M.L. Stoughton

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noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 23:24:00 +0000

Due to a formatting glitch, many of the older posts on this site are no longer visible.
If you would like a specific post that is not available here,
email me at info@mlstoughton.com
For up-to-date information check out my website www.mlstoughton.com

Cover Reveal and Release Date

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Hello!

I'm embarrassed how long it has been since I've posted on this blog.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Wow. I can't believe PLEASANTWICK is almost two years old and I continue to be amazed by the show of love. I think just about every reader I have heard from has stated their want and anticipation for a sequel. And with such expectations, I had my work cut out for me. I didn't want to rush or cut corners just to get something out to you.

With that being said, I apologize for the long wait.

However...

I am so happy with this book.

I think you will be too!

In fact, here is a note from a beta reader.

This makes my heart go squish

I am beyond excited to announce

the sequel

PLEASANTWICK FALLING

will be releasing on

February 28, 2017

First, here is the blurb:

Two months ago, Melinda wouldn’t have believed witches were real.

Two days ago, she was preparing to start her senior year.

Two minutes ago, her entire life changed.

***

After the battle with the dark witches, Melinda barely escaped with her life. Now she’s back in Pleasantwick, her true identity has been revealed, and she feels like a lost girl without a home.

Luke isn’t doing much better. Recent events have left him numb, and the empath is afraid to let himself truly feel again. He may break Melinda’s heart if he can’t win the fight in his head.

While emotions run high as Luke and Melinda deal with their inner demons, they have to remember there is something much bigger at stake. The war may be over, but the magical balance has yet to be restored and if it doesn’t happen soon, this could be the end of Pleasantwick as they know it.

With the people of Pleasantwick looking to Melinda, she must make a choice ... accept her destiny and the responsibility that comes with it, or return to her normal life, putting the danger behind her at the cost of saying goodbye to Luke forever.

But will she get to make a choice … or will the dark witches make it for her in one final battle?

***

And now

for the

beautiful

shiny

NEW

cover

by Julie Nicholls

I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

{Review} The Gladiator's Temptation by Jennifer D. Bokal

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 22:06:00 +0000

I gave it five stars ~ A suspenseful and steamy read!

I loved the first book in this series and the second didn’t disappoint. The Gladiator’s Temptation is suspenseful and steamy, with even more action, and not just in the gladiatorial arena.

Baro is a true hero – every woman’s fantasy of strength, loyalty, and devotion, wrapped in a sexy man candy coating. And Fortunada is no damsel in distress. She holds her own, fighting for her life as she makes the long journey to reunite with her children, after their father takes them away; even though by doing this, it means returning to an unfaithful husband she no longer loves. It also means giving up Baro, who has sacrificed everything to be with Fortunada.

The Gladiator’s Temptation is an exciting read, that’s hard to put down. I love the way Jennifer D. Bokal immerses the reader into the world of ancient Rome, with historically accurate details of what everyday life was like in that time. She is definitely an author to watch.

{Review} Wolfe Island by Giulia Torre

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:00:00 +0000

I gave it 4 stars ~ A fun read!

I heard Giulia Torre do a short read of Wolfe Island at a local event and had to get the book. I hadn't read anything from this time frame before, but I was drawn in by the author's lovely description of the scenery and lifestyle.

Meredith is a spunky, go-getter, who doesn't always follow the rules. She was fun and lively, and so likable. I love Tristan! He is handsome, refined and a powerful businessman. But the thing that makes him even more attractive is how different he is when he's with Meredith. He softens. He loves her for who she is, even though she may not fit the mold of who a man of his stature should be with.

This was a fun read. Meredith will make you laugh and Tristan will make you swoon. I look forward to the next book in the series.

{Review} The Gladiator's Mistress by Jennifer D. Bokal

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 01:17:00 +0000

I gave it 4 stars ~ A fun and sexy read!

This was a new genre for me, but I heard the author do a short reading at our local library and I just had to get the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the author's description of ancient Rome and its people. I had no problem imagining what life was like in that time -- and how difficult it was to survive, let alone be happy.

The Gladiator's Mistress has plenty of action, with battles in the arena. Loads of tension, with Phaedra and Valens fighting their forbidden attraction. And steamy romance. I want a Valens of my own! I thought all the characters were well developed, likable and perfectly flawed. I even found myself sympathetic to the antagonists because the rules and their reasons were always clear.

I was happy to hear Ms. Bokal has a second book in the series coming soon. I will be snatching that one up as well!

Pleasantwick has a book trailer!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 18:51:00 +0000

This was my first experience with book trailers. It was kind of fun. I learned a lot. What do you think?

Here are the websites I used for free music and photos:
http://www.freeimages.com
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
http://audionautix.com
I manipulated the photos using GIMP 2

{Review} Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 17:33:00 +0000

I gave it 4 stars (but it was more like 3 1/2) ~ An okay read.

Our book club chose Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children as our October read, expecting a creepy, haunting thriller. It was not. And that was the most disappointing part of the book for me. I really hate when the back cover blurb is misleading. I might have felt completely different if I'd known what to expect -- or in this case, not expect.

