Looking back at 2013 #NewYearsEve

I had so many goals that I wanted to achieve in 2013. I managed some of them. Some of them changed. And some of them are still waiting for me to complete them.

Here are the things that I DID achieve in 2013 (in no particular order).

1. I submitted two picture book manuscripts to agents. They were both rejected, but at least I am finally starting to submit to agents. (I need to work on writing better queries.) (Cover created by Kelly McDonald.)

2. I edited and put together the Teapot Tales anthology. (I contributed three stories to it.) (Proceeds go to the Chapter Book Challenge.)

3. I edited and put together the Jingle Bells anthology. (I contributed three stories to it and created the cover.) (Proceeds go to the Chapter Book Challenge.)

4. I edited and put together the SuperHERo Tales anthology. (I contributed two stories to it.) (Proceeds go to the Because I am a Girl charity.) (Cover created by Julia Lela Stilchen.)

5. I edited and put together The Talisman Chronicles anthology (for the kids). (My four youngest children wrote, in total, eleven of the stories in it.) (I created the cover for it with the help and artistic talents of my husband.)

6. I contributed three stories to the Tales by the Tree anthology. (Proceeds benefit a children's school.)

7. I contributed a story to the Dark Fairy Queen's Writerly Bridal Shower anthology. (Free on Smashwords.)

8. I contributed a story to the Charms anthologies, and it is included in the second volume of the three volume set. (If you would like to buy a copy, you can order it through me.)

9. I completed 50,000 words of this year's NaNoWriMo story.

10. I began a new chapter book that still has me very excited and full of ideas. ("The Day My Shadow Tried to Kill Me")

11. I created Melusine Muse Press. It's still in the development stages, but I have some exciting plans for it in 2014.

12. I have finished putting the details, which will be posted in January, on three new anthology projects that will be coming in 2014 and will be accepting submission very soon. (Think: "pirates, mermaids and monsters of the sea," "cats" and "fairies.")

13. I managed to have several prizes a week during the Chapter Book Challenge in 2013, and I enticed guest posts from published chapter book, middle grade and YA authors as well as agents during the challenge which covered two to three posts a week. We went from 23 signed-up members in 2012 to 89 signed up members in 2013, and we already have more than 115 members signed-up for the 2014 ChaBooCha. I'm hoping we can reach 200 members by March.

14. I have created the Blog Your Book in 30 Days challenge, which will go live in April of 2014. Wish me luck!

15. I have outlined and written the first three chapters of THREE non-fiction books.

16. I have honed my craft and worked on becoming a better editor, proofreader and writer.

17. I completed 12 picture books for the 12 x 12 challenge and revised them too!

18. I created my doodle books, "Doodle Your Heart Out" and the smaller version "Little Book of Doodles."

19. I joined doodle Day May (which is now just called Doodle Day) and created 30 doodled pieces of art in the month of May (which is what inspired me to create my doodle books).

20. I contributed three stories to the Keepsakes anthology which will be out sometime in 2014.

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Creating Anthologies - Writers Reveal - December 2013

It's time for another Writer's Reveal! This month, my topic was sent to me by Emily Morgan from Emily Morgan Writes. The topic she sent was: "What is the hardest thing about coordinating the release of an anthology of stories by different writers?"

There are a lot of things that go into putting together an anthology with stories written by many different people. Some of them are fun and many of them are time-consuming, and a few things are really frustrating.

I create anthologies using Word. Word can be a very frustrating program to use. When I cut and paste people's stories from their documents into my own, often times, there is hidden code within their text that  cannot be seen by my naked eye, and although everything will look perfectly fine on the page, when I go to publish it, either on Kindle or in print, suddenly, everything in that part of the anthology goes haywire. It will often take me much more time than is healthy for me to find what tiny bit of code is causing the problem.

And Word comes up with some random problems. Something that might work fine in a print file will be off-center in a Kindle file for no apparent reason. Again, it means hunting up tiny bits of code that are causing the problem and fixing it. Have I mentioned that I am not someone who knows much more about html than how to center something using it?

