News & Contests

2014 (and January) goals!

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It’s the first Friday of the month&the first Friday of the year! I’m reporting on my goals and setting new ones—come join in!

Goals2013 goals and accountability

My writing goals for 2013 included:

  • Publish two novels and a novella in the Spy Another Day series
  • Write two novels: Spy Another Day #2 and #3
  • Maintain my website and monthly email newsletter
  • Coordinate book reviews & tours
  • Sell 1000 copies of I, Spy
  • Prepare another novel for publication
  • Read 40 books
  • Blog, usually 3-4 times a week.

And here’s how I did!

  • Publish two novels and a novella in the Spy Another Day series—Yep! I actually made a day-by-day schedule to make sure this happened. Fortunately, I also built in a ton of room because I barely made it on time.
  • Write two novels: Spy Another Day #2 and #3‐Same as above: I was way behind schedule, but I made it.
  • Maintain my website and monthly email newsletter—Yep!
  • Coordinate book reviews & tours—Did this, too. This year, I might look into hiring this out, though.
  • Sell 1000 copies of I, Spy—I was scared setting this goal so high for a self-published debut, but I came sooooo close. I did my sales totals for the year yesterday, and it looks like it came to 989 copies of I, Spy sold.
  • Prepare another novel for publication—This I didn’t do. I’ve really rethought the novel I had on tap, and falling behind schedule on writing and editing chewed up some of the time I’d allotted for this. But that’s okay—because the rest of the time was taken up with a different project: my first book on writing craft! (And another novella…)
  • Read 40 books—I got 31. Not bad, but not as good as I could have done. I should read a bit more to help with burnout, I think.
  • Blogging went . . . okay. I feel like the medium in general is in a decline, and my blog is included in that as traffic and comments have dropped off somewhat.

December accountability

My specific goals for last month were:

  • Now finish my NaNo novel—DONE. Took longer than I was planning, and there are still a lot of rough spots, but I know I an keep working at it.
  • Polish up the NaNo novel a bit—didn’t make as much progress as I’d hoped, but I’m still working on this.
  • Write up the 2014 business plan, goals and production schedule—check!
  • Think about my conference presentations for next year. If I’m feeling really ambitious, outline them—I did a quick outline last night while brainstorming. Good enough for me!
  • Enjoy the holidays with my family—check!

And that last one makes the whole month worth it.

January goals

  • Get Spy Another Day #3 ready for critique group & take it to them
  • Polish up that novella I wrote in September
  • Write enough to stay sane
  • Start gathering materials for my next Writing Craft book

Man. That looks so DOABLE. So not like me. (Although really #1 and #2 hide a lot of work, eh?)

And big goals for the rest of 2014

  • Publish a novella, two novels and up to three Writing Craft books. (It sounds like a lot, but the fiction is already written, just in various stages of editing now.)
  • Write a short novel and a full length novel. And whatever else I feel like 😉 (falling under the “enough to stay sane” guideline here, too).
  • Teach at LDStorymakers in April, and possibly other conferences, as my schedule permits.
  • Do all that promotion and marketing stuff.
  • Explore more collaborations & partnerships.
  • Bundles! Box sets!
  • Read. I didn’t intend to set a number goal last year, but then I did. Sigh. I think I’d like to average at least 3 books a month. So 36 books. Should be doable. Right?
  • Try to sprinkle in a little fun. That will come with #2, #3, #5 and #7 of course, but I want to be careful to avoid burnout.

Whew! I’m looking at my color-coded production schedule and . . . it’s a little daunting (in some months). But I’ve adjusted my expectations for the year based on actual! data! and I’ve tried hard to reel it in a bit. Now to add back in the fun . . .

What’s on tap for you this month? This year? Come share!

Photo by Celestine Chua

Technique, Writing Life

10 tips to become a better writer

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Becoming a better writer

Is becoming a better writer on your list of New Year’s Resolutions? (No? Want to go add it really quickly? I’ll wait.)

That’s a pretty lofty goal. And like most goals, it’s kind of impossible to achieve without breaking it down into individual steps. Here are a few.

Begin with a benchmark

Pull up a file of something you’ve written recently (first draft or completed project). Save a copy of it in a specific place: your email, online backup, Google Drive, etc. Add a reminder to your calendar on December 31, 2014, to read the file (and include where you put it!). We’ll come back to this.

Quick tip: don’t use a document you’re planning on publishing in that exact form in 2014, unless you like exercises in futility and frustration.

Identify areas you can improve

Most of us are acutely aware of our own weaknesses. What skills do you want to work on?

