Pregnancy Journal December 30, 2015

Little one, 

Yesterday I sat in a dark room, nervously waiting as the doctor tried to find you. She found a small black circle and zoomed in on the screen and my breath caught in my throat. 

"There's the heart, already beating," she explained as she pointed to a small white spot, flashing quickly. "Still too small to hear but we didn't expect to see the heartbeat yet so this is good." 

I was crying at this point, tears of absolute joy, as I watched your heart, still only two tiny chambers, beating so quietly inside me that the sonogram couldn't register it above my own blood flow. But it was beating. It didn't matter that I couldn't hear it. I could see it, and that was more than enough. 

From the moment I found out about you, I was scared. Scared I would lose you, afraid I would never hear that heartbeat. The fear is still there, but it's not overwhelming. It's small and insignificant. Overshadowed by the complete joy I felt when I saw your tiny little heart flashing on that screen. 

I won't hear that sweet sound of life for another few weeks. I won't feel you move inside me for months. Your Daddy won't feel you fluttering inside me for even longer. And we won't get to hold you in our arms for eight long months. But it doesn't matter how long we wait. The joy you bring us as you're nestled inside me, safe, warm, and completely loved, is more than I need. 

-Momma

Pregnancy Journal December 17, 2015

Little light,

At this point, I don't even know if you're real. I could be imagining those two lines on that test. That second line was so faint, it could be a false positive.

If it's real, then you are just a tiny, little thing, just beginning inside me. So small, in fact, that a microscope would be hard pressed to see you.

But regardless of your size, you are loved so very much, little one. I've been praying for you, hoping for you, trying for you, for such a long time.

I am scared though. I'm afraid you won't be real, afraid that I'll lose you, afraid to let that hope continue to blossom inside me. 

But I will not be sad. How can I be with the knowledge that you may very well be tucked safely inside me for the next nine months? 

You are my child. Regardless of what happens. Regardless of how long you are mine. You will always be my child, a precious piece of me that will forever be lodged in my heart. 

So my dear, sweet spark of life, I will do everything I can to make sure you are safe and healthy and I will love you, so very much, until the day I get to meet you. 

Love,

Your Momma

Weekend Review - Heart of Steel - Elizabeth Einspanier

About the Author

Elizabeth Einspanier is the self-published author of the weird western novella Sheep's Clothing and the science fiction romance novel Heart of Steel. She is a prolific writer, and her short stories have been seen in Dark Fire Fiction and Down in the Dirt. She is an active member of the St. Louis Writers Guild and an associate member of the HWA. When she is not writing, she likes to read, watch strange movies, and play Dungeons and Dragons. She lives in St. Louis, MO, but frequently spends time in worlds of her own creation.



Digging Deeper

What inspired you to write your first book?
My inspiration for my first book, Sheep's Clothing, was simple: I had read Twilight and after seeing what Stephenie Meyer had done with vampires in order to make them the "ideal" paranormal boyfriend, I instinctively wanted to get back to what vampires originally were: undead, soulless predators that fed on the living. I also didn't want to rewrite Dracula, so on a whim I decided to set it in the old west. The rest wrote itself, really.

What do you think is more important: Characters or Plot?

Characters, but only by a narrow margin. You could have the best plot on the planet, but if your characters don't engage the reader, nobody's going to care how the plot turns out. Characters need to be interesting and engaging if the reader is going to care about the plot.

What is one 'day job' you've had that's affected your writing? How?

I've been working at the St. Louis County Library for pretty much my entire working life, and it's been a great ready source of genre research materials (books) while also teaching me to make the most of limited writing time. I wrote Heart of Steel in an hour a day.

If you could cast your main character(s) in a Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would land the roles?
Alistair Mechanus has two main casting candidates: Tom Hiddleston (looks, intensity) and Benedict Cumberbatch (baritone, quirkiness). Julia Parker is a bit more difficult to pin down, but maybe Julie Benz or Amanda Seyfried. She needs to be someone strong with some vulnerability, but still have a great smile.

