Author's Blog

The Day Has Arrived!

pleasantsuprise

 

It’s finally happened!

My thriller, The Sussex Deal is ready.

 

After much writing and much more writing and then tons of editing and re-editing, and then doing research on marketing etc., my book has finally made it to the eBook publishing stage.

book_icon4I’m excited, and although I know it takes time to promote the book and generate sales, the road to getting here and now travelling the path to publishing it, I’ve come to realize that it’s the whole process that I’m obsessed with. Every step has brought its fair share of challenges to overcome, but I’ve enjoyed it every step of the way.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my days where I thought, why am I doing this or why did I have to re-write this twelve times before I got it right.  In the end, my drive to succeed and my enormous love of the craft is what makes it all worthwhile.

My first love lies in writing fantasy, so writing a contemporary thriller was a whole new experience for me.  The language was the biggest challenge to overcome. I found myself often slipping back into writing in the style of my fantasy novels. The thriller genre did give me a taste of something new. The one thing it did have in common with my fantasy genre is that I felt passionate about all my characters. I think it’s this passion that forces me to tell their story regardless of the genre.

The Sussex Deal was initially to become my first “chapter story”—a story for my readers where I put out one chapter at a time—but we decided to use it as my first step into eBook publishing.

monitor_1Now, the task begins to market the book. Will it be a success? Time will tell. For me, the euphoria comes in writing the book and bringing it to its completion. I hope to give my readers that same euphoria when reading it. I’m already working on my next book and loving it.small_star

Alandra CL

The Dysfunctional Guide . . .

For Your Information:

The Dysfunctional Guide to Blogging Success – by Demian Farnworth – for copyblogger – http://goo.gl/H51HO

5 Facts About Publishing That Could Change Your Writing Career – By Jeff Goins – http://goo.gl/kAqG4

5 Ways for Writers to Blast Through Self-Doubt – by write to done – http://goo.gl/IGmhz

Exploding the Perfect Writer Myth – by Anna Elliott – for Writer Unboxed – http://goo.gl/U3yMt

The Future of the Novel – by Warren Adler – for Huffington Post – http://goo.gl/ozMmo

 

Quote(s) of the Day:

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.”  – Norman Vincent Peale

 

 

Special Tribute:

One of the most spectacular night-sky shows will kick into high gear this weekend when the Orionid meteor shower peaks early in the morning on Oct. 20. It will continue to dazzle until just before dawn on the 21st. . .  http://goo.gl/HmbJn

 

 

Book Release:

A Memory of Light – Robert Jordan (Author), Brandon Sanderson (Author) – Release Date: Jan 8 2013 – http://goo.gl/TYHW6

Since 1990, when Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time® burst on the world with its first book, The Eye of the World, readers have been anticipating the final scenes of this extraordinary saga, which has sold over forty million copies in over thirty-two languages.

When Robert Jordan died in 2007, all feared that these concluding scenes would never be written. But working from notes and partials left by Jordan, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson stepped in to complete the masterwork. With The Gathering Storm (Book 12) and Towers of Midnight (Book 13) behind him, both of which were # 1 New York Times hardcover bestsellers, Sanderson now re-creates the vision that Robert Jordan left behind.

Edited by Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, A Memory of Light will delight, enthrall, and deeply satisfy all of Jordan’s legions of readers.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass.
What was, what will be, and what is,
May yet fall under the Shadow.
Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

 

Banished Words . . .

For Your Information

The 2012 List of Banished Words and Phrases – By Writer’s Blog – http://goo.gl/XQIfl

George R.R. Martin Unveils Chapter From ‘The Winds of Winter’ – By Christopher John Farley – Wall Street Journal – http://goo.gl/CR8lO

3 types of textures you should consider using in web design – By Harrison Weber – TNW – http://goo.gl/c7vfu

What Will You Write This Year? – By Joe Bunting – The Write Practice – http://goo.gl/O0gSx

The artificiality of time – By Seth Goodin – http://goo.gl/kWc3Q

5 Lessons You Can Learn from a Breathtaking Customer Service Fail – By Sonia Simone – copyblogger – http://goo.gl/rDO9F

7 Ways Meditation Increases Creativity – By Jane Friedman – http://goo.gl/DwFki

12 Essential Tips for Revitalising Your Blog in 2012 – by Gregory Ciotti – Problogger – http://goo.gl/bHJ3h

Writing tips for a new year – By Midge Raymond – Seattle Pi – http://goo.gl/6ZHgc

Pair of authors give Lodians the tools to publish their own novels – By  Lauren Nelson – lodinews.com – http://goo.gl/TS6av

 

Quote(s) of the Day

“Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.” –  Truman Capote

“Never wait for inspiration; it needs to be looked for, chased after, laboriously collected, and then molded for perfect usage.”

 

 

Writing Contests

Writing Contest – Wag’s Revue Winter Writers Contest – Fiction – Deadline Feb. 15, 2012 – http://goo.gl/1AVhR

Going Viral . . .

For Your Information

The Truth About Going Viral – By Jeff Goins – http://goo.gl/rPTYK

On the Future of Books: A Discussion with Seth Godin – By Leo Babauta – Zenhabits – http://goo.gl/dSsb6

How to Spam Yourself to Success – By Fitjerk – Men With Pens – http://goo.gl/KvnYx

Alert: Light Sword Publishing, a.k.a. LSP Digital, Returns – By Victoria Strauss – Writer Beware – http://goo.gl/nj4sG

2011 National Book Awards – By Writer’s Blog – http://goo.gl/hM09y

Principles of Plain English – By Mark Nichol – Daily Writing Tips – http://goo.gl/gsu4o

When the Climax Fails, the Reader Suffers – By the Plot Whisperer – http://goo.gl/wPDhu

8 Ways Freelancers Can Show Gratitude – By Susan Johnston – The Urban Muse – http://goo.gl/BkRXX

What is Your Novel Missing? – The Writers Alley – http://goo.gl/17T6S

The Bet That Really Paid Off for Aspiring Author – by Digital Journal – http://goo.gl/Urteb

 

 Quote(s) of the Day

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.” – Henry David Thoreau

“To write well, express yourself like common people, but think like a wise man. Or, think as wise men do, but speak as common people do.” – Aristotle

“If any man wishes to write a clear style, let him first be clear in his thoughts.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 

Writing Contest

The Micro Award – Prose Fiction – Deadline Dec. 31, 2011 – http://goo.gl/g2M4a