This week at the Carnival we are sharing our Indie Resolutions. What did we learn this year? What worked and what didn't? We will be sharing our thoughts, dreams, and wishes for the new year. Feel free to share yours with us.
My Indie Resolutions:
1. Take Reviews with a Grain of Salt: This year I published my first three books as an Indie Writer. Most of my reviews have been good, but there were a couple that had me thinking I should find a new career path. Other people (writers, friends, and family) told me to ignore them, that some people just want to be mean because they are annonymous and know I can't do anything about it. Still, it hurts when someone rips apart something that you worked so hard on and put your whole heart into. If you aren't a writer, think about it this way. How would you feel if a stranger came up to you and told you that your kids were ugly and shouldn't be in public? Because that's how I feel when someone slams my characters, plot, etc. I do want readers to be honest. If they don't like the book, they don't like it. I'm just talking about the ones who are mean and nasty about it and you can tell they are just trying to be funny or show how smart they are.
2. Market without Spamming: Before I got published I'd never heard about spamming in groups on places like Goodreads, but since then I have been accused of doing it. Some places don't want you to mention your book at all. So I vow to find other ways of letting people know that my books exist.
3. Spend More Time Writing: My computer crashed a few months ago and I sort of used that as an excuse to procrastinate. I've been working on finishing up the same book for five months now. That is a long time for me. Usually I work on writing at least a few hours each day and all day long when I don't work. So I promise myself that I will work harder and spend more time with my butt in the chair and my hands on the keyboard.
4. Daydream: I got so caught up in the mess that is sometimes my life that I haven't been daydreaming enough. This is a resolution I know I can keep. In fact I've already started. I love to daydream and let my characters live instead of trying to figure out what they should do. I love to give them room to move.
5. To Write Entertaining Books: Most of all I want to write the best books that I can. I want to touch peoples' hearts, to make them laugh and cry. Then my job is done.
Please click on the blogs below and read their resolutions too.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!!!
In this season of pushing people, trying to get everything on your list, going crazy because there isn't enough time, etc. please remember the reason for the season. "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son."
I was thinking about my favorite Christmas memory last night. It's funny because I don't remember all the junk I got over the years. I don't even remember what I got last Christmas. My favorite Christmas memory was the Christmas when I was fifteen. We had no money. My parents warned me not to expect much. I was secretly afraid I wouldn't get anything. Then one day we found out that a friend had signed us up for a church group to help. They brought us food for Christmas dinner, candy, and I got a little jewelry box. You know, one of those that has the turning ballerina inside. It was way too young a gift for me, but I treasured it because it meant that someone out there cared enough to make sure that I got a present. I also got a Monopoly game, a pack of gum, and some hand lotion that year. It's funny that I look back at that hard time with such joy and wish more Christmas Days could be like it.
Now I do enjoy watching a little kid's face light up when they open a present and discover that special something, but I think every kid should have at least one Christmas like the one when I was fifteen. It makes them appreciate what they have more.
Merry Christmas!!!
I was thinking about my favorite Christmas memory last night. It's funny because I don't remember all the junk I got over the years. I don't even remember what I got last Christmas. My favorite Christmas memory was the Christmas when I was fifteen. We had no money. My parents warned me not to expect much. I was secretly afraid I wouldn't get anything. Then one day we found out that a friend had signed us up for a church group to help. They brought us food for Christmas dinner, candy, and I got a little jewelry box. You know, one of those that has the turning ballerina inside. It was way too young a gift for me, but I treasured it because it meant that someone out there cared enough to make sure that I got a present. I also got a Monopoly game, a pack of gum, and some hand lotion that year. It's funny that I look back at that hard time with such joy and wish more Christmas Days could be like it.
Now I do enjoy watching a little kid's face light up when they open a present and discover that special something, but I think every kid should have at least one Christmas like the one when I was fifteen. It makes them appreciate what they have more.
Merry Christmas!!!
Friday, December 23, 2011
And the WINNERS are...
The Winner of the Grand Prize is....
She will be notified today and everyone participating from the Carnival will send her coupon codes and links so she can get a bunch of books. Congratulations, Vanessa, and Merry Christmas!!!
Now for my giveaways. The winner of all three books is...
Congratulations, Aliraluna! I hope you enjoy all of the books and Merry Christmas!
Also, winner of Warriors of the Cross (and very excited about it) is...
Thank you all for participating.
VANESSA ERIC
She will be notified today and everyone participating from the Carnival will send her coupon codes and links so she can get a bunch of books. Congratulations, Vanessa, and Merry Christmas!!!