What famous literary character is most like you?

Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I confess that I sometimes have my head in the clouds, and when I'm brainstorming I often have the most fascinating conversations with some of the weirdest people.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing? 

I like to read (a lot), play Pathfinder-edition Dungeons and Dragons, and watch movies. I also enjoy cosplay, and frequently dress up for conventions or even just because. I dressed as Twilight Sparkle for last year's Archon and met a lot of bronies.

What is a talent you have that no one knows?

I can do a passable impression of Pinky from Pinky and the Brain.

What is one tip you'd give to up & coming authors?

Writing is hard. There will be days when your brain will not cooperate and you cannot get that idea to work out no matter how hard you try. Don't give up! After fighting and clawing your way through writing and rewriting, the sight of something you wrote finally getting published (by whatever means) will make everything worth it.

If you could spend the day with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

That's a really hard question. I guess if I have to pick one, I would spend the day with Weird Al Yankovic. I've been a big fan of his music for most of my life, and from everything I've heard he's awesome to his fans and an overall fun guy to be around. My second candidate would be Tom Hiddleston, because he's a great actor and he's adorable besides.

What's next for you?

I'm currently polishing Hungry as a Wolf, the sequel to Sheep's Clothing, and rewriting my NanoWriMo novel from last year, Necromancy Will Kill Your Dating Life. I hope to have Hungry as a Wolf out early next year if everything goes well.

Review Time!

Heart of Steel by Elizabeth Einspanier

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

I give Heart of Steel a 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for Amazon.

Heart of Steel is a sci-fi romance, set in modern day, on a seemingly uninhabited island near Hawaii. Julia Parker, the novel's heroine, is trying to enjoy a tropical vacation with her long-time boyfriend Jim. He's taking her diving, though she isn't enjoying his dive-spot pick, partly because she's preoccupied with thoughts of ending their relationship (a sentiment that's been nagging her for a while).

They begin their dive near the mysterious Shark-Reef Isle. Julia is just starting to relax and enjoy her dive when they are attacked by what appears to be a shark. Julia wakes up in what she assumes is a hospital. She thought she had lost her leg but finds it intact. It doesn't take her long to realize that she is not in a hospital, but in a mad scientist's lab underneath the volcano on Shark Reef Isle with the monsters he has created, including the shark-man that attacked her. 

Enter the novel's hero, Dr. Alistair Mechanus, a half human, half cyborg scientist that gave Julia a new leg and is keeping Jim alive, though by all rights he should be dead. Julia is desperately trying to absorb her current and very strange circumstances. Dr. Mechanus instantly takes a liking to her and agrees to fix Jim, though any thoughts of escaping the island are quickly put to rest. Mechanus does fix Jim, but to Julia's horror, he is now a horrific mix of robotic parts, with a mostly catatonic brain. 

Mechanus, not used to human company or even acting human, can't understand Julia's horrified reaction. He's set on keeping the new, though not-necessarily-improved Jim, away from her, while creating a more gentle and easier-to-look-at companion for her, in hopes that she'll eventually come to love him as he loves her. Julia's presence has sparked repressed memories of Alistair's former life, before he was part cyborg ten years prior, and he hopes to enlist her help in unlocking his subconscious. 

While Julia plans an attempted escape from Shark Reef Isle, cyborg Jim is going rampant, his seemingly catatonic brain zeroing in on one thought: Keeping Julia away from Mechanus, even if it means ending her life. Mechanus must fight to keep not only he and Julia safe, but the creations he has made on Shark Reef Isle. Jim's rampancy becomes full-blown, concluding in an epic hide-and-seek with Julia and Mechanus, during which he finally unlocks his hidden memories, culminating in a final battle, which ends with Jim's destruction and Julia finally realizing her feelings for her mad scientist.

