A lot of the writing process is incredibly solitary, but I've found that it really helps to have people around you to keep you inspired and motivated and even to keep you from making really silly spelling and grammar errors. I have a couple friends who have read through some of my novels-in-progress over the years, but I'm looking for people who want to help with the process so the books are as shiny and polished as they can be before they are published.
There are two different areas to help, and if you think you fit either category, please let me know. These areas are Alpha Readers and Beta Readers, and each are very important for different reasons.
Alpha Readers are on the front lines of the writing process. The way I see Alpha Readers are that they are looking at big areas that could derail a novel: specifically looking at characters, plot, description, dialogue. They are reading through the story to be certain that it makes sense and has a nice flow to it, without holding every sentence up to a magnifying glass, because Alpha Readers will likely be getting to look at a fairly rough draft.
Once the novel is finished I typically set it aside for a few days or a week and then do a read-through to see if I can catch any glaring errors. After that, the process should move on to the Beta Readers, who are basically editors. They are looking for problems with spelling, grammar, and anything else they want to nitpick on. It is best if Beta Readers are very detail oriented and are good with proper spelling and grammar. I can catch quite a bit of my mistakes but sometimes after reading through something a dozen times your brain skims over even the most obvious of mistakes.
I mostly write fantasy, paranormal/supernatural novels. Currently my novels feature angelic beings, Death, the Angel of Death, ghosts, mediators, kitsunes, werewolves, witches, vampires, merpeople, etc.
So, if you'd like to be an Alpha or Beta Reader, let me know in the comments, find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/magicinthestacks), or send me an e-mail at daniellethamasa@yahoo.com with the subject Alpha Reader (or) Beta Reader.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
From the Stacks: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
Today's From the Stacks post is an apocalyptic/dystopian YA novel that features characters based on the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck, which is pretty interesting. It is a book that I had looked at in the store a lot and thought about reading, but then it turned into a book I needed to read after being selected as the alt. pick one month for the Vaginal Fantasy book club last year. Unfortunately all the other books I was reading as well as my writing projects pushed me behind on the VF reads (I'm basically six months behind right now, but I plan to catch up again this year) but I've missed watching the monthly discussions so I finally picked it up. The book: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Plot: In the beginning I thought that this story was moving pretty slow, and I get that it is the first book in a series and Kresley Cole is trying to handle both character development and world building and to set everything up for future books as well, which can be a difficult process. Also, the story kept jumping from the POV of Arthur to the POV of Evie, and I get how that was necessary, but more often than not when it switched back to Arthur it threw me out of the story for a moment and I had to mentally refocus on everything, which was a bit distracting. I'm not going to lie that I honestly thought about giving up in the beginning 25% of the book or so, but I decided to stick it out, and I'm glad I did, because everything started to improve as the book progressed. The characters became stronger and more developed, the world and plot started to come together, and the story pace picked up so that when I had to stop reading I kept wondering what would happen and would be lost in that dream world until I picked up the book again. I actually enjoy when that happens.
From the world building perspective as well as character development, I really enjoyed the Cajun dialect thrown into the story. It lent some authenticity and helped me to imagine everything better. I could hear the dialogue in my head based on the regional spelling of certain words and the distinct phrasing of sentences, particularly from Jackson.
Learning about the Arcana characters was interesting, and I'm glad that it took the whole book for Evie to really start to learn about who she is and what she can do. It wasn't like she instantly knew everything, which was great for the plot and the readers because it basically eased us into everything instead of dropping us straight into the deep end of the pool and expecting us to swim. Also, I thought the whole concept of the Flash and dealing with the aftermath was well done.
I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with Evie and the others in Endless Knight.
Characters: In the beginning Evie really really really annoyed me. She was the pretty and popular girl who had a secret she was keeping from everyone. She thought she was going crazy and even spent the summer locked up far away from home as doctors etc. tried to figure out what was wrong with her and medicate her to deal with her "hallucinations". I get that there are girls out there who really only care about their hair and clothes and makeup and worrying about their boyfriends and such, but I just don't really connect with those kinds of characters. But, after the Flash, Evie had to start worrying more about survival than looks, and once she finally leaves her house to try and find her grandmother, I feel like she really starts to develop and becomes someone I don't mind reading about as much.
However, the reason I stuck with this book long enough for it to get good was Jackson Deveaux. Oh Jack. You motorcycle riding Cajun. I think lately I've started to really enjoy the "bad boys" more in books, movies, and TV shows--such as Damon in "The Vampire Diaries", and Jack certainly hits the spot. Plus, as a motorcyclist myself, I guess I really do enjoy other biker characters. I didn't even mind that there wasn't much description about the motorcycle itself since the story is from Evie's POV and she obviously knows nothing about them. Though, watching as Jack basically gushed over a Ducati at a later point in the novel was adorable. Jack is Evie's protector through a great deal of the book and he basically earns the title of badass. He is good with mechanics, with weapons, and with survival. It is also nice that the relationship that seems to be building between Evie and Jack is not an insta-love situation, which really is quite annoying and seems to happen a lot in YA. I liked that they had a number of moments of basically disliking each other and then they built up trust in each other and a sort of friendship before the real romance started to come out in the open.
