Why We Shouldn't Put All Our Eggs in Facebook's Basket

Most people who follow my blog know me as the author of the Kailmeyra Series. But I also work extensively with authors, both traditionally published and indie, on building their brand. 

My mantra these days seems to be "build your platform and readers will come." And the majority of the time the response I get is "Everyone's-already-on-Facebook-why-can't-I-just-make-a-fanpage-and-call-it-a-day?"

That would be a great idea, if Facebook wasn't continually changing their policy. 

Take, for example, Facebook's latest "update." Rafflecopter did a great job explaining it here, but to sum it up, at the beginning of November we will no longer be able to use the "like our page" for promotions and giveaways.

I've said it for a while now that Facebook's continual policy shifts diminish an indie author's ability to use their platform effectively. I've never understood the reasoning behind not allowing everyone that "liked" your page to actually see your posts. And now, it seems, Facebook is at it again by limiting an author's ability to find new followers.

Not to social if you ask me.   

However, we need not fear. There are other platforms that actually do a better job of gaining reader awareness. And so, fellow indies, I have compiled a list of must-haves. Best news is that most of these sites are super easy to maintain.

Instagram:  I cannot stress how completely powerful this social media site is. Remember, Instagram is designed to be used on a smart phone. While you can keep track of what's going on via computer, all the sharing and such goes on through a phone app.

Pinterest: 
Pretty shocking stats show that Pinterest is one of the most influential sites when it comes to sales. Too, this is a great way to show readers your personality. And while setting up boards does take a bit of time, maintaining them is only a few minutes a day.

Twitter: 
One of the big daddies of social media. Twitter is a great way to get the word out to thousands of readers. But remember, social media means being social. Get on Twitter and have conversations, 160 characters at a time. I've met some hella writers on twitter as well as my Literary Manager. :-)

Tumblr: 

If you write anything middle grade or higher, you simply must have a Tumblr.

But wait, you say. I already have a blogger blog ... can't I just count that one? 

Of course, any blog is extremely important. But you must know your audience. And if you write for anyone under the age of 25, those readers love Tumblr. The good news is you can import all your blog posts from Blogger to Tumblr. Check it out here. 


Google+: 
After the great blogger piss off of 2012, when Google decided to do away with their Google Friends Connect program, most readers weren't exactly forming a line to sign up for another Google platform. But hold on for a sec. Google Play is gaining momentum in the publishing industry, authors are now using their "hangout" platform to connect with fans, and there are already 300 million + people on the site. Mark my words, Google aint out of the running yet. Here's some info on finding out more about engaging your audience on Google+. 

Finding places to connect with readers is an ongoing challenge. With Facebook's constant fixation on tethering fanpages so the only avenue administrators have is to "boost a post," author's must look to other sites to increase their reach.

So I say, find new baskets. Share the love. Get off Facebook and see what else is out there. I think you'll find that most of the sites mentioned above are more than happy to welcome you into the fold.

And so I'd like to know. Which social media site do you find to be most valuable for gaining new readers? 

Teens, Required Reading and Sex. When is too much too much?

eagnews.org

I recently read an article about high school students being required to read graphic content as part of their English grade. The story went viral after the father of a freshman was arrested at a local school board meeting. You can read the article here. 


The controversy centers around Jodi Piccoult's book, Nineteen Minutes,  which is about a fictional high school shooting and the after affects. While I have not read the book, nor do I wish to comment on the subject matter, I would like to explore the subject of required reading.

Apparently, this book has been part of New Hampshire's Gilford High School reading curriculum list since 2007 as part of the advanced freshmen English curriculum.

According to the latest brain research, our mind processes stories as it does real life.

"The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life; in each case, the same neurological regions are stimulated." ~NY Times                                                   

This is why when our beloved characters die we grieve. When our hero slays the dragon we cheer, or when the guy finally gets the girl we swoon. Our brain processes the information as if it were real.


But our mind does not distinguish between an innocent wizarding world or one that is riddled in bullets and rape.

Our brain processes all stories in the same manner.

Now knowing this, put an extremely graphic and disturbing story in the hands of a fourteen-year-old child, one that finds themselves in a school of over 2,000 students, all from different walks of life. Then require that child to not only read explicit subject matter but discuss it in class, write about it, even read it out loud.

Makes me wonder if young minds can actually go through Post Traumatic Stress. Seriously.

Most parents don't monitor what their children are required to read. The basic understanding is that reading is good, and the schools have already assured the reading material is appropriate.

I don't believe in banning books. But I also don't believe in assigning books that have explicit material either.

