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The
YA Indie Authors are starting a new monthly series, Toni’s Big Six Journey. It one
where a starting-out and talented new author, Toni Lombardo, will share her trials and
tribulations as she makes her way to the Big Six. She’ll talk about pitches,
writing, conferences, social media, and/or anything else she sees and does on this
journey.
Toni
is
LIGHT ‘EM UP
I guess I should start off with saying who I am: My name is Toni Lombardo. I am a writer. I am going the traditional route (ya know, “The BIG six”, I want to be affiliated with Penguin/Random House, but for right now, I am in the transition state.)
The transition state. I am working with a great guy named David Henry Sterry (The Book Doctor). I met him and his wife Arielle Eckstut in the beginning of October 2011. I went to a book convention and met them and hit it off. Since then I have been working with him on my book. I sent a copy of my book and he said it wasn’t ready yet, then I edited it a little and he said that it wasn’t ready for the world. He asked what I was doing in writing now and told him all the stuff I am working on. I told him that I felt like my writing had improved since I was sixteen when I first finished the original copy I sent him (started it when I was fifteen). He told me it was FANTASTIC for a sixteen year old writer but not ready for publishing.
Now, before I get to the good part here is the great thing about David, he is wonderful and gets writers because he is a writer. He started to say something, “Have you considered…” and paused. When he hesitated I said “rewriting it?” He said yes. The thing I loved about the hesitation it showed that he didn’t want to crush my dreams. I mean really how if I went the traditional, traditional route, you know…edit sent to query, would that have ended up? I would have gotten rejection after rejection and never have known why…I mean ask any author there are millions of horror stories. I had one friend who burned her only manuscript because of an agent. This guy David approached the topic carefully and caringly. He told me what needed work; he didn’t shoot me down and crush my dreams and tell me I was untalented (or true story talked to an agent she said no. Then told someone she didn’t like me or my book.)
The rewrite turned out to be the best thing that could happen. The book is part 1 in a 5 book series and I have written through the halfway mark in the third novel. In doing that my book changed so much. Not enough for a reader to pick up on, but enough for me the author to cringe over.
Like I said I was fifteen when I started the novel and there were things I was afraid to write. I was afraid what people would think of me, what judgments would be made. Some people told me I was a bad ‘Christian’ because of the content of my book. Now, hold up right there—advice—NEVER, NEVER let anyone get away with saying that! You’re writing doesn’t make you more or less of whatever religion you choose. You’re writing doesn’t make you a good or bad believer of your faith. Back to what I was saying, I was afraid to write certain scenes. But as I got older and my characters aged the book had to mature. I had to write those scenes, and you know what they turned out great. So in the rewrite I was able to have the foundation down of the book, but the knowledge of what my characters decided to do in their lives and the maturity to write the scenes in ways that would create tight bonds between every word, sentence, and book. I think every writer should have at least the second book in the series written before trying to publish the first. Because no matter how hard you try to stay to your plot your characters will make their own decisions and mess everything up, but that is the beauty of writing.
The rewrite has revealed to me so many things that were just cringe worthy, where if that book was published I would have gone into hiding and never write anything ever again, not a grocery list, not a birthday card. Yeah, that is how bad the first go around was. It is truly embarrassing. I had and have supportive friends who loved the first edition, because they didn’t see my full potential, but David did. And now when they read what I am doing now they kind of laugh that they thought the first edition was good, (they aren’t being mean, it was that bad, like really) and tell me how much I have improved.
I keep getting off topic. In rewriting you will find ways to make your book better in ways you couldn’t have imagine for 5 reasons: 1- you have matured in life and writing, 2-your life experiences have influenced you and made you better, 3- your characters have aged in the books, 4-your story is becoming more complex and real and lastly the most important, 5-you know your characters better!