I thought the writing was very good -- similar in style to John Green. I enjoyed the characters and their strange abilities, and the photographs were a fun addition to go along with the read. However, I found the pacing a little slow at times, and the ending a little abrupt.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is listed as young adult, but I felt that the story telling and characters seemed geared more toward middle grade/younger teens. I'll probably pick up the second book, but I'm definitely not in a rush.

Heaven's Forgotten Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Tour Participants:

· October 12^th, 2015 http://filingwords.blogspot.com/

· October 13^th, 2015

http://littlepinkcrayon.com

· October 14^th, 2015 http://chrisan081.wix.com/pagehungrybookworm

· October 15^th, 2015 http://www.citygirlscapes.com/

· October 16^th, 2015 http://mlstoughton.blogspot.com/

· October 17^th, 2015 http://rainnes.blogspot.co.uk/
https://astoundingbooks.wordpress.com/

· October 18^th, 2015

http://amazeballsbookaddicts.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Book:

Title: Heaven’s Forgotten

Author: Branden Johnson

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Synopsis:

Moira just wants a normal life for her daughter, Penelope. And sometimes, it seems like she has achieved it. Penelope is a sweet, smart, and precocious four-year-old girl. However, she is also the product of Moira’s affair with an angel. Her parentage gives Penelope strength far beyond what any child should possess. It also makes her the target of fallen angels who intend to use her mysterious powers as their way back into Heaven. Worse yet, one of those fallen angels is her own father. Now, Moira finds herself caught up in a terrifying struggle for Penelope’s life against beings more powerful than she can imagine. And when Penelope’s true power is revealed, it will shake the foundations of reality.

Suspenseful and action-packed, Heaven’s Forgotten demonstrates the power of a mother’s love against the longest odds in Heaven and on earth.

Author Bio:

Branden Johnson is a writer living near Chicago with his wonderful wife and hyperactive chihuahua. When he’s not writing, he’s playing music in the post-rock band These Guys These Guys. Heaven’s Forgotten is his first novel.

6 Blurb Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 19:04:00 +0000

When I first decided to self-publish, I scoured the internet for advice and help. Let's face it, as a self-pubber, every aspect of getting my book ready and out into the public was going to be up to me. And I had a lot of learning to do.

Now that I've got some experience under my belt, I like to pay it forward. (You can check out my other tips under the self-publishing tag.)

So here are my tips on blurb writing.

A Blurb is not a synopsis – A synopsis is a brief rundown of your entire book. It usually gives away the secrets and the ending. A blurb should hint at those secrets.

For example, a blurb makes you ask, “What’s in the box?!”

The synopsis will tell you what’s in the box. And to be honest, if I’d known what was in the box, I wouldn’t have watched the movie. DON’T GIVE TOO MUCH AWAY.

Keep away from expository writing – This isn’t the place for long descriptions of backstory or setting, or even describing a character.

It should be enticing – Think of it like a commercial or a movie trailer. Make you want more. If it helps read your blurb like the famous movie trailer voice of Don LaFontaine.

It should be short and punchy – Make every word count. Use emotive words, concentrating on actions.

Present tense – This isn’t a hard rule, it’s just usually how they’re done. I dare you to pick up any book and read the back cover, odds are, it’s written in present tense. The blurb doesn’t have to be written in the same tense as the story.

Third person – Again the POV doesn’t have to match the story, generally blurbs are written in third person. However, there are some awesome blurbs written in first. Just make sure you have a great voice and reason for using it.

Below I have an example of a blurb I helped a writer with. Check out the before and after.

Original:

“Crestfall University, founded in 1786, derived its name from the twelve founding families of the school itself. The six Native families were cast out of their tribes, and six families of European descent were emancipated from their founders once their dream of a school of equality was set forth into becoming a reality. To commemorate the losses that each group had endured, the familial crests – and in the Native’s case, tribal symbols – were woven into the school itself. ‘Crestfall’ was born under the idea that each family had ‘fallen from grace’ in the eyes of their elders, and so the name of the school itself is a reminder of one of the many sacrifices which the founders made.”

While most colleges struggle with rival football teams, these walls hide a different kind of rivalry.

A rivalry between the mind and heart.

Love versus lust.

Good versus Evil.

Crestfall University stands tall and regal against the forested backdrop of Unity, South Dakota, and numerous secrets lie among it's stone walls. Two sisters learn the hard way that their fates within the halls of Crestfall offer much more than a degree, and that blood is thicker - and stranger - than water.

Sailor Landwell is a dedicated pre-med student whose only goal is to graduate with honors and attend the finest medical school possible.

Amelia Landwell is less than focused but thinks she has finally found her calling in anthropology.

Meeting gorgeous frat boys Rafe Catori and Marrok Tala seems like the icing on the collegiate cake, until it becomes painfully obvious that the two of them are keeping secrets bigger than the Landwell sisters could ever imagine. How far will they go to uncover to truths of Crestfall, and more importantly, at what price? Murder, mystery, and the supernatural collide in Crestfall - Book One of The Crestfall Saga, the debut novel from Ashelia Raven.