Other characters include other Arcana cards. Evie is The Empress, and we are also introduced to Matthew who is The Fool, and Selena who is The Moon. Other Arcana are introduced as well, but they don't play as big a role as Matthew and Selena in this book. Matthew is the character who explains a lot of the Arcana stuff to Evie, but a lot of what he says only seems to confuse her because he speaks in odd phrases and such that don't mean much at first. Later, when Evie actually meets Matthew in person she discovers that he is autistic and that explains a lot of his mental mannerisms from the first 75% of the book. Selena is technically The Moon but she is called The Archer quite a bit through the book as well, and in a number of ways she is a hybrid of Evie and Jack. She has the fashion and makeup and wealth of Evie, but the love of hunting and motorcycles and such that Jack has, which brings out Evie's jealousy as Selena and Jack start to spend time together, which I found slightly annoying, but I can say that Selena grew on me faster than Evie did. Since there are so many Arcana cards, I'll just say that we also meet, The Tower, Death, Temperance, The Hermit, The Devil, and Judgment. There's also the mention of other cards, such as The Sun, so I guess we'll be meeting more Arcana in the next book.
Obviously, you can tell by this review that there is a lot going on in this book, and it is a pretty good read with a lot of nice complexities. And, since Endless Knight was selected a couple months ago as an alt. pick for Vaginal Fantasy book club, I will be reading it soon enough.
Get your own copy: B&N, Amazon, BAM, Kobo, Audible
She could save the world—or destroy it.
Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life—until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.
But she can’t do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally trust Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side…
In Poison Princess, New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces a dark and intriguing world, full of unspeakable danger and irresistible romance.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Plot: In the beginning I thought that this story was moving pretty slow, and I get that it is the first book in a series and Kresley Cole is trying to handle both character development and world building and to set everything up for future books as well, which can be a difficult process. Also, the story kept jumping from the POV of Arthur to the POV of Evie, and I get how that was necessary, but more often than not when it switched back to Arthur it threw me out of the story for a moment and I had to mentally refocus on everything, which was a bit distracting. I'm not going to lie that I honestly thought about giving up in the beginning 25% of the book or so, but I decided to stick it out, and I'm glad I did, because everything started to improve as the book progressed. The characters became stronger and more developed, the world and plot started to come together, and the story pace picked up so that when I had to stop reading I kept wondering what would happen and would be lost in that dream world until I picked up the book again. I actually enjoy when that happens.
From the world building perspective as well as character development, I really enjoyed the Cajun dialect thrown into the story. It lent some authenticity and helped me to imagine everything better. I could hear the dialogue in my head based on the regional spelling of certain words and the distinct phrasing of sentences, particularly from Jackson.
Learning about the Arcana characters was interesting, and I'm glad that it took the whole book for Evie to really start to learn about who she is and what she can do. It wasn't like she instantly knew everything, which was great for the plot and the readers because it basically eased us into everything instead of dropping us straight into the deep end of the pool and expecting us to swim. Also, I thought the whole concept of the Flash and dealing with the aftermath was well done.
I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with Evie and the others in Endless Knight.
Characters: In the beginning Evie really really really annoyed me. She was the pretty and popular girl who had a secret she was keeping from everyone. She thought she was going crazy and even spent the summer locked up far away from home as doctors etc. tried to figure out what was wrong with her and medicate her to deal with her "hallucinations". I get that there are girls out there who really only care about their hair and clothes and makeup and worrying about their boyfriends and such, but I just don't really connect with those kinds of characters. But, after the Flash, Evie had to start worrying more about survival than looks, and once she finally leaves her house to try and find her grandmother, I feel like she really starts to develop and becomes someone I don't mind reading about as much.
However, the reason I stuck with this book long enough for it to get good was Jackson Deveaux. Oh Jack. You motorcycle riding Cajun. I think lately I've started to really enjoy the "bad boys" more in books, movies, and TV shows--such as Damon in "The Vampire Diaries", and Jack certainly hits the spot. Plus, as a motorcyclist myself, I guess I really do enjoy other biker characters. I didn't even mind that there wasn't much description about the motorcycle itself since the story is from Evie's POV and she obviously knows nothing about them. Though, watching as Jack basically gushed over a Ducati at a later point in the novel was adorable. Jack is Evie's protector through a great deal of the book and he basically earns the title of badass. He is good with mechanics, with weapons, and with survival. It is also nice that the relationship that seems to be building between Evie and Jack is not an insta-love situation, which really is quite annoying and seems to happen a lot in YA. I liked that they had a number of moments of basically disliking each other and then they built up trust in each other and a sort of friendship before the real romance started to come out in the open.
Other characters include other Arcana cards. Evie is The Empress, and we are also introduced to Matthew who is The Fool, and Selena who is The Moon. Other Arcana are introduced as well, but they don't play as big a role as Matthew and Selena in this book. Matthew is the character who explains a lot of the Arcana stuff to Evie, but a lot of what he says only seems to confuse her because he speaks in odd phrases and such that don't mean much at first. Later, when Evie actually meets Matthew in person she discovers that he is autistic and that explains a lot of his mental mannerisms from the first 75% of the book. Selena is technically The Moon but she is called The Archer quite a bit through the book as well, and in a number of ways she is a hybrid of Evie and Jack. She has the fashion and makeup and wealth of Evie, but the love of hunting and motorcycles and such that Jack has, which brings out Evie's jealousy as Selena and Jack start to spend time together, which I found slightly annoying, but I can say that Selena grew on me faster than Evie did. Since there are so many Arcana cards, I'll just say that we also meet, The Tower, Death, Temperance, The Hermit, The Devil, and Judgment. There's also the mention of other cards, such as The Sun, so I guess we'll be meeting more Arcana in the next book.