Another issue I have to work around is the fact that most of the authors in my anthology are from different countries. I have authors from Australia, the USA and the United Kingdom writing for the anthologies, and I have to work out whether I am seeing a genuine spelling error or a difference in languages. English changes depending on which country a person is from who is speaking or writing it. I solved this problem when I publsihed "Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales" by publishing two versions of it, one with US spellings and one with UK spellings. (I live in the UK, but was born and raised in the US. I hope I got all of the UK spellings correct, and no one has complained about them, so I will assume I did.)  For other anthologies, I have left each individual story with the spelling it was meant to have by the author (and I often have to recheck where each author is from to make sure, again, that it is correct for his or her country and not, instead, a spelling error on his or her part).

Proofreading is tedious, but necessary when creating an anthology (or any publsihed work), and I do it many, many times before the anthology gets published.

However, although I have mentioned some of the difficult things about creating anthologies, I also have to mention how much I love doing it. There is something so wonderful about holding the finished product in my hand, hearing from readers how much they loved the stories, and collaborating with other authors to create something so incredibly timeless.

I also have to mention how fantastic all of the contributing authors have been, as well as the contributing illustrators and cover artists.

Below are some of the places where the anthologies I have created and edited can be bought.

"Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales"

"Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from around the World"

"SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories"

*****
Here are the other authors joining in with Writer's Reveal this month:

http://networkedblogs.com/RVsuG

http://emilymorganwrites.com/

http://emhawker.blogspot.com.au/

http://jaycwolfe.com/

http://ghostnapped.wordpress.com/

http://www.jfgibson.com.au

http://www.aparentinglife.com/

http://havealaughonme.com/

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Finish - Insecure Writers Support Group for December 2013 #IWSG

This is my ninth monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group post. The IWSG is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the IWSG is: 

"to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" 

This is my post for Insecure Writer's Support Group for December 2013. The topic I chose for this one 

is "finish."

You may be wondering why I chose to write about the word "finish." It's because I have finished. I finished editing the stories and creating the anthology "Teapot Tales: A Collection of Unique Fairy Tales" in August and early September. I finished editing the stories and creating the anthology "Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from Around the World" in mid-November. I finished editing the stories and creating the anthology "SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories" in late November. I even finished editing the stories and illustrations for and creating the anthology "The Talisman Chronicles: A Collection of Stories Written and Illustrated by Children," both the color version and the black and white version.

All of these things were very time-consuming. And every single one of these projects, now that they are finished, give me an amazing feeling to hold in my hand. I love creating, whether it is for me or for someone else. And I have accomplished so many things by FINISHING the things I set out to do.

I've learned that I am skilled at editing and formatting, and I can even manage some artistic work.

I've also learned that I have some amazingly talented friends and fellow writers who none of these projects would have happened without.

And I am going to finish even more projects in 2014.

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"SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories" is available in print!

"SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories," which has been available in kindle format for a little while now, is now available in print, just in time for holiday gift-giving! The really fun part about this is that you can buy the original anthology for a low price or pay a little bit more and get the Expanded Edition which includes three additional illustrations at the end of the book of three of the superheroines who are featured in the stories.

All of the proceeds from the books will go to Because I am a Girl, which helps girls in third world countries.

About the charity:

"Because she is a girl, she’s more likely to suffer from malnutrition, be forced into an early marriage, be subjected to violence, be sold into the sex trade, or become infected with HIV. Because she is a girl, she faces discrimination in her own home. Because she is a girl, she’ll have limited access to a doctor or even a primary education (if she’s able to go to school at all). But we’re here to change all that. Because being a girl should always be a positive, empowering experience."

From the blurb about the book:

"Girls are under-represented when it comes to superhero movies, toys and other merchandise. This wonderful group of authors decided to do something about it. Within these pages, you will find stories of female superheroes to enchant and delight. You will read all about their powers and their masked identities and then get to read a short story that gives you insight into who they are or who they will become. You’ll find action, adventure, magic and betrayal. You’ll find everyday female heroes, as well as super-powered heroines and devious villains. From friendly encounters to government conspiracies, 27 new superheroes, all FEMALE superheroes, can be found represented in these stories, written by 24 talented authors."

