Saturday, June 29, 2013

2013 Summer Promotional Sale at Smashwords



FREE ebooks (some are half off) at Smashwords from July 1rst to July 31rst. 

If you've been wanting to read a certain book in my collection but haven't bought it yet, here is your chance.  Not all of my books are listed in this sale.

Bait is 75% off JULY ONLY.

Vampires Rule is FREE.

Crushed (Witch-Game Book #1) is FREE, July only.

Here is my author's page:   https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/KasiBlake

You can go to my author's page and click on any of my books, learn more about them, purchase them with he coupon code that will be listed on the book page. 

Or go to Smashwords home page and check out the catalog of free and discounted books. 

I know I'm going to.

Friday, June 28, 2013

YA Indie Carnival: Distribution

I guess we're talking about the ends and outs of distributing this week at the Carnival.  Simple enough topic for me.  I go through Smashwords because they send out my books to everyone except Amazon because I do that myself.  I've heard some bad things said about Smashwords and some writers say you should upload your books to all the places like B&N and the Ibookstore yourself, but it is difficult enough to do Smashwords and Amazon without adding more to the list.  As it is I usually spend two to three days formatting and uploading.  Do I want more hassle?  More formatting?  No thank you.

Check out the other Carnies to hear about what they do.

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish
19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings
21. Terah Edun, author of Red Madrassa and An Amlah's Diary

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

When you’ve travelled between worlds, there’s nowhere left to go but home.

Rory has never been so cold in her life. But the biting wind only reminds her of another pain that grows more intense with each passing day. Each night Jaron’s beautiful voice sings in her dreams, and each day her footsteps draw her closer to his side. Danger and intrigue at every turn, no distance is too far when you’re returning for true love.

Rin has spent the last five years searching for Rory across two worlds. Now a series of visions have him convinced he’s growing closer to finding her. But when Rory slips through another portal, taking his visions with her, he finds himself back at square one. To find her now he’ll need thehelp of an old friend and a little otherworldly magic.  This time he intends to bring The Wanderer home for good.


Wandering
Available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iTunes
June 25th, 2013

Links for purchase:

An Excerpt from Wandering:

      Sometimes I think I've seen her face more times than my own.

 Tonight she stands on top of a snow- covered mountain with the wind in her hair.  Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she squints into the distance. She shifts her stance,leaning, her body reaching forward and I can almost feel the racing of her heart as the wind billows around her, lifting her cloak and whipping her hair into her eyes. It reminds her of something she once felt, something powerful.  Blood pounds in my ears and for a moment we are connected, The Wanderer and I. Her pain, her longing, they choke me. She holds her breath as the wind grows stronger. It pushes against her so that her footing slips. I want to shout to her, warn her that she might fall, but I can almost hear her thoughts. She hopes it will carry her away. To bring her back.  

The wind whips around her, swirling ice and snow at her feet and she begins to cry. Her tears freeze as they slide down hercheeks.  She doesn’t cry from fear or pain.  Not even the bitter, endless cold could cause her tears.  No, she cries because it is only the wind.

***
 I woke up,panting, covered in sweat.  Turning over, I clenched my eyes shut in a desperate attempt to bring the images back into focus. 

“It’s no use,” I groaned.  I knew it wouldn't work.  It never did.  She was gone.  That one little glimpse was all I would get –for now.

The visions began the very day we returned home from Rutahn, the world beyond the portal. I fell asleep on my aunt’s couch andprobably hadn’t even started snoring when her face filled my mind. She was lying in the corner of a little hut, bundled in blankets and furs. I remember how she shivered, like she was trying to shake off her own skin. Her cheeks were flushed a bright red and she gasped for air, tossing in her makeshift little bed. An arm with skin the color of caramel reached toward her and wiped her face with a wet cloth. That’s when I realized she was sick. I woke up in a panic, my heart racing. I had fallen asleep afraid she might be dead and now instead of feeling relieved that she was alive, I was more afraid than ever. We still didn’t know where Rory was, but now I knew she was very sick. I worried incessantly about her after that. I dreamed of her nearly every night,gathering bits and pieces of information, clues as to where she might be.  After that, the dreams gradually increased in frequency, and then grew more intense.  Now, instead of just seeing Rory, I could feel a little of her thoughts, her emotions.  Most of the time it was a relief.  I saw her safe. I watched her grow strong again. I even saw her smile once or twice. 