Knowing your characters, loving, hating, crying for/with your characters is what makes your book great, because if you don’t do all that, then there is a possibility that your readers won’t either. Your characters have to be real, and I don’t mean realistic, they have to be real to you before they can be real to others. Because when they are real to other people—that is when you have truly have succeeded. Having a best seller is great, having a movie made is great, being in demand is great, but the true test of success is what I said above, when your fictional character takes on a life for a person who doesn’t know you, just bought your book, your reader then you have succeeded. It doesn’t matter if you sell one or countless books; true, true success is when your characters become real to someone else. I know I said that what three, four times, but it is important. And my next post will talk about the importance of connecting with characters.
Toni’s Motivating Quote: We write for ourselves.
Toni’s Listening to: Fall out Boy, My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark (Light Em Up)
The official title of the topic this week is : Dos & Don’ts. But I’m not a big believer in laying out hard and fast rules about blogging. I think blogging is just an extension of what’s important to a blogger. For me that’s storytelling. I also love to blog about magic in the everyday experiences of life just as I enjoy writing from a magical/fantastical perspective. I like the feeling of leaving reality behind…when I can 
There are so many magical every day things that I take for granted. My last Wordless Wednesday post featured a photo I took when I visited the International Rose Garden in Portland, OR, a city I’ve gotten to know a bit over the past few years. Stopping to smell the roses is big with me. Literally. I love a sweet smelling rose. I rarely find them in florists’ shops any more. Somebody told me once that roses have been so cultivated for color and longevity that they cultivated the smell right out of them. So when I come upon a beautiful, sweet smelling rose it’s magical to me.
I have regular features on Laurasmagicday and occasional ones. On the Monday Muse I post what’s inspired me lately and invite people to share what’s inspired them to help raise our creative vibrations together. Wordless Wednesday is another regular feature. It’s wordless, it’s Wednesday, usually a cool pic from the previous week that I enjoy and want to share. Starting next week, I’m starting another regular feature on Thursdays where I highlight book trailers or other multimedia things from the book world that I love. I’m really excited about this new feature because I love any and everything that enhances the reading experience. Fridays are usually dedicated to The YA Authors Club, where posts either highlight a topic in the world of book publishing/marketing, or spotlight an author that my readers may not yet know about. Occasionally I’ll have teasers, book releases, author interviews, guest posts, etc. They all help to spice up the pot of inspiration and connect my readers with new authors and novels.
But, enough about Laurasmagicday, are you a seasoned blogger or new blogger with some tips/suggestions/advice ? I’d love to know your take. Have you thought about blogging, but don’t know where to start? I’d love to hear from you too. Ask anything you like and we can get you started today. The only advice I have is to have a good time and follow your heart… <3
If you’re interested in discovering some new authors/reads, there’s a virtual book fair this weekend. Click here to stop by and check it out, there’s giveaways and lots and lots of teasers
HAPPY FRIDAY! Check out what the other authors in the YA Author Club have to say about blogging.
The YA Author Club is expanding is author presence and bringing on new talent every single week. This week, we are introducing the newest member of our team, Toni Lombardo. She is not an indie author, and she does not plan to become one. She’s working hard at establishing herself within the traditionally published world. We wish her the best of luck in her efforts and thought it might be kind of cool to offer our fans/friends/followers a new voice within the club.
Instead of posting information about indie publishing, Toni will take a few minutes every few weeks to fill us in on her trials and tribulations as she journeys toward the Big Six.
Also… leave us a comment and let know which Big Six pic you like best #1 (first one) or #2 (second one). The one getting the most votes/comments will be the one we use to introduce Toni’s posts from this point forward.
Social Media Sites for Toni:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/write_to_live
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamLifewriter
Without further ado, we are pleased to introduce Toni Lombardo:
Hello there blog readers! Toni here, I am going to talk about myself now. Hope you don’t mind.
Okay, so first off I am a twenty something (21) and striving to be a writer! I am currently(ish) a student at a community college (although at the moment I am taking a break from school) and my plan is to major in meteorology. Of course I’ll have to transfer to a four year. In some moments I want to major in English, because I am in love with words (a good thing for a writer, right?) . I would like to teach an elective class in a preppy school to do with the appreciation of old timey writers (Stoker, Melville, Shelley, etc.) and introduce the kids to modern day writers who I think are fantastic such as John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) , Jay Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why) , *clears throat* T.R. Graves (not kissing up, she is actually really great, like go read her books now!) .
