Hit A Wall

Writing and being a writer has its perks.  Some not so nice and some great!  Right now, it’s not so great.  Self doubt seems to be running rampant right now and with it comes stress.  So, I’m not liking the writing part.  Now I can truly understand how Sylvia Plath felt, although, I won’t so far as to kill myself, but I do understand the frustrations.

I don’t expect to become rich in this field that I have entered into, right now, my riches are those that like my book and are actually calling me to ask when the next one will be out.  That in itself makes me happy.

When you decide to publish your works, you become self absorbed in it, almost to the point where your household takes second place on  your list of “To Do’s” and that’s where the war begins.  You want to get your stuff out there, but you have another life and that doesn’t involve writing, but its there and it too needs attention.  So, who comes first?  Most would say your household because who could live in a place that been neglected, while die-hard writers would say the opposite.   For sanity sake I am going with the first choice, my home, because it is that, that keeps me sane.

So, sorry all of you who are waiting for the next book of my series to come, it’ll be on the back burner, but not for very long. I will get it out.

Birthright…New Look!

To increase sales, I changed Birthrights cover.  Even though I did the cover for it, it didn’t say that it had anything to do with vampires.  So, I decided, yesterday, that I would darken it up and make it more eye catching…

What do you think?

Language Extravaganza!

I didn’t come up with the title to this post, I’m taking it from the Language Arts teacher at Shepard Middle School where I and four other authors will be giving a lecture on writing.

Its Tuesday, April 23 in Ottawa, Illinois and I am to talk about how to become published.  There are going to be five stations  at half hour intervals, where I and the others, will give our talks.  Had I been asked to do this many years ago, I’d say, “No.”  I was terrified of getting up in front of others and talking, but ever since becoming an author, I actually love talking to everyone!  It’s funny and I’m such a chatterbox too! Go figure!

So, this weekend I’ll be putting together what I’ll be saying to these kids all about how one goes about being published.  I have to go back and remember that when I started out in this business, I had no idea how to go about being published.  Not one clue.  Didn’t know who I should be talking too or where I even begin and yet, I’ve met so many big authors in my time and I still didn’t know how they got to be where they were today!

I’ve met Suzanne Collins who wrote the well-known book, Hunger Games, just to brag a bit here, her two books were ranked #1 and #2 on the Top Ten Best Sellers list and I came in as #3 with my book, Birthright.  To continue, I’ve met Cornelia Funke who wrote Inkheart.  She was there with her first edition of Inkdeath, to which I got her to autograph my copy!  I’ve met Stephanie Meyer and she autographed my Eclipse book and Sarwat Chadda, Devil’s Kiss.  Very, very interesting and funny man.  Another author I met and got my picture taken with was Chris Bradford.  His book, The Young Samurai; The way of the Warrior, was also an extremely interesting author and very funny as well.  The one author I have not met, but have the hard copy of  Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice, with her autograph.  It was a gift to me from a dear friend.

I think I got sidetracked, but as you can see, I’ve met very many successful authors.  The only way I finally got to be where I am today is by searching and searching and…more searching.  You meet people in this business that are a great help and you also meet people who are out to get you and in this business you really need to do your research, not only on what you’re writing.  It’s a shame.

So, this is becoming a novel in itself, I just hope that I can teach these young kids what its like to get published and what it takes.  Its simply not just sitting down and writing out a story, its a process that never ends and hopefully one that is filled with joy.

Live and write your dreams!

Qualms of Being A Writer

I don’t know how it is with other writers, this writing world we have absorbed our minds to be in, is not easy and at best, can be down right cruel.  I am not a prolific writer, nor do I deem myself to be one, but I do like to write.  What bugs me is that while I am not the best writer in the world, I have my grammar issues and I know that I do, what I don’t like is how some editors can be very, no…extremely critical, mean and sarcastic.  Yes, I did say sarcastic.

It is to be said, that as an editor, you have to let the writer know, what needs to be changed, what needs to be understood in a sentence/paragraph and to smooth it out.  Editors don’t always understand what the writer is trying to get across, so there will be times where clarification needs to be adjusted.  I’m ok with this actually, it is most helpful and I enjoy this part of editing a lot.  What I don’t like is the onslaught of pure sarcasm, being overly critical to the point of being just rude and mean.  Not only does it make the editors personality come across as being a jerk, but one who really hadn’t read the story thoroughly enough to understand what the writer was trying to get across or just maybe…jealousy?  I don’t know, whatever it was for an editor to act in such a demeaning way, is not the professional way at all.

