Thursday 31 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


So bad day for online purchases. New watch doesn't work. Quadcoptor app is borked. All getting fixed but annoying still. So Miss Penne had come to cuddle on my day off. #beingawriter #writing #indieauthor #joeywrites #catsofinstagram #kitty #cuddles #misspenne #pastacats #snuggles

Final Tally for August 2017


I managed 24 chapters, 102 pages and 56,881 words in August!
Yay for productivity!

Choosing Your Genre [CC]


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Tuesday 29 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


#TEASERTUESDAY Tara has a gift and it's always isolated her until now. Buy here: http://amzn.to/27RqHKf #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #bookstagram #bookboost #authosofig #ilovewriting #readersofig #readersofinstagram #reading #DyingThoughts

Monday 28 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


And my army of pop vinyls ate watching me work! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress #doctorwho #harrypotter #sherlock #blackwidow #popvinyl

Backstories & Character Building - The Creative Process


BACKSTORIES & CHARACTER BUILDING

Last week I talked about the things that go into building characters (found here.) This week I'm gonna talk about those all important backstories. Every character needs one, well I say every character, I mean that the one you only have in one scene who says two words probably doesn't, but the main characters all need a backstory of some kind. As a writer of several years I've learned the hard way that sometimes you gotta know what motivates your characters and sometimes it can be something simple in their backstory, sometimes not. But anyway, here's some of my tips for backstories.

#1 - MAKE IT REAL
Yes, I know, you want your character to have survived everything from Ebola to their latest break up and while some of those things you've included can matter, it doesn't have to be everything and the kitchen sink. There's a lot of talk around that for a backstory and character to matter, it needs to be tragic. That you can only build strong characters by putting them through hell and coming out the other side and still be standing. There are other ways to build a strong character, but as far as backstories go, you need to make sure it's believable and real, otherwise your readers are gonna be raising their eyebrows and wondering how they made it through all that, and what the point of it was.

#2 - KEEP IT SIMPLE

Along with making it real, it's a good idea to keep it simple. While there will be some characters who deserve and have a complicated backstory, having every character like that just adds to the difficulty in getting readers to believe and relate to the characters. A complicated backstory can be hard to follow and hard to relate to. While it does depend on the world you're writing in, and the rules of that world, it's better to keep the backstory simple and if you must have a complicated one, only do it once.

#3 - IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TRAGIC
I know what you're thinking, that to be a strong character you need to have had something tragic happen that you worked through and have come out the other side of. That's both not true and also kinda dangerous thinking. Being a victim of a violent crime is tragic and it can impact you, it usually does impact you in your personality and the way you view the world and the way you act, but not every character who is strong needs to have that as their backstory. There are strong people, both physically and mentally, who have never been through the loss of a parent, or through a violent crime. You don't need to equate strength with pain, either physical, emotional or mental.

AND FINALLY, #4 - IT CAN BE ANYTHING
When creating characters, I go for the more minimalist than into extreme detail, but my method doesn't have to be your method and it's all about what works for you. When I look at the backstory for my characters, a lot of it is worked out while writing. However, I've been doing this for a long time and have learned about what works for me and which rules to follow. If you're just starting out, there is no shame in going all out with your characters, both backstory and personality and all the rest. Just because I find it easier to do as I go does not make you less of a writer if you don't. It's all about getting those words on a page and bringing those characters to life.

So those are my four pointers when it comes to making characters and building up their backstories. To give you an example of how I make this work for me, here's what I did. Tara is the character that I've developed the most simply because I was writing her story for about fifteen years. So when I started back in the day, I have two note cards. One was her description and physical make up. So she was tall, skinnyish, with short, brown hair. I had notes about her personality, such as her likes and dislikes, but as I've said before I didn't go into huge detail, so looking at them now (and from memory) I know that she had a fondness for History but she chose D.T (Design Technology, like woodwork but more complicated and now called Graphics in the UK) not because she liked to build or had any interest in it, but because she thought it was an easy lesson for her GCSEs.

