Save 5 dollars when you order books on Amazon for the next two days!

 

   Amazon is running a special right now on book purchases.  5 dollars off a 15 dollar purchase.  The code is BOOKGIFT17.  It expires 12/14/17.  Books make great stocking stuffers. 
Don't forget to enter the code when you order your copy of The Portal Keeper or Sunwalker, available now, or any other great book! I am not sure if the code works on ebooks.

The Portal Keeper- Amazon

Sunwalker--Amazon

Ask Me Anything

I was approached and asked to do an AMA on being an indie writer.  I will be hosting one on Friday.  Feel free to drop by and ask questions on anything to do with self publishing.  I look forward to answering any questions.  I have been helped and guided so much in this industry by other authors, I feel like it's time I return the favor.

AMA on being an Indie Writer

The Portal Keeper- Now Available for Pre-order

Don't forget to check out my new Middle Grade Fiction Novel for 8 and up!

FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

A mysterious portal, which opens at dawn and closes again at dusk, is located deep in the woods and kept secret from the vast majority of the people who inhabit the kingdom of Rastella. Only a few are aware of its existence and fewer understand the confusing prophecy that accompanies it.

   Now, Ajax Maxwell, who is approaching his 14^th birthday and has been in training for the past 2 years, is preparing to fulfill his family’s legacy by becoming the next keeper.

   But Ajax is afraid. He’s worried that he won’t live up to the expectations placed upon him and will let down his family, like his brother Axel did when he took over from their father and then promptly disappeared.

   When the prince of Rastella comes to visit for the first time, accompanied by Ajax’s childhood friend Nivara, it doesn’t take long for things to go wrong. In an accident, the prince falls into the portal and Ajax knows that it’s up to him to go and get him back.

   With the knowledge that nobody who has entered it has ever returned, Ajax and Nivara go through the portal to try to save the prince. But what Ajax finds inside, and wh

at he discovers about the prophecy, will test him to his limits.

Find it now on Amazon        Makes a great stocking stuffer!

Interview with Errin Stevens author of Updrift

Today I'd like to welcome Errin Stevens author of the Mer Chronicles! 

Errin, what got you into writing?

Reading! I truly don’t remember the order of events in some of my childhood because I read so much, lived so much in my fiction. About a decade ago I started considering story lines I read in light of how I would write them. Updrift started out this way, and then became something independent the more I thought about it.

Share a short excerpt from your novel

“Kate maintained only the dimmest sense of herself thereafter, the majority of her consciousness committed to the idea she was Elizabeth Hughes, engaged to Peter Loughlin, pregnant with their child. She couldn’t have answered Kenna if she’d wanted to due to the happy fog hanging over her senses. Peter begged his mother’s forgiveness for Elizabeth’s tiredness; the baby was taxing her, he explained. He covered her hand on the table with his own as he wove a story for her of how they’d met. His eyes never left hers, although his address was to his mother.

Such a pretty story, Kate thought. She’d fallen off a boat full of other humans on a snorkeling tour, and he’d found her swimming aimlessly, lost and nearly exhausted. He smiled at her adoringly while he told Kenna he’d fallen in love at first sight.”

Excerpt From: Errin Stevens. “Updrift.”

Which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?

I prefer paper, although I do read a ton on my Nook or iPad. It’s just so convenient! But the experience is still different, and actual books take me into a slightly different kind of contemplation.

I have found that most authors still prefer print.  Although the convenience of an e-reader is nice at times. Have you been given any helpful advice?

Tons. I’ve also been given some crap advice… ;-) Here’s a humorous little essay I wrote on the subject a while back: http://errinstevens.com/good-advice/

Currently, what are you working on?

Number three in my trilogy, Outrush, is giving me fits. Fits! My mother reminds me the other ones did, too, so I’m trying to view my process on this one as normal.

I am having a little trouble with one scene right now.  Sometimes you just have to step away and come back to it.  Good Luck with it! How did you decide on what to title each book?

The original working titles for my stories were Blue, Sapphire, and Cobalt; but when I looked at everything else out there, I decided I wanted something fresher and more dynamic. So I waded through (!) various lists of oceanographic terms until I came across a couple I liked and one I altered so I would like it. ‘Cause “Backrush” sounds like the dregs in a glass of someone else’s beer, don’t you think?

