Oregon Girl Abroad

It's National Book Lover's Day -- FREE eBook Download!

2016-08-09T14:23:00.000+02:00

In honor of National Book Lover's Day, from now until Sunday, August 13, 2016, I am giving away FREE copies of the first installment of my YA Christian Fantasy Series, The Carnelian Legacy.

In order to take advantage of this amazing offer, just go to my website and submit your info!

The Carnelian Destiny Cover Reveal & Giveaway

2015-12-10T10:11:00.000+01:00

I am SOOOOO excited to be able to reveal my beautiful new cover for The Carnelian Destiny, designed by the super fan-tabulous Najla Qamber of Najla Qamber Designs!!

And without further ado -- here it is!!

Isn't it beautiful?!? Although the book won't be released until August of 2016, I wanted to give you a sneak preview of what happens in the third installment of The Carnelian Legacy series. Here is a short blurb:

On the eve of the royal wedding, a mysterious missive arrives at the castle, threatening to cast a shadow over Darian and Marisa's joyful celebration. And as they prepare to embark on the honeymoon trip of a lifetime, dark forces of the Apollyon Order are mustering in the east; calling upon an ancient, evil beast with the power to destroy the stronghold of Crocetta. In danger of losing everything, Marisa and Darian must enlist the help of Crimson Knights from all over the Carnelian world to defend their kingdom. But this time, it might not be enough.

To celebrate the cover reveal AND the release of The Carnelian Legacy audiobook, I am giving away lots of great prizes!! Be sure to sign up in the Rafflecopter below and share with your friends for maximum chances to win!!

Buy The Carnelian Legacy on Amazon

The Carnelian Legacy audiobook is available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes! With the voice talents of Sarah Grace Wright, special sound effects and music by Larry Bryant, this is one dramatic reading you won't want to miss!! Perfect for listening to over the holidays!

Oh, I'd love to hear what you think of the new cover in the comments section below!! :0)

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8 Reasons Why We Love George Bailey

2015-11-19T17:00:00.001+01:00

As the holiday season approaches and the networks begin airing the multitude of Christmas movie favorites, there is one movie that forever stands above all the rest for thousands--if not millions of viewers--It's A Wonderful Life.

This is a story that has been picked apart and analyzed by journalists, writers, bloggers, and just about everyone else, but I want to focus on the main character, George Bailey, because I believe he is the single-most identifiable protagonist the world has ever seen. And in breaking down the persona of George Bailey, we can better understand how we as writers can create and develop a sympathetic character who readers can readily identify with.

Of course much of this three-dimensional character's success can be attributed to Jimmy Stewart, the acting legend who brought him to life, but I am narrowing my list down to 8 things that make George Bailey the most lovable character:

1. His hunger for discovery

One of the saddest aspects of It's A Wonderful Life is the fact that George Bailey never does get out of Bedford Falls to see the world. From the time he is a young boy working at Mr. Gower's drugstore, he dreams of travelling the globe and experiencing the many cultures the world has to offer. He has a restless, adventurous spirit (something that many of us who have lived overseas can easily identify with.) In today's modern world where we can cross continents in just a few hours, back in the late 1940's when the movie was filmed, traveling to other countries was considered a big deal and not for the faint of heart.

2. He respects his parents

One of my favorite scenes in the movie is just after the family has eaten dinner on the night of his brother Harry's graduation. George is sitting at the table with his father and they are discussing him taking over the family business for a few years until his brother Harry can take over. His father gives him a healthy dose of wisdom and George answers with the following: "Pap, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy." He isn't afraid to show his love and admiration for his family.

3. He's willing to sacrifice time and time again

After his father dies and the family business is at risk of folding, the future of the entire town seems to hang in the balance. Understanding what losing his father's loan company will mean to the people of Bedford Falls, George gives up his dreams for his own future by standing up to the town bully, Mr. Potter, at a time when no one else seems to have the courage. In doing so, he saddles himself down with the life he never wanted in order to make a better one for others:

4. He has real friendships

I love the fact that his two good friends are both regular Joes and very blue collar -- a cop and a cab driver. Though neither Bert nor Ernie make stellar salaries, they don't seem bothered by this fact; nor are they ashamed by their role to serve others. In fact, helping others is a central theme running through the entire story and the old saying "a man is known by the company he keeps" certainly applies to our protagonist:

5. He follows his conscience

At a time in his life when everything seems to be going wrong financially, George is faced with the toughest decision of his life: does he accept Mr. Potter's generous offer and lower his standards for the position of his dreams or does he remain poor and stand by his convictions? Watch!

6. He has a sense of humor

One of the most endearing qualities of the character George Bailey is his innate gift of comedic timing. He doesn't take himself too seriously and enjoys the laughs and fun moments that are thrown his way. Not only that, but he also is the perpetrator of much of the humor in this film. His down-to-earth personality combines with tongue-in-cheek humor to give us an utterly lovable good guy:

7. He's not afraid to lead

On the day that George Bailey marries his sweetheart, Mary Hatch, there is a dreaded bank run in Bedford Falls and panic sets in. Instead of throwing in the towel and taking off on his honeymoon, he uses his smarts and the limited resources he has (his honeymoon funds) in order to prop up his loan business to keep things running. It takes guts and true leadership to come up with viable solutions at a time when everyone else is panicking:

8. He brings people together

If you haven't seen the movie yet, I would highly recommend it. But I have to warn you about the final scene. Probably the most poignant and best ending ever to any film (not to mention the tear-jerker factor) this story captures the joy of human relationships. What do I mean by that? Well, let's just say that George Bailey was given a wonderful gift on Christmas Eve--to see how much he'd touched the lives of those around him in such a positive way!

What is your favorite scene? Tell me about it in the comments section below!

What Exactly Makes a "Strong" Female Character?

2015-08-12T20:37:00.004+02:00

I have noticed over the past few years that the current YA fiction establishment has been dictating to writers and authors that, in order to sell books in today's teen market, they need to create "strong, independent female characters." To be honest with you, I personally am fed up with self-proclaimed book critics blasting YA books left and right simply because they supposedly don't have the quintessential kick-butt young woman in the driver's seat of their novel.

Now, before you get yourself in a tizzy and start tossing girl-power rants at me, please hear me out.

Although it would be impossible to know with any certainty exactly where this push to generate Wonder Woman protagonists originated, it would be my guess that it probably arose from somewhere deep within the feminist publishing movement. I must first state off the bat that I am totally pro-women's equality in nearly everything, but I am by no means a die-hard feminist. Women are strange, mysterious and beautifully complex characters, but we are also unique in our own diversity. One size does not fit all. While some people complain that women are still regarded as inferior members of society (and in some countries we most certainly are) I am constantly being amazed at the power and influence that women enjoy in today's society, just not in the ways you would probably imagine.

While I enjoy reading YA and NA stories about strong female characters who can kick-butt just as well or even better than their male counterparts, I am also a realist who gets the fact that not every woman contains an assassin streak within her. In fact, I would assert that your average young woman reading these books has not yet acquired the mandatory skills and traits that today's YA climate declares a woman must have in order to be a "strong, independent young woman."

And that's totally okay.

