Interview With Kendra L. Saunders, Writer, Fashionista, And All-Around Awesome Person @kendrybird @bellatrix_press #WriterWednesday #interview #fashion #author #amwriting

Happy Wednesday, readers!

It's no secret that I get by with a little help (okay, a lot) from my friends, and one of my besties is Kendra L. Saunders. She writes, she's a fashion blogger, and she makes a mean latte. In fact, she's so awesome that I made her a character in my contemporary romance, Changing Scenes. Read on, and find out why her fans adore her so.

  JAP: Let’s start with fashion! You’re a fashion blogger, have attended NY Fashion Week, and you’ve got a unique and very photogenic personal style. Have you always been interested in fashion?

  KS: I've been into accessories for as long as I can remember! As a kid, I was already trying to make weird and exciting jewelry, usually by taking things apart that I shouldn't have been touching! As I got older, my love for fashion expanded to clothes, and at 17 years old, I got my first subscription to InStyle magazine. There was truly no going back then. I'd also like to credit much of my love of fashion to my best childhood friend, Sarah, who was in love with the luxe life from a very young age. She taught me so much about fashion, makeup, and everything, really.

  JAP: In Changing Scenes, you’re an up and coming designer who’s not afraid to take risks. Tell us about a risky move you made that paid off.

KS: One of the riskiest moves I've made actually relates to fashion! Years ago, I reached out to a fashion designer and asked him if I could interview him. I had almost no credits to my name in the world of interviewing, at the time, and was running entirely on confidence. It worked! He said yes, and I began interviewing people from all aspects of the fashion world. That led to attending New York Fashion Week, and I hope will eventually lead to Paris and London Fashion Week as well!

JAP: Rumor has it that Viktor Arson, the male lead in The Unlove Spell, is loosely based on a fashion designer. Any truth to that?

 

KS: He is! Dmitry Sholokhov is a fashion designer from Belarus who has appeared on and won two seasons of Project Runway. He's also probably a magical being. In late 2012, I wrote The Unlove Spell, and a lot of Viktor's character sprang from a certain photograph of Dmitry and his Project Runway model! I still love how evocative that picture is. He has one of the oldest printed copies of The Unlove Spell that exists, many edits ago. I can't wait to get him the edited, shiny, pretty copy!

JAP: Engaged to an Alien Pop Star, the sequel to your wildly successful Dating an Alien Pop Star, releases soon. Tell us about it!

KS: I'm so excited about it! Engaged to an Alien Pop Star is sexier, funnier, and even more wacky than Dating. Griffin makes an album for his fans, a romantic proposal takes place, and the gang has to face off with some giant alien bugs. What's not to love? I can't wait to hear what fans of the first book think of this one!

JAP: Finally, do you have any advice for those looking to get more involved in fashion or writing?

KS: For style bloggers, your presence in the world of style is your business card, as it were. Make sure you're dressed how you want others to perceive you, whether it means wearing vintage, lots of accessories, minimalist pieces, designer pieces, or cheap clothes that you've spun into your own new piece. People will come to expect certain things from you, and come back to see what other styles you've created from your signature palette of ideas, colors, or vibes. All of those things make up your “brand”, and you want your brand to be as consistent as possible.

For instance, I'm over the top in fashion, but also very feminine, and love outrageous accessories and makeup. My personal “brand” is one of luxurious eccentricity... but that doesn't usually reflect how much I actually spend on my wardrobe! It's almost always possible to find pieces that fit your vibe but are a fraction of the price of designer, without giving yourself away. I've made it a goal to share amazing style for fashionistas on a budget, which is also inclusive of average and plus sized gals (and guys!)

I admit, I don't actually take many full body pictures of my outfits, because my accessories and makeup are usually the focus of my fashion-y posts, but having a good quality camera is, of course, very important. Document as much of what you wear as you can, and share it liberally. Make sure to credit the creators of your accessories and the brands of makeup you're wearing. Brands love getting shout-outs on social media and blogs, and will often share your posts with their followers if they like them.

As for writing about fashion, I suggest you read as much as you can about fashion, go to fashionable events, keep an eye on sartorial trends happening in your local area, and start your own trends that you can tell others about. If you're hoping to interview people in fashion, do what I did! Be brave and confident, and ask if you can interview someone! You never know who will say yes! Just make sure you have some questions ready to go in case you get a yes. You don't want to be unprepared, and look unprofessional.

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Like I said, Kendra's awesome! Have any questions for her about writing, blogging, or meeting sexy rockstars? Leave 'em in the comments!

About the Author

Kendra L. Saunders is a time-and-space traveling fashionista author who writes books about magical, dark-haired men, interviews famous people,and suggests way too many bands to you via whatever social media platform she can get her hands on. She writes with good humor because humor is the best weapon for a girl who can't learn karate (or ballroom dancing). She's the author of the Alien Pop Star series, magic realism novel Inanimate Objects, the dark comedy Death and Mr. Right, and the poetry collection Geminis and Past Lives. Connect with Kendra online at www.kendralsaunders.com/

 And read about her fashion designer alter-ego in Changing Scenes: http://amzn.to/2giKSPC

Writer Wednesday, Thankful Edition #WriterWednesday #thankful #thanksgivingeve #author #amwriting

Since it's Thanksgiving Eve, I thought this would be a great time to list a few of the things I'm thankful for with regard to my writing life - some of the items listed make my job as an author easier, some offer inspiration, and some give me purpose. Without further ado, let's get started!

