How
much do typos drive you up the wall? I'm with Victoria. If you ever see a typo
in one of my blog posts, please let me know privately so that I can fix it.
Every
author who is serious about self-promotion should invest in an author website
and engage in social media. The next step to making your digital author
platform shine is creating your digital press kit and making it available
online.
What
a great idea! A team of indie authors recently banded together to create The
Indie Voice group and release an eight-book To Die For boxed set,
expanding their fan base and promotional reach.
We've
all seen self-published books put together by well-meaning authors who really
want to succeed but, for one reason or another, are unclear on how exactly to
go about it. Chris has the solution.
Having
read the amazing stories of authors who've made it on their own, you may start
to consider taking the leap into self-publishing. Brian shares four simple
strategies to help you on your way.
Authors
often question if they should have a blog but if you have a done a book signing
recently you will quickly realize that the answer is yes. Take a look at these
tips which should help you get your blog up and running.
Do
you ever feel alone in your journey to self-publish? You don’t need nurturing.
You need connections and support. One of the most fabulous aspects of
self-publishing is that the community is large, noisy, active and supportive.
Structure
applies at all levels of writing, from the structure of your sentences and
paragraphs – which help you grab the reader and convey the essential emotion
that is at the heart of all writing – to the over-arching structure of your
entire work.
A women's Brokeback
Mountain. The year 1895 was filled with memorable historical events: the
Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address;
the United States expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine to cover South
America; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under
Britain's recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense.
When news of Wilde's conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a
small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives
of its citizens were impacted by the news of Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. It is
a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating
consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing.
When Paulette asked
me to review her novel, it was with great pleasure that I undertook the
project. She is a dynamic person, a great friend and an observant, sensitive
human with whom I have grown quite fond of. Few people I know could pull this
off, that is to stage a story in the events of recent history, 1895, and make
it so poignant for the present. There is great history here, but there is also
so much about our present day societal problems. With all the political turmoil
regarding same-sex marriages, homosexual behavior, and our place in history,
she captures this on the stage of a small Nevada town, and the trying and
impossible situation of this lesbian couple. She reveals our denied prejudices,
and our hidden hypocrisy. It is entertaining and exceptional, she is a true
word-smith that will rivet your attention.
From the Author - On
Writing
From the time I was ten year old, I've loved to write. While in college I
wrote two award winning short stories. This encouraged me to continue to write,
and write I did but never completed any of my novels due to other
responsibilities: education, jobs, family, etc. After attending and receiving a
Master's Degree in the Nurse Practitioner Program at UCLA, I went to work in
the second busiest emergency room in Los Angeles county. I saw and learned
about things that haunted me, until bit by a tick and diagnosed with Lyme
Disease (which went to my heart valves, brain, and muscular skeletal system)
knocked me down and afforded me time to write and release the memories onto
pages before me. I wrote, and wrote, and released what was stored inside, which
finally gave way to a story that was to change my life, The Persecution of
Mildred Dunlap. When I began to feel better, I joined a writing class, in Ojai,
CA, where I live. The teacher, Deb Norton (screenwriter/playwright of The Whole Banana) had us do an exercise
involving a photo. We were to write a 10 minute mystery. The photo I picked was
of two women huddled close together in clothing that looked circa turn of the
twentieth century. I made them a Lesbian couple trying to avoid being found
out. In my research, I came across Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. Britain had
recently changed its laws to make homosexual activity, a man having sex with
another man, a criminal offense resulting in a two year hard labor prison
sentence. The combination of the photo from that writing class and Oscar
Wilde's imprisonment were the seeds that started the story, six years in the
making. For those six years, I studied Wilde, the history of Lesbians, western
settlement in the United States, and I opened to what it must have been like to
live in fear of being persecuted because of the nature of one's existence, that
can no more be changed than the color of grass. As I wrote, I saw myself in the
characters who I dialogued with, related with as if we were friends today, and
in doing this I learned that external factors may change (the environment,
technology, family relating, etc.) but the nature of the human condition and
how we manifest remains the same. There will always be stories to tell, to
write, to read, to appreciate, because we invest in literature from our
humanness, our emotional composition, and we relate to the imagery created with
narrative and dialogue that suit our preferences. We are drawn in, over and
over and over again, to similar story lines, themes, sequels, because of this
human experience--that in sitting down before a book or eBook we are
transcended out of our ordinary lives to magical places that written words
create, no matter how similar or repetitive the story, because, after all, we
are all living, breathing, stories.
