Have you seen the selection on DVDs saying "Deleted Scenes?" Well, I've got a deleted scene or two from Scotch Broom. Here's one that my critters said diverged too far from the plot. Still, I liked the idea of my MC, Kat, stopping in at a real B&B (bed and breakfast) in Thurso, Scotland. This is how I write without an editor. I don't think it's too horrid.
If you'd like to catch up before Scotch Broom comes out, you can buy books 1 and 2 of the Witches of Galdorheim on the publisher's website or on Amazon, amongst other on-line stores.
Bad Spelling at MuseItUp
The Book: Scotch Broom - Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series
A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.
Excerpt (Deleted Scene):
She reached into her bag to examine the pound notes Mr. Angstrom had provided for her stay in the British Isles. She counted out two-hundred pounds and hoped that would be enough to last awhile. Realizing that the mundane world had such bad folk as thieves and pickpockets, she divided the money and put most of it into the foldbox part of the pack. She kept out twenty pounds for small purchases. But, first, she had to find out how much the fare to Inverness would be. She had a contact family there, cousins of a Scottish Galdorheim warlock, to take her sightseeing around the Highlands, along with a room and meals.
Kat reached the station and found the schedule tacked up on a cork board. She went to the ticket window to find out the fare. “How much to Inverness?”
“That’d be fifteen pounds, thirty pence, lass.”
“When’s the next train?”
You just missed the last train of the day. You’ll have to wait overnight. First train tomorrow leaves at 11:07.”
“Oh. Well, I wasn’t planning...no matter. AM or PM?”
“AM, lass. The trains run on a twenty-four-hour clock.”
“Can I buy my ticket now?”
“That you can. It’s an open ticket; you can use it whenever you want. Maybe you’ll enjoy Thurso and want to stay a few days.”
“I do have people to meet in Inverness.” Kat handed over the twenty-pound note, and the clerk counted back her change. She turned away from the ticket window and took a few steps, when the clerk called out to her. “If you’re needin’ a room fer the night, you might try the Waterside. It’s decent and not too dear.”
“That’d be great. Which way?”
“Head north on Princes Street. That’s the street right out there,” he replied pointing to the street on the opposite side of the train platform. “Turn right on Sir John’s Square, then left on Sinclair. Walk quite aways, and take a right on Sir George’s Street, a quick right on Janet and keep going ‘til ya see it. Ye’ll be right by the river.”
“Um, north then Sir George—.”
“Nae, lass, right on Sir John’s, then Sinclair, then Sir George.” The station master paused, and seemed to notice the expression on Kat’s face. “Here. I’ll draw ye a map.”
Kat grinned. “That’d be perfect.”
She followed the map the station master had drawn. On Janet Street, she stopped in front of an old brick, two-story house. Windows on both floors faced the street, and a single door led inside. Since it looked so much like a private home, she wasn’t sure whether she should knock first or just go inside.
When she got close to the reddish door, she saw a beautiful brass doorknocker. Taking that as a need to knock before entering, she reached toward it. When she touched it, the knocker spoke. “Welcome to Waterside House. Please come in.” Kat jerked back, surprised. While talking doorknockers were the norm on Galdorheim, she didn’t expect to find one in the mundane world.
The door didn’t open on its own, so she grabbed the handle and pushed it. Stepping in, she found herself in a small lobby. To the right, an archway opened to a wallpapered, well-lit dining room. The wallpaper was a little too flowery for her taste, but it was overall a pleasant room. Turning back, she saw a dark-haired woman standing behind the small counter, wearing a dress straight out of the 19th Century MacSears catalog. Kat was certain she wasn’t there when she came in.
“Good day, may I help you?” the woman said in a sweet contralto voice.
Kat stepped to the counter. “I’d like a room for the night. I’m waiting to take the train south tomorrow. I missed today’s.”
The woman consulted a watch hung on a gold chain attached to a brooch. “Just missed it seems. I thought I heard the train pull out, but I’m so used to the sound I don’t notice.”
Pulling a big leatherbound ledger from beneath the counter, she opened it facing Kat. “If you’ll fill out the information, I’ll have the maid check your room. A single, yes?” She tapped on an old-fashioned bellhop bell, which dinged pleasantly.
“Yes. Just me.”
Kat wondered how anybody in the house could hear it, but a door behind the counter opened right away, and a young girl stepped in. She also wore a 19th Century maid’s costume, complete with a frilly white cap over her thick red hair. “Is the single ready?” the woman asked.
“Yes’m, but I’ll go check.” The girl lifted the hinged counter on one end and headed for a stairway to the left.
Meanwhile, Kat had been puzzling over the questions in the Guest Book. Where should she say she was from? Auto plate? What was that? Maybe she’d only fill in the things she knew and see if that sufficed. She wrote the date and her name. That was all she did know. The woman leaned forward to read the ledger upside down, a talent of innkeepers all over the world.
“Where do you live?” she asked.
“On an island north of here. I rode a boat down from the Shetland Islands.”
The woman nodded. “Just write Shetland Islands in the space then. No car? That’s fine. Not many people have them.”
Kat did as requested, then the woman turned the book to face her and made a notation of the check-in time. “One night will be nineteen pounds, sixty pence, including tax, of course.”
Kat unslung her bag from her shoulder and rummaged into the foldbox for another twenty-pound note. She handed it across the counter. The woman handed her a few coins in change. By that time, the maid had come back down the stairs.
“Here’s the key to your room,” the woman said, handing over an old brass key. “Tara will show you the way.”
Kat picked up her bag and followed Tara up the stairway and down a hall to the end room. “The bath is through that door,” she said, pointing out the obvious, since it was the only other door in the room. The room was already opened, so she walked in and laid her bag on the single bed. She turned to hand the forty pence to Tara, but the maid was already gone.
She wondered if the woman at the desk had chosen the decor for the house. A faux wainscot separated the top and bottom of the walls. The bottom wallpaper had vertical stripes of lavender and green wallpaper. The top was lavender with little flowers all over it. The one window looked out onto a pleasant garden.
She flopped down on the bed and bounced a couple of times. Her first hotel room! Kat felt more grown up already. She glanced up to see a black box. It took her a moment to recognize the first television she’d ever encountered. The Witches' Council had an LCD flat screen. “Well, might as well get cleaned up then find someplace for dinner.” She didn’t have to go far for dinner. A Fish and Chips walkaway sat directly across the street.
The Cellophane Queen: 'Cause you can look right through me, Walk right by me and never know I'm there...
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Scotch Broom - More Excerpts
Continuing with some excerpts from Scotch Broom. Before it appears from the aether, maybe another excerpt will whet your whistle. In the meantime, you can catch up with Kat's story with Bad Spelling on sale and Midnight Oil introducing you to Ceto the Sea Serpent, amongst other new characters.
Bad Spelling on sale at MuseItUp.
Bad Spelling on sale at MuseItUp.
The Book: Scotch Broom - Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series
A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.
Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.
While dodging the goddess’s minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.
Excerpt:
The weather cooperated for a change. Kat used a propel spell to speed up the trip, and they made good time. She looked backward to the open sea only a hundred feet beneath. The water formed a wave behind them as if running a boat on the surface.
Before long, Kat saw land in the distance. She hoped the smudge in the mist turned out to be the Shetland Islands. If so, she would veer left and fly down the eastern coast of the island group.
She strained her eyes looking for the warlock’s signpost. Aunt Thordis said the man’s color was red, like Rune’s. The sight of a wavering red sheet rewarded her search. A witch’s signpost looked very much like the aurora borealis but much smaller. The deeper toned side of the flag-like light showed the direction to go. The trailing edge faded to transparency. Kat saw this signpost’s bottom side was the darkest, which meant the warlock’s home was directly beneath it.
When she reached the signpost, she circled it examining the islands below. She directed Spirit downward, and the red guide descended ahead of her. It halted above one of the tiny islands that made up the Out Skerries part of the Shetlands. Kat looked up information on the island group when preparing for her trip. Otherwise uninhabited, Da Skerries, as the Shetlanders called them, were just about as remote and desolate as one could get and still be connected to civilization. Grunay once had lighthouse keepers living on it, but when the government automated the lighthouse, the keepers departed, and the warlock and his family moved in a few years later. Aunt Thordis told her the residents of the larger islands thought the Angstrom family to be a bit funny in the head, thus left them alone.
However, Nils and Maureen Angstrom liked living on the island. Of course, being a warlock and a witch, they had an advantage over the mundanes in making even the most terrible environment quite pleasant. Galdorheim would be uninhabitable too, if the witches didn’t maintain the bubble shield.
Kat spotted two people below, waving at her. The red flag dropped to the ground around them and disappeared. Spirit took over to make a perfect three-point landing and taxied her to the pair. Stepping off Spirit, she wobbled a moment getting her land legs back; then walked the last few feet and grasped the outstretched hand of Nils Angstrom.
“Happy we aer to have ye!” He pulled Kat toward him, startling her, and gave her a bear hug. “Welcome!” He let her go, and Kat turned to the woman standing nearby.
“You must be Maureen,” Kat said, extending her hand. Maureen grabbed her into another great hug, lifting her off the ground.
“Welcome!” the burly woman shouted in her ear. Kat was beginning to understand why the Angstroms preferred to keep to themselves. She recognized the signs: the big mouth, bulbous nose, and bowed legs. Maureen Angstrom was half troll. Unsure whether it might offend the woman or her husband, Kat decided not to mention it unless they brought it up themselves.
“Come in, come in,” Mrs. Angstrom shouted, heading toward the little house. “Make yerself ta home.” Kat smiled politely and followed the woman. Mr. Angstrom trailed Kat.