1. The Internet - seriously, how can I not appreciate a tool that lets me listen to native Gaelic speakers, get a 360 degree view of Angkor Watt, and research archaic terms for metallic elements all in one night?  Strong research makes a strong story, and I'm lucky I can do this from the comfort of my laptop instead of a library or dusty records room. Not that libraries aren't awesome, but most aren't open at 3 am.
2. Social Media - okay, that's kind of included with internet, but hear me out. Social media has exploded in recent years, allowing me to interact with my readers in real time, all over the world. That's awesome.
3. My Writer Friends - I have met SO MANY awesome writers, and many have become my beta readers, critique partners, and friends. Speaking of writer friends...
4. Bellatrix Press - I once despaired that I'd never find a publisher that had the same vision for my work that I do. Happily, I was wrong! My next title with Bellatrix - Rise of the Deva'shi (Parthalan #3) - will release in February 2017, and there will be more to come. I can't wait.

What are you thankful for this season? Share in the comments!

 

Writer Wednesday: NaNo Check In, And Release Dates For Changing Fate And Gallowglass! #WriterWednesday #NaNoWriMo #goals #amwriting

It's Day 16 of NaNo! If you're writing your 1667 words per day (the minimum daily word count to stay on track to reach 50k by November 30), by now you have written 26,672 words.

My current word count is 16,998. I'm not exactly killing it this time around.

That low word count begs the question, what's going on? I win NaNo EVERY year. Usually, I hit the 50k mark around the three week mark, and gloat like a gloatasaurus rex all over the internet. To call this situation is perplexing is an understatement.

As for what's impeding my progress, a few things happened. I had to reevaluate the publishing timeline for my Parthalan series, and complete a massive re-edit ASAP. That took up the first week of November, which put me behind in my word count but moved my series forward. All in all, that was a good trade.

Having put out that fire, I got into my WIP...and right around the 6k mark, the plot went off the rails. It didn't deviate all that far, and it's definitely fixable. This story is one that I've wanted to write for years, and I will definitely see it completed. Could I fix it and still hit my 50k goal? Probably. But, then something happened.

Something kind of awesome.

Out of the blue, I was hit with the most fricken' amazing idea ever. It's a YA, and I never write YA, so that in itself is exciting. It takes place in Ireland, and there are mermaids and lost cities and surfing. I haven't had this much fun writing in years, and even though I'm 10k behind, I don't care. I am going to finish this story, and then I'm going to edit and revise it to perfection. Who cares if it doesn't hit 50k by November 30? No one, that's who.

My confidence is bolstered by the fact that my previous NaNo projects have fared well. My 2014 NaNo, Changing Teams, released last November, and the third in the series, Changing Fate, will release on March 28, 2017. And my 2013 project, Gallowglass, will release on June 6, 2017.

You read that right--GALLOWGLASS HAS A RELEASE DATE!!!

To sum up, keep working on your WIP, no matter where you are in your word count. To steal NaNo's motto, the word needs your novel.

 Have you encountered some NaNo setbacks? How did you work around them? Tell us in the comments!

 
 Get Changing Teams here: http://amzn.to/2f5PDcZ


 And the sequel, Changing Scenes: http://amzn.to/2giKSPC  

Writer Wednesday: You Can't Make This Stuff Up #writerwednesday #NaNoWriMo #truestory #amwriting

The 2016 Presidential election. Well, that happened.

I'm not going to tell you who I voted for, or ask anyone to divulge their candidate of choice. If I've learned anything over the years it's that my readers are both intelligent and well-educated, and I'm confident that all of you voted according to your conscience. The fact that we can do that is one of the basic reasons the USA is such a wonderful place to live. What I am going to do is tell you about my experiences while voting.

What does this have to do with NaNoWriMo, you ask? Well, nothing, and everything. Hang on, you'll see.

Due to a series of not very random events, I didn't get to my polling location until after 5 pm. The first thing I noticed was the line; no one, and I mean no one, votes where I live, which is nice when I want to get in and out fast. But there was a line yesterday, and I thought yay, voter turnout!

I got my ballots, did my thing, and then I checked out and queued up to deposit my ballot in that little R2D2 contraption before heading home. Then the unthinkable happened. 

The contraption jammed.

Three guesses who's my favorite droid.

 

The R2D2 wannabe hissed and spit, and refused to take another ballot. The vast majority of us sighed, pulled out our phones, and politely ignored each other while those working at the polling station figured out what to do--but in every group there's one.

"Voter suppression," shrieked a woman near the front of the line. "You're refusing to count my vote!" 
"Ah, ma'am," said the obviously not getting paid enough for this nonsense man. "The machine is just jammed. It'll be fixed in a minute."

"Is it the paper?" she demanded. "Are these ballots printed on faulty paper? And why are you so calm? This is serious!"

"Yes, ma'am, it is serious," he replied. "The machine's been jamming all day, so we're kinda used to it."

"ALL DAY," she repeated, in all caps (and possibly italics). "WHY HAVEN'T YOU SENT FOR A REPLACEMENT?" And she went on, railing on about conspiracy theories and voter intimidation, and at one point she drew a comparison between the jammed machine and Jimmy Hoffa.

Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.

Just like you can't make up meeting your favorite droid! 

 And that, my writer friends, is why I'm telling you this story. We writers are observers first, and we take in the minute details that others gloss over, and used them to create amazing works of fiction and nonfiction. I'm not currently working on a piece about an individual steeped in conspiracy theories who has an incident at a polling location, but maybe someday I will. When I need to write that sort of character, my writing will be stronger because I will have witnessed it first hand.

