All blog readers who want to join the hunt PLEASE EMAIL ROBYN. This is important. If you do not email Robyn to get a question sheet, you will not be eligible to win prizes. It doesn't matter how many times you comment on my blog or other authors' blogs, you must receive a question sheet, or you will not be eligible to win.
Email Robyn personally at promorobyn(at)gmail.com
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Author Scavenger Hunt: Come Join the Fun!
Are you ready for a scavenger hunt? Purple Sword authors and authors from Whimsical Publications and Astraea Press have teamed up to interview their characters and send you on a fun, exciting hunt to meet the muses from their stories. Travel around the net, discover new worlds, new books, new-to-you authors, and enter to win prizes! Curious? E-Mail our publicist, Robyn White at promorobyn (at) gmail.com to join the contestant list. Good luck!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Authors Behaving Badly...
As an author, I've had my share of "bad" reviews. Some pushed me almost to the brink of tears, which isn't easy, but the reviewer "just didn't get it". I don't write what everyone out there writes; and I don't believe that HAEs are always needed, as long as a reader is left with hope. Sadly, I've come across a few reviewers that feel this is some unspoken law. So be it. To each their own. It is simply their opinion only.
In recent years, I've seen some horrid back-and-forth conversations on reviewers' blogs wherein the author has taken it upon him/herself to bash the reviewer for a bad review they've received. I cannot stress enough that the correct way to handle this is to thank them kindly and either choose to ignore it, or fix the problems (if it's formatting issues). It should also prompt the author to take a look at their novel (especially Indie authors) not as the "writer", but as a "reader". Was the reviewer far off his/her mark? If not, then the author has some work to do.
Or do they declare outright war?
Most reviewers do this service for free. One must remember that the majority of them are well read, in that they read many books. One must also remember that it is only that person's opinion. Not everyone will see it the same way. Unfortunately, when the disgruntled author posts directly on the review site exactly what they think of the reviewer (and it can get personal), they are simply sabotaging their career in the worst way possible. Can we say Diva?
Indeed, anything posted on the web is there forever, so inane and defamatory comments can be seen for a very long time, and that reflects solely on the author. More so if you are self-published, because those comments can and will hound you for years.
Sure, any publicity is good publicity, but when an author begins to tell the reviewer and others to F* Off, the immaturity and unprofessionalism speaks volumes.To say the least, I would not read one novel from that author, even if it was being given away for free.
A few years back, a publisher I worked for as a cover artist went under (and it wasn't pretty because one half owner of the pub took the money and ran...literally) leaving the other owner holding the bag, and it was an "ugly" bag, let me tell ya. Authors went up in arms and the things written by them, whether true or not, stunned me. As an acquisition and managing editor of a publisher for many years (recently retired), I will never forget the names of those authors. Suffice it to say that if a submission had ever come across my desk from them, I would have thrown it directly in the trash. Who needs authors like that?
We represent ourselves, our craft, and we should do so with respect and dignity, so matter how difficult it may be. Isn't that what being an adult is about? Would you tell your boss to F* Off because you didn't agree with something?
First and foremost ~ for goodness sake, grow thicker skin! That is the first rule you must learn when you become a writer.You're only hurting yourself. Sadly, and I've seen this happen, you may be watching from the sidelines as your career goes up in flames.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Change is good, right?
I've got a new blog page, so maybe it will give me the inspiration I need to write more here. *crosses fingers*
Monday, February 7, 2011
Reader Review! EDEN'S HELL, I: THE FIRST
A reader review! Wow.
Okay, I’m not a vampire kind of gal. Yeah, I know I write paranormal romance and fantasy, but always had a hard time understanding how a man who sucked your blood was sexy. Until now. I really sank my teeth into this one. Enter Addison, the hero of Eden’s Hell. He comes on as smooth, but not too smooth, compassionate, yet edgy, and oh, so sexy. By the way, he only feeds on criminals and derelicts. Now that's a nice way to get them off the streets. ...
Read the rest of the review here:
http://themojitoliterarysociety.blogspot.com/
Okay, I’m not a vampire kind of gal. Yeah, I know I write paranormal romance and fantasy, but always had a hard time understanding how a man who sucked your blood was sexy. Until now. I really sank my teeth into this one. Enter Addison, the hero of Eden’s Hell. He comes on as smooth, but not too smooth, compassionate, yet edgy, and oh, so sexy. By the way, he only feeds on criminals and derelicts. Now that's a nice way to get them off the streets. ...