 So here's the question of the day: Who makes the required reading list, and how do high schools determine which book is appropriate for students to read and discuss in class? And, most importantly, how are students affected when they read graphic content at such a young age?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Understanding Personal Branding

Most of you know that I'm a love-to-learn kind of gal. I have an inner drive for information that most would deem a little on the obsessive side. Lately I've been delving into the dark world a branding, and so when I had an opportunity to attend a free webinar by a major guru of all things marketing I jumped at the chance.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement. We started off the thing by discussing the importance of clothes. How one appears directly impacts one's worth in this world.  This is your personal brand.We need friends to tell us when we look bad, when we aren't presentable to the world, blah, blah, blah. After ten minutes of drivel I finally turned it off.

What a load of  bullsh*t.

Three years ago when I first stumbled into the crazy world of publishing I thought I could hide behind the writing. I never wanted to do a public speaking engagement and seriously thought about using a pen name so no one would ever know that I had written so much as a post-it note. My life long friend discouraged the idea stating that it would be even more awkward if the book went nuclear and then I had to tell everyone that I was the author. So I started down the indie road of marketing using my book as every thumbnail of me when needed. I refused to post a picture because I had bought into the stereotype of what an author should look like ... and I wasn't it.

All this was going on during Amanda Hocking's rise to fame. So I did what any love-to-learner does ... I sat back and watched, took notes, I wanted to see if there was a pattern in whatever it was that she did. A pattern that possibly I could emulate. After all, her picture was posted all over the place and it wasn't some soft-filtered-glamour-shot of her with her hands folded under her chin, smiling demurely like she had some big secret. Her first pictures were of her looking all grungy and real. Like a college student getting ready for finals. Even a primetime national interview was done in ripped jeans and a beanie.

What I learned from the entire experience is pretty basic. Amanda's rise to fame was caused by Amanda herself. Her audience related to the author in a real and authentic way. She didn't need pretty hair, a svelt body, designer shoes and a whole slew of photoshopped pictures. She was an every day girl who refused to lose touch with her roots.

And that, my friends, is personal branding.

*Picture sources: RunaMagnus and Business Insider

CBS ... Teachers are Professionals, What a Concept!

 Here is a newsclip from the CBS morning news regarding a teacher that made a million dollars on a wonderful site called teacherspayteachers.com.


For those who have never been in a classroom, the state/federal department of education gives each grade level specific concepts to teach, but how the material is delivered is completely up to the district, school, and, ultimately, the teacher.

For years, teachers have been finding ways to teach that speak to their student population. What works in rural Kentucky may not work in inner city Chicago, and so finding a one-size-fits-all activity is flat ridiculous. Teacherspayteachers, as well as Pinterest, is changing the way educators find new ways of presenting concepts to their classrooms. Both are extremely successful because they come from master teachers across the country.

And so, when halfway through this interview, the anchor asks if teachers who purchase units from this site are "being lazy," I about hit the roof.

Really?!
 
I love the fact that teacherspayteachers is bypassing the publishing industry and allowing the teachers to share units that get real results. I've spent way too many years purchasing materials, only to wade through pages and pages of junk hoping to find something relevant to my content. The lesson plans on this site are tried and true, easy to follow, hone in on specific content, and allow teachers the opportunity to branch out. It's a win, win. Teachers help one another, allowing more time for the children. And the children win by having new and innovative ideas created by master teachers across the country.  

As for the anchor's ignorant comment about "being lazy", I'll try to be respectful. We as teachers learned a long time ago that cooperation and collaboration go a lot farther than trying to go it alone. We understand the concept of working as a team to try and find a better way. Now, more than ever, we feel the importance of reaching each child. We've all seen the statistics; this isn't about finding an easy way out. It's about taking the resources we have and doing the best job we can.

I grow weary of the media's need to try and create drama for the sake of ratings. This piece was about a teacher who worked for seventeen years, spent thousands of hours trying and preparing creative ways to help children learn. She should get paid to share her knowledge. She should be able to help other teachers become better at their job. If a doctor spent his entire career developing a better way to do a surgical procedure and then made millions sharing his work online, no one would consider the other doctors benefiting from his expertise as "lazy."

Professionalism. Maybe CBS should try it sometime.

Is Fan Fic the New Trend?

The publishing industry has been in a tailspin for a while now. Established publishers that once banked on printing hardcovers first with a strong softcover follow-up are now scrambling as digital sales take a bite out of profit margins. That, coupled with the indie movement, has created a one-two punch that has everyone restructuring best business practices. 

We need look no further than the latest round of big publishers snatching up novice writers. Fifty Shades started out as fan fiction, and now it seems that another Twilight spin-off has hit pay dirt too.