Now, I'm not exhorting you to go forth an cultivate trouble. What I am saying is to be present and aware as you move about your days, much like you orient your reader to time and space within your writing. Our shared human experience is a gold mine if inspiration, cautionary tales, and, above all, beauty.

And wackiness. Can't forget the wackiness.

 Have you ever witnessed something so out there you thought, wow, you can't make this stuff up? Tell us in the comments!


  Enter to win an ecopy of Heir to the
Sun! https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/1ad36b898ed7a91e

The Virgin Queen is on sale for 99 cents: http://amzn.to/2fh2tWM

Finding Inspiration, World Holiday Edition #WriterWednesday #inspiration #amwriting

Hey all! For those of you NaNo-ing, your word count should be right at 3334. Personally, I'm at 1053, but I have 28 days to catch up ;)

Today I'm talking about inspiration again, since having nothing to write about isn't really conducive to meeting word count goals. Several times, I've been inspired by holidays. Yes, you can be inspired by the more commercial, well-known holidays, but reading about other holidays can spark all sorts of creative thoughts.

For instance, today is November 2, All Souls' Day in the Christian religion, which commemorates the faithful departed.  A quick Google search, and the associated imagery it uncovers, can feed your imagination for a week.

Here are some other interesting, and not widely celebrated (at least not where I am) holidays:

Beer Day - Celebrated in Iceland on March 1. it celebrates the end of Prohibition, and, um, beer.

Lei Day - Celebrated in Hawaii on May 1. The custom is to wear a lei throughout the day.

National Science Day - Celebrated in Thailand on August 18. Commemorates King Mongkut's prediction and observation of a total solar eclipse in 1868.

Feast Day of Our Lady of Meritxell - Celebrated on September 8 in Andorra. In the 12th century, the statute of the Virgin Mary from the chapel in Mertitxell somehow left the chapel and was found under a wild rose blooming out of season. The villagers took it as a sign to build a new chapel on that site. The holidays I've mentioned above are only the the tip of the iceberg. If you find your inspiration lacking, I highly recommend a virtual stroll among world holidays.

How do you find inspiration? Tell us in the comments!

  Enter to win an ecopy of Heir to the Sun! https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/1ad36b898ed7a91

e The Virgin Queen is on sale for 99 cents: http://amzn.to/2fh2tWM

Bellatrix Press Halloween Blog Hop! @Bellatrix_Press #Halloween #witches

 Magic comes in all shapes and sizes, and so do the people who use it. To celebrate Halloween, four authors got together to interview their magic-using characters and share the responses. And, as always happens when the four of us get together, to make some fun trouble.

That being said, the four of us have decided to break the interview pieces up so you can read them across our blogs. My Interview is with Marling Ellis from The Unlove Spell by Kendra L. Saunders.

Q: Do you remember the first time you used magic? If so, please tell us about it.

Please don't tell anyone this, especially not my magic tutor Kyran, or anyone at the New York Witch School, but I have never used magic in the traditional sense. Or, well... I don't think I have. However, I have always had this crazy ability to know if something is going to go on sale soon. The first time it happened to me, I was about 8 years old, and I told my mom not to buy a pair of sparkly pink boots, because they would be on sale the next day. Sure enough? They were. I can also guess a man's income just by looking at his watch. That has to be a sign of magic too, right?

Q: What is something you wish you could do with magic but haven't been able to yet?

Make Chris Hemsworth fall in love with me.

Q: What is something you wish you had never done with magic?

I wish I had never accidentally put the unlove spell on myself. It's a complete bummer to miss out on chances with hot guys, especially ones you meet while on a work trip to Cancun.

Q: Do real witches have broomsticks and/or black cats?

I can't really have cats, thanks to being crazy allergic to cats. I also don't really like broomsticks, thanks to being crazy allergic to housecleaning. However, if an actual flying broomstick ever comes onto the market, you'd better bet I'll own one. It would cut out so much traffic.

Q: If you lost your magical abilities tomorrow, what would you pursue instead?

That would mean the unlove spell was broken, so I'd probably go back to Cancun. And make sure I used those apps that keep you from paying too much for online shopping.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9CWNXA

Synopsis:

Magic has certain rules. You can’t really make someone fall in love with you, but you can make damn sure they don't fall in love with anyone else. That is, if you’re any good with magic in the first place.

Marling Ellis is a young witch who accidentally places a spell on herself to prevent her heart from ever belonging to anyone but Viktor Arson, the sexy, aristocratic Russian writer she shared a passionate, but brief, fling with. Marling’s spent the five years since their fling alone, occupying her personal time with the internet and hot chocolate. Viktor, a fae prince, has gone on to become a world-famous writer. Most importantly, he can also still make a killer good cup of coffee, and wear the hell out of leather pants. Vital skills in any relationship.

Now, Marling finds herself caught up in a plot by Kyran, one of her former magic teachers. She ends up in Russia, hunting Viktor down and trying to figure out if she really loves him... or if her feelings are just a product of the unlove spell.

Bio:

Kendra L. Saunders is a time-and-space traveling fashionista author who writes books about magical, dark-haired men, interviews famous people, and suggests way too many bands to you via whatever social media platform she can get her hands on. She writes with good humor because humor is the best weapon for a girl who can't learn karate (or ballroom dancing). She's the author of the Alien Pop Star series, magic realism novel Inanimate Objects, the dark comedy Death and Mr. Right, and the poetry collection Geminis and Past Lives.

Below are all the blogs participating in the hop. Go check 'em out and tell me what you think about the witchy women of of Bellatrix Press.