Read the rest of the review here:
http://themojitoliterarysociety.blogspot.com/
Sharing Some New Reviews...Eden's Hell & Dark Diary
Eden's Hell, I: The First
My opinion two chapters into Eden's Hell was WOW! I loved this book! It was a fresh twist on an old story, and was beautifully written. The story is actually about a dark and lonely Addison and his psychotic and malicious ex wife Satrina who are vampires living in California. Enter innocent Eva, a mere mortal escaped from Satrina's grasp before stumbling onto Addison's beach, literally. Then all hell breaks lose in the power play to retrieve what Satrina believes is her "pet". The ending has a twist that I know I didn't see coming, but we finally see a happy ending to a beautiful love story full of angst, fear, a little bit of faith and a whole lot of sacrifice. It also sets up the next book beautifully.
My opinion two chapters into Eden's Hell was WOW! I loved this book! It was a fresh twist on an old story, and was beautifully written. The story is actually about a dark and lonely Addison and his psychotic and malicious ex wife Satrina who are vampires living in California. Enter innocent Eva, a mere mortal escaped from Satrina's grasp before stumbling onto Addison's beach, literally. Then all hell breaks lose in the power play to retrieve what Satrina believes is her "pet". The ending has a twist that I know I didn't see coming, but we finally see a happy ending to a beautiful love story full of angst, fear, a little bit of faith and a whole lot of sacrifice. It also sets up the next book beautifully.
...
Dark Diary, II: The First
In Dark Diary, we find a rough around the edges yet irresistible cop, Aiden, who crosses paths with an anomaly amongst the vampires creed, the beautiful Daniella. Both feel the sparks in their first meeting and, while trying to sort through these feelings, a serial killer is leaving a wake of bodies all with a message for Daniella. But when the most recent body has a message for Aiden, they realize they must work together and give trust unexpectedly in order to stop the murders. When grief pulls our couple together, sheets ignite!
...
Read full reviews here:
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A New Year...
ROLAND (“Rolly”) THOMAS
It is with saddest of hearts that we announce the passing of ROLAND THOMAS. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 31 years, Christine Poersch Thomas, and their two children, Jason and Taylor.
He was predeceased by his father, William (“Willie”) Thomas, and his Nanny, Lydia Thomas.
His mother, Bernie Thomas, and Andy Anderson, his little brother, Russell, his twin sisters, Dawn and Dale, and their spouses, Mike and Toni. Also left to mourn his memory is his nieces and nephews.
Special thanks and love to Colleen and Alain Normand, Christine’s sister and brother-in-law, for their support, care and patience.
Roland was a man of many words, and for those of us who knew him, he touched us in some profound way. He was quick to make people laugh, kind to a fault, extremely charming, and had knowledge of many topics, and we all loved him for it—especially his cooking! Roland also had a natural talent for music and loved to play the guitar and blues harmonica.
Like his father before him, he will be laid to rest at his favorite fishing place at Lake of Woods Keewatin , Ontario
As per his wishes, there will be only a small family gathering.
Roland, you are now at peace.
May you never be above me,
May you never be below me,
But always and forever by my side.
I have been remiss in updating my blog for a variety of reasons, but now...it is because my heart and soul is shattered.
I lost my big brother on December 30th. It is a rather long, convoluted and grief-stricken story, and one that I can't go into without breaking down, which makes it difficult to type, but suffice it to say that I've lost a best friend, a man I had hated all my teenage years, until we both moved out and realized that we did indeed love one another. As he lived two provinces over, our phone calls during the week always ended with, "I love you", but I didn't know that on Christmas Day, it would be the last time I would hear his voice.
I have suffered through painful deaths; my dad, a best friend who committed suicide, my favorite Aunt in the world, my Nanny, and our cat, Oscar. But this one...I don't think I'll ever be the same again.
I'm trying to get back to the land of the living, to arrange my heart back to some kind of normalcy, but I can't seem to find all the pieces, and my greatest fear is that I never will. I hear his voice, and I know it's him speaking to me because the questions I ask aren't answered in the way I would do so. I know it's Roland.
I dreamed of him the night after he died. I was running, frightened, trying to get away from something or someone. He stood around a cement corner wall; I saw him from the corner of my eye. He was dressed so nice. He said, "Go this way" and winked. I woke startled, trying to remember if I had ever seen him wink. It's strange the things you can think of in the middle of the night...for hours and hours.
I don't feel him around me like I did anymore. I hear his voice, but it's getting fainter. Perhaps this pain will, too.
And I know he didn't want to leave--not just yet.
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