Why? Because, unlike today's mouthpieces of the feminist movement that are constantly shouting at us on what makes a "real" woman, the true strength of the female is not defined by her ability to command and lead those around her. I would openly challenge that notion by declaring that a woman's strength and power lies in her ability to influence. This is a swift departure from the I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR mentality, lending more credibility to the saying ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. (Sorry for shouting!)

Don't know what I'm talking about? Think of a woman of influence in your own life--the one you respect above all others--the one you would do almost anything to please. She could be your mother, your grand-mother, your aunt, your cousin, boss, etc. No matter who she is, I am willing to bet you a bag of candy corn that she is not an assassin or Shadowhunter. I am also guessing that you don't consider her strong because of her take-no-prisoners attitude, but rather, her sphere of influence over you and others. Your sense of respect for this woman probably took months or years to forge; it didn't magically appear overnight after she was exposed to a barrel of toxic sludge. And her strength was probably acquired through trial by fire. Real fire.

But what does all this have to do with YA fiction?

I'm glad you asked. Young adult fiction is about teenagers going through some kind of trial, be it first love, coming-of-age, or any number of topics that have challenged youth since the dawn of time. It is, by it's very nature, fiction about inexperienced young adults who are (generally) still trying to figure life out. For those of us who are well advanced in years, we realize that we STILL don't have it all figured out yet but are much more stable (and much wiser!) than we were in our teenage years. I would argue that women (and men) are not born strong--it is something that is acquired along the way. I see a baby being pretty much a blank slate, and although he/she is made up of genes and characteristics that will make him/her prone to developing various strengths and weaknesses, I believe it is primarily the experiences along life's path that develop a person into a "strong" personality.

So - why should we expect YA characters to have everything figured out by the time they hit the magic age of 18? Why is it that snarky girls who mouth off to their parents and other figures of authority in YA books are considered "strong, independent young women" while those young women who are quietly trying to work through their issues of insecurity and unrequited love are considered "weak" characters? The character who overcomes suicidal tendencies and matures into a woman of integrity is, in my opinion, far more interesting, admirable and rewarding to read about than some orphaned superhuman girl who goes through life knocking out one perfectly-timed zinger after the other.

But fiction isn't about reality -- it's a means of escapism!

True. But there is only so much suspension of disbelief that the reader can take, and it must be handled with respect in order for a book to be considered within the realm of reason. One of the biggest criticisms that has been leveled against the character Bella in the Twilight books is the fact that many consider her a "weak" character because she allows a MAN (God forbid!) to rule her life. Critics of the books contend that she isn't a "strong, independent young woman." But isn't that purely subjective? After all, Bella did manage to snag the hot young vampire that all the other girls in Forks wanted and had been chasing for years. Edward fell for her like a ton of bricks, and she fell in love with him, and the two of them married and lived happily ever after. Bella Swan got her happily ever after through perseverance and by using her sphere of influence. How is that not a strength?

In my own series, The Carnelian Legacy, we follow the story through the eyes of the insecure protagonist, Marisa MacCallum. When we first meet her, she is searching for her own identity at a time when her life has gone into a tailspin after the death of her father. She behaves and reacts as a typical seventeen-year-old who is just trying to find her own way while trying to deal with her own mourning. Some readers who are quick to judge her as being immature and a brat will never enjoy the satisfaction of watching her mature and grow as a character (watch out for the spoiler here!) in the way she eventually becomes the wisest and fairest queen the Carnelian world has ever known. It isn't about instant gratification -- poof! -- and in 36 pages, she's a strong character.

But in all honesty, would you rather read another story about a girl who starts out as a picture-perfect Mary Jane, or would you rather be captivated by the story of a broken young woman's journey to conquer her own self-doubt? It doesn't matter how you answer because it's all subjective anyway. You may like the kick-butt assassin or the self-loathing teen, either one is fine. But don't try to tell others that one story is more important than the other; that one is strong and the other is weak.

Because what you might consider a strength is what others might consider a weakness.

How would you define a "strong female character?" I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

FREE eBook Download of The Carnelian Legacy!

2015-05-04T12:31:00.002+02:00

In celebration of the fact that The Carnelian Legacy will be displayed in the New Title Showcase at Book Expo America (BEA) at the end of the month, I am offering a FREE ebook download for a limited time from now until May 18th! The book's sequel, The Carnelian Tyranny is also being offered here at the bargain price of only $3.99!!

Don't miss your chance to grab a download of my YA debut novel and be sure to spread the word! And for those of you who are not familiar with The Carnelian Legacy, here's the blurb from the back of the book:

Marisa MacCallum always believed the man of her dreams was out there somewhere. The problem is, he's in another dimension.

After the death of her father, eighteen-year-old Marisa's life is on the verge of imploding. She seeks comfort on her daily ride through the woods of Gold Hill, but when a mysterious lightning storm strikes, she is hurled into the alternate dimension of Carnelia where she is discovered by the arrogant but attractive nobleman, Darian Fiore.

Stranded in a world teeming with monsters, maniacs and medieval knights, Marisa is forced to join Darian on a dangerous mission to negotiate peace with his cousin and archenemy, Savino da Rocha. Along the way she starts to see his softer side and finds herself falling in love. But once she learns that Darian is locked into an arranged marriage, her heart shatters. And when Savino falls for her charms and demands her hand in exchange for peace, Marisa is faced with an impossible choice: marry the enemy of the man she loves or betray them both and become the catalyst for a bloody war.

Hurry today and download a free copy in either .mobi or .epub format. Please "Share" the love by tweeting, liking, pinning and posting this spectacular offer to all of your friends!!

Win FREE Books in The New Adult Giveaway!

2015-03-22T09:41:00.001+01:00

Several New Adult authors have teamed up together to offer free copies of their books in the New Adult Giveaway from March 22 - 29, 2015. Enter the Rafflecopter below for chances to win!!

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Carnelian Madness Giveaway!

2015-02-05T21:19:00.000+01:00

To celebrate the launch of the updated, extended edition of The Carnelian Legacy, we are giving away some great prizes!

Enter the Rafflecopter widget below and make sure you like, post, tweet and share this giveaway on every social media platform for extra chances to win our Carnelian SuperFan prize!

GRAND PRIZE:

One SIGNED Hardcover Copy of The Carnelian Legacy - Extended Edition

FIRST PRIZE:

One Softcover Copy of The Carnelian Legacy - Extended Edition

SECOND PRIZE:

One eBook download for Amazon Kindle of The Carnelian Legacy - Extended Edition

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How Does One (Honestly) Become a Writer?

2014-12-28T16:36:00.003+01:00

As a 40-something woman at the mid-point in my career, I am often asked the one question that almost every writer hears: "How did you become a writer?" I always smile while answering them honestly, "By accident."

You see, unlike so many of the "bestselling" authors I've read about with multiple degrees in English, Literature and/or Journalism, I studied Art History in college.

That's right. Art.

Although I was talented in languages and creative writing and loved to write short stories and poems, I never got that "push" from an adult, teacher or mentor to explore my other creative side -- the one that ended up lying dormant for far too long. And while I enjoyed drawing and painting and felt comfortable sharing that side of my creativity with the world, the closet writer never broke out until I was well into adulthood. Why? Because of my own prejudices and *gulps* lack of self-esteem.