  • Plotting
  • Writing faster/slower
  • Specific areas: dialogue, description, backstory, voice, character arcs, etc.
  • Structural macro-editing
  • Line editing
  • Critiquing others’ work (or maybe your own!)
  • Publishing workflow
  • Connecting with a community
  • Marketing

Take a class

When you know what skills you want to improve, find a class to help you. You can look at writers conferences in your area or online, or you can seek out classes through websites. I highly recommend Margie Lawson’s classes, but there are dozens of websites and email lists that offer fantastic resources. (As always, do your research before you pay anybody for a class online!)

Find a critique group, partner or mentor

If you don’t already have a trusty group of critique partners, this will probably be the #1 thing to move your writing forward in 2014. If you’re not quite ready to share your work with other writers for critique, then perhaps seek out a mentor to help foster and improve your writing: maybe not even someone who’s published, but someone who you trust and respect. And ask nicely 😉

Read a craft book

Head over to Amazon or your local library and pick up a book on writing craft. Explore another genre, borrow techniques from another medium (screenwriting books rock), or focus on a particular technique (like, say, Character Arcs?), even research a topic or location—no matter what you look at, you’re guaranteed to learn something!

Read a novel

I do focus so much on my own writing and critiquing that I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like. But every time I take the time to read, I always wonder why I don’t do this more often 😉 . Still, reading novels not only refills my creative wells and gives me new ideas, but—because I can’t turn off my internal editor while reading—it also helps me improve my craft, looking at how the story elements affect me as a reader and how they’re executed, and how I can emulate or improve upon those techniques.

That actually sounds horrible and boring. But it’s not.

Practice

All that training and preparation doesn’t do you much good if you don’t take the time to put it into action. WRITE SOMETHING NEW and apply the skills you’ve learned.

Try something new

If you followed my series about my first ten novels, you’ll see that with every novel, I shared the lessons I learned, either in craft or career. And they usually include “this was the first time . . . ”

I have to explore new themes and techniques in my work, or I lose interest. But doing that is also one of the best ways to continue to grow your craft. So try writing from a POV you don’t normally use—first, third, omniscient, etc. Try a new tense. Take a new genre for a test ride. Do something different—challenge yourself and see how much you grow!

Let go of perfectionism

Can you actually get better if you let go of striving to be perfect? Yes, if perfectionism is keeping you from moving forward. Whether it’s silencing the inner editor while you draft, moving past your insecurities to query or publish your work, or obsessing over someone else’s awesomeness and deriding yourself—stop.

Let go of fear

Uh, yeah. I have four small kids, so I never, ever see movies in the theatre (hate paying for tickets, hate paying for food, hate having to leave my house…). However, I have four small children, so I have an excuse to see every Disney film in the theatres. If you haven’t seen Frozen yet, it’s pretty wonderful.

One of my favorite parts happens after newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally reveals her magical powers (manipulating ice and snow), after hiding them for many years. She runs away and gains perspective about her fears and her powers, and sings an awesome song, and has some pretty awesome graphics to go with it:


If fear is holding you back, LET IT GO and create something wonderful

(It was nominated for a Golden Globe, so yeah.)

If fear is holding you back, let it go and create something wonderful. [Tweet this!]

Check back

At the end of 2014, take another example of your most recent writing: whether that’s the polished version of the file you picked out at the end of 2013 or a different piece (though I would suggest not comparing a 2013 finished product to a 2014 first draft). Read through all or part of your 2013 file and your 2014 file. What would you change about your 2013 file? Is it better or worse than you thought?

What do you think? How have you become a better writer? How will you work to improve in 2014? Would you like monthly challenges & assessments here to work on becoming a better writer?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests

Cover reveal! Hope’s Watch by Donna K. Weaver

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Donna K. Weaver and I launched our first novels together in a joint party (that was a raving success!!). Donna’s publisher sadly had to close its doors in the interim, but I’m happy to report that Donna is forging ahead on her own, and her next release is coming out next month!

Hope’s Watch

Elle Reinhardt loves people and has a gift for turning groups of strangers into friends. When she talks her best friend Lyn into taking a month-long Pacific cruise, Elle is in her element, gathering fellow passengers to her. But things go horribly wrong when a ship excursion ends in death and disaster at the hands of modern-day pirates.

Filled with her own emotional wounds from the experience, Elle tries desperately to buoy up the grieving loved ones as they wait for news on those lost at sea. Malcolm Armstrong, friend of one of the missing men, arrives to act as family spokesman. Elle knows it’s unreasonable, but she resents his presence. When Mal offers the strength she so desperately needs, will she be able to let go of her animosity and accept his support?

And the cover!