Abigail Gibbs, a teen who took the Bella/Edward scenario in a different direction, has just been given a six figure deal by HarperCollins. According to The Brisbane Times, the first twenty chapters of the book attracted 17 million views, and it was then that a literary agent advised Gibbs not post the end of the story. You can read the entire article here, but I think this quote sums it up nicely:  

  "With an existing fan base waiting to see what happens next and the potential for word-of-mouth social media recommendations, HarperCollins's publishing director, Shona Martyn, expects the vampire thriller to find an immediate audience."

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of fan fiction, no one can argue that the industry is taking a good, long look at young writers that establish some sort of platform. It speaks volumes that HarperCollins readily admits the vampire genre is waning, and yet they are willing to invest in an unknown author solely based on the number of page hits they have.
 
While I'm sure I won't be reading this work anytime soon, I do like the fact that that our new gatekeepers are the readers and not someone predicting projected trends based on marketing focus groups.  

What do you think? Is Fan Fic bad for an already floundering industry?

The Great Pinterest Experiment

All righty,

I'll admit it. I've become addicted to Pinterest. I know, I know, it's a time-sucking black hole when you're trying to write, but I just can't help it. And what's worse is it seems I'm following some of the best cooks on the face of the planet. I now have over 107 recipes I'd like to try on one board alone.

And so, adventurous spirit that I am, it's become my personal mission to try at least a few of the recipes that looked enticing.

Wow, was I surprised.

The first one I tried was a recipe that involved only two ingredients. A box of yellow cake mix and a can of pumpkin filling. Best muffins ever, the first comment touted. Wonderful! I love this recipe, said another.

Last week, while I was at the store, I picked up a box and a can with the intent to surprise my children with yummy pumpkin muffins for the morning.

Except the muffins tasted like really dense uncooked cake mix with a hint of pumpkin and metal.  Even the dogs wouldn't eat it.

Hey, I thought, maybe you didn't read it right. I mean, you just scanned the thing. Maybe it has to be these exact brands. Maybe that pudding-in-the-box thing you bought pushed it past the edge of nasty. Maybe there was an unknown egg or, I don't know, dash-of-taste, somewhere in the directions and you just missed it.

Nope.

Let's just say the woman who thought these were the best things ever has obviously never tried my mother's blueberry cream cheese muffins with those crunchy things on top.

Not to be discouraged, tonight I tried another easy recipe. Baked avacados. How hard could that possibly be? 

I cut the avacado just as the direction said. I didn't have one of those fancy racks, so I threw it in a pan. And japaense bread crumbs? Honey, I live in Kentucky.   We are raised making our own.

Fresh-avacdo-dipped-in-homemade-bread-crumbs-and-put-in-a-baking-dish-at-400-degrees-for-twenty-minutes-later, and those little babies were ready to come out of the oven.

All right. I now have a new definition for gross.

The good news is the dogs liked this one. Although I might be sorry for that decision later on tonight.

Now I don't want to seem unfair. Maybe it was the japanese bread crumbs. Maybe they are the bees knees, and I really messed up the recipe because I didn't make a mad dash to the multi-cultural isle at the Walmart. Or maybe I've discovered I really don't like the taste of oven baked hot avacados doused in egg and breadcrumbs.

I'm banking on the latter.

By the way, you should know I started cooking when I was knee-high to a tadpole, and I rarely measure anything. I was raised on a pinch of this and dash of that mentality. The recipes handed down in my family look more like Snape's potion book than Betty Crocker's cookbook, so it is a good possibility that I might have to learn how to follow the directions in order to be successful with trying anything on Pinterest.

Lord, I hope not.

So here's to all my Pinterest buddies. How goes the recipe hunting? Are you finding that some of those scrumptios claims to be not so tasty, or is it just me?
 

The Book Cover Conundrum

I'm officially announcing that we will be moving publishing companies in the fall. I've found a wonderful little start-up publisher that I absolutely adore, and I couldn't be more excited.

But as you know, new publishers mean new ISBN numbers, a once-over through the edits, and a new cover. While I've loved every cover that has graced the Kailmeyra series, I'm still looking for that perfect depiction ... something that portrays fanstasy, romance, paranormal, good-and-evil, and, most importantly, the power of love. Not easy shoes to fill by any stretch of the imagination.

And so I've been stalking the cover scene, perusing everything from horror, to straight fantasy, to those amazing YA covers.

What I have discovered reinforces the truth that marketing drives cover design. We all know marketing is an relentless monster, eating time and creating chaos wherever it lurks. It is a necessary evil, one that cuts a path through our overloaded world allowing our stories to be exposed to potential readers. But it requires subtlety, stealth, and, most of all, intuition.

