What are the Mistakes You See in Beginner Writers? By Shannon Mayer, Author of Dark Waters

Guest post by Shannon Mayer

Beginner writers, I still feel like I’m there a lot of days. So I will do my best to share with you the things I’ve learned from the mistakes that I made in the very beginning. This is in no particular order, number 1 is not more important than number 5.

1. Don’t think that your family can actually help you edit or beta read your work. They will lie through their teeth about how good it is because they love you. Trust me on this one. They don’t want to hurt your feelings, so they will do their best to sugar coat everything they say. Try to reach out to other authors either through your community of the web to develop a group. From that group, you can pool your resources and help each other honestly.

2. Plot your books! I have heard so many times people say things like “Oh, I don’t plot, the characters just take me where they take me.” Here’s the thing. I was like that, I had twenty five novels started, not one of them finished. Because when I got to the middle, and I had no plot to work from, I got stuck and started a new idea. Sound familiar? So start plotting, even if it’s only a beginning, middle and an end, that will give you a path to follow.

3. Please don’t think you are artist enough to do your own cover art (this is for Indie authors). You aren’t. And that’s okay, your talent is writing, focus on that. A cover can literally make or break your book, and yes, I did learn this the very hard way. Once I got my cover done right, my sales jumped to a degree I could have only hoped for previously. In fact, I did a whole blog post on this very topic, explaining the ins and outs of cover art. The short version is, don’t screw it up, it can sink your career.

4. Along with number 3. If you are self publishing, allow others to work for you. Hire people to do the jobs that you don’t know, or can’t do. If you think that you can do it all, and do it well, you’re fooling yourself. This will be things like formatting, editing, proofreading, cover art and possibly even marketing.

5. Don’t whine and complain that you can’t afford an editor. You cannot afford NOT to have an editor. They are essential to your success as an author, they will teach you things about your writing that you never knew. Like using the word “palatable” in every single chapter. Or using adverbs like Clearly, heavily, scarily, pushily all the time! (Adverbs are one of the peeves I have when editing others work) Editors will help you grow and they will help you make sure your manuscript is polished so that readers don’t want to throw it across the room because “Ooops” you forgot about that one plot thread.

6. If you are going the traditional route and are going to query editors and agents, LEARN THE RULES OF THE QUERY. The fastest way to get booted out of an agent’s potential list is to not pay attention to the details. Do your research, and then have your query read by a few people before sending it off. I went the traditional route prior to self publishing, I landed an agent. But it took time to figure out how to properly query. In this, please trust me.

Okay, those are six points that I think every green, new, wet behind the ears author needs to take into account. Not that they are all the mistakes I made, but some of the bigger ones for sure.

Dark Waters by Shannon Mayer
Celtic Legacy #1
Published: December 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy

The bonds of family are stretched to the breaking point as legendary monsters, a deadly prophecy, and soul swallowing fears threaten to destroy them. Magic, secrets, sensuality and mind numbing terror all rolled into one to keep the pages flying.

  
Add it on Goodreads, or buy now at Amazon. 
Note: It looks like Dark Waters is free on Amazon through today (5/31).

About the author:

Reading and writing from a very young age I learned early on that stories built in a fantasy world were where the fun was at. Reading books by Robert Jordan spurred me on and it was the first real epic fantasy that I fell in love with. After that came Piers Anthony, Melanie Rawn and into my older teen years, Anne Rice.

It was in Rice's novels that the idea of urban fantasy really bloomed for me and it was about that time that my grandmother was letting me read her Harlequin Historical novels. (Okay, actually she was slipping them to me when my mother wasn't looking, but let's not get picky.)

The combination of love stories and darker fantasy stuck with me and it's now not only what I gravitate towards to read on my off time (Kelly Armstrong, Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison), but has become the style I love to write in.

Besides writing, I love to spend time with my family and animals, horseback ride, garden and hike with my husband.

Find out more at ShannonMayer.com.

  

Betrayed by Ednah Walters - Book Blast - Win 100 Dollars to Amazon

Betrayed by Ednah Walters

The Guardian Legacy #2

Lil isn't just an average teenager. She's one of the Nephilim--the descendants of humans and angels--which gives her some serious psi skills and a mission for redemption. Just when Lil thinks she's found a balance between her normal life with human friends and her training to become a Guardian, she's warned that someone close to her will betray her. When the boy she loves starts acting strangely and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability, Lil begins to realize that someone is manipulating the people she loves... and won't stop until she's been lured to the dark side.
 

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

Just like Awakened, Betrayed has risen above all the other books in this genre. She has created such an amazing world for her Guardians & demons where good and evil are not as simple as it seems they should be. ~J. Whitus (Book Junkies) Walking On Bookshelves

I just love a spunky heroine so I was excited to keep reading about Lil, the demon hunter I got to know in Awakened (book one of The Guardian Legacy series). Walters takes the story and world she built so well in Awakened and adds in an intense plot with lots of twists to make for a strong sequel.~ Kelli (I'd So Rather Be Reading)

Lil is one of my favorite female leads, with all of the traits that you want a strong female lead to have. She's smart, strong, loyal and doesn't know how to back down.~ Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews)

Lil has her work cut out for her in this book and she never failed me once! There is action in this book as well as a lot of emotional turmoil.~ Cathy Garcia 

Add it on Goodreads or purchase from The Book Depository.