Hope's Watch by Donna K. Weaver
Cover design by Melissa Williams

This ebook-exclusive short story includes special excerpts from both A Change of Plans and Torn Canvas (coming April 2014), books 1 and 2 of the Safe Harbors Series.

Coming January 16, 2014

A Change of Plans. Also available in audiobook.
Lyn wants to move on. She just doesn’t realize it will take pirates, shipwreck, and an intriguing surgeon to do it.

 

News & Contests

One day sale!

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It’s Friday the 13th! Normally we think of Friday the 13th as unlucky—but today is your lucky day! It’s a one day sale on over thirty books. Stock up for yourself, grab great deals on Christmas gifts, and find something for everyone!

Original photo by lightlady via Flickr/CC

 

My book is on sale today, too!

I, Spy (Spy Another Day #1)
by Jordan McCollum

Regular price: $3.99 Promotion Price: 99¢ Click here to purchase on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, or author’s website

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Want more great deals? Scroll through the titles below and click on the purchase links to pick up anything and everything that looks interesting—or give as Christmas gifts! There’s something on this list for everyone to enjoy! *Be sure to check the price of the book before you download so you know you’re getting the sale price.*

The Book Blogger’s Cookbook (2011)
by Christy Dorrity

Promotion Price: 99¢  Click here to purchase!

Great books, bloggers, and recipes meet in this fresh and unique cookbook that helps you experience books, not just read them. Books were selected from the author’s book review blog and paired with delectable recipes like “Fairy Touched Calico Brownies” from the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, “7-Day Layer Dip” from Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, and “I Hate Chocolate Cake” from Amanda Hocking’s Switched. Whether you’re a food lover, an avid reader or a book blogger, there’s something for you in The 2011 Book Blogger’s Cookbook.


 Spinster’s Folly
by Marsha Ward

Sale price for promotion: $3.74 with coupon code VL64M at checkout. Click here to purchase!

Marie Owen longs for a loving husband, but marriage prospects on the Colorado frontier are limited. Her desperation at the prospect of remaining unmarried, fueled by her younger sister’s taunting jibes about her becoming a spinster, drives Marie into the arms of a sweet-talking predator, landing her in unimaginable dangers. Winner of 2013 USA Best Books Award for Western Fiction.

Clean romance (including romantic comedy & historical romance)

Working It Out
by Rachael Anderson

Regular price $3.99 Promotion Price: $1.99 Click here to purchase!

A chance encounter . . .
Grace Warren’s life is safe and predictable–exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle–a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . .
Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace’s rehab clinic post surgery, he’s every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there’s something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he’s everything she’s sure she doesn’t want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along–assuming she’s willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.
Prank Wars
by Stephanie Fowers

Promotion Price: $2.99 Click here to purchase!

In this fun-filled novel, it’s girls vs. boys in a hilarious prank war that pits the college students against their nemeses. When some of the pranks start getting dangerous, can the two enemies join forces to capture the culprit?

Third Time’s the Charm
by Heather B. Moore

Sale price for promotion: 99¢. Click here to purchase!

Liz Carlson will settle for a normal man. A normal man with a job, that is. Married twice, then divorced twice, Liz had her rose-colored glasses fall off and shatter on the ground a long time ago. Her main focus now is raising her six-year-old daughter and surviving long days at work on her feet as a hairdresser. When Sloane Branden answers her call for help, quite literally, Liz doesn’t even give him a second glance. She has sworn off dating for as many years as it takes, and it seems that Sloane has done the same after his own tumultuous marriage. But when Liz realizes that Sloane defies every stereotypical deadbeat she has dated, she might just find room in her heart and discover the third time’s the charm.

Loyalty’s Web
by Joyce DiPastena

Sale price for promotion: 99¢. Click here to purchase from Amazon and Smashwords!

Heléne de Laurant has not forgotten how the Earl of Gunthar destroyed her father’s castle during Henry II’s war with his sons. Apparently neither have her family and friends, for when someone tries to murder Gunthar, every sign points in their direction. Heléne realizes the only way to prove her loved ones’ innocence is by exposing the true assassin.

As Heléne and Gunthar spar over the identity of the traitor, fierce determination gives way to mutual attraction. Heléne must race against time, and dark secrets of the past, to unmask the would-be killer before the kingdom plunges back into war and takes the life of the man she has unexpectedly learned to love.

Clean romantic suspense & adventure romance

Poison Me
by Cami Checketts
Promotion Price: 99¢Click here to purchase!
 
Can they catch a killer that no one believes is real?
 
Jake Merrill was raised by his grandmother, Ruby, and her hilarious friends. After a suspicious death at the retirement home where Ruby lives, she enlists Jake and Chanel, the beautiful activities director, to help her find the killer.