I hope you read and enjoy my story.
From the Author - On
Rescuing Dogs
My husband and I have been rescuing Rottweilers for the last
twenty-eight years. When Tazzie, our last one, died at the age of
fifteen plus years, it left a huge hole in my heart. She had been through the
worst years of my life with me, a life altering long bout with Lyme
Disease, and there were days when looking at her was all that gave
me motivation. After her death, we went to a kill shelter to look at
another Rottie puppy that had been thrown away, and still with a heavy
heart I couldn't bear to see all the dogs behind bars, looking so
depressed, awaiting their death sentence in this kill shelter. I became
compulsive about wanting to help, yet not knowing how to. This was around
the time I finished my novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. It was
also around the time I first heard of the plans to open the first
no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County, where I live. It was a no
brainer for me to want to support this. I contacted the shelter
and told them I wanted to have the profits from my book go to help them,
and so began my journey in doing what I can to help avoid the
tragedy of animals being put to death for no reason, other than they
were born. The shelter is The Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center.
About the Author
Paulette Mahurin is a Nurse Practitioner who lives in Ojai, California
with her husband Terry and their two rescued dogs, Max and Bella. She practices
women’s health in a rural clinic and writes in her spare time. She also taught
in several college level nursing programs, including UCLA, where she had a
Master's Degree in Nursing from their nurse practitioner program. Her two
passions are writing and rescuing dogs. While in college she wrote and
published two award winning non-fiction short stories.The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap is her first novel.
For further insights, you can read an interview with the author.
Description The Zul
Enigma, best selling futuristic science fiction
thriller, seamlessly weaves New Age beliefs with hard, physics facts. Set in
2068 it spans two generations following a quest to expose the perpetrator
behind a cataclysmic event that takes place in 2012, changing the world forever.
In
March 2012, when an alien entity claiming to represent the Galactic Federation
contacts Dr Carlos Maiz, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space
Affairs, he thinks it's a hoax. But Zul persuades Carlos that, without his
intervention, the coming month of December will not just mark the end of the
year... it will be the end of the world.
Carlos,
doing battle with his own demons as well as with a skeptical boss, NASA, the
National Security Agency, National Intelligence and the President of the USA
who wants him committed to a mental asylum, races the ticking clock to set up a
global initiative to avert Zul's horrific prediction. But when a monstrous
apocalypse of a different nature altogether brings the planet to its knees,
rather than being lauded for saving humanity Carlos is accused of destroying it
... and of inventing Zul.
Fifty-five
years later, Rachael Harris makes a disturbing discovery. She is related to the
infamous Carlos Maiz. The more she learns, however, the more convinced she is
that he was the victim of a sophisticated conspiracy. Delving deep and tracking
down two of his old associates she uncovers the hideous reality underlying the
events of that frightful day in December 2012, revealing a tale of global
deception for a prize of absolute power.
Underpinned
by a theme of betrayal, this dystopian novel is set against a backdrop of
climate change, overpopulation, world war, alien encounters, presidential plots
and a new world order. A venomous twist reveals the most horrific conspiracy
one could ever imagine and Zul is behind it.
The Zul
Enigma gripped me from the start to its stunning
and shocking end. It's a unique futuristic thriller and sci-fi conspiracy
adventure rolled into one. The story begins with Dr Carlos Maiz, Director of
the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, being contacted by an
entity, purporting to be an alien whom he calls 'Zul', who outlines a theory of
galactic evolution linked to the 2012 Mayan calendar prophecy. Once he is
convinced of the authenticity of 'Zul', he tries to convince others, including
the US President, of the messages given him. This doesn't go down well for him
at first.
After
various adventures, twists and turns, Dr Maiz and friends help to implement
Zul's message that the world should embrace meditation to assist with the
looming evolutionary jump once the Mayan calendar runs out, which if not
achieved, will result in dire consequences. What happens on the deadline date,
when it comes, was a shock that shook me to the core. Some other reviewers have
called this book controversial, and I can see why they do, but that is purely a
personal opinion of theirs. As a piece of imaginative writing, this is quite
cleverly done, intriguing and thought-provoking.