Edited version:

Sisters, Sailor and Amelia Landwell are excited to start their first semester at their grandfather’s alma mater, Crestfall University. While Amelia is less than focused, Sailor plans to get through the next couple of years with no distractions, graduate with honors, and go on to the finest medical school possible.

Enter distraction number one, the sexy and playful frat boy, Rafe Catori. The more Sailor tries to keep her distance, the stronger her attraction to Rafe grows. It doesn’t help that his best friend has taken a liking to her sister, Amelia, so the boys are always hanging around.

Soon, the Landwell sisters realize the frat boys are keeping secrets bigger than they could ever imagine. And that while most colleges struggle with rival football teams, the walls of Crestfall University hide a different kind of rivalry. One that could mean life or death. But how far will they go to uncover to truth, and more importantly, at what price?

------

What do you think? Better?

Since I used Ashelia Raven's book as an example, I'll include the link for her book Crestfall. You can also check out my review of Crestfall in an earlier post.

I love helping out and reworking blurbs. Do you need help? Let me know.

{Review} Crystal Magic by Madeline Freeman

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 16:06:00 +0000

I gave it 4 stars ~ Good read!

Crystal Magic is a young adult story reminiscent of The Secret Circle.

Most of the story revolves around the main character Kristyl Barnette adapting to life in a new town and new school, living with her aunt, after her mother is killed in a car accident. She didn’t fit in at her last school, so she hopes for a new start in Clearwater.

I liked Kristyl (Krissa) and her new friends Owen, Lexie, Bria, Felix and West. Owen is a doll and I loved their blossoming relationship. But of course, there must be teenage drama, and that came with mean girl, Crystal Jamison (which is why Kristyl starts going by Krissa). Later, when mean girl Crystal starts trying to befriend Krissa (for reasons I won’t spoil) I felt bad for Krissa being pulled in different directions.

I thought the writing was good. I could picture the scenes, without too much telling. The story seemed well edited, with limited typos. Although, I could’ve done without the main character “biting her lower lip” so many times (I think around 37) and it did get a little confusing and repetitive with Kristyl Barnette, Crystal Jamison and her aunt Crystal Taylor, and a magical crystal.

I’d recommend Crystal Magic. I thought it was entertaining and I'll likely read book 2, Wild Magic.

Happy Monday to You!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:38:00 +0000

Hope your Monday wasn't too bad,
and you were able to steer clear of delinquent pandas.

What an ass!

Anyway, in an effort to have more of an online presence, I decided to start posting book reviews on my blog. I mean, why not, if I'm already doing a review.

I've got two reviews for you today. First up...

Song Magick by Elisabeth Hamill.

I gave it 5 stars ~ An enchanting YA fantasy.

I haven’t read anything like Song Magick before, it was a nice change.

The thing that stood out most for me was the beautiful writing. Hamill has a unique way with words that capture the beauty of fantasy and bring it to life; this was especially vital to her wonderful world building. I truly enjoyed the medieval-style realm where the story takes place.

The characters were well developed, Telyn is strong-willed and Mithrais is swoon worthy. I loved the chemistry between them. Even the secondary characters seemed fully realized and gave reason to either love or hate them.

This story has plenty of action, drama, and romance. I’d love to see more of these characters and more from this author.

Next up...

Cloak of Shadows by CK Dawn

I gave it 4 stars ~ I'd recommend.

Cloak of Shadows is a hard one for me to rate and review. It was a little more fantasy than I’m used to, so sometimes I had a hard time with the supernatural terms. But I can say this, the Netherwalkers are creepy and the thought of them being real and only seen as strange shadow lurking in a dark corner. EEEK!

The blurb seems like the story is supposed to be about fourteen-year-old Abby and her mentor Lourdie, and I think that’s how younger readers will feel. But for me, it felt more like the story was about Lourdie and her side-kick Abby. Not that it was a problem. I just thought I’d mention it, because I think the story will appeal to wide variety of readers.

I really liked Lourdie. She’s totally cool and kick-ass. Abby was a little more on the annoying side, like a little sister. I enjoyed the love interests with both of the girls. While Abby’s was a little more on the sweet side, the banter between Lourdie and Temple was fun. (I’d like to order my own Temple, please.)

The book started a little slow for me, but in the end there was a lot of action.

------

So that's it for me today.

Enjoy your week!

{Review} Crestfall by Ashelia Raven

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:26:00 +0000

I gave it 4 stars ~ Fun read!

Crestfall is a new adult paranormal fantasy with a wonderful blend of the college life, secrets and supernatural beings. It was a fun read with loads of physical attraction, witty banter, and action.

Ashelia Raven seems to have a knack for writing fight scenes, which had me flipping the pages well into the night. I thought the characters were likable and well-developed. However, I found the POV changes slightly jarring at times. (I think this can easily be fixed just by adding ***) While I thought the writing was good, I did find quite a few punctuation errors. Again, an easy fix. So I still gave Crestfall four stars because I enjoyed the story.