Then, there were nights like this one.  Nights where I could sense her terror, her despair, the aching loneliness or desperate longing for those she had lost. I would lie there helpless, watching her cry deep, heart wrenching sobs and I would wake up with my pillow wet, my face covered in sympathetic tears. Those were the nights that weighed on me.  Visions like this one often forced me out of bed and back into my research. It was impossible to sleep knowing she was out there somewhere inpain and longing to find a way home. That’s why I keep searching. For five endless years I’ve searched and I’ll keep searching until I find her and bring the Wanderer home.

Wanderingis the sequel to Seen by Heather Sutherlin.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Turned it OFF

I turned off the word verification to make it easier for comments, so please leave comments.  By doing this I open it up to annoying machines that leave spam and I have to come in several times a day to erase it, but it will be worth it to me if people start leaving comments.  I guess if no one is commenting, I will turn it back on later.

So let's get this PARTY started!

Anyone watching The Bachelorette?  If so, who do you like?  I'm sorry, but I think she got a bunch of duds.  In the past I have drooled over at least two guys.  This time, nope.  None.  Nada.  What about you?

On a writing related topic, have you read any good books lately?  I finished the series by Carrie Jones about pixies.  It was pretty cool.  I'm still reading City of Ashes, rereading it actually because I bought the last two in the series and need to remember what happened before.  It is taking me a long time to get through it.  I just don't have time to read anymore.  It's hard to fit it in considering everything else I need to do each day.

What about you?  How do you find time to read?

High Praise for BAIT

Bait has been getting some awesome reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and assorted blogs, but the one that means the most to me happened today via Facebook.  My fourteen-year-old niece sent me a message saying she's read it three times and loves it!

Although I appreciate it that women my age seem to enjoy the book, I wrote it for teens.  Since my days teaching little kids to read in a private school it bothers me when I hear a young person say they aren't interested in books.  My niece used to be that way.  Now she devours books just like me.  :)

Did I have something to do with this change in attitude?  I have no idea.  It doesn't matter as long as she keeps it up. 

Sometimes you can't trust your family or close friends to tell the truth about what you write.  They don't want to hurt your feelings.  Maybe that's why I treasure reviews like this from kids, because I know they won't lie to spare my feelings.  When they say they love something, they LOVE it, especially when they contact you to gush over the book without you seeking them out.  I usually try to put a book into someone's hands and walk away.  I never mention it unless they do. 

Anyway, thought I would share that with you.  Seeing a child read and enjoy a book makes me happy.  Seeing them read and love my book puts me over the moon.  :)

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Comment CRAZY!

The lack of comments on my blog is driving me crazy.  I visit other blogs and some have an abundance of comments.  Are they giving out free candy with each one?

Other bloggers and I have been discussing his issue.  How do you get people to comment?  Here are my suggestions for what they are worth:

1.  Be Controversial:  If you make people so angry that they have to publicly disagree with you, you will get comments.  I don't like this one.  I'm more of a why-can't-we-all-get-along person.

2.  Prizes:  Have a contest and tell people they have to comment to enter.  I don't like this one either, and I doubt it would even work, but someone told me they do it all the time.

3.  Ask for Comments:  I was told if you simply ask for comments, people will comment.  Is that true?  Be honest.

4.  Turn off the Captcha: I hate doing this because I start getting at least half a dozen spammers a day leaving ridiculous comments that I have to delete.  It's a machine leaving them, and it is so annoying.  BUT I would do it for you if you were willing to comment.

Anything else?  Did I miss anything.

PLEASE COMMENT!!!

Tell me what makes you want to comment on blogs, and I will probably do it?