I read through Heart of Steel in one day. It isn't necessarily short, but the story kept me engaged enough to not want to put it down. Though Dr. Mechanus annoyed me with his strange behavior and dialogue half the time, I found both he and Julia to be well-rounded and likable characters. Jim was an arrogant jerk, and I knew from the get-go he would be the story's grade-A a$$hole. The story is a clean romance, mixed with sci-fi. Dr. Mechanus' Victorian-era leanings towards fashion and speaking give it a bit of a steam-punk edge as well.

A few things that annoyed me:
- Events seemed to move ridiculously fast. I feel like this story could've have been nearly twice as long had characters, descriptions, events, etc. been more explained. 
- Julia's quick forgiveness of Alistair and hurried acceptance of a pretty bizarre set of circumstances seemed way too rushed. 
- I couldn't stand the main character's name: Dr. Alistair Mechanus. The first was too dated and the 2nd too metaphorical and cliched sounding for a 'mad scientist' character. When Alistair remembers his past life and his actual name: Michael James Conroy, I found myself wishing the author had started using that name for the remainder of the novel.
- The ending: Is he still planning on taking over the world? Or has his relationship with Julia changed those plans? Is there supposed to be a second book? If not, I would've liked those questions wrapped up better. 
-  Alistair's back story. Just a little snippet of a flashback seemed too little to explain such a complex character and his motivations. I would've loved to read more about his past.

Even with those negatives, I was still very much entertained by Heart of Steel. It was well written for the most-part, the dialogue helped me imagine the actual conversations, and a great job with editing. I usually find at least one grammar/spelling/punctuation mistake but I found none. I will definitely read more of Elizabeth's work. I recommend Heart of Steel to ages 17 and older for any romance and sci-fi genre readers.


Contact the Author  

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Find Elizabeth's Books

Sheep's Clothing

Amazon Print

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Kindle

Audible

Heart of Steel

Amazon Print

Kindle

Weekend Review - The Dragon Three by Victoria Perkins

 I recently had the opportunity to read The Dragon Three by Victoria Perkins. She was on my list of authors I had offered fair and honest reviews to. I'm horrible at organizing and staying on track, and I believe Victoria was a few spots down on the list. But I was bored one day and opened my Kindle to see what I hadn't read yet and the cover caught my eye. 

I've always loved dragon stories. I cut my teenaged reader teeth on Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern books. I fell in love with Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle books the moment they came out. I got lost in the historical science-fiction world of the Drakon with Shana Abe. So I figured a book about dragons was a good pick.


My Thoughts on The Dragon Three

This wasn't the book I was expecting. The dragon books I'd had experience with were ones in which dragons represented good. The Dragon Three is not the case. In Victoria's alternate Earth, dragons are the instrument of mankind's destruction.

I gave The Dragon Three a 3.5 stars out of 5 but rounded up to 4 stars on Amazon. The Dragon Three is geared towards YA, I'd say 10+ can read it. Though it does have a bit of blood, death, fighting, war, and some pretty harsh bullying, all-in-all, it's a very clean book. The mythology mirrors Christianity quite closely.

My biggest problems with the book were pacing. The story jumped from one plot point to another, or mentioned major background detail, without much explaining or leading into. Characters are introduced at a rapid rate, sometimes making it hard to keep up. It seemed very hurried, the dialogue sometimes forced at times, and stiff. Honestly, each of the three parts could have been its' own book with characters, plots, scenes, dialogue, world-building, and backgrounds much more fleshed out. There were SO many things I wanted to know that were skimmed over.

Regardless, I DID enjoy reading The Dragon Three. The cover was beautifully done, with great use of contrasting color and clear words. The characters were relatable, especially the high-school drama that most kids have to put up with. The story-line and world that Victoria created is quite an interesting place, and she did leave the door wide-open for related books that take place in the same world.


