Cape Cod Scribe

Cruel Summer’s Cape Cod Guide for Teens

Posted on February 19, 2015 Leave a Comment

It is no secret that all of my books in the UNDERTOW series are basically a teenager’s guide to Cape Cod.

What to do, where to go, how to nag your parents.

Well – okay, maybe not that last one, but if you do, don’t point fingers at me.

In UNDERTOW, readers were introduced to such Cape Cod staples as Four Seas Ice Cream (a famed ice cream shop here on Cape Cod in Centerville that is featured in all the books as The Milk Way), Town Neck in Sandwich, Historic Centerville, Barnstable High School, The Hyannis (Barnstable) Marina (where Cerberus docks), Newport’s Breakers mansion, Quincy Harbor, and Sandy Neck.

STORMFRONT enlarges that sweep, adding in Craigville Pizza, the BHS football fields, the elusive Torrent Road home, and The Hot Chocolate Sparrow (The Raven).

But CRUEL SUMMER, which is a stand alone novel related to the series, shows Cape Cod in all its high summer glory. It features numerous beaches (Cahoon’s Hollow, Marconi, Nauset, and Bodfish), The Flying Horses of Martha’s Vineyard, Heritage Museum, Vineyard Vines, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Makonikey, The Welfleet Drive-In, Four Seas, Craigville Pizza, Nirvana Coffee House, The Boarding House, The Steamship Authority, and most of Main Street in Hyannis, including the Village Green.

Because of all the places that are featured in CRUEL SUMMER, I thought it would be wise to start a run-down of each spot in CRUEL SUMMER. That way, when you DO decide to visit the Cape, you know exactly where you want to go!

So – keep your eyes peeled here on Cape Cod Scribe for your complete Wicked Teen Guide to Cape Cod!! (PFFT – this ain’t your Mama’s guide book!) Follow me on Twitter (@sharkprose) for updates or on Instagram (k_r_conway) for best stalkerish behavior.

And don’t forget to grab a friend (and a parental unit if you can’t drive yet) and get your butt to the Author Panel at the Centerville Library on March 16, 2015 (launch night for CRUEL SUMMER as well). Goodies, giveaways, and a chance to toss questions at crazy authors.

Need an “official” invite? Fill out the contact form found HERE (make sure you put in your mailing address) and the magical mail fairies will deliver one to ya.

Book Review: Unconditional by Cherie Hudson

Posted on February 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

Unconditional by Cherie Hudson

**This title is NEW ADULT and not appropriate for teen readers**

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for offering me an ARC of this title. Their generosity has no impact on my review.

I enjoyed this title and burned through it in one day. It’s a light-hearted semi-fairy tale of a young woman facing a life sentence in the prison known as Parkinson’s. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of the film Love and Other Drugs (2010 – Fox 2000 Pictures), except with a royalty twist and an Australian setting.

It’s a perfect romance for those seeking a happily ever after and loads of rolling in the hay. Personally I liked Marci’s buff trainer, Brendon, more than her love interest, Raph, but that’s just me. I was rooting for the gym-junkie from the beginning, though this is NOT a love triangle, which I was grateful for.

This is truly the story of one woman’s quest to find herself, now buried under the yoke of an incurable disease. And though most of her “self-discovering” is had while pinned under hot Aussie, Raph, she does learn to accept herself in the process. I think such wandering ways to self-acceptance often happen in the arms of someone else, for sometimes it is our lover that sees the beauty that we fail to recognize in the mirror.

Cape Cod International Council on Reading

Posted on February 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

On Saturday, February 7th (2015) I will be speaking to a room full of English literature professionals about Young Adult books for reluctant teen readers.

You’re thinking, “Oh, she will run down those stunning, award winning books that all the professional reviewers are raving about.”

Umm . . . nope, and here’s why: most reluctant teen readers are bored out of their minds by what adult readers deem “worthy.” Quite honestly, I get a bit bored as well since my life revolves around creating worlds and characters that transform semi-readers into total addicts.

So what do I read???

I read what the teens are raving about on their personal blogs, what the crazy YA writers are fangirling over, and what the bloggers are You Tubing over. I stalk Instagram book nerds (I’m one of ’em), and I chit-chat with my own fans to find out what THEY like. I see what Undertow is compared to, what TV shows are running up the ranks, and what movies create hords of screaming fans.