I had convinced myself that I wasn't good enough to call myself a writer. I had a hard time believing that other people could ever enjoy reading my stories -- after all, I was no expert -- I didn't have a degree in Journalism or English. I hadn't worked for a newspaper or publisher, or even a library for that matter. I wasn't talented enough to become a professional writer.

I was wrong.

For decades, the most fantastic story floated around in my head but I never took it to the next level by putting it down on paper. Why? The idea of placing my innermost thoughts and ideas on the written page was too risky. What if someone read it? What if they thought it was complete and utter garbage?

My reasons for not writing actually held those stories hostage inside my head. Not only that, but for years I operated under the false assumption that if I wanted to become a successful author, I had to write things that would please others. Wasn't that how most writers managed to land an agent -- by following the latest trends and writing the stuff that agents wanted to read? It took me a long time to realize that my misconceptions about writing were completely and utterly wrong.

Then, one fateful day in September, I decided to sit down and write. Just for me. No one would ever have to know. Each time my husband or one of my kids came through the front door, I would hit "save" and quickly close my laptop. It was my own special secret.

I pecked away at the keys, hesitating at first, but then faster with more confidence as the story flowed through my head until finally it came rushing out like a tidal wave onto the page. It began with two main characters entwined in an epic love story. They were from different worlds, but somehow they would find each other after being apart. The female protagonist didn't know she had been lost but the male protagonist knew everything.

From there, the story grew as more characters took the center stage. I could easily visualize their actions and feel their motivations as each and every one of them quickly became as real to me as any living person I had ever known. Every book I had ever read, every movie I had ever seen, and every experience I had ever lived suddenly came into play. I didn't care that vampires and werewolves were the current, popular trend -- I was writing this story for me! It was the classic story with knights, princesses, monsters -- the whole tamale but with a modern twist.

Before I knew it, not only did I have the first story, but I also had the base for a second book. I worked on bettering my craft by reading more books and recruiting the assistance of beta readers. They helped me to improve upon the story, showing me holes in the plot and pointing out grammatical errors. Slowly but surely, my writing improved to the point where I was confident enough to start submitting it selectively to agents.

That's where the momentum broke.

When I began querying, I knew that the chances of getting picked up by a literary agent were slim to none. It was equivalent to being a needle in a haystack and hoping that someone would find me amidst all the straw. Agents receive thousands of queries per year and most only take on a few new writers at any time -- sometimes not at all.

Undaunted, I knew that my story was different. It was fresh, bold, and I loved it! I headed in full-force, querying right and left, twenty agents at a time. And each day, I received email responses telling me that my story "wasn't a right fit." Half the agents didn't even bother to answer at all. But so what?!? I'd read somewhere that Stephenie Meyer received eight (8!) whole rejections before Twilight was picked up by an agent!! Now it was my turn!

After a year of querying and receiving only one request to read the full manuscript out of two hundred rejections, I was feeling extremely disappointed and discouraged. I decided to change my game plan by pulling back and working on improving the story. During the next few months, I realized that I had queried my novel too soon and there were too many lingering issues with my story. I had four kids and a full-time job, so finding time to re-write was sparse to say the least. I spent nights and weekends working on it, re-working entire chapters at a time.

When I was finally satisfied that I had taken the story as far as it could go, I made the strategic decision to self-publish. Knowing I couldn't stand the emotional roller-coaster of querying agents for the next year or two, going indie publishing for me was the only acceptable alternative. Besides, by self-pubbing, I could keep creative control over the integrity of the story while maintaining rights to the novel.

Today, I have published two books and am currently writing both a third and fourth book simultaneously. I am happy with my accomplishments and excited about future projects. My fan base continues to grow every week and I have learned so much about the publishing world. With the desire to spare other writers weeks and months of wasted time, I have come up with a set of tips to help wannabe writers on their own publishing journey:

Tip #1 - Whether or not you think you're a writer, you are right!

Until you can carry yourself over the mental threshold of accepting that you are a writer, you will never be in the place you need to be. For too long I told myself I could never be a writer because I didn't have the degree, the talent, or the right. Stop telling yourself this! Be like the Little Engine That Could and repeat the mantra, "I think I can, I think I can!"

Tip #2 - Write ONLY the story you would want to read!

One of the biggest mistakes I see fellow writers making is writing stories based on current trends. If the current fad books are about zombies, werewolves or other mythical creatures, don't feel you have to write about those subject just to get your foot in the door. Chances are, by the time you finally get your story done and tweaked enough to start querying agents, the fad is over and the market is already over-saturated. Be original and write about something that intrigues you. I am passionate about writing original stories that I would want to find on a bookstore shelf. Write the story that has not yet been written!

Tip #3 - Learn all you can about the craft of writing!

Don't make the mistake of thinking you already know how to write and that your style can't be improved. All writers from amateur poet to bestselling novelists go through difficult periods, but truly great writers are constantly improving themselves through practice and by reading a wide variety of books written by other authors.

Tip #4 - Don't query agents until your story is PERFECT!

Another big mistake that writers make is to query their project to agents too soon. Do yourself and the agent(s) a favor and make sure your story has been worked to death. It isn't unusual for a story to go through the editing process at least fifty times or more before it is finally ready to be pitched!

Tip #5 - A little bit of humility goes a long way!

The only difference between a talented, unknown writer and a world-famous author is a little thing called opportunity. Some of us stumble across it and some of us don't. And some of us make our own opportunities. Never let one pass you by -- it could make all the difference in the world! But no matter how successful you may wind up in your writing career, never forget the place where you started. There are millions of books out there competing with your own, so always be kind to anyone who is willing to spend precious time reading your story. Accept help from other writers and readers wherever you can get it!

Tip #6 - Know Thy Genre!

Although it seems too basic to mention, know your book's genre before pitching it to anyone. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your book is so original and spectacular that it is in a class of its own. Agents and publishers need to know how to market your book, and if it doesn't fit into one of the main book categories, you will have a very difficult time selling it to anyone. Decide who is your primary audience -- men or women? Adults or teens? Fiction or non-fiction? Is it fantasy or contemporary romance? Learn your book's genre and pitch it to the right agents who specialize in that category -- it will save you from wasting every one's time!

Tip #7 - Build Your Platform!

In order to be heard above the screaming crowd, you need something different that attracts people's attention. A successful writer uses all the tools in the toolbox to create a successful platform. There are enough articles and blog posts out there in helping a writer a build a platform, so I'm not going to get in too deep here, but sites like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram -- these are all ways to make your voice be heard. But above all, you need to decide what you want your message to be, and then preach it, sister! But how do you decide what that message is? Answer this simple question and then base all your tweets, posts and photos around it --

"What do you want your writing/life/career to be known for after you're dead?"

So what is my answer to the question of how does one become a writer?

They simply do!

Has this post helped or encouraged you in your writing? I'd love to hear your comments in the section below!

Exclusive Cover Reveal - The Carnelian Legacy (Extended Version)

2014-08-16T19:42:00.002+02:00

Coming Fall 2014!!