The front door led into a small, enclosed porch. “Keeps da winds oot!” Maureen yelled.
“I can imagine that’d be necessary up here. It is very windy,” Kat replied. The woman opened a second door, and they all went into a tidy parlor.
Kat looked around for someplace to put her pack. Nils pointed to another door. “Ye’ll be sleepin’ there.” Kat nodded and went into a little room barely six feet on each side. A short bunk filled one wall. A dresser and small table left just enough space to turn around.
“Seems cozy enough,” Kat said to herself then dropped her pack on the bunk and returned to the parlor.
Mrs. Angstrom disappeared through another door, which Kat assumed was the kitchen since she soon heard the clattering of pans. Mr. Angstrom indicated a chair by the fire for Kat to sit. She leaned toward the fire, rubbing her hands. This far north it rarely got warm, especially on a windswept, barren island like this one. Through the window Kat caught sight of the lighthouse perched on its own rocky island.
“That be Bound Skerry. At the low tide, there’s a rock bridge of sorts to the island, but there’s nae need to go there. A crew comes in for maintenance now and again.”
“I read the Germans bombed the keeper’s house in the war. Is this the same house?”
“Aye. We built this ‘un on the same foundation. The first was nothing but rubble. An old lady died in the bombing.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Nae worries. War does that. Now sit ye down and fill me in on all the gossip.”
Kat told Nils what she could about the residents of Galdorheim. He asked after a few people himself. He knew Sean and Einar back in the day. He said he could tell some stories about their exploits, but it wasn’t decent talk for a young lady’s ears.
When Maureen entered the room carrying dishes, Mr. Angstrom slapped the arms of his chair and rose. “Och, supper is near served. Hae ye e’er had krappin?”
“Not that I recall. What is it?”
“Fish livers stuffed in a fish head and biled ta tender goodness!”
“Uh, it sounds, um, delicious.” Kat hoped she could get the mixture down and keep it there. Although a vegetarian, she ate some fish. She’d never had any luck talking to a fish.
********** TO BE CONTINUED
Monday, March 12, 2012
Gazing Into My Scrying Crystal
The future is somewhat cloudy, but that's Spring for you. I do see a book, but the poor thing is coverless. Does that mean it's a remaindered paperback? You know, the kind you're not supposed to re-sell under dire threats from Interpol, Scotland Yard, and the CIA.
No, this is a book coming soon, perhaps within the next month or two.
The Book: Scotch Broom - Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series
A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.
Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.
While dodging the goddess’s minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.
Excerpt:
When Galdorheim was no more than a speck on the horizon, Kat left topside and went below. The supply boat often carried passengers, so Sean had made a small, but comfortable, lounge on the lower deck. Kat reached the bottom of the steps and stopped in her tracks.
“Why, hello, Katty. How nice to see you.”
Kat wrinkled her nose. She’d forgotten Merry would be traveling at the same time. She walked to the opposite side of the lounge from Merry and slung her pack to the floor. Flopping on the couch, Kat glared at her nemesis. “Yeah, right.”
Merry jumped up and stood in front of Kat. She stuck her hand out. “Bygones?”
Surprised, Kat sighed and conceded a truce. It might make the boat ride more bearable. “Sure, bygones.” It wouldn’t help to stay mad at Merry. After all, she couldn’t help being a spiteful b...witch. Pasting on a smile, Kat extended her hand to Merry. Before they touched a flash of violet spit from Merry’s fingertips. Kat jerked her hand back as the electric bolt zapped the nail of her index finger sizzling it down to the quick. Merry threw back her head and laughed.
“You’re such a tool, Katty. I’ll miss having you around for entertainment.”
“You’d better watch your back,” Kat snarled.
Merry deliberately turned her back on Kat and traipsed across the lounge. “What? You’ve got nothing? I didn’t think so.” The witch smirked and dropped into her chair with her arms folded across her chest.
“I learned manners from my mother. Looks like yours just didn’t give a rip how you turned out.” Kat looked at her burned fingernail and spoke a soothing spell under her breath. “Look,” she said, glaring at Merry. “Just a word to the, well, not wise, but a word of advice. If you do stuff like that out in the real world, you might end up in jail...or worse.”
Merry pulled an emery board from her hand-stitched, silk purse and flipped her hair back over her shoulder. “Whatever.”
Kat walked toward the stairs leading up to the deck. “I think I’ll ride up top.”
Merry waggled her fingers. Kat recoiled, fearing another attack. Merry snickered. “Buh bye, Katty.”
No, this is a book coming soon, perhaps within the next month or two.
Here my scrying crystal grows even cloudier. Without a cover (OMG! a naked book!) and a release date, only a few details can be set loose upon the reading public now. One thing I can say with certainty is that the cover will have a manga style black-haired, green-eyed girl. Not entirely a wild guess since the first two books in the series have said girl, Katrina the befuddled witch, gracing the covers.
Something like the book covers here. But a book can't be judged by its cover, so I'll throw the logline, blurb, and a taste of an excerpt which I hope will whet your appetite. Perhaps you should read the first two books while we're waiting for book 3 to emerge. Yes, that'd be a great idea. Bad Spelling is on sale at MuseItUp for only $1.99. You get a bonus story with it. The only thing more I could do is autograph it for you. Wait! I can autograph it at Kindlegraph (just for the Kindle users).
Something like the book covers here. But a book can't be judged by its cover, so I'll throw the logline, blurb, and a taste of an excerpt which I hope will whet your appetite. Perhaps you should read the first two books while we're waiting for book 3 to emerge. Yes, that'd be a great idea. Bad Spelling is on sale at MuseItUp for only $1.99. You get a bonus story with it. The only thing more I could do is autograph it for you. Wait! I can autograph it at Kindlegraph (just for the Kindle users).
The Book: Scotch Broom - Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series
A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.
Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.
While dodging the goddess’s minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.
Excerpt:
When Galdorheim was no more than a speck on the horizon, Kat left topside and went below. The supply boat often carried passengers, so Sean had made a small, but comfortable, lounge on the lower deck. Kat reached the bottom of the steps and stopped in her tracks.
“Why, hello, Katty. How nice to see you.”
Kat wrinkled her nose. She’d forgotten Merry would be traveling at the same time. She walked to the opposite side of the lounge from Merry and slung her pack to the floor. Flopping on the couch, Kat glared at her nemesis. “Yeah, right.”
Merry jumped up and stood in front of Kat. She stuck her hand out. “Bygones?”
Surprised, Kat sighed and conceded a truce. It might make the boat ride more bearable. “Sure, bygones.” It wouldn’t help to stay mad at Merry. After all, she couldn’t help being a spiteful b...witch. Pasting on a smile, Kat extended her hand to Merry. Before they touched a flash of violet spit from Merry’s fingertips. Kat jerked her hand back as the electric bolt zapped the nail of her index finger sizzling it down to the quick. Merry threw back her head and laughed.
“You’re such a tool, Katty. I’ll miss having you around for entertainment.”
“You’d better watch your back,” Kat snarled.
Merry deliberately turned her back on Kat and traipsed across the lounge. “What? You’ve got nothing? I didn’t think so.” The witch smirked and dropped into her chair with her arms folded across her chest.
“I learned manners from my mother. Looks like yours just didn’t give a rip how you turned out.” Kat looked at her burned fingernail and spoke a soothing spell under her breath. “Look,” she said, glaring at Merry. “Just a word to the, well, not wise, but a word of advice. If you do stuff like that out in the real world, you might end up in jail...or worse.”
Merry pulled an emery board from her hand-stitched, silk purse and flipped her hair back over her shoulder. “Whatever.”
Kat walked toward the stairs leading up to the deck. “I think I’ll ride up top.”
Merry waggled her fingers. Kat recoiled, fearing another attack. Merry snickered. “Buh bye, Katty.”
***** TO BE CONTINUED ******
Friday, March 09, 2012
Bad Spelling on Special
Bad Spelling - Book 1 of The Witches of Galdorheim Series
A klutzy witch, a shaman's curse, a quest to save her family. Can Kat find her magic in time?
If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.
Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.
The young witch, accompanied by her half-vampire brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
KONY2012
Help bring this evil person to justice. He must be caught and tried for crimes against humanity. If you don't know what this means, then use your internet connection to find out.
What I'm Talking About
Yesterday I opined on self-publishing as not only a viable alternative to traditional publishing, but also as a better choice in many ways. My discussion was based on my recent upgrades to one of my self-published books. I managed improvements and modifications which would not have been possible with a traditional publisher. I redesigned my cover, edited my manuscript (will I ever get all the typos?), made a book trailer based on my new cover, and made my ebook editions free on Smashwords.
Agent/Publisher: No changes, same old cover, no additional edits, no coupons or free copies.
Self-publishing: Able to change at will, redesign covers, edit the ms, and offer freebie coupons.
I am not going to diss traditional publishing since I also have a dandy publisher who will be the first choice recipient of my future work. I like the relationship I have with MuseItUp. Traditional publishing is like a marriage complete with vows, expectations of fidelity, and hopefully a life-long commitment. Self-publishing is the freedom to date whom I please, toss him out if he's boring, pick up something spiffy and new as I choose. Hmm. Both ways are tempting.
Anyway, here's the book trailer for the refurbished "First Duty."
Agent/Publisher: No changes, same old cover, no additional edits, no coupons or free copies.
Self-publishing: Able to change at will, redesign covers, edit the ms, and offer freebie coupons.