I received a free copy of Crestfall from Ashelia Raven in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 17:01:00 +0000

I gave it 4 stars ~ Great read!

Whispers in Autumn is a young adult sci-fi dystopian that had me hooked from the beginning. I’ll admit I haven’t read much in the way of sci-fi before, but I probably will now. I liked the creepiness of the mind control, and the fences and cameras. It made me worry for Althea, being different. I was so afraid she’d make a mistake and get caught.

I wanted Althea to be more accepting of Lucas in the beginning, because I really liked him. But then again, I think the tension was appropriate and not too “love at first sight.” I love them together!

I thought the characters were well developed and I had no problem picturing their world. I will admit that I was confused at times and found myself questioning some things, that’s why I gave it four stars. However, I feel like over the course of the series some of those things may get fleshed out more along the way. I look forward to the next book, Winter Omens.

#TalkFear #MentalHealthAwareness

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:14:00 +0000

Today's post comes from Louise Gornall's Blog, bookishblurb. She started a movement called #TalkFear on Twitter and has been running the #TalkFear series on her blog. The idea is for people to share their deepest fears, in hopes that 1) with awareness brings understanding, and 2) maybe others won't feel so alone about their own fears.

Here is my story. My fear.

Besides the somewhat normal – and widely felt – fear of spiders, which results in a flailing dance of the heebie jeebies, I suffer from a fear that is much more debilitating: Religiophobia. (An irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety of religion, religious faith, religious people or religious organizations.)

What may seem like a simple thing can send me into a panic: church music, accidentally turning on a religious TV show, Jehovah’s Witnesses at my door. I see people on social media respond to an illness or death and say something about Jesus (or God) taking him/her in his arms, and I know that others find comfort in these words. Not me.

Anxiety and panic.

The funny this is I think churches are beautiful. On the outside. Just don’t make me step inside.

This fear stems from an event that happened when I was eleven-years-old, separated from my family, and subjected to hours of religious scare tactics, all in an effort to “save me.”

I was truly terrified I’d never see my family again.

You can read the whole story here.

I find my fear difficult to talk about. Not many people know. For one thing, religion can be quite controversial, even taboo.

I’m afraid you’ll judge me or think it’s an invitation to tell me about your church, because your church is good and friendly and I’d love the people. Please don’t. (Yes. This has happened.)

I’m also afraid you’ll think I’m judging you. But that REALLY isn’t the case. (If I’m going to judge you, it’ll be on how you treat other people, and animals.)

My mother understood my fear, but didn’t truly see how it affected me until around ten years ago. We’d decided to treat ourselves to a day at a spa, an hour from home. It was a colorful autumn drive to a beautiful converted hundred-year-old house. We’d had a wonderful, relaxing day.

At the end of the day, we were checking out the gift shop and chatting with the owner. She mentioned we were the day’s last clients, but told us to take our time. I’d noticed a few people come in, but I never really got a look at them. The owner would say hello and direct them to the larger, main room of the house. Then, as I went to leave, I walked past the main room. There had to be almost a dozen people gathered … every one of them held a Bible in their hands.

Sheer panic.

I turned toward the exit.

Heart racing.

Two more people were walking through the door, each with a Bible tucked in the crook of their arm. They were meeting for Bible study.

CAN’T BREATHE.

In those few seconds, all the good from a day of relaxation and massage escaped my body. I was sick, shaky, and tense.

The worst part of what happened when I was little was that these were people I trusted, a family in the neighborhood who had a daughter around my age. At first I blamed them; that family, and their interpretation of the Bible and misguided ways of spreading its word. But then I saw that it wasn’t just their interpretation, but a whole religion. And that’s how religion works. It endorses herd mentality. Then the herds clash, causing countless wars and killings.

Did you know there are roughly 4200 different religions around the world? This terrifies me.

Free for 2 days only!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:09:00 +0000

I recently signed up with Kindle Unlimited, and decided to start off with a BANG.

I'm offering PLEASANTWICK...

*** FREE for 2 DAYS ONLY***

(April 20th and 21st)

Don't have a Kindle? They offer a free Kindle app for your many devices.

Click HERE for my Amazon page.

As always, I'd love to hear from my readers.

Please consider leaving a review on

Amazon and/or Goodreads.

You've Decided to Self-Publish. Now What?

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:55:00 +0000

You've written a book, passed it on to critique partners and beta readers, revised and edited, now the work really begins ... getting your precious work published.

Maybe you've tried the traditional route to no avail, or knew all along that you wanted to self-publish. Either way, knowing where to begin and what to expect can be daunting.

Here is "MY VERSION" of a to-do-list (marked with $ if there is a possible cost associated):

1. Decide your release date - You may not be ready right now. But start thinking about it. It will make the whole planning process easier.

2. Hire an editor ($) - I knew this might take the longest (depending on the editor's availability and length of process) so it's the first thing I did. There are a lot of them out there. It helps if you can get a referral from someone, but do your homework and ask questions. (What type of editing they offer? How many passes do they offer? etc...) This will also, most likely, be the most expensive part of the self-publishing process.