Here are three excellent examples of authors at various stages in their careers.

This cover is Hope Collier's debut novel. Striking, isn't it? I love the muted trees in the background, the shadows streaming through the water, and most of all, the sense of intrigue. She's done an amazing job capturing the essence of the book and realizing that new authors must market what's important ... the story. 

Now here's a sweet cover that has a ton of marketing already built in. Notice the NY time best seller above this author's name. The font isn't huge, making it seem like a formality, but I'm sure the bright color was no accident :-). Also, notice the author's name is bigger than the title. This is what happens when the author has an established reader base that will buy anything they put out. Kenyon is known for her dark romance, hence the overall dark cover. Also the cover really doesn't tell us much. Honestly, strip away the words, put an unknown author on the front, and many would say it looks like a self-pubbed cover. 

JK Rowling has reached icon status. Her Harry Potter series is the most financially successful series in the world. Ten to one that black X in the box will become the focal point for this book's recognition. I'm sure Little Brown wanted  to distance themselves from the Potter franchise, but this is overkill. My point is this: Rowling's name recognition is enough ...  she doesn't need anything else. Regardless of the hideous cover, the book will sell.

Who knows? Maybe Little Brown will set a new trend of condiment colored covers ... only time will tell.

Past or Present, Which Tense are You?

Trends in writing often come and go with popularity, especially in YA, it seems. Normally, the trend deals with subject matter ... everything from wizards to vampires to futuristic dystopian worlds. But lately, there is one trend I can't wrap my brain around. In these books, I loved the characters, and the action throughout is fast paced and engaging. But yet, I hated the book. Why?

It's not the storyline ... it's how it's written that's the problem.

I can't seem to get into first person/present books.

First person/present enthusiast will explain that the writing style forces the reader to stay in the moment; it's real time. My problem with it is that every book I've read in this style does nothing but tell, tell, tell, which drives me absolutely nuts!

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm completely wrong, or my brain doesn't work like the rest of the world's, but I can't lose myself in the storyline at all. I find myself gritting my teeth when I'm reading. The last book I actually read aloud on a nine-hour road trip. It was the only way I could get through it. The final book in the series isn't out yet, and already I'm dreading it. I shudder at the idea of having to sit through another 600 pages, but I want to see what happens to the characters.

In the interest of trying to understand the style, I've decided to do an experiment. Below are two short excerpts of the same scene. One is first person/present and the other is first person/past.

For the sake of consistency (and because I don't write first person/present), I've paralleled the writing style of one of the more popular authors of this genre. 

First person/present example:

That afternoon, I go back to my room while everyone else spends time outside. The sounds of laughter and the smell of barbeque follows me up the stairs. I open my door. I find Sam sitting on my bed, staring at the space where his picture used to hang. 

"There you are," I say.

He sighs. Silence.

I close the door and sit down next to him on the bed. My feet just meet his shins he's so tall.

"Everyone's been looking for you," I say. 

He puts his head on my shoulder, his hand reaching for mine. "I don't want to see them," he whispers. "I only want to be with you."

Same scene, first person past example:

The stairs creaked as I trudged to my room. Squeals of laughter and the sweet smell of barbeque followed me, trying to entice me back, but I needed some time alone. An arc of light swept across the wooden floor, and I startled to see Sam sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at the space where his picture used to hang. 

"There you are."

He sighed. Cavernous silence stood between us, and I closed the door, engulfing the room in darkness once more.

Sam scooted over as I made my way to him. I sat down, smiling at the way my feet dangled next to his shins. He hit the six foot mark a few years back in the eighth grade. Much to his dismay, he was still growing.

I nudged him. "Everyone's looking for you, you know."    

Soft hair brushed my chin as Sam rested his head on my shoulder. Warmth enfolded my palm as his fingers laced with mine.

"I don't want to see them," he whispered. "I only want to be with you."   

If you've never done this as a writing exercise, you should try it. It's a lot harder than it looks!

Now I know some will say that the second scene has more detail, but I couldn't help it. The fact that there is no sensory, no detail, in the first scenario is what makes me want to punch bunnies.  

And so I'd like to know: Is it just me? Which one would you rather read? 

*Image taken from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071010132314.htm

The Cure for Spring Fever

Most of you know that I'm a teacher by day, writer by night. And while I try to keep this blog about all things writing and books, every now and then a teacher post seeps in.


The hardest week to teach is not the first or the last week of school. It's the week before spring break, especially when the winter has been warm and the kiddo's haven't had a "snow day break".  Why? Spring fever.

