NEW PRIDE Book Trailer Premier!

Hey gang! I don’t usually post on Sundays, but Theresa McClinton (author extraordinaire and book trailer master!) and I have been feverishly working on book trailers for New Pride (Amazon purchase link ) and Shifting Pride, and dangitall, I can’t wait any longer to share with you!

Without further ado, the Official Book Trailer for NEW PRIDE:

THANK YOU, THERESA, FOR SUCH A FABULOUS JOB!!!!! 

Stay tuned for my blog tour for SHIFTING PRIDE, starting December 3, 2012, where you can read reviews of SHIFTING PRIDE, read interviews with yours truly, watch the Official Book Trailer for SHIFTING PRIDE, and WIN PRIZES!!!!!

***Now, be sure to check out Theresa’s giveaway–her book, THE STONE GUARDIAN launches December 14! (Click on the button below.)***

I totally can’t wait!!!!

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Flake-out Friday–Show and Tell

There’s a ton of books out there, people. (I know, I know, understatement of the century, right?) It can be hard to know which books to read and in what order. I rely, in part, on recommendations from my writerly buddies.

Lately, I’ve been reading a combination of traditionally pubbed novels and indie pubbed novels. Most recently, I’ve read TRANSCEND, by Christine Fonseca, THE NAME OF THE STAR, by Maureen Johnson, TO RIDE A PUCA, by Heather McCorkle, and TIMEPIECE, by Myra McEntire.

ALL FABULOUS BOOKS! I’d recommend each and every one of them.

How about you, friends? What books have you read recently that you’d recommend? Please list them in the comments!

Happy reading!

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Flake-out Friday–Publicity Opportunity

As authors, we have to market ourselves. Lots of authors have readings and signings at bookstores, libraries, schools, etc.

Ever thought about having a reading for animals? Well, here you go:

(from LOL cats)

 And if you ever do a reading at an open mic night, make sure this guy isn’t there cuz he’ll just steal your thunder.

(also from LOL cat)

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Writer Wednesday–How Do You Review?

So, I’ve been watching my writer friend, Kendall Gray, on her journey of self-publishing. I’ve been lucky enough to read an ARC of INHALE, the first novel in her JUST BREATHE trilogy and, man, I just want to shout it out to the world how AWESOME Kendall’s writing is.

If you don’t believe me, check out the book trailer HERE.

Awesome, right? Seriously, you need to pre-order the entire series NOW. *waits while you go to Amazon*

*squints at screen to make sure you’re at Amazon’s website*

Okay. Glad you’re back.

What makes me love INHALE so much?

The characters are clear. They are goal-directed (sorry, that’s a psych term, but you’d be surprised how many characters are just wandering around their novels like post-lobotomy schizophrenics). They have faults. There’s great smexy scenes. There’s a TON of action and conflict.

All those things keep me reading on. It keeps me thinking about the characters when I’m not reading. I even picture myself hanging out with the main characters, Gavin and Zoe. In Australia. On the beach. Yeah. And heck, if I can picture myself hanging out with the characters, that means their writer has made it into my inner circle of favorite authors.

(Pssst, that includes YOU, KENDALL!!!!!!)

We know books sell based on word of mouth (yes, there are other things, but go with me on this one). So, I wanted to review INHALE. I wanted to support Kendall.

I wanted to really capture how I felt and why it was important for me to recommend INHALE to other people.

…And then I realized I kind of suck at writing reviews.

Why?

I worry about writing spoilers. I worry about sounding trite or saccharine. I worry about rambling aimlessly (sort of like what I’m doing now). I worry about not conveying the essence of my reaction.

So, I wrote about what I liked (as I just did above) and left it at that. Better to be short and sweet, than ambling and confusing, no?

Still, I feel like my review fell short.

*sigh*

Now I open the forum to you.

How do you review? Is there a certain template you follow? Do you only write positive reviews? Or do you “tell it like it is?”

Check out Lydia’s response to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog topic of the uses (or misuses) of Prologues!