I have been writing since I can remember. I wrote short stories or was forced to by teachers, but I always enjoyed it and nine times out of ten exceeded the length required or well wanted (sometimes they weren’t happy) . My dad also made up stories for me when I was little, I hope to one day publish and anthology of them (I do attribute that to my love of the plot) . I actually sat down to write a book when by hand when I was fourteen? Maybe? But I gave up on that book (I will one day reapproach that book, but for now the characters and I are not mixing…it’s not my fault blame them) to write what I wanted to publish as my first. I started that book when I was fifteen and finished it when I was sixteen and went onto the next. I am on the third in the series and am currently rewriting the first book. I was young when I wrote it and afraid of words like sex, so I would dance around the word. Plus other things I wrote in it are just cringe worthy and embarrassing. Trust and believe if a writer says their work is cringe worthy it is…we are our biggest critic yes, but if we can make ourselves cringe it is pretty correct to believe that the reader would wonder what the heck the writer was thinking.
I spend my days working at a clothing store. I love it. I work with kids ranging from size 6-20. I love working with the girls who aren’t societies standard of ‘beauty’. It’s great because you can see the kid coming in so self-conscious (because they are a size 16 not 12 like their friends) and leave smiling because you told them they are beautiful and helped them pick out clothes and raved over how amazing the kid looked and sometimes the kid even hugs you. I know this sounds like I am saying ‘oh look at me. I’m so great. Blah, blah, blah.’ That is not my intention. Today’s society is so messed up, these kids are so self-conscious at such a young age, and they are getting bullied. Their parents telling them they are beautiful is one thing, when a someone else makes a big deal about it the kid feels good. I think it’s a thing everyone should do. Encourage people, because one day you will need it. Okay enough about my job.
I also spend my days plotting up stories and plot twists. I like listening to music and sometimes it even inspires or curbs scenes. I like going to the gym and reading, it is where I get most of my reading in. In one day at work…working on stock in the back room, five new book ideas came flooding in.
I have one dog, a Beta named Platelet in one tank with a snail, eight goldfish all named after characters in my books and a Plecko and a snail in another tank that is huge. I have the plecko and snails to help keep the tanks clean. I’d like to write more often and I need to. It is the best and worst thing in the world, if you are a writer you will understand that sentence; if you are not a writer ask one that you know.
I use Twitter and Instagram and Facebook to interact with writers and friends and share stuff about my books and from time to time excerpts!
I hope to change the publishing world by introducing them to new styles of writing! And once you get to know me you know I don’t just dabble in things, I jump in whole heartedly with both feet, and most of the time without a safety net. I am beginning to blog under the supervision and guidance of Graves (I just love her) . Please come back bi-weekly to join me on my journey of publishing and writing on my blog series called Toni’s Big Six Journey.
Listening
to: Wishing Well by Ben Moody: All for This
Quote:
“Just know, when you truly want success, you’ll never give up on it. No matter
how bad the situation may get.” – Unknown
Spotlight
Interview Questions:
1) What is your all-time favorite book and
why?
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green (TFIOS) . It is just perfect. I cried on every page and went hysterical at Chapter 21. I re-read the book within two months and re-experienced all that beautiful pain (readers of this book will get it #nerdfighter) . Also, I bonded with my IBBF (internet best friend forever) over this book. We’ve known each other for a little over two months as of 7.12.2013, but it is one of the greatest friendships I have had. So, beyond being a great book it brought me a great friend.
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, this is a biggie. I don’t really know. I have my own style, but some of my darker pieces, like “The Tale-Tale Heart” which is a re-doing of “The Tell-Tale Heart” by E.A. Poe for a final English paper, have been associated to Poe. I’m actually about to start a second mirroring piece of his, that T.R. Graves is up-to-date about.
As far as characters…People are going to think TFIOS for some of my characters, because I talk about the book ALL the time and it is a book about kids with cancer. But my book is about a kid or two with cancer but there is more of a story to it than that, just like Green’s.