About EDNAH WALTERS:

I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy boys mysteries and fell in love with books

I enjoy good love stories, tingly mysteries and epic adventures. When I finished my college and decided to be a stay-at-home mother, I devoured books like they were going out of production, until reading just wasn't enough. So I started to write.

I've written picture books (unpublished), contemporary and romantic suspense (under the pen name E. B. Walters), and finally YA fantasy (as Ednah Walters).

AWAKENED (2010) is the prequel to the YA series about the Nephilim, The Guardian Legacy series. BETRAYED(book # 1) is now available wherever books are sold, HUNTED (book # 2) will be released in February 2013 andFORGOTTEN (later in 2013).

My adult contemporary with or without suspense is about a west coast Irish-American family series. I've published four Fitzgerald books: SLOW BURN (April 5th 2011), MINE UNTIL DAWN (June 29th 2011), KISS ME CRAZY (Sept 25th 2011) and DANGEROUS LOVE (Jan 29th 2012)

When I'm not writing, I do things with my family, five children and my darling husband of 18 years. I live in a picturesque valley in northern Utah, the setting for my YA series.

Find out more about Ednah Walters on her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

Giveaway Details:

$100 Amazon.com Gift Code

Ends 6/5/12

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What is JuNoWriMo?

Guest Post by Becca Campbell

Some writers are crazy. They like to participate in events like National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where you write 50,000 words in thirty days. (That’s a full novel—or close to it—in just a month!) Other writers are even more insane. They think doing just one of those whirlwind challenges a year isn’t enough. I fall into the latter category. Hence the origination of JuNoWriMo.

JuNoWriMo is a motivational tool to write 50,000 words in thirty days. June Novel Writing Month is almost the exact same thing as NaNoWriMo, but it happens in June instead of November.

Why? 

So why June, you might be wondering. Honestly, I picked June because it worked well for me. My goal is to write two novels a year and June is far enough from November to be doable. It’s also a relatively calm month (for me).
 

I actually wasn’t the first one to think of doing it. When I had the idea, I Googled it and found that JuNoWriMo had been done in the past (and called various names), but it wasn’t a consistent event and I couldn’t find anyone who was doing it this year. Until now.

My friend and partner in crime Anna Howard has helped bring the whole thing to life. She designed our crisp, clean and catchy website along with rad JuNoWriMo t-shirts that are to die for.

We already have a great number of participants signed up for the event (around 70 and counting!). If you’re a writer or if you’re a wannabe writer who still hasn’t started that first novel, JuNoWriMo is for you!

What’s in it for Me?

If you’re wondering why you should participate, there is a plethora of reasons. But instead of telling you what’s in it for you, I’m going to tell you what’s in it for me. Then, you can decide if you relate to any of my motivations.

Why would I go to the trouble of coming up with this weird spin-off acronym? After all, if I wanted to write a book in June, I could just do it, right?

I consider myself a serious writer. I’ve written two books via NaNoWriMo with a strict deadline and two other books on my own time. I much prefer the former. I thrive under pressure. My free time is limited, so I’m always looking for things that force me to take advantage of every moment. JuNoWriMo does this. November ensures I get one book written every year. But for me, one NaNoWriMo a year isn’t enough. That’s why by doing JuNoWriMo, I’m pushing myself further to make sure I get that second novel written.

The social aspect of JuNoWriMo is a big factor for me. I have a competitive streak and an interest in meeting more writers. This challenge feeds both of those desires. We’ll have regular word wars and word sprints where you can race with other writers to write the most words in, say, twenty minutes. I absolutely love word sprints! I never knew writing could feel so face-paced until I tried one. And best of all, doing word wars seriously boosted my hourly word count. It’s a win-win situation.

Through NaNoWriMo last year alone I met dozens of new writers. I loved that it was so easy to make new friends, find out about cool blogs and expand my Twitter reach. There was always someone to chat with, whether I wanted to vent about a story problem or whine about not being in the mood to write or be congratulated for kicking butt on word count. It’s like having a community of writers surrounding you at all times.

When you sign up on the JuNoWriMo site you have the option of “friending” your fellow participants as well as creating groups. It’s our hope that through this event you’ll not just make friends but start your own writing and critique groups. Not only are other writers great support, but they can give you helpful feedback once your novel is finished.

Are You in?

If JuNoWriMo sounds like something you’d like to try, go to the site and sign up now. You can also “like” our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news like our Virtual Kick-off party that’s happening on May 31^st.

I’ve created a Twitter list of JuNoWriMo participants so that it’s easy for us to follow each other. Once you sign up, send me a tweet (@beccajcampbell) and I’ll add you to the list. Subscribe to that list to meet your fellow participants (https://twitter.com/#!/JuNoWriMo/junowrimo-tweeps). You may also want to follow me and Anna Howard (@aehowardwrites) if you aren’t already. That way you’ll have the inside scoop.

I can’t wait for June!

Are you up for the challenge?

About the author:
An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.

Her first novel, Foreign Identity (available for $.99 on Amazon), crosses between the genres of science fiction and suspense with a dash of romance thrown in. Readers have compared it to the television show Lost. Her second, Gateway to Reality, is an urban fantasy story and is scheduled to be published fall of 2012.