Secrets Ruby has kept for decades threaten her family and the man she’s always loved, but could never have. Chanel’s unstable ex-boyfriend, a presumably dead relative, and vicious criminals add to the confusion. Time is running out as Jake, Chanel, and Ruby desperately search for clues to solve the murders and fight to save those they love.

“Poison Me made me laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wish I had a friend like Ruby! Snappy dialogue, romance, and a strong sense of family made this book well worth reading.”  Rachel Ann Nunes, bestselling author of Line of Fire and Before I Say Goodbye

The Colony
by Cami Checketts

Sale price for promotion: 99¢. Click here to purchase!

To protect her sons from the mistakes of her past, Brinlee Trapper escapes to a secluded mountain home. But there are dangers lurking in the mountains she has never encountered. The little family is saved from injury by Jed, a mysterious hunter. Brinlee is drawn to him, but she worries about his involvement with a peaceful commune hidden deep in the mountains behind her property.

Lance, Brinlee’s attentive neighbor, has his own troubled history. Between his obvious attraction to Brinlee and his developing love for her children, Brinlee finds it more than difficult to guard her heart against this tender intrusion.

While Jed offers a life of excitement and freedom, Lance holds the key to the family Brinlee always wanted. When it comes time to choose, she learns that both men have secrets that could shatter her fledgling trust in men and the wrong decision could leave more than her heart exposed to danger.

“Cami Checketts is a genius! She writes about topics that aren’t widely discussed, in and out of books, and she does such a brilliant job of crafting these things into wonderful stories that touch your heart and remain with you for days afterwards.” Myra, Reviewer, Pieces of Whimsy

A Change of Plans (Safe Harbors #1)
by Donna K. Weaver

Sale price for promotion: $2.99. Click here to purchase from Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old Colorado high school teacher wants is to forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a vacation diversion; what fate provides is Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world and its temporary friendships, her emotions come alive.

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship–on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget. But Lyn’s painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.

Things are bad enough when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise’s snorkeling excursions in American Samoa. However, paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped. Lyn’s fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

Also available as an audio book from Audible!

Paranormal romance & Fantasy (adult)

The Change (Unbounded #1)
by Teyla Branton

 Promotion Price: .99 Click here to purchase at Amazon, iBookstore, and Barnes & Noble!  

No Second Chances. Death, Life, or Love—Unbounded Always Play for Keeps.

There are only two ways to kill Unbounded, and fire isn’t one of them—as law school dropout Erin Radkey learns the hard way. By fluke of a recessive gene, she has become Unbounded, a nearly immortal being with paranormal abilities.

Erin’s Change separates her from her loved ones and alters everything she believes to be true. A week earlier she was considering a marriage proposal; now she contemplates the best way to stay alive. Caught in a battle between two Unbounded groups, the Emporium and the Renegades, she is also hunted by a secret mortal society sworn to eradicate the Unbounded gene.

As Erin plunges into this dangerous new life, she must carve out her own place in the madness, protect her mortal family, and decide which group she should join. Her unique ability is vital to both groups in the race to secure an identification software that spells death for all Unbounded—or enslavement for the entire mortal world. Some will stop at nothing to use Erin as one more pawn in a battle that has spanned centuries. Erin’s undeniable attraction to Ritter Langton, whose family was massacred by opposing Unbounded two hundred and forty years ago, complicates her choices. There are no second chances. Death, life, or love—Unbounded always play for keeps.

Non-stop action, terrifying consequences, and powerful romance make The Change an exciting addition to the world of romantic urban fantasy.

Sevenfold
by Ilyan Kei Lavanway
Promotion Price: $2.99   Click here to purchase on Amazon and Smashwords! 
Young wife Gracie yearns for renewed innocence. Abiathar wants to secure it for her. Their trek has been anything but blissful. Stomach their journey, and let your faith be strengthened through their experience. Glimpse tribulations and miracles future pioneers may expect as you live vicariously through the life of this young family.



 Out of the Picture and Into the Picture
by Victor G. La Van Way and Ilyan Kei Levanway

Promotion Price: 99¢  Click here to purchase on Amazon and Smashwords!

Out of the Picture and Into the Picture by Victor G. La Van Way and Ilyan Kei Lavanway is a fantasy adventure book containing two short stories about a pilot who is miraculously reunited with his father in a strange storm. Experience superimposed worlds and altered realities. Relive the thrill of flight as you follow this pilot’s mysterious journey. Find a renewed hope and youthful determination.

Young Adult

The Big Debate (Literary Loom Book One)
by Carolyn Twede Frank

Promotion Price: 99¢  Click here to purchase!