I seek out that un-put-downable ride encased in the 26 letters of the alphabet and I act like a teen when I read it: I must like the cover, the blurb, and the first 1-2 chapters, or I’m out. Because, with teens, that’s all you get – a brief snapshot of a story that better be brilliant.

Sometimes adults forget that teenhood is often a fist full of throttle and to hook those reluctant teen readers, we need a book that matches their wild, racing imaginations. It doesn’t need to be award winning or lauded by a fancy book reviewer in New York or LA. It only needs to climb into the heart of the elusive, variable teenager and take flight.

Teens need books that beat out TV shows, movies, and fancy electronics.

Teens need books that live off the page and stalk their dreams.

Teens need books that are addictive.

If you’d like to register for the Books and Brunch event, please head to the Cape Cod Council of the International Reading Association and register by clicking HERE. It will be held at the Dan’l Webster Inn in Sandwich.

It’s time to read, and dream, like a teenager.

Want to read more about great YA for teens? Read on HERE . . .

Joyride by Anna Banks

Posted on February 1, 2015 Leave a Comment

Joyride by Anna Banks

Pub Date: June 2, 2015

I received this title in return for an honest review. Many thanks to Macmillan Publishing for offering me a chance to review it.

Joyride is the first book I’ve read by Anna Banks and I suspect I’ll be reading more of her work in the future as I enjoyed this one!

Joyride follows in the shadow of Carly Vega, a 17-year-old Mexican American (1^st person) who is working herself into the ground in an attempt to fund the illegal return of her parents (and her two twin siblings) to the States. Along with her single minded (and somewhat strict) older brother Julio, Carly lives in a trailer park with other immigrant workers, who form a tight-knit, if not gossip-laden, group.

We also follow former golden boy and football heartthrob, Arden Moss, who has dumped his grades, the pigskin, and his good sense in favor of pranking half the town’s morally corrupt characters. He is the son of the town Sheriff, a cold-hearted bastard whose political platform is based on deporting illegal workers (like Carly’s folks, who got tossed back to Mexico when she was fourteen). Arden’s chapters are written in 3^rd person, which threw me for a bit until I got used to it.

“Moss” hates his father because of the way he treated his older, mentally ill sister who overdosed. He blames his father for locking her away, taking away her friends, and basically trying to keep her a secret for the benefit of his political aspirations. In an attempt to keep his sister’s memory alive and to piss off his father, Moss spends his evenings pranking people, but one such night lands him nose-to-shotgun with Carly Vega, night clerk at the Breeze Mart.

Moss is floored by her bravery and soon becomes obsessed with her, determined to make her his accomplice in nighttime fun. He finds her a new job that pays more money and encourages Carly to live a little and not work so much. In turn, Carly straightens out Moss, who focuses more on his schoolwork and helping his Uncle Cletus.

I loved Carly in this story, especially how Banks portrays the mindset of a teenage Mexican girl who is trapped by duty to a family who only sees the value of a dollar and not an education. This contrasts sharply with Carly’s American side, which screams that she needs a chance to find her youth. Banks succeeds in effortlessly portraying the sad reality of so many migrant families in the USA who come here for freedom, only to find themselves a slave to their station in life and the burden of a wealthier form of poverty.

Honestly, I loved the whole novel . . . though the ending was just a bit far fetched for me. Teens, however, will devour the story of Carly and her boy, Moss, and the awesome, scene-stealing Uncle Cletus.

Sites to advertise your ebook

Posted on January 22, 2015 Leave a Comment

Greetings everyone!

I hope you had a great time at the Writers Night Out, presented by the Cape Cod Writers Center. As promised, I am listing all the promo sites on which authors (and publishers) can post their e-books on the days which they will appear for free or at a discount. Some of these sites are only available to Kindle books, whereas others prefer to see your book available though as many channels as possible.

The first list comes from ANDREW BUTCHER’s site, so all credit for the list goes to him.

