Monthly Archives: March 2012
Preparing for The Release of Kill Me, a Blood Chord Novel
When my book formatting guru told me I’d have to wait 2-3 weeks to get back the finished digital and print files, I cringed. That’s forever, I thought. I want to release it now!
Of course, while I’m ankle deep in organizing book reviews, a blog tour, giveaways and anything else that will help this novel make a big splash out of the gate, I am oh-so-grateful that the formatting is taking a few weeks. I’m honestly thinking about telling her to take her time with it.
I kid. Sort of. I am super-excited to get this novel birthed already. But I’m swamped with the preparations. Not to mention coordinating everything.
Timing is important you see. The Kindle version only gets 30 days on the New Releases list. So I’ve got a very short window to garner reviews and generate an overall buzz before the novel starts sliding in the ranks. Reviews need to come blitzkreig-style in the first few weeks. Aside from book bloggers, this means I have to create some ads and get placement on popular book sites. Here’s an example I just whipped up a few minutes ago.
During that time, I am also putting together a virtual book tour, where multiple book-centric websites will host me or the novel in one way or another. Author interviews, fictional character interviews, essays, book and swag giveaways (ack! I forgot to design and order my swag. crud) and the like. This means I have a lot of non-fiction writing to do in the next little bit. And organizing, because I don’t want all coverage to occur on the same day. I’m more interested in spreading the exposure out over a few weeks, since I think that will help the book sustain rank better for the long term.
Speaking of blog tours, what do you think of my little banner below? Do you love it? I do 
Related articles
- Introducing the Blood Chord Series Web site (quirkygurl.com)
- Houston, We Have A Book Cover! (quirkygurl.com)
- Kill Me Sent to the Formatter! (quirkygurl.com)
Book Review – Dead Is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Dead Is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although this novel is billed as a cozy mystery, it is far more than that. Dead Is the New Black is a complex novel, woven with delicate finesse by the author. At it’s core is a heroine that underestimates herself on many different levels. She’s smart, talented, and takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of everything. Which gets her into trouble. But I don’t need to elaborate– that’s what book blurbs are for.
I will say that I really enjoyed this book. It’s been polished to perfection by the author and that really shows. The careful crafting and layering of details made me feel like a part of the novel, and not just a reader. That characters were well developed and the setting (in a design house one week before a big fashion show)is fabulous. It was one of the cleanest books I’ve read in a while too– no profanity, adult situations or graphic violence. (Of course, that makes me realize how much of the books that I read actually has all that stuff. Oy!)
I’m definitely going to keep an eye open for more novels from this author!
Other Creative Outlets for Writers?
This past weekend, an absolutely goregous spring day, I photographed my sister and her fiance. Out of the blue, it hit me. ——-> I needed to get my expanding-can outside more often and be creative. As the shutter on my camera clicked and clacked, my brain untangled plot holes, drafted the next novel in my subconscious, calmly listed the things I needed to do for the promo of my upcoming release.
Now, you might be wondering why I had the above epiphany? It’s easy, really. Doing a non-writing creative thing unlocked my brain, allowing for thoughts to flow more organically.
I’m not just a writer. I’m a photographer. A graphic artist. A fine art aficionado. A Pinterest freak. A painter, a crafter, a gardener.
It’s all those creative endeavors that make me the quirky gurl that I am. I just have to remember that writing all the time doesn’t work for me. I need to pick up a paint brush, dig in some dirt, click that shutter– so that my muse likes being with me enough to stick around for a good long while!
So, what do you do to stoke the creative fires between writing sessions? I’d love for you to comment, post, or show off your artistic creations!
Book Review – Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane
Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I usually hate to start mid-series, but I received a review copy of Sacrificial Magical through Net Galley, and since my TBR pile is substantial I just didn’t have the time to go back and read the first three books in this series first.
Given that a lot of the back story was unknown to me, I was still bowled over by this novel. I never (in a million years) thought that I’d not only finish, but thoroughly enjoy, reading a dark novel centered around a pill-popping, damaged heroine. A woman who banishes ghosts for The Church in a post-apocolyptic landscape, hangs out with thugs and has a less-than rosy outlook on life.
But color me wrong. This book, I loved. Probably enough to go back and read the first books in the series, even though I’ll be going backwards in time!
Book Review – Dust by Arthur Slade
Dust by Arthur Slade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel that most will classify as literary, though it does have some sci-fi/ paranormal elements, so reading Dust was like gentle spring rain to my reader’s mind. Cleansing even. Slade has a winner here, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this novel continues to find a broader fan base and further attention.
It’s got some elements that remind me of Steven King. Not for style of writing or Carrie-like gore. No, the similarities are more subtle than that. Slade has a unique ability to craft something new and not already written in a thousand different ways, like early King works. The creativity in this novel proves that. And choosing a child to tell the story through- genius! The story is that much better for it I’m sure.
This took me a little longer to read than normal, but only because I forced myself to slow down, to savor the unique story, the interesting point of view, the perfect turn-of-phrases. I even highlighted a few of them in my Kindle app and usually I’m too lazy for that. So, great book… I certainly recommend it to just about any one.
Introducing the Blood Chord Series Web site
In anticipation of the release of Kill Me, the first novel in the Blood Chord series, author Alex Owens has (finally) set up a website dedicate to the series.
In addition to more in-depth information regarding the series and Book (Kill Me) you can also sign up for updates, giveaways and such. The new nifty site also has pages dedicate to the next two books (Titles are Up!) and as new information becomes available the updates will be posted.
So I invite you to click on through to the new site, have a look around, leave a comment and sign up for the blog notification or the newsletter.
Update on Kill Me – Paperback Cover Mock-up
Whew! The last few days have been a whirlwind of things to accomplish. Some totally unrelated to writing, which has left little time for making progress on Kill Me.
Late last night I finally started working on the paperback cover for Kill Me. It’s by no means finished, but I’m digging the way it’s shaping up so far. What do you think?
Also, I’ve made it about 90% through the edits that have come back from the latest Beta reader for Kill Me. A second beta has the made it a few chapters into the novel as well, so the process is nearing completion.
Speaking of nearing the end… I ran a LibraryThing giveaway, which ended yesterday. This week I’ll notify the winners and let them know their advance copies (ARC’s) will be sent out in the next few weeks. If I time it just right, I’ll hopefully have some reviews live within a few days of the launch (crossing fingers!)
The window for pre-ordering ebook copies of KILL ME is also coming to a close. There are only 11 days left in the campaign, so don’t hesitate– get your copy and some yummy swag today!
That’s all I’ve got for today. Edits are calling my name yet again! Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Quickie Book Review – Darkness on the Edge of Town by J. Carson Black
Darkness on the Edge of Town by J. Carson Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I downloaded this book one day while it was Free. Now I wish that I’d paid for it – because the author deserves something for all of her hard work!
Darkness on the Edge of Town is in some ways, a typical police procedural/ suspense novel– but it differs in how well-crafted the story line is and how well developed the characters are. I’d recommend this book to just about anyone looking for a nail-biting crime novel.
J. Carson Black has a gift for clean prose and if her other novels are anything like this one, I’ll surely be reading more of her books!