As far as my characters relating to other characters…oh I don’t know, never thought about that. I’ve read books with characters that reminded me of mine, but never really thought about it that way. I think Devon would like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?
“If you don’t know, you do not deserve to know!” –Devon
Oh my, how can I explain, Devon? Okay so in this scene Devon just found out something in his family. Sorry for being vague,
don’t want to give away plot points. He is really struggling in his life at the moment and this news was just devastating.
Like a lot of teens Devon struggles with the idea of self-harm and when his brother is talking to him he (Devon) hints to wanting to hurt himself, and when his brother doesn’t get the hint he says the above quote possibly angrily.
4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing?
Things that inspire me to write…I don’t know. Sometimes I just see something, okay I was in a store the other day and
saw a beautiful all glass frame, free standing. I saw it and instantly knew it belonged to a character in one of my
W.I.P.s, and when I got home it was already done the character would have it in their house. So it is just kind of
random, if I see something and it attaches to a character, I say it inspired me.
People-
My best friend Anne is who I write for along with a few other people. Anne is my muse and my ‘first reader’. She keeps me going when I don’t want to write and pushes me to finish projects. So she inspires me as well as Graves, Green,
Asher, and others.
Music!!!
Ahh, such an inspiration! Don’t want to say too much here because this topic is going to be a whole blog post for me!
What makes me want to keep writing—my characters.
I get a points where I miss them and I physically feel missing them, I feel pain of sorts. Sometimes just
thinking and plotting and writing notes just does not suffice, so I write to subdue the longing for interacting with them.
And I love writing, so that helps.
5) Describe your typical writing day or week.
They are random. I write whenever and wherever. At one point I was writing (more than this at home) every Friday
night at the bar in Red Robin, where one of my friends works. I would buy an unsweetened peach tea with
EXTRA regular syrup and she kept me in well supply. It was a great writing environment and the support was great!
6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you’re writing?
I love, love, love peach tea, but I can’t have too much caffeine otherwise I can’t sleep. So at one point it was that, but
now….yeah, it is still that, I just can’t have it all the time.
7) Can you tell us what you’re working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover) ?
Sooooo many things! The book I am working on to get published first is Life’s Not a Fantasy I have a cover idea, but no cover yet! An excerpt? Sure! Here is the introduction. It is written by Devon:
It wasn’t ever supposed to be like this. Our family was always so torn apart, even before what I’m, about to write. Dad was out fighting for ‘our safety’ but was never home…he was a ‘lifer’. Mom chose her favorites and clung tightly to them, and I fell to the bottom of that spectrum. I was okay with it though. I was always the ‘untypical typical’ teenager, meaning I was or still am the loner. I’ve done my fair share of stupid things, but more on that later. He, Cameron always held us together. He was our rock. He could make or break our family and now his name resonates with pain.
How can one name ruin everything? How can one name bring so much pain?
It’s been days, moments, but his name already feels like a curse.
Thanks for reading! Hope this was entertaining.
Join us every Friday at The YA Authors Club!
By: Laura A. H. Elliott,
on 7/12/2013
Blog:
Laurasmagicday
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Social Media, what works for you?
Relationships. It’s all about relationships. Social media is just our virtual pub or café or bookstore or our neighborhood park. It’s about introducing yourself, & maybe your dog and making friends. That’s really all it is for me. I try and help people out and people help me out all the time. When I have questions about things I get great advice and when someone has some good news we all celebrate.
I hang out where I feel the most comfortable, like in real life. Social media really isn’t any different. The cool thing about it is that you can make friends and even keep up a friendship that starts at a conference or vacation…where ever. It’s pretty cool to have friends all over the world and really cool to discover and read stories I might never have had the chance to without social media.
As an author, I’m most comfortable using Twitter ( @Laurawriting ) and Facebook. Facebook is a little harder for me. I’ve got two pages…one for my personal life and one for my readers and I try to keep them separate, but it’s a little like trying to take the chocolate out of a banana split LOL. So that confuses me a little, to be honest. I do love Pinterest because it’s so visual. My favorite boards are book swag I love, food that I love and of course the YA Indie Carnival I wish I knew how to converse with my Goodreads fans better. I have an automatic feed which posts my blog posts there, but I find it a little more challenging to have a dialog with my fans there. I love discussing books and so I look forward to people who post with questions/comments about my books or reviews.