3. Hire a cover artist ($) - I did this right away as well. I had decided years ago who I'd use if I ever got to this point in my writing career. I knew I'd have to wait to get a slot in her schedule.

4. Build a website ($) - I decided to create my own using GoDaddy. I had basic skills, but it can be time consuming and may not be for everyone.

5. Write 2 author bios - A short one and a long one. You'll need these many times along the way.

6. Get a nice author photo taken ($) - It doesn't have to be professionally done and costly, but it shouldn't be a selfie in your car or a photo where you've cropped out the person next to you at the party. It should be good quality and ideally have two versions (high-resolution for print and low-resolution for online use).

7. Write the back cover blurb - Like a query, this can be tough to write. In the end, I paid my editor to write it (cost was minimal) but not all of them offer this type of service. It's also a good idea to prepare ...

A short (1 or 2 sentence) summary. So you have an answer when people ask "What's your book about?"
A tagline
Several enticing tweetables (meaning less than 140 characters)

8. Write your acknowledgements page

9. Write your copyright page

10. Make a list of keywords - You'll need these when uploading to different sites. The more the better.

11. Start creating buzz - Add your book to Goodreads, do cover reveals, blog tours, etc...

Secondary to-do-list - Once you have your edits complete and you're ready to move on:

1. Add your front and back matter to your document - Keep placement in mind. I suggest title and copyright page first, then manuscript, followed by acknowledgements and about the author, because:
A) Readers may stop reading. Put the important stuff first.
B) Putting it all at the front is a pain to scroll through on an e-reader and it affects the length of your all-important sample pages.

2. Now you need to properly format your document ($) - Undoubtedly, you've spent months, even years working on your book. Don't cut corners now, and turnout a sub-par product. I did a lot of research on the proper formats for uploading your book to the various sales channels.

Disclaimer: I AM NOT AN EXPERT. But this is what I found.

Sure you can just export an .epub file from your word processor or use a conversion service, and it might work okay for some eBook readers. But on other readers it could be a mess. And there's nothing more frustrating that purchasing an eBook and running into formatting errors.

However, If properly formatted, you'll end up with a professional looking book that is free of formatting errors on any device. (And chances are, you'll sell more eBook copies than physical copies.)

If you create an HTML file as your source for your eBook, you'll take a lot of the guessing out of the equation. An HTML file will always look the same, no matter what device or software is being used.

Guido Henkel has a nine-part series on Taking pride in your eBook formatting

If you aren't comfortable with formatting, you can hire a formatter.

3. You'll need multiple versions of your document -
1) A MOBI file for Amazon
2) An EPUB file for Barnes & Noble and KOBO
3) A PDF for Createspace, using their templates.
4) A clean Microsoft Word document for Smashwords, using their style guide.

3. Decide on pricing - I found that each site had user friendly conversion tables and explained prices and royalties pretty well.

4.ISBN numbers - (International Standard Book Number) is a unique code that identifies, among other things, the publisher of the book. Each edition needs its own (ie, hard cover, paperback, and digital copies). They can be purchased through Bowker (US only). However, for most sites you don't need to purchase your own.

5. Upload to KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) - This is for the Amazon Kindle version of your book. They will assign an ASIN# (their tracking code) so no ISBN is required. This site is easy to navigate. I believe this process can take up to 48 hours before you see it go live. Bonus: they offer the availability for customers to pre-order before the release date.

6. Upload to Createspace - This is for a paperback version of your book. They will assign a free ISBN number. I found this site easy to navigate. It may take a little longer to complete. You need to choose trim size, cover style, paper color, etc... From here, you can also allow "all distributions and libraries" -- a nice shortcut.
You can preview your book in a viewer, but I also recommend ordering a physical proof copy (approximately $5). Mine came within four days, and I decided on changes after I saw it in print.
Once you've approved everything and clicked "Publish" it will take some time to appear.
24-48 hours to go live on your personal Createspace eStore.
3-5 days for Amazon
6-8 weeks for expanded market

6. Upload to NOOK Press - This is for the Barnes & Noble Nook. They will assign their own tracking number. No ISBN required. This site was also easy to navigate. Once you click "Publish" your book will appear on their site within 72 hours. You can also link if you have a print book available. I believe it took about three weeks for the print version to be appear on the B&N website.

There are a lot of different sites and devices out there. For me, these were the main ones, so I'm not going to go into them all.

7. Plan release day!

----------------

As I said before, I'm not an expert. This is not the only way to self-publish, it's just the way I did it. I hope at least some of it was helpful. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. I'll do what I can to come up with an answer.

Good luck to you!

Should Indie Authors Hire Editors?

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 18:44:00 +0000

Recently I retweeted this meme. -->

“Have several writer friends proofread.”

At the time I thought it seemed like decent advice, at least it’s something if you can’t afford, and therefore, won’t be hiring an editor.

It’s not.

As an author self-publishing, it is your duty to hire the proper professionals.