Becca authors Inspiration for Creation, a blog that encourages writers and artists to tap into their creative sides. You can also find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beccajcampbell.

Spectral by Shannon Duffy - Guest Post

Spectral by Shannon Duffy
Published: April 2012
by Tribute Books

Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.

As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.

Guest Post by Shannon Duffy:

In writing SPECTRAL, and in specifically focusing on the world building and the magic, I wanted to stage the setting in the real world. A lot of the story is written in Jewel’s new home town of Pomona Park, Florida. So, it’s a small school, homey, mostly friendly people sort of community. Then by weaving in the magic that comes into play, I feel it is more shocking, and maybe a bit of, if that sort of thing could happen there, then wow that could happen anywhere. So in order to do this, I wrote about Jewel and her world as she knows it, laid a small hint of maybe something magical in the beginning…just enough to make you go hmmm. SPECTRAL is written in first person, so the reader discovers everything right along with Jewel. I painted the magic in a bit at a time, with strange occurrences and Jewel’s discoveries, until a bigger shocking moment, where there’s no question that there’s something paranormal going on right in small town USA. The more the story goes along, the more magic and powers come into play. Abracadabra!

About the author:

Shannon Duffy writes young adult and middle grade fiction. She grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada and now lives in Ontario, Canada. She is the mom of one boy, Gabriel, her angel. She loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions-shopping. She is the author of the young adult paranormal romance, SPECTRAL. Her upcoming middle grade fantasy novel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is scheduled for a January 2013 release.

Find out more about Shannon Duffy and Spectral.

Open Heart by Emlyn Chand - Excerpt & Giveaway

Open Heart by Emlyn Chand
Farsighted Series, Book Two
May 25, 2012 by Blue Crown Press

Simmi Shergill's life is a mess. Her powers of psychic feeling are on the fritz, and Grandon Township's sudden population boom has brought quite a few unsavory characters to town. She also looks like an over-blown balloon in her size 14 pants, but not even starving herself seems to be working as a diet plan. Well, at least her boyfriend, Alex, loves her so much he'd do anything for her. Last summer he even risked his life to protect her from the mysterious boy everyone was convinced wanted to kill her.

The problem is, she's not so sure she feels the same way. Is Alex really the man of her dreams? And why can't she stop fixating on her would-be killer, Dax? Whenever he's around, part of her wants to run screaming in the other direction while the other part longs to run into his embrace, no matter who she’d hurt or what she’d risk.

Simmi's loyalty is on the line. Who will she choose—the blind seer who loves her, or the charming telekinetic with "bad idea" written all over him? Emotions run high as the tension mounts in book two of the Farsighted series.

Excerpt:

We exit the school, and Alex startles me by yanking my arm in the opposite direction of the flagpole. He finds an empty patch of grass and scoops me into his arms for a dramatic, old timey kiss. “What was that for?” “Because you’re nervous, and I wanted to make you feel better.” “Hey, I’m the one with clairsentience here.” I titter. Alex ignores my comment and reaches down to grasp my hands. One of them is holding the lily he gifted me earlier in the day. He plucks the flower from my fingers and tickles my cheek with the petals as he traces tiny circles across my skin. He repositions the flower between his thumb and ring finger and uses his index finger to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, then tucks the stem in, too. The whole time I see my image reflecting back in his glasses. My ghastliness is destroying this tender moment. It’s almost too much to bear. “Pretty.” He smiles, then gives me another kiss. “Now whenever I kiss you, I get to smell the lily mixing with your Almond Joy scent. Flowers and chocolates—sooo romantic.” He makes a silly face and gives me another kiss to make his point. “Pretty.” He takes in a deep breath. His lips brush against my cheek, and I use the opportunity to slide his glasses into his soft spiky hair. No longer distracted by the unattractive reflection, I relish the sight of his unshielded eyes, then draw in closer and touch his eyelashes with mine. I outline the square shape of his jaw with my finger, then nuzzle his nose with my nose. Alex allows me to study him without expressing any discomfort. He’s overcoming his insecurities as a way to be closer to me. I wish I could do the same. I give him another kiss and his face lights up. His skin glows with a subtle orangey-gold hue and his aura vibrates soothingly, as if massaging me. For a moment I allow myself to relax in the security of his strong, steady presence. Then he obliterates the comfort altogether by making another unwanted proclamation. “I love you, Simmi.” Rather than starting a fight or walking away, I push him back against the brick exterior of the school and press my body into his, ignoring my insecurities. I kiss him the best I can and wrap my arms around the back of his neck. I mimic his aura, producing massage-like vibrations, and I go over the options in my mind. I can’t tell him mujhe pata hai forever. Eventually, I will either have to tell him I love him, or worse still, tell him I don’t. I almost love him. I’m almost to that place. Maybe I’ll feel it by the end of the week or by the end of the month. It has to be only a matter of time. If I tell him I don’t feel the same way, it will hurt him so badly. Alex is the best guy I know, and he doesn’t deserve that—least of all from me. Alex turns his head to the side and tries to retreat from our impromptu dance of passion, but I push his face back into mine and kiss him deeper, more fully. Something inside him stirs. The tickling vibration becomes firmer and hotter, and the heat thickens, wrapping us both in a crashing embrace. A tidal wave hits us from all sides and then turns to vapor. I kiss him so hard I forget the reason I initiated this steamy make-out session. I forget we’re in a public place, and I almost forget my insecurities enough to surrender to the lapping waves as they spin around our entwined bodies. Alex places his hands on my shoulders and pushes me back a couple inches. “Okay, enough. Not that I’m not enjoying this, but I kind of need to breathe, too.” He takes a few exaggerated breaths and shakes his head. “If you’re going to do that every time I tell you I love you, I’m going to say it a lot more often. C’mon, Shapri’s been waiting a while. We can pick this up later. Promise.” He slides his glasses back onto his nose and grabs my hand. We walk to the flagpole where Shapri is standing. As soon as she spots us, her eyes grow wide as if somebody’s slapped her on the back of the head. I blush and reach to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Only then do I notice the lily is gone. The flower signifying my dreams, my reminder to always reach for the stars, has been trampled beneath our passion.