Backstory wise, I knew her mother was dead, but she didn't witness it in the true sense of the word. She was six when her mother was killed, and was, by all accounts, shielded from that, but the death brought forward her gift, which meant that as she grew up, she was able to touch something of her mother's and be able to witness those last moments. Apart from that, she was, and still is, a pretty average teen. She was isolated at school by choice because of the connection the kids made to her famous father and the way most people would latch onto her to see if he would introduce them to their favourite celeb. Enter Kaolin who is pretty much the opposite of her.

So that's Tara and her backstory, going into other characters of mine you'll see that none of them have a huge and convoluted backstory, they have a pretty simple background that anyone could have. It's what makes my characters believable and it's what engages the readers when reading their stories. Because I generally write in first person, I need to know my characters better so that I can be sure to be speaking in their voice. Your mileage may, of course, vary.


Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books. You can also sign up to her newsletter here.

Sunday 27 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


Trying to write but a Miss Violet wants snuggles right now! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress #kitty #cuddles #catsofinstagram #missviolet #snuggles

Saturday 26 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


And the last four chapters of the month are starting today! Four days of work and then two days off before September starts! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress

Friday 25 August 2017

Guest Blog with Richard Lowe Jr. - Believe it or not, you can write fast

 

Believe it or not, You can Write Fast


By Richard Lowe Jr

The Writing King – https://www.thewritingking.com


I wrote, reviewed, proofread and published 63 of my own books (some under pseudonyms), 12 ghostwritten books, hundreds of blog posts, and the associated marketing materials for my services and books in less than three years. Two of those books have become bestsellers on Amazon.


On an average day, I will write between 5,000 and 10,000 words that are ready to publish by the end of the day. 


That’s an astounding statistic.


How in the heck could anyone write so much in such a short time and maintain a high level of quality?


You must control your environment so that it’s free of interruptions and is optimum for your writing. Additionally, you must focus on writing, and separate writing from editing and proofreading. Most importantly, writing must be a priority for you, if you want to maintain a high level of speed and quality.


Let me tell you some of the techniques that I use to maintain that high-level of speed.


Outline – Before you begin writing anything, create an outline. This doesn’t have to be precise, and it can change over time. But by laying out the chapters or sections in a logical manner, you organize your thoughts, which makes it easier to write about a subject.


Separate writing from editing – One of the most destructive ways to write is to edit while you’re writing. I’ve watched many writers as they type a few words, a sentence or paragraph, then go back, and edit those, then re-edit them, and even edit them again. If you want to write quickly, you must change that habit. What I do is write a section, chapter or page, then go back and edit the material. At the end of the day, I’ll go through and proofread everything that I did during the day.


Eliminate the cell phone – Turn off your cell phone, and make a pact with yourself that you won’t look at it while you’re writing. That means no phone calls, no texting, no nothing. Instead, check your cell phone and make your calls at predetermined times in the day. 


Turn off social media – Social media such as Facebook, Google plus and LinkedIn, are one of the biggest time sucks that is ever been invented. It’s impossible to write quickly if you’re constantly checking and updating your wall or newsfeed. As with the cell phone, set aside certain times during the day, and limit the amount of time, for your social media activities. This applies to email as well.


Control the environment – I’ve set up what for me is the perfect writing location. I have an entire room set aside for my writing space, with a big desk and a comfy chair. I make sure I have good back support, and keep the room either entirely silent or softly playing some of my favorite music. In front of me I have a wall filled with butterflies encased in acrylic, while behind me and to one side are bookshelves filled with my favorite books. If you want to write fast, make sure the environment facilitates and enhances your abilities.


Get the best computer you can – If you’re anything like me, you use a computer for your writing. Nothing will slow down the speed of writing more than fighting a computer that is either slow or unstable. If you’re going to invest in anything for your writing career, get the best possible computer that you can afford.


Get the best writing tools – Don’t skimp on your word processor and other writing tools. You’ll be working with these every day that you are writing, so it’s important to own an excellent word processor, grammar and spellchecker, and any other tools that you might need.