Hiring a cover artist and having a great cover gets readers to pick-up your book.

Bad editing will make a reader put it down.

"Meh. Maybe not so much."

Bad editing is what gives self-publishing a bad name — and we’re not talking about asking your aunt, who happens to be an English teacher, to proofread your manuscript. You need a proper editor.

Think about it. A publisher would never receive a manuscript and send it right to print without going over it with a fine-tooth comb, whether you're a new or seasoned author. And they aren’t only looking for spelling and punctuation.

Things your editor will be looking for

Tightening sentences

Cut superfluous words –

Why say it in five words when three will do? Novel writing isn’t like middle school essay writing. I’m sure you know what I mean. We all did it, added extra “ands” or anything else we could to fill that 2-page essay. More words doesn’t mean better.
Example: The manager of the bank

Instead: The bank manager

Cut repetitive words –

For example: She walked over to the door and opened the door.

Instead: She walked over and opened the door.

Not just in the same sentence: A chill settled on her skin. She wrapped her arms around herself, but couldn’t chase the chill away.

Instead: A chill settled on her skin. She wrapped her arms around herself, but couldn’t chase it away.

These are just things that tend to stand out or trip up a reader, taking them out of the story.

Consistency

Be consistent with your spelling and terms.

For example: If you’ve been referring to a weapon as a knife, don’t suddenly call it a dagger; or reference a soul, when up til now it’s been a spirit.

Use consistent style guides. (Chicago Manual, APA, MLA, etc...)

For example: AM/PM vs A.M./P.M. and ok vs okay

Punctuation

Watch for correct use of and commonly misused punctuation. A big no-no is excessive exclamation marks. They should be used sparingly and almost never in narrative.

Grammar

Making sure of correct use of words like: was/were, is/are, who/whom, further/farther, lay/lie, and so on...

Watching for things like: clichés, split infinitives, and overuse of dependent clauses ending in “ing”

Dialogue tags

Keep them simple: said, asked, whispered, shouted, etc…

In addition to keeping it simple, try: “Nice to meet you,” he said.

Instead of: “Nice to meet you,” he said to her.

Watch for excessive dialogue tags. You don’t always need one. Try adding action to convey mood and speaker.
Example: "I'm stuffed," Dan said. He was so full, he couldn't eat another bite.

Try: Dan threw his napkin on his plate and leaned back and stretched. “I’m stuffed.”

Tense and POV

Making sure the tense stays consistent throughout your story: past or present

Watch for head-hopping. This is different from an omniscient point-of-view. Head-hopping is when the point-of-view switches characters within a single scene, and without proper transition. The writing can feel choppy. The reader can become confused and feel disconnected, not knowing who they are supposed to identify with.

I found a great example of head-hopping (shown below) on THIS blog.

Jake rolled down the window half an inch, a smirk spreading across his face. The slut would never find her way back without him, and no one would find her until the coyotes had picked her bones clean.

Anna yanked at the door handle. Her chest felt heavy, her lungs unwilling to suck in a full breath. “Unlock the door, Jake. This isn’t funny anymore.”

Jake’s cold blue eyes stared into hers. After all she’d made him suffer through, he was going to enjoy this moment. Savor it like a medium rare T-bone steak.

Now let’s break it apart.

Jake rolled down the window half an inch, a smirk spreading across his face. Sounds like we’re in someone else’s POV here. Someone who’s watching Jake. If we were in Jake’s POV, this would read Jake rolled down the window half an inch and smirked. The slut would never find her way back without him, and no one would find her until the coyotes had picked her bones clean. We’re hearing Jake’s thoughts in Jake’s voice. It’s him, not the author, thinking of Anna as a “slut.”

Anna yanked at the door handle. Her chest felt heavy, her lungs unwilling to suck in a full breath. Now we’re firmly in Anna’s head. Only she can describe how her chest feels and the dread settling there. “Unlock the door, Jake. This isn’t funny anymore.”

Jake’s cold blue eyes stared into hers. Still in Anna’s POV since she’s the one who can see Jake’s eye color. After all she’d made him suffer through, he was going to enjoy this moment. Savor it like a rare T-bone steak. Jake’s thoughts in Jake’s voice again.

I apologize if some of my examples are lame, but hopefully you get the idea.

Winners, Sales, and Other Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:50:00 +0000

Picture from a reader :)

I can't believe Pleasantwick has been out in the world for two weeks already. This is an exciting time and I'm so proud of my baby. The response has been awesome and humbling.

Here's what's been going on...

My Goodreads giveaway wrapped up with a total of 1153 entries. The winner has been notified and her prize is in the mail. Congratulations Gayle!

I had an interview with blogger Dawn Rumburg of A World Of Possibilities. You can see the interview here.

I also had an interview with a local newspaper. The article will run in next week's issue of the Tioga County Courier. The Owego Pennysaver will also be running an article in the next week or so.

I've been invited to hold an author event and signing at my local library, which is scheduled for March 21 at 2:00. More information on that event here.

**Note - If you're attending this event and would like to pre-order Pleasantwick. You can click on the Buy Now link below.