Amazon Review for The Dragon Three

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I give The Dragon Three a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Dragon Three is a YA fantasy that begins by introducing us to Brina, a powerless girl in a world where everyone is gifted. She tries to hide this fact from everyone at her school, though two friends, Thana, and Aidan, soon discover her secret. They team up to help Brina hide her lack of magic from everyone at school.
The first 1/3 of the book is made up of the three friend's relationship, with Brina and Aidan becoming very close until the course of normal teenage emotions get in the way. But it all changes after an earthquake hits the school and two students die from mysterious causes. After Aidan nearly dies from the same mysterious causes, he and Brina's relationship gets back on track but the three friends discover that a dragon had been sleeping under the grounds of the school and is now free. Powerless against dragons, only Brina, who doesn't need magic, can save them. The three friends discover they are part of an ancient prophecy that can stop the dragons for good. But at the end of Part 1, Brina is lost, and the reader is left wondering how the world can be saved without her.

In Part 2, we see Aidan's story as he copes with Brina's loss and learns that he still has a part to play in the prophecy. With help from the feisty Carys, he begins training to fulfill the prophecy. He develops a relationship with Carys, though he's reluctant to let go of Brina's memory.

In Part 3, we see Thana's story as she rejoins the fight. Part of this section are at school where a plethora of new characters is introduced.

This book is for YA and the theology of the world mirrors Christianity. There is some war violence, bloodshed, betrayal, and teenage bullying in the extreme but it is a fairly clean book. I would recommend this for ages 10-18 and would definitely let my 12 year old son read it.

I feel like the story as a whole was rushed, with some plot holes, unexplained world-building, and new characters that could have been explained in more detail. I feel like each part could have been it's own book. It is a YA book though, and they tend to be more fast-paced than adult novels. Out of the 3 parts, Part 1 seems to be the best written with the most details, though I enjoyed reading part 2 and part 3. The characters are relatable though they can be unbelievable at times, but it is a fantasy novel so it isn't a major issue.

I gave this story 3.5 stars (rounded to 4 for Amazon) despite what I thought it lacked because regardless, I really enjoyed the story. I think if the story had been expanded to separate books with more detail and a more normal-paced flow, it would have gotten 5 stars from me.


About the Author

Victoria Perkins began writing at a young age and story-telling even younger. Starting in third grade, she wrote stories, some of which became the basis of her published works. After graduating from Kent State University with a BA in English, Perkins held numerous jobs, including working customer service and teaching at a private school. 

In 2012, she began to work full-time as a ghostwriter, contributing to hundreds of short stories, novellas, and full-length novels for clients all over the world, including ones that have made Amazon's top 100 Kindle lists, as well as USA Today's Best-Seller list. 

She has had five YA novels, and a short story collection published since 2005. Her newest novel, Star Riders: The Twelve, came out in the summer of 2015.

Interview Questions

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book was actually started when I was in junior high. My teacher gave my class a group assignment that made me start thinking about what it would be like if my friends and I were stuck on a desert island. A lot of the characters and basics from that story became Reeves' Island.


What do you think is more important: Characters or Plot?

I think that the importance of characters versus plot is based a lot on whether or not a story is character-driven or plot-driven. For me, I prefer character-driven stories, both to read and write.


Is there a subject/genre you'd never write about? Why?

Because I ghostwrite, I've had to set certain guidelines about what I write and it comes down to my faith. I don't write anything that violates that. Usually I take things on a case by case basis. For my own personal writing, it isn't really an issue because when I write, it comes from me, so it's automatically not going to be anything that goes against what I believe.

 If you could cast your main character(s) in a Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would land the rolls?

That's a tough one. I haven't seen any actors I like of the right age for the characters in The Dragon Three, but if age wasn't an issue, I'd love to have Molly Quinn from the tv show Castle playing Brina. Luke Mitchell who was on the tv show The Tomorrow People would make a great Aidan. Vanessa Marano from tv's Switched at Birth would be excellent as Thana.

What famous literary character is most like you?

I'd have to say I'm a combination of Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series, probably more like Hermione than Ginny.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing? 

I'm an avid reader so most of my free time is spent doing that, but I also spend a lot of time with my family. I also enjoy painting. Not pictures or anything like that, but ceramics like Christmas ornaments and decorations.

What is a talent you have that no one knows?