Own a good manual of style, a dictionary, and a thesaurus – Writers use words to paint images in the minds of their readers. It’s a vital that you understand the meanings of words, their derivations, synonyms and antonyms, and how they are used in grammar and style. Whenever you look up a word, spend the time to read the entire definition including the derivation and understand it thoroughly. Make sure you understand the grammar rules of your language and use them properly. Over time, constantly referring to these essential resources will improve your speed and the quality of your work.


Attend writing critique groups – There are almost certainly one or more writing critique groups within easy driving distance of where you live. If there isn’t, you can always start one. These are small, informal groups of writers that help each other to review and evaluate the quality of their writing. By attending these regularly, you will find that your writing gets better and better over time. This will also improve your confidence in your writing skills, which will help improve your speed.


Separate research from writing – If there’s any research required to write your book or article, make sure you do that in advance. Otherwise, you could find yourself stopping and starting because you must go look up some fact or verify some data.


Set goals – Every day, I set a goal for what I’m going to complete that day. If I miss the goal, I take the time to find out what happened. What got in the way of the goal? Did I allow something to interrupt me? Did some emergency come up? If it’s something that’s correctable, such as I forgot to turn off the cell phone, then I make a correction. Setting goals allows you to look back and make determinations about how you can do even more or what got in your way.


These are just some of the things that I do every day to ensure that my writing goes quickly and smoothly.


By controlling your environment, and following good practices at keeping interruptions away from you, and using the right tools, you’ll find that, over time, the speed and quality of your writing will improve dramatically.


Don’t get discouraged if you can’t write that fast. The most important thing about being a writer is to write. If you don’t write in the first place, you’re not going to go anywhere.

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Thursday 24 August 2017

Staying Organised [CC]


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Tuesday 22 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


#teasertuesday Love is love right? Buy here: http://amzn.to/2qVQqDG #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #bookstagram #bookboost #authosofig #ilovewriting #readersofig #readersofinstagram #reading #INAR #amreading

Monday 21 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


Kicking ass and taking names book wise! Black Widow would approve! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress #blackwidow

Writing Different Characters - The Creative Process


WRITING DIFFERENT CHARACTERS

One thing you pick up quickly as a writer is that you'll be writing many many different characters. Whatever your genre, you're going to need to vary the characters, their descriptions and their back-stories. I'm gonna give you my tips on how to create and diversify your cast of characters. Diversify is a big thing too because we're not just talking about their physical looks, but also their culture, their ethnicity, their religion, their sexuality and their disabled status. It all sounds pretty simple and it really is, but it's something that I've learned along the way and wanted to pass that on to you guys. So here we go.

#1 - EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT
I mean look outside your window and watch people walk by. No two people are generally the same. That can also apply to characters in your novel. While there might be a default you go to when thinking up a new person, but you need to remember that there should always be some diversity. I don't just mean in skin colour and all the rest, but while you may have one character with long black hair and brown eyes, another character with long black hair and brown eyes is still going to have some marked differences. Whether that's in their build or the shape of their faces, there are always going to be differences. And that's a good thing.

#2 - DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT
I know that it's a pretty hot button topic right now in the writing world. There's those who fall into the camp of they'll write what they want and that's final and then there's those, like me, who agree that white, cis, abled and straight are not the default. In my first few novels, it wasn't something I thought about too much. That's down to my own white privilege. While I did have some disabled characters, I didn't have many LGBTQ, or characters of colour. A lot of the argument is that why should it matter? Those in the no camp think that because the story isn't about being gay/black/disabled/trans etc, that it doesn't matter. They're wrong. Go back to the first point. Look out of your window and you will see so many different people walk past. Go further than that and look around at your friend group and beyond. There are so many different people in that out of the seven billion in the world, no two are exactly the same. Your story doesn't have to be about being gay/trans/black/disabled etc. for it to be possible for your characters to be any of those things. It's something I'm learning to do myself, but I think it's something every author should be aware of.