Obviously, you can tell by this review that there is a lot going on in this book, and it is a pretty good read with a lot of nice complexities. And, since Endless Knight was selected a couple months ago as an alt. pick for Vaginal Fantasy book club, I will be reading it soon enough.
Get your own copy: B&N, Amazon, BAM, Kobo, Audible
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
A New Year of Writing, Editing, and Self-Publishing
2013 marked the year that I started publishing my novels. In the six months that Project Death: Resurrection has been out I have sold roughly 32 paperback copies and there have been 40 e-book downloads. While I can admit to wishing that the numbers were bigger, I still feel happy that some people have purchased my book and read it. All the verbal reviews I've received through my mom's friends have been positive, and there are a few lovely people who are begging me for the sequel--sorry, that won't be out until this summer. So, though I am hoping for more sales for this book/series, I am also looking forward to everything I have on my schedule for this year.
Souls Unknowing will be coming out toward the end of the month. It is a paranormal YA book revolving around a group of teens who can see and speak to ghosts. This is the first book in the trilogy, and in it there are many secrets/truths/mysteries to be solved. I will have a post solely about the book up very soon.
Then, after Souls Unknowing is released, I will be focusing my attention on finishing/editing Project Death: Revelation, the second book in the Project Death series. What I love about this book is that it is part prequel, part sequel, and you really do need to read the first book first. There have been some interesting times with working on this book because unlike the first book where Tamesis told the story, this one is told from the POV of Thanos, and he is a lot more reserved and controlled than Tam. Also, since he is not fond of talking about his past, he sometimes doesn't even want to tell his story to me and that occasionally makes progress quite slow. Still, I expect Project Death: Revelation to be out in June or July.
They haven't announced when the sessions of Camp NaNoWriMo will be this year (and they change every year-- July and August, then June and August, and then April and August) but lately my mind has been returning to a novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo back in 2007, and the characters are getting pushy again. I like the characters and certain points of the plot still work, but everything they have told me lately means that a great deal of the story needs to change, and that means a re-write is in order. So, just to give myself a bit of a breather from the two series I'm writing and publishing now, I'll spend the first session of Camp working on Bounty: A Hunter's Tale, which is actually the first of a seven book series that I am considering publishing after I've completed the Souls Trilogy.
After that I'll return to the world of Tru and her mediator friends and finish up Souls Abandoned, the second book in the trilogy that I'm hoping to have published in December or possibly next January. I have the story mostly written so now it's just about wrapping up everything in a way that makes you want to delve straight into the final book. It should be fun, especially since Souls Abandoned has evolved so much since I started working on it back in high school.
I have not yet decided what to work on for the second session of Camp NaNoWriMo. I guess that will depend on how I'm doing with my other projects. If I don't finish Bounty in the first session, I may work on it for the second session, but then again, I might need to focus on Souls Abandoned. I really won't have everything set in stone until I get closer to summertime.
Of course, if nothing else is immediately pressing for the second session of Camp, then I may bump my NaNo project up from November to Camp session 2, and start work on Project Death: Redemption since I need to have it finished and ready to go for summer 2015. What will be fun with Redemption is that is shows yet another side in the war between the Resurrectors and Death/Balance by following a young woman who died without a Resurrector to save her or a Reaper to guide her soul to the afterlife. The third book will also delve a little more into Addie's history, which I hadn't predicted when I started the series years ago. It has been amazing learning more about the characters and the world through this whole process.
So, that's all I can think of for now. The year of 2014 will be spent working on at least four novels, publishing two (maybe three), and setting myself up for hopefully even more book sales and fans and new experiences. I'll probably do the December book signing again in 2014 and with more books available I might be able to entice more people into my books. It would be pretty darn awesome. I'm even thinking about maybe trying to set up a book signing or something in the summer to celebrate the release of Revelation. We'll see what happens.
Souls Unknowing will be coming out toward the end of the month. It is a paranormal YA book revolving around a group of teens who can see and speak to ghosts. This is the first book in the trilogy, and in it there are many secrets/truths/mysteries to be solved. I will have a post solely about the book up very soon.
Then, after Souls Unknowing is released, I will be focusing my attention on finishing/editing Project Death: Revelation, the second book in the Project Death series. What I love about this book is that it is part prequel, part sequel, and you really do need to read the first book first. There have been some interesting times with working on this book because unlike the first book where Tamesis told the story, this one is told from the POV of Thanos, and he is a lot more reserved and controlled than Tam. Also, since he is not fond of talking about his past, he sometimes doesn't even want to tell his story to me and that occasionally makes progress quite slow. Still, I expect Project Death: Revelation to be out in June or July.