I am not going to diss traditional publishing since I also have a dandy publisher who will be the first choice recipient of my future work. I like the relationship I have with MuseItUp. Traditional publishing is like a marriage complete with vows, expectations of fidelity, and hopefully a life-long commitment. Self-publishing is the freedom to date whom I please, toss him out if he's boring, pick up something spiffy and new as I choose. Hmm. Both ways are tempting.
Anyway, here's the book trailer for the refurbished "First Duty."
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Another Good Reason to Self-Publish
I uploaded the front cover to Smashwords (free this week using coupon code RE100) and Kindle, along with the new interior text denoting the cover art change.
Next, I reshaped the cover for the 6x9" format of the print book. Took it over to CreateSpace (paperback at Amazon) and redid the cover using their new cover creator. It's easiest, I must note, to create your own front cover, then let them take care of the spine and backcover. I didn't have to create a full cover PDF like I used to do in the olden days of self-pubbing.
In three days, I changed my book's look, uploaded a nicer looking interior, and sent the thing out to the world.
What if I had an agent and a publisher? Wouldn't have happened. Not only that, a couple of my older books wouldn't even be alive anymore. As a low volume seller, my best seller would have been pulled from the virtual shelves. As the publisher of record (using those free ISBNs offerered by Smashwords and CreateSpace), I did in days something that would have taken months, or maybe not done at all.
Yup. I'm not all that distraught not having an agent to wait on while they spend months or years finding a publisher, possibly not getting one at all. I do have a small epublisher, MuseItUp Publishing, I'm quite happy to have. I won't make the sales I do with my self-pubs. It's a matter of costs. My publisher's retail price has to be higher to pay the editors, cover artists, the publisher, and the distributors.
I can make decide when to run a promo. I can set my ebook price to $0.00 if I've a mind to. I can change the cover or upload new interiors when I want. I can also change the price on my print book, although the price change takes a tad longer. The new edition of the print book is still in process and will show up in a few days on Amazon. Right now, it's for sale only by third party sellers. Hint: I have the best price (see Texas Boy Publications). The new book will cost more because I feel like upping the price. Maybe I'll lower the price next week. Point is, I decide such details, not somebody else who may not have my best interests in mind.
Sure, if I had gotten an agent a few years ago when the publishing world was claiming that's what you had to do, I'd probably be very happy with how it worked. Waiting for the agent to find a publisher (if at all), waiting for the publisher to get around to publishing my book, waiting for royalties that must be sent out by tortoise mail. It would have been fine.
But since that didn't happen, I've found I'm pretty happy with the way I ended up publishing some of my books. I'm also happy I've got MuseItUp as my new publisher. We'll see how that goes over the long run.
Monday, March 05, 2012
March and April Free Kindle Ebook Days
Lots of freebie days coming in March and April from my Kindle Collection.
Mar 5th-9th Fish Story. Just a single story from Mixed Bag. Get the book free Apr 6th-8th.
Mar 23rd-25th Quest for the Simurgh
Apr 6th-8th Mixed Bag
Apr 13th-15th Tales of a Texas Boy
Mar 23rd-25th Quest for the Simurgh
Apr 6th-8th Mixed Bag
Apr 13th-15th Tales of a Texas Boy
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Smashwords Promo Week Sale
Hie thee to Smashwords to find discounted books everywhere! From March 4th through 10th, "Read an Ebook Week" is going on. I'm going in whole hog with all five of my books offered for $0.00.
For free books, use coupon code RE100 at checkout. The sale is sitewide. You'll find lots of bargains for 75% (REW75), 50% (REW50), or 25% (REW25) off the list price. But you'll have to find those other books on your own. You can locate all my books at these links:
Eagle Quest
A Native American boy searches for his roots through a vision quest.
First Duty
Nyra must choose between sworn duty or family when long-held secrets are revealed.
Mixed Bag II: Supersized
25 short stories and a few drabbles. SF/F/H/R/Lit. Something for everyone.
Quest for the Simurgh
Four students search for their kidnapped teacher and find themselves in a battle between good and evil.
Tales of a Texas Boy
Little Eddie spins his tales about growing up in West Texas during the Depression, but he always has a humorous take on life.
For free books, use coupon code RE100 at checkout. The sale is sitewide. You'll find lots of bargains for 75% (REW75), 50% (REW50), or 25% (REW25) off the list price. But you'll have to find those other books on your own. You can locate all my books at these links:
Eagle Quest
A Native American boy searches for his roots through a vision quest.
First Duty
Nyra must choose between sworn duty or family when long-held secrets are revealed.
Mixed Bag II: Supersized
25 short stories and a few drabbles. SF/F/H/R/Lit. Something for everyone.
Quest for the Simurgh
Four students search for their kidnapped teacher and find themselves in a battle between good and evil.
Tales of a Texas Boy
Little Eddie spins his tales about growing up in West Texas during the Depression, but he always has a humorous take on life.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
5 Star Review at Alt-Read
I was happy to see a nice review of my murder mystery, "Missing, Assumed Dead," on the Alt-Read review blog. The book reviewer is Lucille P. Robinson. Thank you, my dear. Five stars is always a happy thing.
Here's the top of the review. Click the link above to read the full review.
REVIEW: Missing, Assumed dead
Marva Dasef
MuseItUp Publishing
Alternative Read categories Marva Dasef, Muse It Up Publishing
Missing, Assumed Dead by Marva Dasef
Reviewer: Lucille P Robinson
Alternative-Read.com
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kameron McBride receives a letter from a court in Oregon saying she has been appointed the executor of Salvador Vasco's estate. She decides, with much prompting from her mom and best friend Sue, to go.
After arriving in Oregon, the frustration of getting lost in the near-desert territory is offset by meeting a tall, dark and handsome Deputy Mitch whose very arrival at the spot runs would-be attackers away. This was just a beginning. Before long, Kam finds herself in the middle of a seven year old murder with danger lurking behind her throughout her brief stay in Rosewood. Mitch becomes her protector only to be gone when the real danger appears.
More here.
Here's the top of the review. Click the link above to read the full review.
Marva Dasef
MuseItUp Publishing
Alternative Read categories Marva Dasef, Muse It Up Publishing
Missing, Assumed Dead by Marva Dasef
Reviewer: Lucille P Robinson
Alternative-Read.com
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kameron McBride receives a letter from a court in Oregon saying she has been appointed the executor of Salvador Vasco's estate. She decides, with much prompting from her mom and best friend Sue, to go.
After arriving in Oregon, the frustration of getting lost in the near-desert territory is offset by meeting a tall, dark and handsome Deputy Mitch whose very arrival at the spot runs would-be attackers away. This was just a beginning. Before long, Kam finds herself in the middle of a seven year old murder with danger lurking behind her throughout her brief stay in Rosewood. Mitch becomes her protector only to be gone when the real danger appears.
More here.
March 4th Through 10th: Read an Ebook Week
C'mon! Give it a try. Ebooks read just as well, if not better, than paperbacks. And if you have to move, you don't need forty-three boxes to pack your books. Just pick up your e-reader and go (you can also take clothes and furniture if you must).
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Catching Up
We returned from our Las Vegas sojourn saturated with Elvises (Elvi), heads ringing from the clanging of slot machines, and overstuffed on buffets.
It was nice to come back to find super news from a dear friend whose husband has sadly traveled down the road of Alzheimer's. While he cannot be returned to health, she has been given some respite from being the sole care provider. It's her story, not mine, but I have to say it was the best news of the week that she's found some help in her task. I consider her a saint because I would have "accidentally" shoved my own husband in front of a Mack truck if I were in her position. That she didn't do that and STILL managed to write some great books (coming soon from MuseItUp), makes me admire her no end. WTG, Lorrie!
I was also happy to find that a couple of wonderful people read one of my books and was kind enough to review them. Both positive! Can't get better than that.
Checkout H.M. Prevost's review of Bad Spelling on her blog.
Joan Szechtman posted a nice review of Tales of a Texas Boy on Amazon.
That's it for now.
It was nice to come back to find super news from a dear friend whose husband has sadly traveled down the road of Alzheimer's. While he cannot be returned to health, she has been given some respite from being the sole care provider. It's her story, not mine, but I have to say it was the best news of the week that she's found some help in her task. I consider her a saint because I would have "accidentally" shoved my own husband in front of a Mack truck if I were in her position. That she didn't do that and STILL managed to write some great books (coming soon from MuseItUp), makes me admire her no end. WTG, Lorrie!
I was also happy to find that a couple of wonderful people read one of my books and was kind enough to review them. Both positive! Can't get better than that.
Checkout H.M. Prevost's review of Bad Spelling on her blog.
Joan Szechtman posted a nice review of Tales of a Texas Boy on Amazon.
That's it for now.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
LASR, Marian Lanoutte and Writers Rainbow
A triple dose today (if it all works out).
A few friends and I wrote our personal advice on promos, blog tours, marketing, etc. Today, the whole enchilada should show up on the Writers Rainbow. I hope you'll stop by to read the words of wisdom from:
Killarney Sheffield
Penny Ehrenkranz
Lynn Crain
Marion Webb-Desisto
and me.
LASR INTERVIEW
I got grilled by the fine folk at Long and Short Romances (LASR). Their interview form is intimidating to say the least, but I bravely pushed on to produce nearly 5000 words of (ahem) wisdom on science fiction romance. I wonder how many words will survive. I think I was writing "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy" a couple hundred times. Where's my axe?
Marian Lanoutte can carry a tune...I mean rune with excerpts from both Bad Spelling and Midnight Oil.
I haven't had the pleasure of hosting Marian yet. She writes mysteries and her first book in the Jake Carrington series is scheduled from MuseItUp Publishing September.
