Aug4

Events from Indie Author: Amanda Brice

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Here is a list of events for the Indie Author, Amanda Brice. Her YA book, Codename: Dancer, will be reviewed in upcoming weeks in the review section.

Friday, September 2 from 5-6 pm:
Author talk at Hilton Head Library. Refreshments will be served. Ms. Brice will be talking about Codename: Dancer, writing, publishing, and really anything else that may be asked. Get your questions ready.
11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head, SC (http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/branches/hiltonhead)

Saturday, September 24 from 2:15-3:15:
**Workshop on basic intellectual property law for writers and illustrators. She’ll be talking about how to protect what a writer creates. This is part of the SCBWI Carolinas Conference at the Marriott Hotel Executive Park in Charlotte, NC.

Sat, Sept 24 from 6-7:30 pm:
Booksigning at SCBWI Carolina Conference. The onsite bookstore will be open, and Ms. Brice will be signing along with several other children’s and YA authors, including NY Times Bestseller Beth Revis.

**Read the review for Codename:Dancer

Aug2

A New Take On Friendship

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The book, Jimmy Stone’s Ghost Town is a cross between the Wimpy Kid series and the TV series Ghost Hunters. Written by Scott Neumyer, this book takes the reader into a 10 year old boy’s world of childhood problems, an alcoholic dad, bully victim, and ghosts.

Jimmy has a lot of problems for a kid. His dad drinks, his mom is gone, and he’s getting bullied at his new school. But when a classmate decides to give him some pointers on how to save himself from the school bully, Jimmy’s life takes a turn for the better. But then, on an adventure together in the woods behind his house, Jimmy and his new friend, David, find a challenge that will test their friendship even further-ghosts.

This book starts out a bit slow, with a lot of background information telling why Jimmy is in the new town he dubs “Boredsylvania”. The story really starts in Chapter 7 where David saves him from the class bully gang in the boy’s bathroom. From there, things get a bit weird and interesting, like if the “Wimpy Kid” series involved ghosts. There is a lot of mystery to the secret world that Jimmy and David discover, but it really didn’t pull me in like some books do. However, the cliffhanger ending makes me wonder what will be in the set-up sequel. Plus, there was some mild swearing that might delight any upper grader, but should be acknowledged for parents.

Overall, this book is an exercise in friendship and boy bonding. I think the author’s voice is something a Tween boy could relate to. There is a good mystery plot to it since Jimmy has to save the fantasy world of “Ghost Town”. It’s worth a try on your list if you like some paranormal/fantasy fiction for your child’s bookshelf. Give the book a scan yourself before letting your 10 year old delve in to it.

*** Three Star Rating– Jimmy Stone’s Ghost Town is available as an ebook at Smashwords and the Kindle Bookstore.

Jul26

Meet Tiffany Turner at the Sonoma County Book Festival

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Tiffany Turner will be appearing at the Sonoma County Book Festival on Sat. Sept. 24, 2011. She will have both her books, The Lost Secret of Fairies and The Lost Secret of the Green Man available for purchase. All books sold will be personally signed by Mrs. Turner.

Plus, stop by and enter to win an official Crystal Keeper Pendant.

Sonoma County Book Festival 2011
Sat. Sept. 24 10am-4pm
Old Courthouse Square
in Santa Rosa, CA

Jul20

Music To Write By

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One thing that writers use is music. In the background either on my IPod earphones or playing on the computer, I’ll listen to several different playlists as I write. For some reason, music seems to keep my train of thought going. The music will lead me to places in my mind that I need to capture. So, I wanted to share some of my favorite songs I use to write my stories.

You might already enjoy listening to them, or maybe they’ll be a new discovery for you. Some artists are well known, and some aren’t. But what can I say. I’m a child of the 1980s. So I listen to a lot of New Wave while I write. But I love a lot of the modern artists such as Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, and Lady GaGa. So here is a sample of my playlist.