April L Wood https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress.com/

JA Noble http://www.27kingdoms.com/

Jennifer Allis Provost (wait, you're already here!) https://authorjenniferallisprovost.com/

Kendra L. Saunders: http://kendrybird.blogspot.com/

The Virgin Queen is on sale for 99 cents: http://amzn.to/2fh2tWM

Writer Wednesday: Finding Time To Write In Three Easy Steps #WriterWednesday #amwriting #goals #inspiration #findingtime

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” -- Robert Louis Stevenson

 And that's exactly what you're doing when you write, whether it's a grocery list or participating in NaNoWriMo, planting seeds. Unless you're going for instant gratification via social media or blogging, when you write something it takes time for it to pay off. But no matter what or why you're writing, you need to get the writing done first.

Which leads me to the following list, my release schedule for next year:

Rise of the Deva'shi (Parthalan #3) - February 2017
Changing Fates (Changes #3) - April 2017
Gallowglass - June 2017
Golem (Parthalan #4) - September 2017
Bride of the Gallowglass (Gallowglass #2) - November 2017

Well, that's certainly ambitious.

There are lots of reasons why 2017 will go down in history as Release Madness, the main one being that three of the above titles are extremely close to completion (they don't need more than a final edit/proofread and finalized covers), and the other two are very close to final draft status. Still, that's a helluva schedule, and I'm not even mentioning my DDJ (Dreaded Day Job), wrangling the Wonder Twins and Wonder Dog (the parrot is above our shenanigans), or grad school. So how the heck will I find time to write?

Simple: I will make time.

Honestly, that's really all it comes down to. Whenever we have something we're passionate about, be it writing or woodworking or running marathons, we find the time to do it. We all get the same 24 hours each day; some of us choose to use them wisely, others binge on Netflix (says the girl who watched 2 seasons of Daredevil in four days. What? It was, um, research.)

Here's how I find time to write:

I write at the same time every day. For me, that means after the Wonder Twins get on the bus, and my husband goes back to bed. This gives me about an hour of peace and quiet per weekday. Of course, I can write at other times, but having a set schedule is very helpful.

I strive to meet my word count. usually my word count is 2000 per day. I don't hold myself to that if I'm in deep edit mode, since I'm often deleting while writing, and keeping track of all that is maddening.

I take days off. Forcing yourself to write is not the way to create compelling stories. I get much more quality work done when I take breaks from writing, and 500 good words beats 2000 filler words (that will likely get deleted) any day.

That's how I do it! How do you find time to write? Tell us in the comments!

 Enter to win an ecopy of Heir to the Sun! https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/1ad36b898ed7a91e 

The Virgin Queen is on sale for 99 cents: http://amzn.to/2fh2tWM

What Kind Of Pencils do You Use? #WriterWednesday #amwriting #inspiration

In my never-ending quest for blog post topics, I asked my husband what I should write about today... and I got the title you see above you. And while I initially dismissed his idea, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Artist need tools to create, right?

 But I don't want to talk about traditional writing tools, like pencils and notebooks and word processing programs. I want to talk about the tools that make writing possible, tools that you can use to smash through writers block or jump start your inspiration. one of the tools I use for this--and I have many--are newsletters.

 Newsletters?

I subscribe to a wide variety of newsletter, some because they're writing related, some for inspiration, and some just for fun. Below are a few of my favorites.

 Travel + Leisure: This is a list based newsletter, which features things like "25 Waterfalls To See Before You Die" and "Top Ten Towns For Foodies". It's a great way to get inspiration for a scene, or research a location without leaving home.

 Tasting Table: Features a wide variety of world cuisine, and has restaurant and chef profiles. It's fun learning what's eaten for breakfast in Sweden, and how chefs create those amazing meals.

 Atlas Obscura: As the name implies, this newsletter features some of the strangest and most out of the way stuff on earth. I've read articles on Spring Heeled Jack , a church decorated with dragon bones, and a unicorn skeleton. Now that's some inspiration.

 What tools do you use for inspiration? Tell us in the comments!

Heir to the Sun is available here: http://amzn.to/2cSkNSx

 My next appearance will be at Bing Comic Con in Springfield, MA on October 22: http://www.bingcomiccon.org/

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It's Not Too Early To Talk About 2017 Goals, Is It? #WriterWednesday #goals #amwriting

Last week, I talked about the goals I wouldn't be achieving in 2016. That led me to make a list of twelve possible goals for 2017, and by making it public with y'all, I have accountability. Um, eek.

While not all of these are specifically writing-related, they will all propel me toward my ultimate goal of leaving the DDJ (that's Dreaded Day Job, a term coined by Nick Stephenson), giving myself the time and space to devote to my writing, and living a simpler, happier life with my husband and the Wonder Twins. 

And Maggie, the Wonder Dog. (Don't tell the parrot I couldn't find a picture of her.)                      