Now for my giveaways. The winner of all three books is...
ALIRALUNA
Also, winner of Warriors of the Cross (and very excited about it) is...
KELLY FOX
Congratulations, Kelly, and have a Merry Christmas!
Thank you all for participating.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Review for Crushed
Anyone interested in books set in high school? Teen witches using their powers to play games? Paranormal romance? Then read the latest review on Crushed here: http://thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-crushed-kc-blake.html
This reviewer wrote up a great review. She really understood the characters and plot. :)
This reviewer wrote up a great review. She really understood the characters and plot. :)
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Review: Vampires Rule
Here is a review of Vampires Rule on a brand new blog. The wallpaper on this blog is awesome. Go check it out and read the review while you're there. http://theservicemutations.blogspot.com/2011/12/rule-series.html
Friday, December 9, 2011
YA INDIE CARNIVAL: Cover Designs
This week we are going to post about book covers. What we think works and what doesn't. What covers we especillay love, etc. Please weigh in on the subject. What is your favorite cover?
Because I don't have the money to afford a professional artist, I make my own covers using Gimp. The cover for Vampires Rule is a picture of a dagger charm. I took the picture, changed the color of the stones and a few other things, and made that my cover. I've been told it's boring, but I like it. On the other hand, if you buy the book in print you will get an entirely different cover. It's a picture of trees because Jack and Silver meet in their dreams and they are always in the woods.
Crushed is a stock photo that I paid for of a young girl with a finger to her lips. I painted her lips and her fingernails. I also put a hat over her face. I've had good reactions to this cover. My other Witch-Game books will also have girls with a finger to their lips.
Werewolves Rule is also a stock photo that I paid for. I loved the black and blue elements of the picture, so I didn't change very much with this one.
On to covers that I love. Have you seen the cover for Entice and the other two books in that series? I can't remember their names, but I love these covers, especially the one where the girl is blowing gold dust out of her mouth. Awesome! I also love the cover for Where She Went. There's one for a book with a girl that you can see through like she's partly invisible, but I don't remember the name.
Since Twilight's popularity skyrocketed there are a lot of black covers. I don't like them. I want to see more originality.
Because I don't have the money to afford a professional artist, I make my own covers using Gimp. The cover for Vampires Rule is a picture of a dagger charm. I took the picture, changed the color of the stones and a few other things, and made that my cover. I've been told it's boring, but I like it. On the other hand, if you buy the book in print you will get an entirely different cover. It's a picture of trees because Jack and Silver meet in their dreams and they are always in the woods.
Crushed is a stock photo that I paid for of a young girl with a finger to her lips. I painted her lips and her fingernails. I also put a hat over her face. I've had good reactions to this cover. My other Witch-Game books will also have girls with a finger to their lips.
Werewolves Rule is also a stock photo that I paid for. I loved the black and blue elements of the picture, so I didn't change very much with this one.
On to covers that I love. Have you seen the cover for Entice and the other two books in that series? I can't remember their names, but I love these covers, especially the one where the girl is blowing gold dust out of her mouth. Awesome! I also love the cover for Where She Went. There's one for a book with a girl that you can see through like she's partly invisible, but I don't remember the name.
Since Twilight's popularity skyrocketed there are a lot of black covers. I don't like them. I want to see more originality.
Coming December 16! You let us know why you've been naughty or nice and enter to win books at each carni's booth all week, from 12/16 to 12/23. On Dec. 23, find out what books you've won!
'Tis the Season of the Squeee!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
YA INDIE CARNIVAL: Recipe for Plotting Stories
Here's a fun little post idea. We, at the Carnival, are going to give you recipes for plotting your stories. I am doing this at the last second because I didn't understand what I was supposed to do and had to look at the others who posted before doing my own. Hopefully this won't be a big mess So here it is, my recipe for plotting a great story.
Recipe: Crushed
Ingrediants:
5 Witches
A Handful of Conflicts
1 Cup of Sweetness
Dash of Spice
Lots of Romance
A Pound of Magic
Opt: Twists and Turns
Mix all the above ingrediants in a word processor. When it's done, pack it all into the pages of a beautiful book and offer it to everyone who loves to read about magic and love. Enjoy!
I could have probably thought of a better recipe if I'd had more time. Oh well. Please click on the people below and enjoy their recipes. I'm sure they are better than mine.
News: Guardians of the Cross (Second in the Warrior Series) will be released on 12/24 of this year. Warriors of the Cross was awesome. My mom loved it. You should check it out. The author T. R. Graves is one of the Carnis. Check out her blog below.
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