1) “Firework” by Katy Perry
2) “If I Had You” by Adam Lambert
3) “Sometimes” by Erasure
4) “Out of Touch” by Hall and Oats
5) “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and The Machine
6) “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips
7) “Born This Way” by Lady GaGa

I am using this playlist as I write my third book in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles. Out of this current playlist is springing a labyrinth of mines, a dwarf city, a dragon guide, and more adventures for Wanda. Music will guide me to new ideas and directions in the third book, The Lost Secret of Dragonfire. Time to get back to writing. Enjoy!

Jul19

Writer’s Village Summer 2011-Shortlisted Story Winner

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I’m happy to announce I’ve just been awarded a Shortlisted award for the Writer’s Village Writing Contest Summer 2011. I think it’s a bit like getting an Honorable Mention. It’s a British hosted contest you see.

I don’t get to toot my own horn often. So, I am excited that I’ve won something with my writing. I found a link through one of my writing groups to a summer writing contest for creative writing. I entered one of the children’s picture book stories I’ve been working on. I’ve taken it to some writing conferences, gotten feedback from editors. One of the tips an editor gave me was to rewrite into prose what I tried in sing-song poetry. Good tip. The result is listed on the site.

Writer’s Village Writing Contest Summer 2011-My Shortlisted Winner Listing
http://www.writers-village.org/11-1-turner.php

Writer’s Village Listing for All Winners Summer 2011
http://www.writers-village.org/winners-2011-1.php

The moral of this, if you don’t keep writing, you won’t have anything to enter or sell. So, just keep writing!

Jul12

Interview with Laura Lond, Author of The Lakeland Knight Series

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The summer interview series continues with an interview with Laura Lond. Her middle reader novel, My Sparkling Misfortune, is told from the perspective of the villain protagonist with lots of twists to keep you guessing. Laura discussed her plans for a sequel, her writing routine, and what to expect from her next.

1) How did you get your ideas for your book, My Sparkling Misfortune?
The overall setting and theme are inspired by traditional fairy tales and I guess Disney classics. I’ve always loved a good adventure with knights, swords, castles, and of course some miraculous happenings. As to the specific idea for the book, they usually come to me in the form of a small seed that plants itself deep inside and starts growing. In this case, it was a villain who had a lot to say, and, I thought, deserved a chance.

2) Why did you pick the villain perspective for My Sparkling Misfortune?
Lord Arkus’s sense of humor had won me over. I heard him “talk” and I knew it would be best to let him tell his story.

3) What other adventures are planned for Lord Arkus and the sparkling, Jarvi?
Lord Arkus is not happy with the situation he finds himself and his sparkling friend in in the end of Book 1. He tries to remedy that, which turns into a whole new quest, more heroic than Arkus would be willing to admit.

4) What is your writing routine?
When I come up with a book idea, which is usually a theme, a character, or a scene, I try to expand it, develop the story as much as I can. I am not a good planner, my stories prefer to write themselves as I go, but it helps to have at least all the major turns mapped out, so I try to do that.

I write in the evening or late at night, when all the other work is done and there are no distractions. Writing is a slow process for me. I often wish I could complete a book sooner, but every writer is different, and I have to accept that I’m a slow one.

5) Could you summarize what writing means to you in one sentence?
Letting out stories I have inside of me.

6) What advice could you give to young authors?
Don’t give up, don’t be discouraged, write as much as you can.

7) What are some current projects you are working on now?
I am writing the sequel to My Sparkling Misfortune. When I’m done with that, I plan to return to another unfinished fantasy novel. Other ideas will have to wait.

My Sparkling Misfortune is available in Paperback and Hardback Editions at Amazon.com. Ebook editions available as Kindle and Smashwords editions.
*** For more information on Laura Lond and her other books, please visit her website at: http://laura-lond.tripod.com/.

**For a link to a review of My Sparkling Misfortune, click here.
**Link to her second book’s review, My Royal Pain Quest.
To continue with your INDIEpendence Day Blog tour event, link back to the Indibles Writers Blog.