EXCLUSIVE COVER REVEAL - THE CARNELIAN TYRANNY

2014-04-25T08:30:00.000+02:00

Well, I've been neglecting this blog for far too long because--well, I've been doing some SERIOUS writing and editing! And today, I am so pleased an proud to reveal the beautiful new cover by Najla Qamber www.najlaqamberdesigns.com for The Carnelian Tyranny:

Isn't it beautiful?!? I just can't wait to share this story with you! If you would like to see more, please visit The Carnelian Legacy web site. Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Synopsis:

Three months after her fateful trip through the vortex, Marisa MacCallum is struggling with the responsibilities of being a royal. And with only a few weeks left before her coronation, she begins to have doubts about her engagement to the handsome Darian Fiore.

But when palace spies uncover a secret plot to assassinate members of the royal family and eliminate the Crimson Knights, Marisa and Darian are forced to put their plans for the future on hold to prevent Savino da Rocha and his legion of warrior giants from stealing the throne.

After narrowly escaping an attempt on her life, she is left to defend the stronghold of Crocetta while Darian marches to war. But when Savino strikes at the heart of the kingdom with supernatural powers of darkness, Marisa becomes entangled in a spiritual battle with the power to destroy her family and forever end the Fiore dynasty.

Book Reviews, Blogzillas & Oscar The Grouch

2014-01-14T17:39:00.003+01:00

As a kid, I grew up watching Sesame Street, and I have to admit that my least favorite character was always Oscar The Grouch. I just didn't understand what that little green monster had to be snarky about all the time. Especially when all those cool, friendly neighbors came around to visit him every day.

Now that I'm older, I have learned from experience that there is always at least one pessimist around, poking his head out of somewhere. With the explosion of the internet, these grouchy people are popping up more and more in unexpected places, offering their unfiltered opinions in places they're not wanted while using caffeine withdrawal as their primary excuse for their elevated level of bitchiness.

At some point in their careers, authors who have either traditionally-published or self-published their work will encounter what I like to refer to as "Blogzilla." This is a self-proclaimed book critic who does not even require a website or blog to meticulously dissect an authors work, or in some cases, completely hack it to pieces with a machete, but will instead implement popular online platforms such as Goodreads and Amazon on which to post their dirty work. However, as it would be highly uncharacteristic for Blogzilla not to have his/her own cutesy-titled blog where he/she/it can conveniently park rants at a moment's notice, most of them do have their own.

Upon closer study, one will discover that these Blogzillas are quite often wannabe authors who, after being exposed to the dog-eat-dog world of the publishing business, try to make themselves feel better about their unpublished state by stomping all over the work of others. Their take no prisoners attitude propels "snarkiness-to-strangers" to a whole new level. The technical word for this unprovoked persecution is called "trash talking." If your mother raised you correctly, you will immediately recognize this method of communication as the one that got you grounded, butt-whooped, or your phone taken away, depending on the generation in which you were raised.

In addition to creating their very own ~~rant site~~ book review blog, Blogzillas also haunt book-sharing sites such as Goodreads and Amazon where they can broadcast their oh-so-clever condescension to a wider audience before finally publishing it to Facebook, Twitter, and all the other social media sites. These "friend-based" platforms provide Blogzilla with the added bonus of appearing to be a literary subject matter expert to their family, neighbors, colleagues, and (of course) fellow book club members.

If at this point you still don't know what I am referring to, go to Goodreads and/or Amazon and select any book with at least 50 ratings/reviews. Reviews vary widely depending on the book, author and genre, but even on the most beloved book pages of our generation (or previous generations) you are bound to find those depressing 1-star reviews. Because these book rating sites decided to create a ranking system by which one star is the lowest possible rating, the meaning behind that one star can vary between a general dislike of the book to "this-was-the-worst-book-in-the-history-of-the-planet-and-the-author-should-be-taken-out-and-shot-to-prevent-him-from-ever-writing-again."

Let's face it -- with seven billion people on the planet, you are going to have seven billion different opinions on the necessity or obscurity of just a single book. And while each individual has the right to award one-star to a book they did not enjoy reading, there is a vast difference between the average reader who just gives it the thumbs down and Blogzilla, who turns a simple book review into their own personal vendetta against the author by escalating into name-calling and "shelving" the book under a most undesirable name with the intention of scaring off potential readers. (You know the ones I'm talking about, right?)

The good news is that most people perusing these sites can see through the negative reviews and recognize them for what they are. There is a definite line that is crossed when a book review suddenly turns into a rant seemingly written by someone from the psycho ward, and the average reader can pick this out fairly well. It is at this point that Blogzilla loses all credibility and that one star rating is taken with a grain of salt.

So what are we to do with these negative reviews?

For any writer, author, artist, or other person whose work requires them to release their blood, sweat and tears into the public domain, professionalism dictates that these perpetrators of perpetual Oscar the Grouchism simply be ignored. Which isn't easy when the author has poured his/her heart and soul onto the page in the hopes of entertaining just a few hopeless souls in desperate need of escapism. But by not responding to or engaging with these killjoys of society, the author creates the opportunity to display a level of dignity and grace not seen since before the invention of the internet, otherwise known as "taking the high road." How refreshing.

What about you? Have you ever been witness to the rants of Blogzilla? Tell me about your experiences in the comments section below.

Commonly-Made Mistakes When Writing a Novel

2013-09-07T12:18:00.003+02:00

Part of being an author means that you read a lot of books. TONS of books, in fact. This is the only way you can truly develop your own voice and grow in your craft. By reading many different styles and deciding what you like and don’t like, you will establish your own voice that will eventually become your unique signature.

While there is a wide range of writing styles that vary greatly from person to person, there are general rules and guidelines that need to be adhered to in order to make the story flow correctly and keep the reader’s attention.

Each time I am asked to critique another writer’s manuscript before it goes to print, I always manage to catch a number of common writing no-no’s. Unfortunately, the same frequent errors being made are also the ones that detract the most from the story. Writers opting for the self-publishing route tend to make these mistakes more for the simple reason that they usually don't have an editor and/or publisher picking out these errors.

I have compiled my short list of mistakes that I commonly find in the works of newbie writers:

POV Slip (aka 'head-hopping')

This is probably the number one problem I see among new writers. (OK, I’ll admit that this was a problem of mine until something in my brain finally clicked and I actually got what I was doing wrong.) When you start writing a story, you'll first need to decide from which character's viewpoint the reader will be seeing the story, or if it will be told by a narrator.

There are three main kinds of storytelling; first person, second person, and third person. To explain them in here detail would take too much time. For a complete explanation of these varying points of view (POV), read this brief article entitled Understanding Point of View in Literature.

The biggest problem occurs when the writer skips back and forth between different characters’ points of view without so much as a scene or chapter break. This is extremely frustrating as it confuses the reader, drawing him or her out of the story. As a general rule, if you begin a scene or chapter, make sure it is written from the perspective of only one of the characters, especially if there is internal dialogue going on. Otherwise, your audience will have a tough time feeling empathy toward each individual character since they can't tell who is thinking/speaking!