The
latter part of the book is set some fifty-five years in the future, when a relative
of Dr Maiz finds a lost journal of the time reads her mother's journal of the
time and seeks to find out what really happened and why. It is at this time
that the extent of the conspiracy is revealed.
I
found this book to be a compelling page-turning read and highly original.
From the Author
The Zul Enigma is my first novel, a futuristic thriller. It took me 7 1/2 years to complete. It started out as a simple idea but evolved over the years into something quite different - a story with a shocking twist - that I would never have dreamed of at the start of my writing journey. Because the underlying plot is so incredible I somehow had to draw in my
readers to convince them that it might... just might... be plausible. The best
way of achieving this, I thought, was to cement the characters and action in
reality. As a result, I had to conduct a tremendous amount of research, which I
very much enjoyed, especially the part that involved reading about the latest
physics theories.
There is a page on the book's website
called Fact
or Fiction? that describes which theories, concepts, technology,
organisations and establishments mentioned in the book actually do exist. The
vast majority are real.
The thing that struck me most about writing this book was how the
characters ended up driving the plot. I'd occasionally read or heard about
authors saying this, but I never understood it until it happened to me. When
you think about it, it's obvious. If you're pretending to be one of your
characters you have to speak, think and act like them, meaning that they'll do
things their way, not yours. And this is how they take over... pushing your
book in directions you would never have imagined.
I love this aspect of the writing process, opening my mind to the
characters I create and trusting them to move the action forward in an
unpredictable and exciting way.
Should you decide to download or buy a copy of The Zul Enigma, I truly hope you'll enjoy it. After all, I wrote it
for you.
About the Author
The author states: "When Mum picked me up after my first day of
primary school I was in tears. 'Whatever's the matter?' she asked. I spat out words
between heaving staccato sobs. They were an accusing finger. 'YOU said I'd
learn to read!'
"It took much longer than I expected...
but I did learn to read and I've not stopped since. I also learned to write and
I published my first novel in 2011, The Zul Enigma.
"As to my background? Well, I was born
just outside London, England, and moved to Asia where I've lived half my life.
I now spend my time between Singapore, Assam in North East India, Bali in
Indonesia and the UK.
"In addition to reading and writing I
enjoy hanging out with my family and friends. I love laughing and try to spend
as much time doing that as I can. I think it keeps me healthy! My hobbies are
reading, tennis and travelling. I also enjoy good food and wine. Mmm... "
Today I introduce you to Tania Elizabeth, writer, fellow Aussie, and passionate advocate for the Starlight Children's Foundation, a charity dedicated to granting the wishes of terminally ill children. Please help Tania in her fundraising quest for this worth cause.
A Message from Tania Elizabeth
I am asking for everyone's
assistance.
To give to others is to
give to oneself, and I NEED YOUR HELP!!!
There are two ways in which
people can help. It is very simple.
By simply hosting, reviewing
or interviewing myself/my book via a blog post, Amazon, newspaper, radio, TV
within a 21-day window frame, between the dates of 12 April and 3 May. For
every appearance, I will be donating $1 to the Starlight Children's Foundation.
If any of you could help, I
would be so grateful. If you could connect me with anyone else who would be
happy to interview, do a short post or review on myself/my book, I would be
ever so grateful.
We are looking at making
this an annual event. This year it is based upon myself, though every year
after, we will base it upon another upcoming author. So please share and pass
this along to all. Let's make this a huge affair and raise much needed funds
for a very worthy cause.
My heartfelt thanks to all.
Love, Blessings and Faerie
Kisses always xo
Description
I
am a divine being of divine beauty and power.
My power lies in love, my strength I’ve gained from grace
I am grounded in thy truths and live purely of heart.
I’ve a gratitude for all life’s glory; never shall I be misplaced.
Though
it comes to pass that I am rivaled
By the name of another and that of my own uncertainties,
dare I be denied my truths, my mind’s clear
By the name of another, I am now in jeopardy.