Without further ado, here is my 2017 goal list:

1. Increase readership - because let's start the list with a crap ton of work. More detail to come on this.
2. Have a beginner homestead up and running by 12/31/2017 - Did I tell you I'm attempting a homestead on my city lot? Stay tuned for more info!
3. Pay off LTG - LTG is this stupid creditor that's been hanging around for YEARS. I only owe them about $1500, so 2017 will be the year to make that disappear.
4. Lose the 20lbs I gained when I started working from home - I can do that in a year. Right?
5. Double my email subscribers - tripling and quadrupling would also be acceptable.
6. Read 100 books - because good writers are readers first.
7. Do twelve new things with the Wonder Twins - new fairs, new museums, the sky's the limit here.
8. Make 2 extra car payments - a big part of the plan to leave the DDJ is to reduce expenses, and ditching the car payment will definitely help.
9. Stay current on all expenses - again, all in the name of reducing costs and not needing the DDJ
10. Restart my craft business - BWT (Before Wonder Twins) I used to make and sell jewelry and paintings. Now that the kids are in school, I have the time and space to restart that portion of my life.
11. Learn how to bake bread - because who doesn't want to be able to whip up a fresh, crusty loaf of bread?
12. Finish The Chronicles of Parthalan to book 6 - finish as all in a rough draft state, not finished as in published. I'm not that crazy.

Okay, so that list is a bit...daunting. But you know what? I can do each and every item on that list, and each item will propel me closer to my ultimate goal of leaving corporate America behind, and giving me more time to devote to my writing. It's easy to say "I will write more" or "I will submit more often", but sometimes you need to do some background work before that's possible. If you want to write more, first you have to find the time to write.

Will I ever be a full time writer? Honestly, I don't know--but I can't wait to find out.
 Do you have any 2017 goals yet? Let us know in the comments!

  Heir to the Sun is available here: http://amzn.to/2cSkNSx


My next appearance will be at Bing Comic Con in Springfield, MA on October 22: http://www.bingcomiccon.org/

Sign up for my mailing list here and get a free ebook anthology, Strange Authors!

What Happens when You Don't Make Your Goals? You Keep Going, Of Course #WriterWednesday #amwriting #goals

About a week ago I started prepping my blog posts for 2017, including my yearly writing goals... And that got me to thinking about my 2016 goals, and one goal in particular that I am not going to achieve. I'd planned to release five novels this year, but that just won't be happening.

I started off strong, and released Changing Scenes on January 5. The Virgin Queen released on April 5, and Copper Veins FINALLY came out on July 27. And then...crickets. The other two titles I'd intended to release this year were Changing Fate, the third installment in my contemporary romance series, Changes, and Rise of the Deva'shi, the third Chronicle of Parthalan. After I was done being mad at myself for not making these goals, I took a step back and tried to figure out what happened.

In the case of Changing Fate, there were a few things going on. In all honesty Changing Scenes came out way too quickly (Changing Teams released October 29, 2015, and Changing Scenes hit the shelves on January 5, 2016), and I never got the chance to properly promote it.  Add that to the fact that I have two other currently-releasing series, am querying a fourth, am in grad school full time, and have the Wonder Twins, husband, and pets to wrangle, and, well, I think you know why Changing Fate isn't coming out until next year. Oy.

The situation is a bit different for Rise of the Deva'shi. Even though this is the third Chronicle of Parthalan, it was originally released back in 2009. (Long story. Someday, when y'all have insomnia, I'll tell you all about it.) So it was supposed to re-release this year, being that Bellatrix Press picked up the entire series. Everything was lined up, and then... well, I did a thing.

I was supposed to hand over the manuscript to the editor by August 1. In the meantime I'd been reworking and tweaking away, and I kept getting stuck on this one section. It didn't really fit with the overall tone of the book, and our hero, Aeolmar, was behaving out of character. There were some good scenes in that passage, and some awesome bits of dialogue, but in the end it had to go.

So, the day before the manuscript was due, I cut 24,000 words.

Yes, twenty four THOUSAND.

As you can imagine, this turn of events meant that the manuscript was delivered somewhat later than promised, hence the delayed release date. But you know what? I'm glad I chopped out that part of the story. Now my editor is concentrating on the actual meat of the novel, not trying to make a few bits of dialogue and weird scenes fit into the overall narrative. This means that when Rise of the Deva'shi is released, it will be a stronger story. Since I took my time with Changing Fate, it will be a stronger story, too.

Your take-away from all of this is DON'T RUSH YOUR WRITING. I don't recommend making huge plot changes the day before your deadline, either, but if you need more time don't be afraid to ask for it. The story takes as long as it takes. And you do want to put out the best story possible, right?
   Heir to the Sun is currently on sale for 99 cents here: http://amzn.to/2cSkNSx

 My next appearance will be at Bing Comic Con in Springfield, MA on October 22: http://www.bingcomiccon.org/

Sign up for my mailing list here and get a free ebook anthology, Strange Authors!

Writer Wednesday - Things To Consider Before Submitting Your Manuscript #amwriting #amediting #WedmesdayWisdomForWriters

Hey there writers! Today I'd like to discuss things that you need to have ready when submitting your manuscript, but many writers overlook. It's easy enough to do, since we typically spend so much time polishing our work to perfection, but every item I've listed below is absolutely essential, if not for the initial query then for the final product. Of note, these guidelines are for fiction projects. Nonfiction book proposals are a whole different blog post!

1. A tag line, also called a hook or a log line - your book will need something catchy that draws the reader in.
2. Front cover - while no one's expecting you to send in cover mock ups--in fact, many publishers actively discourage it--you need to have a clear idea of how you'd like the cover to look. Otherwise, if the publisher asks you for suggestions and you reply that you're cool with whatever they come up with, you might be stuck with an image that doesn't properly represent your book.
3. Back cover - the text on the back cover--usually referred to as the back cover matter or blurb--is your one page opportunity to convince a reader to pick up your book. It needs to be concise, interesting, and leave enough clues that the reader needs to read the book to find out what happens. It's your first opportunity to make that all-important emotional connection with your reader.