Do I need to bring in a hot guy for a special appearance?
Save a puppy for every comment?
What?  What do you want from me?  :)

Writing Romance

If you have ever read a Harlequin, you know what I'm talking about when I say cheesy.  I'm not putting them down.  Once in a while I still enjoy a good romance while it's snowing outside and I'm curled up in a chair, sipping hot cocoa.  Harlequin gave me my start in writing and I will be forever grateful to them.  But you have to admit, if you read some of the book descriptions aloud, you will not be able to keep a straight face.  The flowery prose (especially when describing a man's attributes or the way the woman feels about him) can get ridiculous.  When I was writing for them, I did it too.  I wrote some stuff that makes me cringe now.

My problem is that sometimes the stuff I learned while writing for Harlequin slips into my YA books.  It gets a bit cheesy.  Some people say they love the romances in my books and will add a 'sigh' or a 'swoon,' but others I guess want to gag on the fluff. 

Why am I putting up this post today?  Because I was working on Hunter (Order of the Spirit Realm book 2) and I was trying to describe how gorgeous Nick is and how badly Bay-Lee wants to be able to touch him.  (You won't understand this unless you read Bait, but there is a reason she can't touch him).  If I'm not careful, I find myself giving into old habits. 

My questions for you:  What is over the top?  What is too much?  When you are reading a romance, do you want poetic descriptions or do you want it straight?

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Father's Day

When I was a child, I envied little girls with great dads who treated them like princesses and protected and loved them.  My dad didn't take the job very seriously.  He walked out when I was still a child, when I still needed him, and he left a gaping hole in my heart.  Father's Day used to pass me by without much notice.  Then I realized I have the greatest father in the world.

1.  He is always with me:  No matter what the time or day or night my Father is right there, willing and available to listen to my troubles.

2.  He protects me:  He's done it more times than I can count, probably a lot more than I even know of, but the event that comes to mind when I think of His protection is when I was trying to cook on the stove in a glass pan that apparently was not supposed to be used on the stove.  It was either an oven pan or a microwave one.  It exploded while my hand was inside of it, stirring.  After I got over the shock and began to clean up the mess I found glass embedded in the wall clear on the other side of the room, yet I didn't have a scratch. 

3.  He heals me:  Children run to their fathers when they fall down and the good ones will take a moment to comfort the child, kissing the boo boo or scooping them up into strong arms, but my Father heals me.  A few weeks ago my back was giving me trouble again.  It's happened a lot in the past so I knew what to expect.  Each day it got worse.  Within the week I would be unable to get out of bed without assistance.  But this time was different.  He reminded me of a story I'd heard about a young man who couldn't walk.  Yet he believed in God's healing power and he got out of bed.  Feeling returned and he was able to walk.  So I prayed for my back and quoted scriptures while I struggled to stand.  I praised my Father in heaven and continued to quote the Bible until my back was feeling better.  Each day it grew stronger and I was not bedridden this time.  :)

4.  He comforts me:  There were bad storms one night and I was home alone.  After the electricity went off I began to pray, sing, and spend time with my Father.  A tornado was close by.  The trees in the backyard bent over.  It should have scared the crap out of me, but a little Squirrel came up on the porch and sat there the entire time even though the wind was strong enough to blow it away.  It sat next to the window where I stood and watched.  God can send us comfort in all sorts of ways. 

5.  He provides for me:  Watching the news doesn't bother me like it used to because I know no matter how bad things get, God can take care of me.  He can provide opportunities to make more money if I need it.  He can provide people to help me with problems when I'm in need.  He can provide me with anything and everything I need.  Not just me, but for all of his children.

6.  He loves me:  I saved the best for last.  He loved me so much that He gave his only son so that I might have eternal life and spend eternity with Him. 

For those who roll their eyes while reading this, I was once like you.  I thought people who talked about God were mentally unbalanced.  Then I got to know Him and found out He is real and that He loves us.  So while others are out there wishing their fathers a happy day, I wanted to take the time to thank mine for everything He has done for me.  I'm only sorry it took me so long to come around, so many wasted years banging my head against the same brick wall, feeling lonely and unwanted.  I only wish everyone could know Him as I do.