Social media is just the modern word of mouth. And that’s the way books have been recommended to readers for hundreds of years. It’s just more exciting now. But it is super confusing sometimes, especially for authors who are just getting into it. At UtopYA, I can’t remember the author, but she was so sweet and walked up to me and said she just didn’t know where to begin. I hear that a lot. The advice I gave when she asked me is the advice I heard when I was getting started. Pick one place, it doesn’t matter where, if Facebook feels good to you pick that, if it’s easier for you to post in 140 characters then use Twitter, if you’re visual maybe Tumblr or Pinterest is for you. Just pick one and use it and start to meet people the old-fashioned way in a high tech pub/café/bookstore/park 
Twitter confused the heck out of me when I first used it…I was like what is this thing? But it’s been a great way to meet amazing friends, whether they’re dog lovers, book bloggers, readers, other writers, artists, screenwriters…you name it. (hint: it’s all about the # hashtags )
I sat in on one of the panels and the fabulous Kallie Ross, an awesome YA Fantasy writer/incredible panel mediator/one smart cookie, mentioned that youtube is the most searched place on the Internet. So it’s a great place to make friends. I have a channel there and post videos I use in my research and my book trailers and follow channels that make me laugh, have something to do with food and books too. I definitely could do more with my channel. Click here to swing by sometime if you want to see how I use it.
Wattpad is another site that Amanda Harvard, talented author/incredible musician/and all-around fun person, talked about on one of the UtopYA panels. Loads of authors and readers love that site. I might get my feet wet there next. But, enough about my take…what works for you?
See what the other amazing carnis have to say about it too And check out YA Author Club for upcoming carnival topics!
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.
Author
Links:
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.
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.
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. They took 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.
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 until she 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 you very 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.
Words, words and words (Photo credit: Arslan)
How long should a book be?
It’s so personal! As a reader there are times where I love to get lost in an epic and don’t care how long a book is. There are times when I just want a quick read, and that usually means a smaller word count. I am a very slow reader. Extremely slow. So slow that may parents tried to give me speed reading classes when I was young. Isn’t that sweet? But, it just made it all so much worse because I didn’t enjoy reading anymore. As a girl I wanted to read short books. The experience of reading shorter novels made me feel more successful as a reader. I don’t have that criteria any more as an adult. But, I do remember how I felt when I was a girl. Maybe that’s why I write on the short side of most recommended word counts for YA. As a reader and a writer, I’ve been interested in the rise of the novella.
The story I want to tell always dictates how many words I’ll write. I try to honor the story and what it needs so that I’m able to tell it in the most unique, compelling and emotional way.
It’s so interesting in this era of 140 char Tweets, novelists are focused on thousands of words. I believe that the “shoulds” of word count are fading away as indie publishing takes hold and as the production costs of printing a book isn’t the single driving force behind the decision (more words=more pages=more expensive to manufacture). Since people are reading novels on electronic devices more and more I think the physical count of a book will become less of a concern. It’s all about the reader’s experience. When I buy a book, I expect it to be a certain kind of experience. I expect it to help me forget my world for a little while and get me wrapped up in another one. Length is part of the expected experience. As a writer, it’s all about knowing my readers and giving them an experience that they love so much they’ll be back to read some more.
I rarely read that the length of a book is a deal breaker for a reader. If the story’s good, I don’t care how long or short it is. Of course price is a big consideration. I’m a fan of offering shorter works, like novellas for free.
What’s your take on novel length? My fellow carnis weigh in here :
I’m so excited to feature Liz Long on Laurasmagicday. I got to know her at the YA Indie Carnival and really enjoyed Gifted, A Donovan Circus Novel so I know her adult paranormal will ROCK. I’m a big fan of YA authors writing for the adult market (nudge, nudge, wink, wink…) and can’t wait to read Witch Hearts. Release day is around the corner!! So…take it away Liz!