There are some amazing stories in this anthology, written by some very talented authors. Some of the stories are more suitable for children than others, and some of them are a little on the gory side, but there is no bad language or sex, so I would rate this collection as PG.

Prices are low. What little is made from the books goes to the charity, but the prices will remain low as the goal is to get this book into as many hands as possible and spread the word that girls make awesome superheroes!

In the US:

Kindle

Print

Expanded Edition (print)

In the UK:

Kindle

Print

Expanded Edition


Please share this everywhere you can!


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#NaNoWriMo - Week 3 + How to use a dream sequence correctly

We are through with the 3^rd week of NaNoWriMo and entering the fourth week now. Our stories should be starting to take shape and the end should be becoming clearer to us.

One thing I have noticed a lot of people doing with their NaNoWriMo stories to add to their word count is adding a dream sequence to their story. Dream sequences are tricky things to do correctly, so I am going to give you a few tips on what you should do with a dream sequence and what you shouldn’t do with a dream sequence.

1. Dream sequences have to have something to do with the overall plot of the story. You can’t just randomly stick a dream sequence in that has absolutely nothing to do with the story and expect it to work within the story.
2. Dream sequences need to move the story forward. Your character should either learn something through the dream sequence or come to some sort of realization that may not have come any other way.
3. Dream sequences should not trick your reader. You should not play the story out in a certain way and then tell your reader, “It was all just a dream; none of it really happened,” and then pick up the story from where you left it off before the dream. Trust me, your readers will not appreciate you doing this.
4. Dream sequences should not be completely rational. Think about it. No one ever has completely rational dreams. Your dream sequence needs to make some sort of sense, but it should not all be perfectly clear and play out like an everyday event.
5. Dream sequences should have some mystery to them. Do not use a dream sequence to info-dump on your reader. Dreams and visions are not meant to be completely rational, so dumping a bunch of information on your reader in this way is a quick way to bore your reader. A reader already has to suspend disbelief in order to read your fiction novel. Don’t make this become too difficult for them.

What things would you suggest a writer should do or avoid when writing a dream sequence?

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Jingle Bells available in print and SuperHERo Tales available on kindle!

“Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from Around the World” is now available in both print and kindle, and now “SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories” is available in kindle!

Both are full of amazing stories from talented authors. Jingle Bells has some wonderful artwork and stories that are great for kids and adults alike. SuperHERo Tales has some stories great for older children  and adults throughout, along with stories for younger children towards the back.

Both of these books will make wonderful gifts for the loved ones on your Christmas list, and SuperHERo Tales will be available in print later this week!

About “Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from Around the World”:

Let these wonderful stories of holiday magic fill your heart with peace and love for the holiday season. From dragons at Christmas to dancing for Hanukkah, from fairy friends to a mermaid’s gift, you’ll find many stories within these pages to bring a smile to your face. With 33 wonderful short stories and 5 poems, written for children and adults alike, there is a variety of tales, written by authors from around the world, to help you find a bit of that holiday spirit to warm your heart.

Proceeds from the sale of Jingle Bells go towards the Chapter Book Challenge. 

About “SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories”:

Girls are under-represented when it comes to superhero movies, toys and other merchandise. This wonderful group of authors decided to do something about it. Within these pages, you will find stories of female superheroes to enchant and delight. You will read all about their powers and their masked identities and then get to read a short story that gives you insight into who they are or who they will become. You’ll find action, adventure, magic and betrayal. You’ll find everyday female heroes, as well as super-powered heroines and devious villains. From friendly encounters to government conspiracies, 27 new superheroes, all FEMALE superheroes, can be found represented in these stories, written by 24 talented authors. 

From the foreword by Emmie Mears: 

"When I was growing up I was told superheroes weren't for me... that superheroes and comic books weren't for girls. They were for boys... This anthology is a tribute to superheroes who happen to have XX chromosomes. I want the next generation of girls to grow up in a world where they won't get told superheroes aren't for them."

