The Reading Cafe is hosting an interview and review of Quest of the Hart. Want to know what they have to say? Stop by and see!
The Reading Cafe
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Game and a Prize!!
I'm over at Crystal Collier's blog today with a game. See if you can pick the lie :-) Details at http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-giveaway-and-game.html
Thursday, July 18, 2013
How Authors Write- Ace Hansen
Toady I welcome Ace Hansen to the blog as he, I mean, she, I mean-- Hmm, well this is embarrassing. I'm not sure just what gender Ace is, but, I welcome the little green alien to the blog to share his, her, it's writing process.
I write for the fun little Earthlings
(8-12) My Earth host, Angelina, writes for the older, stranger Earth
kids called Teens.
Do you use 1st person, 3rd person,
multiple POVs?
JCB is written in 1st, my favorite, but
I write in the other POVs, too.
How do you get started with a book-
is it an idea, a character, vary from story to story?
An idea. Then I have to know who's
gonna star in it.
Do you draft quickly?
When drafting I write 250-500 words per
day, 7 days a week, until it's done. Is that fast or slow? I do think
about every word, every sentence, every paragraph, and every chapter
while drafting.
Do you do research before your first
draft, during?
During. Google is my best friend while
drafting.
Do you outline? How?
Tried an outline once. Huge failure.
I'm a pantser from hip to toe.
Do you name everything up front when
you are drafting or do you leave comments for yourself to go back and
fill in later so you don't lose the flow of what you are working on?
Loads of notes to self on every page.
Do you work with CP's or Beta's? How
soon into your draft do you let them see your work?
Betas. They see the MS when it is
polished and hopefully won't make them scream.
What books/websites have you found
most helpful to helping you write your best?
I've read many, but my best teachers
are the authors who write fabulous books. I learn from them.
What do you know now that you wish
you knew when you started writing?
Slow down and enjoy the creative
process. Don't be in such a rush to get published.
What do you have out now, or coming
out? Any upcoming events? A website we can find you and your books
at? An author photo? A booktrailer? Anything else you want to share?
I want to share my gummy worms, but I'm
not good at sharing my candy. But I'll share plenty of laughs with you if you'll read my book. Go
read it!. Now. Please! Laughter is good for you. ^_^
Synopsis: When a mysterious green gas crisis breaks wind, the Global Air Group (GAG) offers a million-dollar prize to the first person to discover the cause. Julius Caesar Brown dreams of winning the cash so he can pay off Jake the Snake, the blackmailing bully who threatens to ruin his chances with the cutest girl in fifth grade. But Julius can barely pass a math test, let alone solve an international scientific mystery. What he needs is money. Fast. His mom volunteers him to help the Zombie Lady. Yeah. The crazy woman down the street who every kid knows eats boys’ brains. But Miss Crabtree’s no zombie. And winning the million-dollar prize may not be as far-fetched as Julius once thought.
If you'd like to learn more about Ace (of course you do!) you can find him on:
If you'd like to purchase JULIUS CAESAR BROWN AND THE GREEN GAS MYSTERY it's available as an ebook now and is coming in print Fall 2013:
Monday, July 15, 2013
JD Brown talks Serials
Today I welcome author JD Brown as she talks serials. Take it away JD!
What
is a book serial?
Serials
are books published in episodes or small chunks such as a chapter.
This format allows the reader the unique experience of enjoying the
story as the author creates it.
What
is a web series?
Web
series are episodes that are released on the internet, usually free
for readers to access and enjoy.
Book
serials were extremely popular in the 1800s and, thanks to e-books,
blogging, and the internet, the trend is now making a speedy comeback
in the publishing industry!
I
invite you to check out my online serial book, Athena’s
Oracle. Every 1st
of the month, a new chapter is added, completely free for your
enjoyment, and will continue to do so until the story reaches its
conclusion.
About
Athena’s Oracle by J.D. Brown:
Leena’s
‘gift of sight’ secures her place as the next great oracle of
Athena. Instead of being groomed for wifehood like other girls, Leena
spends her days within the walls of the Acropolis, shuffled around by
the clergy and doomed to be a virgin forever. Before her ascension,
Leena decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of
her father’s book of alchemy, she casts an incantation calling
forth her own personal hero. But when that hero turns out to be a
rogue vampyre prince with a haunted past, Leena begins to question if
her feelings for him are the work of divine intervention, or a love
spell gone horribly wrong.
Athena’s
Oracle
is a prequel to the novels Dark
Heirloom
and Dark
Liaison,
also by J.D. Brown. Set in 4th century B.C.E., Athena’s
Oracle
chronicles the romance between Leena and Jalmari during the very
early trials of their immortal lives.
About
J.D. Brown:
J.D.
Brown writes Urban Fantasy for MuseItUp Publishing, as well as a
monthly “how-to” newsletter column for PDMI Freelance Publishing.
She graduated from The International Academy of Design and Technology
with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts and currently lives in Wisconsin
with her two Pomeranians. J.D. loves paranormal characters; from
vampires and werewolves, demons and angels, to witches and ghost. She
is a self-proclaimed expert in vampire and Greek mythology. Her
writings are often a combination of suspense and romance. J.D. enjoys
helping her fellow writers and interacting with her fans and leads an
active life on the web.
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Tuesday, July 9, 2013
POD's Blog Tour
Come join Michelle Pickett as she shares character interviews, Playlist, guest post on controversial scenes in the book, and more in her blog tour for POD's.
Monday, July 8 -The Reading Vixens
There’s also a giveaway (signed copy of PODs and SWAG).