Share something with us not a lot of people know about you.

I know writing and introversion seem to go together, but people who know me are often surprised to learn I’m an introvert. I’m a devoted friend and love my family, and I come off as outgoing, but I’m actually a private person. My social media outreach efforts remain an uncomfortable part of what I do because of this (although I confess to enjoying Instagram/Bookstagram most days!).

Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

Well, it’s a trilogy at this point, with Updrift and Breakwater already out there, and Outrush on its way, pant-pant. I have ideas for one more novel and one novella to go with this series… and I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to tackle them. J

That's exciting.  As an avid reader, I would suggest writing them all.  I love to learn more about the characters I love.  The more the better. Errin, do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?

Yesyesyesyes. It’s so important. Seriously, you don’t see the things you would in someone else’s work, and a brain on the outside is a must if you want your story to be its best. I always hire a developmental editor… and I’ve finally found one I trust, Martha Moran. I started out in life in investor relations proofing 10ks and 10qs, so I have a pretty good eye for detail; but I also have at least one person copy edit. I still find errors after several of us have been through a draft. By the end of six months, I think we get there, though.

I agree.  Finding good people to go over your work is crucial.  Everyone sees things in a different way.  People have pointed out things to me I would have never thought of. Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?

I was a PR guy in an ad agency in an earlier life and still get together with the old gang from time to time. I was lucky to work with so many extraordinary, talented folks, one of which was Randy Tatum. He designed all three in my series, and although he doesn’t know it yet, I’m likely to torture him with a request for two more covers down the line.

What are your hobbies aside from writing, if any?

I garden, mother, volunteer, study-but-study the art of drinking coffee… and I sometimes knit things that don’t require gauge.

Thanks for sharing with us today, Errin.  Happy Reading!!

 Amazon:    Updrift

                    Breakwater

Goodreads

Facebook

Instagram: @errinstevens

Twitter: @errinstevens

Interview with Ashleigh Reynolds author of When the Sun Falls

Welcome Ashleigh Reynolds!  Today we welcome the author of When the Sun Falls.  Ashleigh can you tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Northern California with an older brother and a single mom. She always loved reading and horror movies, so I was introduced to both at a young age. I started reading at age 2 and writing shortly after. It wasn’t until a few years ago after I let my husband read one of my stories that he pushed me to publish it. The rest is history!

Now my life is all about the indie writing world. In addition to writing, I also run a design company with my husband. Together, we design covers and the interior formatting. When I’m not doing that I write or beta read for members of my author groups.

The world is filled with many amazing writers, and I’m so happy to be surrounded by it on a daily basis.

Share a short excerpt from your novel with us!

I can’t exactly explain my thought process when I decided to pack up everything I own and drive back to a town I have no memory of.

I heard many stories over the years. Many of which revolved around how happy my parents were. None of them explained the reason behind their hasty decision to move in the middle of the night, leaving behind everything we owned.

None of it explained the reason their car barreled down a ravine right on the outskirts of town leaving me the sole survivor.

If it weren’t for my Aunt Clara, I would have ended up in the foster system. But, by some twisted form of fate, she was more than happy to take me in and raise me like her own. All the way to California, the glorious Golden State, with its abundance of sunshine, where I lived for twelve years.

So why did I drive back to a town I don’t remember? It started with my aunt’s death and ended with a box of postcards I found buried in her closet. Postcards sent from my mother from the aforementioned town. Postcards with some seriously cryptic messages.

Light breaks through the heavy cloud cover as I roll to a stop in front of the brick-and-ivy-covered building matching the location on my GPS. My home for the next few months or however long required to figure out my life before California.

I squint through the bug-splattered windshield up at the building. It feels exactly like the moment you meet your blind date only to realize their picture is fifteen years old and thirty pounds lighter.

False advertising at its best.

The brick, once red, is graying and falling out piece by piece. The ivy that looked enchanting online is now brown and brittle, giving it an ominous vibe. It’s the type of building I would rather not park in front of, let alone live in.

I twist the diamond ring on my third finger. I should have begged a little harder until Oliver gave in and accompanied me. If it wasn’t for his residency, I might have won. But work comes first right now. I get it, we’re building a better life and all.