Purchase Open Heart on Amazon.com and add it on Goodreads.

To celebrate the release of Open Heart, Farsighted is FREE on Amazon through today (5/27).
 

Farsighted Trailer

 

About the author:

Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). Since then, she has always loved to hear and tell stories. When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity.

Learn more about Emlyn at emlynchand.com or by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or GoodReads.  Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

Giveaway:
One winner will receive an e-book of Open Heart by Emlyn Chand!

How to enter:
Be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional optional entries:
+1 Follow Emlyn Chand on Twitter.
+1 Like Emlyn Chand on Facebook.
+1 Leave a blog post comment.

Giveaway Details:
Giveaway is open internationally. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on June 10th. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

Sorry! This giveaway is over.

Winner: Alaiel K. 

Witch Hunt by Patti Larsen - Review

Witch Hunt by Patti Larsen

The Hayle Coven Novels, Book 2

Published: November 19, 2011

Teen witch Sydlynn Hayle finally did it. Despite the fact she's a social outcast, Syd finally made friends. Even the captain of the football team wants to be her boyfriend. When an ancient power is freed to ravage her new town, Syd does her best to help her family fight. Too bad the mysterious Chosen of the Light don't see things her way. Their interference could lead to her family's destruction.

My Review:

Syd has started accepting her powers and learning how to use them. She also finally has friends and even a boyfriend. So what can go wrong now? Well, everything when you are a half witch/half demon like Syd. Not only is there an ancient power feeding on people with magical powers that has her family stumped on how to find it and fight it, there is also a group of witch hunters who know what Syd is. How is Syd going to maintain any hint of normalcy with all of that going on?

The Hayle Coven novels is probably my current favorite series. Each one blends together but is also a complete story on its own, which is a great find in YA. Syd is amazing. I also love Syd's crazy grandmother, who needs chocolate and tequila to keep her from getting out of hand. Syd is complex, funny, snarky, and has a fierce love for her family. Syd would love to be normal, and she has an internal struggle between that desire, her powers and her loyalty to her family. To top it off, while worrying about the possible death of her family, her coven and herself, she can't deny that she has an attraction to the sexy Quaid (who we met in the first book), even if she does have a boyfriend. Patti Larsen gives her readers the perfect combination of action, adventure, comedy, and love. (Age appropriate love, I might add.)

I really enjoyed reading Witch Hunt and can't wait to read the next installment of Syd's adventures. Thankfully, I won't have to wait long because the next two books in the Hayle Coven novels are already available. I would recommend Witch Hunt, as well as the rest of the Hayle Coven novels, to anyone who enjoys paranormal YA.

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the author:

Patti Larsen has a serious passion for YA paranormal and thrillers. Now with multiple series in happy publication, she lives on the East Coast of Canada with her patient husband and four massive cats.

Patti currently has 17 novels published, with more on the way.

You can find Patti on her website, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Check out my review of Family Magic, the Hayle Coven novels #1.
You can also see my review of Smoke and Magic by Patti Larsen.    

Why Do Indie Writers Need Editors?

Guest Post by Valerie Douglas

Here is a simple math question, and one of my favorite examples to illustrate why you need an editor. 

28. A train is blowing its whistle while traveling at a speed of 33.0 m/s. The speed of sound is 343 m/s. Observer A is directly in front of the train, while observer B is directly in behind it. Find the whistle frequency heard by A and that heard by B. 

Looks perfectly fine doesn’t it? 

Until an editor looks at it. Then a good editor will comment: If Observer A was (standing, lying down?) directly in front of the train Observer A would be dead. (Hit by fast moving train. Plot hole, please fix.) You capitalized Observer the first time in reference to A, but not to B. Be consistent, choose one or the other. We could also use more information about the train, Observer A (was he afraid before he was run down?) and Observer B. 

That’s what a good editor does, they pick up what you miss; the inconsistencies, the plot holes, the lack of information or overuse of the same, typos, words you consistently misspell - convinced that you spelled them correctly or never knew you were spelling or using incorrectly. There are many, many of those. So many there are books devoted to helping you find them. Ex. Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. 