ANDREW BUTCHER LIST:

1. eBookBooster
http://www.ebookbooster.com/

2. Armadillo eBooks
http://www.armadilloebooks.com/submit-free-ebooks/

3. Book Angel
http://bookangel.co.uk/submit-your-book/

4. Book Freebies
http://bookfreebies.com/submit-book.php

5. Book Pinning
http://bookpinning.com/?sws=home/submit-book

6. ContentMo Free eBooks
http://contentmo.com/submit-your-free-ebook-promo

7. Deal Seeking Mom
http://dealseekingmom.com/about/contact/

8. Digital Book End
http://www.digitalbookend.com/free-ebook-submission

9. Ebook Korner Kafe
http://kornerkonnection.com/

10. eReader Utopia
http://www.ereaderutopia.com/index.php/author-corner

11. Freebies 4 Mom
http://freebies4mom.com/share-free-ebooks-with-freebies-4-mom/

12. Free Books
http://www.freebooks.com/submit/

13. Free eBooks Blog
http://www.freeebooksblog.com/contact/

14. Free eBooks Daily
http://www.freeebooksdaily.com/p/blog-page_17.html

15. Free Kindle Books
free-kindle-books.deha-solutions.com/contact/

16. Frugal Freebies
http://www.frugal-freebies.com/p/submit-freebie.html

17. Free Stuff Times
http://www.freestufftimes.com/about-the-site

18. Great Books Great Deals
http://greatbooksgreatdeals.wufoo.com/forms/z7x3p3/

19. Hunt 4 Freebies
http://hunt4freebies.com/submit-freebie

20. iLoveEbooks
http://www.iloveebooks.com/for-authors.html

22. Indie Book of the Day
http://indiebookoftheday.com/authors/free-on-kindle-listing/

23. Indie Book Promo
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFpBd0JUMk9KZzZ0TXJBYXRENFZYMVE6MQ

24. It’s Write Now
http://www.itswritenow.com/submit-your-book/

25. Jungle Deals & Steals
http://jungledealsandsteals.com/about/contact/

26. Kindle Book Promos
http://kindlebookpromos.luckycinda.com/?page_id=283

27. Kindle Freebies
http://kindle-freebies.com/about.html

28. Momma Says Read
http://www.mommasaysread.com/author-reviews/author-services/

29. Pennie Pinchin’ Mom
http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/contact-me/

30. Pin Your Book
http://pinyourbook.com/

31. Sweeties Picks
http://www.sweetiespicks.com/free-kindle-books

32. Pixel Scroll
http://pixelscroll.com/0-99-book-notification-form/

33. Super e-Books
http://super-e-books.com/how-to-add-your-free-e-book-to-the-super-e-books-calendar/

34. The eReader Café
http://www.theereadercafe.com/p/authors.html

35. Your Daily Ebooks
http://www.yourdailyebooks.com/sample-page/

36. Free Books Hub
http://www.freebookshub.co.uk/authors/

37. GOODKINDLES
http://www.goodkindles.net/p/submit-your-book.html

38. Talisman Book Publishing
http://www.talismanbookpublishing.com/promotions/

39. eBook Deal of the Day US
http://ebookdealofday.com/author-submit

40. eBook Deal of the Day UK
http://www.ebookdealoftheday.co.uk/submissions

41. Books Direct
http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/p/list-your-book-with-books-direct.html

42. Author Marketing Club
http://authormarketingclub.com/members/submit-your-book/

43. Ignite Your Book
http://igniteyourbook.com/free-ebook-submission/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=550&width=1200

44. The Frugal eReader
http://thefrugalereader.com/submissions/

45. eReader iQ
http://www.ereaderiq.com/

46. The Digital Ink Spot
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dC1PcUFvVlZiV25lcjYtZzhtNzNQQnc6MQ

47. eReader Perks
http://www.ereaderperks.com/

48. Free Digital Reads
http://freedigitalreads.com/author-submissions/

49. eBookLister
http://www.ebooklister.net/submit.php

50. Pixel of Ink
http://www.pixelofink.com/sfkb/

51. XTME: English Books
http://www.englishbooks.xtme.de/submit-your-ebook/

52. Awesome Gang
http://awesomegang.com/submit-your-book/

53. Freebooksy
http://freebooksy.com/editorial-submissions

54. STORY finds
http://storyfinds.com/listing-information-for-authors-for-2013

55. Bargain eBook Hunter
http://bargainebookhunter.com/free-book-notification-form/

56. BookBub
http://home.bookbub.com/advertise

57. Free & Discounted Books
http://freediscountedbooks.com/submit-start/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=550&width=1200

58. Book Goodies
http://bookgoodies.com/submit-your-free-kindle-days/

59. BookGoodies for Kids
http://bookgoodieskids.com/submit-your-free-book-days/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=550&width=1200