A few friends and I wrote our personal advice on promos, blog tours, marketing, etc. Today, the whole enchilada should show up on the Writers Rainbow. I hope you'll stop by to read the words of wisdom from:
Killarney Sheffield
Penny Ehrenkranz
Lynn Crain
Marion Webb-Desisto
and me.
LASR INTERVIEW
I haven't had the pleasure of hosting Marian yet. She writes mysteries and her first book in the Jake Carrington series is scheduled from MuseItUp Publishing September.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
LASR Interview and Runes
Scheduled for February 24th, February 27th Today.
Now Available!
I haven't had the pleasure of hosting Marian yet. She writes mysteries and her first book in the Jake Carrington series is scheduled from MuseItUp Publishing later this year.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Double Feature - Two Blog Hops Today
I visit two blogs today and you can grab a free story just by visiting and clicking on the download link. Add a comment to enter the draw for a free ebook.
Sue Perkins plays hostess to Salmon the Orca, a major player in the Witches of Galdorheim series. He would say the "star" of the books, but that's just how orca's think.
Sue writes tween and YA fantasy for the most part. She recently visit this blog to tell us about not one, but two new books.
Read Sue's post about Reva's Quest and Dragon Flame.
Sue writes tween and YA fantasy for the most part. She recently visit this blog to tell us about not one, but two new books.
Read Sue's post about Reva's Quest and Dragon Flame.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
You Gotta Read Voting Starts Today
Midnight Oil's cover was featured at You Gotta Read Covers on Feb 4th. Voting is scheduled from Feb. 21st through 26th.
NOTE: You Gotta Read has a new website at http://yougottaread.com/. They are putting their trailer, cover, and review features on a convenient one-stop shopping site.
NOTE: You Gotta Read has a new website at http://yougottaread.com/. They are putting their trailer, cover, and review features on a convenient one-stop shopping site.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
February Promo 3 - Free Books on Amazon
Today's free book on Amazon is a collection of short stories previously published in on-line ezines. Some publisher thought each one worthy of inclusion on their zines. Well, almost all. I added a few drabbles to spice it up. Click on the link today or tomorrow for a free Kindle ebook.
February 19th-20th: Mixed Bag
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEKC9C
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004OEKC9C
Don't miss out on the deal.
About Mixed Bag
A little science fiction, a bit of fantasy, plenty of humor, and some really shocking horror. These are tales to suit any mood. All stories in this book were previously published in on-line or print publications. I am re-issuing the stories since an editor somewhere liked them enough to publish them in the first place.
Fish Story - Science Fiction
The Vision - Paranormal/Horror
Chilpequin 22 Miles - Fantasy/Humor
Heather's Pain - Suspense
The Delegate - Science Fiction
The Country Faire - Literary Horror
If You Could See Her - Romance
Cursed Valley - Fantasy
Big Bessie's Place - Humor
The Hunter - Horror
A Visit to Potter's Field - Fantasy/Humor
Extraordinary Rendition - Literary Realism
Jonathan Swift Finds Nemo - Alternate History
A Grab Bag of Drabbles
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEKC9C
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004OEKC9C
Don't miss out on the deal.
About Mixed Bag
A little science fiction, a bit of fantasy, plenty of humor, and some really shocking horror. These are tales to suit any mood. All stories in this book were previously published in on-line or print publications. I am re-issuing the stories since an editor somewhere liked them enough to publish them in the first place.
Fish Story - Science Fiction
The Vision - Paranormal/Horror
Chilpequin 22 Miles - Fantasy/Humor
Heather's Pain - Suspense
The Delegate - Science Fiction
The Country Faire - Literary Horror
If You Could See Her - Romance
Cursed Valley - Fantasy
Big Bessie's Place - Humor
The Hunter - Horror
A Visit to Potter's Field - Fantasy/Humor
Extraordinary Rendition - Literary Realism
Jonathan Swift Finds Nemo - Alternate History
A Grab Bag of Drabbles
Friday, February 17, 2012
Kindlegraph Available
Want to get you Kindle book signed? Huh? Sign an electronic book? That's not possible, right?
Well, it is sort of possible. Kindlegraph is a service authors can add their ebooks. If somebody reads the ebook (or you don't even have to buy one), you can get a personalized signing. I won't say signature because it's not the author's real signature unless they have a very steady hand with a mouse or use some kind of stylus device.
Anyway, if you buy any of my books, I can "sign" it for you through Kindlegraph. Go to the site and find the author/book you want signed. The application signals the author they have a signature to produce. The author pops over and writes a personal note to the requester. The reader then receives a Kindle file (under Docs) with the book cover and the personalized note. It's really not all that hard. Here's my Siggy Link if you want my note and dummy signature to be delivered to your Kindle device. It's not actually IN the book, but you can keep them for whatever fannish reason you have. I would like the service to let the author upload a real signature (my writing isn't as nice as shown below), but I guess that could be used to forge checks or something. Click on the box to go to my Signature page.
Another "for what it's worth" is my actual signature which I scanned and put into a file. I guess you can kind of read it. Don't both to grab it for forgeries. I don't have any money to steal.
Well, it is sort of possible. Kindlegraph is a service authors can add their ebooks. If somebody reads the ebook (or you don't even have to buy one), you can get a personalized signing. I won't say signature because it's not the author's real signature unless they have a very steady hand with a mouse or use some kind of stylus device.
Anyway, if you buy any of my books, I can "sign" it for you through Kindlegraph. Go to the site and find the author/book you want signed. The application signals the author they have a signature to produce. The author pops over and writes a personal note to the requester. The reader then receives a Kindle file (under Docs) with the book cover and the personalized note. It's really not all that hard. Here's my Siggy Link if you want my note and dummy signature to be delivered to your Kindle device. It's not actually IN the book, but you can keep them for whatever fannish reason you have. I would like the service to let the author upload a real signature (my writing isn't as nice as shown below), but I guess that could be used to forge checks or something. Click on the box to go to my Signature page.
Another "for what it's worth" is my actual signature which I scanned and put into a file. I guess you can kind of read it. Don't both to grab it for forgeries. I don't have any money to steal.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
New Website (Redux)
The situation with my domain name is yet to be resolved. Not only that, it is deteriorating. I used to have a link to a page that told people to go to my new site. Now that is gone for reasons I can only wonder about. If anybody can tell me how to change the CNAME and other records for my domain (currently possessed by Melbourne IT), please help me out. Nothing I do seems to work. I cannot make my precious, unique domain name send a reader off to my new pages. Given that, I may never see my domain again.
Please click on my new website's URL to give it a Google boost. Right now, my old website bombs if anybody tries to get to it via http://marvadasef.com/ (my bought twice and paid for, yet useless domain). Color me LIVID! Click the following instead:
https://sites.google.com/site/mdasefauthor/
I got most of the information about my books and such moved to the free Google site. Microsoft screwed me over well and truly. And I'm well and truly pissed off.
I did make a new book cover for "Quest for the Simurgh." It will remain an Indie title. I just wanted to feature the cool, old Arabic text on Simurghs. That's really what a Simurgh is supposed to look like.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
A Little Post-Valentine Romance from Pembroke Sinclair
Pembroke writes:
I write several different genres. I’ve written Westerns, sci fi, fantasy, horror, and even nonfiction. By far, my favorite genres are sci fi, fantasy, and horror. But I don’t shy away from a challenge, and I thought I’d try my hand at romance.
I don’t write romance with a capital R. That genre is way out of my league. The amount of stories I’ve read in that genre I can count on one hand. It’s not my favorite, and those that write the genre pretty much have the market cornered. Still, it was something that interested me, and I had a story rattling around in my brain, so I thought I’d give it a try.
The first story I wrote was published in an obscure magazine, and it wasn’t very good. Then, I was asked to do one for an anthology. It was a paranormal romance with dark undertones, so I thought, “What the heck?” Hence “The Weeping Bride” was created.
Order link: Etreasures Publishing
Scorned at her own wedding, The Weeping Bride has vowed to make every bride from her hometown miserable until she finds her own happiness. When the groom at a friend's wedding disappears, Melanie and Tyler must solve the mystery of the Bride to save him. Time is not on their side. Will they find him before The Weeping Bride's revenge is satiated?
After that, “The History of My Wishes” wormed it’s way into my brain and wouldn’t leave me alone until I put it on paper. Again, this story is a dark romance with vampires.
Order link: MuseItUp Publishing
When you're told your life is tragic, what else can you do but believe it? To deal with her own tragedy, Stevie drowns her sorrows in alcohol while never venturing beyond a three block radius of her home. A menial existence at best.
Then, a blue-eyed mysterious stranger offers to take away the pain and heartache and show her the world, all Stevie has to do is make a wish...or three.
I decided to rewrite my first romance story, which is called “Second Chances.” That wasn’t the original title, but the changed title fits the theme better. It’s darkish, but has a happy ending. It will be coming out from Musa later.
I also wrote another story called “The Way She Makes Me Feel,” which will be coming out from eTreasures Publishing at some point in time.
In my stories, I like to focus on human reaction to certain situations, and I thought a lot about how guys feel in romantic situations. Two of my stories, “The Way She Makes Me Feel” and “Second Chances,” are told from the guys’ perspectives. I wanted to portray them as real people with real emotions and issues, instead of just hunks of meat for the heroine to fall in love with (that’s the impression I get from Romances, but since I’ve read so few, it might be totally off base).
The goal of any of my writing is to figure out how people react to their surroundings, whether it be fighting zombies or zooming around space. For me, love and romance was just another setting for the characters to react to. Even though it’s not my first choice of genre, and I probably don’t do it justice, they are still fun to write!
Bio: Pembroke Sinclair has had several stories published in various places. She writes an eclectic mix of stories ranging from western to science fiction to fantasy to horror.
