texas Author Storms NY Police Procedurals

If you are reading this introduction, it means that Blogger is still having issues inserting all the nice pictures of the cover and Mr Hoss that I have.  Please click on the links below to see what the cover and Kenneth Hoss look like.

It is always a risk picking up a debut police procedural thriller with a female main character written by a man. Kenneth Hoss' Storm Rising-a Kelli Storm Novel is definitely worth it!

Kelli Storm, is a sharp and capable New York City Detective. Too bad that doesn’t carry-over to her personal life, which is nothing short of a mess. Kelli and her partner Bill investigate a series of drug-related murders tied to a Mexican-Colombian cartel in the Washington Heights section of New York. Kelli knows she is getting close when informants and witnesses turn up dead. Then evidence points to a connection between the events of today and her father’s murder twenty years ago  and things get even more interesting. When the cartel comes after her she figures that’s just part of the job. But when they attack her family and friends, Kelli will test her commitment to proper procedure even as events resurrect hurts, demons and perhaps an old love from her past.   

This terrific novel is tightly paced with well drawn characters and a finely crafted plot.  Mr. Hoss has introduced us to a female detective that is an experienced and somewhat jaded police officer who is at the same time vulnerable.  Mr. Hoss pulls off a fine balance of these qualities so that at no time did I feel like Kelli Storm was a cliché or stereotype.  He even handles the romance (no spoilers here) well. 

I am not an expert on police procedurals so I will only say that it worked for me. I do know that in fiction, including top rated television shows, license with procedure is taken for the sake of moving the plot along.  In real life, toxicology and DNA reports NEVER come back that quickly. I also know that there are patterns of dialogue in this genre and from what I can see Mr. Hoss has captured them.

But I have lived in New York City and grew up in Jersey City and Bayonne, all settings in the novel. So I will offer my opinion on that. I will say that Mr. Hoss gets the flavor of these locations just right. He captures the gritty darkness that surrounds them and all the shadows where the bad guys can hide.

To make this novel perfect, I would only make suggestions around minor editing and formatting.

This is a terrific first novel and one of three in a series. The next Kelli Storm book, Storm Warning is due out in September. While I’m told you don’t have to read this first…. don’t miss seeing where it all began. From what I have heard, Storm Warning will be even better.

I give Storm Rising 4.5 triskeles

Kenneth Hoss was born at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas in 1957 to Albert and Mary Hoss. He served a combined total of fourteen years on active duty from 1974 to 1987 in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. His tour in the Army took him to Frankfurt, Germany where he had the opportunity to travel Europe. While in the Navy, Kenneth spent most of his time stationed in San Diego and Long Beach. His Navy travels took him to Hawaii, Guam, The Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Okinawa, the Middle East and Pakistan. He has lived in several States, including South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington and California.

Kenneth currently lives in Irving, Texas.

Storm Rising - A Kelli Storm Novel is a Police Procedural and is the first book in a three book series. Storm Warning, the next book, has a planned release of 9/15/12.

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtpaYIL0yQ&feature=youtu.be

You may purchase Storm Rising at these online retailers:

Amazon:

eBook http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Rising-Kelli-Novel-ebook/dp/B0053GAWYU/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Paperback http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Rising-Kelli-Novel/dp/1467985430/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Barnes & Noble:

eBook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-rising-a-kelli-storm-novel-kenneth-hoss/1103391061?ean=2940011314278

Paperback http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-rising-a-kelli-storm-novel-kenneth-hoss/1103391061?ean=9781467985437&format=paperback

Connect with Kenneth:

Blog: http://kenhoss.blogspot.com

Twitter: @kenhoss

Independent Authors Network: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/kenneth-hoss.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKenHoss

Are You Planting the Seeds of Success?

I was at a loss for an idea for today’s post. So what  did I do?  I asked.  Specifically, I posted on Facebook.  A friend suggested that I post about “editing tips for those who suck at it.” I was flattered. It meant that someone thought I knew something about the topic. I do a fair amount of editing for others and they have been pleased enough with my work to recommend me to others. But the mind will go where it will and this request started me thinking in terms of a bigger picture.