60. Book Deal Hunter
http://bookdealhunter.com/submit-free-book/

61. Get Free eBooks
http://www.getfreeebooks.com/?page_id=81

62. Daily Free eBooks
http://www.daily-free-ebooks.com/suggest-free-ebook/

63. Free Book Dude
http://www.freebookdude.com/p/list-your-free-book.html

64. Digital Book Today
http://digitalbooktoday.com/12-top-100-submit-your-free-book-to-be-included-on-this-list/

65. Kindle Nation Daily
http://indie.kindlenationdaily.com/?page_id=642

66. eBook Blitz
http://ebookblitz.com/4-ways-to-promote-your-amazon-prime-free-download-days/

67. Orangeberry Books Tours
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFEyLTFUSHREd05KaVItaDdUUkVVNGc6MA#gid=0

68. The Kindle Book Review
http://form.jotformpro.com/form/21078469493969

69. Ereader News Today (ENT)
http://ereadernewstoday.com/ent-free-book-submissions/

70. Author Marketing Club – Announce your free book
http://authormarketingclub.com/members/announce-your-free-book/

71. eBooks Habit
http://ebookshabit.com/for-authors/

72. That Book Place
http://www.thatbookplace.com/free-promo-submissions/

73. Kindle Books and Tips
http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/for-authors/free-kindle-book-submission-form/

74. eBooks Free Daily
http://www.ebooksfreedaily.com/?page_id=16

75. Ask David
http://askdavid.com/free-book-promotion#submit_book

76. GalleyCat
http://www.facebook.com/galleycat/app_362465080506455

77. Books on the Knob
http://blog.booksontheknob.org/

78. eBook Spice (Erotica)
http://ebookspice.com/submissions

79. Flurries of Wors
http://flurriesofwords.blogspot.co.uk/p/book-advertising.html

80. Indies Unlimited
http://www.indiesunlimited.com/submissions/

81. One Hundred Free Books
http://onehundredfreebooks.com/author-free-kindle-book-submission.html

82. Erotica Every Day
http://www.eroticaeveryday.com/

83. Christian Book Readers
http://christianbookreaders.com/submit-your-free-books/

84. BookBlast
http://www.bookblast.co/advertise.shtml

85. Kindle Fire Department
http://fireapps.blogspot.co.uk/p/app-developers-authors.html

86. BookGorilla
http://www.bookgorilla.com/advertise

– WEBSITES TO SUBMIT TO ON THE DAY –

87. Addicted to eBooks
http://addictedtoebooks.com/free

88. Snickslist
http://snickslist.com/books/place-ad

89. Free Book Club
http://www.freebookclub.org/kindle-books/book-submissions/

90. Daily Cheap Reads
http://www.dailycheapreads.com/category/free/

91. Best eBooks World
http://www.bestebooksworld/addlinks.

– FACEBOOK PAGES TO POST TO ON THE DAY –

Note: I haven’t checked these Facebook pages in a while. Some may not be relevant anymore, but here they are for you to check anywhere … Please don’t spam them though! You may have to join some of these pages/groups beforehand so that you are allowed to post to them. As a favour to the page owners (in return for them allowing you to post your book), be sure to ‘like’ and share all of the pages that you post to. Check the ‘about’ sections on all of these pages to see what content, if any, they are happy for you to post. Also check if it’s a UK or a US page. For most of these pages it’s okay to just post straight onto their timeline, but I recommend reading each page’s policies.

– FORUMS TO POST TO ON THE DAY –

These forums allow you to sign up and post one thread about your book to them. But make sure you read these forums’ policies and post in the correct boards on their sites.

1. http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=226
2. http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/board,42.0.html
3. http://www.worldliterarycafe.com/forum/171

LIST 2: Paid advertising sites (if you book is free or on sale) FROM Rachelle’s Window