Thanks for your order. Your copy of Pleasantwick will be waiting for you!

I'm also working with my local Barnes & Noble to hold an event. Date and details have yet to be determined.

Now, for some exciting news...

***FOR 3 DAYS ONLY***

PLEASANTWICK IS AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $0.99

HURRY AND GRAB YOUR COPY BEFORE THE SALE ENDS 3/1

Thanks again for all your support! And if you've read Pleasantwick please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads.

Happy reading!

Release Day is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Pleasantwick is now available and I'm giving away a signed paperback copy on Goodreads. Click here to enter.

You can find Pleasantwick on

Amazon and Barnes & Noble

I'm so excited for you to read it and look forward to hearing what you think!

Make sure you sign up for my mailing list to get up-to-date information on sales, author events, interviews, and giveaways. Just enter your email address right over there on the side bar ------->

Thanks so much for all your support. Happy reading!

Release Date for Pleasantwick!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 22:19:00 +0000

It's been a busy few months, but I'm excited to announce the time is finally here.
PLEASANTWICK will release on February 10th, 2015!

At this time it will be available for Kindle only. However, I'm working on other devices and print books, and will keep you posted on their availability.

PLEASANTWICK will be available for pre-order on Amazon within the next day or two. Again, I will keep you posted.

But in the meantime, check it out on Goodreads. And be sure to add it to your WANT TO READ shelf.

I want to thank you all in advance for all your continued support. You're the best!

We survived 2014. Yay us!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 02:12:00 +0000

It was an interesting year. I made some big decisions. And I worked hard to carry them through. But unfortunately, and this was news to me, I don't have control over everything and everyone. [Note to self - work harder on world domination in 2015.]

So yeah, I wasn't able to get PLEASANTWICK ready in time for a December release. I want it to be the very best it can be.

That being said, I'm pretty excited for 2015!

I'll be announcing an actual release date soon, and starting the giveaway. And after all those years of work, I'll finally be a published author.

Thanks for sticking in there with me. Let's make this year a great one.

Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:13:00 +0000

I'm beyond excited to share with you the cover for my young adult fantasy, Pleasantwick, coming December 2014.

I'd always said that if I could choose my cover artist, it would be, without a doubt, Nathalia Suellen. She's incredibly artistic and amazing, with an eye for fantasy. So when I decided to self-publish I contacted her immediately, to get a slot in her schedule.

I'm happy to say, she didn't disappoint.

Pleasantwick has been years in the making and to see an actual book cover for it just blows me away.

So, are you ready to see it?

Drumroll, please.

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If you haven't already seen the back cover blurb, go to the My Books tab at the top of the page.

So what do you think of the cover? I hope you love it as much as I do!

My Big News!

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:58:00 +0000

Over the past couple of months, you may have noticed that I've been hinting around about a having a big announcement. Well, here it is...

I'm self-publishing my young adult fantasy PLEASANTWICK.

PLEASANTWICK will release December 2014. It will be available as a soft cover book and as an eBook at Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook) and Smashwords (Sony, and other formats.)

This wasn't an easy decision as I've always pictured myself having an agent and going the traditional publishing route. Honestly, until recently, I hadn't even considered self-publishing, because of the stigma associated with it. Understandably so, when you've got new writers out there who don't take the time to learn the craft and familiarize themselves with the publishing business.

But here's the thing...

The professional writers, the ones who've edited and revised the crap out of their work, who've hired editors and cover artists ... they are taking over the self-publishing industry.

So, after spending the last several years in the query trenches, trying to find someone to help me fulfill my dream of being a published author, I finally decided to take my career into my own hands and turn my dream into my reality.

One of the best parts of self-publishing is that I have complete control over the product I put out. I hired an editor. (Yes, my book is being professionally edited.) And I've hired my dream cover artist Nathalia Suellen. Her work is amazing! (She's responsible for the SPLINTERED series covers.)

I love this book, and I believe in this book. I'm excited to share that I'm planning a cover reveal soon, hopefully a blog tour, and definitely some giveaways. I'm so excited about the giveaways!

What's my book about? Here's the blurb from the back cover.

When her father begins restoring an enormous, ancient rundown house in the middle of the California woods, Melinda Richards is instantly captivated. Steeped in mystery, the grand old structure, dubbed Sotheby House, boasts a history—and power—that Melinda would never guess. She’s lured back time and again, especially after meeting a handsome stranger in the nearby woods. Strong, soothing, charming…Luke makes her feel calm and excited all at once, and it’s not long before Melinda is spending every spare moment with the enigmatic young man.

Luke Sotheby is in trouble—in more ways than one. Not only is his magical world, Pleasantwick, under attack by dark witches, but his ancestral home, the very portal to that world, has been bought by a commoner! And worse—he’s falling for the commoner’s daughter. Melinda is smart, sweet, brave…she makes him feel things he’s never experienced (and for an empath, that’s really saying something). At a time when all his energy should be focused on the preservation of his home and the safety of his people, Luke is drawn to Melinda on a soul-deep level that’s impossible to ignore.