Her stories have been published in Static Movement, chuckhawks.com, The Cynic Online Magazine, Sonar 4 Publications, Golden Visions Magazine, and Residential Aliens, among others.
Her novels, Coming from Nowhere and Life After the Undead, are now available at eTreasures Publishing and Amazon.com. Her story, Sohei, was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. If you would like to contact Pembroke, she can be reached at pembrokesinclair at hotmail dot com or http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/.
I write several different genres. I’ve written Westerns, sci fi, fantasy, horror, and even nonfiction. By far, my favorite genres are sci fi, fantasy, and horror. But I don’t shy away from a challenge, and I thought I’d try my hand at romance.
I don’t write romance with a capital R. That genre is way out of my league. The amount of stories I’ve read in that genre I can count on one hand. It’s not my favorite, and those that write the genre pretty much have the market cornered. Still, it was something that interested me, and I had a story rattling around in my brain, so I thought I’d give it a try.
The first story I wrote was published in an obscure magazine, and it wasn’t very good. Then, I was asked to do one for an anthology. It was a paranormal romance with dark undertones, so I thought, “What the heck?” Hence “The Weeping Bride” was created.
Order link: Etreasures Publishing After that, “The History of My Wishes” wormed it’s way into my brain and wouldn’t leave me alone until I put it on paper. Again, this story is a dark romance with vampires.
When you're told your life is tragic, what else can you do but believe it? To deal with her own tragedy, Stevie drowns her sorrows in alcohol while never venturing beyond a three block radius of her home. A menial existence at best.
Then, a blue-eyed mysterious stranger offers to take away the pain and heartache and show her the world, all Stevie has to do is make a wish...or three.
I decided to rewrite my first romance story, which is called “Second Chances.” That wasn’t the original title, but the changed title fits the theme better. It’s darkish, but has a happy ending. It will be coming out from Musa later.
I also wrote another story called “The Way She Makes Me Feel,” which will be coming out from eTreasures Publishing at some point in time.
In my stories, I like to focus on human reaction to certain situations, and I thought a lot about how guys feel in romantic situations. Two of my stories, “The Way She Makes Me Feel” and “Second Chances,” are told from the guys’ perspectives. I wanted to portray them as real people with real emotions and issues, instead of just hunks of meat for the heroine to fall in love with (that’s the impression I get from Romances, but since I’ve read so few, it might be totally off base).
The goal of any of my writing is to figure out how people react to their surroundings, whether it be fighting zombies or zooming around space. For me, love and romance was just another setting for the characters to react to. Even though it’s not my first choice of genre, and I probably don’t do it justice, they are still fun to write!
Bio: Pembroke Sinclair has had several stories published in various places. She writes an eclectic mix of stories ranging from western to science fiction to fantasy to horror.
Her stories have been published in Static Movement, chuckhawks.com, The Cynic Online Magazine, Sonar 4 Publications, Golden Visions Magazine, and Residential Aliens, among others.
Her novels, Coming from Nowhere and Life After the Undead, are now available at eTreasures Publishing and Amazon.com. Her story, Sohei, was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. If you would like to contact Pembroke, she can be reached at pembrokesinclair at hotmail dot com or http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Making a Writer Happy
By the way, I know all review are the property of Amazon, but that's ridiculous, so I'll just post it in full here anyway. Let's see if they have a cow.
***************
5.0 out of 5 stars Under the Happy Spell of Bad Spelling, February 11, 2012
By Vixenne Victorienne "Kymberlyn Reed" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) This review is from: Bad Spelling (The Witches of Galdorheim Series) (Kindle Edition)
The reason I fell in love with this book had to do with the cover and the back blurb, both of which reminded me of one of my favorite animated films 'Kiki's Delivery Service', directed by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki. Like Kiki, the heroine of this book struggles to find herself and her place in the world, sometimes with comic results.
Most young adult fiction these days tend to be bad pastiches of the orginal bad pastiche Twilight, so when I discover those rare books in which there's no heroine-fail, no "mysterious but HAWT boy" or the standard (and useless) "love triangle", then you have my interest. I've been wondering for a while what the hell has happened to intrepid heroines like Tamora Pierce's Alannah, Phillip Pullman's Lyra and other go-get 'em girls who weren't content to let things just happen to them and who often embarked on grand adventures. Sadder still is the fact that the dumbing-down of YA heroines isn't being done by men, but by women authors whom one would think knew better.
Bad Spelling brings back the intrepid heroine in all her non-perfect yet still active in her own destiny glory. It is also the first fantasy I've read in which the cultures of the farthest reaches of Northern Europe--Norway, Finland, Siberia--figures prominently while not whitewashing the Asian features of many people who live in these polar regions. I especially loved how author Marva Dasef incorporated Norwegian legends into the narrative.
There is also a larger narrative in the book which is intolerance. The prologue for Bad Spelling is set in 1490 at the height of the witch hysteria that swept throughout Europe and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands (and perhaps an even higher number) of innocent women, men and children:
"Tears welled in Edyth's eyes. "What they are doing to us, `tis hateful. Why cannot they just leave us be?"
He took Edyth's shoulders, pulling her to his chest. "`Tis not just us. The inquisitors condemn many not of the craft. They find black magic where it does not exist."
His eyes darkened. "`Tis the fault of that wretched Heinrich Institoris and his cursed Malleus Maleficarum. Even the Church has banned it, yet the so-called citizen courts use it to condemn any who disagree with them."
Edyth shook her head, her face grim. "You speak the truth. `Tis shameful they accuse whoever dissents, be they witch or not!"
The few remaining witches and warlocks decide to leave Europe and travel to a remote island called Galdorheim, where they can live free and out of sight from those they call mundanes (humans without magical ability). The island is protected by a magical shield which renders it undetectable and which makes the normally cold land more hospitable to human/witch life.
Fast forward to present-day Galdorheim. Kat is a young witch with a BIG problem. Her spells, even the simplest, tend to backfire and usually there's green goo involved. Okay, so this is a plot device that's been used before, but that's not the point. It's how such a device is used and not glossed over or turned into something "cute" for whatever hunky, mysterious HAWT BOY happens to eventually come along and save her from. Kat really is a misfit, being the child of a witch and a human. And she's not the only one, her brother Rune is a warlock/vampire and has a rather difficult time controling his hunger around the sight of blood.
Kat feels like an outcast, and little wonder when her mother and her aunt are some of the most powerful witches on Galdorheim. However she discovers that perhaps her bad spellcasting may not be her fault, and so begins a quest to find her father's family, but to save her beloved home from eventual extinction. With Rune as her traveling companion, Kat discovers that her magical abilities work better the farther from Galdorheim she is. On her quest she meets a trio of trolls, one of whom is not all he seems, the Mountain King, a troll advisor who's still upset that a human girl guessed his real name (LOL), , a giant, helpful orcas and some pretty deadly lemmings. She rescues and needs rescuing. Most importantly, Kat's raison d'etre isn't centered around a HAWT boy du jour. She discovers attraction naturally but it's an attraction that also makes sense.
Thankfully there's more to come, but Bad Spelling doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to visit Kat and the fantastically modern world of Galdorheim soon Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Monday, February 13, 2012
C.K. Volnek's Tween/YA Books
Today we have with us, author C.K. Volnek. She has recently published two tween/ya books, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island and A Horse Called Trouble, and her third tween book, The Secret of the Stones, is due out in April. Hi CK, thanks for joining us today!
Hi Marva. Thank you so much for having me.
So tell us, how did you begin to write for middle grade and young adults?
I have always loved writing for children. After reading Black Beauty, I wanted to be the next Anna Sewell. Life took me the long route to attain my dream, but I never gave up on writing for the younger market. I’ve heard it said, you write what you enjoy reading and I have to admit most of my favorite books are still stories I read from my younger years. My Side of the Mountain, Follow My Leader, and The Secret Garden still make a presence in my personal library. But I also write mg/ya because I enjoy this age so very much. Children are great. They are curious and open, full of questions on all kinds of subjects. They love to learn, if you can hold their interest. To me it was a challenge-to create a story to keep their interest while offering something they would enjoy as well as learn from, whether it be history, geography or learning a little bit about themselves.
Can you tell us a little bit about your new books and what you hope your readers to take away from them?
Thanks for asking. In my tween horse story, A Horse Called Trouble, I hope my readers will take away the message that we are all important and worthy of life, love and happiness. One must find a dream and believe in it, then follow that dream to find your life’s passion.
In A Horse Called Trouble, my main character, 13-year-old Tara, must overcome her abusive past to save the defiant horse who taught her to love and trust again. It is a story of growing up to learn you are not what others believe you to be, but what YOU believe you are. Don’t let the traps of society rule you. You may only be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.
And though it is cliché, I also hope my readers learn to not judge a book by its cover. Judging others before you really get to know them not only affects the person you are judging, but also can put you in a position you might not intend to be in. For example, Alissa, my main antagonist, is pretty, wealthy, and popular. But she is also very mean. On the other hand, Tara feels she is a misfit; looked down upon, scoffed at, and mistreated because she doesn’t belong anywhere. But she is really smart and kind beneath her introverted mask. Which person would you really want as a friend?
A Horse Called Trouble
Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Tara Cummings has been passed from foster home to foster home; not wanted anywhere by anyone. At thirteen she’s skeptic and suspicious, with no family, and no friends.
Horse therapy “will teach trust, perseverance, respect, and the value of teamwork,” or so says the program’s instructor. Tara is unconvinced. Trust only broke her heart, perseverance meant more failures, and no one respects or wants to team up with the misfit foster kid.