He has more ambition in his pinkie toe than I possess in my whole body. I suppose that’s what happens when your parents are a top attorney in the Bay Area and a doctor at Berkeley Hospital. My aunt worked at a diner and was content to live out the rest of her life that way. College only became a thing when I got sick of hopping from menial job to menial job. But even then, I never settled on a degree.

I’m flighty on a good day.

It is evident to anyone who meets us that we are one of the most random matches on the planet. My future in-laws love reminding me of that above anyone else.

Because, who wants a functional family, right?

The sun disappears behind another cluster of clouds, once again graying the world around me. Lovely. The building looks even less charming in the gloomy light.

Anxiety bubbles in my chest at the thought of Oliver’s parents, but I swallow it down. Now is not the time. Never is preferable.

Ashleigh, can you tell us what brought about the idea for your book?

I love vampires. They are always my go-to when I want to watch something scary. But over the last ten years or so, they have molded from something scary into more of an anti-hero and love interest. I wanted to take them back to their roots, back to a time where they were creatures of the night who would take what they wanted. But I also wanted my own spin on it. So, after some research on the origins of vampires from all over the world, and my own unique twist, When the Sun Falls was born.

I agree vampires are great! I love how each novel can take such a different outlook on them. Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?

I did it myself. When I first started, I was having my covers designed, but then I realized it wasn’t translating right. I have a graphic design background, so when my book Chromosomes was ready to publish, I decided to do it myself. I’m actually branching off into my own cover design company with my husband, so that’s an exciting thing coming up in the near future.

That's fantastic good luck with that.  Good cover designers are worth their weight in gold.  It's the first thing a reader sees.  What was your writing process like?

Utter chaos. That’s the best way to describe it. I’m not a planner. At most I have character names and a general idea on paper. Then I run with it. I write completely out of order so when it comes to the end; I have to go back and stich every scene together in a coherent flow.

I am working on having a little bit more of a plan in my writing.  But the bottom line is finding what works for you.  What is the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?

The easiest part for me is simply writing. Just getting the story out of my head and onto paper. The hardest part is editing. All you’re doing is looking for what is wrong. For weeks or months or however long it takes to get right. It can get frustrating.

I am grateful for an editor.  I don't have that skill.  It's frustrating enough to see how many mistakes I make when writing. I feel for my editor when I send her a manuscript.  LOL.  Do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?

I do.  I have a fantastic critique partner that usually gets it first. Then I’ll pass it off to my husband. Neither one of them hold back so I like that. Choosing beta readers is difficult. I’ve gone through a couple before I found the perfect match, it’s usually other authors or people close to me.

Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

I actually write in several genres now. My first three books were sci-fi with one falling in YA. When an idea comes to mind, I never think about fitting it in with a certain genre. At the end, it falls where it falls. That’s mostly due to the fact that I read all different genres as well.

 Ashleigh can you tell us what got you into writing?

I have loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember. Honestly, whenever I was in trouble, my mom would take my books away as punishment. The first time I remember writing a story was in kindergarten. My mom has saved a couple and I have some short stories from high school. They’re fun to read from time to time.

Have you been given any helpful advice?

Let your characters make their own decisions. My husband thinks I’m crazy every time I say that, but it’s some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten. I can’t say how many times a story has changed the original path it was on because of a character’s decision. Bad guys have become good, characters have ended up together, and stand-alone books have become trilogies. I’m in for as big of a ride as the reader sometimes.

I think that's great advice.  Currently, what are you working on?

Currently, I’m finishing the 3^rd and final book in my Paroxysm series. It also falls during NANO, so I’m trying to finish it before the end of November.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today Ashleigh.  Check out When the Sun Falls and Ashleigh's other works at the links below.  Happy Reading!!

facebook

goodreads

amazon

The red pen

Editing is something a lot of authors cringe at.  The dreaded red pen.  What is my manuscript going to look like by the time my editor is finished with it.  Some writers want as few marks as possible.  I am on the opposite end of the spectrum.  I want to see red all over the place.  I want all my flaws found now, before publishing.

I am always hesitant to brag on someone who does work for me.  It's purely for a selfish reason.  I am a perfectionist and only want top notch professionals working on my books.  I always worry that if I share them with others then they will get too popular and I'll have to get in a long line to work with them.  But I would be ungrateful if I didn't give a shout out to my fabulous editor, Courtney Johansson.  She is truly talented.