#3 - YOU START WITH NAME AND BUILD FROM THERE

I don't know about you, but I find it easier to start with the name. Once I know what my character is going to be called then I can go from there and work out what they look like, how they act, what their end goal is. It all starts with a name. I know some writers look down on using name sites and all the rest, and if you don't need to that's great, but that doesn't mean that if you do use them, that you're less of a writer. I've been inspired for names in many different ways. I've called people and things various weird names and some of them were simply because that was what was in my eye-line at the time. But when it comes to choosing the name, you want it to fit the character. So don't be ashamed or afraid of having to research or look into what name means what.

#4 - VARY PERSONALITIES.
Now I don't generally write down what kind of personality a character has. I'm very much a hybrid in planning and that goes for creating characters too. I did a video (here) and a blog post (here) on being a hybrid. That said, I do know that it's not just about that initial creation and moving further into writing these characters. You don't want to have several characters who all have the same personality. While it's a good thing if they have stuff in common, they're going to approach things differently. I'm not a big personality person in that I don't know the Myers-Briggs type for every character (or even myself!) but when you're writing you'll find that it becomes clear what kind of personality your character will have. Same goes for likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses and so on.

And finally, #5 - THEY NEED A END GOAL
Again this can be something you plan, or it can be something you don't work out until you're writing. I've done both and it's really just about what works for you. Whichever path you choose you need to know how it's going to play out at some point. If you want them to be a bad guy, then you need to know that. If you want them to be kinda bad, but turn away from it, again, you need to know that. I had one character who started out good but the more I wrote them, the clearer it became that they weren't. So when writing and creating characters, be aware that at some point, they're gonna need a purpose, otherwise what are they there for?

Building characters is something that every writer will do, and you'll do it a lot. It's not just the people that make up your writing, but it's the little things as well. While I'm more of a bare bones writer, that doesn't mean that you need to be as well. If you find that writing out a character profile works for you, then go ahead and do it. You have to find what helps you best and enables you to be the best writer you can be.

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books. You can also sign up to her newsletter here.

Saturday 19 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


And its late but I'm still not done writing! Almost finished chapter 16 of the month so onwards! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress

Friday 18 August 2017

Interview With Melle Amade and review of Sanctuary


I am delighted to be welcoming Melle Amade to the blog today for both an interview and a review of her book - Sanctuary. Here's a little bit about Melle:

I'm a Marketing Director who dictates novels on my 2-hour commute to work and manages 2 small children and a husband when I'm home. I have 2 novels and a novella published, with 3 more coming out this summer. 

And now onto the interview!

What made you want to be a writer?
I think I was a born storyteller, which doesn't necessarily mean I'm good just means it has always been the way I expressed myself. I began writing, producing and directing plays when I was eight and then over the years produced my work at the Sydney Opera House before I received my MFA in Film. Now I'm focused on telling stories in novel format.

What kind of writer are you: plan or not?
I go both ways. Sometimes I just have a story in my head and start telling it. Usually, those are the stories I have to go back and heavily edit. The smoothest experience is when I come up with a character and a situation, let that play out in my head for a month or so, then write it down in outline format before I write the full manuscript.

If you had the chance to write anywhere, where would you choose?
I write all over the world. From beaches in Greece to private jets to huts in Indonesia to my couch at home to suites overlooking Big Ben in London. For me, writing isn't a matter of location it's a matter of having time and space in my schedule.

What attracted you to your chosen genre?
I like kick ass heroes and the world not being what we think we are seeing but something more. There is excitement in discovering unexpected experiences and magic.

Do you prefer to type or hand write?
I actually dictate the first draft of everything. I have so little time in my day to write, dictating during my drive-time is the fastest way for me to get a story onto the page. Then I edit on the computer.

Do you have any hobbies?
I'm a marketing director by day and have a family with two small kids, so it's hard to squeeze hobbies in there with my publishing career. But travelling fits in with all of it really nicely and I also like run, meditate and do yoga. =)

What's your favourite kind of scene to write?
Emotional angst, I'd have to say. Usually when someone is deep in their feelings or hashing out their feelings on someone else. It's probably core to the reason that I became an author.


It’s survival of the fittest, but first you have to fit in.

Shae is sure the icy rage that claws at her is driving away her friends and pulling her closer to the wrong boy. After all, it’s Aiden she has always secretly wanted, not Callum, who has barely spoken to her in the last year.