They haven't announced when the sessions of Camp NaNoWriMo will be this year (and they change every year-- July and August, then June and August, and then April and August) but lately my mind has been returning to a novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo back in 2007, and the characters are getting pushy again. I like the characters and certain points of the plot still work, but everything they have told me lately means that a great deal of the story needs to change, and that means a re-write is in order. So, just to give myself a bit of a breather from the two series I'm writing and publishing now, I'll spend the first session of Camp working on Bounty: A Hunter's Tale, which is actually the first of a seven book series that I am considering publishing after I've completed the Souls Trilogy.
After that I'll return to the world of Tru and her mediator friends and finish up Souls Abandoned, the second book in the trilogy that I'm hoping to have published in December or possibly next January. I have the story mostly written so now it's just about wrapping up everything in a way that makes you want to delve straight into the final book. It should be fun, especially since Souls Abandoned has evolved so much since I started working on it back in high school.
I have not yet decided what to work on for the second session of Camp NaNoWriMo. I guess that will depend on how I'm doing with my other projects. If I don't finish Bounty in the first session, I may work on it for the second session, but then again, I might need to focus on Souls Abandoned. I really won't have everything set in stone until I get closer to summertime.
Of course, if nothing else is immediately pressing for the second session of Camp, then I may bump my NaNo project up from November to Camp session 2, and start work on Project Death: Redemption since I need to have it finished and ready to go for summer 2015. What will be fun with Redemption is that is shows yet another side in the war between the Resurrectors and Death/Balance by following a young woman who died without a Resurrector to save her or a Reaper to guide her soul to the afterlife. The third book will also delve a little more into Addie's history, which I hadn't predicted when I started the series years ago. It has been amazing learning more about the characters and the world through this whole process.
So, that's all I can think of for now. The year of 2014 will be spent working on at least four novels, publishing two (maybe three), and setting myself up for hopefully even more book sales and fans and new experiences. I'll probably do the December book signing again in 2014 and with more books available I might be able to entice more people into my books. It would be pretty darn awesome. I'm even thinking about maybe trying to set up a book signing or something in the summer to celebrate the release of Revelation. We'll see what happens.
Friday, January 3, 2014
From the Stacks: The Fairest of Them All by Carolyn Turgeon
Aside from the books and authors on my auto-buy list, I am going to attempt to spend 2014 reading the books I have but have not finished before buying all the new shiny and awesome sounding books. I don't know how successful I'll be, but I will at least make an effort. Because of that, a number of my From the Stacks reviews may or may not be "older" books.
Also, because of needing to spend more time on my creative writing and not all of my reviews here, I am halting the two-reviews-a-week for the foreseeable future. So, my blogging schedule right now is that there will be a writing update post on Tuesdays and a From the Stacks review on Fridays (though the occasional bonus review may still crop up).
So, for my first review of the year, I have The Fairest of Them All by Carolyn Turgeon, an author I discovered a couple years ago and who is on my auto-buy list. She does retellings, mostly of the fairy tale variety. The Fairest of Them All is a hybrid retelling that brilliantly combines the stories of both Rapunzel and Snow White.
What if Rapunzel was Snow White’s evil stepmother? From the author of Godmother and Mermaid, The Fairest of Them All explores what happens when fairy tale heroines grow up and don’t live happily ever after.
Living in an enchanted forest, Rapunzel spends her days tending a mystical garden with her adoptive mother, Mathena. A witch, Mathena was banished from court because of her magic powers, though the women from the kingdom still seek her advice and herbal remedies. She waits, biding her time to exact revenge against those who betrayed her.
One day Rapunzel’s beautiful voice and long golden locks captivate a young prince hunting in the forest nearby. Overcome, he climbs her hair up to her chamber and they fall into each other’s arms. But their afternoon of passion is fleeting, and the prince must return to his kingdom, as he is betrothed to another.
Now king, he marries his intended to bring peace to his kingdom. They have a stunning daughter named Snow White. Yet the king is haunted by his memories of Rapunzel, and after the mysterious death of his wife, realizes he is free to marry the woman he never stopped longing for. In hopes of also replacing the mother of his beloved daughter, the king makes Rapunzel his queen.
But when Mathena’s wedding gift of an ancient mirror begins speaking to her, Rapunzel falls under its evil spell, and the king begins to realize that Rapunzel is not the beautiful, kind woman he dreamed of.Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: Finding a way to put a unique twist on Rapunzel and Snow White is interesting enough but to combine the two tales together and make Rapunzel into Snow White's step-mother...that is genius, and it works so well. This novel is told from Rapunzel's POV and you really feel for her in her loneliness and her struggles, particularly after she meets Prince Josef. There are so many little connections in this story, not just with the classic fairy tales but also with Greek mythology. The first part of the story takes place in the forest and in Rapunzel's tower, and after the Prince (now King) comes for Rapunzel the story moves to the castle, and that is where all the various plot threads weave together, and we discover what set Rapunzel on this path as well as what outcome is in store for the kingdom. It is a well put together story that is quick and easy to read.