Monday, July 8 -The Reading Vixens
Tuesday, July 9 -Books Complete Me
Wednesday, July 10 -K-Books
Thursday, July 11 -Curvy Writer
Friday, July 12 -Total Bookaholic
Saturday, July 13 -BlookGirl
Sunday, July 14 -Cari’s Book Blog
Wednesday, July 10 -K-Books
Thursday, July 11 -Curvy Writer
Friday, July 12 -Total Bookaholic
Saturday, July 13 -BlookGirl
Sunday, July 14 -Cari’s Book Blog
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy Birthday, America!!!!
Today is a day for hot dogs and hamburgers. For hanging with family and friends. And for celebrating the birth of a nation.
Happy Birthday, America!!!!
Monday, July 1, 2013
How Authors Write-Antje Hergt
Today I welcome MuseItUp Author Antje Hergt. She talks about her writing process and shares her debut release, Darinel Dragonhunter. Welcome, Antje!!!
What do you write?
I write YA Fantasy with a style kind of
like a fairy tale but with a modern approach.
Do you use 1st person, 3rd person,
multiple POVs?
I use 3rd person with multiple POVs.
How do you get started with a book-
is it an idea, a character, vary from story to story?
Most the time it is an idea for a short
story, but when I am about to finish it, my characters protest and
want to tell me more.
Do you draft quickly?
I draft roughly with a chapter outline
about 2-3 pages. Then I add scene ideas or dialogue snippets, which
most of the time I move around later.
Do you do research before your first
draft, during?
I do the research during the outline
and most of the time during writing as well. To quickly check points
when I come across them.
Do you outline? How?
I do the rough outline by hand, then a
more chapter oriented one by word document. Later, I start an excel
table for continuity and quick reference. Sometimes I even use
Keynote to create a storyboard.
Do you name everything up front when
you are drafting or do you leave comments for yourself to go back and
fill in later so you don't lose the flow of what you are working on?
I am a flow writer, so I don’t fuss
about naming when I write, but leave myself tons of sticky notes to
go back and name things.
Do you work with CP's or Beta's? How
soon into your draft do you let them see your work?
I love to work with beta reader after
my 3rd or 4th edit. Then I sent it out to them.
What books/websites have you found
most helpful to helping you write your best?
I read a lot of How-to books on writing
for children and went to various writing courses, but the most
detailed help I found on the Institute of Children's Literature
webpage (http://www.institutechildrenslit.com)
What do you know now that you wish
you knew when you started writing?
I wish I had know how long the
publishing process really was when I started, then I wouldn’t have
told everybody I finished my first book before I actually had a
publisher.
What do you have out now, or coming
out? Any upcoming events? A website we can find you and your books
at? An author photo? A booktrailer? Anything else you want to share?
My first book Darinel
Dragonhunter was just released by MuseItUp Publishing and you
can buy it on their webpage:
Or you can check it out on my webpage:
antjehergt.com first and see for yourself.
Book Blurb:
Prince Darinel is traveling–for what
feels like forever. Expelled from his father’s kingdom, he just
wants to find a new home. When a shadow lures him to a wealthy
kingdom, he stays to discover more about the darkness, but the
citizens are tight-lipped.
Their king welcomes the foreign Prince
hoping that he will solve his two problems: the dragon and his
strong-willed daughter. Coming from a warrior kingdom, Darinel
despises violence, but charmed by Princess Tuskja’s dare, he sets
out to confront the beast. Instead of finding a fierce dragon, he
finds a friend. The dragon’s malicious humor and his love of fairy
tales entangle Darinel in a summer of adventures, while danger stirs
in the East, the Dark Prince. Being refused by the Princess and
humiliated by the dragon, this proud prince seeks revenge.
In compliance with the king’s decree,
Darinel is torn between his friendship with the dragon and his love
for Princess Tuskja, whom he can only marry if he kills his friend.
Before he can make a decision, the kingdom is under attack. Now it is
up to the dragon to either help his friend or respect his wish to not
interfere.
Excerpt:
The prince sighed. “Yeah, you’re
right. Do you mind if I take a break here?”
“Oh no. Be my guest,” the voice
replied, cheerfully.
Darinel dismounted and reached to tie
Tibor’s reins to the trunk of a tree, when a dark shadow swished
over him. The horse bolted in panic and disappeared. Dumbfounded, he
stared down the path they had just travelled.
“Oops!” The voice sounded a bit
regretful.
“That was not supposed to happen.”
Still shaking his head, he turned to a little sparkling stream at his
feet and knelt beside it. He took off his helmet and splashed water
onto his face and over his head.
“It is a bit inconvenient, isn’t
it?” the voice said. “But don’t worry, the way down always
seems faster,” it added cheerfully.
“Yeah, right!” the prince said with
a smirk as he slid back to lean on a big boulder behind him. “Now
you see I am no threat to you, won’t you come out and sit with me?”
He ruffled his hand through his wet hair.
“I’d love to, but don’t you know,
there’s a fierce dragon in these mountains?” the voice pointed
out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in Germany, Antje Hergt came to explore the Canadian Rockies in Canmore, Alberta in 2003. Taking part in the Writing-with-Style Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts in 2007 encouraged her to follow her passion: writing for children. Darinel Dragonhunter is her first novel, which was inspired by her deep love for classic children literature and fairy tales. Her thrill for science fiction/fantasy movies and television shows had an outlet in various genre short stories. She is a member of the Alberta Writer’s Guild and graduated from the Justus-Liebig-University in Giessen with a degree in Modern Languages.
Currently, Antje still lives in Canmore with her snoring cat, Sally, and gets inspired by the magic of the Rocky Mountains.
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