But, as her protected life unravels, she discovers the violent supernatural world that lurks in her quiet hometown and the ancient feuds that threaten to destroy both her friends and her family.


To save those she loves, Shae must succumb to her own fury and take on the Ravensgaard, the renegade warriors of the Order, but as the battle approaches her deepest fears are coming true, she’s becoming just like them. Shae's not sure she can afford the price she'll have to pay—her own humanity.


Sanctuary is a teen paranormal romance for fans of shifters and Gothic romance. Fans of Flightless Bird and White Raven will be enchanted by this strong female seeking truth in a world of secrets and mystery.
Amazon

My Review: 5 stars
This book was delightful! I was drawn in from the first page and was desperate to learn more about where her friends had been, why they were pulling away and what the story was with her mom and her temper. Desperate to find answers about her own feelings, she tries very hard to stay close to her friends. The book is exciting with so many twists and turns that I was hooked from the first page until the end. I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended!


You can follow Melle on Facebook or her website.

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Thursday 17 August 2017

Questions From Readers - August 2017 [CC]


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Wednesday 16 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


After a day of work time to cuddle with Miss Penne and a good book! #beingawriter #joeyreads #indieauthor #readersofinstagram #reading #pastacats #snuggles #catsofinstagram #kitty #cuddles #misspenne

Tuesday 15 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


#TEASERTUESDAY Will Harriet be able to save Dot and her family? Find out here: http://amzn.to/1TxqXo1 #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #mysterybooks #paranormalbooks #readersofinstagram #reading #writesofig #authosofig #bookstagram #bookboost #readersofig

Monday 14 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


It's a great day for writing with Dobby to cheer me on! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress #harrypotter

12 Years Published - The Creative Process


12 YEARS PUBLISHED

Thursday was my 12th Authorversary and I thought that I would take the time today to do a little piece about everything that has changed since then. Looking back on 2005 and the route I took into publishing and where I am now is a massive task. I was 23, and desperate to have one book, if nothing else, on other people's bookshelves. Now at 35, I have 11 books published and another six finished and sitting on my "cooking shelf" ready to be edited and released in the coming years. I'm also working on two more and steaming through them both. But let's turn back the clock to the 10th August 2005 and that day when I could officially call myself a published author. I have learned so much since then and I'm gonna share that with you.

Blackout was published in 2005 and the way it worked, I got my own copies of the paperback in the post on August 10th. I can't possibly describe the feeling that came with holding my work in a proper published book. I made so many mistakes, but that wasn't one of the things I did wrong. My first mistake was going with a vanity press. I won't name them, but it wasn't the best option for me. To give you an idea of why I went the direction I did, I was, still am, very sick. My chronic conditions were hitting me left and right and centre and there was a possibility that given the state I was in, things would go downhill and I wouldn't be around for much longer. Things changed since then in some ways, in others they are still the same, but that was my frame of mind. One thing I knew I wanted to do was be published and so when I was approached by a vanity press I was more than happy to go that route.

Back in those days ebooks weren't really a thing and sites like KDP, Smashwords and Draft2Digital weren't around. I saw them as my only chance to be published. I had approached numerous agents and while I always got a personal reply saying they saw great promise in my work, they were also always rejections. I wanted to hold my book and knowing that there was no way I could afford to do this more than once, I went with Blackout which was, at the time, my best work in my eyes. At that point I hadn't finished Lynne & Hope so only had four books written. I would go on to write more later, but at that moment I did what I thought was best for me and my dreams.

Those mistakes I mentioned? Oh there were plenty, one being the whole decision to go with a vanity publisher. I tried my best to build a platform, to get the word out, but I didn't have the first clue what I was doing, and nor did they. Without more money changing hands they weren't going to sink into promotion and I didn't have anything to do it with. Although that dream was accomplished that day, I didn't ever think I would publish anything more. When the 12 month contract was up, I didn't renew. Yet to this day I still get calls from them promising me movie deals and ebooks of a book I have since published again, and have since sold more copies than I ever did with them. They promise me the world for a chunk of cash. So that was a big mistake. But at the same time, not one that I can really say I regret. It got me started and it gave me a very real view of what the publishing world was like.