Witch Hearts is my second novel, an adult paranormal thriller meant for those who liked to be a little creeped out and also enjoy a murder mystery. My first book, Gifted, A Donovan Circus Novel, is about a murder at a supernatural circus, and is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback. Now without further ado, the cover for Witch Hearts!
Witch Hearts 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.
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 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
I’m so pleased to host Melissa Pearl on Laurasmagicday. I loved her book Forbidden Territory and hope you all go out and grab a copy. I love her voice and get lost in her stories. I know you will too. I think you will find her as magical as I do Check out the awesome excerpt of her new release after the interview! woot!
Author
Bio:
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.”
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MelissaPearlG
Amazon
Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Pearl/e/B0064I6S26/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Goodreads
Author Page:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5314516.Melissa_Pearl
Newsletter
subscription:
http://blogspot.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ab5a6cb228dc9203d6c179eaa&id=481344857f
Website:
http://www.melissapearlauthor.com
Pinterest:
Interview:
1)
What is your all-time favorite book and why?
Man -
that is such a tough questions. One? I’m only allowed one? LOL.
One
series that I have read over and over in my time is the Mark of the Lion series
by Francine Rivers. Those books have it all – awesome romance, excellent action
and tension, amazing descriptions, plus a deep message running through the
books (if you’re into that kinda thing – which I am). They made me laugh, cry
and fall in love. Haha Just my type of story.
2)
Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters
your book’s characters could relate to and why?
Hmmm
- how do you answer that question without coming across as pretentious? My Time
Spirit Trilogy has been compared to Twilight in the sense of an intense love
story. I wouldn’t say my writing is super fancy, but I know how to tell a fast
paced story with lots of emotion and tension.
3)
Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?
Ooo -
I have so many. Little moments between my characters are so precious to me. I
can feel everything they are feeling and I love it. Here is a favourite of
mine, which has also received some highlights. It’s a quote from Golden Blood
(Book 1 in the Time Spirit Trilogy).
“How
are you okay with this?” Gemma took a step back. “I can travel through time!”
Harrison
shrugged and closed the distance between them. “Hey, I was cool with alien,
this isn’t much different.”
“I’m a
total freak!”
“Yeah.”
He grinned as he threaded his fingers through her belt loops and pulled her
towards him. “But you’re my freak.” His breath tickled her skin as he leaned
towards her and whispered, “Face it, Hart, you’re stuck with me. I knew the
second I touched you my life had changed…and you knew it too.”
It
always makes me smile. Harrison’s reaction to Gemma’s revelation is perfect in
my mind. Those two are made for each other and I love that he figures it out so
early on.
4)
What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep
writing?
I get
my inspiration from all over the place. Movies are huge for me. I would love to
see my stories on the big screen one day. I picture them that way in my head. I
always get a tingle running through my body when I watch a movie with a really
great kissing scene or an excellent action sequence… anything that makes my
emotions start to bubble.
I am
inspired by music as well – everything from movie scores to punk rock to
country to alternative. I love it all! I even love my toddler’s music, although
it’s not that inspiring, just fun to sing along to
5)
Describe your typical writing day or week.
I get
up an hour before my family each morning to work on my social media stuff. It
takes that long to clear my e-mail, do any blog post stuff I want to do, work
through my Facebook notifications and my Twitter news. Time zon wise, it’s the
best time for me to do this as there is more traffic around the sites I use.
As
soon as my son goes down for his midday nap, I race to my computer. Four out of
five days, I spend my time working on my writing and usually one day a week or
at least half of one of those sessions is used on admin type things – numbers,
blogging, extra marketing stuff. I also get a two-hour sleep in every Sunday
morning, so I use that time to write as well. If my husband ever goes out in
the evenings, I write once the kids are in bed.
It
takes every spare moment I have to keep up with my writing. Thankfully I adore
doing it, so it doesn’t feel like hard work.
6)
Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you’re writing?
I
never eat when I’m writing. It would slow me down too much. I drink a lot of
water, but if I’m really tired, I allow myself a small Coca Cola. The caffine
boost can be useful sometimes.