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Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog–To Prologue Or Not To Prologue

This month, I ask:

The Prologue: Love It or Hate It? Are there times when it’s necessary to have a prologue?

 

Before I started writing for realz, I actually LOVED prologues. I didn’t care if they were directly connected to chapter 1 or note. It didn’t bother me if the narrator was completely different from the main character. Hell, I didn’t even mind if the prologue captured a different century, planet, or plane of existence!

 

Then I learned about the RULES.

 

And The Prologue (to me) died.

 

They weren’t allowed. Agents didn’t want to see them. Writing forum members swayed newbies away from them.

 

I was like, “Okay, no prologue. No harm, no foul.”

 

(I try to go with the flow.)

 

Then I saw newly published books (touted by the writing world as AWESOME! FANTASTIC! MUST READ!) WITH prologues!!!

 

I was like, “HUH? I thought they were a no-no!”

 

Listen, when I read a book for enjoyment, I still like prologues. I don’t skip over them. I don’t “tut-tut” them.

 

But I don’t include them in my stories. And I don’t really know why.

 

What about you? Prologues: Love ‘Em Or Hate ‘Em?

 

Tune in next week for Lydia’s take on Prologues.

 

I’m also guest blogging at Apryl Baker’s blog (My Crazy Corner) about Attitude.

 

 

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Flake-out Friday–Recent Reads You Should Share With Your Friends

So. Nano is over. You’ve put your manuscript in a drawer to simmer, right? Right?!

What do you do now?

Well, you could jump into another project, but dang, aren’t you tired? (Yes you are. Just nod “yes” and keep reading.)

I’ve got an idea for you.

Take the month and READ. (Hey, it’s part of the job too.)

Here are some books I’ve read recently and they’re still on my mind. Particularly so because they are small press pubbed and self-pubbed…and they’re FABU!!!!

For a horror enthusiast, you MUST check out this anthology by Colin Barnes:

City of Hell Chronicles Volume I

Yes, that’s me. Hehe.

If you like YA dystopian, hop onto Amazon and order this book by Susan Kaye Quinn NOW:

Open Minds

It’ll jack your mind!

Is paranormal romance more your thing? Check out this:

Piper’s Fury by Rachel Firasek

Piper’s love interest is super steamy. * swoons *

Last, but certainly not least, Author Emily Ann Benedict has a FREE ebook just in time for Christmas!!! SO if you’re looking for a great holiday read, check out this link: The Father Christmas Confessions

What if Santa Claus wasn’t one man?
What if he was a secret organization?

Jeremy Ogden has 25 days to accomplish his mission. Just like every man in his family, he has a list of people whose lives can be changed forever if he makes it to them in time. But he has one big problem…And her name is Virginia.

The Ogdens might be old family friends, but that doesn’t mean Virginia Kipyard is willing to consider their son, Jeremy, as a potential love interest, no matter what her parents are suggesting. Jeremy is as stuffy and stuck up as any man she’s ever met. But her perception of everything she’s ever known changes when she stumbbles onto Ogden’s greatest secrets.

Jeremy would love nothing better than to make Virginia forget everything she’s seen and go on with his work, until it becomes apparent that she might be the key to handling the hardest assignment he’s ever faced. He just has to keep her out of trouble in the meantime.

Funny, charming, and heartwarming, The Father Christmas Confessions is a new twist on classic Christmas traditions.

This novel is the property of the author. I encourage you to share, but do not alter or claim ownership of anything on this site. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Winter photos provided by Katherine Alison Photography.

Happy reading!

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Book Binge

So, I went on a book binge a couple of weeks ago. Seems I can’t walk into a bookstore and leave with just one or two novels…I have to buy an armful.

Anyway, here’s a pic of my recent, um, haul.

 

How about you guys? Do you buy one book at a time or do you buy a bunch? Or, are you a library book reader or an ebook reader?

Check out Lydia’s response to her question about genre crushing.

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