As I mentioned, I enjoy painting ceramics and I'm actually pretty good at it. I've painted Christmas ornaments for my family and done other things for gifts.

What is one tip you'd give to up & coming authors?

The advice I'd give to up and coming authors is to write for the story, not for the money or attention. If you're focusing on what people are saying or how many books you're selling, you'll get discouraged. If you write for the love of the story, it'll get you through the bad reviews and the rejections.

If you could spend the day with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I'd have to go with one of my favorite authors, but it'd be so hard to choose. I'd have to go with C.S. Lewis because, besides being one of my favorite authors, he has such an amazing life story and such deep theological insight.

Where To Find Victoria Perkins

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Amazon

Google +

Where To Find Books By Victoria

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Getting To Know Your Characters - Thursdays with the Author - September 24, 2015

True statement. 

Coming up with a general idea for a character, and how they fit into a story, is easy. 

Going into details and fitting all those pieces together, now THAT'S hard. 

There are TONS of sites you can go to and find character charts and questionnaires to fill out for each character. I tried this with the characters in my Irish Treasures Saga. There were so many characters, spread through each book, that I felt like I had to put them down on paper individually. 

Especially in a series, with multiple characters making appearances in all the books, it's VERY easy to start merging character traits and mannerisms with other characters.

Your women might start to lift an eyebrow the same way. Your men might clench their jaw in the same expression of frustration. The way they speak, joke, move, might start to blur. It is VERY important to make sure your characters stay INDIVIDUALS. Each person has a voice, their own mannerisms, and quirks. You don't want to get those mixed up with another character. Believe me, your readers WILL notice.

So how do you keep your character's individuality throughout your book or books?

Make a character chart for each main character.

Start with the basics.

- Name

* Full name

*Nickname

- Date/Location of birth

- Language(s)

* Include dialect, slurs, speech impediments, accents, etc.

- Location

- Sexuality/Relationship status

- Get physical

*height, weight, skin color/tone, eye color, hair color/style/texture, glasses/contacts, braces/retainer

You need to know these things to be able to describe well.

- Get really physical

Not everyone is has a body like a god/goddess.

*Chest size (for women) 

They aren't all perky double D's. Actually, hardly anyone is perky after an A cup unless they're fake. ;)

*Muscles (for men) 

This takes work; men don't have sculpted abs and fearsome biceps without a lot of hard work.

*Toned/fit. 

This is more believable.

*Flabby/overweight

This is very common.

*If you're writing anything with adult scenes you need to know your character's attributes below-the-belt as well.

Not every man is well endowed. Not every woman is a model under her clothes.

- Get in their head

* Mental State

Optimist or Pessimist? High strung, mellow, a little bit of both? Racing thoughts? Go-to sarcasm? Dry humor? Depressed? Low self-esteem? Full of themselves?

*Fears/Phobias

We all know why Bruce Wayne was afraid of bats.

*Beliefs

Religious? Atheist? Agnostic? Non-committal? Pagan?

- Everybody has a quirk

(or multiple quirks) the list is practically endless.

* Lift an eyebrow? 

Think Angelina Jolie, David Tennant, The Rock, Vivien frickin' Leigh

* Foot tapper?

* Nail biter?

*Teeth grinder/jaw clencher

*Nervous speaker

*Obsessive Compulsive

*Angry outbursts

*Mouth like a sailor

*Prideful

- Plan for the future

Everybody has goals, short and long-term.

*Save for a new car or a house

*Get married and start a family

*Get a paycheck every week to pay the bills

*Get to Friday

*Start a business

*Get a degree

- Home life

*Aesthetic

Modern? Expensive? Whatever's cheap? Vintage?

- Attire

*Expensive tastes? Runway fashion? Comfort clothes? Dresses/Skirts? Suit and tie? Jeans and flannels? Western attire?

- Habits

*Everyday habits

Wake up at the same time, brushes teeth for five minutes, 2 cups of coffee before work, same cereal for breakfast, 30 minute shower, stomach sleeper, couch potato, etc.