A bizarre corpse . . .

A strange girl . . .

A creepy teacher . . .

A cool invention . . .

Combine these with an old school and a new student anxious to fit in, and the adventure begins.

Fifteen-year-old Josh’s big mouth gets him in trouble at first. But after walking in the shoes of great men of history in the Literary Loom, he uses that mouth to bring down the bad guy and ultimately solve the mystery behind the murder . . . and the mystery behind a strange girl.

The Dream Keeper (Dream Keeper Chronicles #1)
by Mikey Brooks

Regular $3.99 Sale for Promotion 99¢ Click here to purchase! or here for Nook or Kobo

Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.

When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?

The Dreamstone (Dream Keeper Chronicles #2)
by Mikey Brooks

Sale price: 99¢ Click here to purchase from Amazon and Kobo!

When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. However when they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.

Aura
by Rebecca Lynn Talley

Sale Price for Promotion: 99¢  Click here to purchase!

What if the greatest weapon in the age-old war between good and evil was inside of you?

Crystal Scott has always felt different but tried hard to blend in.  Now that she’s scored the lead in the school play, has a boyfriend she adores, and a best friend she can’t live without, she finally feels like she belongs.

A few days before prom, a mysterious young man appears and suddenly she has to figure out how to use the weapon of Light she has inside her or mankind is doomed.

Demons are determined to tip the war in their favor no matter what the cost and they’re hot on Crystal’s trail.  With danger around every corner, she doesn’t know if she can save herself, never mind anyone else.  When things look darkest and there’s nowhere to turn, Crystal must find the strength to use her newfound gifts against the tide of evil threatening all of them–or die trying.

With a Kiss (Twisted Tales, Book One)
by Stephanie Fowers

Promotion Price: FREE on Amazon Click here to purchase! or free on Smashwords!


 Faerytales. They’re real . . . they just haven’t happened yet. Halley Starr finds out the truth when she loses her heart with a curse. Now she has to get it back from that dirty faery who stole it from her, but first, she must fight against the seven rules of the faery kingdom that mortals must never break. If Halley wants her heart back again, she can’t worry about the rules.

Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips (Episodes 1-3)
by Cindy M. Hogan

Regular price $3.99 Sale price: 99¢ Click here to purchase!

The first 3 Episodes of Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips in one book!
“First Kiss”
VL. Virgin Lips. You may not have heard of it, but where I live, it’s a thing with a card, even if it is a figurative card. I was Brooklyn Hamlin, certified virgin lips, and I planned on clinging to that figurative card with all I had–while dating as many of the hottest guys at school as I could.

Maybe that’s a bit strange. I mean, what teenage girl isn’t interested in kissing? Locking lips definitely interested me, but the drama that came with it didn’t. No kissing, no drama. Simple.

But on my sixteenth birthday, on my first real date even, the drama found me. His name was Luke Graham–cute, funny, and bad news for the whole female race.

“Stolen Kiss”
With my VL card gone, my flickering light of hope lay with Ryker, someone else who’d caught my eye. Only he could erase the memory of Luke, the boy who lip-raped me. Unfortunately, Luke was determined to keep me, or at the very least, ruin me.

“Rebound Kiss”
Brooklyn has become a social outcast at school thanks to Luke, who spent his entire weekend playing the victim and spreading rumors. And there’s nothing worse than Luke’s brand of justice. With no other way to escape her torn up, lonely life, she accepts an invitation to her cousin’s birthday party. Attending a party thrown by someone she doesn’t get along with is better than sitting home alone. The highlight of the party is meeting Riley, a boy who’s sweeter than the plate of sugar cookies he arrives with. After everything Brooklyn has been through, it seems that karma is finally on her side, but she soon learns that nothing is ever simple in the dating world.

Gravediggers
by Cindy M. Hogan

Regular price $3.99 Sale price for promotion: $1.99 Click here to purchase!

Seventeen-year-old Billy thinks his father’s murder will never be solved—until he stumbles across an old ammo box while digging a grave in his small-town Tennessee cemetery.

What he finds leads him to question everything he knows, and his search for answers will uncover more than he bargained for: lies, secrets, and conspiracies—and behind them all, a dangerous truth.

Aos Si
by Rebecca Lyn Shelley

Sale price for promotion: 99¢ Click here to purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the iTunes/Apple!

Legends say the magical Aos Si, the Fair Folk of Irish and Scottish folklore that once plagued humanity, have retreated Under the Hill, never to be seen again. The legends are wrong. Aos Si are still abroad in the world, powerful, dangerous, and living among us.