Characters: Rapunzel is definitely an anti-heroine and after becoming the Queen she does teeter on the brink of turning into a villain, but I'd like to think that her overall goodness keeps her on the right track. She does not have the easiest of lives, with the secrets kept from her, the lies told to her, the struggle of using magic and the ethical issues inherent in that struggle, and dealing with the consequences of her actions. Plus, I have to say that I really enjoyed the relationship between Rapunzel and Snow White; it was adorable and I kinda liked that for once it seemed that Snow White had a decent stepmother who cared for her. Mathena Gothel, the woman who raised Rapunzel is who I would call the villain in the story, but she wasn't exactly evil. She had just been treated badly and was in a way seeking justice for what happened to her. Prince/King Josef was more a secondary character and he spent most of the time entranced by Rapunzel's voice and hair in a way that made his love and passion fueled by that magic rather than anything honestly true. I did believe in his love for his daughter though. The male character I did enjoy was Gilles, who plays the role of the Huntsman in the classic Snow White tale, though in this rendition he is not a classic hunter but a falconer/hawker, which is pretty cool. I actually wish a little more time had been spent with him because much like with Josef, this was more of a secondary role. Then again, it was nice that the main focus of the story was on the leading ladies.
Get your own copy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
My Favorite Reads of 2013
Below I have made a list of 10 books/series that I highly recommend. These are all books that I read in the year 2013, not necessarily just books published this year. Also, because I am not one to say well this was my absolute favorite and this was my least favorite, these books/series are in no particular order.
Nikki Glass series by Jenna Black (Dark Descendant, Deadly Descendant, and Rogue Descendant)
I stumbled across this series while browsing the shelves at B&N, and the idea drew me in. I am a complete sucker for mythology and this series has all the pantheons which I found to be awesome. You follow Nikki Glass, who is a rare descendant of Artemis, and is rather talented at tracking down people. What I find to be great is that when her abilities kick in, she doesn't really know how to use them or control them and three books in she is still working out the kinks. Also, can I just say Jamaal? Seriously, I love him, and am rather frustrated with him at the same time, something I can see that Nikki fluctuates with as well. I am very much looking forward to the next book.
The Half-Light City series by M.J. Scott (Shadow Kin, Blood Kin, and Iron Kin)
Another series discovered while browsing at B&N, this one has the Fae, and vampires more commonly called the Blood, and werewolves called the Beast-Kind, and humans. It has a really cool world and characters and political wars, and of course, romance. Each book focuses on a different couple, and they have plenty of issues to work through, and secrets that sometimes threaten to destroy them, and there is also a plot that winds through the entire series and builds with each book. When Fire Kin comes out in May 2014, I will be running to grab a copy.
Geekomancy by Michael R. Underwood (Also the sequel Celebromancy)
This is e-book only, but I just have one thing to say about why they are worth a read: Pure Geeky Fun. There are so many references to the many geek fandoms out there and it made me squeal with delight. This book honestly made an ability based on the strength of a communities belief in certain characters or abilities, etc. Ree Reyes, the main character is a Geekomancer, and she can watch something, like say Star Wars, and then she could actually channel the Force and use it in the real world. Amazing...and I would love to have that ability.
The Baskerville Affair trilogy by Emma Jane Holloway (A Study in Silks, A Study in Ashes, and A Study in Darkness)
All three of these books came out in 2013 and they are all hefty books (like around 500 pages each). It was an amazing sort of alternate version of Victorian London, complete with magic and steampunk and a new addition to the Sherlock Holmes family (did you know he had a sister, who then had a daughter?) No, well, you should really introduce yourself to Evelina Cooper, the niece of Sherlock Holmes. Also, Sherlock, Watson, Mycroft, and Moriarty all show up in these books as well, so it is definitely a must-read for fans of Sherlock.
The Souls of the Stones series by Kelly Walker (Cornerstone, Second Stone, and Broken Stone)
I have only listed the main novels of the trilogy but Kelly Walker has also written companion novellas and prequel novellas, including Severed Stone, and Jaded Stone. These are YA books, and I discovered Kelly Walker through using Critique Circle online. I was able to join her group of reviewers while she wrote and edited a couple of these stories and it makes reading them after publication just a bit more rewarding because I feel like I'm doing something to help fellow authors. Plus, the books are good YA fantasy with a dash of romance. They are also easy reads, and she does have the first book available for free in e-book.
The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead (book four of the Bloodlines series)
I counted down the days until this book's release and then when I got my hands on a copy, I couldn't put it down. And now I'm wishing I had waited because it is going to be such a long wait until book 5 comes out around June. Richelle Mead knows how to amp up the tension and the romance and all the feelings in the world. I have been cheering on Sydney and Adrian (aka Sydrian) since the start of this spin-off series, and now I'm almost desperately waiting to see how they will deal with this latest roadblock, because it most certainly won't be easy. Vampires and witches and cult-like organizations and just all around awesomeness...check out this series and its predecessor, the Vampire Academy series.
The Hearts and Thrones novels by Amy Raby (Assassin's Gambit and Spy's Honor)
This is a fantasy novel that sort of feels like a version of the Roman Empire, but with magic. Guys, I seriously love fantasy novels, and I read a whole lot of fantasy romance novels. The first book deals with two characters with issues, one is an amputee and one has PTSD, and that is something you just don't really see in romance novels, which gives it a unique flavor. The second book is more of a prequel, but I still think they should be read in publication order since that introduces the world a bit better. I am eagerly awaiting the third book and hope that there will be many more in the future.