*Bad habits

cigarettes, e-cig/vape, cigars, drinker, fast-food junkie, shop-a-holic, big spender, credit cards, etc.

- The past is the past. Except YOU need to know it.

*Relationships

crushes, old flames, exes

*Family

On good terms? Don't speak? Very close? Sees once a year?

*Memories/Events

Major accident or trauma? Death of a loved one? Abused? 

- Transportation

* Car, truck, bus, train, airplane, walker, bike, motorcycle?

- Career

* Current career

Do they love it or hate it? 

*Preferred career

What do they want to do in the future?

- Likes/Favorites

*Sports/Team

*Food

*Location/Vacation spot

*Drink/Food

*Book/Movie/TV/Song

*Curse Word/Phrase

- Skills/Talents

*Play an instrument, sports talent, genius, artist, writer, singer, dancer?

Now these are just the basics when it comes to figuring out your characters. But how do you put it into practice?

When you write a character, you're creating a living, breathing person... in your head. You have to imagine him or her like they were standing next to you. 

If your hero was your husband or wife, what kind of things would you notice? Think of your own significant other. What are some of the more prominent traits and mannerisms that come to your head. Write that down.

For the character that's the same sex as yourself, if you were that character, what things would you want other people to notice, attribute to who you are? What makes you unique? Write that down.

For your girl friend, best friend, childhood friend, co-workers, family, etc. Picture the ones in your life. What do you notice? Write it down.

You have to imagine these characters in everyday life. What would they do? How would they react. How do they make you laugh, cry, love? Those are the most important thing to know about your characters while you write.

Need inspiration? Go to the store, Starbucks, a park. Try to observe the people around you (without looking like a creep). See how they interact with others. Do they talk to themselves? Laugh a lot? Snort? Smile non-stop? Use those things as inspiration and your book won't feel like a book, it will feel real.

Using Pinterest as an Author Platform - Thursdays with the Author

Pinterest

One word and you're already expecting to get lost pinning hundreds of ideas for hours at a time. 

It's that addicting. 

So why aren't more authors using it?

Maybe because they're getting just as lost as the average pinner?

Pinterest has exploded in the last five years and doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. Crafters, moms, wedding planners, DIYers, designers, artists, and even authors, are using the site as a mecca for ideas. Even other social media sites are being used for pins. Just check out my Fan Canon folder and see all the Harry Potter fan canons being pinned from Tumblr. Pins can be seen all over Facebook and Twitter. Most websites now give the option to pin what you've just looked at.

There are over 72 million people that use Pinterest. 72 MILLION. That's a lot of people you could be reaching by using Pinterest as an author platform.

So how do you use it as an author platform?

1) Have Your Author Pinterest Account Separate From Your Personal One.
You've seen this before in my How Social Media Can Help You Become A Better Writer post. On ANY social media site, your personal page and author page should be completely separate. Business vs private. Your readers, your customers, do not want to see your personal drama splashed on every corner of the Internet. It works the same for your author Pinterest account. Avoid the personal pinning: recipes to try, DIY ideas, wedding planning. Unless it directly relates to something you're currently working on, don't pin it. If it is related to what you're working on, separate your pins into boards that make it obvious to your readers...

2) Label Your Boards. Your books, your social media links/contacts, writing tips you want to share, motivation, books you read, authors you recommend, story inspiration, etc. When you create each board and the pins to go in them, remember that your readers and followers will be basing who you are as an author on what you are putting on your page. I have boards titled: My Books, Contact the Author, Writer's Ramblings Blog, Guest Blog Posts, Who Would Play My Characters, Writing Blogs and Websites, Marketing Tips, Writing Tips, Motivation, Publishing Tips, and so much more. Each Board has tons of pins on the topic that I, and other authors, can use to become better at our profession.
Side note: Make sure your board cover photo is a good one. You want something easily read and understood as the first thing someone sees on your boards.