JustKindleBooks.com – Easy to use service to promote free and bargain ebooks, offering free book promotions and low-cost paid promotions.
Read Freely [rebranded from Indie Author Land] List free and discounted books at no charge. Author Interviews available. Completely FREE.
Discount Books Daily – Mailing lists for free and discounted ebooks, paperbacks, hardcover books, and audio books [apply here] [supports Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, Audible, Downpour, Apple]
The Choosy Bookworm – Free listings for your book promo [apply here]
The Daily Bookworm – mailing lists and Facebook posts.
Reddit – Targeted ads by promoting posts in category you like. [more info]
Booktastik – mailing lists and Facebook posts.
eReaderPerks – free and bargain ebooks. Submit your free listing for FREE book [here]. Paid listing also available [here].
ebooksoda – Submit your listing here [Amazon US & UK, Nook US & UK, Kobo, Apple, Google, Smashwords]
Fussy Librarian – Submit your listing here [Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords]
eFiction Finds – Submit your listing here (Note: “clean” fiction minus graphic language or illicit behavior) – may also submit books priced $2.99 and under
Book Club Reading List – get listed and join interviews with book clubs [listing fee applies]
Read Cheaply – Brand new mailing list advertisement – submit your listing here
EReader News Today – Scroll to the bottom where it says “Authors, submit your free Kindle books to ENT here”
Pixel of Ink – online form
eBooksHabit – fill out form for Free Listing. Guaranteed listing available for a small fee. NEW! Ebook submission service [a real time saver]
Ereader IQ – fill out contact form, they handpick books to feature on their Facebook page Book Basset and BookBasset.com
Kindle Nation Daily Paid Promotion – cost per day to be on a highlighted page.
World Literary Cafe – List your book for Free in WLC’s Dated Forums. Retweet the hashtag #WLCFreeToday
BookBub – PAID Advertising. Target mailing list by genre, price determined by number of mailing list subscribers. Includes support for all ebook vendors, Amazon, B&N, Google, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.
eReader Cafe – fill in the form
Feed Your Reader – Submit your listing here
Author Marketing Club – A single page to submit your Free book to many popular sites
Free Kindle Books & Tips – Fill out form. Will not promote erotica or books with graphic sexual content.
Freebooksy – They hand select the books they will feature. Fill out the form here.
Ebookbooster – paid site will submit to 45 free listing sites for $40
IndieBook of the Day – fill out the form
Frugal Freebies – Submission Form
Free-Bookz – Advertising packages for free and paid books
Daily Free Books – They automatically post free books, but you can pay to have your listing highlighted. See Author page.
Bargain Ebook Hunter – fill out the contact form, free, but listing not guaranteed, paid promo available.
Digital Book Today Top 100 Best Kindle Book List – submit request, book must have 13+ reviews with 4.0+ rating average Digital Book Today Paid Promos – visit the site and check for latest offering and price. Weekly Free feature for authors, interviews and guest posts.
Indie Book Promo – fill out “Free Day Listing” form
Snicks List – fill out form on THE DAY your book goes free (not beforehand).
The Kindle Book Review – Daily Freebie Alert (Paid and Free use the same form, check features desired), check site for latest price. Free Option requires 14-day advanced notice.
Free Digital Reads – follow the directions on their Author’s page to submit
IndiesUnlimited – Free and paid listings. See Advertising Page.
BookGoodies.com – Fill out a submission form.
Addicted to Ebooks Register as a member and post your freebie in the form provided
FreeBookFeed.com – free book submission form [must register for the site]
Free Book Dude – fill out contact form
EbookBargainsUK – specializing in UK reader audiences, PAID mailing list promo – special introductory prices
Indie Book Bargains (UK) – mailing list and social book site for UK readers
Freebookshub.com – Fill out the contact form [they want a $5 donation]
Freebookshub.co.uk – Donate for priority listing
eReader Utopia – list your free book on their site and post directly to their Facebook Page
Flurries of Words – paid submission information
StoryFinds – free listings (on donation basis) for your free book, paid promos alsoavailable
Kindle Book Promo – Fill out form
Kindle Freebies – send e-mail from the About Page. They also support SMASHWORDS codes.
Digital Ink Today – a listing of free books. I didn’t see a form to fill in. They must grab the feed directly from the Amazon API. You may post directly to their Facebook Page
Romance Reads – Mailing list and Facebook posts for deals on Romance of all types: erotic, historical, contemporary/new adult, paranormal, mystery/suspense. Seeadvertising page.
Kindleboards.com KindleBoards Book Bazaar thread http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/board,42.0.html AND NEW KindleBoards paid ads http://www.kindleboards.com/ads
World Literary Cafe – Free membership includes forums to contact book reviewers, network with authors and bloggers, tweet teams, Facebook Like Chain, Twitter Follow Chain, Book Tagging Chain. Paid promos available also.
Kindle Fire Dept – Sponsorship for featured book of the day.
Masquerade Crew – Book Promotion, Blog Tours, Tweet Service, Banner ads
Author’s Den – Free membership includes Author page, book list and links, contact information, and messages.
Author Marketing Club – Forums to connect authors to readers, e-mail lists, book cover gallery. Free
BivRic – Free Author Interviews [information here]
EpublishABook – lots of informative articles on self-publishing. Promos and Ads available. Free Book Reviewers page Like their Facebook Page
Indie Book of the Day – Submit your book for an award if it is professionally edited and has a cover that looks professional. Like their Facebook Page too. Paid promos available.
Book Daily – Book Samples for Book Lovers, Free Author’s Account
BookBub – PAID Advertising. Target mailing list by genre, price determined by number of mailing list subscribers. Includes support for all ebook vendors, Amazon, B&N, Google, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.
PeopleReads – Listings and Email List. Books must have more than 25 reviews and a 3.9 average. See Submission Guidelines.
Daily Free Books – Ads available on their website. See Author page.
Indie Book Promo – Fill out “Cheap Reads” form if book is under $2.99, paid packages also available.
One More Chapter – author spotlights, book spotlights, affordable pricing – details
Indie Book Bargains – UK Oriented site
Kindle Users Forum – UK Oriented site
Independent Author’s Network – One time Listing Fee to be included
eBooksHabit – Book of the Day listing book from Author’s Page
Book Goodies – Author Interviews, Podcasts, book features
OneHundredFreeBooks – Book of the day for $30, see booking page.
Ebook Impresario – Paid listings for free, bargain, book of day, week, etc.
The Cheap eBook – (formerly thecheap.net) – ads, banners, Facebook posts [no free book promotion as of Mar 1, 2013]
BookPinning – Online digital magazine, pin your book, paid and free features.
Awesome Gang – Free Book Promo for Authors. List your book for Free
Indie Book List – free listings, excerpts and list of reviewer blogs
Addicted To Ebooks – Free listing available – need at least five reviews on Amazon
Independent Author’s Index – One time Listing Fee to be included, multiple promo opportunities, including free social network marketing of your profile, posts and links.
Book Tweeting Service – List of Book Reviewers (Free) Advertising and Tweeting services available.
KindleMojo – Free listing available
Free Ebooks Galore – See Advertising Page
The Ebook Daily Deal – cost of listing is buying the author’s $2.99 book
Best Ebook Reader – Fill out form and they will promote you for free on their Facebook Page for one day.
StoryFinds – promotes on website, facebook and twitter, See Author’s Page for what’s available
Flurries of Words – Listings are for $1-$5 donations. See Advertising Page.
Flurries of Words (UK) – Sister site for Flurries of Words. See Advertising Page.
The Serious Reader – Free Author Interviews, Guest posts and Book features in return for putting badge on your site. See Author Information Page. [Also features Nook books]
Indie House Books – Free book listing with signup to newsletter
All Mystery E-Newsletter – A newsletter for readers of mysteries and thrillers. Author Promos [mystery/suspense/thrillers/cozies] available across all social media avenues (e-mail, facebook, twitter, pinterest, goodreads, homepage website). See Author Weekly Promo Page.
Indie Book Festival – Seasonal book sales support
BookGrow.com – Free book listing with backlink to their site, 5 reviews – information page
BookSends – E-mail advertising, Author’s sign up here.
EbookBargainsUK – specializing in UK reader audiences, mailing list promo – special introductory prices