If you expect the reader to invest time and emotion in your characters, you need to make sure those characters are accessible. What I mean by this is that you need to put some effort into it by devoting that scene or chapter to just the one character. Many newbie writers tend to skip over things for the sake of ease, only to be told later that the reader was unable to empathize with the character. Make the reader care about what is happening to him/her/it. If the thoughts and viewpoints are constantly flipping back and forth between characters, the reader will put down the book out of sheer frustration and most likely not pick it back up again.

Use of Words Ending in ‘ly’

This is something that literary agents absolutely abhor. Words like finally, suddenly, quickly, slowly, etc., need to be used sparingly. Find other ways to express the action in a scene without resorting to use of these words. This will make your manuscript stronger and not drive the reader bonkers!

Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

These are some of the most obvious and common mistakes, and yet they still need to be pointed out. Anyone with a computer and a connection to the internet has ready access to more than a dozen spell checker programs. If you plan to release your story to the reading public, please, please, PLEASE run a spell checker more than once. You won’t always catch all the errors in one round of editing, and most novels require at least four or more.

In the current climate of authors choosing the self-publishing route, spelling and punctuation errors are occurring on a more frequent basis. If there are just a few spelling errors in the book, most readers will be forgiving, especially if the story is engaging. But if a novel is riddled with punctuation mistakes and grammatical errors, there are very few readers who will stick it out until the end.

NOTE: If you are going to name-drop, make sure you spell the name correctly! (i.e. Dolce & Gabbana instead of Dulce and Gabana.) Misspelling common brands or names will make you look unprofessional and will leave the reader with the impression that you don’t know your own subject matter. In short, don’t let bad punctuation and spelling errors ruin a good story!!

Overuse of Dialogue Tags

These are the ‘he said,’ ‘she said’s of the story. Use them as little as possible, when the reader would not otherwise be able to determine who is speaking. If your characters have established their own voices during the story, many of these dialogue tags will not even be necessary. Can't tell if you need them or not? Have someone else read the story and see if they can tell who the speaker is.

Telling When You Should Be Showing

The mantra of many authors I know is ‘Show, don’t tell.’ I disagree only slightly with this, because there does need to be a small amount of ‘telling’ which often occurs in your prose. I prefer to say 'show MORE than you tell.' But a major mistake that nearly all writers make in the beginning is to tell the reader what happens instead of showing how it happens.

With a passive voice, the story basically flows like this: He went there and did this, and came back and did this. After that, he felt like this and then he did that. Of course, that is exaggerated, but you get the picture. In reality, the story should show the reader what the character is doing, thinking, feeling, or saying through the character's own actions and not simply narrating from a stand-offish point of view. Showing the reader how the story unfolds can usually be accomplished by using an active voice instead of implementing a passive voice.

Example of a passive voice (‘telling’):

Anna Richards was going to the store to pick up some groceries before it closed. She didn’t make it on time, and when she got there, Old Man Peabody was locking the door. She got mad when he saw her but he just turned around and went back into his store.

Example of an active voice (‘showing’):

Anna Richards hopped in the car and raced to the Shoppette to grab her favorite yogurt before the store closed for the long, holiday weekend. Slamming the car door, she dropped her keys into a muddy pothole. With a frustrated groan, she picked them up and wiped the dirt off with her hoodie.

She jogged up to the glass doors, reaching them just as Old Man Peabody turned the key in the lock. She glanced down at her watch. There was still five minutes left until closing time! Old Man Peabody gave her a smug grin and shuffled back up the candy aisle.

Banging angrily on the glass, she cursed at him, shouting loudly so that everyone in the neighborhood could hear what a jerk Old Man Peabody really was.

Not Having Your Book Proofread and/or Professionally Edited

This is a shortcut that many writers take, and one that always makes me scratch my head. Yes, to have a professional editor pick apart your story can be very costly. But if you have the extra money, it is well worth every penny. If you can’t afford a professional editor, then at least enlist the help of a beta reader. These are people who, out of the goodness of their own hearts, will give you an invaluable second set of eyes and help catch errors and plot holes you may have missed along the way.

If you don’t know anyone willing to read your story and correct mistakes, join a local critique club or get involved in an online writers' forum. Most beta readers enjoy reading new stories and thrive on making a good story even better. Whether or not your book has been scoured by others can make the difference between landing an agent or publisher and getting a steady stream of rejection letters. Don't be one of the many authors who impatiently rushes his or her manuscript to print before it's ready. If a story is worth being written, it’s worth being edited!!

I have listed only a couple of the many frequently-made mistakes. Of course there are many more. What is your most common writing mistake? Share in the comments below.

Free Fantasy Book Giveaway: Everville: The First Pillar

2013-08-25T17:17:00.000+02:00

Today I'm helping author buddy Roy Huff get the word out on his fantastic promotional deal for the second book in the Everville series: Everville: City of Worms. More about how you can get the first book, Everville: The First Pillar FREE for a limited time. But first, here is the blurb on the back of his brand new book:

College freshman Owen Sage has just started to understand the darkness trying to overtake Everville and the earthly realm. With the help of The Keeper and the Fron army, Owen has managed to buy some time, but new problems have already emerged, new secrets need to be revealed, and the race against time to stop Them from conquering both dimensions has only just begun. The Keeper, Owen Sage, and his friends at Easton Falls University must now battle threats from within. To do it, they must reunite with familiar creatures and join forces with new ones as they navigate their journey to the truth that awaits them in Everville.

And here is the stunning new cover design:

Everville: City of Worms

And until September 3rd, you can get The City of Worms for only $3.62 by clicking on the link above. It's that simple!!

And if you haven't read book one of this fantasy trilogy, it is available FREE for only a few days through August 29th! Here is the blurb for book one, Everville: The First Pillar:

Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville.

His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom both harbor hidden secrets he must learn in order to gain power over the evil that dwells in The Other In Between.

To download your free copy during this limited time offer, just go to Amazon. Don't forget to add both books to your Goodreads shelf and thanks for your continued support of indie author Roy Huff!

FREE Tara Maya eBook Giveaway

2013-08-14T20:05:00.001+02:00

Today I have the extreme pleasure of hosting science fiction & fantasy author, Tara Maya who is best known for her Unfinished Song series.

The Unfinished Song is an epic faery tale... epic fantasy rewoven from fairytales, set in Faearth, a primeval world of magic where Faeries still rove the world. It is one story, split into twelve novels.
And right here through my blog, you can get a free copy of Initiate, the first book in the series.

But first, here is a short description:

DEADLY INITIATION

A DETERMINED GIRL...

Dindi can't do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.

AN EXILED WARRIOR...

Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of an exile.

Sounds cool, huh? Well, below you can also read a short excerpt:

Blue-skinned rusalki grappled Dindi under the churning surface of the river. She could feel their claws dig into her arms. Their riverweed-like hair entangled her legs when she tried to kick back to the surface. She only managed to gulp a few breaths of air before they pulled her under again.

She hadn't appreciated how fast and deep the river was. On her second gasp for air, she saw that the current was already dragging her out of sight of the screaming girls on the bank. A whirlpool of froth and fae roiled between two large rocks in the middle of the river. The rusalka and her sisters tugged Dindi toward it. Other water fae joined the rusalki. Long snouted pookas, turtle-like kappas and hairy-armed gwyllions all swam around her, leading her to the whirlpool, where even more fae swirled in the whitewater.