The elementary school I work at is exceptional, but even the best of schools have issues crop up around this time of year. Children that are never problematic suddenly start saying ugly things to their friends, homework swirls the drain, keeping everyone on task is difficult at best, and even the most sunshine-and-daisy teachers have a bite to their tone.

Spring fever isn't pretty. Kids contract the disorder with the start of soccer, baseball, and just about every other outdoor sport. It gets worse when daylight streams to bedtime, bike tires are re-inflated, and pool passes are purchased. Symptoms include sleeplessness, restlessness, an abiding lack of energy, especially for school, and an overall less-than-stellar attitude. At this point in the affliction, the kids are exhausted and on each others last nerve. Between the start-up of sports, the winding down of dance and gymnastics and other winter activities, more homework, and review for the dreaded upcoming testing window, they are literally sick and tired of school.

The cure? Time.

Here's a little teacherly advice. This spring break allows your children to unwind. Have a few church friends over, or visit cousins they don't see often, but, if possible, try and give them a break from their classroom friends. Plan a family trip to the zoo or a state park. They aren't' high-cost activities, but they have a high bang-for-your-buck regarding quality time. Let your children talk. Be an avid listener. Even when they explain in great detail why Superman could beat up Batman. Show them through your actions that you think their opinions are important and you value what they have to say.

Please don't allow the internet, television, PlayStation, X-box, PSP, or any other infernal device serve as a babysitter this week. Do something different. They get enough tech/TV time during regular school days.

Last but not least, the other extreme is just as bad. Taking mega vacations, packing every second with activities, and going to high-stress spots that are supposed to be "fun" is almost torture for children. I view this as the "try-too-hard" vaca. These well-intentioned parents plan for months, spend money they don't have, and are now determined that come hell or high water everyone is going to have the time of their lives. Kids that come back from these breaks are exhausted and say things like "finally, I'm so glad we're back at school".

After years of observation, I've found the best cure for spring fever is a low-key approach to the break. Have a few tentative planned activities for those days when the kiddo's are bored, encourage creative play over technology, put the kiddo's to bed at a reasonable time and let them sleep until they naturally wake. Take note of how often your child laughs. Smiles, giggles, and snickers whisk away stress. Play silly board games and have fun with your children. You'll have a great time, and they'll come back to school rejuvenated and ready to end the year on a positive note.

I am the one percent

There has been a lot of talk lately over the social networks about the 99%. A campaign to bring reform to our economic structure has led people to tell their most intimate struggles in a real and personal way. It disturbs me profoundly to see stories, written by hand, held close to a face that has seen immeasurable suffering. I find myself praying for them, hoping that they will come to understand that they hold the power to change their circumstance through faith and forgiveness.

Perception is reality. If we allow ourselves to see only the negative in our lives, that becomes who we are, and it determines how our lives unfold.  

And so, when I found this clip of one of my absolutely favorite people in this world, I decided that I like her take on human percentages much better than those of the wall street protesters. Like Maya Angelou, I choose to laugh, I choose to love, I choose to forgive. In short, I refuse to be a part of the world's 99%, instead choosing to be a part of Maya's one.

The Evil Mr. HTML

Most of you that know me understand that I love to learn. I think it's the teacher in me, but when I discover something new it feels like Christmas morning.

That is, until I met my arch nemesis, Mr. HTML.

I took on the publishing industry like a mad woman. ISBN numbers, catalogs, royalties in various markets, marketing, along with the vast differences between formatting ebooks and that of standard soft covers ... yeah, I ate that for lunch. Why then is it so stinking hard to learn HTML?

Now for those of you that complain about blogspot, let me tell you I absolutely love blogspot. It's easy. There is very little in the way of learning coding and how it works. It's pretty much a click and drag, which is great for someone that works two jobs and writes in the wee hours of the morn. Wordpress ... ahhh, my head hurts even thinking about it.

It started a few years back when a dear friend of mine set up my site, which I adore. I thought she was going to use a standard wordpress format, but she surprised me with a gorgeous header and wonderful pages. I was thrilled beyond words. The problem is that I'm not exactly a genius when it comes to updating websites, and I have no clue how she did what she did. Thus began my battle with coding.

I've just spent the past five hours sitting in this chair looking at gibberish. I dropped a line of code on the sidebar somewhere and I can't figure out what I did wrong. As the slashes and dashes are starting to blur under the concentrated scrutiny, I'm giving it a rest for tonight.

Although the author site definitely is a work in progress, I'd love to know what you think. Any advise you  have would be greatly appreciated! :-)

Question of the Day--What's up with the Jeweled eyes?