There are many more items we could discuss, but these three items--tag line, front cover and back cover--are the meat of your final product. Now let's see some of these concepts in action, using one of my books, Heir to the Sun, as an example. Below is the cover, tag line in bold, and the back cover matter:

  A mad king. An escaped slave. One warrior to save the realm... When Asherah, stripped of both her memory and her dignity, learns that King Sahlgren is responsible for her torment it nearly breaks her. Instead, she leads her fellow slaves to freedom. More prisons are scattered across Parthalan, and Asherah vows to burn them all.

 Caol'nir, a warrior descended from the gods, is sworn to serve and defend the king. Then a priestess is murdered, and Caol'nir learns that Sahlgren is to blame. Determined to stop the king, sacred oath or no, Caol'nir joins Asherah's rebellion.

 What Caol'nir doesn't know is that Sahlgren has promised the demon lord a woman of rare and singular beauty, a woman whose abilities are rumored to rival the sun god’s themselves…a woman Caol’nir knows all too well.

 Now as to how the awesomeness we see above us came to be, I started with the tag line. I wanted something simmering with tension that would draw the reader in. As for the back cover matter, I wanted to give the reader the barest taste of the plot, and the core issues our heroes are trying to solve. And as for the amazing cover by Veronica Jones, I knew that I wanted an action scene, and I knew which characters I wanted to feature.  I provided Veronica with the character descriptions, and gave her a few scenes to pick from, and voila! There you have it, the three things I plot out long before my manuscript is complete.

What work-ahead items are on your list - marketing, platform building, ordering swag? Tell us in the comments!

Heir to the Sun is currently on sale for 99 cents here: http://amzn.to/2cSkNSx

 My next appearance will be at Bing Comic Con in Springfield, MA on October 22: http://www.bingcomiccon.org/

Sign up for my mailing list here and get a free ebook anthology, Strange Authors!  

Writer Wednesday - Take Care Of Yourself #WednesdayWisdomForWriters #amwriting #wellness

Recently, I was discussing con crud with a writer friend. What’s con crud, you ask? I assure you, it’s just as gross as it sounds.

 This ailment got its vivid name because it tends to pop up among conference and convention goers a few days after the event in question has ended. Typical symptoms include congestion, cough, and a general feeling of malaise. I know, makes you want to sign up for even more conferences, amiright? 

For years I thought that con crud was the inevitable result of being packed into a hotel or other public facility, breathing in the same recycled air as hundreds if not thousands of others, subsisting on stale coffee and cookies, and sleeping less than usual. Many anecdotal cures promise to cure the crud, ranging from taking high doses of vitamin C to eating raw garlic. They never worked, at least not for me.

 But what if con crud wasn’t inevitable? What if by making a few small changes to my pre-con routine, I could avoid con crud altogether?

 This called for science, and its buddy, research. In true mad scientist fashion, I used myself as a test subject.

 I put my plan in motion shortly before I attended Necon this past July. During the week leading up to the event, I slept a full eight hours every night, and took at least one nap per day. I doubled my water intake, eliminated alcohol, and made sure to consume vegetables and protein at every meal. Basically, for a week I behaved like a normal healthy person, not my usual overstressed, pretzel-munching, coffee-guzzling self. And guess what?

 I didn’t get con crud!

 By resting, keeping myself hydrated, and eating as well as I could manage, I got my body into the best condition it could possibly be in BEFORE the con. While at the con I still drank the stale coffee, and I didn’t sleep nearly enough, but I didn’t get con crud. In fact, after four days at Necon I didn’t even have my usual post-con fatigue. In short, I felt great.

 So, what does this have to do with writing? Quite a bit, actually. First of all, your creative impulses are a higher level function than talking or moving around or breathing, so when you’re not feeling 100% your body naturally diverts resources and energy to where it’s needed most.  If you imagine your creative process as the top 10% of your energy, you can (probably) visualize what I mean. And have you ever tried writing when you’re sick or tired? It’s not easy.

 Therefore, the better shape we keep ourselves in, the better our creative output will be. I’m not saying you should live like a monk, and ingest nothing  but spinach and water and sunlight. Just take the time to take care of yourself, and know your limits. If you have a big event, a deadline looming on the horizon, or are taking part in a writing challenge (ya’ll didn’t think I’d forget to mention NaNoWriMo, did you?) be cognizant of your habits. You’ll never make your word count if you’re too tired to type.

 Do you have any tip on avoiding con crud? Tell us in the comments!

 I'll be at Whipowill Stables for their open house on September 18, selling books and playing with horses. Learn more about the event here

. Sign up for my mailing list here and get a free ebook anthology, Strange Authors!

Writer Wednesday: It’s Time To Talk About NaNoWriMo #writerwednesday #amwriting #NaNoWriMo