When Carla’s mother drags her from their home in Denver to the-middle-of-nowhere Colorado, a mysterious neighbor embroils her in a battle between warring Aos Si factions. Then she meets Shade, a slave of a cruel and power-hungry Aos Si. Her attraction to Shade is as deep as the magical powers that surround him, but her attempt to free him from his evil master sinks them both deeper into the war, endangering her life and those of the people she cares about most.

You’re Strong Enough
by Kassi Pontious

Price for promotion: FREE Click here to purchase!

You’re Strong Enough takes young adult readers on a quest to discover who they are, why they are here, where they came from, and what their ultimate goal is. Christian writer, Kassi Pontious, shares personal experiences aimed at teaching young people that each of us is strong enough for our own trials and challenges. In You’re Strong Enough, you will discover who your real enemy is and how to defeat this dragon. As you participate in individual quests at the end of each chapter, you will learn how to cut the strings of dysfunction that may be trying to control your life. Ultimately, you will discover where your true strength lies and how to conquer the obstacles in life’s path. You’re Strong Enough is a book about hope and empowerment. It brings truths to light that will empower your soul and inspire you, and those around you.

The Princess Sisters (Princess Sisters #1)
by Stacy Lynn Carroll

Promotional Price 99¢. Click here to purchase!

The only thing she stands to lose are her shoes.
Cinderella is an ordinary teenage girl, with an extraordinary name. But because of that name, she and her cousins, Belle, Aurora, Ariel, and Snow White suffer years of torment from their peers. Then as the girls enter high school and the enticing world of dating, a life-altering decision must be made. Is it finally time to stop fighting, and surrender to the fairy tale clichés that have been holding them back? By embracing their names, the girls discover an inner-strength they never knew existed. And by putting everything they have on the line, maybe, just maybe they will discover there really is such a thing as ‘happily ever after’.

Frogs & Toads (Princess Sisters #2)
by Stacy Lynn Carroll

Promotional price 99¢. Click here to purchase!

One kiss can change the future, for better or for worse.
Belle and her cousins have conquered their fears. Now as they navigate their way through the dating world, they start to see a “happily ever after” on the horizon. But when an unexpected school assignment forces them to examine their past, the Princess sisters realize they have a lot of questions about the fathers they’ve never met. Secrets are revealed, long lost family members are discovered, and now the girls must decide who belongs in their future and who should be kept in the past.

Middle Grade

Heroes of the Highest Order Book Bundle 1-3
by R. K. Hinrichsen

Regular price $9.99 Promotional price: $5.99 Three books in one! Click here to purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

THE DARK ENEMY NEVER RESTS. BUT NEITHER DO THE HEROES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!

Book 1 (The Hidden Kingdom): A magical playground whisks Dan and Page into the Hidden Kingdom, a skinny giant quickly registers them for hero training camp. There, they learn they must gain skills and earn powerful treasures by travelling back in time and walking in the footsteps of a real pioneer hero.

Book 2 (The Prisoner of the Shadows): Dan and Page search the catacombs in Italy, race through the streets of India, and follow in the footsteps of Mother Teresa in order to rescue their grandfather from the Prison of the Shadows. A bonus: Dan finds out he’s even more powerful than he thought!

Book 3 (The Mouth of the Dragon): Tadeusz Pankiewicz, a real-life hero, helps Dan and Page rescue two children from the Nazis in World War II Poland.

All I Got For Christmas
by Rebecca Shelley

Sale price for promotion: 99¢ Click here to purchase from Barnes & Noble and Amazon!

Oh No! Principal Green says Santa can’t come to the school Christmas party.

Monkey needs a plan to get Santa to come. Too bad Monkey’s ideas get him on Santa’s Naughty List. It looks like all he’ll get for Christmas is a bucket of coal.

But when a blizzard knocks out the power lines and buries the roads, it’s up to Monkey and the Smartboys to save Christmas for everyone.

Christmas!

A Greater Love 
by Rachel Ann Nunes

Regular price $5.99. Price for promotion: FREE Click here to purchase!

A Special Kind of Christmas Story
Miguel Silva is a street orphan who will do anything to avoid the wrath of his alcoholic aunt and to keep his little sister, Sara, happy. He and Sara roam the streets of Portugal, begging and stealing to feed and clothe themselves. A sudden twist of fate throws them into an even colder world, where their only chance for survival is a couple who is childless by choice—Daniel and Cristina Andrade.

Daniel Andrade has put his bitter past behind him and found a new life with Cristina. But the past returns in force when Miguel steals his wallet on the ferry, throwing into motion a series of unstoppable events. Daniel doesn’t want to face the secrets of the past or open his heart to anyone—yet that is exactly what he must do or face losing everything he loves.