Proceeds from sales of SuperHERo Tales go towards the charity Because I am a Girl. 

About the charity (from their pages on their website):

"Because she is a girl, she’s more likely to suffer from malnutrition, be forced into an early marriage, be subjected to violence, be sold into the sex trade, or become infected with HIV. Because she is a girl, she faces discrimination in her own home. Because she is a girl, she’ll have limited access to a doctor or even a primary education (if she’s able to go to school at all). But we’re here to change all that. Because being a girl should always be a positive, empowering experience." 

Get your print copies of “Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from around the World” here.

Get your kindle copies of “Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from Around the World” here.  

Get your kindle copy of “SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories” here. 


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#NaNoWriMo – Halfway there! + 7 tips to catch up with your writing

You are halfway through the challenge now. Are you still on target? Are you finding it a hard slog now?  I’m somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 words behind, but it’s because I had work to do on another writing-related project. That project is over now, so I am hoping to use this weekend to catch up.

Some tips that might help if you are falling behind right now:

1 – Turn your Internet connection OFF (just as soon as you have finished reading this post.) Facebook, Twitter and all the rest of social media can be a distraction and a time-suck. Checking your e-mail can turn into hours of on-line time-wasting, so spare yourself the temptation and unplug it!

2 – Meet up with friends who also write. (If you’re local NaNoWriMo region is doing some write-ins for their meet-ups, go to them!) Sometimes, another friend who knows what it’s like to get stuck on your story can help you talk it over and get fresh ideas to keep you going. And if they are sitting in the coffee shop next to you, typing up their story, you might feel pressured to do the same, instead of fiddling around with apps.

3 – Say no to outside obligations. I know it’s difficult to say “no” to people. (It’s harder for some of us than for others, as we are programmed to be nice.) But you need to demand this time for yourself, and dedicate the time to your writing. Tell you friends (the non-writing ones) that you won’t be able to meet with them for a while. Is your kids’ school asking you to help with a project of theirs? Say “no” (or, at least, “not until December.”) 

4 – Carry a notebook around (or a really portable device to type on) for when you can’t be at home. This will come in very handy for times when you are riding the bus, waiting in a doctor’s office, waiting at your kids’ school for them to come out for the day, on a train journey, or sitting at a cafe having your lunch break. Jot those ideas down or continue your story from where you left off. Not sure where you left off with your story at home? No problem! - Write a new scene that will be  coming up later in the story.

5 – Go for a walk and think about your story. You’ll be amazed at how many ideas come to you when you give your story a break and find some peace and solitude in the outdoors (even in colder climates).

6 – Listen to music. Find something that evokes the mood and atmosphere that you are trying to achieve in your current scene and let the words flow from you.

7 – Turn the TV, radio and anything noisy off. Get someone to take your kids out for a while. Sit at your computer, ready to type, with nothing but your own thoughts to distract you.

Some of these suggestions sounds contrary to one another, but every writer has different ways  of finding inspiration.  So if one method doesn’t work, try something else.

I’d love to have made this a list of ten things, but I’m in the middle of writing my NaNoWriMo novel and writing this post is a distraction, so I need to get back to my story!

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Integrity - Writer's Reveal - November 2013

For this November's Writer's Reveal Topic, I was given the topic of: "What does integrity mean to you as a writer?" My Writer's Reveal Topic was given to me by Emily Morgan.

Right now, my head is so full of my NaNoWriMo novel writing (which I am behind on) and creating the Jingle Bells anthology (which I'm nearly finished doing) that it is difficult for me to wrap my mind around another topic at the moment.

For a really quick covering of the topic:

- Writing integrity is about writing only what I feel the need to write when I write my fiction, not writing something that will work for the market, but writing something that calls to me and begs me to write it.

- Writing integrity is about being honest when writing reviews, even when I am friends with the author of the book I am reviewing.

- Writing integrity is about making my story the best I can make it, because I want the readers to love it, and I don't want to give them less than my best.

- Writing integrity is about spending time, long, sometimes tedious, TIME, sitting at the computer and WRITING - every day.