3) Organize Your Boards

This is important. There needs to be some type of method to your madness. Your first boards should be about you as an author. The books you have out (pin links to your sales pages), how to contact you, your blog (if you have one, and you should). The next ones should be about writing as a profession: marketing, publishing, writing, motivation, etc. Next: You as a person. What makes you tic? What are your likes and dislikes? Favorite books, quotes, movies, etc. Readers want to know more about you as well as read your books. Next: Story inspirations. Character inspiration, story inspiration, recipes, art, etc. I have boards for Historical Research, Historical Scottish Research, and All Things Irish. IE: Things I write about often.

4) Make The 'About You' section short but memorable. 

Like Twitter, you only get so many words to describe who you are. 'I'm an author' is not enough to hold anybody's attention. Here's mine: I'm an author, wife, mother, blogger, pinning addict, wannabe Betty Crocker, 'zookeeper', and avid reader from Illinois.

5) 'Clean' Your Pins Often
Everybody hates repetition. And broken links. Check your pins often. Make sure you aren't doubling up, using broken links, or using out-dated information.

6) Make Use Of The 'Private Boards'
Most people use these these for dirty jokes they don't want their mom to see. You can use this for story ideas you don't want to give away, dirty jokes ;), things that have nothing to do with writing, etc. Things that make you look unprofessional as an author, but normal as a person, should go in your private boards.

7) Find and Pin Other Authors
In the author's world, the phrase 'You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.' seems to be an unspoken motto. Writing and publishing, especially in the self-published and indie-published world, is NOT a cut-throat business. Authors will go out of their way to help someone out. Use this to your (and their) advantage. Pin other authors, other author's books, other author's writing tips, other author's blogs, etc. Follow their boards, or their page. You'll find that they'll return the favor AND bring in new readers/fans from their own pages.

8) DO NOT SPAM

I cannot stress the importance of this one enough. Authors, writers, publishers, readers, fans: EVERYONE HATES SPAM. Don't use your Pinterest account as a diving board for jumping on top of everyone. Post your blog, post your books, but LEAVE IT AT THAT. Pinterest isn't going to sell your books for you. But Pinterest CAN sell you as an author, writer, and otherwise, pretty cool person. It will lead back to book sales eventually, but that's not the goal in creating an author platform via Pinterest. Gaining interest in YOU is the goal.

You can check out my Pinterest page here: AuthorAMeredith 


Now that you've got some great tips on using Pinterest as an author platform, get out there and START PINNING! :)

Weekend Review - Defective by Susan Sofayov

I know it's not currently the weekend, but honestly, I couldn't wait to write this post. :)



I'll start off right away with my rating and review of Defective. It's 5 out of 5 stars for me. Honestly I couldn't put it down. I mean, I did. I couldn't let the family starve, and the stack of dishes was starting to stink, but as soon as I could, I was picking it back up. Such a great novel. 


Amazon review of Defective:

Wonderful, wonderful story!

I received a copy of Defective in exchange for a honest review.

I give this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

Usually, when I'm reading for a review, I nit-pick the entire thing, making notes as I read it. Not the case with Defective. I could not put it down. From page one, I connected with maggie, feeling her pain, fears, and despair. I wanted to find answers with her. I felt relief when she did. And her happy ending felt like MY happy ending.

Susan has written a touching story, bringing to lift hard issues that many people face. If I hadn't known this was her debut novel, I'd say she's been on the New York Times best seller lists for years. Well done Susan!


*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *


Warning: Possible spoilers ahead!!!!!


A more detailed review of Defective:

The story centers around young Maggie, a law school student with an evil twin living in her head. From the start, you know something is wrong but you aren't looking at it objectively. You're in Maggie's head, listening to that evil voice spewing venomous thoughts. You FEEL lost in the darkness. And when her fiance, Sam, leaves her because of her seemingly split personality, it finally spurs Maggie to try and find some answers to her problems.