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Friday, June 14, 2013

New Release

Unknown (The Elements Trilogy, #1)
by Melissa Pearl

Darkness is covering the land. As the city of Mezrah grows with power and greed, the rest of the world can only stand by and wait for their inevitable destruction. The only hope against this growing power is an ancient prophecy that people have stopped believing in.

Then a star begins to fall.

Princess Kyla of Taramon stopped believing in the power of light the day her father died. Trapped in a city she does not care for, under the watchful glare of her mother, the queen, she struggles to accept her fate.

Then a star begins to fall.

Jethro has loved Kyla for as long as he can remember. Learning that she was to marry his cousin drove a wedge between him and the feisty princess. Watching her from a distance is a torture he is unable to free himself from.

Then a star begins to fall, sparking an ember of hope and sending two seekers on a treacherous journey into the unknown.

Available June 13, 2013


Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has produced four more books and has a YA fantasy trilogy coming out this year.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."


Monday, June 10, 2013




Where is Rory?




 
 

Can you help us figure out where she's at? 

We asked Bay-Lee Van Helsing and Nick Gallos if they've seen her at their school in New Zealand.  This is what they had to say:

Bay-Lee:  There aren't many girls here at Van Helsing's school for hunters so I think I would notice her.  In fact, a couple of the girls were killed by wraiths recently.  That narrows it down even more.  She definitely isn't staying here in the dorms, but you could ask Nick if he's seen her at Van's castle.  No way could she be at this school and me not know about it.  New students have to go through Orientation.  A hunter named Alec yelled at us for about half an hour, told us we weren't good for anything but Bait.  He thinks newbies make excellent bait for monsters.  What a

Nick:  Trust me.  There aren't any girls staying here at the castle.  Everything is quiet, too quiet for me, especially when Van crosses over to the Spirit Realm which he does more and more often.  No, it's just me and my buddy Mike Keebler, also known as Elf.  This Rory girl isn't anywhere on Van's property.  I guarantee it.  There's a glamour on the place to keep outsiders from seeing it.  So unless she has the magical power of invisibility, she isn't here.

 
 



Rory has no idea what’s going on in the woods behind her house, but it’s driving her crazy. On the last day of her senior year she finds herself caught up once again in the curious happenings of the forest and walks away without any of the answers she was hoping to find. To make matters worse, she is sent to visit a sick neighbor and instead finds the hottest guy she’s ever seen. When she discovers his brother’s incredible secret she falls further into her own chaos and into a fate she never could have imagined.

Jaron is just counting the days until the summer is over and he can get back to his real life. Stuck with his little brother on a tiny farm in rural Oklahoma is not exactly his idea of fun. But when Rory shows up on his doorstep with an armload of pie, he knows his summer has just taken a sharp turn into new territory. He never expected the adventure they would discover next or the quest that would change their lives forever.

Available on Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iTunes.
The adventures continue this summer in Wandering

Friday, June 7, 2013

Author Spotlight: Liz Long

About the Author:

Liz Long is lucky enough to have a dream career in magazine publishing as an editor and writer, yet still have time to create adventures on the side. If you catch her staring off into space or talking to herself, don’t worry – it’s just her imagination at work.

Liz graduated from Longwood University with a BA in English, though her professors might be disappointed to hear she reads more fantasy fiction than literary novels. She also loves action and thriller genres. This book probably won’t change your life, but she hopes it steals you away from reality for a while. 

Her newest release, Witch Hearts, will be for sale on Amazon on April 30th. Her first book, Gifted, a Donovan Circus Novel, is also available for paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

To learn more about Liz, visit her website: http://lizclong.com

Author Links:
Twitter: (Handle: @LizCLong) https://twitter.com/#!/LizCLong

WITCH HEARTS Links:


GIFTED  Links:


GIFTED BACK COVER SYNOPSIS
Even in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift.

Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could be—new friends, a potential love interest or two, and a place where she can be herself.