At the farm, Tara meets Trouble, an angry and defiant horse, bent on destroying everything and everyone around him. Tara is frightened of the enraged horse, until she realizes Trouble is as misunderstood and untrusting as she is. Pushing aside her fear, a special bond is formed, much to the surprise of everyone at the farm. Trouble trusts Tara, and Tara in turn finds hope and acceptance as well as the will to love and trust again herself.
But, Tara’s confidence is shaken as an even greater challenge looms ahead. Trouble’s mean and manipulative owner is the one and only Alissa, Tara’s nemesis. Can Tara overcome her own limitations and fight to save the horse who freed her heart and gave her life value and meaning? Or will Alissa destroy them both?
Where did you get the idea for your book?
I have always loved horses. Such marvelous creatures they are. Proud, elegant, powerful yet gentle and compassionate. I was fortunate enough to be able to call several of these magnificent animals my friend and confidant as I grew up.
I knew I wanted to immortalize some of my treasured equine friends but I never expected to write the story of Trouble in such a fashion as I did. It was after visiting a horse farm that also entertained a horse therapy program for troubled youth that the story sky-rocketed. Tara came to life and shared her entire sad story with me and I couldn’t help but oblige and put it down on paper. And Trouble? He’s a mix of several of the horses I knew. Full of spunk, spirit, trust and devotion. It’s a horse story, full of conflict, with antagonists you’ll love seeing get what they deserve.
This story also revolves around a unique program…Horse Therapy. It was so incredible to spend time at Take Flight Farm and witness their Horse Therapy program for troubled youths. The magnificent horses in this program teach kids the value of respect, teamwork and trust. I know from personal experience how a horse can turn an irritable, scowling teenager into a calm, caring softie. And who can’t use a good dose of self-confidence. Horses can build that confidence.
You also had another book come out last September called Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island. Can you tell us a little bit about this book?
Yes, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island is a tween ghost story with a twist of Native American folklore and based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. It is also a story about growing up and realizing you are stronger than you ever realize, though the ghost story plays lead in this book and history is very instrumental in solving the mystery. I hope my readers will look up the facts I have included in Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island and realize that everything that happens yesterday has an effect on what happens today.
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
In 1587, 117 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island without a trace, leaving behind not only unanswered questions, but a terrifying evil.
Now it’s up to twelve year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the age-old mystery and save his family from the hateful beast that haunts the island.
With the help of newfound friend, Manny, a Native American shaman, and an elusive Giant Mastiff, Jack must piece together the clues of the Lost Colony to discover what really happened. Shrouded in ancient Native American folklore, it's up to Jack to uncover what the evil is and why it haunts his island. But can he destroy it...before it destroys him?
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island is now available in both e-book and print on Amazon as well as other fine book locations.
So what is your next book about?
The Secret of the Stones is more of a fun read. It is also the first book of a series titled The Lost Diaries of Northumberland and revolves around the legend of Merlin the Magician and the wicked Vivienne. It was created mostly to entertain and encourage my readers to read.
Based in present day, young Alex Ramsey is thrust into magic mayhem when the gift he’s been entrusted to protect turns out to be the enchanted object detailed in a mysterious prophecy.
The Secret of the Stones
Trading places with a squirrel outside his window is the last thing twelve year-old Alex expect to happen. Could the gift Aunt Norma gave him be magic? The Merlin’s magic he’d read about in the ancient diary? After he unexpectedly trades places with his sister’s guinea pig, Alex realizes he must discover how the magic works…and fast. How had the trickery transformed him with the animals-and-how did it turn him back to himself?
As Alex struggles to understand the how and why of his enchanted gift, he becomes painfully aware there is more to it than he first thought. Within the magic there is a great power, a power to control, a power so strong that there is another who is willing to do almost anything to get it. Can Alex protect the gift while solving the secrets to how the magic works? And can he make sense of the riddles in the diary, the riddles surrounding the prophecy of Merlin’s return?
Which authors have most influenced your own writing?
I love to read. And I take away something from every book I read. So it is hard to pick just a few authors who have really impressed me but two come to mind right away. Jane Yolen and Jay Asher. The book 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher still haunts my thoughts and I adore the rich prose of Jane Yolen. Her book, Briar Rose remains one of my favorites
What do you do for fun other than writing?
I dabble in a variety of things other than writing…spending time with my family is a priority but I also love to dabble with flower gardening, jewelry making, hiking, and taking long walks with my Papillon pups… I am officially known as the ‘dog woman’ around our small town. Lol.
Do you have any favorite place where you feel your Muse is more apt to come and play while you write? Or perhaps you listen to music? If so, what do you listen to?
I’m a night-owl. And I have a laptop. So most of my writing is done sitting in my most comfortable chair in the front room with at least two pups sitting by me or on the ottoman. I have my I-pod, loaded with Yanni, and a Diet Coke at hand and I’m ready to write, write, write.
What advice would you like to give to young people who want to write?
There are two important elements I would like to stress to young writers…
One - Believe in yourself. We are our own worst enemy. I still find times where I will doubt myself. I’ll read a really great book, one so good I can’t imagine my stories ever comparing. But that’s when my characters jump in and give me a good kick in the behind and remind me of one of my favorite quotes … To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. Your story might be the saving grace to one person out there. YOU have a story to tell and no one else can tell it for you. If you don’t write it, it won’t get written.
Two – Never give up! No matter what. Write, write, write and write some more. Put one story to bed and move onto another. Don’t let your muse shrivel up. She can cause you great distress if you don’t let her out to play and she will starve if you don’t feed her.
Where can readers find you?
Thanks so much for having me today. I’d love to have your readers contact me at ckvolnek (at) yahoo (dot) com.
They can join me on my web page: www.ckvolnek.com, or visit me at my blog: www.ckvolnek.com/blog.html
They can also find me on Facebook (C.K. Volnek) or Twitter (CKVolnek), Good Reads and Jacket Flap.
My book trailers are on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyJ1J9wESEY
My books are available at the MuseItUp Book Store.
A Horse Called Trouble
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
as well as Amazon:
A Horse Called Trouble
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
and many other fine book locations on-line.
Thanks so much for having me here today.
C.K. Volnek
Hi Marva. Thank you so much for having me.
So tell us, how did you begin to write for middle grade and young adults?
I have always loved writing for children. After reading Black Beauty, I wanted to be the next Anna Sewell. Life took me the long route to attain my dream, but I never gave up on writing for the younger market. I’ve heard it said, you write what you enjoy reading and I have to admit most of my favorite books are still stories I read from my younger years. My Side of the Mountain, Follow My Leader, and The Secret Garden still make a presence in my personal library. But I also write mg/ya because I enjoy this age so very much. Children are great. They are curious and open, full of questions on all kinds of subjects. They love to learn, if you can hold their interest. To me it was a challenge-to create a story to keep their interest while offering something they would enjoy as well as learn from, whether it be history, geography or learning a little bit about themselves.
Can you tell us a little bit about your new books and what you hope your readers to take away from them?
Thanks for asking. In my tween horse story, A Horse Called Trouble, I hope my readers will take away the message that we are all important and worthy of life, love and happiness. One must find a dream and believe in it, then follow that dream to find your life’s passion.
In A Horse Called Trouble, my main character, 13-year-old Tara, must overcome her abusive past to save the defiant horse who taught her to love and trust again. It is a story of growing up to learn you are not what others believe you to be, but what YOU believe you are. Don’t let the traps of society rule you. You may only be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.
And though it is cliché, I also hope my readers learn to not judge a book by its cover. Judging others before you really get to know them not only affects the person you are judging, but also can put you in a position you might not intend to be in. For example, Alissa, my main antagonist, is pretty, wealthy, and popular. But she is also very mean. On the other hand, Tara feels she is a misfit; looked down upon, scoffed at, and mistreated because she doesn’t belong anywhere. But she is really smart and kind beneath her introverted mask. Which person would you really want as a friend?
Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Tara Cummings has been passed from foster home to foster home; not wanted anywhere by anyone. At thirteen she’s skeptic and suspicious, with no family, and no friends.
Horse therapy “will teach trust, perseverance, respect, and the value of teamwork,” or so says the program’s instructor. Tara is unconvinced. Trust only broke her heart, perseverance meant more failures, and no one respects or wants to team up with the misfit foster kid.
At the farm, Tara meets Trouble, an angry and defiant horse, bent on destroying everything and everyone around him. Tara is frightened of the enraged horse, until she realizes Trouble is as misunderstood and untrusting as she is. Pushing aside her fear, a special bond is formed, much to the surprise of everyone at the farm. Trouble trusts Tara, and Tara in turn finds hope and acceptance as well as the will to love and trust again herself.
But, Tara’s confidence is shaken as an even greater challenge looms ahead. Trouble’s mean and manipulative owner is the one and only Alissa, Tara’s nemesis. Can Tara overcome her own limitations and fight to save the horse who freed her heart and gave her life value and meaning? Or will Alissa destroy them both?
Where did you get the idea for your book?
I have always loved horses. Such marvelous creatures they are. Proud, elegant, powerful yet gentle and compassionate. I was fortunate enough to be able to call several of these magnificent animals my friend and confidant as I grew up.
I knew I wanted to immortalize some of my treasured equine friends but I never expected to write the story of Trouble in such a fashion as I did. It was after visiting a horse farm that also entertained a horse therapy program for troubled youth that the story sky-rocketed. Tara came to life and shared her entire sad story with me and I couldn’t help but oblige and put it down on paper. And Trouble? He’s a mix of several of the horses I knew. Full of spunk, spirit, trust and devotion. It’s a horse story, full of conflict, with antagonists you’ll love seeing get what they deserve.