Spirit and Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer (Elemental series, #3 and #2.5)
I've already reviewed these stories, but let me just say that Spirit and Breathless only make me love these books even more. I am very impatiently awaiting the release of book #4 Secret because I need to know what happens next. This is another YA series and deals with people who can control the elements, focusing mostly on a family of four brothers. Just go out and read these, no matter if you are a teenager or an adult. They're so worth it.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3)
I know there have been a lot of mixed reviews from fans of this dystopian trilogy, but I honestly think if it had ended any other way I would have been disappointed. Considering how the world was built with a dystopian society basically on the brink of war, this trilogy could not have ended without at least a few casualties, and I applaud Veronica Roth for sticking to her guns and doing what was right for the world she had created. Yes, I cried a lot at the end, but at the same time, I was glad that I had spent the time reading the books.
A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan
I absolutely adored her Magic series, which focused on genies, though there were a number of other creatures involved as well, and I had hoped that there would be more set in the same world, and Nicola Sheridan did not disappoint, because her latest also has the Magical Mafia who played a pretty major role in her other novels, but the focus shifts from genies to so many other creatures. You can tell that the author is a fan of mythology and that she takes the time to figure out how some of these beings would fit into the modern world and that research shows in a world that I can honestly believe exists. Plus, the male romantic leads are absolutely yummy.
Nikki Glass series by Jenna Black (Dark Descendant, Deadly Descendant, and Rogue Descendant)
I stumbled across this series while browsing the shelves at B&N, and the idea drew me in. I am a complete sucker for mythology and this series has all the pantheons which I found to be awesome. You follow Nikki Glass, who is a rare descendant of Artemis, and is rather talented at tracking down people. What I find to be great is that when her abilities kick in, she doesn't really know how to use them or control them and three books in she is still working out the kinks. Also, can I just say Jamaal? Seriously, I love him, and am rather frustrated with him at the same time, something I can see that Nikki fluctuates with as well. I am very much looking forward to the next book.
The Half-Light City series by M.J. Scott (Shadow Kin, Blood Kin, and Iron Kin)
Another series discovered while browsing at B&N, this one has the Fae, and vampires more commonly called the Blood, and werewolves called the Beast-Kind, and humans. It has a really cool world and characters and political wars, and of course, romance. Each book focuses on a different couple, and they have plenty of issues to work through, and secrets that sometimes threaten to destroy them, and there is also a plot that winds through the entire series and builds with each book. When Fire Kin comes out in May 2014, I will be running to grab a copy.
Geekomancy by Michael R. Underwood (Also the sequel Celebromancy)
This is e-book only, but I just have one thing to say about why they are worth a read: Pure Geeky Fun. There are so many references to the many geek fandoms out there and it made me squeal with delight. This book honestly made an ability based on the strength of a communities belief in certain characters or abilities, etc. Ree Reyes, the main character is a Geekomancer, and she can watch something, like say Star Wars, and then she could actually channel the Force and use it in the real world. Amazing...and I would love to have that ability.
The Baskerville Affair trilogy by Emma Jane Holloway (A Study in Silks, A Study in Ashes, and A Study in Darkness)
All three of these books came out in 2013 and they are all hefty books (like around 500 pages each). It was an amazing sort of alternate version of Victorian London, complete with magic and steampunk and a new addition to the Sherlock Holmes family (did you know he had a sister, who then had a daughter?) No, well, you should really introduce yourself to Evelina Cooper, the niece of Sherlock Holmes. Also, Sherlock, Watson, Mycroft, and Moriarty all show up in these books as well, so it is definitely a must-read for fans of Sherlock.
The Souls of the Stones series by Kelly Walker (Cornerstone, Second Stone, and Broken Stone)
I have only listed the main novels of the trilogy but Kelly Walker has also written companion novellas and prequel novellas, including Severed Stone, and Jaded Stone. These are YA books, and I discovered Kelly Walker through using Critique Circle online. I was able to join her group of reviewers while she wrote and edited a couple of these stories and it makes reading them after publication just a bit more rewarding because I feel like I'm doing something to help fellow authors. Plus, the books are good YA fantasy with a dash of romance. They are also easy reads, and she does have the first book available for free in e-book.
The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead (book four of the Bloodlines series)
I counted down the days until this book's release and then when I got my hands on a copy, I couldn't put it down. And now I'm wishing I had waited because it is going to be such a long wait until book 5 comes out around June. Richelle Mead knows how to amp up the tension and the romance and all the feelings in the world. I have been cheering on Sydney and Adrian (aka Sydrian) since the start of this spin-off series, and now I'm almost desperately waiting to see how they will deal with this latest roadblock, because it most certainly won't be easy. Vampires and witches and cult-like organizations and just all around awesomeness...check out this series and its predecessor, the Vampire Academy series.