Jul6

A Book With A Twist In Misfortune

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My Sparkling Misfortune Cover

My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond

Books often give you the perspective of the hero. What would it be like to hear from the villain’s point of view? In the book, My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond, the villain gets his say. Well, at least that’s what Lord Arkus calls himself at the beginning. In a twist of fate that makes this story so appealing, he is turned into a hero, in which he doesn’t really realize, not even at the end. This is the endearing quality to the tale that made this middle reader novel stand out among others.

Lord Arkus is a card holding villain. He’s established himself and attends the conventions. But when a turn of fate tosses him out of his castle and finds his army captured, he must take drastic action. Capturing a gormack, an evil spirit, to assist him will solve his problems and lead to the start of new plans. But by mistake, he captures a sparkling, a valiant and good spirit. Thus, begins the start of an adventure of a villain going down the wrong path towards righteousness.

I really enjoyed this new perspective into villainy. It kept my interest until the end, with twists and turns that are a great surprise as you watch Lord Arkus slowly turn into a hero. By the end, you are hoping for him to vanquish his former evil friends, the villains that take advantage of his new heroism. Though most of it seems to happen by chance, it is soon apparent that the sparkling, or good spirit, might have a hand in things. Overall, I think children will love this new take on good vs. evil, esp. since it’s such a good tongue and cheek adventure. Boys and girls will be cheering for Lord Arkus by the end, even if he doesn’t want it. This is a definite add onto any reading list.

5 stars rating: *****
Available in Paperback and Hardback Editions at Amazon.com. Ebook editions available as Kindle and Smashwords editions.

**For an interview with author Laura Lond on this blog site, please link here.
**Link to her second book’s review, My Royal Pain Quest.
To continue with your INDIEpendence Day Blog tour event, link back to the Indibles Writers Blog.

Jun24

J.K. Rowling is Self-Publishing Ebooks through New Pottermore.com Website

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Amazing as this sounds, it’s true. J.K. Rowling announced yesterday in a press release and a YouTube video on her new innovative website to be launched in October 2011. It’s called Pottermore.

J.K. Rowling has developed an on-line experience to hearld Harry into the digital age. Armed with new writing material, the website will feature a way to interact with the characters/places/objects found in the Harry Potter books. It will soon include an Ebook Store that will sell the series in ebook format. It is in partnership with Sony and her publishing partner, Scholastic.

What makes this such a phenomenal milestone in self-publishing is that Rowling’s publishers get a percentage for assisting in marketing and promotions. She’s calling the shots now, especially since she owns her digital rights. She is also bypassing big on-line retailers such as Amazon.com, to sell directly from an on-line ebook shop on her website.

What does this all mean? First, I’m stunned. I knew self-publishing was starting a new age, but now that an author as big as J.K. Rowling has started to take advantage of publishing herself, keeping her digital rights, and launching a site like this. There. That stunned moment again.

For children’s authors, it might mean a lot. She has changed the face of children’s publishing and created a series in which she broke and created rules. Now she’s out to create a new publishing platform, shaping a future generation by reaching out through technology. I love the possibilities of what she can do with her site; the building of a Harry Potter world on-line, feedback from her readers, that creative control so often enjoyed in self-publishing and doing things yourself.

I wish her the best, and await to see what will happen next in the publishing world. Look out, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Jun20

Interview with Lindsay Buroker, Author of Goblin Brothers Adventures

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I was lucky to be able to interview Lindsay Buroker as our first Indie Children’s Author. Lindsay has written Goblin Brothers Adventures, a charming short story collection for kids 7-12 yrs old. She was able to share her inspirations and where she gets her story ideas. Plus, a few surprises of what she has in store for her readers.

1) Tell us a little bit about your current book.

The Goblin Brothers Adventures, a collection of short stories for middle-grade readers, is the first ebook I published. Way back in December! Okay, that was only six months ago, but I’ve done a lot of e-publishing since then, so it seems like it’s been a long time.