Fast forward about ten months and I was approached by a publishing house, an actual legit publisher. It wasn't one of the big five, and again, I'm not naming names, but they were interested in signing me as an author. I was, again, very sick, and in and out of hospital pretty much like clockwork once every six weeks. I could barely keep my day-to-day life in schedule, let alone doing more than that. I was in college and planning to go to uni. It became clear very quickly that any additional stress was only going to make me sicker. I worked hard and I wrote when I could, and I now had four completed books that hadn't been published, but given the deadlines and the additional work that would have been on me, that deal didn't work out. I don't see that as a mistake either. It was the right decision for me, for my health and ultimately it was the best decision I could've made at that point in my life.

Fast forward to 2011 and KDP made it possible for me to not only re-publish Blackout, but to add the first Dying Thoughts book to my efforts. Since then I've published another nine books and as I said above, written eighteen in total. I am very happy as an indie author. I'm my own boss and while I am not the big fish, and probably will never be the big fish, it works for me. I write full time. I finished my degree in 2014 and have no plans to go back to uni for a Masters or anything. On top of that, I am building my platform, something that is taking a long time because it takes time. And that's okay. I have learned a few things in that time which I'll share with you.

#1. - EVERYONE STARTS SOMEWHERE
Even if it's the very bottom of the food chain, everyone has to start somewhere. There's no shame in being new and there's no shame in taking your time.

#2. - NEVER FORGO AN EDITOR OR A COVER DESIGNER
I skipped this step once or twice and I'm still paying for that now. Don't be me, do it right the first time and remember that you'll thank yourself for it later down the road.

#3. - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH PROMO
I was always worried about spamming people and in that regard yes, that is too much, but planning things and cross-posting and allowing all platforms to have the details is not a bad thing. Make sure people know where to pre-order/buy your book, when it's out and what it's about. You will create so many tweets and instagram and tumblr posts that you'll have the synopsis nailed to a few sentences.

#4. - IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO ARC BUT PLAN AHEAD
I didn't do ARCs for the first few books, I wasn't sure how I'd manage it and I wasn't all that together once I did get the idea to do it. But I did it this year and while I didn't have a huge number of reviews, I did have some and because of that I also now have an ARC team for future releases. It's worth it to have reviews there on release day or the coming days afterwards.

#5. - MAKE AUTHOR FRIENDS BOTH IN YOUR GENRE AND OUTSIDE OF IT
Author friends are a life saver when it comes to both promo and cross-promoting and also just when you wanna talk about writing stuff. I have a huge circle of people I can call on who write both in my genre and outside of it. I have other YA friends as well as Adult and NA friends. It's good to be in that circle because so many indie authors know each other and it helps you build connections that can really help you.

#6. - DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER AUTHORS
One thing I never did do, but have seen in the author community, both indie, traditional and hybrid, is that some people feel like they're competing with other authors in their genre and that's just...not true. Think about it, a reader doesn't buy one book by one author and that's it! Readers, by definition, read! There are more than enough for everyone to share. And allowing yourself to celebrate other people's successes makes for a less toxic community for everyone and it'll be a good thing for you too.

#7. - DO SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S WORTH IT.
I did a piece a couple of weeks ago (found here) about social media and how it works for you as an author. It's is a life line and a great way to connect with both authors and readers. I know it can seem like a lot of work, and it is a lot of work, but it is so worth it! I'm talking twitter and Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Youtube and all of the rest. Find a way to connect with your readers because that helps build your visibility.

#8. - WORK TO YOUR OWN DEADLINES AND WITHIN YOUR OWN LIMITS.
I know this feels like it's more for people who, like me, are also chronically ill and/or disabled, but it's a good one to take away for many other writers as well. If you're indie or traditional or a hybrid of the two, find your own limits and work within them. Don't spread yourself too thin and don't set yourself up to fail. You find something that works for you and everybody is their own boss in that respect. But don't forget to take breaks, pushing your body to breaking point just hurts you and nobody wants that.