I read a lot, and I have read many good books.  However, once in a blue moon I pick up a novel and think wow!  This author really has a talent for words.  Everything they write is just amazing, from every single line of dialog to the descriptions that truly immerse you into the story.  There are a few writers who are in a league of their own.

That's where Courtney Johansson fits in.  She is one in a million.  I often forget just how good she is until I get my novel back after it has been edited.  Her eye for detail is truly unmatched.  So if you are looking for someone to bring your novel to the next level, contact Courtney.  You will be blown away.  Just make sure to leave her time for me!

Cjohanssonedits@gmail.com

Interview with Jean Baxter author of Salvageable

Let's welcome Jean Baxter today, author of Salvageable!  

Hello! My name is Jean Baxter and I have recently published my debut novel, Salvageable. I worked thirty years as a registered nurse and raised two kids as a single parent—and they turned out! I have 4 grandkids, two cats and I like to read, write, knit, bike, walk and travel.

Jean, what got you into writing?

I have liked writing since middle school when my friends and I passed the same story back and forth, adding to it. Then I published a story in a "confession" magazine and actually got paid. That was cool! My novel was a long time coming, but it's here now and what a ride.

Congrats on getting your first novel published.  It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.  Will you share a short excerpt from your novel:

He skirted around his dad, and took the steps two at a time to his room. He slammed the door, diving onto his belly on the bed, cramming his face into the pillow. His fist pounded the mattress next to his head. When he finally took a breath, the hurt, anger and fear came gushing out in the form of a muffled, low, wounded growl. How was anything ever going to be normal again?

Jean, which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?

Print, but I'm coming around to ebooks. Since mine came out first as an ebook, I broke down and got the Kindle app.

Have you been given any helpful advice?

Over the years I heard time and again that I had a gift with words. When I joined my writer's group, they reinforced that and really mentored me through the steps to getting published. Best advice, don't give up.

Tell us a little bit about your main characters:

I just love my main character, Michael Jarrid. He's eighteen, a good kid who makes some bad decisions. He's strong willed and a hard worker, but a little naïve about relationships and finds himself submerged in one where he is way over his head. Lacey is in the midst of a divorce. She is devastated by her failed marriage, left to raise her son alone. Michael makes her smile, something she thought she'd never be able to do, again. She ends up breaking his heart. Annie is her own person, confident, beautiful and used to getting her way. They meet when Mike accidentally runs her off a ski trail and she let's him know she isn't at all happy about it. Still wounded from his last relationship, Mike is no way looking for a love interest, especially not this firecracker. But…

Sounds intriguing.  Is Salvageable a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

There is a sequel to Salvageable…it's in the hands of the publisher and I'm waiting to see if I get offered a contract.

Jean can you tell us what brought about the idea for your book?

Years ago a friend of ours confided an episode from his past where his parents believed his girlfriend over their own son. It broke his heart. I never forgot it and thought how awful to have the people you love the most betray your trust. And, a novel was born.

What was your writing process like?

 I first wrote this book a long time ago. I kept getting it out and reading it, thinking, gee, this really is a good story. Then I would put it away again. As I got close to retiring, I needed something to focus on. I was so worried after all those years as a nurse, I would no longer have a reason to get up, so the book became my purpose. I had to totally revise it, as it was written before computers and cell phones. I joined my first writer's group and received the boost I needed to send it out.

Finding a good group of people to help give you advice and support is so critical in this field.  Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

I really love young adult. It's such an interesting time, everything is a crisis of major proportions. So much learning happens as the teens start to spread their wings. My sequel is more of a new adult book, but the next two stand-alones I am working on are YA.

That's great.  That's what I love about writing, you aren't tied down to one thing.  You can jump around from genre to genre and switch up your audience.  It keeps things interesting. What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

Look at both. Since I only have one book and it's with a traditional publisher, I can't speak much about self-publishing. I have found things I wish I could do differently with my book and my hands are tied. I will consider self-publishing in the future.

Any last words?

If you love writing, then do it. Keep on trying. Don't let a rejection or thirty-five rejections deter you. One last thought, the writing is the easy part!

Thanks again for being with us today Jean.  Find out more about Salvageable at the links below.  Happy Reading!!

Website

Facebook

Amazon