- Writing integrity is about meeting the deadlines I commit to.

- What would you add to this list?

*****

The the other writers in Writer's Reveal are:

• Emily Morgan Writes
• Em Hawker
• J.C. Wolfe
• Melissa Writes
• J.F. Gibson
• A Parenting Life
• Ghostnapped
• Have a Laugh on Me

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#NaNoWriMo Week One

The first week of NaNoWriMo is over now and we are all about to begin Week Two. How was your first week? Is this your first time joining in the National Novel Writing Month challenge or are you an old hand at it?

I’m told that the second week is when things start to get difficult for writers. We’ve begun with enthusiasm in the first week, but now we are heading toward the middle of our story and we have to figure out how to get from the beginning to the end in a plausible and still exciting way. If you are one of those people who plots out your whole story in advance, then maybe this week is not so difficult for you. Or if you are writing a novel with lots of twists and turns and oodles of subplots, then this might not be too difficult for you.

I’m one of the people who doesn’t plot in advance and keeps myself interested with many subplots and exciting twists and turns in the story. However, I find that I start to wain in enthusiasm, normally, when I am reaching the end of my novels. Often, I am undecided on exactly how I am going to end the story, which causes me problems. This year is different though. I feel as though the writing coming from me, ever since the first 3,000 or so words, is not very good. I feel as though I am having to forc the words out. I think it’s time for me to have something completely unexpected (and yet still plausible) happen to my main character. What do you think?


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Breathe - Insecure Writers Support Group for November 2013 #IWSG

This is my eighth monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group post. The IWSG is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the IWSG is: 

"to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" 

This is my post for Insecure Writer's Support Group for November 2013. The topic I chose for this one 

is "breathe."

With the work I am doing writing my novel for NaNoWriMo, idea-generating for PiBoIdMo, writing for Write 

Write Non-Fiction in November and putting both the Jingle Bells anthology (almost done) and the SuperHERo 

Tales anthology together (not as done as Jingle Bells but also close), I feel like I haven't had time to just 

breathe, to relax and take a moment not to worry about how many projects I have completed today.

Now that the Jingle Bells anthology is almost finished and the SuperHERo Tales anthology is also close to being

done, I feel as though I am so close to being able to sit and take a breath. Yes, I still have a lot to do. And I still 

have NaNoWriMo and PiBoIdMo and Write Non-Fiction in November to complete, but the anthologies have a 

more urgent deadline if I want the authors to be able to buy print copies in time for Christmas, and once 

November is over, I will have The Talisman Chronicles to put together for all of those creative kids who wrote 

stories for it.

So right now, although I am still a little bit stressing about completing the anthologies, because the end is in 

sight, I can take a moment to rest. I can sit and breathe in the fresh air, blanking my mind of worries - just 

for a moment.

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#NaNoWriMo, #PiBoIdMo & the #JBAP and #CAFSC anthologies

November is a very busy month for me this year. I am putting together two anthologies, “SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories and “Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit From Around the World.” The plan is to have them available before December 1^st so that the authors and others can buy the books in print format in time for Christmas gift-giving.  Proceeds from SuperHERo Tales will be going to support the charity Because I Am A Girl, and proceeds from Jingle Bells will go towards the Chapter Book Challenge (ChaBooCha).

Here’s a sneak peak of the covers for both of the anthologies:

"SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories"
cover art by Julia Lela Stilchen

"Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit From Around the World"
cover art by Rebecca Fyfe

While putting together the Kindle and print versions of the anthologies, I am also participating in NaNoWriMo. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words of the first draft of your novel in 30 days, from November 1^st through November 30^th. I have participated in NaNoWriMo four times now, succeeding in reaching my 50,000 word goal every time. Two years ago, I wrote over 75,000 words during National Novel Writing Month and last year I wrote over 100,000 words during the challenge. This year, I will try and attempt to reach at least the minimum 50,000 words, because I have too many other things going on this month at the same time.