Here we are on the last day of August, with summer winding down and the kids returning to school. Right now I'm looking ahead to November, specifically NaNoWriMo. I've written about NaNo before, but here's a description in a nutshell: You write a first draft of a novel (50,000 words, which breaks down to 1,667 words per day) in 30 days, during the month of November. Hence, National Novel Writing Month = NaNoWriMo. Sounds daunting, right? Actually, it's totally doable, and I should know. I've been participating in NaNo for years, and I always make my word count. My personal best is 66k in 19 days, but there were a few extenuating circumstances there: I didn't pay my cable bill, and I had no internet for half the month. It was a wonder Facebook survived without me. Lesson the first: reducing/eliminating distractions has a positive effect on word count. The other tip I can't stress enough is getting all of your pre-work out of the way before November 1. What is pre-work? Well, your outline, for one. Also, if your story concept needs any sort of research--be it places, dates, obscure languages--do it now. when November 1 hits you want to hit the ground running, not get bogged down reading semi-factual Wikipedia pages. Lesson the second: research now, write like the dickens later. Something else I do to keep me on track is engage a NaNo buddy. Your buddy can help you by critiquing plot points, helping you out when the story hits a rough patch, or just by commiserating and sheering you on. My NaNo buddy this year is Barry *waves* and we've already had a few chat sessions to talk about our projects. He's working on a horror novel with a fricken' AWESOME concept, and I'm going to cobble together a retelling of Medusa and other Greek myths. Which means that our projects will never, ever be in competition for the same venue. Side benefit! Lesson the third: get a support group/person/houseplant. There's no need to go it alone! Writing 50,000 words in 30 days is tough, but any serious writer can make this goal. If you feel like you need a challenge to get yourself back on track, or just want to revel in writing something new, I say give NaNo a go. You might surprise yourself. Oh, and that 66k I wrote in 19 days? It's a real book - Changing Teams! Check it out here!   See that, if I can win NaNo, and get the resulting project published, you can too :)   Are you planning on participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Tell me in the comments!  

Writer Wednesday – Always Spring For The Good Shirts #AmWriting #Marketing #Promo #WednesdayWisdom

Today we’re going to talk about something that’s just as important to successful writers as proper grammar and strong characterization: making a good first impression. This can be done in many ways, and several of them have nothing to do with the actual quality of your writing. Now, don’t for a moment think that I’m suggesting your writing should be anything but top notch, and polished until it’s and perfect as you can get it. But let’s face it, the writing isn’t always the first impression someone has of an author. There are many other ways to make contact with new readers, either via a website, social media, personal appearances, or swag. Yes, swag matters. A lot. Let me tell you about my husband. He’s a rock star (locally, anyway) which means that we have an abundance of band t-shirts in our house. You know the shirts I’m talking about – they start out black with vibrant designs silk screened onto them. After a few washes, the fabric  fades and possibly pills, and the design cracks and flakes off. Whenever that happens, you know the band settled for the cheap shirts. What difference does this make? Well, out of sight out of mind, for one; the main purpose of swag is so people have a handy little reminder of who you are, and what you do. And if your swag disintegrates or looks sub-par after regular use or wear, that doesn’t leave the best impression. Sometimes we hit the nail on the head, and get swag that is both well designed and long-lasting.  I worked at a liquor store over ten years ago, and one of the sales representatives gave me a Magic Hat shirt. I’ve been wearing that shirt almost weekly since then, and while the design is faded it’s still legible. Even better, the fabric hasn’t shrunk or thinned out to nothing. In short, Magic Hat sprung for the good shirts. What does this mean for us authors? First and foremost, swag should be well designed. If you know your way around graphic design programs there’s nothing wrong with designing things yourself. There’s also nothing wrong with hiring someone who knows what they’re doing—remember, you can reuse the same designs again and again, so consider that in your cost benefit analysis. As for printing, if you don’t have a nearby print shop a quick internet search will reveal a plethora of online retailers. Don’t be the author with the home-printed bookmarks and crooked logo. Trust me on this. By being choosy about our swag—and making it as professional-looking as possible—you strengthen your brand and appeal to a wider audience. There are all sorts of articles out there advising authors how to strengthen their brand, and professional, well-designed swag is an easy way to stand out from the crowd. What do you think about swag? Love it, hate it, or collect it? Tell me in the comments below!

The Virgin Queen, book 2 of The Chronicles of Parthalan, on sale for 99 cents

That's right, the second Chronicle of Parthalan is on sale for 99 cents, but only for a limited time. This is s great opportunity to revisit Parthalan and Asherah - but you need to act fast, since the price goes back up on August 13. And stay tuned for updates on the next installment, Rise of the Deva'shi, will be available by year end. Click to purchase---> http://amzn.to/2aJqfoE   A broken queen. A friendship mired in deceit. Can one man from the desert help hold the realm together? Asherah, Queen of Parthalan and Lady of Tingu, has led her people through eight centuries of prosperity. That peace shatters when Mersgoth, the mordeth thought long dead, attacks Teg’urnan. In the aftermath a new warrior emerges: Aeolmar, a man as secretive as he is deadly. Asherah and Aeolmar race across Parthalan in pursuit of Mersgoth, and track the beast to the High Desert. While they're gone, Harek, now Prelate of Parthalan, conspires with the Dark Fae against the elves...Against Leran, the king of the elves and Asherah's son in all but blood. Will Asherah see the truth of Harek before it's too late, or will he bring down the fae once and for all? ***********************************************************************    

Live today - COPPER VEINS, book three of the Copper Legacy @SpencerHillP #urbanfantasy #fantasy #newrelease #coppergirl

Get it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble Sara’s pretty sure her life is perfect. Not only are she and Micah finally married, her father, who’d been missing since the Magic Wars, has been found. Actually, he just strode up to the manor’s front door, but whatever. Sara knows better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. But Baudoin Corbeau isn’t content to return to family life. He’s decided that he will be the force of change in the Mundane world, and lead the Elemental resistance to victory with his children at his side. What’s worse, Baudoin doesn’t approve of Sara’s marriage, and makes every attempt to separate her from Micah. After a visit to the Mundane realm leaves Sara, Max and Sadie imprisoned by the Peacekeepers, Sara’s doubts creep to the surface. Is her father right? Does she belong in the Mundane realm, not the Otherworld? Is Micah really the right man--make that elf--for her? Was marrying him a mistake? New to the series? Comment below for a chance to win the book that started it all, Copper Girl! Happy reading :)  