Beyond the boundary that
separates the mundane and earthly planes from the divine lies Eterna Fadas, a
place ruled by extraordinary beings, lithe and human-like in appearance, yet
ethereal in their grace and beauty, and sensuous in nature.
"I have existed
always! Where I began I do not know, for all I know is just as I am
today!"
As Queen, Tatiana was
thought to have lived a life of opulence, her faith and beliefs her endearing
essence. Why then was it so, that beneath the picture of perfection laid
torments and terrors even she dare not explain. Being She came with its prices
paid. Being She came with a deal; a contract in which she was to relinquish
herself to a rogue of unmerciful fury. Would this be the end of all she know?
Would this be the end of her existence?
Book Trailer
Excerpt
Crystabella had never seen him so vulnerable. She had never seen or felt
such sincere looks of gratitude and love from him. So although she despised
that he was under so much pain, she relished his innocence. He sincerely needed
her for the first time ever . . . not the other way around.
~•*•~
That was to be the last she had seen of him before she was to hear the
every detail from the night of the Moon Clearing, including Edan’s true
intentions regarding herself.
It was then that Crystabella snapped herself out of the senseless dream
she had now been living for so long.
“Do you see now Tatiana? Why it is I apologize! Why I must redeem
myself!”
Tatiana took a deep breath so as to gather her thoughts before
answering.
“My beautiful Crysa, you have absolutely no reason to apologize for
following your heart. If anything, I am proud of you!”
Crystabella looked at Tatiana so confound.
“How is it that you can be so proud of me when I have gone against all
our beliefs? I have disregarded myself, our kind and you; not just as our
Queen, but as my friend!”
“But don’t you see, you have done no such thing! You have unfortunately
been misled at times, but there was not one moment where your best intentions
were not apparent.”
Making sure the following comment was heard evidently clear, Tatiana
paused before speaking with conviction.
“Your heart was always in the right place even if it was in the wrong
place!”
“How could I ever be ill tempered at you for that? I can’t!”
Crystabella would continue to fight with her percipient choices of mind
versus heart. Her mind would try to deceive her, have her believe that she was
not worthy. Though her heart, her soul knew better. She was worthy and
deserving of more than she had allowed herself to acknowledge in a long time.
A Devine tale of magic and mysticism, of love and
lust, of loyalty and deception, of endearing friendships and betrayals, Tania
Elizabeth's debut, must read tale The Moon Clearing is sure to enrapture the
hearts and minds of readers of all genres. Set in the beautifully depicted
faerie realm Eterna Fadas, mother earth is both the splendid scenery and an
integral character of the story, vivid depictions of the magic and wonder that
abounds our existence are plentiful. Queen Tatiana's story is not unlike our
own life's journeys as she faces and overcomes obstacles and obligations, experiences
heartache and joyful splendor, relishes in admirable friendships and battles
her ego mind as she encounters a tortured soul whose inner turmoil wrecks havoc
on her own existence and that of her devoted people. Through the entwined lives
of these stunning, enchanted beings you will become lost within a world of
magic and of faith, where beauty abounds and a deep seeded belief that love
prevails is prevalent throughout. You will become enthralled by their stories
and find yourself deeply invested in these characters, consumed with all that
they are, feeling as they do, absorbed by both the beauty of Tania Elizabeth's
writing and the underlying message that seen or unseen, love, magic and faith
in oneself are contained in the hearts of us all should we simply choose to
trust in ourselves. I found myself getting lost in this story, only ever
putting it down to savor in the anticipation and the enchantment of Tatiana's
fate. I have been left hungry for the second installment and I am certain you
will be too.
Interview With the Author
Hi
Tania Eizabeth, thanks for joining me today to discuss your new book The
Tier of Eternal Grace, Book One: The Moon Clearing.
Which
writers have influenced you the most?
To begin with, I would
have to name Enid
Blyton. For it was her books, The Magic
Faraway Tree and The Adventures of
the Wishing Chair in which had me lost in the fantasy worlds as a child. The
classical and poetic writings of William
Shakespeare. And, Florence
Scovel Shinn, who wrote the book in which was the catalyst for my own
journey of self love and discovery.
What
age group do you recommend your book for?