OH MY GOSH!!!!



Now that I'm done freaking out, today's FAQ is the most asked question of the year. And it's the most complicated to answer, but I'll try to keep it as succinct as possible. 

FAQ--Why do the Alfar have jewel-toned eyes? 

First of all, trying to create a different race of people is just as difficult as creating a new land, but the same principles apply. Readers have to have an anchor, something that helps tie fantasy to reality. The trait must be distinguishable but not get in the way of the storyline.

The difference between human and Alfar eyes is explained in The Secret of the Keepers, and so today I'll concentrate on why the characters were given their specific eye colors. As with everything, there is significance in the choices made.

Gavin--I researched personality traits of eyes and discovered that people with green eyes yearn for lasting relationships. They are extremely passionate and long for the touch of another. Symbolically though, Emeralds in the Bible reference the glories of God, flourishing, essence of life, growth, and prosperity. Sounds like Gavin, doesn't it? :- )

Nora--In the beginning of the book, Nora's eyes are hazel. They actually are fashioned after Kate's (my daughter) eyes. It made perfect sense to me that people with hazel eyes are known to be beauties. They have unusual relationships, and are masters of diversity. They also jump in when trying new things, and they rarely say no to a challenge. After the golden lake changes Nora's eyes to light brown topaz, symbolism takes over. Biblically the topaz family represents beauty, worthiness, and honor.

Malachi--Obviously there are no personality traits that I could research on diamond eyes, but Malachi came into my head that way and so that's what I went with. Symbolically, however, diamonds represent stability, brilliancy, virtuous, and right standing with God.

Rena--The personality traits for brown eyes are: attractive, adorable, and love to make new friends. Brown eyed people will do anything for someone they care about. Kind and polite, they can make anyone laugh or cheer them up. You can read more about Rena here.

Tark---Tark's a lot like Malachi in that no one has Lapis stone colored eyes. Symbolically though, Lapis is known best for its healing powers and bringing a sense of peace. It is said to have calming effects and was a gem for the kings of Egypt. It also is known to protect the wearer from emotional harm. I liked the fact that Lapis protects. Just seemed right that Rena's mate would have Lapis eyes.

Elias-- Ah, my man, Elias. He had have to have Sapphire eyes. People with blue eyes are intense, they love long lasting relationships, and they are kind. Symbolically, sapphires are mentioned several times in the bible, from Exodus in the old testament all the way to the book of Revelations. In most of these passages, sapphires represents guarding or protecting in someway. Aaron's breastplate and the new Jeruseleum wall in Revelations both have Sapphires in them. But what I really love is that Sapphires represent foundational truth.

Elaine--Jade has been used for thousands of years in ancient Egypt and by the mayans. It is said to have a connection to the divine and the eternal, but what I love about Jade is it is a stone that brings balance. Between Elias' intensity and Gavin's passion, Elaine does just that, doesn't she?

Queen Lera--light purple in Lera's opal eyes was an obvious reference to royalty. The reason for the opal is the fact that it's my mother's favorite gemstone, and it seemed appropriate being that my Great grandmother's name was Lera. Thought I'd keep it in the fam. :-D As to the symbolism, opals are known for their ability to help the wearer see both sides of an issue. They help bring balance when giving and receiving.

This will the be last "behind the scene" post until the third book gets ready to go live. In a little under 48 hours I'll be starting a new frequently asked question pile, so keep the questions coming!

Coolest thing I've seen in a while!

With the technology age raging  and natural resources dwindling it seems a waste to throw old books away. I've seen some really cool lamps and sidetables made of old books, even purses made from hardcovers, but I've never seen Jewelry.This is from a fantastic collection over at Littlefly. Check it out!

This is my favorite!

 Chunky bracelets are always in style, but I love that you can see the words layered throughout.

 I Love this one! Especially the letters on the bottom of the ring.

I don't know about you, but I think I've just found something for my Christmas list!

Viva Las Vegas!

For my 40th birthday, my best friend Corina surprised me with a trip to Vegas. Needless to say we had a boatload of fun, but I soon realized that if I lived anywhere close to a casino, I'd be one of those people they'd keep tabs on. Vegas is like the grown-up version of Chuckie Cheese, and I'm a kid at heart.



There's something about pulling the lever on a slot machine, it's that anticipation ... the excitement ... what if you actually won? Two things I'll never forget about Vegas: Corina shouting "Oh yeah, baby!" Every time we won so much as a quarter, and the feel of a slot machine handle.