Cristina Andrade also has secrets. Now she must choose between her husband and the deep longing in her heart. Or is there a compromise? Only Miguel can help them find the way—and time for Miguel is running out. Can the Savior’s love heal them all before it’s too late?

Dreaming of You
by Marie Higgins

Regular price $2.99. Sale price for promotion 99¢. Click here to purchase!

Katelyn Palmer never believed any harm could come from using her college crush as the hero in her first romance novel—the novel that jumpstarted her writing career. However, when Shane Hunter storms into town, demanding to meet the writer who used his identity, Katelyn is confronted with more than her long, silent emotions. If Shane takes her to court for invasion of privacy, her career would be over.

Shane doesn’t know how to act when his ex sister-in-law accuses him of having an affair while he was married—and then shows him the romance book as proof. Now he wants to know who this author really is and why she used his name and most of the events in his life for her story. Desperate to know the truth Shane befriends Katelyn but he does not expect to be attracted to her, even more unexpected is the joy he finds watching his twins fall in love with the woman who is stealing his heart, too…

All I Want (Christmas Anthology)
by Rachael Anderson, Jolene Perry, and Kaylee Baldwin

Regular Price $3.99 Promotion Price: $1.99 Click here to purchase from Amazon or here for Barnes and Noble!

Pretty Near Perfect by Jolene Perry
The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé’s parents’ home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.

Six Days of Christmas by Kaylee Baldwin
When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother – someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.

Twist of Fate by Rachael Anderson
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty’s mailbox, Ty’s faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her – make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all?

Enjoy!
News & Contests

Your topic here!

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I love using the new year as an opportunity to revamp my blog (and lots of other aspects of my life!). For example, in 2012, I devoted Mondays to marketing (I worked in Internet marketing for five years before that). In 2013, I’ve tried to stick to Mondays about the writing life (what I’ve learned as a writer), Tuesdays for the TBR pile, Wednesdays for writing craft, and goals & accountability on first Fridays, with other stuff thrown in there, of course.

But, hey, I’m not just writing this blog for me—I’m writing it for you. What topics do you want to see more of here in 2014?


Can’t see the poll? Click through to vote!

And to press my luck, do you have any feedback about the schedule/format?


Can’t see the poll? Click through to vote!

Oh, how polite! 😉

And how do I feel about my blog? Ambivalent—and not in the “I don’t feel strongly about it/don’t actually know what ambivalent means” sense—in the “I can use a dictionary and I feel strongly about it both ways” sense. I love being able to share my thoughts. I love the idea of connecting with other writers and readers here, and yes, I’m sharing my thoughts 😉 and I continue to get pageviews, and of course I have friends that comment here—but overall, it just doesn’t feel like my vision and my goals for this blog are coming to fruition.

I was looking back through the last couple months’ posts, and more than half of my posts in October, for example, got no comments—including the posts in a requested series. I’ve been blogging for over seven years, and comments have seriously dried up across the blogosphere, but at some point, I do begin to wonder whether the time and effort I put into blogging is worth it—especially when the thing I love most about blogging, teaching writing craft, could be done via . . . I don’t know, selling books on writing craft?

Could I do a better job promoting my blog? Absolutely. Would it help these problems? No idea. Will I ever stop blogging? Well, who knows, but apparently I can’t shut up, so I’ll probably be around for a long time. Will the blog change? Well, yes . . . just like it does every year 😉 .

What are your blogging plans for 2014?

News & Contests, Writing Life

November (and October) accountability; December goals!

Whew. November. Am I right? It was such a whirlwind I totally forgot to share my accountability and goals, like I usually do on the first Friday of the month. So here’s some catch up.

GoalsOctober accountability

  • Complete edits on & read aloud Spy for a Spy.—CHECK
  • Proofread Spy for a Spy.—CHECK
  • Pull together promo materials for Spy for a Spy. (sensing a theme?)—CHECK This spilled into November, but it got done in time!
  • Research & plot Nano novel—I think this spilled over into November, too, but CHECK
  • Maybe write another novella? Have to do something to stay sane amidst the marketing and editing 😉 Bahahaha. SANITY IS OVERRATED
  • Edit the novella I wrote last week.—Totally lost heart after editing my brains out with Spy for a Spy. I’ll probably move this to next year.
  • Edit Character Arcs & do all that pre-launch publicity stuff.—CHECK . . . ish. I did a little pre-launch publicity, including sending out ARCs to some lucky readers and reviewers, and I edited and re-edited Character Arcs, finally launching at the end of October. Whew!

November accountability

Goals reconstructed from memory . . . this is why I normally share these things here!