Don’t worry, the editing tips (developmental editing) will come later.

I have been in the business world for several decades now. I have spent time working for a Wall Street firm, a major national bank. I have taught high school sophomores Geometry and owned a gourmet shop.  Everything I what I have done has revolved around what most would call “selling.” And before you ask, let me see you keep the attention of five classes of 15 year-olds everyday while you try to convince them that theorems and postulates are good, important, useful and FUN.

One of the things I learned from all this and that I have applied to my passion for writing, publishing and promoting is to always be planting seeds.

I’ll bet you thought I’d say…always be selling. NO!

Don’t sell. Use your talents and gifts to fill a need.

Present the benefits of your product to those who have a need. Water with mutually beneficial contact. Let it mature and grow into a desire and both parties will win.

My passion for writing was ignited a few years ago and shows no sign of diminishing.  Am I a NYT bestseller. Not Yet. Will I be walking the red carpet at the premier of the movie version. Not yet.

But I plant seeds.  I share my enthusiasm because I AM excited about what I do.  Enthusiasm is contagious.  People want to know more about my book, Dark Dealings. They ask questions: why vampires, why druids, how did I get started, when is the next book coming out?  Then a wonderful thing happens--- they share their dreams of writing or that they written something. Or perhaps, they open up about their own particular passion: music, art, a sport, a charity you would be amazed and energized by the excitement that comes back to you. I have met some amazing people, some who have become readers, fans and/or clients.

In the current world of publishing, many are trying to out-shout the others and sell their book.  I am a builder. There are times for sprinting, in writing and promotion. But a sprint is just that—a short and quick.

Success in anything is a marathon. A long trip. Won step-by-step, mile-by-mile. One handshake, one word at a time.

   Me? I’m a marathoner. I spent years studying the craft of writing and I learn more everyday. I study and observe social media and marketing. I want to reach all my potential fans.  And regardless of what format someone buys my book in they want to connect with the author.

I am working with some wonderful upcoming authors to share what I have learned, am learning and my experiences. I format books for others to help add the final shine of a professional look. All along the way, I am having a blast and …..

Planting seeds.

Great Gods! Review: Stealing Fate by Berinn Rae.

I met Berinn, under her real name, in a writers' group and discovered we had many things in common.  First and most important, was a love of well-written fantasy. We also. at the time, worked day jobs with the same company only half a continent away.  I am pleased  to present my review of Stealing Fate, her piece of what looks to be an amazing trilogy by three different authors (details below).

She stole his fate…

Lachesis is a Fate, an ancient goddess in whose hands our destinies are unraveled. When she’s not weaving fortune, she does what she wants when she wants. That all changes when she runs into the man she craves but prayed to never see again. And she'll soon discover the god of terror can really hold a grudge.

Now it’s his turn…

The most frightening of gods, Phobos is a predator who takes pleasure in terrorizing the world. After millennia of relentless searching, he finds the Fate who caused him to be cast down from Olympus. Now he plans to use every bit of his talents on the goddess to regain his lost heritage without losing his heart in the process.

Stealing Fate, a novella, by Berinn Rae, is a thrilling and steamy telling of part of the story of Phobos and Lachesis in the modern world.  In the midst of the modern club scene a god and goddess dance to the anger and attraction as they have for millennia. WOW! Ancient gods and goddesses can hold grudges.  And then there are the parents who just happen to live on Mount Olympus and the twin brother who takes sibling rivalry to Olympic heights.  Yes, I know I use similar words in the same sentence but I couldn’t resist anymore than than….sorry, no spoilers…you’ll have to read for yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was tightly written with a good dose of steam and kick-ass fights. It is just the right length, omitting nothing with no scenes I would consider wasted pages.  It was well-edited, any minor typos were just that MINOR.