Why, though, do Indie writers specifically need an editor? Besides the fact that they don’t use any of the above, either editor or editing books? The reason is simple, Indie writers have a reputation for publishing unedited crap…and it’s not entirely undeserved. Go to almost any Indie writer’s listing of their book(s) and look at their reviews. Unless those reviews were written by family and friends you’ll frequently find comments like this ‘One of the poorest-written novels I've read in a long time’, ‘Better proofreading please’, etc., or ‘the emotions are told instead of demonstrated, the characters are two-dimensional and the finale happens too quickly’. That last is from a best-selling Indie romance author. All of those examples could have been fixed by a good editor. Sure your story is good, but don’t you want it to be great? 

I think I’ve heard a million times, ‘but I read a traditionally published novel and it had lot of mistakes in it’. Yes, we’re held to a higher standard than traditional publishers. Aren’t we trying to be different, though - aren’t we trying to be better? 

Yes, being edited is tough. *grins* I cringe every time my editor points out something like ‘there’s too much nodding going on’ and then points it out every time (nod, here… and here.) *ack!*. Sometimes I want to shout at her – enough already with the nodding!!! – and then I think again. If it happened enough for her to notice, then readers will, too. If she doesn’t point it out, might I miss a few?

I’m sure some of you are saying, “I don’t really need to use an editor, my English is perfectly fine, no one has ever corrected me. In fact, most people come to me for spelling/grammar/English help.” Well, I hate to disabuse you of the notion, but my editors LOVE me. Both of them claim I’m a dream to edit… my spelling is great, my grammar is better by far than most. They can sometimes go a whole page without a single correction. BUT. I’ve got this thing with comma splices. And…well, there’s that nodding thing. 

Every author has quirks, bad habits and words they habitually use wrong. An editor’s job is to catch those errors before the reader does. Your job, as an Indie writer, is to make the suggested corrections. That’s also the advantage of being an Indie author, choice. And if you choose not to take your editor’s advice? Don’t blame your editor.

Some of you are no doubt crying “Editors are expensive.” Yep, they are. So, at the very least, go out and spend a few bucks on the Strunk and White book. Get some Beta readers, and not friends or family, but people you don’t know. There are sites on Facebook to find them, or use other authors you know. There are also a number of Indie Editor/Writer sites on Facebook that offer first chapter edits. Take advantage of them. You’ll probably be surprised – or if you’re honest, shocked and horrified – at what they find. 

Don’t like the reputation that Indie writers have for writing unedited crap? Then change it. Get an editor. (There are places on-line to find those, too.) 

About the author:

Valerie Douglas is a prolific writer and a genre-crosser, much to the delight of her fans. A fan of authors from almost every genre from Isaac Asimov to Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, she writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and as V.J. Devereaux, erotic romance. Who knows what will pop up down the road!

Happily married, she's companion to two dogs, four cats and an African clawed frog named Hopper.

Visit her website to find out more about Valerie Douglas.

A Man in a Woman's World - Guest Post by Gregory G. Allen, Author of Patchwork of Me

Patchwork of Me by Gregory G. Allen
Published: April 15, 2012 by ASD Publishing

A product of the foster care system, Sara Butler spends her early thirties hiding from her past while striving for a normal life with her small group of quirky friends in Arizona. Seeking treatment for an invisible rash and abnormal dreams, her therapist helps her unlock a heinous past that she is unsure she wants to open. To patch her life back together, she realizes she must travel across country to Maine to confront that past in order to plan for a future.

A Man in a Woman's World

Guest Post by Gregory G. Allen

Fiction is fiction, correct? But what if you are writing women’s fiction … and you are a man? As a writer I believe we should be able to inhabit many different worlds. We create these universes where our characters live and we dwell there for months while we write. I loved the world that I created for Sara Butler in “Patchwork of Me”. The relationship between her and her male gay friends was one that several women can relate to. So many people want to be “Will & Grace” and have that person you can turn to and let down those walls without fear of sexual tension. In this case…it is something Sara has to work very hard to accomplish.

I actually enjoyed getting in touch with my feminine side while writing this story. Fears. Wants. Desires. Some can be universal, but others are shaped by who we are as people. In the case of Sara, they are dictated by her past experiences. Growing up in the foster care system. Never knowing her true parents or remembering them. Creating a safe haven for herself by her early thirties because she never truly believed she could connect to anyone. Bad relationships. Even worse choices when it comes to sexual partners. And not truly capable of letting down her guard with her friends – those that she learns to be family.

I never write in one specific genre, but I would say this story deals with some mystery elements (though not a mystery) – but really it deals with growth. How a person ‘comes into their own’ even later in life. What holds us back and keeps us from fully committing to others. We bring so much of our past into any relationship we embark on and Sara does that with each of her friends. Never believing she should count on anyone because she’s been used to caring for herself for much of her life. And listening to the nagging voice of doubt that each of us have, but usually can shut it down. Sara has a tough time turning that voice off and must learn to control it.

I wanted to share a story where a woman could show several layers, but really feel empowered to stand on her own without the aid of ‘a man’. Like Dorothy traveling through Oz, Sara meets different people on her road trip to self discovery that gives her glimpses into other lives and in turn…can view herself in a different way.