One of those other things that I have going on this month is that I am also participating in PiBoIdMo. Picture Book Idea Month is a challenge to write an idea down for a new picture book every day in the month of November. It’s a great way for me to take a break from my NaNoWriMo writing and working on the anthologies.

I’m also making sure to write posts for at least some of my blogs every week during the month.

I’m also doing some research this month on two of my non-fiction books, and I plan on writing the first chapter of each one by November 30^th, which will add at least another 2,000 words to the 50,000 I already need to write.  There’s a small part of me that would love to reach 100,000 words on my novel again this month like I did last year, but last year I didn’t have the anthologies ot put together so I am not going to add any more pressure to my workload right now. Maybe if I finish with the anthologies before the end of the month, as I am hoping to, then I will be able to focus even more time on my NaNoWriMo novel writing.

So in a nutshell, this is my to-do list for November:

1. Finish putting together the Jingle Bells anthology
2. Finish putting together the SuperHERo Tales anthology.
3. Write 50,000+ words of my novel
4. Research and write the first chapter of my Skinny Dreaming book and my other non-fiction book
5. Write down a new picture book idea every day
6. Post at least once a week on more than one of my blogs

It's a busy schedule, especially when taking into consideration school runs, cooking meals, daily exercise sessions, taking care of my children and walking the dog along with everything else from my day to day life. But I am capable of doing this, and I am looking forward to the challenge of it all.


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6 Things a Writer Should Not Do - Writer's Reveal

Today it's time for the Writer's Reveal post. This month's topic was sent to me from Melissa of Melissa Writes and the topic is, in her words, " Write a post about what not to do as a writer. Ideally at least 5 points."

A Writer should never....
1. Give up. If you have been writing for a while now and you feel like your not getting anywhere with it, try a different approach or take some new classes to help you hone your skills. Don't just throw in the towel. Very few people actually decide to become writers and then start writing. If you have managed to get that far, then you need to keep at it. There's a reason you decided to write. 

2. Stop improving and learning. Writing skills develop through use. Some people might be born with a natural talent for writing, but most of the writers you see with books that are top-sellers had to learn to write that well. It takes time and practice and, for some, classes and tutorials. You need to get people to critique your manuscripts and you will learn from those critiques so that you don't make the same mistakes with the next first draft you write.

3. Talk about writing more than you actually write. Nothing is going to get written if you don't sit your butt down in that chair and write. Talking about your story is great; it can help you flesh out your ideas when you talk about the story with someone else, but if you spend all of your time on your book discussing it or thinking about it and spend no time actually writing those ideas down, you are not ever going to get your book written.

4. Let Facebook, Twitter and other social media take over your computer time. Again, you have to actually spend time writing your story if you ever want to finish it. Facebook, Twitter and other avenues of social media have this magical way of making time fly by without you ever getting anything done. Don't let the pull of social media keep you from getting your writing done. Set aside time for social media and stick to that time. Also set aside time for writing when all the social media pages are closed down on your computer and your phone is turned off.

5. Isolate yourself. Social media has one thing going for it when it comes to a writer's life. Social media can connect you with other writers, agents and publishers. One thing about the writing world, writers are usually willing to help each other. Instead of seeing one another as competition for the book selling market, writers have been reaching out to one another for years - giving moral support, helping by critiquing each others' books, creating and joining writing challenges and groups, helping spread the word of new book releases, writing reviews, helping one another brainstorm ideas and more. As a writer, you really don't want to miss out on all of the support you can get from other writers.

6. Reply to a review you find on Amazon, Goodreads or elsewhere. Even if you make a positive statement, it can backfire. There was recently a lot of discussion and argument about what authors should and shouldn't do when it comes to reviewing, but the easiest way to stay out of trouble with the public is to not respond to reviews.

You might have noticed that I listed 6 things instead of 5. It could easily have been longer. 

Instead of the above list of things you should not do as a writer, I'd like to state the one thing that you absolutely HAVE to do. Believe in yourself!

