Writers Blog

April 28th, 2015

4/28/2015

Good Morning!

I hope your week has started out great for you. It's Traveling Tuesday: picture prompt for #writers
Today we're off to Neal's Yard, London. I've never been, but I love all the pics online. I adore this spot and how colorful it is. It says 'happy' to me. What do the pics say to you?
I've included different angles, so that you can get a great view. Place some characters at a table or coming out of a shop. Perhaps one of them own a shop in Neal's Yard. What are your characters doing?

Have a great day everyone.

#writers #readers #books #ebooks #author #selfpub #publishing #writingprompts

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/502644008384673937/

http://stories.eurostar.com/tips/neals-yard-london/

http://www.kellybrooksyoga.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wildfood-cafe.jpg

http://plajer-franz.de/en/news/neal-s-yard-london/

Monday Mentionables

4/27/2015

Good Morning! Can you believe April is coming to a close? It feels like it flew by, doesn't it?
Mother nature is a bit on the grumpy side as of late and refuses to fling the doors open for spring, but there's good news, because today is Monday Mentionables: links worth mentioning for #writers & #readers.

First up is an article on how to record your own audio for your book. Now, you could pay the professional, which isn't a bad idea, but it's good to know your options.

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2015/04/20/record-your-own-audiobooks/

I found the next link interesting and I think you will, too. If your says are slow or nonexistent, this article gives some tips on what you can do to gain more interest.

http://www.creativindie.com/a-serialized-fiction-growth-hacking-technique-for-fiction-writers/

I despise writing book blurbs and synopsis. I do not have the knack for it all. If you need some help in this area, then you might find the next article helpful.

http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2015/04/how-to-write-a-book-blurb/

This next link, you're going to want to bookmark. Before I was pointed to it, my Amazon keywords were very generic. I had, maybe, two handfuls listed and they were doing anything. So, jump on over to the KBoards and Evenstar's artciel about Amazon keywords. Believe me, it's fantastic and detailed.

http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,205816.0.html

I just discovered this link this morning. If you click on the graphic, it'll take you to the PDF version. You can download it and save it to your device of choice. It's the path to publishing and it looks at various ways you can be published, the value and the importance of each path.

http://janefriedman.com/2015/04/17/key-book-publishing-path/

Have a great Monday and I'll see you tomorrow for Traveling Tuesday.

#writers #readers #books #ebooks #selfpub #publishing

April 25th, 2015

4/25/2015

Good Morning! It's Saturday Series.
If you haven't guessed already, I love magic, wizards, witches and anything else that comes along with it.
So today, I'm suggesting a wonderful series by Angie Sage. It's a seven book series with extras.

Septimus Heap

The first book in the series is Magyk:

The plot of the first book, entitled Magyk (published in March 2005), revolves around the pauper Heap family: Silas, Sarah and their seven children. The story begins when Silas finds Jenna in the snow. Septimus is born on the same day, but is declared dead by the midwife, who steals the baby and brings him to DomDaniel, an evil wizard. However, he is confused with the midwife's own son, and is sent to the Supreme Custodian to help start a boy army. On her tenth birthday, Jenna learns from ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand that she is a princess, but that she—and the Heap family—are in danger. Jenna and Nicko Heap escape to their Aunt Zelda's cottage. They are accompanied by a member of the Young Army called Boy 412, who discovers his magic powers and a legendary ring while at Zelda's. Marcia is imprisoned in DomDaniel´s boat, Vengeance, and nearly dies, but is rescued by Boy 412, Jenna and Nicko after they find a flying Dragon Boat in a secret cavern by Zelda´s cottage. At the end of the novel, Boy 412 is revealed to be Septimus, and his family hears of his past.

The covers have been updated since the series first came out. Personally, I like the old covers best, but you can grab your copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Magyk-Septimus-Heap-Book-1/dp/006223692X

Septimus Heap website: http://www.septimusheap.com/
Angie Sage's website: http://www.angiesage.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/157663.Angie_Sage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngieSageAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/angiesageauthor

#writers #readers #books #ebooks #author #bookseries #selfpub #fantasy #magic #wizards

April 24th, 2015

4/24/2015

Good Morning! It's Friday fun for #writers & #readers. :)
Today there's links and some memes to shake off that work week and get ready for the weekend.

#Writers

For the over 21 crowd that likes to put up your feet and relax after a long day of writing, there's Writers Tears:
https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/writers-tears-pot-still-blend/271106#.VTodq5PFiCg

Bright amber color; appealing aromas and flavors of green apple, vanilla, caramel and ginger; medium-intensity with weighty alcohol, the finish is fruity and medium in length.

For those of you that like to get the day started with a bit of caffeine and yet, get inspired, this mug might do the trick: (not for the little ones)
https://store.therumpus.net/product/write-like-a-motherfucker-coffee-mug/

And for the times a word, a sentence, a paragraph isn't working and frustration is setting in, spritz yourself with this little baby and get back on track:
http://www.demeterfragrance.com/704154/products/Paperback.html

For all you book lovers out there, the following item says it all. Wear it proudly:
https://www.buyolympia.com/q/Item=readbutton

The next item I discovered is this tank. I do the very same thing. Check it out:
http://www.activateapparel.com/design/32452-my-workout-is-reading-in-bed

And lastly, some very cool library inspired candles. Great for #readers & #writers:
http://www.paddywax.com/Shop/Library

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. And for those of you that enjoy a good book series, drop by tomorrow.