The challenge was in the fact that I prefer to write in first person when penning a novel. I enjoy the closeness you have with a character when you know their feelings, thoughts – and see the world through their eyes. So I had to become Sara and I’m pleased that many female reviewers have applauded me for this. One of the best compliments was a female reader who said they completely forgot a man had written it.

I suppose that means I get some sort of day pass in that world…and I’m ‘all good’ about that!

About the author:

Gregory G. Allen is the author of PATCHWORK OF ME, WELL WITH MY SOUL, PROUD PANTS: AN UNCONVENTIONAL MEMOIR, and CHICKEN BOY: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF A SUPER HERO WITH AUTISM. He has had short stories and poetry published in: New Town Writers' anthology Off The Rocks 14, Loch Raven Review, Muscadine Lines: A Southern Journal, The Oddville Press, Word Catalyst Magazine, Rancor'd Type, Home & Holidays and is a contributor of articles and blogs to several online sites. Allen has been in the entertainment business for over twenty years as an actor, director, writer, and producer and is an award-winning musical theater writer with over ten original musicals produced. Allen currently manages an arts center on the campus of a college in northern New Jersey.

Find out more about Gregory G. Allen.   

Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis - Review

Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis
A Lucky Harbor novel, #4
Published: May 22, 2012 
by Grand Central Publishing

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

My Review:

Mallory has always been the good girl. But she's tired of being known as the "good" Quinn, and she is ready to take a walk on the wild side. Ty is the perfect "Mr. All Wrong" to show her the way. Mallory's two best friends more than support her foray into exploring her bad side and even give her bad girl heels. Somewhere along the way, Mallory realizes that maybe Ty has some endearing qualities about him and maybe taking a walk on the wild side without her heart getting involved isn't as easy as she thought.

This is the second Lucky Harbor novel I have read, and I have enjoyed both of them. Jill Shalvis has created an interesting heroine that is easy to like and relate to and a perfect bad boy hero. It's hard to resist a bad boy, especially one that is so caring underneath that tough, outer shell. My only complaint about Ty is that he is very brash, let's just say, "in the heat of the moment" and said things that would have definitely turned me off and almost had me laughing at times that weren't meant to be funny, but to each her own.

I was hoping to see more of the sisters from the first three books in Lucky in Love and was a little disappointed that they didn't play a bigger part. However, Mallory and her chocoholics group made up for it. Jill Shalvis seems to have a knack for creating female characters that you just want to be best friends with, and I am looking forward to reading more about Mallory's friends, Amy and Grace.

I don't read this genre as much as I used, but Jill Shalvis has quickly become one author I will always look for when I am ready to read a sexy contemporary romance.

*Not recommended for anyone under 18.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. You can also like her on Facebook at facebook.com/jillshalvis and follow her on Twitter @jillshalvis.   

You can also read my review of Head Over Heels, Lucky Harbor novel #3.

Colors Like Memories by Meradeth Houston - Book Blast - Win 50 Dollars to Amazon

Colors Like Memories 
by Meradeth Houston

Published: May 11, 2012 

by MuseItUp Publishing

Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of. 

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia enjoyed, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia is not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia will lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.

Add Colors Like Memories on Goodreads.

About author Meradeth Houston

I've never been a big fan of talking about myself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about me:

• I'm a California girl. This generally means I talk too fast and use "like" a lot.
• I have my doctorate in molecular anthropology. Translation: I sequence dead people's DNA and spend a whole lot of time in a lab, which I love.
• I've been writing since I was 11 years old. It's my hobby, my passion, and I'm so happy to get to share my work!
• My other passion is teaching. There's nothing more fun than getting a classroom of college kids fired up about anthropology!
• If I could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because I'm terrified of heights.

You can find out more about Meradeth on meradethhouston.com, Twitter, and Facebook.

Giveaway Details: 

$50 Amazon.com Gift Code

Last day to enter is May 29th

Open to anyone who can legally enter and can receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Top Ten Blogs/Sites I Read That AREN'T About Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Blogs/Sites I Read That AREN'T About Books

by Kayla

1. Hyperbole and a Half

This is probably my all-time favorite site. One of my friends is an English professor, and she introduced it to me after a discussion about The Alot. I checked out the site, and it was hilarious. I then proceeded to spend four hours reading various posts that she had made previous to that one. I put the RSS feed (or whatever you call it) on the bookmarks bar on my browser. I LIVED for new posts.

She posted God of Cake in October 2010. This described my child in a way that none of you can truly understand unless you have met her. I was crying so hard I could not breathe before I made it halfway down the post. My grandmother thought I had finally snapped – until I let her read it. Everyone in my family and all of my friends had the exact same reaction.

Unfortunately, this site has only had five posts since January 2011. First, Allie was working on a book, and then she had a post about dealing with depression in October. This is one lady that I am really rooting for, and I hope to see her writing on the site again. Yes, I do miss a stranger.

2. Sh*t My Kids Ruined

This is a site where people submit pictures of what life is really like with children at home. Not everyone may post them, but ALL parents have a picture or story. And if you think that I’m exaggerating about Bug’s (my daughter) shenanigans, take a glance at the submit button. That’s her when she was three. *smiles proudly*

3. b*tches gotta eat

If you’re not a crude adult with a twisted sense of humor, I would suggest against you checking out this site. This post is profound and made me rethink some things. (I didn’t put the title of the post there because Tami would kill me.) How to Survive a Break-Up is a really great post that every single woman should read, whether the language offends her or not. Suck up the cursing, and listen to Samantha.