Thanks to my friend Megan Curd, I've now become a KDP junkie. For those of you that don't know, KDP stands for Kindle Direct Publishing. It's a place where Indie authors log in to see a live record of how many books are being purchased. With the click of the refresh button, I get an up-to-date account of how many books are sold. Needless to say, it's now permanently pinned as an app tab!

As soon as I opened the KDP site for the first time, that feeling returned in the pit of my stomach. I knew it right away. Vegas. It feels like I'm sitting on the top of the roller coaster, getting ready to careen down a hill. And every time the sales number goes up and have to shout "Oh yeah, baby!"

All I have to say is Viva Las Vegas!

Ten ways to manage time

Woah, Nellie! Can you believe it's already August? Everytime I see the countdown widget, anxiety squeezes my heart just a little. Where did the time go?


The age old adage "there's only 24 hours in a day" applies to writers more so than any other profession. Every writer I know has at least one other job, a family, other responsibilities, and yet they find time to write.  For me, this next year is chalked full of events. With the second book out at the end of October, marketing is going to take up a huge chunk of time and I have yet to outline the third.

Writing is one of the most creatively rewarding yet time consuming endeavors I've ever pursued. And so I've devised ten strategies to help save time.

10. Pay the bills as they come in or have them automatically taken out of your account. Bills are a pain. But electricity and internet are a must for a writer, so try and take this one off your to-do plate if possible.

9. Make your calendar of events online, and somewhere that you can access it easily. Many of us start out the school year with great calendar aspirations, but it doesn't do much good to start a calendar if it's stuck at home on the desktop. It takes being mindful to check the calendar before committing to an event or a function, but if you're not careful, you'll run yourself ragged.

8. Learn to say no. I have a hard time with this one because I love to help others, but this past year I've limited myself to only a few projects other than my own.

7. Do housework a little everyday. I've never met a writer whose house is immaculate. I do have a few friends who have a service come in on Friday, and if you can afford it, I'd definitely say it is worth the money. But for the rest of us schmoes making sure the sink is cleared and doing a few loads everyday helps in keeping the boat in smooth waters.

6. Cook meals that can be frozen The simple act of putting food on the table for the family can be time consuming. The past few years I've learned to make a huge pan of lasagna on Sunday, eat it again on Monday, put the leftovers in those containers you can stick in the freezer. When I'm in the throws of writing,  we'll often have homemade frozen dinners for a few days and make room in the freezer for more.

5. Try multi-tasking when you can. I find that there are countless little snippets of time in the day that can be used. Sitting in traffic, waiting for your kiddo to get out of dance, etc, is an excellent time to catch up on those missed phone calls.

4. Keep it simple. I used to be one of those people that went overboard on everything. An event calls for me to bring a dessert and I'm whipping up a concoction in the kitchen that takes hours to make. Not so much anymore. If you need to bring something to a function, go to the market and pick it up on your way there. Seriously, that banana cream pie that grandma used to make is wonderful on special occasions, but when it's the t-ball picnic no one's going to mention that you brought a store bought pie instead.

3. Ask for help. I suck at this one. It goes against every fiber in my being, but I've learned to know where my limits are. If you've never so much as posted a comment on a blog, why on earth would you try to design a website? Most of us waste countless hours muddling through something we have no clue about only to become frustrated and ask for help anyway.

2. Turn the net off when writing.  Make the hours in front of the screen count. Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, etc. is not writing ... it's playing on the internet. Allot a time during your day for social sites, blogging, and email, but if you've set a writing time aside in the morning, stay devoted it to it. You'll be surprised how much you actually accomplish.

1. Make time to play. Life is not meant to be spent alone and in front of an LED screen. While you lose yourself in creativity, time marches on around you. Your children grow, your friends get together, your family spends time in church or at the park. Writing is a passion that lasts a lifetime, but that life should also be full of other experiences.  Make sure you don't miss them!

No messin' with the mojo, please!

Writing a story is surreal enough, but when that story begins to sell it takes on a whole new meaning. Honestly, it's like a double-edged sword. On one side are the people who are genuinely moved and are willing to shout your awesomeness to the stratosphere. On the other are people who, for whatever reason, just don't like what you wrote.

The more books you sell, the more opinions you get. Sounds reasonable ... that is, if you're not the author.

Writers spend countless hours organizing, writing, revising, restructuring, and then revising again. I've said before that I truly believe stories are given to us, and it's up to us to find the words that do them justice. But if we're concerned with the opinions of others, if we fear criticism, then we can't grow ... we can't create.

Pulitzer prize winner Richard Ford says one of the ten rules for writing fiction is to never read your reviews.  I'm beginning to understand why. Your job as a writer is to work hard, do the very best you can, and trust your betas and editors to tell you if your full of crap. Once it's decided that you've done a decent job, the story is sent it out into the world. Now its on its own, and you're off to write another day.