7)
Can you tell us what you’re working on right now (& possibly provide an
excerpt & cover)?
I am
working on a Young Adult Fantasy Trilogy. This is my first attempt into this
foray and I’m having SO much fun. The first book has been edited, the second
book has been written and the third book is in the planning stage. I’m aiming
for June, July and August releases for the three books.
Here’s the cover and blurb
for the first one:
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.
Excerpt
from Unknown (The Elements Trilogy: Book 1): (keep in mind this book still needs a final proof read)
“Jethro!” Kyla
slapped him on the arm and leaned against the grate, patting her chest. With
narrowed eyes, she shot him a glare. “So this is how it is now? You don’t have
the decency to talk to me in public, but you do take time out of your precious
day to come scare the life out of me down in this foul-smelling tunnel.”A slow, easy
smile lit Jethro’s face. “Where have you been?”
“Why do you even
care?”
Jethro’s brawny
frame leaned against the stone wall behind him. His eyes glimmered with a
knowing smile. “Let’s see, a bow slung over your shoulder, a quiver full of
arrows… so not hunting then. I’m guessing target practice,” he clicked his
fingers, “in the clearing by the waterhole.”
Kyla bit back a
smile.
“How’d you do?”
She raised her
chin. “I would have split your arrow in two.”
Jethro’s dark
eyebrows jumped up with approval as he nodded his head. “Is that all you got up
to?”
“Jethro, what are
you doing here?” Kyla snapped.
“I just came to
warn you.”
“Of what?”
Jethro frowned,
making Kyla’s stomach clench.
“Queen Elaina is
wondering why she saw her daughter being chased out of the forest by a guard of
Ashan when she should have been studying world history with her tutor.”
Kyla stood up
straight and swallowed. “My mother did not see. She’s always at prayers this
time of day.”
“She was delayed.”
Jethro winced.
The blood drained
from Kyla’s face. Biting her lips together, she pulled the bow over her head
and cleared her throat.
“You might want
to present yourself to her before she has every man in the castle looking for
you.”
With a child-like
groan, Kyla gripped the end of her bow and rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Slumping
her shoulders, she spun away from freedom and started stomping towards the
dungeons.
“You may want to
go past your chambers on the way. Perhaps tidy up a little?”
She came to an abrupt
stop and slowly spun back to face the boy she’d known since birth. “Excuse me?”
Jethro’s lips
fought with a grin as he pushed himself off the wall and sauntered towards her.
“Just because you hate wearing dresses doesn’t mean she won’t expect to see you
in one.” He pointed at the attire she had stolen from her brother years ago.
She kept it hidden in a trunk at the end of her bed and only pulled it out when
she was sneaking from the castle. If only her mother knew how comfortable they
were, she wouldn’t insist on mountains of material that were impossible to run
in.
“You’re already
in for her wrath.” Jethro tipped his head. “You will only antagonise her more
by appearing like this.”
Kyla pushed her
tongue against the side of her mouth then huffed. “You know I hate you.”
“With the fire a
thousand suns?”
Laughter burst
from her mouth before she could stop it. “And more!” She punched him on the
arm, missing the familiar banter they used to share as children. The amount of
times he had driven her to screams of rage with his playful teasing, but a few
punches later and they had been best friends again. She often wondered what had
happened between them and wished they could return to past days.
As if Jethro
could read her mind, he stepped back from her, the playful smile replaced with
a new seriousness she did not care for. “You should get moving.”
Golden
Blood: FREE Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her
back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a
secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place.
While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she
completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has
selected.
Gemma’s parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her
family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be
“used and abused”, as her mother always says. Afraid she might
accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends
her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life
askew… Harrison Granger.
Harrison never
expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can’t
stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and
is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he
enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his
life.
Black
Blood
The
second book in the Time Spirit Trilogy
Pure
Blood Third
book in the Time Spirit Trilogy
Forbidden
Territory (co-authored with Brenda Howson)
Mica and Lexy have been best friends and next door neighbours
since they were eight years old. They share everything and have no secrets from
each other until… Tom arrives on Mica’s doorstep – a gorgeous exchange
student from England. And Lexy is smitten.