Writing Real Characters

Posted on January 18, 2015 5 Comments

So, lately I’ve not been here, on my blog, because I am trying to get the final edits to CRUEL SUMMER done, so you can get your hot little hands on Kian, Ana, and MJ on March 16^th, 2015 at the Girl Power Author Panel (deets to come). But I needed to squeeze in some time to address a few things because, quite honestly, I have the MOST AWESOME EVER FANS. OMG – it blows my mind! I can’t ever tell them thank you enough!

Okay – actually, they aren’t MY fans (I’m fairly boring and steal clothes from my fourteen year old daughter’s closet). They are mad fans of MY CHARACTERS, which is WAAAAYYYY more important. No seriously – it is.

People are posting left and right that they are re-reading Undertow and Stormfront for the second, third – hell, sometimes FOURTH time. That every time they read it, they like it more and find more “trinkets” buried in the books (and, oh man, are there a lot of trinkets).

Because I write a series of books built on the same characters, I know that I better create characters that readers adore, or they aren’t going to want to continue with the series. But for fans and reviewers to be re-reading the books?? WOW! I am so EXCITED! And my books are sizable – heck, CRUEL SUMMER is actually a NOVEL (not a novella) and STORMFRONT could be used as a weapon, it’s so heavy (112,000 words if you’re wondering). TRUE NORTH will be a beast as well. I’m terrified of writing that one, not because of its size, but because of the stakes at hand.

