ACK! Tagged again

Charity Bradford, author of The Magic Wakes, tagged me for a Q & A session. Her book is an amazing tale of sci-fi fantasy. She's working on the second in the series in between raising a family of four and helping anyone and everyone who needs her. With the precious few minutes she has left, (I think somewhere between 10:30 and 10:45 pm) she is writing a knockout YA also.

What are you working on right now?

Book Two of The Magic Withheld. As every writer knows, sometimes the characters take the reins and kick the horse into a different direction. I was shocked when Bert decided to go his own way and not follow my well-laid path.

How does it differ from other works in its genre?

No wands, charms, and spells in my magical world. Nothing made in a black kettle surrounded by witches. In fact, there are no witches or warlocks in my novels. They are wizards, mages, or adepts, male and female.

What experiences have influenced you?

The first book that caused the Wow Factor was Robert Heinlein’s Have Spacesuit Will Travel. Then I found the short story by Arthur C. Clarke called The Star. People, if you have an ounce of appreciation for science fiction, read this one. Even now, I get chills thinking of it. 

How does your writing process work?

Ideas come to me when my mind is clear. Driving down the road, half asleep, running on the treadmill. Unfortunately, none of those lends well to writing. I did install a shelf for my treadmill however. Works darn good.

What is the hardest part about writing?

I evolved from loathing dialogue to loving it more than narrative. The hardest part of writing is trying not to fall into research too thoroughly. The internet and all its minions is hard to ignore.

What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?

YA. It seems only natural to dip my toe into those waters. After that, Sci-fi.

What scares you? 

Nothing. Most things run...if they show good sense. My sign on the front door says: 

Don’t worry about the dog. Beware of wife.

Making an Author’s Page on Facebook, GoodReads, and More

There is so much to do and so little time. Look at the ticker on the left and you’ll see what I mean.

Now maybe 31 days seems like a lot. But Holy Cats in a Cradle, then again, the list of stuff to do is growing.

Author’s Page for Facebook. My FB page was mostly for family and friends. And seldom visited. Now all that has changed.

In addition to my family oriented site, I made a page for my book(s) and writerly stuff at Wilder Mage.

Smashwords, GoodReads. Bios and blurbs and links, Oh My! These are a work in progress. I know they need more time and involvement but Holy Cannoli, I have to sleep sometime.

GoodReads was a labor of love though. Seeing my name there was richly satisfying. Inserting my iconic pic hit some snags though. Still puzzling my way through it.

Manic Readers is new to me, a site for book promotion, authors, and publishers. Go here to see my page.

Twitter is next on my to do list for updates and info.

Google + equals a meh from me. But I am a little more ‘into it’ than before.

Now onto Pinterest and Linkedin. *sigh*

And Amazon, which I haven’t figured out yet. Maybe they don't add books until they are released? 

Any suggestions? Have I missed anything? 

Wilder Mage – Cover Reveal

“I know who you are,” she said 

“Who am I?” Justus asked.  

“You are the one they call the wilder, the one who got away.”

Justus Aubre is a wilder. A mage unbound to the Imperium, and therefore a dangerous wild card in their eyes. The Imperium wants him, wants his power, but Justus has hidden for many years and now has some semblance of a normal life. All that’s about to change when Sable Rounds walks through the door of his antique shop, looking for work. Justus instantly knows what Sable is, he just doesn't know the danger he’s in.

Alone, also on the run from the Imperium, Sable longs for a normal life. For somewhere to belong. She finds this when Justus hires her, but she knows it’s temporary and fragile, an illusion. Though she hates to think about it, she knows that one day she will have to move on.

The Imperium is always behind her, waiting. When they finally find Sable, they find Justus. And all hell’s about to break loose.

Release Date, August 30

Internet Withdrawal and an Announcement

Holy Crap What have I got myself into?

More! More!

Definition of

Metamorphosis

It is the season for family camping trips. 

The smells of nature, wood smoke, watermelon. Birds cackling in the trees...or is it tree frogs? Seeing the youngsters on their bikes, swimming and making the water slide look easy. And fun.

All good. All a big thumbs up.

But no internet bites.

Yeah I had my cell phone and figured I’d receive and send emails if needed. Bam! Not so fast. No emails, no weather reports, no service.

EiEEEEEEE!

Oh, well. Had a fantastic time anyway.

* * * *

Announcement.

Cover Reveal for Wilder Mage on Wednesday. 

Book trailer too.

Marketing—When, Where, How

Book cover reveal. I've been sitting on my cover reveal for nearly a month, doodling around like a kid anticipating a merry-go-round ride. Which it surely is.

Next week, a new book trailer and the cover reveal. I hope plenty of my blogger buddies will pass the word.

Marketing. Selling your book begins the day your manuscript is ready for representation. The query starts the game, the sentence or two that entices another person to enter your world.

Not unlike the Carrion flower that emits a foul dead-meat stench to attract pollinating flies. (yeah, I know. It's a gift. My brain at work)

Some say luring that first visitor is the hardest part of the journey. I agree, but it is only one stop on the road to Published. Many junctions lie ahead. Some are perilous. Especially to introverts such as myself.

Shouting, Hey, Look at me, scares me more than anything up to date. The Introvert gene, no doubt.

Back to the journey. You have an agent or, in my case, a publisher who wants to take you on. Edits add more to that ms than you ever thought possible. And so begins the real work.

How to sell yourself. Well, boy howdy, it’s another query of course. Just in a little different form.

• With bling and book tours.
• Broadcast the news far and wide.
• Facebook author pages, social networks, blogs. And their upkeep.
• Book trailers.
• Press release to the local papers.
• Magnets. Postcards.
• Pens and posters with your book cover on it, ready to distribute at book signings.

There is lots to do. But the best part is coming, the cover reveal.

Next week. Be here for the first look at the cover for Wilder Mage. Sincerely—no bias here—it is amazing. 

Summer Days and Writing

What is filling your days now?

• Camping
• Wonderful World of Water sports
• Family Reunions
• Gardening
• Lawn care
• House Renovation

Or maybe all of the above?

Where is writing on that list? Are you making time to write?

If so, How Are You Doing it?

IWSG – Fears and Sneaky Suspicions

IWSG

The release date for Wilder Mage, book one of The Magic Withheld is August 30, a three-year project that is finally coming to fruition. 

After finishing the easy stage (little did I know that writing the manuscript was the *easy* part), I followed the traditional route of agents and queries. 

Last year, when I heard that Musa Publishing was taking submissions, I shot them a query also. A request for the full manuscript followed and then a contract. People tell you how thrilling it is but words cannot come close to my elation.

It has been one heckuva ride since then with many a loop-de-loop.

But now, Doubt has made an appearance. You know the one I’m talking about. He’s the fellow rolling his eyes and whispering, “You aren't good enough to join the Published Author club.”

I attempt to ignore my inner monster but Doubt is the roach that slithers into every thought.

I want Wilder Mage to be the book people read until 2 am because they can’t put it down. In my dreams, they arrive at work the next day bleary-eyed and still thinking about the main character Justus and the magic he fights to contain.

Doubt says, “Don’t kid yourself.”

I hope for a loyal readership and fan mail. People tell me they like the first drafts. And heaven knows, my fantabulous editor, Angela Kelly says she loves it.

“They are only being kind,” Doubt says.

GAHHHHHHHHHH

Maybe all I should hope for is to arrive on the other side without becoming a total fruitcake.