When troupe members begin turning up dead, however, Lucy is suspected of foul play. She must not only prove her innocence but also realize the full extent of her power. To find the real murderer, she must uncover the truth behind her father’s fiery legacy while figuring out whom to trust within her new circle. Little does she know the history of the Donovan Circus and its enemies might actually destroy the entire gifted world.

WITCH HEARTS BACK COVER SYNOPSIS

How does a witch stay safe if a killer can get through her protection spells?

Witches like Ruby and Courtney can take care of themselves. So when Courtney is murdered, Ruby’s world crashes to a halt. The only thing keeping her grounded is the return of Courtney’s brother, Cooper. He seeks revenge, but Ruby wants to help other witches stay alive. To do that, she’ll have to reunite with her old coven’s High Priest, who also happens to be her cheating ex-boyfriend.

If that wasn’t awkward enough, when the killer gets too close, Cooper temporarily moves into Ruby’s place while a police officer tails her every move. Cooper’s presence distracts Ruby as they fight their desire against their need to stay safe. Then Courtney begins to haunt Ruby’s dreams and secrets are spilled, things from Cooper’s past that could get them both killed. The killer continues to stalk Ruby and the more she discovers, the more she fears she won’t be able to keep her heart in her chest.

WITCH HEARTS Special Excerpt

Cooper and Ruby hopped on his bike and drove back to her place. She even managed to peek out from beneath her helmet to see the city whip past her in a blur. When they finally came to a stop, she untangled herself from him – albeit a tad regretful about it – and handed him back the helmet.

“Thanks again for everything tonight. I know it wasn’t the most fun you could have, but I want everyone to be safe,” she said.

“I understand. I’m glad I went, too. I don’t want anyone else in danger. Plus, you’re good company.” He stood up as he said it, hooking the helmets on his bike.

“You don’t have walk me in or anything. I don’t want to keep you any longer than you need.”
He snorted. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I want to do it, but especially because I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Ruby bit her bottom lip. Her nerves fluttered a bit at the thought of a possible goodnight kiss. She could hardly believe how immature she sounded in her head.

It’s your best friend’s brother. This is Cooper we’re talking about, a voice in her head screamed at her.

Another voice spoke up. Yeah. It’s Cooper. And your thoughts about him have never been exactly brotherly.

Shaking both voices away, she swiped her key fob by the entrance door and Cooper held it open for her. Theytook the stairs up to the second floor and walked around the corner to her apartment. Ruby stopped as soon as she saw her door.

“Something’s wrong,” she said.

“What? How can you tell?” He looked up and down the hallway.

“There was a barrier when I left. Remember I checked, put my hand on the door when we left? My spell was in place.”

“There was a soft glow on the door,” he said absentmindedly, as though remembering. His eyes narrowed and Ruby could see his veins throb in his neck as his jaw tightened.

“Only witches would be able to see it, but it’s not there.” Ruby took a few steps forward, placing her hand on the door, which was now simply cool and wooden. She retrieved her key and turned the lock, but Cooper stopped her.

“I’ll go in first.”

He swung the door wide open; he held his hands up in case of a fight or a spell, but silence greeted them. Cooper did a quick sweep of the apartment while Ruby waited in the entryway. He returned with Aziza in one arm and a letter in his hand.

“This was on your coffee table,” he said grimly. “Aziza was hiding behind the couch. She hissed untilshe realized it was me.”

Ruby took the note from him. As she opened it, Cooper stood beside her to read over her shoulder.

“Not all witches are equal. Some are born with extraordinary gifts; anyone can practice, but few are truly powerful. You are one of the lucky ones, Ruby. I apologize about your friend Courtney. She was powerful, but nowhere near your capabilities. I’m afraid that in order for my powers to thrive, yours must come to an end. I’ll be seeing youvery soon. –X”

Q&A:

1) What is your all-time favorite book and why?

I think that would have to be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. To me, it's the first book in that series that really shows emotional angst for Harry between being a teenager, dating your first crush, and of course, being hunted by Lord Voldemort. We get to see our characters developing into real wizards with the DA (like Neville growing into being a badass), plus the introduction of accepting those deemed a little strange, like Luna Lovegood. We feel our first real loss with a major character as well as the real danger now that dark wizards are out in the open by the end. It's a full scale of emotions and really sort of sets the rest of the stage for the series, IMO.

2) Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters your book's characters could relate to and why?

Oh gosh, it's probably still a little early in the game for me to presume I can be compared to another author. BookBub compared my Donovan Circus book to the Hunger Games, with a female character destined to discover who she is and stand up for her world. I'm sure my circus folks could hang with any X-Men character, while my characters from WITCH HEARTS would get along well with the Halliwell sisters from Charmed or Sookie Stackhouse and her friends.

3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?

One of my favorite lines is one Lucy says in the first chapter when explaining why she’s rejoining the Donovan Circus:

“I wanted to be normal amongst the freaks.”

Family and a sense of belonging are heavy themes in my first book and this line sums Lucy up perfectly. Lucy has never been “normal” anywhere in the human world. She thinks – hopes, really – that she can find her place in the gifted world in the circus she used to know. She’s been a loner her whole life because of her gift and now that there’s an opportunity to be a part of something, she’s happy to include herself in the strange gaggle that is the Donovan gang.

4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing?

I listen to a lot of soundtracks, especially movie scores, like Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, and anything else that contains some action type of music. Honestly, nothing has been more motivating for me lately than to hear a reader I've never met before tell me how much they loved my work and can't wait for another book to read. It's such an amazing feeling to affect someone's book list and I'm honored to be a part of it. It's a total kick in the butt to know people are eagerly anticipating another title and makes me want to write that much faster.

5) Describe your typical writing day or week.

I work full time, so I write when I can in my spare time. Often my husband will go to the gym for a couple hours after work, so I take advantage and try to crank out a few hundred words. I also give him lots of time to play video games or watch NBA so I can sit on the couch with him and write. And of course, the weekends contain my biggest chunks of writing time, so there's nothing I like better than a rainy Sunday with coffee and my laptop.

6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you're writing?

I love Skittles to snack on during the process, though my teeth beg me to stop. I'm also never opposed to a fresh new 20 oz. Diet Coke within reach, but that's only once a week at most. The rest of the time it's H2O!

7) Can you tell us what you're working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover)?

I am currently working on the second book in the Donovan Circus series. Next up is an NA fantasy novel with a unique twist on Reapers.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Bad Reviews and How to Deal with Them

I don't care what the book is, you can bet there is someone out there who doesn't like it.  Don't believe me?  Go to Goodreads and look up your favorite book.  Check out the reviews.  City of Bones is one of my favorite books, so I went to Goodreads and read some of the reviews.  While it does have a four point something in ratings, there are some vicious reviews.  I skimmed over the five-star 'I love this book so much' reviews and read the one and two star reviews.

Wow.  I think the book is awesome, but some of these people actually got me to thinking that maybe I don't know good fiction from bad.  They really tore into Clare.  But in the end you just have to trust your own gut and love what you love.  I still think Jace and Clary are awesome. 

As you probably already know, I recently released another book.  BAIT.  The reviews have been AWESOME so far, but I know it is only a matter of time before I get slammed.  The things that some people adore about the book will be things other people loathe. 

The thing that gets me is how reviewers write like their opinions are fact.  For instance, someone said City of Bones was poorly written and people should avoid it at all costs.  But others love it.  Other people think it was well-written.  I know this is a pet peeve of mine and others may not feel the same way, but I just wish people would write their reviews as if this is their 'opinion' and you aren't stupid if you disagree.

As a writer, I have trouble getting over bad reviews.  Family members and friends tell me to ignore it when readers say bad things about my characters, my plot, or my writing in general.  Easy for them to say.  Bad reviews depress the hell out of me, and I have a hard time sitting at the computer, working on my next story when all I can think about is what these people didn't like about my other stories.  It makes me second guess myself.  Other writers tell me to stop reading the reviews, but some of them are helpful. Some of them point out things I need to work on, things I can change. 

This is one area where traditionally published and self published writers are in the same boat.  No one is safe.  We all have to take the bad reviews with the good. 