  • Format Spy for a Spy in ePub, mobi & print. (Yes, I do this all myself. I’ve got mad skillz, and I’m cheap. It’s a great combination.) CHECK
  • Launch publicity for Spy for a Spy: blog tour, launch party on Facebook & Twitter with Julie Coulter Bellon, giveaway with Julie, coordinating tons of generously donated prizes. CHECK. Again, I do this all myself (I mean, I did the blog tour. Julie & I worked together on the party & giveaway). It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a ton of fun.
  • Sale on I, Spy along with a BookBub promo and the launch. CHECK. Along with the blog tour, this generated some fairly fantastic results sales-wise. You know what’s more important than sales numbers? Happy readers. I hope I’ll have some of those soon! If sales of Spy for a Spy are indicative, things are going pretty well. 🙂
  • Once all that’s out of the way, win NaNoWriMo! CHECK, but you already know that.
  • Finish my NaNo novel. No joy. Family visit, sickness, and some attacks of ennui sapped my writing energy like creativity kryptonite. Lamesauce.
  • There were probably other goals in here. I forget what they were. Made my best turkey ever, though!

It felt pretty crazy, and there were days when I wrote absolutely nothing, but I’m pretty happy I was able to win NaNo (with tons of support from my family, of course!).

December goals

  • Now finish my NaNo novel. I’m in the final quarter. Fingers crossed I can pound that out today and tomorrow. (Do-able word count-wise, but do I know enough of the plot to figure out how to get there? As a reminder, my previous outlines have sometimes detailed my final act as “They vanquish the bad guys and overcome their obstacles to find love against all odds.” True, but not very helpful in expanding that section to ~20,000 words.)
  • Polish up the NaNo novel a bit. Spackle in the gaps, especially the entire sections of the main plot I skipped saying “Figure this out later” when I had to switch the timeline around, and the scene that was going to take too much darn research to write during Nano.
  • Write up the 2014 business plan, goals and production schedule.
  • Think about my conference presentations for next year. If I’m feeling really ambitious, outline them.
  • Enjoy the holidays with my family. I’m working hard to make Christmas a family-centered, Jesus-centered celebration in our home, especially since this will be the first year ever we won’t be traveling to be with extended family during the holidays.

While it’s hard to beat the satisfaction of typing “The End,” I think my favorite goal for the month has to be that last one.

What’s up for you this month?

Photo by Celestine Chua

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News & Contests

Win I, Spy in the Debut Author Giveaway Hop!

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DEBUT AUTHORS 2013[1]It’s been a big year around these parts. I turned thirty and had a baby (on the same day!), and I published my first novel. And novella. And non-fiction book. And second novel.

A BIG year. And it’s almost over. So let’s celebrate—I’m giving away an e-book of I, Spy! The giveaway is open internationally, and all you have to do is hop on Twitter or Facebook to enter! AND if more than 50 people enter, I’ll giveaway at least one ebook per 50 entries! Skip to the giveaway

More about I, Spy

I, Spy coverCanada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Read an excerpt from the first chapter.


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Want to win more great books from debut authors? Check out the full list of participants!


Technique, Writing Life

Why NaNoWriMo is and is NOT what it’s all about

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Remember last week, when I was all, “I only have 7000 words left! I can do it!”

Note to self: Never. Never. Say. That.

This is when you catch the stomach flu on November 29.

Fortunately, the bug ran its course quickly, and I refrained from typing out the incoherent lists of disgusting food that I never eat that in my delirium I thought would be a good way to reach my Nano goal. (Uhhh??) Once I was well enough to sit up and wrap my brain around the story I’d barely touched for a week, I did what every author has to do:

I put down one word after another. One sentence after another. One paragraph after another.

Until, at about 5 PM on Saturday, I hit that magical 50,000.

nano2013-Winner-Facebook-Profile

But in the end, the number? It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I have 50,000 words toward a new book. And that’s awesome.

Know what else is awesome? 25,000 words toward a new book. 10,000 words toward a new book. 500 words toward a new book. Whether it takes you a week, a month, a year—writing a book?

It’s incredibly awesome.

Sometimes, when you do something over and over, when you get fast and proficient at it, you forget how remarkable it might be to normal people. This will be my 11th finished novel. Four of the last five novels were written in under a month (if I finish this one by the 13th, that is). I’m an author; writing books is what I do—but that doesn’t make it any less awesome. Awe-inspiring.

So whether you “won” Nano or not, if you got new words in November, congratulations!

And whether you “won” Nano or not, you probably have work still to do. Whether that’s stringing together the words and sentences to form your story or making those words and sentences shine, NaNo is just the beginning!

What’s on your writing plate this month?

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