"Join our circle, Dindi!" the fae voices gurgled under the water. "Dance with us forever!"

"No!" She kicked and swam and stole another gasp for air before they snagged her again. There were so many of them now, all pulling her down, all singing to the tune of the rushing river. She tried to shout, "Dispel!" but swallowed water instead. Her head hit a rock, disorienting her. She sank, this time sure she wouldn't be coming up again.

"Dispel!" It was a man's voice.

Strong arms encircled her and lifted her until her arms and head broke the surface. Her rescuer swam with her toward the shore. He overpowered the current, he shrugged aside the hands of the water faeries stroking his hair and arms. When he reached the shallows, he scooped Dindi into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the grassy bank. He set her down gently.

She coughed out some water while he supported her back.

"Better?" he asked.

She nodded. He was young--only a few years older than she. The aura of confidence and competence he radiated made him seem older. Without knowing quite why, she was certain he was a Tavaedi.

"Good." He had a gorgeous smile. A wisp of his dark bangs dangled over one eye. He brushed his dripping hair back over his head.

Dindi's hand touched skin--he was not wearing any shirt. Both of them were sopping wet. On him, that meant trickles of water coursed over a bedrock of muscle. As for her, the thin white wrap clung transparently to her body like a wet leaf. She blushed.

"It might have been easier to swim if you had let go of that," he teased. He touched her hand, which was closed around something. "What were you holding onto so tightly that it mattered more than drowning?"

If you would like to read more about Tara and the Unfinished song series, you can visit her blog.

You can also follow Tara Maya on Twitter or The Unfinished Song on Facebook

Last but not least, here are the super links for free and/or next-to-nothing downloads:

Free eBook for Kindle on Amazon

Only $0.99 on Barnes and Noble

Free eBook for Kobo Books

Free eBook from iTunes Bookstore

Free eBook on Smashwords

Don't forget to share this special offer with all your friends!!

How to Give Your Characters a Voice

2013-07-31T20:43:00.004+02:00

One of the most important aspects of creating a believable story for the reader is using what is called voice. If all of the characters in your book talked exactly the same, not only would it be boring for the reader, but she might also have trouble trying to figure out who is doing the talking. But what exactly is voice?

Voice is just as it sounds. It's the intonation, word choice, slang, accent, plus the myriad of other sounds that make a character uniquely different. If I were to blindfold you and line up your uncle, your teacher from the third grade, your mother, your boss and your significant other, you would probably be able to tell me who they all were once they opened their mouths to speak. So should it be when writing a novel. But how do you give different characters different voices when there's only one person writing the story? Easy peasy - you get to know your characters as the unique individuals they are!

Let's say I continue with the example of the people you know as they gather at a party. Listen to the way they introduce themselves to others or how they comment on the food, music, and house decor. Pay attention to their character and what that character might be likely to say and how they say it. The schoolteacher might choose to use proper English grammar while your boss or uncle may happen to have a Southern drawl. Your boss might express himself in short, easy to understand sentences or drone on and on in monotone. The point is, they all have different ways of communicating, and drawing on those unique traits is what sets each character apart on the printed page. It's the difference between creating dull, two-dimensional characters and interesting, three-dimensional characters.

A good way to test whether or not your writing is succeeding in creating different voices is to read the dialogue out loud without the 'he said,' 'she said,' tags. Can you tell who is speaking? Or more importantly, can others tell who is talking? The best and most easy-to-read novels are the ones containing very few dialogue tags which allow the characters to speak for themselves. If they are not placed properly in a sentence, the eye tends to trip on these tags. This slows down the reader's pace and in turn ends up frustrating the reader. Instead, find other ways to describe the emotion of the setting and purge the urge to drown your sentences in dialogue tags.

An example:

Two-dimensional voice:

"Where are we going next summer on vacation," asked Marian.
"I was thinking that Cape Cod might be nice," answered Wayne.
"I would rather go someplace warm," said Marian.
"What would you suggest?" asked Wayne.
"I was thinking more along the lines of Hawaii," said Marian.
"Don't you think that's a little out of our budget?" asked Wayne.
"Not if we save up between now and then," answered Marian.
"Aloha, baby," said Wayne.

Three dimensional voice:

"Where do you wanna spend our summer vacation next year?" asked Marian.
"I was thinking Cape Cod might be nice," answered Wayne.
Long pause.
"Something wrong with Cape Cod?"
"No, no. It's just that I'd rather go someplace warm."
He sighed. "Well, what do you suggest?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of Maui."
Silence.
"Hawaii? Don't you think that's a little out of our budget?"
"Not if we start saving our pennies now," she suggested.
"Hawaii, huh?" A smile crept across his face. "Aloha, baby."

What Being a Writer Has Taught Me About Myself

2013-06-08T11:52:00.000+02:00

When I was in grade school, I marched through life with the notion that someday I was destined for greatness. I imagined this would manifest itself in me becoming a Hollywood movie star or famous celebrity sometime before the age of twenty. About this same time, I developed a reputation among my teachers for my creative stories and poems. They encouraged me in the art of writing, but at that young age, the voice of doubt was omnipresent and I never considered publishing stories to be something that I would or could do "professionally." (Even to this day, I still find it unfathomable that becoming a famous actress seemed more attainable to me than becoming a published author!)

As the years wore on, I settled into the life that I like to call "blissfully average." The idea of becoming famous dwindled by the wayside, but the desire to express my creative side grew. I had a musically-gifted friend who once told me that entire symphonies were swirling in her head just waiting to be released. That was exactly how I felt about writing stories.

But like so many, the need to put food on the table soon trumped the "hobbies" that could have kept me sane in a fast-forward, chaotic life. These hobbies laid dormant for many years as I focused on being a wife and mother to my husband and four children. There was precious little time for writing then, but the need to spill my thoughts and emotions onto the written page did not diminish. If anything, it increased exponentially. The Christmas family newsletter, the monthly non-profit column for moms and a few secret poems on my laptop were the only manifestations of this creativity that ever saw the light of day. And all the while, the characters and storylines that haunted the confines of my own head begged to be released from their virtual prison.

One particular story in my head grabbed ahold and refused to be ignored. It slowly simmered in the recesses of my brain for more than twenty years, waiting patiently for the day when I would finally be willing to share it. But even as my children grew older and there was more time for myself, I still managed to convince myself that I wasn't talented enough to write professionally. For the longest time, little voices in my head had the upper hand as the epic tales of fascinating worlds and captivating characters were suppressed somewhere deep in no man's land.

You see, I had been trapped into believing the unspoken yet common myth among writers that my stories, while very entertaining, were never good enough for public consumption. With over 2.2 million books published each year worldwide, how could I even dare to assume that anyone would be interested in reading what I had to say? To actually attempt publication of one's novel was simply audacious and a fool's errand to say the very least.

Then, in 2010 at the age of forty-two, I had an epiphany. I could write down my stories just for myself. And if I liked them, I might consider sharing them with one or two of my closest family members, but further than that, I drew the line. Once the story that had been trapped in my head for more than two decades came bleeding out, there was no turning back. But then I made the critical error of allowing my sister and good friend to read my novel. They actually had the nerve to say that the story deserved to be shared with the entire world. And the whole time I still told myself that I didn't have what it takes to be a writer, let alone a published author.