This story also revolves around a unique program…Horse Therapy. It was so incredible to spend time at Take Flight Farm and witness their Horse Therapy program for troubled youths. The magnificent horses in this program teach kids the value of respect, teamwork and trust. I know from personal experience how a horse can turn an irritable, scowling teenager into a calm, caring softie. And who can’t use a good dose of self-confidence. Horses can build that confidence.
You also had another book come out last September called Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island. Can you tell us a little bit about this book?
Yes, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island is a tween ghost story with a twist of Native American folklore and based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. It is also a story about growing up and realizing you are stronger than you ever realize, though the ghost story plays lead in this book and history is very instrumental in solving the mystery. I hope my readers will look up the facts I have included in Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island and realize that everything that happens yesterday has an effect on what happens today.
In 1587, 117 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island without a trace, leaving behind not only unanswered questions, but a terrifying evil.
Now it’s up to twelve year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the age-old mystery and save his family from the hateful beast that haunts the island.
With the help of newfound friend, Manny, a Native American shaman, and an elusive Giant Mastiff, Jack must piece together the clues of the Lost Colony to discover what really happened. Shrouded in ancient Native American folklore, it's up to Jack to uncover what the evil is and why it haunts his island. But can he destroy it...before it destroys him?
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island is now available in both e-book and print on Amazon as well as other fine book locations.
So what is your next book about?
The Secret of the Stones is more of a fun read. It is also the first book of a series titled The Lost Diaries of Northumberland and revolves around the legend of Merlin the Magician and the wicked Vivienne. It was created mostly to entertain and encourage my readers to read.
Based in present day, young Alex Ramsey is thrust into magic mayhem when the gift he’s been entrusted to protect turns out to be the enchanted object detailed in a mysterious prophecy.
The Secret of the Stones
Trading places with a squirrel outside his window is the last thing twelve year-old Alex expect to happen. Could the gift Aunt Norma gave him be magic? The Merlin’s magic he’d read about in the ancient diary? After he unexpectedly trades places with his sister’s guinea pig, Alex realizes he must discover how the magic works…and fast. How had the trickery transformed him with the animals-and-how did it turn him back to himself?
As Alex struggles to understand the how and why of his enchanted gift, he becomes painfully aware there is more to it than he first thought. Within the magic there is a great power, a power to control, a power so strong that there is another who is willing to do almost anything to get it. Can Alex protect the gift while solving the secrets to how the magic works? And can he make sense of the riddles in the diary, the riddles surrounding the prophecy of Merlin’s return?
Which authors have most influenced your own writing?
I love to read. And I take away something from every book I read. So it is hard to pick just a few authors who have really impressed me but two come to mind right away. Jane Yolen and Jay Asher. The book 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher still haunts my thoughts and I adore the rich prose of Jane Yolen. Her book, Briar Rose remains one of my favorites
What do you do for fun other than writing?
I dabble in a variety of things other than writing…spending time with my family is a priority but I also love to dabble with flower gardening, jewelry making, hiking, and taking long walks with my Papillon pups… I am officially known as the ‘dog woman’ around our small town. Lol.
Do you have any favorite place where you feel your Muse is more apt to come and play while you write? Or perhaps you listen to music? If so, what do you listen to?
I’m a night-owl. And I have a laptop. So most of my writing is done sitting in my most comfortable chair in the front room with at least two pups sitting by me or on the ottoman. I have my I-pod, loaded with Yanni, and a Diet Coke at hand and I’m ready to write, write, write.
What advice would you like to give to young people who want to write?
There are two important elements I would like to stress to young writers…
One - Believe in yourself. We are our own worst enemy. I still find times where I will doubt myself. I’ll read a really great book, one so good I can’t imagine my stories ever comparing. But that’s when my characters jump in and give me a good kick in the behind and remind me of one of my favorite quotes … To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. Your story might be the saving grace to one person out there. YOU have a story to tell and no one else can tell it for you. If you don’t write it, it won’t get written.
Two – Never give up! No matter what. Write, write, write and write some more. Put one story to bed and move onto another. Don’t let your muse shrivel up. She can cause you great distress if you don’t let her out to play and she will starve if you don’t feed her.
Where can readers find you?
Thanks so much for having me today. I’d love to have your readers contact me at ckvolnek (at) yahoo (dot) com.
They can join me on my web page: www.ckvolnek.com, or visit me at my blog: www.ckvolnek.com/blog.html
They can also find me on Facebook (C.K. Volnek) or Twitter (CKVolnek), Good Reads and Jacket Flap.
My book trailers are on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyJ1J9wESEY
My books are available at the MuseItUp Book Store.
A Horse Called Trouble
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
as well as Amazon:
A Horse Called Trouble
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
and many other fine book locations on-line.
Thanks so much for having me here today.
C.K. Volnek
Sunday, February 12, 2012
February Promo 2 - Free Ebook at Amazon
Amazon allows authors who have assigned books to the Kindle Lending Library (books free to borrow for Prime customers) can also offer a five-day limited free purchase for those books.I'm offering a book for free for two days:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00322P12U
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00322P12U
Don't miss out on the deal.
About Quest for the Simurgh
The village magician has gone missing. His star pupil Faiza thinks he has left a clue for her on a page of the Magicalis Bestialis. With the page open and marked with an X, she believes Wafa is telling them to seek out the Simurgh, the mythical birds who possess all the knowledge of the universe. She convinces her three classmates that they must seek the help of the Simurgh to find their teacher.
She leads the boys on a difficult journey into the mountains in search of the elusive birds. A strange little man becomes their guide; they do not know he is a spirit leading them toward a battle between good and evil. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are being set up by otherworldly forces for a much larger task than finding their teacher. The students were chosen to take sides in the battle which might spell the end of the world--a battle between the demons and the spirits.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Cool Music and an Update
UPDATE: I mistakenly gave a virtual sex change to MR. Lee Fitzsimmons. My apologies. I often am mistaken for male (I even got rushed by a fraternity), so I know he'll just get a laugh out of it.
EVEN BETTER UPDATE: Lee is willing to swap music for a link on your blog or website. You can contact Lee on Twitter at @LeeFitzsimmons (how easy is that!).
I just discovered a musician and writer, Lee Fitzsimmons. His music clips are terrific and free for download. I asked him about using the music for book trailers, and you do need to buy the license to use at http://productiontrax.com/
Lest you go, "aw, damn, I don't have any money to spend on music!" note that Production Trax does have royalty free music (pay once, use many), sound effects, and all sorts of aural and visual goodies. It's worth checking out as an addition to your list of media sources.
Click over to Lee's website to listen/download a bit of soft rock and roll, jazz, symphonic, reggae, or whatever tunes you up.
Lee's also an author. His novella, "The Endarkening" is available at Amazon.
EVEN BETTER UPDATE: Lee is willing to swap music for a link on your blog or website. You can contact Lee on Twitter at @LeeFitzsimmons (how easy is that!).
I just discovered a musician and writer, Lee Fitzsimmons. His music clips are terrific and free for download. I asked him about using the music for book trailers, and you do need to buy the license to use at http://productiontrax.com/
Lest you go, "aw, damn, I don't have any money to spend on music!" note that Production Trax does have royalty free music (pay once, use many), sound effects, and all sorts of aural and visual goodies. It's worth checking out as an addition to your list of media sources.
Click over to Lee's website to listen/download a bit of soft rock and roll, jazz, symphonic, reggae, or whatever tunes you up.
Lee's also an author. His novella, "The Endarkening" is available at Amazon.
In the darkness, things are not always what they seem to be...
Creating an Urban Legend
I belong to Groupon, an on-line coupon service. I've bought quite a few coupons for half-price meals through it. It's a great way to get to know eateries around your town, without paying full freight.
Anyhow, Groupon always has something interesting in a section on every page titled "Groupon Says." These are hilarious for the most part and I'll pop over to look at coupons I don't even want just to read this little article.
Due credit to Groupon and whoever writes the column. I thought this particular column apropos to my author visitors.
The Groupon Guide to: Writing an Urban Legend
Everyone secretly wants to believe in scary stories that might be true. Indulge your friends' gullibility with these tips to crafting the perfect urban legend:
• Make sure the story takes place somewhere nearby, on a similar night—ideally exactly 100 years ago to the night. Or on the devil’s birthday.
• Always include an animal that turns out to be a different animal or an animal where one does not belong—like a dog that is actually a rat, or an alligator in the bathroom of the Museum of Alligator Safety.
• Tweak the details—it's only a few letters’ difference to change "gardener" to "murderer," and only a small white lie to change "was valued by the community" to "possessed double hook hands and a thirst for marrow."
• Always carry "proof"—this can be a monster's tooth carved from soap, a faded newspaper article created in Photoshop, or a scrap of the victim's clothing that is actually just a scrap of clothing you ripped off a terrified hiker you chased through the woods.
Anyhow, Groupon always has something interesting in a section on every page titled "Groupon Says." These are hilarious for the most part and I'll pop over to look at coupons I don't even want just to read this little article.
Due credit to Groupon and whoever writes the column. I thought this particular column apropos to my author visitors.
The Groupon Guide to: Writing an Urban Legend
Everyone secretly wants to believe in scary stories that might be true. Indulge your friends' gullibility with these tips to crafting the perfect urban legend:
• Make sure the story takes place somewhere nearby, on a similar night—ideally exactly 100 years ago to the night. Or on the devil’s birthday.
• Always include an animal that turns out to be a different animal or an animal where one does not belong—like a dog that is actually a rat, or an alligator in the bathroom of the Museum of Alligator Safety.