18 year old Colby McWilliams was the original model for "Raef." He still is a fan of his "killer turned savior" character.

18 year old Colby McWilliams was the original model for “Raef.” He is still a fan of his “killer turned savior” alter-ego.

I never, EVER want to disappoint my readership, and I’ve hit that point where I want each new novel to out-do the last. I want to give readers that epic story, and that weighs on me often.

Some days, the doubt feels bigger and heavier than Kian’s yacht.

And though the entire story was always set (I knew the last scene from day 1), getting these very real characters to that point, is a hair-pulling experience. Plus, the Undertow story web is so complex, it looks like a street map of Boston’s downtown. And keeping track of all those zillions of little trinkets that I’ve placed throughout the story are starting to melt my brain.

And yes – CRUEL SUMMER adds to that complex, trinket-ridden web in very sneaky ways.

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even worse, I’ve found out a bit late that if you write character driven stories, sometimes the characters mutiny and TAKE OVER THE F-ING story!! Eila, Ana, Raef, Kian, and MJ all have fans because they act like real, fully developed people. They have personalities, ways of talking, motivations, flaws, fears, love, and hate. They even have mannerisms and a set style. And just like a REAL person, you can’t force someone to do something.

In interviews, people have asked how I came up with the characters. The answer is simple: I started with a set of personalities that didn’t work well together and forced them to cooperate:

Content People Watcher (EILA)

In Your Face Loner (ANA)

The Quiet Craftsman (RAEF)

Self-Centered Money (KIAN)

Goofy, Loyal Friend (MJ)

I always search the internet for faces and emotions of characters, and the “feel” of Rillin Blackwood I found in a photo of a famous rocker.

I assigned names to those traits, and from there, I built out the characters.

The clash of who they are as people, is what makes them so real. I then place them into an adventure that tests those traits and forces them into positions that are in conflict with who they are morally and psychologically. I do this FOR EVERY character that appears in the series. It’s a time-consuming process (darn ‘ye, Psych degree!)

To build REAL characters, you can’t just throw personality traits at them and hope they stick. You need to know WHY they act a given way, not just within the story, but from the day they are born. We humans are a result of both nature and nurture – what traits we are born with and how our environment impacts the person we become. But those core traits, the ones we are born with, dictate HOW we react in a given situation. Basically I assign a Zodiac sign to each character.

I then write out all the scenes I see happening to each character and place them on index cards, with one card in the middle that gives me the climax. From there, I work backwards, setting the story up in reverse.

This series has been a test of my sanity, but I am propelled forward by those readers who adored the story. I keep pushing the limits because of the fans, seeking an epic adventure that will be re-read and handed-off for years to come. And I vow to always do my best – by the story, the characters, and my readers.

My goal is simple: to leave the reader screaming for more.

Check our reviewer Ann Quinn’s awesome YouTube review of UNDERTOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0hDQdHObr8

Happy 2015

Posted on January 1, 2015 Leave a Comment

Common Core, I SMITE THEE!

Posted on December 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

UNDERTOW HAS A RESOURCE GUIDE!

I had many, MANY requests from teachers for an educator’s guide for UNDERTOW. After much procrastinating (and perhaps rolling around on the floor, pitching a hissy fit), I finally sat down and made one.

OMG, no wonder authors hire OTHER crazy people to do this.

Anyway, here it is for all you hard working, fabulous teachers who wanted to bring Undertow into the classroom. If this makes your life easier, then it was worth all the screaming and chocolate I ingested over the last six hours.

Although . . . I will probably regret that entire jumbo bag of M&Ms later.

Maybe the Dove bar as well.

And the Starbucks.

Good Lord, I’ll be up all night . . .

TOTALLY WORTH IT!

I’m Baaaacccckkkk

Posted on December 18, 2014 Leave a Comment

Nuf’ said . . .

Book Review: ZEROBOXER by Fonda Lee

Posted on December 15, 2014 Leave a Comment

ZEROBOXER by FONDA LEE

Flux, April 8, 2015

Preorder: AMAZON, B&N

TEASER / SUMMARY:

A high-action sci-fi about a young man battling to make it to the top in the world of zero gravity prizefighting, amid brewing interplanetary conflict, pitched as Rocky meets Gattaca.