A Sale, A New Release, And TWO Events! @SpencerHillP @BodaciousIndie @pandybooks #CopperVeins #New #fantasy #romance #sale #Kindle

Hey all! There's a lot happening this month, so I'll just jump right into things. First off, Copper Girl is on sale for 99 cents across all platforms! That's right, the book that introduced us to Sara and Micah's world is available for 99 pennies. This sale won't last long, so grab your copy now! Here's an Amazon link, and one for Barnes & Noble.       Copper Veins, book 3 of the Copper Legacy, will be available everywhere July 26! This installment picks up right where Copper Ravens left off, with the unexpected return of Sara's quasi-legendary father, Baudoin Corbeau. His family is overjoyed to have him back, but then he starts acting a bit off...

 If you're a blogger or reviewer, Copper Veins is up on NetGalley now. Click here to request a copy.

I also have two in-person events happening this month. On July 9 I'll be at Bodacious Books and Baubles at 225 Shaker Road in East Longmeadow - rumor has it that there may be signed copies of Copper Veins up for grabs. On July 14 I'll be at Pandemonium Books in Cambridge, along with my fellow New England Horror Writers. The event is called Thursday Night Frights, and it's going to rock! I hope to see some familiar faces at one (or both) events.

 That's all for now. As always, if you have any questions or comments leave 'em below. Happy reading!

 

What People Are Saying About Changing Teams @LimitlessBooks #Romance #Contemporary #NYC

This week has inundated me with great reviews for Changing Teams! Here are a few of my favorites: From Cutting Muse Blog Review - Laura and Makayla Redmon: "I really enjoyed reading this story! I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of reading anything like it, which makes it unique in my book!" From Suzanne Talkington: "Overall, I found this book a lot of fun. I laughed, wanted to yell and almost cried at some points. Character build was great as well as the story’s flow. The side characters are amazing. Solid 4 ½ stars!!" From Bella's blog: "The characters were well developed and quite engaging .I really enjoyed the point of view the way it was split in two ,because it totally defined everything really clearly . And it was easier for us the reads to get the inside story of both of those characters ,specially their thoughts and motivations. The chemistry between these two was instant and it just continued to grow until it sealed them together" Have you gotten your copy? http://amzn.to/28SmFGO

Heir to the Sun Is On Sale For 99 Cents! #sale #fantasy #romance #parthalan

That's right, for a limited time Heir to the Sun, book 1 of the Chronicles of Parthalan, is on sale for 99 cents. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, now's the time! Click to purchase: http://amzn.to/1WtPujA [caption id="attachment_140" align="alignleft" width="318"] A mad king. An escaped slave. One warrior to save the realm...[/caption] A mad king. An escaped slave. One warrior to save the realm... When Asherah, stripped of both her memory and her dignity, learns that King Sahlgren is responsible for her torment it nearly breaks her. Instead, she leads her fellow slaves to freedom. More prisons are scattered across Parthalan, and Asherah vows to burn them all. Caol'nir, a warrior descended from the gods, is sworn to serve and defend the king. Then a priestess is murdered, and Caol'nir learns that Sahlgren is to blame. Determined to stop the king, sacred oath or no, Caol'nir joins Asherah's rebellion. What Caol'nir doesn't know is that Sahlgren has promised the demon lord a woman of rare and singular beauty, a woman whose abilities are rumored to rival the sun god’s themselves…a woman Caol’nir knows all too well. The Virgin Queen, Book 2 of the Chronicles of Parthalan is Available Now: http://amzn.to/1qXueEY A broken queen. A friendship mired in deceit. Can one man from the desert help hold the realm together? Asherah, Queen of Parthalan and Lady of Tingu, has led her people through eight centuries of prosperity. That peace shatters when Mersgoth, the mordeth thought long dead, attacks Teg’urnan. In the aftermath a new warrior emerges: Aeolmar, a man as secretive as he is deadly. Asherah and Aeolmar race across Parthalan in pursuit of Mersgoth, and track the beast to the High Desert. While they're gone, Harek, now Prelate of Parthalan, conspires with the Dark Fae against the elves...Against Leran, the king of the elves and Asherah's son in all but blood. Will Asherah see the truth of Harek before it's too late, or will he bring down the fae once and for all?

Events, Giveaways, and Casinos, Oh My! #amwriting #events #Foxwoods #MASE16

After a relatively quite May--which also saw the end of my second semester in grad school--June and July are hopping with events. First up is the Mystic Author Signing, happening June 4 at Foxwoods Casino. Here is a link to the event's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MysticAuthorSigning/?fref=ts The signing will feature over sixty authors, cover models, and other literary luminaries! And did I mention that it will be held in the Grand Pequot Ballroom? For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here.     I'm also still taking entries for my $10 gift card raffle - Just post a review for The Virgin Queen, book 2 in my Chronicles of Parthalan series, then go here to enter. Click here to learn more about The Virgin Queen, and *hint hint* I do happen to have some review copies available. Just sayin'.         Speaking of Parthalan, check out this amazing map of the realm! More to come on how you can win a copy. Last but not least, Copper Veins, the third installment of the Copper Legacy, is almost here! If you'd like to take part in the week long release blitz, click here: http://xpressobooktours.com/2016/05/06/blitz-sign-up-copper-veins-by-jennifer-allis-provost/ That's all for now! How are you kicking off your summer? Let me know in the comments!