4. Monday Motions

This is a blog ran by a super-cool dude that I went to college with. A lot of us b*tch about the way the world is, but Chris works at changing what he thinks is a problem. He’s actually in Haiti right now, helping out. He also raises money for clean water in third world countries and does One Day Without Shoes every year. Chris is a very inspirational young man. You should check him out sometime.

5. Brian’s Backpacking Blog

I don’t read this all the time, but he’s had some really great posts like Single Use Antibiotic Packs and Plastic Soda Bottle Lid Capsule – pretty cool, huh?

6. Dandelions & Daydreams

This is my friend Kim’s personal blog. She writes really fantastic poetry on it, and it’s pretty much the only way for me to keep up with her after breaking up with Facebook last year.

7. Stuff White People Like

This is another hilarious blog that has fallen by the wayside. It’s not as racist as you think (okay, it is). Anyway, The Ted Conference and Asian Girls are both terrible posts that will make you laugh if you are as awful as me.

8. Snopes

I live on this site. I joined Facebook back in 2005, when there were only college students hanging around on there. (It was VERY quiet and completely lovely.) However, once everyone got on there, it became a breeding ground for urban legends. Seriously, it was worse than those forwarded emails that your Aunt Nancy would send you. I started just leaving links to Snopes for the various crap that was unloaded on the site.

While I have your attention, Facebook Charges are never going to happen. People laugh at you when you post that or join the groups – no lie. Also, a girl did not kill herself after her dad posted something on her wall. *shakes head*

9. Google

I live here. If my phone only did one thing, I would want it to be able to give me instant access to all of the information the Google Monster will vomit at me. I’m addicted.

10. Cooks.com

I live on this site. I am always cooking or baking, and this is so much easier than digging out my recipe boxes or cookbooks. I usually get a variety of recipes of a certain dish and change it around to suit my needs and pantry contents. I’m fairly sure that I visit this site every day.

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein - Review

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

May 8, 2012 
by Entangled Publishing

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

My Review:
Amy and her friends get stood up for their prom. So now that they are all dressed up with no place to go, what are they going to do? Her friend, Lila, breaks into the house of her boyfriend to see if their dates are in there and steals a huge bag of pot. The girls drive around, getting high, and then decide to go to the prom on their own. Only the two students taking tickets won't let them in because they don't have their tickets with them. After they leave the school, they get pulled over and arrested for having the pot. Amy is now suspended from school, has to get a job to pay for her lawyer, and is banned from seeing Lila and Cassie. But they define who Amy is, and without them, she has to find herself again. 

Pretty Amy is a step away from the majority of YA books. Many YA books have teens who are doing drugs, but you don't usually read about them having any repercussions from doing it, except maybe being grounded. Lisa Burstein has given us a realistic look into the life of a teenager who has to face the consequences of being caught. Amy's entire life is turned upside down and changed in one night. Now Amy has to try to put her life back in order, do things she doesn't want to do, and figure out who she is.

You can easily relate to Amy and understand her because Lisa Burstein has perfectly described the feelings of an insecure teenager who only defines herself by her friends. She has also captured the emotions of anyone, regardless of age, who has found themselves at the worst point in their life. Pretty Amy is easy to read and engaging. I really enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to others. (I would recommend this to older YA readers due to drug use and language.)  

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the author:
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. Pretty Amy is her first novel. She never went to her senior prom.

She wrote her first story when she was in second grade. It was a Thanksgiving tale from the point of view of the turkey from freezer to oven to plate. It was scandalous.

She was a lot like Amy when she was in high school.

She is still a lot like Amy.

Find out more about Lisa Burstein.     

Veiled Virtues by Jan Fischer Wade - Review

Veiled Virtues by Jan Fischer Wade
Published: February 2012 
by MuseItUp Publishing

When Paige Stewart left America to house-sit in England, her only thoughts were to get away from her controlling mother and to have fun. Little did she know that her working holiday would find her hearing eerie voices, experiencing alarming dreams and bleeding from old scars. Although Paige's differences confuse and disgust her, she opens up to the shopkeeper of a strange metaphysical store in town, where she finds much more than tarot cards and crystals. Soon, Paige is stalked like prized game. Relentlessly pursued, her holiday takes a turn for the eerie and dangerous. Her only saving grace may be a modern-day English knight who sweeps her off her feet and recognizes the true virtues the American teen unknowingly possesses. 

My Review:
Paige has just graduated from high school. She goes to England to house-sit for old friends of her mother's during the summer before planning to head to college. Paige has a secret. She experiences visions of things that later end up happening. Paige also has long-healed scars on her hands and forehead that start bleeding for no reason after she is in England. Little does she know that the visions and the scars are related to each other. Things soon get crazy, and Paige starts uncovering secrets about her family and herself.

Veiled Virtues has a unique twist. Not only does it involve real-life modern day knights, but the reason behind Paige's scars ended up being something that I haven't seen in YA. Veiled Virtues seemed to move along a little slow for me in the middle of it, but that may have been because I couldn't really connect with Nathaniel when we are reading from his POV. Paige's flowed much better, and she was a character that was easy to like.