Finally, through visits to a therapist and psychiatrist, Maggie discovers what was wrong all along. She's bipolar 2, and there's hope that medicine can bring some normalcy to her life. But Maggie's idea of normal is having Sam back in her life, though it's becoming increasingly clear that a re-do of her life is not going to happen. Even if you've never been there, fighting to salvage a lost relationship, you FEEL like you know exactly how it is. In the back of your mind, you know there's nothing you can do, but you convince yourself that there's a chance.

Throughout this chaos, Maggie discovers secrets that her family has buried for years. Secrets that could have given her answers to her problems years ago. Bitterness threatens, but Maggie intends to never let secrets plague her family again. Through some great friends (and cousins), Maggie begins to think about a fling she had years ago, and finally reconnects with Nick, now an orthopedic doctor. Though Maggie's brain insists she's only having a friendly conversations, that all changes when Nick knocks on her door one day. The back of her mind still insists that life with Sam is possible though, and her willingness to listen to that one thought, ruins things with Nick.

Maggie finally sees the truth after a desperate conversation with Sam. She sees that he was never the one, and in that moment realizes that it had always been Nick from the start. Then comes a mad dash to find Nick and fix everything. You'll feel your own heart pounding as she races to catch up with him and the sigh of relief when he wraps his arms around her again.

When I started Defective, I assumed it was not going to be a happily-ever-after type story. Mental illness is difficult to diagnose and treat, and for some, even with help, they lose themselves in the darkness, permanently. It was great to see a good ending to what could've been a tragic story. I feel that Defective could not only be a great read, but also inspirational to those that struggle with their own minds. I cannot reiterate how much I loved this story.


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NOW, some information about Susan!

Susan Sofayov lives in scenic, Pittsburgh, PA and runs a real estate management/development company with her husband.  She is the mother of three children and the owner of the most hated dog in the neighborhood.   


You can find Susan here:
defectivethenovel.com 
Twitter  
Goodreads
Facebook
YouTube


You can find Defective here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Black Opal Books
Kobo Books



And a little more about Susan:



What inspired you to write your first book?  

A combination of events inspired me to write the book, but the most important was my own diagnosis of bipolar 2 disorder at age 46. I wanted people to understand that though not curable, mental illness, in many cases, can be controlled and people with mental illnesses are everywhere, living productive lives. I'll stop now. This is a subject I can ramble on about forever. But, if you read the book and see yourself in Maggie, please reach out for help.   



What do you think is more important: Characters or Plot? 

I think they're both important, but for me, characters are easier to write.    



What does your family think of your writing?  

Well, my mother is a one-woman marketing department. My daughter is a terrific beta reader. My sons are waiting for the Spark notes, and my husband claims he’ll read it when it’s translated into his native language, which is not English. Sad to say, but my only brother passed away two months before the release of Defective. The book is dedicated to him and my father.  



If you could cast your main character(s) in a Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would land the roles?   

Wow, that’s a hard one. These characters are completely real to me, asking the question is almost the same as asking me who would play my husband and children. I’ll give it a try. I think Jennifer Lawrence would make a great Maggie. Amanda Seyfried could play Stephanie. I think Anna Kendrick would make a good Amy. I don’t have any idea who could plan Sam or Nick.     



As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

Taller, just kidding. Honestly, I remember a whole list of things I wanted to be. Even now, if I could go back to college, I’d still be undecided. There are so many things that interest me, which is evident by the wide variety of jobs I’ve held.  
  


What do you like to do when you aren't writing? 

Cook, read, spend time with my family and friends.  



What is a talent you have that no one knows?  

It’s so secret, I don’t even know what it is.



What is one tip you'd give to up & coming authors?  

One, join a critique group or find a critique partner who has different strengths than you do. Personally, I can’t use a comma properly to save my life, but I’m pretty good at identifying plot issues. My critique group inserts commas into my work and I help plug their plot holes. Also, go to conferences! They're worth the money. 



If you could spend the day with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why? 

 My dad. He died many years ago. I would like to introduce him to my husband and his grandchildren. Also, I think he would be thrilled with all the technology we have today.  



10) What's next for you?  

I just finished my second novel, The Kiddush Ladies.