#writer #reader #author #book #ebook #selfpub

Thursday Three

4/23/2015

Good Morning! It's Thursday Three. 3 writing prompts to get those creative juices flowing.
Have a wonderful day and may it be good to you and yours.

There’s an old man sitting in a rickety wooden chair, fishing through a hole in the ice on a frozen lake. A loud cracking sound reverberates across the lake’s surface, and he feels the ice shift beneath him. He scurries, but the hole expands too quickly, and he goes into the icy water. What happens next?
writingforward.com

When his or her commanding officer is found dead, one young soldier goes AWOL and launches a personal investigation to find out who did it.
writingforward.com

While shopping in a department store during the holidays, a child is separated from his or her parents and discovers a portal to a winter wonderland.
writingforward.com

Wednesday Wisdom

4/22/2015

Good Morning!

Wednesday Wisdom for #writers & #readers.

For #writers:

You can't build a plot out of jokes. You need tragic relief. And you need to let people know that when a lot of frightened people are running around with edged weaponry, there are deaths. Stupid deaths, usually. I'm not writing 'The A-Team' - if there's a fight going on, people will get hurt. Not letting this happen would be a betrayal.
Terry Pratchett

If a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one ninth of it being above water.
Ernest Hemingway

For #readers:

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man’s mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

To sit alone in the lamplight with a book spread out before you, and hold intimate converse with men of unseen generations — such is a pleasure beyond compare. ~Kenko Yoshida

Have a wonderful day, my friends. May it be good to you and yours. :)

April 21st, 2015

4/21/2015

Good morning,it's Traveling Tuesday!

Today we're going to Lower Brockhampton and Launsdorf, Austria.

In case you need to do a bit of research on the area, a little info & reviews on Lower Brockhampton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brockhampton_Estate
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g7160309-d502911-Reviews-Brockhampton_Estate-Bringsty_Herefordshire_England.html

It's mid-afternoon. Where is your character?
Looks like your character is getting ready to bake? What is it? Why?

The owner of this cozy photo is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/berkelaar/16752084401

Launsdorf. Austria

A few research links, just in case you need them:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g3347597-Launsdorf_Carinthia_Austrian_Alps-Vacations.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hochosterwitz_Castle
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g3347597-d1081392-Reviews-Hochosterwitz_Castle_Burg_Hochosterwitz-Launsdorf_Carinthia_Austrian_Alps.html
http://www.burg-hochosterwitz.com/en/

Your character has to get into Hocosterwitz Castle after dark. Why?
Perhaps there's something in the castle that he or she needs? Or your character might have to get inside, but must make his or her way down into that hilltop?
The owner of this beautiful photo is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gabriellabottka/6952974309/

Monday Mentionables

4/20/2015

Good Morning!

I hope your weekend was a good one. It's Monday Mentionables time: links worth mentioning.
There's 3 links that are super helpful and worth keeping an eye on.

Lindsey Buroker's blog.
I find her blog informative and straight forward.
http://www.lindsayburoker.com/category/tips-and-tricks/

James Scott Bell's blog - Kill Zone
This is a blog I refer to every so often. Very good stuff her and worth bookmarking.
http://killzoneblog.com/

Guido Henkel's tutorial on formatting your ebook.
For those you having trouble cleaning up your manuscript, this tut just might be the thing to help you through.
I had tried for months to get my manuscript under control and when I came across Guido, it was a relief.
http://guidohenkel.com/2010/12/take-pride-in-your-ebook-formatting/

That's it for today, my friends. If you have links worth mentioning, let me know and I'll add them to the Monday Mentionables list.

Was Sunday Singles

4/19/2015

Good morning, my friends.

Today was going to be the first of our Sunday Singles - single title middle grade books.
For now, I'll be holding off as my to do list and book 2 needs attention.
I'll be revealing the brand new cover for book 1 soon.

I hope your weekend has been great and today is filled with fun, productivity and laughter.
Don't forget, tomorrow is Monday Mentionables, links for writers and readers.

K. :)

#writers #readers #author #books #selfpub #middlegrade #fantasy #MG #bookseries

April 18th, 2015

4/18/2015

Today is the first day of our Saturday Series.
This where I list off a a fantastic book series.

I'll list the author and book links for now, since I've never done a review before. In time, hopefully, the Saturday Series will get more in depth for you.

Here's the first book series I fell in love with, kept me on the edge of my seat and has me crossing my fingers that there will be more.

The Five Kingdoms Series by Toby Neighbors.
Wizard Rising is the first book in the series and it was also the very first self-pubbed book I bought.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but far away lands, wizards and magic ALWAYS pull me in.

There are seven books in the series, the main character is Zollin and seriously? Each book kept getting better and better. I, honestly, didn't want it to end. Will there be more? I hope so. This is one of the sets I cherish.

Toby Neighbors website: http://www.tobyneighbors.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TobyNeighborsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TobyNeighbors

Start with book 1 and drop in on the adventures of Zollin.

In the Realm of the Five Kingdoms, magic is strictly controlled by a small group of powerful wizards who call themselves the Torr. Throughout the realm, magic lies dormant, sleeping, almost forgotten until Zollin discovers that he is a wizard. While he revels in his new powers and the realization that his life has purpose, malevolent wizards from the Torr, led by the scheming Branock, tirelessly seek him out. When at last they discover Zollin, a confrontation will ensue that will change the five kingdoms forever. Zollin is forced to flee his home and, with a small group of friends, find a way to survive until he can learn to use his powers to protect the people he cares about. Wizard Rising is a coming of age story that dives headfirst into a realm where magic is about to reawaken. So buckle up and hang on; the action comes fast and you won’t be able to put it down.