Eighteen-year-old Carr “the Raptor” Luka is an athletic phenom, a rising star in the weightless combat sport of zeroboxing. Training and competing aboard the lunar orbiting city-station of Valtego (where It’s More Fun on the Dark Side TM), all he’s ever wanted is to win the championship title.

His talent and marketability don’t go unnoticed by the top brass of the Zero Gravity Fighting Association. They assign him a brandhelm; after all, anyone who wants to be anyone needs a dedicated personal marketing strategist. Beautiful and ambitious, Risha is one of the genetically engineered Martian colonists that Earth dwellers view with resentment and suspicion. It isn’t long before she’s made Carr into a popular celebrity, and stolen his heart along the way.

But success could be the worst thing that happens to them. As his fame grows, Carr must come to terms with the fact that he’s become an inspirational hero on Earth, a once-great planet now angry at falling into the shadow of its more prosperous colonies. When Carr learns of a far-reaching criminal scheme, he becomes the keeper of a devastating personal secret. Not only will his choices place into jeopardy everything he holds dear, they may spill the violence from the sports arena out into the solar system.

MY REVIEW

“Victory was a better high than a hundred bliss bombs. Perfect and real, lasting for days, even weeks, before being polished and stored in its own special nook of the soul, each win in his collection unique and everlasting, wanting nothing except more neighbors.” – Carr “The Raptor” Luka

Zeroboxer landed on the top of my TBR list for 2015 for several reasons:

First: the cover (which I though were headdress-like masks initially) was FABULOUS. FYI – those are wings on the front, NOT masks a la Stargate on the cover. Either way, it’s cool.

Second: the description, which pitched it as a sci-fi twist on Rocky. Let me tell ya, no one is a bigger Battlestar Galactica / Star Trek fan than moi, so the setting hooked me.

Third: I’m a huge fan of great sports films (I know – go figure, I ride horses and haven’t seen Secretariat).

Zeroboxer surprised me, but in a good way. It wasn’t what I was expecting.

In fact, if I compared Zeroboxer to anything, it brings to mind the themes in Any Given Sunday, The Fighter, and Million Dollar Baby. I loved all three films.

The story follows Carr, a young, brilliant zeroboxer from Earth whose star is on the rise. He is jaw-dropping in the cube (aka the zerogravity cage), riding high on his fame and taken under the wing of a Martian zeroboxing association giant, Bax Gant. He is assigned a Martian brandhelm, the beautiful Risha, who becomes a love interest (FYI – the romance is a very, VERY distant secondary story, so don’t think this is a romance AT ALL, although there is some nudity mentioned). Soon Carr’s world comes crashing down when he realizes he is a pawn and his zeroboxing days are numbered . . . and jail (or worse) may loom in the future if he is not careful.

This story, at its core, is about a young athlete’s love of the game and the struggle to come to terms with its darker, corrupted side . . . but that’s not exactly what the teaser says. I didn’t see Risha as “ambitious” (a word that pulls a negative undertone in the teaser), I didn’t get some horrible conflict between earth and the Martian colonist (they’re a bit pissed, but eh), and I didn’t get anything in regards to the violence from the sports arena spilling into the solar system (there is a throw down in the arena and a fisticuff at the embassy, but nothing like WWII).

So, after reading the teaser, I went into the book thinking that this was going to be a story about a young star’s rise in the Zeroboxing world amid corruption, but that he and his Martian brandhelm discover a plot that will ignite a war between races (Terrans and Martians) and he must choose which side to stand with.

This is totally NOT that story, BUT what I read was still AWESOME.

Fonda Lee’s vividly imagined world of weightless cage fighters is PERFECT for any older male teen who is obsessed with sports. In fact, I was recommending Zeroboxer yesterday to a young man I knew who adores Fight Club. I’ve been talking it up with the bookstores near me, who often stock whatever I recommend, especially since this book (unlike any other I’ve read) is IDEAL for those reluctant male readers. Zeroboxer is the literary form of those video games that male teenagers adore, igniting their own desire to win and keep them reading late into the night in the hopes that Carr will succeed in life and in the cube.

Lee’s story of fierce determination in the brutal sport of zerogravity cage-fighting, will no doubt be the top pick of 2015 for every teenage boy who ever fought their way to the top, and put all they had on the line.

Zeroboxer is a epic victory dance for every parent who is seeking that one, unputdownable story for their teenage son.