While I have not read the other two books in the trilogy: Creating Fate by Rachel Firasek and Chasing Fate by Elle J Rossi (release date August 7). If they rise to the quality and fun of Stealing Fate---I’m in.

I want to more about what came before for Lacey and Phobos!

I give Stealing Fate 5 triskeles!

  

Read an excerpt or the entire first chapter: http://www.berinnrae.com/other-books.html

You can find Stealing Fate here:

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/85vzhyu  

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/7g7zydx

Berinn Rae writes spicy science fiction/fantasy starring women with kickassitude. She is the author of the Guardians of the Seven Seals fantasy romance series and Colliding Worlds trilogy (alien romance). When not writing, she can be found flying old airplanes, watching SciFi movies, and pampering an incredibly spoiled sixty-pound lap dog.

UPDATE: What Has REALLY Been Going On! and SALE

THROUGH 7/31, DARK DEALINGS IS ON SALE FOR THE KINDLE AND NOOK FOR $1.49. LET'S PUT UP SOME NUMBERS FOR KICK CANCER OVERBOARD!

Have been MIA for two weeks.  My apologies.  But it has been a crazy time, mostly good. I have been on interviewed on the radio and in the newspaper, scheduled another radio interview, held one major and two minor book signings.  On July 17^th I was interviewed by Bert Baron of WCTC.AM radio 1450 which covers central New Jersey. It was a lot of fun and Bert was terrific.  What was even more exciting was when I found out that my interview followed Bert’s interview with Joe Piscopo, of SNL and other fame.

The following day was my first major book signing courtesy of the Draft House in Long Branch New Jersey. If you have never done or attended a book signing in a pub, you are missing out.  It is fun to have readers and supporters stay and hang out to talk to you and each other.  In the case of this event, I was hosting it as a benefit for Kick Cancer Overboard (KCO), a local charity that sends cancer survivors and their families on cruise to help restore the soul and celebrate life.

During the month of July, I am donating 50% of my royalties from ALL sales, print or eBook, to KCO.  

SO THERE IS STILL TIME TO HELP KICK CANCER OVERBOARD. On the 18^th, I also had a wonderful array of donated gifts and gift baskets to raffle off for KCO. And it was a great success despite the thunderstorms that blew through just as we were getting started.  Some thought that the storms were appropriate for a Dark Dealings event.  Many of those who did not come because of power failures or downed trees have reached out to me since to purchase signed books.

I now have at least two other book signings in the works, not including the local Barnes and Noble that has asked me to get the book warehoused by B&N, so he can have a signing for me.  For the writers among my readers, I publish my print edition through Createspace, a division of Amazon.  As a result, Dark Dealings is listed in the Ingram catalog. But because the initial listing shows it as POD (Print On Demand) the store manager cannot stock it or sponsor a signing.  He pointed me to place on the B&N website where I could find the paperwork to get the book warehoused.  It is a 2-4 month process. I hope to have it ready for Halloween (crosses fingers).  I have also been asked to appear closer to Halloween on another radio program that covers the western New Jersey area.

Then there is the deferred graduation party I am having this coming Saturday for my son.  His godfather is an attorney in California and could not make the actual ceremony because of his trial schedule. So we pushed the party put so he could make it. Will be prepping for 50+ people. Hope it doesn’t rain.

On the less than fun side, I have been running back and forth to doctors with my father. In less than two months he developed an egg sized growth on the outside of his ear.  The biopsy did come back for cancer.  Complicating the removal is that he has emphysema (oxygen tanks and all).  So he needed clearance from four different doctors to even have a combination of local and twilight anesthesia.  But it is localized and external, so we are optimistic.

So I move forward on all fronts. I am trying to catch up on reviews that I have promised. Sitting in doctor waiting rooms gives you more time to read.  I also have asked my good friend and guest blogger, John Bermingham to prepare an overview of the fair use/copyright issues of using Pinterest.

Edits are under way of Ogham Court, a novel that takes a closer look at Nora of the Singing Stone and Devlin of the Salmon Run Inn from Dark Dealings and the unusual events on a cobble-stoned street in the Tribeca section of New York City. Expect this before year end.