It was a long time coming, but my debut novel was finally published this year. And shortly after, the other voices in my head that had long been kept silent were vindicated and finally allowed to cheer. Not because I might become rich and famous and not because I could call myself a published author, but because I had conquered my own worst enemy--me. All along it hadn't been other people who had convinced me I couldn't write, it had been myself. And for once, I was happy to prove myself wrong.

I may not be a famous celebrity, but that hasn't mattered to me for my whole adult life. Doing what I love (i.e. writing) does. And yet, my life isn't over yet. As long as I breathe (and maybe even after) I will still dare to dream that my stories might possibly make the bestseller's list!

The Carnelian Legacy Tell-A-Friend eBook Giveaway!!

2013-05-20T16:23:00.002+02:00

Okay, I am halfway through the launch of my debut novel, The Carnelian Legacy, so I'm celebrating by giving away free eBookStubs to one lucky winner and up to five of their friends!!

Entering is easy, just click on the Rafflecopter below and tell your friends!! Feel free to repost, blog, tweet, or pin at will!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dutch Quaintness at its Best -- De Zaanse Schans

2013-05-17T09:36:00.002+02:00

Probably one of the top three tourist destinations in The Netherlands is the quaint village of De Zaanse Schans, located in the province of North Holland (near Amsterdam). This epitome of Dutch quaintness finds itself in the number three spot on my top ten list of places to see.

Filled with windmills dating back to the sixteenth century and houses from all around the Zaanstreek or "Zaan region," the village appears to be a place that time forgot and one that the first-time visitor to Holland shouldn't miss. The windmills are still fully-functioning here, and the visitor gets to see what daily life was back a few centuries ago when wood was cut, flour was ground, and paint was made all using the iconic and yet highly practical Dutch windmill.

Along with the windmills, one can see how the traditional Dutch cheese is made and even try various samples. Pewter was a valuable and practical commodity hundreds of years ago, and the visitor can see how it was incorporated into Dutch daily life. And because this is The Netherlands, what trip would be complete without watching how the artisans whittle away a lump of wood to make the famous Dutch wooden clogs?

Along with the various attractions at De Zaanse Schans, there are a couple of great restaurants that will make your visit complete. Don't forget to try the famous Dutch pannenkoeken, or pancakes which are actually a cross between pancakes and crepes. As with any tourist attraction, there are gift shops galore to make any souvenir purchases for friends and family back home. By the time you've spent a day at De Zaanse Schans, you will start to have a real feel for a culture and history of a country with a rich heritage.

Geniet ervan! (Enjoy!)

For more tourist destination info on De Zaanse Schans, visit De Zaanse Schans Museum homepage

Pillars, Pilgrims, and the Pieterskerk

2013-04-25T20:54:00.001+02:00

Climbing steadily higher on the ladder of places to go and things to see in The Netherlands, one of my all time personal favorite places is next on the list. Coming in at number four (which probably should have been two or at least three) is the fabulous Pieterskerk in Leiden.

This is one of the oldest and most important churches in all of Europe, and its origins date back to the Middle Ages -- 1211 to be exact! In the centuries following, it went through various stages of building and tearing down, but the current church as it now stands is basically the same as it was back in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. This was about the time when a small group of English separatists who fled Britain during the reign of James Charles settled in Leiden and would later set sail for the New World to become known as the Pilgrims and some of the first settlers in America!

Many of the Pilgrims moved with their families to Holland to escape religious persecution and they set up textile shops in and around the Pieterskerk where they gathered to worship around 1611. Here they remained for almost a decade, but then decided to leave for the New World when their children started to take on the "bad habits," "depraved language" and "faults" of their local Dutch friends. A small group of these Pilgrims departed from Delfshaven and set out for England on the Speedwell where they were to rendezvous with another ship filled with English separatists called the Mayflower. Both ships left England on August 5, 1620, but when the Speedwell began to take on water, both ships returned to Plymouth and all the Pilgrims were loaded into one boat -- the Mayflower. Then all 103 people aboard set sail for the colonies, and the rest they say--is history.

Each year on Thanksgiving, Americans and Dutch friends alike come together to celebrate the historic Pilgrims' voyage by gathering in the most beautifully restored place where it all began, the Pieterskerk in Leiden. I have had the privilege of attending the Thanksgiving Day service in this church not once but three times--the church is less than five miles from my house. Upon researching my own family history years ago, I was able to trace my lineage all the way back to one of the original members of the Mayflower Compact and I am very proud of this fact.

But sometimes I wonder how my ancestor would feel knowing that one of his descendants had returned to the very same culture of "bad habits," "depraved language" and "faults" that had forced him to leave The Netherlands all those many years ago!

For more information on the Pieterskerk Leiden visit the official web site!

The Emotional Roller Coaster of Publishing Your First Novel

2013-03-21T23:02:00.003+01:00

Writers are a funny breed, and if you aren't one, you're probably wondering how one goes about creating a New York Times bestseller wannabe. Allow me educate and enlighten you on the process.

First, you have this phenomenal idea for your novel...

And you just KNOW that it's gonna be a bestseller!

So you sit down at your laptop and start writing the first chapter...

...and you're all business just trying to get it down on the page!

But then your kids keep interrupting while you're trying to write and you're like...

So you concentrate the best you can and try to block everything else out.

But the characters just aren't "gelling" the way you want them to...

...so you work hard on developing your characters into real people and pretty soon,

they become your imaginary friends...

and...

A few chapters later, the plot is moving along nicely and you're like...

...and before you know it, you've hit half your word count and you feel so...

Then you experience an absolute streak of brilliance! You write a really deep,
moving scene and you're so...

and so...

...and then you discover just how witty you truly are!

So witty, in fact, that it actually makes you laugh out loud!

But then, all of a sudden you realize that the character you killed off in chapter six

is essential to the sequel and you feel like this...

...and you start to do this...

You get so frustrated, you just feel like doing this!!

You lose sleep all night tossing and turning about where the story is going...

...and the next morning you just want to do this...

...but you still have to get up, go to your day job, and sit in all those boring meetings!

You have a really difficult time trying to stay awake...

...so then you overdose on caffeine and your nerves are shattered like this!

By the time you get home from work at the end of the day, all you want to do is write,
but you just feel so...

...and there's an email in your inbox from your critique partner and you discover that she has

completely butchered your manuscript.

After you've read her brutal suggestions, you're like...

She tells you that there are too many irritating clichés in your story...

And you feel like this...

And when you're telling her this...

...you actually feel like doing this.

But you don't. You wipe away your tears and make the suggested edits...

Then you go out for a drive to clear your head and to get the creative juices flowing...

...and it suddenly hits you that you need some major conflict to stir things up a bit.

You realize that it wouldn't hurt to crank up the romantic action a notch or two, either!

Pretty soon, you've chopped and hacked away at your manuscript but it's so much better now

and you're feeling good again!

But in the meantime, you discover that your awesome title was already used

for a bestseller five years ago!

And you just feel like...

...and it was such a great title, too!!