• Tweak the details—it's only a few letters’ difference to change "gardener" to "murderer," and only a small white lie to change "was valued by the community" to "possessed double hook hands and a thirst for marrow."
• Always carry "proof"—this can be a monster's tooth carved from soap, a faded newspaper article created in Photoshop, or a scrap of the victim's clothing that is actually just a scrap of clothing you ripped off a terrified hiker you chased through the woods.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Interview on TBR Today
Cate Master's has started a To Be Read blog featuring interesting authors, new books, a blurb fest, featured authors, and all manner of publishing goodies.
Go to the TBR blog and bookmark it because you'll want to follow it regularly.
From the blog description:
TBR highlights books you haven't yet read but would love to. If you're an author interested in featuring your work, check the available dates under the Schedule tab and email: tbrtheblog [at] gmail.com to arrange an interview. Please note: This blog is not rated, so all excerpts must be suitable for general audiences, though books of any heat level are welcome, as are books of any genre. We look forward to featuring yours!
Go to the TBR blog and bookmark it because you'll want to follow it regularly.
From the blog description:
Thursday, February 09, 2012
New Website
Here's my new website (at least, my temporary headquarters):
https://sites.google.com/site/mdasefauthor/
The sad but true tale behind this:
Microsoft Office Live has hosted my website (http://marvadasef.com/) for several years. It started out free and they even gave me my domain name for free.
About a year and a half ago, they decided to charge $14.95/year for web hosting. I thought that was still a pretty good deal, so I paid for 2/2011-2/2012. In January, I got the notice that the annual fee would come due soon, so I just paid it ahead of time so I wouldn't forget. That amount I paid in January would provide annual service from 2/2012 to 2/2013. Matter of fact, my subscription from last year doesn't even expire until the 19th of this month. Here's the email I got on January 17th, when I renewed:
Whoa! You just made me pay for a service that was supposed to be good until 2013, and now it EXPIRES! All right, jerks, where's my refund? Answer is: Oh, you don't get a refund. That was an automatic payment. You have to (now get this) MANUALLY move everything on your website into the new system. No conversion of the existing site. I can't even use the .OLP backup file. No software can interpret that file type except Office Live. Which will, of course, no longer exist past April 30th.
I wrote a complaint; they obfuscated. The "support" email I received is so laughable it's ridiculous. Of course, the forums are full of other people very upset about this BAIT AND SWITCH tactic.
I'm going to attempt to retrieve my domain name. Apparently, I have to work with the domain issuing company in Australia. I'm not even sure how to do this, except that I have to cancel my existing site in order to obtain the key to the domain name, then email this Aussie company, blah blah blah.
But if I have to remove my site to get my key, I'll have to first move my "stuff" elsewhere. Images are fine since they're all somewhere on my hard drive already, but I have to re-create some things in a different way because the tools that MS provided don't translate to anywhere else. Remember that .OLP file? Totally worthless for this purpose.
I am in the process of rebuilding a website using Google services. Yes, they're taking over the internet world piece by piece. Since I already use most of their services such as YouTube, Pikasa, Blogger, and Gmail, I might as well go with the website too.
I feel like Microsoft defrauded all their Office Live customers. Do any one of us have a way to force them to make good? Nope. I'll have my eyes peeled for a class action suit. I'll definitely join it if there is one.
https://sites.google.com/site/mdasefauthor/
The sad but true tale behind this:
Microsoft Office Live has hosted my website (http://marvadasef.com/) for several years. It started out free and they even gave me my domain name for free.
About a year and a half ago, they decided to charge $14.95/year for web hosting. I thought that was still a pretty good deal, so I paid for 2/2011-2/2012. In January, I got the notice that the annual fee would come due soon, so I just paid it ahead of time so I wouldn't forget. That amount I paid in January would provide annual service from 2/2012 to 2/2013. Matter of fact, my subscription from last year doesn't even expire until the 19th of this month. Here's the email I got on January 17th, when I renewed:
Dear Marva Dasef,On January 30th, I got this email:
This mail is confirmation that you have successfully renewed your subscription to Microsoft Office Live Small Business - Domain Addon. This renewal goes into effect on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Please retain a copy of this for your records.
Marva,
On April 30, 2012, we are discontinuing Office Live Small Business. We would like to offer you an opportunity to self-transition to Microsoft® Office 365 for professionals and small businesses.
To get you started, we are offering you an exclusive 6 month free trial, of Office 365 for professionals and small businesses and Office Professional Plus
Whoa! You just made me pay for a service that was supposed to be good until 2013, and now it EXPIRES! All right, jerks, where's my refund? Answer is: Oh, you don't get a refund. That was an automatic payment. You have to (now get this) MANUALLY move everything on your website into the new system. No conversion of the existing site. I can't even use the .OLP backup file. No software can interpret that file type except Office Live. Which will, of course, no longer exist past April 30th.
I wrote a complaint; they obfuscated. The "support" email I received is so laughable it's ridiculous. Of course, the forums are full of other people very upset about this BAIT AND SWITCH tactic.
I'm going to attempt to retrieve my domain name. Apparently, I have to work with the domain issuing company in Australia. I'm not even sure how to do this, except that I have to cancel my existing site in order to obtain the key to the domain name, then email this Aussie company, blah blah blah.
But if I have to remove my site to get my key, I'll have to first move my "stuff" elsewhere. Images are fine since they're all somewhere on my hard drive already, but I have to re-create some things in a different way because the tools that MS provided don't translate to anywhere else. Remember that .OLP file? Totally worthless for this purpose.
I am in the process of rebuilding a website using Google services. Yes, they're taking over the internet world piece by piece. Since I already use most of their services such as YouTube, Pikasa, Blogger, and Gmail, I might as well go with the website too.
I feel like Microsoft defrauded all their Office Live customers. Do any one of us have a way to force them to make good? Nope. I'll have my eyes peeled for a class action suit. I'll definitely join it if there is one.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
I Visit the MuseItUp Blog
Today, I'm blabbing about something or other. Oh, right! It's a Mystery Day on the MuseItUp blog. I'll be sharing today with author Heather Haven, who is a wonderful writer and a generous friend to other authors.
Catch my gig early. Heather takes over at high noon.
My post is on Multiple POVs (point of view) in Mysteries. With one mystery under my belt, I'm sure I'm now an expert. Actually, multiple POVs are not just for mysteries. With ten books and forty or so short stories, I will claim some level of expertise.
If you're fond of old Japanese films like the Seven Samurai and Rashomon, you won't want to miss the post.
Catch my gig early. Heather takes over at high noon.
My post is on Multiple POVs (point of view) in Mysteries. With one mystery under my belt, I'm sure I'm now an expert. Actually, multiple POVs are not just for mysteries. With ten books and forty or so short stories, I will claim some level of expertise.
If you're fond of old Japanese films like the Seven Samurai and Rashomon, you won't want to miss the post.
Monday, February 06, 2012
I Visit Teen Word Factory
I'm visiting the Teen Word Factory today. My topic has to do with research (boring!) and how hitting the books can bring new ideas to your work in progress.
Pop over to learn about the Nenets tribe of Siberia, nuclear testing, totems, and stone shrines. This is all neat stuff I learned when I was researching Midnight Oil, book 2 in the Witches of Galdorheim series.
Pop over to learn about the Nenets tribe of Siberia, nuclear testing, totems, and stone shrines. This is all neat stuff I learned when I was researching Midnight Oil, book 2 in the Witches of Galdorheim series.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
February Promo 1 - Free Ebooks at Amazon
Amazon allows authors who have assigned books to the Kindle Lending Library (books free to borrow for Prime customers) can also offer a five-day limited free purchase for those books.
This month I'm offering three books for free for two days each. Other free book days will follow.
STARTS TODAY February 5th-6th: Tales of a Texas Boy
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IYFAWE
and on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002IYFAWE
February 12th-13th: Quest for the Simurgh
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00322P12U
and on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00322P12U
Don't miss out on the deal.
February 19th-20th: Mixed Bag
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEKC9C
and on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004OEKC9C
Don't miss out on the deal.
This month I'm offering three books for free for two days each. Other free book days will follow.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IYFAWE
and on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002IYFAWE
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00322P12U
and on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00322P12U
Don't miss out on the deal.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEKC9C
and on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004OEKC9C
Don't miss out on the deal.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
February Schedule
What's happening in February. A busy month with me visiting blogs, authors visiting me, free book giveaways, and a book cover contest.
4th You Gotta Read Cover Contest
5th Free Kindle Book: Tales of a Texas Boy
7th Teen Word Factory
8th MuseItUp Blog
10th TBR Blog
13th C.K. Volnek Visits Me Here
13th Free Kindle Book: Quest for the Simurgh
15th Pembroke Sinclair Visits Me Here
17th Heather Haven
19th Penny Noyce Visits Me Here
19th Free Kindle Book: Mixed Bag
20th Anne Johnson
22nd Sue Perkins
24th Marian Lanouette
Not Yet Scheduled:
LASR Interview
Writers Rainbow
Penny Noyce
4th You Gotta Read Cover Contest
5th Free Kindle Book: Tales of a Texas Boy
7th Teen Word Factory
8th MuseItUp Blog
10th TBR Blog
13th C.K. Volnek Visits Me Here
13th Free Kindle Book: Quest for the Simurgh
15th Pembroke Sinclair Visits Me Here
17th Heather Haven
19th Penny Noyce Visits Me Here
19th Free Kindle Book: Mixed Bag
20th Anne Johnson
22nd Sue Perkins
24th Marian Lanouette
Not Yet Scheduled:
LASR Interview
Writers Rainbow
Penny Noyce
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