Here are some tips for handling bad reviews:

1.  Don't React:  Even if the reader is way off base in what they are saying and you can prove it, do not say anything to them.  Some bloggers have stopped reviewing because they are tired of getting hate mail from the authors.  This is a business.  Treat it that way.  If you want to respond to the reviewer, write down your complaints in long-hand and then throw it away.  Better to trash a piece of paper than your career.

2.  Don't Read Them:  If you can't handle it, stay away from them.  I have to admit that bad reviews don't upset me the way they used to.  Some of them even make me laugh now.  Don't take yourself (or your writing) too seriously.

3.  Read Ten Good Reviews:  For every terrible review you get, read ten good reviews on your book.  This will make you feel a lot better. 

4.  Read Bad Reviews on Books You Love:  This helps too.  Like I said in the passage above, find your favorite book and read what others have said about it.  I guarantee you will find some bad stuff no matter what the book.

5.  Trust Yourself:  If you are a good writer, you already know it.  You don't have to have approval from other people.  Have you studied your craft?  Have you worked hard on your story?  Have you written the best book you could?  Then don't sweat it.

6.  Write for Yourself:  This old adage still applies today.  If you don't love it, no one else will.  Don't worry about what others think of your book.  (I know.  I know.  I need to listen to my own advice on this one). 

Happy writing!

Blog Tour Stop

Since no one signed up to post about Bait today, I am going to do it. 

1.  What is my favorite Bay-Lee moment from the book?

I would have to say I loved it when she grabbed Nick by the shirt (even though he is a big guy) and shoved him back against the wall while she told him off.  He probably fell in love with her a little bit at this moment. 

2.  What is my favorite Nick moment from the book?

There were so many, but if I have to pick one, I will say it was when he ran after the border monster and jumped into the hole after it.  This made for an intense scene.  Bay-Lee wasn't the only one worried he wouldn't return in one piece.

3.  What is my favorite Keisha moment?

When she kicks Bay-Lee in the face.

4.  What is my favorite Mike Keebler moment?

When he steps over Nick and Bay-Lee after they've fallen on the ground, Nick on top, and coughs into his hand while saying, "Jail bait."

Anyway, these are some of my favorite moments.  Hope you enjoy Bait, the first installment in the Order of the Spirit Realm series.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Black Lion Tours: Bait

The awesome folks at Black Lion Tours are hosting my newest book this week.


Here is the first stop:  http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com.ar/2013/06/bait-by-kc-blake-interview-character.html

If you click on the above link, you will be treated to an excerpt, character interview, and review.  Also, there is a giveaway using the Rafflecopter.

Here is the second stop on the tour:  http://www.iknowthatbook.blogspot.com.ar/2013/06/bait-order-of-spirit-realm-1-by-kc-blake.html

If you want the complete list, you can find it on either site. 

VOTE Bait for Best Cover

Several people have been talking about Bait's cover and how much they love it.  It is now on a Goodreads list for Best Cover.  If you get the chance, please vote for it.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/30767.Best_book_covers_2013

It was just added to the list and is already pretty high up there.  I need some more votes though to get it to the top.  Thank you!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Blog Tour

Bait's Summer Long Blog Tour is Here!!!

This is it!  The day has finally arrived, the start of our summer long blog tour.  You can click on the Blog Tour Page to your right or click here:  http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com/p/order-of-spirit-realm-blog-tour_27.html

You will be able to follow the tour and participate where and when you want to.  Some of the dates are empty.  On those days I will try to add something special here on my blog.  Maybe I'll put up on excerpt, a game, or a fun fact about Bait. 

Tomorrow you will go to Suzy Turner's blog for something fun.  Later in the week we have a mother/daughter team, and they are splitting up an excerpt.  Go to the mother's page to begin reading.  Check out the daughter's page for the end of the excerpt.  Fun, fun, fun.

There will also be a few giveaways. 

I will be dropping in on every single one of these blogs.  So say 'Hi' or ask me a question.  I won't bite.  :
:)