The Hearts and Thrones novels by Amy Raby (Assassin's Gambit and Spy's Honor)
This is a fantasy novel that sort of feels like a version of the Roman Empire, but with magic. Guys, I seriously love fantasy novels, and I read a whole lot of fantasy romance novels. The first book deals with two characters with issues, one is an amputee and one has PTSD, and that is something you just don't really see in romance novels, which gives it a unique flavor. The second book is more of a prequel, but I still think they should be read in publication order since that introduces the world a bit better. I am eagerly awaiting the third book and hope that there will be many more in the future.
Spirit and Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer (Elemental series, #3 and #2.5)
I've already reviewed these stories, but let me just say that Spirit and Breathless only make me love these books even more. I am very impatiently awaiting the release of book #4 Secret because I need to know what happens next. This is another YA series and deals with people who can control the elements, focusing mostly on a family of four brothers. Just go out and read these, no matter if you are a teenager or an adult. They're so worth it.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3)
I know there have been a lot of mixed reviews from fans of this dystopian trilogy, but I honestly think if it had ended any other way I would have been disappointed. Considering how the world was built with a dystopian society basically on the brink of war, this trilogy could not have ended without at least a few casualties, and I applaud Veronica Roth for sticking to her guns and doing what was right for the world she had created. Yes, I cried a lot at the end, but at the same time, I was glad that I had spent the time reading the books.
A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan
I absolutely adored her Magic series, which focused on genies, though there were a number of other creatures involved as well, and I had hoped that there would be more set in the same world, and Nicola Sheridan did not disappoint, because her latest also has the Magical Mafia who played a pretty major role in her other novels, but the focus shifts from genies to so many other creatures. You can tell that the author is a fan of mythology and that she takes the time to figure out how some of these beings would fit into the modern world and that research shows in a world that I can honestly believe exists. Plus, the male romantic leads are absolutely yummy.
Farewell 2013 and Hello 2014
Well, this is the end of 2013, and that really means that it is time to focus on 2014 and the goals I have for the upcoming year. But before I really get into my 2014 plans, I should take a moment to look back over the past year and be grateful for everything that has happened.
It was a big year for me. I self-published my first novel, Project Death: Resurrection. Overall I think I've sold about 50 copies since July 1st, which considering I am a new and self-published author, I'll take that as a pretty good number so far. This is especially true since most of what I've sold has been paperback. Oh, but the e-book is on sale for FREE right now at Smashwords. There you can download the e-book in any format, from NOOK and Kindle, to Kobo, iBooks, Sony Reader, even PDF. This is a great deal that won't last long. I will be moving the price back to $1.99 on Saturday, January 4th.
All things considered, it was also a big year on the reading front for me. I just finished reading book #128 a few minutes ago and I'm debating about whether or not I can squeeze another book or two in before the year is up. This year I discovered some new to me authors who will now be on my auto-buy list and I devoured some new and amazing books from some of my old favorites. I'll probably write up a post about some of my favorite books in 2013 later.
Finally (and very briefly), I don't really talk a lot about my personal life because I consider that to be personal, but everything in my life has improved since August when my best friend in the world asked me to be his girlfriend. He supports my dreams of being an author and was surprisingly okay when I almost completely ignored him through the month of November while working on my NaNovel for NaNoWriMo.
Now, for the 2014 goals. Souls Unknowing will be out in January and I'll have more information about that soon. I am also predicting that it will be June or July when Project Death: Revelation is released. There are a couple of my novels that I set aside a few years ago that have recently begun to beg for attention again, so I may go back and either finish them or re-write them or just edit them, depending on the novel. However, since those side-projects are also usually the start to another series, I most likely won't publish them until after I've finished work with the Souls trilogy and the Project Death series.
I'm thinking that since I have a bit more writing on the schedule for the year that I'm going to have to lighten up a bit on my reading goal. My original goal for 2013 was 100 but then I bumped it up to 120. So, right now, my goal for 2014 is 75. Depending on how the writing goes, that may be increased, so we'll just see what happens.
It was a big year for me. I self-published my first novel, Project Death: Resurrection. Overall I think I've sold about 50 copies since July 1st, which considering I am a new and self-published author, I'll take that as a pretty good number so far. This is especially true since most of what I've sold has been paperback. Oh, but the e-book is on sale for FREE right now at Smashwords. There you can download the e-book in any format, from NOOK and Kindle, to Kobo, iBooks, Sony Reader, even PDF. This is a great deal that won't last long. I will be moving the price back to $1.99 on Saturday, January 4th.
All things considered, it was also a big year on the reading front for me. I just finished reading book #128 a few minutes ago and I'm debating about whether or not I can squeeze another book or two in before the year is up. This year I discovered some new to me authors who will now be on my auto-buy list and I devoured some new and amazing books from some of my old favorites. I'll probably write up a post about some of my favorite books in 2013 later.
Finally (and very briefly), I don't really talk a lot about my personal life because I consider that to be personal, but everything in my life has improved since August when my best friend in the world asked me to be his girlfriend. He supports my dreams of being an author and was surprisingly okay when I almost completely ignored him through the month of November while working on my NaNovel for NaNoWriMo.
Now, for the 2014 goals. Souls Unknowing will be out in January and I'll have more information about that soon. I am also predicting that it will be June or July when Project Death: Revelation is released. There are a couple of my novels that I set aside a few years ago that have recently begun to beg for attention again, so I may go back and either finish them or re-write them or just edit them, depending on the novel. However, since those side-projects are also usually the start to another series, I most likely won't publish them until after I've finished work with the Souls trilogy and the Project Death series.