#9. - IT MAY TAKE A WHILE, NOTHING HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.
As I said above, success doesn't just instantly happen and while at twelve years published I'm still a small fish, I am further along than I was this time last year or the year before that. It takes time, more for some, less for others, but along with not competing against other authors, don't compare. Your journey is not theirs and it will take you as long as it takes.

#10. - DON'T BE SCARED TO ASK QUESTIONS
Everyone starts somewhere and part of starting somewhere means that sometimes things will happen and you'll not know what the normal thing to do is. You learn by asking and there is no shame in being able to ask for help.

#11. - SET GOALS.

This is something I wish someone had told me. Setting a monthly list of goals has been one of the major reasons that my writing is regularly happening and that I get things done. It doesn't have to be monthly, some people do two-weekly, some do two-monthly, some do quarterly goals, but whatever works for you. I find the sticky notes and the monthly post work for me and it makes me so much more productive!

#12. - DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT BEING PERFECT THE FIRST TIME

Or the second time. Part of writing a novel is just getting the words on the page and then you can start to chop it up and rewrite bits before it goes to an editor. There's a reason people say the first draft of anything is shit. It's not you, it's just how it works!

And finally, #13. - ENJOY YOURSELF.
There's nothing, for me at least, that compares to release day. To holding my stories in paperback and seeing them on my shelves and on stranger's shelves too. I love the community I have built and I love every pitfall and every success. Not everyone can say they've been published or even finished a book, that's a hell of an achievement, so celebrate that and enjoy yourself along the way. Yes, you will have bad days and yes it is bloody hard, but it's your passion and you earned it.


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Friday 11 August 2017

From Joey's Instagram


And my day off is over! Another four days of work starting today with a #LightsOff chapter. And Professor McGonagall is keeping watch on me while I work! #beingawriter #joeywrites #indieauthor #writerlife #authorsofinstagram #authorslife #joeyisanauthor #awesome #youngadultbooks #amwriting #jowrimogo #bonuschapters #writersofinstagram #writesofig #authosofig #ilovewriting #booksinprogress #harrypotter

Interview with May Freighter and review of Russian Roulette


I am pleased to welcome May Freighter to the blog today for an interview and review of her book - Russian Roulette. Here's a little about May.

May Freighter is an internationally bestselling author from Dublin, Ireland. She writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Sci-Fi mysteries that will keep you entertained, mystified, and hopefully craving more. Her only pets are cacti. They're the sole things that survived. It may be too dangerous to entrust her with an animal while she's engrossed in writing. ​ On sunny, rainy, and overcast days, she spends her time with her fictional friends, putting them through dangerous adventures while wishing them the best of luck. Her hobbies are photography, drawing, and plotting different ways of a characters' demise.

And onto the interview!

What made you want to be a writer?
I had a lot of stories brewing in my head when I was on a bus or bored in class. I never paid much attention to them until one day I started writing one down. Over time, a page became ten, a chapter turned into more. After a couple of months, I was looking at a book of 120,000 words. I guess from that point on, I started to consider writing as a possible career path. It was something I enjoyed and the feedback I got from my beta readers urged me to continue on.

What kind of books do you read for pleasure?
For pleasure, I tend to read Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Mystery.

What kind of writer are you: plan or not?
I used to plan all the time. Being a bit of a control freak, it was hard for me to start a book without knowing exactly what will happen in it. But, as the years went by, I noticed that I began trusting my characters more. If they are developed enough, they take the reins and guide the plot to its conclusion.
  
How does your average writing time go?
I try to start writing after sorting through my emails and messages. So, I could end up writing from 10 a.m. until 3-5 p.m. If I can do more after such a long session, I tend to continue on until late into the evening. Remembering to take breaks is important. It’s easy to get lost in the story you’re writing and forget that there are dishes that need washing or laundry that needs doing.
   