I originally wrote the goblin stories to put up on my website (http://www.goblinbrothers.com), and several of them are still free there. I wanted folks to be able to get to know those characters, because I was planning to write some novels featuring them.

I have a rough draft done of the first novel with Malagach and Gortok, and I’m hoping to get back to that later this summer. It’s gotten pushed to the side a little since children’s ebooks don’t sell nearly as well as adult books (not many kids with Kindles yet, I guess!). Those characters are a lot of fun, though, and I enjoy writing about them, so I’m definitely planning to get that first novel out.

As for my adult fiction, my most recent release is Dark Currents, a heroic fantasy adventure and the sequel to The Emperor’s Edge, the first novel I published (also back in December). As you can see, I’ve been busy!

2) How did you get started as a writer?

I learned to read at three and started making up my own stories shortly thereafter. I never thought of writing as something one could do as a career, though, so it was a long time before I “got serious” about it and started finishing short stories and novels.

I’m not making a living doing it yet (hey, it’s only been six months), but I can see the potential. As an indie author publishing ebooks, you earn a much higher cut than you would going through a traditional publisher, so you can actually make decent money without having to be a bestseller.

3) What inspires you to write your stories?

I just like spending time with my characters. Maybe I need to get out more? (Wink.)

4) Where do your ideas come from as a writer?

I get inspiration from a lot of places, but history is a big one. I enjoy reading about everything from pirates to steam engines, and I like watching shows like the History Channel and Discovery (yup, I’m a geek like that). I don’t have the best memory, so don’t ask me any trivia, but if I see an idea I like, I’ll write it down to use in a story at some point.

5) For a young author,(children 6-17) what would you recommend they do to start their dreams of writing?

Write (of course!) and start getting feedback as soon as you can. Writing is just like learning the piano or taking soccer lessons–there’s a limit to how much you can improve by yourself.

Parents like everything you do automatically, because they’re your parents, so they’re not always the best critics, but teachers can help make you better. An English or creative writing teacher might be able to help you find a mentor too (maybe a local author you can talk to).

6) If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?

An earthship. 🙂

7) In closing, what are your next projects? Appearances to mention?

I’m working on Book 3 in my Emperor’s Edge series, and, as I mentioned above, I’m hoping to get back to work on that first Goblin Brothers novel soon.

No appearances, but you can always find me on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/goblinwriter), and you can visit me on my blog too (http://www.lindsayburoker.com). I talk about e-publishing and book promotion there, and you can also see what I’m working on in the news section.

Goblin Brothers Adventures can be found as a Kindle Edition and Smashwords Edition. A review of her book can be found in our Review Section.

For more information on Lindsay Buroker, visit her website at: http://www.lindsayburoker.com.

Jun14

Summer Reading For The Goblin In Your Life

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Goblin Brothers Adventures Vol 1 by Lindsay Buroker

Looking for good summer reading for your child? Here’s a great fantasy adventure with a twist, the main characters are goblins. Not your ordinary goblins; the kind you might think that smell bad and maybe eat cats. No. These are a book worm and science obsessed pair of goblins that will win you over. Enter the world of Goblin Brothers Adventures by Lindsay Buroker. Enjoy short stories of how two goblin brothers get into and out of all sorts of trouble.

From saving human children, surviving bullies, or even almost being turned into goblin slaves, these two brothers get into all sorts of problems. But there seems to be an underlining theme to all the stories, they stick together. No matter what problems they encounter, Malagach and Gortok never give up. Their interest in books and science are a charming balance of skills they use to solve their problems.

I would recommend this book for children that still enjoy a good fantasy read, but may have trouble focusing on a full chapter book. The short story adventures can be read aloud and enjoyed one at a time. This is especially wonderful for kids that have trouble reading. Your child will enjoy this as a start to their summer reading adventure.

**** 4 Star Rating
Available as a Kindle and Smashwords editions.
An interview with the author, Lindsay Buroker, is available in the Interviews Section of this blog.

For more information on Lindsay Buroker, visit her website at: http://www.lindsayburoker.com.