I'm thinking that since I have a bit more writing on the schedule for the year that I'm going to have to lighten up a bit on my reading goal. My original goal for 2013 was 100 but then I bumped it up to 120. So, right now, my goal for 2014 is 75. Depending on how the writing goes, that may be increased, so we'll just see what happens.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
My First Ever Book Signing
So, today is a pretty big day for me. I will participate in my first book signing ever of my published life. Have I gone to book signings to meet other authors and buy their books? Absolutely and I have a nice collection of autographed books because of it. But today I get to be one of those authors.
It is a huge step for me, especially considering that I started this journey with a pen name and some scribbled down story ideas, wanting to basically do nothing more than hide behind my computer. Truthfully I wanted to have some separation between my published life and my personal life, but now the more I look at that decision, the more I realize that it was fairly silly. Writing is my life and I love what I do. Yes, I have to hold another full time job to pay the bills because so far it isn't feasible to survive on about $100 every six months or so, but I still dream that someday I'll be able to make it to a part-time job only because writing will be getting me somewhere.
I'm still using my pen name. I love it and answer to it as easily as I do the name I was given at birth. I actually have friends who have gone to introduce me to someone they now and they say "This is Danielle." Trust me, that is perfectly fine with me. Of course, if you know me personally and want to use my birth name, then that's fine too. However, I am still going to try and maintain a slight veil of separation between my author persona and who I am the rest of the time. Right now I still don't feel like putting an author photo in my books, and if I do, you could almost guarantee that I will have my face partially obscured by a copy of my books or something similar. I don't like taking pictures of myself or having my picture taken. I think my smile looks awkward or entirely too goofy and an author photo is a professional thing and having a bad picture could reflect negatively on sales.
I think about these sorts of things all the time. Really, I do. And that might be why I'm a bit nervous for this book signing today. What happens if I get there and nobody wants to buy my book? I know of a few of my mom's friends who are coming there to see me, and the amusing thing is that they've all bought and read my book. The show of support for me and my dream is amazing and I am super grateful for it, but self-publishing (or any route of publication) is not easy and I can admit to still feeling like I've just taken a leap of faith and I'm waiting to see if I'll fly or fall. It's not exactly a pleasant sensation but I'm trying to hold on to my optimism about it all.
Why? Because the readers I have accumulated so far are absolutely amazing people. A few of them have brought me to tears with their words of how much they loved reading my book and how moved they were by the story. Hearing how desperately they want the next book is also extremely touching and motivating.
The doors for the signing open in three and a half hours. Whether this is successful or not, I at least know that I've taken another step forward and had another experience I couldn't have had if I hadn't published my book back in July. Basically, I'm just going to try and enjoy the roller coaster ride of being an author. It's been wild and amazing and difficult and exhilarating so far. Let's see what happens next.
It is a huge step for me, especially considering that I started this journey with a pen name and some scribbled down story ideas, wanting to basically do nothing more than hide behind my computer. Truthfully I wanted to have some separation between my published life and my personal life, but now the more I look at that decision, the more I realize that it was fairly silly. Writing is my life and I love what I do. Yes, I have to hold another full time job to pay the bills because so far it isn't feasible to survive on about $100 every six months or so, but I still dream that someday I'll be able to make it to a part-time job only because writing will be getting me somewhere.
I'm still using my pen name. I love it and answer to it as easily as I do the name I was given at birth. I actually have friends who have gone to introduce me to someone they now and they say "This is Danielle." Trust me, that is perfectly fine with me. Of course, if you know me personally and want to use my birth name, then that's fine too. However, I am still going to try and maintain a slight veil of separation between my author persona and who I am the rest of the time. Right now I still don't feel like putting an author photo in my books, and if I do, you could almost guarantee that I will have my face partially obscured by a copy of my books or something similar. I don't like taking pictures of myself or having my picture taken. I think my smile looks awkward or entirely too goofy and an author photo is a professional thing and having a bad picture could reflect negatively on sales.
I think about these sorts of things all the time. Really, I do. And that might be why I'm a bit nervous for this book signing today. What happens if I get there and nobody wants to buy my book? I know of a few of my mom's friends who are coming there to see me, and the amusing thing is that they've all bought and read my book. The show of support for me and my dream is amazing and I am super grateful for it, but self-publishing (or any route of publication) is not easy and I can admit to still feeling like I've just taken a leap of faith and I'm waiting to see if I'll fly or fall. It's not exactly a pleasant sensation but I'm trying to hold on to my optimism about it all.
Why? Because the readers I have accumulated so far are absolutely amazing people. A few of them have brought me to tears with their words of how much they loved reading my book and how moved they were by the story. Hearing how desperately they want the next book is also extremely touching and motivating.
The doors for the signing open in three and a half hours. Whether this is successful or not, I at least know that I've taken another step forward and had another experience I couldn't have had if I hadn't published my book back in July. Basically, I'm just going to try and enjoy the roller coaster ride of being an author. It's been wild and amazing and difficult and exhilarating so far. Let's see what happens next.
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