Suddenly both girls are keeping secrets. Mica is hiding news
about Tom’s English girlfriend and Lexy hasn’t got the heart to tell her best
friend that her brother Eli, the guy Mica is mad on, thinks of her as only a
friend.
After a massive fight, the girls decide the best way to mend
their friendship is to spend some quality time together. And what better way
than to go camping away from their parents and why not invite along the guys
they are crushing on.
So the four teenagers embark on a geo-caching expedition into
New Zealand’s native bush expecting a long weekend filled with flirtatious fun;
instead secrets are exposed as they stumble across a hidden marijuana crop and
its gun-wielding watchmen. Forced apart they spend the next forty-eight hours
racing blindly in opposite directions as they fight to find each other before
the hunters do.
Betwixt
Beautiful,
wild-child Nicole Tepper is hit by a car and left for dead. But when she wakes
the next morning, Nicole finds herself in bed without a scratch. Perhaps she
was more intoxicated than usual, as her mother is giving her the silent
treatment and her friends are ignoring her as well.
Things
take a turn for the weird when Nicole soon discovers she is actually hovering
between life and death. Her body is lying in the forest while her spirit is
searching for anyone who can hear her. Unfortunately the only person who can is
Dale Finnigan, the guy she publicly humiliated with a sharp-tongued insult that
has left him branded.
Desperate, Nicole has no choice but to haunt Dale and convince the
freaked-out senior to help her. Will he find her body before it’s too late? Or
will the guy who tried to kill her with his car, beat him there and finish her
off before anyone finds out?
Want to run away to the carnival with us next week? It’s all about editing. See you next Friday:)
Here's what I'm thankful for today:
1. YOU
I love reading your posts and listening to what inspires and challenges you. I love it when you make me laugh.
2. YA INDIE CARNIVAL BLOGGERS
Starting July 15th me and some of my new friends, talented indie writers and reviewers and readers, are beginning a conversation about the YA indie world. Every Friday we will all post on a new topic about YA indie writing, reviewing and reading. Here's a list of folks who I hope you'll get to know much, much better:
Dani Snell- book reviewer open to indies
Courtney Cole- an indie author of paranormal fiction. Her titles include: EVERY LAST KISS [Book 1 of the Bloodstone Saga], FATED [Book 2 of the Bloodstone Saga], PRINCESS, and the title GUARDIAN.
Wren Emerson- an indie author of the paranormal fiction story I WISH.
Nicole Williams- an indie author of paranormal fiction. Her titles include: ETERNAL EDEN, and the upcoming FALLEN EDEN.
Fisher Amelie- an indie YA author of the paranormal fantasy series THE UNDERSTOREY
Michelle Leighton- an indie YA author of paranormal fiction. Her titles include: WICCAN, BLOOD LIKE POISON [BOOK 1 & 2], THE REAPING, CATERPILLAR
Amy Maurer Jones- an indie YA author of the fantasy series called THE SOUL QUEST TRILOGY
T. R. Graves- an indie YA author of paranormal fiction. Her series titles include: WARRIORS OF THE CROSS, GUARDIANS OF THE CROSS, ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
Rachel Coles- an indie YA author of paranormal fiction as well as a book reviewer open to indies. Her titles include DIARY OF A DUCT TAPE ZOMBIE, WHISTLES, BEERGARDEN, PLAGUES, BEES OF ST. JOHN, and MUSHROOMS
Patti Larsen- an indie author of YA and MG fiction. Her titles include: THE GHOST BOY OF MacKENZIE HOUSE, and THE DIAMOND CITY TRILOGY.
[if you are an YA indie author and want to be a CARNI with us, let me know!]
3. This little bat that was flying around in the tangerine sky at sunset last night. The way he darted and dropped and flew about the moon took my breath away.
4. The amazing attitude and courage of our wounded warriors and the wonderful community of people who raise them up every single day with good wishes and prayers.
I always love reading your blog posts, Laura
xx
*waves* Thanks for stopping by Suzy
HAPPY FRIDAY!