So you start to brainstorm once again to come up with the perfect title...

...and after a while, you think of a new one that's even better!!

But then you learn that you have to start querying agents and you're like...

"What's a query?"

And after sending out at least 50 queries with negative or no responses, you start to feel like...

Another month or two goes by and you're all...

In the meantime, you enjoy a drink or two...

Finally -- when you least expect it, an agent asks to read

your full manuscript and you're feeling absolutely...

...and you do the happy dance...

But then you go back to being on pins and needles again
while waiting to hear back from the agent...

...and you slowly feel yourself going crazy.

Just when you think you'll never hear from her again, the agent contacts you
to say that "she will pass" on representing you and you just feel like...

And...

And you throw yourself a little pity party...

And after months of more querying, more agonizing, and hearing from dozens of agents "I'm not the right agent for this project..."

...you finally pull yourself together again.

You decide not to give up so easily...

You finally decide to self-publish!

So right before your book releases, you feel so...

But then, suddenly your book is on Amazon and you're like...

and...

...and you're friends look at you like...

Then someone gives your book a five-star review on Amazon and you're feelin' pretty...

But then its reviewed in the local newspaper and you just want to...

...and then someone else gives your book two stars on Amazon and you just feel like...

And...

But then, you get to have a book launch party and everything is a little..

...and suddenly you feel so...

Soon you have your first author interview and you try to act casual...

And you find yourself doing things you'd never thought you'd ever have to do...

Your book is finally out there in the world and people are reading it and you feel so...

and so...

And you can finally call yourself a published author!

And you know you did good!!

Can you relate? Please comment here below!

And The Winners Are.....

2013-03-14T20:49:00.000+01:00

Wow! We had lots of entries in this latest Carnelian Legacy Book Giveaway, but unfortunately we can only have six winners this time. And now, without further ado, here they are:

Winner of the Grand Prize

Signed, First Edition Hardcover of The Carnelian Legacy

Annemieke Van Venrooij

Winners of the Free BookStub

(Good for one free electronic book download)

Mona Whisler

Stacie Webster

Maggie Reid

Barbara Schauble

Kary Johnston-de Kooker

If you didn't win, don't fret!! There will be many more chances to win this month during The Carnelian Legacy Launch Month!

Please visit these other blogs this week for another chance to win a free softcover book:

BM Myers

Deana Barnhart

Again, congratulations to our winners!!

The Carnelian Legacy Book Launch Giveaway!

2013-03-08T18:24:00.003+01:00

My debut novel, The Carnelian Legacy just launched last week, so I am celebrating with yet another giveaway! This time I will be giving away one grand prize of a signed hardcover as well as five eBook copies of this exciting fantasy romance!

All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter below and "Like" my Facebook pages -- it's that simple! Winners will be announced on Friday, March 16, 2013.

Want to know what it's about? Click here!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Results Are In!

2013-02-22T18:31:00.002+01:00

I was completely surprised a couple of weeks ago when I was informed by Stephanie at bab.la that my blog had been nominated for one of the Top 100 International Exchange & Experience Blogs in their contest for 2013!

Cool, I thought -- might provide some great exposure for my blog. So I let a few friends know on Facebook and Twitter, and lo and behold, not only did my blog make it into the Top 100 -- it came in at number 20! So a very BIG thank you to all of you who voted for me in the contest and I will do my best to meet and/or exceed your expectations for 2013!

You can see who all the winners are on the bab.la web site!

Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, An Expatriate's Life For Me!

2013-02-04T21:20:00.003+01:00

When I first moved abroad some twenty-odd years ago, one word that I kept bumping up against was "expatriate." That's what people called me. I didn't like the sound of that because whenever someone said it, I heard "ex-patriot" which totally rubbed me the wrong way. Anybody who knows me well knows that I am extremely loyal to my country of birth and I still think it's the best nation in the world.

Actually, the word "expatriate" is, according to the dictionary:

ex·pa·tri·ate

Noun
A person who lives outside their native country

Adjective
Living outside one's native country

Verb
Settle oneself abroad

Synonyms
noun. exile - emigrant
verb. banish - deport - relegate - exile

Yeah, okay, so except for the banishment part, that sounds about right. But what exactly is an expatriate doing in a foreign country, anyway? Well, mostly they or someone in their family either a) works for an international company who does a lot of business in that country; b) they or someone in their family is a diplomat or is in the military; or c)they are a legal spouse or partner of a foreign national of that country.

I am one of the crazy few (yes, I did actually say crazy) that belongs to that third group which some of my friends in the know like to call "love refugees." These are the curious ones who build their entire life around their foreign spouse and often end up giving birth to little baby expatriates along the way. This sort of lifestyle is not for everyone and if you choose to be an expatriate (either voluntary or not) you should know what you're up against.

So, here are my simple rules for expatriate beginners:

Don't expect things to be the same as they are at home.

See rule #1.

See rule #2.

There are many rewards to living a life abroad, but it is usually a far cry from the glamorous lifestyle most folks back home like to imagine that we lead. Yes, I do get to Paris, London, or Rome on occasion which makes this whole living abroad thing worthwhile. But with the great travel aside, an expatriate must deal with all kinds of challenges in his/her daily life that people back home don't even think twice about.

For instance, in the country where I live, everyday American products such as baking soda, vanilla extract, vegetable shortening, evaporated milk, and countless other food products are simply not available. They simply don't exist. That's when the expatriate must be creative and/or resourceful in finding the things they need. Unless an expatriate is living in the UK, they must deal with the language barrier which can often prove trying at times. It can be a challenge just to figure out what's on the menu.

Speaking of the menu -- imagine a world without your favorite restaurant, and you'll start to taste the life of an expat. Yes, there are restaurants in other countries, and some of them can be quite good, but expect to pay at least twice as much for the same or smaller meal than what you're used to back home. Also, the restaurants that are available are also usually not the sorts of foods you are craving. (I've yet to find a decent Tex-Mex restaurant in The Netherlands!) You know when Pizza Hut and KFC start to look REAL good, you've been overseas too long.

In all my years of living abroad, the main thing I have had to learn is PATIENCE. You need it when conversing with those who are speaking English as a second language, and you will need it when learning a foreign language yourself. You will need it when you are standing in a customer service line for twenty minutes only to be told you are standing in the wrong line. You will need patience when you are trying to hook up your DVD player with instructions written in every language of the European Union except English. And you will need patience when the repairman tells you how long it's gonna take to order that extra part to make your dishwasher work correctly.

All these things cumulate into together until you hit the point where you must return to your home country to take a breather from everyday life. These are the times that I live for. When I step off that airplane onto U.S. soil again after ten months in a foreign country and a twelve hour flight, I look forward to experiencing once again all the wonderful sights and smells of my home country.

Oh, and just a tip if you're planning on taking me out to eat while I'm back in the States -- don't even think about taking me to Pizza Hut or KFC!

The Carnelian Legacy Cover Reveal

2013-01-23T20:33:00.000+01:00

Exciting exclusive! Today I can finally reveal the cover for my debut novel, The Carnelian Legacy. The book will be available in hardcover, softcover, and e-book form next month!

For more information about the book, visit The Carnelian Legacy web site!