I also have an outline ready for a prequel that covers some of the events in Micaela’s life around the time of her parents’ deaths.

Just some things to keep you entertained while I work on the next Micaela book. Who shall be by her side? Liam? Ethan? Maybe Parker?

A time to buckle down and get to work.

Urban Fantasy Novel to Help Kick Cancer Overboard

Everyone knows that urban fantasy novels involve kick-ass heroes and heroines with a softer hidden side.We write what me know, especially the softer stuff. So I little about me and some important announcements.

Self-publishing my first, but not last, novel, Dark Dealings has been a dream come true. It has open the door to so many new experiences and brought some many wonderful new people into my life.  Yesterday was a great day. I did my first radio interview with Krista-Lynn on her blogtalk program. We had a terrific chat and I look forward to doing others in the future.  You can listen to the recorded show here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tickleyoursoultalk/2012/06/27/dlight-nj-w-author-karen-victoria-smith#.T-sZxwyJkXc.facebook   At the end of this show,  I make some big announcements, but more on that later.

Then last night, I was a guest at a celebration at The Downtown in Red Bank for two talented people I call friends, Poppa John Bug (AKA Poppa Razzi)I honor of the release of his EP 

and rising photography star, Marlo Montanaro for the opening of his exhibit there “Rock Star Fantasies”. You should find both of them on Facebook and friend them.

On to upcoming events.

One of the things I have looked forward to being able to do was to use my work to support causes near and dear to my heart. Now I can!

Beginning this week and all through the month of July, 50% of my royalties from Dark Dealings, from any platform (eBook or print) will be donated to:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KICK CANCER OVERBOARD, a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a very simple mission: To give away FREE cruises, to people whose lives have been affected by cancer. During this annual cruise, their main concern is NOT how to pay for their next medical bill, but whether to play bingo, get a massage or sing karaoke all night long.

Because of the overwhelming support from many local businesses, Kick Cancer Overboard has been able to sponsor 57 people to date, and offer them a well-deserved break on a beautiful cruise ship. You can view their stories at www.kickcanceroverboard.org.

Anybody affected by cancer can submit their request for a free cruise (on the KCO website). A committee will review the entries on a regular basis and choose the most deserving cancer fighters.

The actual second annual cruise was on 5/19/2012 and KCO was able to sponsor 45 people to sail for free, along with 53 that paid their own way, to support this worthy cause (and take advantage of a great vacation at the same time. Next year’s cruise will be on 5/25/2013. “Our goal is simple”,Ted Friedli, KCO founder, says, “to fill the ship with cancer fighter and survivors, their friends, family and supporters – and celebrate life! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have all been touched by cancer in one way or another and have seen not just the physical toll it takes of the fighters and their family but the emotional, psychological, and spiritual toll it also takes.  To replenish the spirit help, I believe in the mind-body connection important to winning the battle.

As part of that, I will also be doing my first book signing on July 18^th from 6-9 PM at the Draft House at 100 Brighton Ave, Long Branch NJ. If you are in the area or have friends or family in the area who would like to attend, please contact me at threeworldsproductions@gmail.com for additional details. 

Even if you cannot attend, but have been considering purchasing Dark Dealings, check out the links to the right of this post for excerpts and purchase options. 

Important note: If you would like to purchase a print copy of Dark Dealings on-line, PLEASE make the purchase through Amazon ONLY. I do NOT receive royalties from the sales to outside vendor, so NO donation will be credited to Kick Cancer Overboard.

And by all means pass this along and share with others who may want to help 

First write a good story, then make it shine

First write a good story, then make it SHINE!  That's the beginning of a career as a successful author. 

I met Jennifer Gracen almost two years ago in PubWrite.  Since then, we have had the pleasure of meeting in person at conferences and talking online, on Spreecast, and by phone. We share very similar philosophies about life and, relevant to today's post, the future of the professional writer in a changing market. She is a talented person and has more energy than most people I know. I had the amazing fortune of having her copy edit Dark Dealings and the final result is better for her sharp eye and diligence. I asked her to share her thoughts on copy editing with us today.