 *****

The the other writers in Writer's Reveal are:

• Jodi Gibson
• JC Wolfe
• Melissa Gijsbers Khalinsky
• Josefa
• Rhianna
• Ashley Howard
• Zanni Louise

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Hope - Insecure Writers Support Group for October 2013

 This is my seventh monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group post. The IWSG is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the IWSG is:

"to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!"

  
This is my post for Insecure Writer's Support Group for October 2013. The topic I chose for this one is "hope."
I have to admit, first off, that this month, as I am submitting stories for two anthologies (one I am putting together myself), I am feeling a bit insecure about my writing again. It comes from reading the wonderful stories put forward by others for the same anthologies and feeling as though I can never match the brilliance in their writing.

But I still have hope. I hope and believe that I can still learn enough to improve my writing and make it better. I hope and believe that, someday, I will be able to write something that I can truly be proud of, and I still have hope that someday, others will look at my writing and think, "Wow! She's so good!" as I so often think about the writing of others.

I hope that someday I can earn a living from  my writing, (or at least enough that my husband stops hinting that he thinks I should go out looking for a 9 to 5 job). I hope that someday I will have enough writing experience under my belt that I will be able to help others achieve their writing dreams too.

I have hope that someday an agent will see a pitch for one of my many stories and will be completely smitten with my story and my writing, and I have hope that soon after, a publisher will follow them in being smitten.

Most of all, I hope I will find a way past this debilitating procrastination and FINISH the edits on my already-written novels and start writing the other novels that I have planned. I'm not going to make my dream come true by putting off the work towards it.

What do you hope?



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Book Blast for "Confronting the Demon" by Ciara Ballintyne plus Review

Confronting the Demon

The gates to hell are thrown wide when Alloran is betrayed by his best friend, Ladanyon, and framed for forbidden magic. He is hunted by the guards and the wizards both, tormented by the gruesome murder of his friends and loved ones, and crippled by fear for the living. Now Alloran    must face his demons, or damn the woman he loves.

Including bonus short story A Magical Melody

When a lethal spell is stolen from a locked and warded room, Avram must hunt down the thief before the song of power buries a city of innocents beneath a thousand tons of ice.

Book Information

Confronting the Demon by Ciara Ballintyne

Date of Publication – 1 October 2013

ISBN-13: 978-0-9923466-0-7 (print)

ISBN-13: 978-0-9923466-1-4 (ebook)

Where to buy:
Kindle book on Amazon

Print book on Amazon

My Review of the Book 

Alloran is wrongly accused of a terrible crime and being stalked by a former friend who has been driven insane through the use of dark magic and influenced by jealousy. Can Alloran clear his name, save the woman he loves and keep the city safe? (You'll have to read the book to find out!)

I absolutely loved the book. It is in my favorite genre and the pace is quick. You learn enough about Alloran from the very first page to start rooting for him, and, as the bodies start turning up, the suspense heats up along with them.

My only complaint is that it's too short! I read it in about an hour (I'm a fairly fast reader though), and I was sad when it ended because I didn't want to leave the world Ciara Ballintyne had created. I will definitely be reading any other books written by her in the future!

About Ciara Ballintyne

Ciara Ballintyne was born in 1981 in Sydney, Australia, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, one masochistic cat, and one cat with a god complex. She holds degrees in law and accounting, and has been a practising financial services lawyer since 2004. She is both an idealist and a cynic.

She started reading epic fantasy at the age of nine, when she kidnapped Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings from her father. Another two years passed before she began her first attempts at the craft of writing. Confronting the Demon is her debut book.

She enjoys horse-riding, and speculation about taking over the world. If she could choose to be anything it would be a dragon, but instead she shares more in common with Dr. Gregory House of House. M.D.

Ciara Ballintyne's social media links:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CiaraBallintyne 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CiaraBallintyne

Website: http://www.ciaraballintyne.com

Blog: http://www.fantasyblog.ciaraballintyne.com

INDIEVENGEANCE DAY EVENT

Ciara Ballintyne will be signing copies of "Confronting the Demon" at the IndieVengeance Day Book Signing in Dallas, Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM (CDT). Register for free here if you’re interested to come along - http://www.indievengeanceday.eventbrite.com/.

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