It's seems that most new authors (including yours truly) start out as approval addicts. Every word that's written about our book goes straight to our hearts. We take it personally. Too much praise and there's pressure to make sure the next book is as good as the last. Too much criticism and we drown in a pool of "you suck". Either way, an obsession with reviews messes with the creative mojo.

Take heart, it gets better. After a while you stop trying to please the world and realize why you started writing in the first place.

Blog tour aftermath

Sigh. It's Monday, and I'm sitting here, sated in a blogtour aftermath. It's been a wonderful month, and I'm missing that feeling of stalking certain sites, looking for comments from people hearing about Asteria for the first time.

I cannot thank Teen Book Scene enough for taking on the tour. All of the sites were full of fun, and I found myself perusing old posts and reviews to see what needed to go on my TBR. I think sometimes it's easy to forget that writers are readers gone wild! 

As for the rest of the summer, with *looks at countdown widget* 97 days until Keepers goes live, I'm finishing this round of revisions. Before school starts, I do hope to have a review or two up and running, and I want to start back up the Teacher Tuesday thread.

How are you winding up your summer?

Taking Time to Slow Down

I am the absolute worst person to be blogging about this subject. I average 4-6 of sleep a night, my brain never shuts off, and I'm the multi-tasking queen. Lucille Ball once said "if you need something done ask a busy person to do it", and she couldn't have spoken truer words!

But in the wee, small hours of the morning, when I just can't seem to find some sleep, the thought that keeps running through my head is a vision of what life will be like on the other side of the craziness. A life where I can get up and enjoy a cup of coffee instead of putting too much milk in it so I can guzzle it down. A time where I don't have to fast forward to the end because I have to go, or where I can solely concentrate on music, not just have it in the background while I do something else.

When did the power of a minute take over my life?

I hadn't really thought about it until my friend Winslow Eliot wrote a post on slowing down. As I read it, I realized that I didn't even know what that meant. If you'd like to read the article, click here, but it basically gives examples of what slowing actually looks like.

It isn't about how much you do in one day, it's about relishing the experience.  Tasting each morsel, appreciating the cool breeze, feeling the soft grass between your toes.

It's a novel concept, and so tonight, while I fixed dinner, I listened to the sizzle of the pan, I actually made a plate and sat at the table. I thought about the texture, the taste of the food, and other than a strong desire to start humming the chorus to "the Age of Aquarius", I enjoyed it immensely.

I think Winslow might just be on to something here.

Say What You Need to Say

Lately I've been editing parts of Keepers I haven't seen in a while. I keep coming across wonderfully lush lines full of rich verbiage ... and while it sounded wonderful in my head when I wrote it, now it just sounds ridiculous. Often I'll read aloud the passages in question, and then send them to my content editor for a quick visit. She constantly reminds me of my purpose. "What are you trying to say here? How is this driving the story? The characters?"

As a writer, each word is a labor of love. Cutting them is painful. I know it's difficult, but honestly taking out flowery and redundant language, boiling away the inconsequential strengthens the story.

So, for all my writer friends. Here's my mantra song. I hope you make it yours! :-D

The Writer's Heart

I'll admit I stalk certain sites. Luckily, I do this in the privacy of my own home with little to no traces of such tom foolery. Scroll to the bottom of this blog and you'll see some of my favorites. I have a few more that I need to put on my list, but truly when I'm having a bad day or when writing doesn't coming as easily as I would like for it to, I take a moment and read. Today I rewarded myself for finagling my way through chapter 12 by surfing the web. I scrolled down the blog roll and the title on Wordplay  was "Why No writer Knows What He's Doing". Already feeling better, I smiled and clicked on the site. If  you write so much as a post-it note this is a blog you should follow.

One of the many reasons I love writer's is their ability to just be honest. In other facets of the arts, it's frowned upon to acknowledge your inhibitions or frailties. Writers openly admit them, embrace them, use them for characters, even publish them. I think the reason for this strange anomaly is the act of writing itself. It's terrifying to put your deepest thoughts and feelings on paper. Diaries have locks for a reason, you know.

Take a look at  Lori Osterman. She's an author whose courage has allowed her to be painfully honest about her life outside the writing realm. Or what about Jenn Delucy?  Her heart jumps off the page with every word. If you don't know her, just click on her name and you'll see what I mean.

The ability to just be honest, to make ourselves vulnerable, to put our hearts on the line, is what causes writing to come to life. Actually sharing it with the world? Now that takes courage.