As the magical battle spills over into the common world, the young couple begins to face dangers the likes of which neither has ever known. Lives will be lost, secrets revealed, and if Pleasantwick falls, Melinda and Luke could be separated—forever.

Writing tips "by zombies"

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:33:00 +0000

If you're a writer you probably have several --if not dozens-- of notebooks lying around. I do. Some have specific purposes and others are filled with all kinds of notes, writing exercises, and doodles. One of them has the date of my next dentist appointment scribbled in the top corner of a page, unfortunately I can't remember which one.

But I have one notebook that I keep separate from the others. It has a hard cover with a butterfly on it. This is where I keep writing related tips. It has definitions and examples of common terms, punctuation, grammatical rules, sentence structure, and often misused words.

I've decided to share some of my notes with you. Maybe you'll find something helpful.

Expository: adj. intended to explain or describe something.

Using exposition instead of observable dramatic action is "telling versus showing."

Exposition

Melinda and Kelly had been best friends since the first grade. They were closer than sisters and shared everything.

Observable dramatic action

Kelly plucked a handful of french fries off Melinda's lunch tray. "My brown boots would look great with your new skinny jeans. You should wear them to the dance Friday."

Don't use passive voice!

Passive voice is when you place the object being acted upon before the initiator of the action, or make the initiator unclear.
For example "The car was hit" rather than "Jason hit the car."

Here's a helpful trick: If you can insert the phrase "by zombies" after the verb and the sentence still makes sense, then you've used passive voice.

The tree was struck by zombies.

Lightning struck the tree.

The second sentence is active.

Dependent clause

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence [dependent clause comma independent clause].

For example: While she was asleep, the dog ate her homework.

A dependent clause with "ing" verb implies simultaneous action. You should limit the number of these on one page.

For example: Pressing his lips together, he hesitated.

Split infinitive

A split infinitive is when you put an adverb between "to" and a verb.
For example "to generously sprinkle" or "to boldly go."

Instead of

You have to really watch him.

Try

You have to watch him closely.

Avoid waffling words

Words that don't add meaning and can usually be eliminated: actually, basically, quite, definitely, really, truly, ultimately, very

Avoid filter words

Filter words distance the reader for the point of view of the character. Words like: saw, heard, felt, knew, watched, decided, noticed, realized, wondered, thought, looked.

Instead of

Melinda knew she had to get out of there.

Try

Melinda had to get out of there. (Or) She had to get out of there.

Don't use 20 words when 5 will do

I don't think I need to explain the last one.

That's it for today. I hope my notes made sense and maybe helped you out a little bit. Next time maybe we'll tackle adverbs.

Disclaimer: Even though I may be familiar with the above rules, I'm sure I haven broken most of them at one time or another -- probably even in this post.

Are you truly ready to query?

noreply@blogger.com (Michaele Stoughton) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:29:00 +0000

I recently went looking through my files for a writing timeline of my manuscript, now called Under the Violet Sky, and what I found surprised me. I was so naive when I began writing this story.

Although being naive has it downsides, I don't think it's entirely a bad thing.

I started writing about these characters in October 2008. I wasn't sure where I was going with it, or how long I'd even stick with it. But the more I wrote the more excited I got to keep going, to prove I could write a whole novel. It went through a lot of changes, including POV and from first person to third.

In my writing diary I had a note from December 2009 stating that I thought I'd be done soon and able to query after the new year.

May 2010, I noted that I'd "officially" completed my first novel.

I sent my first query in July of 2010.

So back to what I was saying about being naive, looking back I realize that I was NO WHERE near ready to query this manuscript. But I thought I was. I was ambitious and enthusiastic. And I queried away. I'm embarrassed for my past self.

But here's the thing ...
If I knew how much work I'd have ahead of me, how many years of writing and learning and querying and rejection were ahead, and how insanely slow and hard the publishing business is ... I might not have stuck with it.

But I did stick with it. Or maybe I should say, it stuck with me. Because there came a point when I wasn't saying I have to keep going to prove I can do this; Instead I was saying I NEED to do this. Period. You couldn't pull me away if you tried.

Let's skip ahead to February 2014. That's right, almost four years later, after working with critique partners and betas, and revising the heck out of this manuscript. I was finally truly ready to query.

So my point is, don't rush. Don't make the mistake I did and query too soon. Get help. Get a second, third, fourth set of eyes on your work. Once my bad writing habits were pointed out I was able to start catching them myself. My writing got tighter and better.

I've found that writers in general are very supportive of one another. There's all kinds of help out there, you just need to know how to find it. I'd still be lost and flailing on my own if it weren't for the wonderful people I've met through tweeting and blogging.

Here are a couple helpful links and hashtags:

Agent Janet Reid is a great source for answering questions about querying.

On Twitter
#amwriting
#writetip
#yalitchat
#kidlitchat
#querytip
#tenqueries
#askagent
And following @brendadrake is a must. She hosts #pitchwars and #pitmad. She's really awesome.

Do you have a question? Just ask. I'll do whatever I can to help.