I would recommend Veiled Virtues if you are looking for something different. If you enjoy a fast-paced novel, this may not be the one for you. Overall, I think Jan Fischer Wade has done a great job with her debut novel, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the author:
Jan Fischer-Wade is an attorney and artist from the Lincoln, Nebraska vicinity.  Her latest endeavor is a young adult novel titled Veiled Virtues that was released February 10th by MuseItUp Publishing.  Jan is an alumni of Beatrice High School in Nebraska and received her Bachelor’s of Science, cum laude, from Ball State University. She also attended the University of Nebraska College of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate with distinction in 1999. During law school, Jan was the winner of the Nebraska Law Review Writing Competition and was the Research Editor of that publication from 1998 to 1999.  Although she is a full time in-house counsel for an insurance company, her passion for writing, music and art play an important role in her life. Jan is married and has two children.  She is currently hard at work on the sequel to Veiled Virtues, entitled Latent Legacy.  As if she’s not busy enough, Jan also owns and runs KidStock Consignment, a seasonal consignment sale in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Find out more about Jan Fischer Wade.    

A "Deleted Scene" from The Last Keeper by Michelle Birbeck

Missing Bits and Alternate Scenes
Guest Post by Michelle Birbeck 

During any editing process there are a number of things that get cut, rearranged, and reworded. But some of the things I cut were done so well before The Last Keeper even got to my publishers, and well before I was ready to send it out into the world.

I do have one particular favourite when it comes to the things that were changed. Before the Keepers’ gifts were determined, whilst I was still planning and plotting and making it up as I went along, I had a different ending.

When Ray and Serenity first met and their relationship progressed, Serenity ended up pregnant, the result of which was Lizzy. Her birth was, at the time, the key to resurrecting the Keepers. Here’s a little bit from what I wrote before it all changed:

For almost eighteen years she was the only thing keeping me going. Every morning, I got out of bed and saw her smile, and every morning it was uplifting in a way nothing else was. My beautiful daughter, with her strange coloured eyes and my hair, so unusual, so utterly perfect. And yet so completely heartbreaking.

“Mother?” She was standing in the doorway, her smile replaced with a frown. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m fine.” As fine as I ever was.

“Can I talk to you?”

She stepped into the room, wringing her hands as she made her way to sit opposite me.

“Of course you can,” I told her. Concern grew in me when she stayed quiet, my Lizzy was rarely quiet. “Honey, what’s the matter?”

She looked up, and there was something in her eyes that I thought I knew, but it couldn’t be. “I… I think something’s happening to me.”

Hope froze me to the spot. Fear helped me stay there. “What do you mean exactly?”

A great smile lit up her features, and she disappeared. One second she was sat in front of me, the next she’d moved to the doorway. I followed her movements easy enough, saw her stand, move, and then lean against the door, but my mind refused to comprehend what was clearly happening to her.

“Are you…” Not wanting to hope but feeling it anyway, I left the rest of my question unsaid.

“Yes. I think I might be maturing.”

My heart stuttered. It couldn’t be. After all these years, all the loss and desperation, my daughter was maturing.

“And you know how I can see things and dream things?” She didn’t wait for me to acknowledge her. “Well, I can see others. Sammy and her cousin. Our cousins in France, and your friend’s daughter over in Africa.”

As she rattled off a list of people we both knew, all I could think was; your father would have been so proud.

Of course, it’s unedited, and this was long before Serenity’s gift and Lizzy being who she is, but it is one of the parts I did love very much. However, I thought it was just a little too mean to leave in, letting poor Ray miss out on his daughter’s entire life like that. And besides, the Keepers’ gifts were born, and Lizzy still got to be in the book.

The Last Keeper by Michelle Birbeck
Published: May 3, 2012 by The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House

Fifteen hundred years ago, Serenity Cardea took the life of the only vampire she ever regretted killing—Henry, her sister’s husband. With her sister brutally murdered, Serenity had little choice but to grant Henry the only request he had: death. Centuries later, Serenity is no closer to discovering who betrayed them or instigated the massacre of her brothers and sisters.

The vampires want dominance—over their food, the other races . . . the world. To get it, they’ve systematically hunted down and slaughtered the only ones standing in their way. The Keepers.

As a Keeper, Serenity is tasked with protecting the delicate balance between the creatures of the world: Vampire, Witch, Were, and Human. Her kind exists to ensure that no single race sways the balance, dooming the world to destruction.

They're on the brink of extinction, with no sign of return. Now only two remain, and Serenity’s last brother is facing death, leaving her standing alone against a never-ending tide of vampires, all wanting one thing: power.

Then she meets Ray Synclair, a history professor in training with a passion for centuries past, and the harsh reality of her limited time comes crashing down on her. He is her weakness. His mortality is the countdown on Serenity’s life, and with each passing second, it comes closer to the end, for both of them.

She must uncover the secrets of her people’s past and find out who betrayed them—and who is still doing so—before it’s too late.

Serenity’s days are numbered, and Ray will be drawn into a world of myth and legend, where just being alive is enough to get him hunted down.

Because the only way to kill a Keeper is to kill their partner . . .



Find out more about Michelle Birbeck.