The glory of The Tier of Eternal Grace is that it is for all ages from late
teens through to that of the older generations.
What
sparked the idea for this book?
My ideas arose from the
desire to write a book that not only enabled the reader to delve into an
enchanting realm of magic, love, betrayal, deceit, every emotion under the sun.
But that also had the reader begin a journey of self discovery and to learn to
love oneself within. As for the faeries, I have had an avid interest in faeries
ever since I was a child.
Which
comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?
In
the case of The Tier of Eternal Grace,
I have to actually say that is was a mixture of both elements arising all at
the same time.
What
was the hardest part to write in this book?
The
very deep disturbing emotional elements were most definitely the hardest, as
much of my book relates to that of my own life in one way or another. Thus it
unearthed particular moments in my life that I had pushed beneath the carpet so
to speak. Though in the same breath, I am grateful. For it is through the
writing of this book in which I have healed and found my true self once more.
How
to you hope this book affects its readers?
To
live and breathe in the words of Tatiana and her people. To learn a greater
respect for that of Mother Earth and that of oneself. And to simply loose themselves
in the enchantment and the magic of each page they cast their eyes upon.
How
long did it take you to write this book?
11
months in total.
What
is your writing routine?
Most
of my writing is done in the darkness of the night skies. For as a single
mother of three beautiful children, my days are full running around after them.
Once they are in bed ... give this girl a cup of coffee and my chocolate, and I
am set for another long night of writing.
How
did you get your book published?
I
am self-published. I had long made the choice to self-publish, for I was not
willing to lose any control when it came to how my book was to be perceived and
read by the public. Not to say that my
thought on this would not change. I just knew that this was the right decision
at the time for myself.
What
advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
First
and foremost, Believe! Do not allow doubt and fear to become one's friend.
What
do you like to do when you're not writing?
Ahh
... that’s easy. Spend quality time with my angels. Be it at the beach, hiking
the mountains or snuggled up on the couch watching a movie. Perfection lays
best when my babies are at my side.
What
does your family think of your writing?
They
are incredibly supportive and love all of my work.
Did
you enjoy school?
Yes,
very much so. I was at times an outcast, though I loved it all the same. I seem
to now flourish in being different. I love it ... just as I love my life!
When
did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
It
has always been a dream, though it was not until I had come to a place of pure
contentment with oneself and learnt the true meaning of I Love Me, that I
gained the courage to pursue my dreams.
Did
your childhood experiences influence your writing?
Yes,
many of my
weekends were spent in the countryside and the rainforests of Far North
Queensland by the Great Barrier Reef, where I would lose myself in my
imagination along with my siblings and cousins in abundance. My father, Lionel,
also began to enlighten me on how to meditate and understand the sagacity of
energy. Thus, my growth into the spiritual world.
What
was your favorite book as a child?
The
very same books that inspired me and began my love of fantasy ... Enid
Blyton’s The Magic Tree and The Adventures of the Wishing Chair. Mind
you, I also loved, The
Sleepover Club series. Once a teenager, I found myself delving into poetry book after poetry book.
Do
you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I
have had some beautiful comments and reviews made. I like to stay well
connected to my readers as much as possible.
What
can we look forward to from you in the future?
The
second and third installment to The Tier
of Eternal Grace series. From there, the world is my oyster J
Thanks for joining me today, Tania. I wish you
every success with your writing and in your fundraising endeavors.
About the Author
Like each and every one
of us, Tania's journey has been one of trials and tribulations, of Love and of
passions; and the dissolutions of it. Heartache, sorrows, smiles and laughter
always seeming. Through the writing of this book and the words of Tatiana,
Tania has found a peace within and learnt the true meaning of 'I LOVE ME!'"
Tania Elizabeth is the
author of The Tier of Eternal Grace.
Book One, The Moon Clearing, was
released earlier this year. Book Two, The
Mirror's Shadow, will be released about September. Book Three will then
follow in the early part of 2014.
Aside from her writing
and her three angels, Tania is also an advocate for the Starlight Children's
Foundation. Being a mother
herself and having seen firsthand what some of these children are dealt with on
a day to day basis, and yet seeing the strength and courage they each maintain,
Tania felt the need to not only donate her time, but to also help raise much needed
funds.