What book/character of yours is your favourite?
If I had to pick one, I would say Lucious Ellwood—a vampire from Helena Hawthorn Series. He is complex on many levels, and it was hard getting into his shoes in the beginning. Initially, he was not a character who easily shared what was in his heart. He distrusted people and other supernatural beings easily as that was how life had shaped him. But, even though he has done a lot of terrible things in his past, he tries to redeem himself by doing his best to change for Helena. I believe his willingness to change and adapt for love makes him my favourite character.
   
If you had the chance to write anywhere, where would you choose?
Somewhere with a great view like in the countryside or at a mountain lodge. Busy cities are distracting and noisy. I like to work in peace. It helps me think.
 
What attracted you to your chosen genre?
Mystery, whether in paranormal or in sci-fi series that I write, is a genre that I love and always will. I think a story must have a good mystery embedded in the plot. So, I try to entertain my readers by putting my characters into situations where many people tell lies, change facts, use others—much like in real life.
   
How have other writers influenced your own writing?
There are many authors I am thankful to for their guidance, support, friendship, or simply for being the reason why I write in the genres that I do. I’ve spent my childhood and teenage years enjoying paranormal stories, murder mysteries, horror, and they had all influenced my style. To name a few who have influenced my writing or helped me with advice: Darren Shan, L. J. Smith, Christopher Pike, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, C. J. Laurence, R. K. Close, Anna Santos, and Juliet Lyons.
   
Do you prefer to type or hand write?
I prefer to type. When I first started writing, I wrote in the notebook and it took forever to transfer everything onto the computer. I still remember long evenings after college where I sat on the bed and looked back and forth between my scribbles and the laptop screen. It took twice as long, so I stuck with putting everything straight into the computer unless it’s the plot outline, maps, backstories, or character descriptions. Those I prefer to write out in the notebooks.
   
Do you have a writing playlist? Or do you prefer silence?
Silence works best for me. I only prefer listening to music when I am designing a book cover for someone or drawing.
   
Do you have any hobbies?
My hobbies are binge-watching TV series, drawing, walking in the park, and photography. I would love to add travelling to that one day.
   
What's your favourite kind of scene to write?
I would have to pick action sequences. They tend to go by so fast that I don’t notice the time flying by.
   
Would you ever like to branch out to a different genre?
Of course. I love playing with different genres. As an experiment and to push my own boundaries, I try out new genres now and again to see if I am comfortable with them and if they are something I would like to improve and work on more.
   
What does your writing space look like?
It consists of a laptop, a mouse because I prefer it to the touchpad and it’s easier to edit things, a cup of tea, and that’s about it. I do prefer working behind a desk, but if it’s taken then I often end up typing on the sofa.



Who could guess that one brush of a fingertip over a shimmering soul-string could flip your world upside down and inside out?

Nineteen-year-old Helena’s life changes when her spirit enters the Angel Realm in search of her father. But, things don’t go as planned. Against her guardian angel’s warnings, she binds her soul to a vampire—a creature she thought only existed in horror movies.

Lucious has spent his immortality looking for the monsters who killed his sire. The last thing he needs is to be vulnerable because of a bond with a reckless girl. Yet, he sees how he can turn this to his advantage. Believing that Helena possesses great power, he plans to use her against the Council as a bargaining chip.

When Helena meets the gorgeous and also terrifying vampire with whom she’s now stuck sharing an emotional bond, she realises that her life will never be the same. Despite fighting against Lucious’s manipulative ways, she can’t deny their attraction.

As their desire for each other intensifies, she needs to know if she can trust him. After all, her life and soul are on the line.

My review: 4 stars
I loved the synopsis of this book and so picked it up hoping for a good read, and it was very much a good read. Helena's life changes when she ends up joining her soul to a vampire. From there she finds her life changing rapidly from that of a normal teenager at college to someone mixed up in the supernatural world of vampires, and demons. The story is engaging and well written. I loved the way it was told and my only criticism is sometimes Helena came off as more annoying than likeable. Having said that she was going through hell so that's understandable. The story moves rapidly from point to point and ends on a note that will leave you desperate for the next in the series. I'm not a vampire book lover, but I know i'll be reading book two. Recommended.

You can follow May on Twitter, Facebook or her website.

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.