Take it away, Jen!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was asked if I wanted to write a post about my “Pet Peeves in Copy Editing”, and said sure, okay. But here’s the thing: I don’t want to get down on anyone about making mistakes in their writing. Hey — if people didn’t make mistakes, I wouldn’t have a job. I really only have one major peeve about editing. Hear me out first before I reveal it.

Everyone has their strengths. One of mine is seeing grammatical errors, typos, and other types of mistakes in a written document. To me, it’s as if they’d been written in neon. That makes me a born editor. Sometimes a client does this strange thing, where he/she apologizes profusely to me for their mistakes as they give me their work to edit. I can’t help but smile as I remind him/her: I expect to find mistakes — that’s why you hired me, right? Stop apologizing! Believe it or not, most of the best writers do NOT have clean manuscripts. But the best writers know this, and seek out an editor to make her/his work the finest, cleanest, tightest work it can be. This goes for getting both copy editing and content editing. Some editors do both types. I don’t most of the time, but do delve into content editing on occasion. Yes, there’s a difference. But that’s a whole other blog post.

I worked as a full time copy editor for a big company when I was younger, before I had kids. I loved that job. I now do it on a freelance basis, and I like that even better. There are pros and cons, of course. First, the cons: I don’t get a steady paycheck, I’ll never make a lot of money doing it, and I’m basically performing a service on a leap of faith, assuming (hoping) my client will pay me when I’m done, as promised. But the pros? I get to pick and choose my clients and the projects I work on. The flexibility of working on my own timetable, and working from home, is a necessity. I’ve been a stay-at-home mother for a decade now, so being able to work from home while juggling two kids, my own writing, and life in general is key for me. I’m totally committed to my editing work, and I honestly love doing it. I get paid to read, basically, if you think about it. Paid to read and make work shine. For a lifelong voracious reader, what’s better than that?

If you’re a writer who is smart enough to hire a copy editor, or an editor in general, you’re showing your true dedication to your work. It means you’ve done your homework, and know that the reading public won’t take your work seriously if it’s riddled with mistakes. You’ve also admitted to being human and knowing that EVERY writer makes mistakes. I’m not only a copy editor, I’m also (first and foremost, actually) a writer. And even I make mistakes. We all do. Good for you for admitting you’re a flawed human, and a writer who cares about her/his work enough to ensure its quality.

So what’s my big peeve about copy editing? Writers who don’t have it done. Writers who think they’re above editing and don’t need it, or are too lazy to take the time to have it done before submitting it or self-publishing. Everyone needs a sharp second pair of eyes to go over their work. Show your commitment to your craft and respect for your readers: have your work edited. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jennifer recently resumed her freelance copy editing/proofreading career after a few years’ hiatus. She has an AA in Music from Dean College, attended Berklee College of Music for two years, and received her BA in English from Molloy College. She worked as an editorial assistant & proofreader for PRR Publications, then as a copy editor for Bookspan, before choosing to stay home to dedicate herself to being a full-time mother in 2002. She did occasional freelance work over the time since, but now that her children are older, she is able to dedicate more of her time to freelance copy editing again, and has done so with a vengeance.

Jennifer also writes contemporary romance/women’s fiction. She has completed three novels and has agent representation. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Long Island Romance Writers (RWA Chapter 160). Her women’s fiction manuscript, Shades Of Denial, placed 3^rd for the Single Title Category in the Launching a STAR 2011 contest.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Jennifer currently lives there with her husband and two young sons. She is a self-professed social media addict, and is hoping to stave off an intervention for a while longer.

Contact Information:

Email:  jennifer@spellcheck70.com               

Copy Editing Website http:/jgce.wordpress.com

Author Website: http://jennifergracen.wordpress.com

Twitter: @JGCopyEditing OR @jennifergracen