So, if you wish to be a writer, you need to know that its not a nice world out there and you will come across people like this.  What I would say to you if that happens, is to take it all in stride and move on.

Authorgraph Live! Autographing eBooks have seen a new light!

I had first pondered how we, as authors, could autograph our eBooks and that its a shame that those who choose to buy them would be missing out on the fun of receiving an autographed copy of their eBooks. Now they can! What was once called Kindlegraph, authors could upload their books onto this site and people could request a sign copy of your eBook, but the thing was, they had to have a Kindle, thus for the name.
Now, not everyone has a Kindle, in fact, there are so many different readers out there that its a shame that only a select few could participant in this, but now everyone can.  Kindlegraph is now called, Authorgraph, where everyone who has a reader, any kind, can now get an autograph copy of whatever eBook they buy.   Yay right?  No.   The thing about this site is that you had to have an account to request an autograph, but again, not anymore!  Yet, another change with Authorgraph, they have come up with Authorgraph Live!   All my expectations of this has been fulfilled!

 This feature lets you sign Authorgraphs for readers that you meet in-person at book events.  This is how it works, simply select “Authorgraph Live!” from the drop-down menu under your name (or go to http://www.authorgraph.com/live) and follow the steps to enter your reader’s name and email address. After that, the signing process is the same as a regular Authorgraph. Note that Authorgraph Live! works especially well when using a touchscreen device (e.g. iPad).

They are also adding a feature that would allow you to use Authorgraph Live! to write to your current mailing list. You’d be able to import a list of readers and send them Authorgraphs for your newest books.

This to me is the greatest thing since eBooks have come out!  So, if you are an author go and get y our account set up, you won’t regret it!

Thoughts of a Writer

Sitting here at my computer, sun shining brightly through my window, its glare blinding me…curtains now shut.  I have whats left of my coffee next to me and I pondered.   I’ve started writing several years ago, around the time Harry Potter came out and I reminisce of the days that have gone by and wonder has it been worth it?

In some respects it has.  I’ve accomplished a dream, though it has not made itself into a movie, nor do I see it ever becoming so, I still have accomplished what others only dream about.  Oh, I may not be the next Charlaine Harris, or Stephanie Meyer, even JK Rowling, but  I am a writer, author in fact, and my parents, if they were alive today, would be proud of me.

I have though, found what crooked, devious ways some authors have gotten to the top and I’m not proud of the way they have achieved their successes.  Writing should be done simply by wanting nothing more, but the sheer enjoyment of it.  I wouldn’t be normal if I didn’t say that I would love to make a living out of it, but if I look at it realistically, I have to say I never will, but I will not stoop so low as to pay for reviews, or write my own reviews on my own novels.   I merit my success on the enjoyment my books give others.

I do have a small following, but I’m not going to up the following on spending money to get it either!  To me that doesn’t fit the word success.  If your book doesn’t merit on its own accord it doesn’t mean it’s not successful.  Money is placed to high on our list of what we consider successful and yes, I am saying successful alot, because everyone wishes to be the next famous author and that’s ok, but money doesn’t always make you happy.  Its a good high for a short while and then when things start slumping back down, you have to go out and spend more to keep it there.  It’s an uphill battle, never to be won.

Sure, I could do what others have done, spend money I don’t really have, or if I do, spend it needlessly and for what, that one shining moment where you can say, “Look at me!  I’m a big time author!”

Sylvia Plath, my favorite author, sad and depressing at times was one of those authors who struggled so much with wanting to be successful that in the end it killed her.  Do I want that?  Do you want that as an author?  No.

So, that is why I chose not to be the norm and be the author whose love of writing is simply that, writing from the heart and loving every minute of it.

Dream on fellow writers and writer’s to be.  To me you are all successful, because you are living your dreams.

Birthright Contest UPDATE!

Starting tomorrow at the Book Mouse in Ottawa, I will be having a contest to win this lovely t-shirt you see here, autographed by me.  The contest goes as follows:  You must read and find out what relative of Candra’s does Kane kill in order to save her life.  Now, you will probably find out that she meets up with several relatives all of which would love nothing more than to see her dead.  I’ll give you a hint…it’s not at the end of the book.  So, go down to the Book Mouse,  820 LaSalle Street and buy your book today and get in on the action.

 

YOU MUST PURCHASE THE BOOK AT THE BOOK MOUSE TO ENTER.