Super secret that is going to be awesome

I am holding a secret and practically bursting at the seams over it!

I was given the awesome honor of reading M.R. Polish's newest creation, Ageless Sea, before publication and let me tell you, it is amazing.

And I'm not just saying that because I'm saying it, I'm saying it because it's true. I am very picky with my fantasy and quickly get turned off my plot lines or characters that have been done before. Ageless Sea is a true original, with complex characters and a breath-takingly new plotline. It is the kind of book that you are going to want to read over and over again so you can catch all of the little nuances.

Besides, you are going to want this cover on your bookshelf/Nookshelf/Kindle shelf. How gorgeous is this?

If you haven't guessed yet, the secret has to do with Ageless Sea. The surprise will be revealed May 1st (hmm which is also my wedding anniversary, good timing Ms. Polish ;)  ) so make sure to check back then!

Ageless Sea can be purchased through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com and the author does have an  authorgraph available.

For more information on Ageless Sea, see M.R. Polish's blog, http://www.mrpolishauthor.com/

Book signing plan

My book signing is 8 1/2 days away and I'm collecting as much information as I can so that I can get through it, no, ENJOY it.

My surface emotion on the book signing is elation, joy, and I may have jumped up and down (literally) when I got the confirmation email. But then it kicked in...book signing...interacting with people...the unknown...eep!

I get very anxious in these kinds of situations. So anxious that I often just avoid them completely. Whether it is something big and life-changing like an interview for a coveted job, or I just dropped my car off at a new mechanic for an oil change, I panic. I didn't even realize that the phrase "panic attack" was actually what I was feeling, is felt by other people, and there are things I can do to fix/help it.

Of course, going to the doctor also makes me anxious, so I haven't done that and now it's too late for the signing, so here is my game-plan for how to thoroughly enjoy my author signing!

1) Ample time to get the jitters out. - My current plan is to get there 1 hour before my scheduled time so that I have plenty of time to prepare my table, walk around the building, and get all of the jitters/anxiety out before people start coming in.

2) Having some friendly faces - Just like the advice to have a friend in the audience when performing, I have a few friends who are going to stop by to say hi during this. It will help ground me and remind me that I am very social once I stop being shy.

3) Practice questions in my head - While I don't know what questions people will ask, I can make a list of one's I can anticipate and have answers. That way I won't feel quite so "deer caught in the headlights"

Things I am going to include on my table are : My rack cards (with my picture, my bio, then book info about The Lady of Steinbrekka), my bookmarks (which are awesome, thanks to the wonderful design of Elizabeth Sharp over at Sharp Images), my business cards (from VistaPrint), and a bowl of candy.

(Oh, a tip to those who may be reading this prior to doing their own signing. Ask if it's okay to bring in candy, and make sure it is individually wrapped. I asked the event coordinator if candy was okay and she said she was extremely grateful that I asked about bringing food into a library instead of just assuming it would be fine.)

Do you have any tips? What would you like to see at an author signing?

Reading club!

In more good news, I just received word that The Lady of Steinbrekka is going to be the featured book for the LCPS-FHS Fiction Reading Club for the month of May! The Fiction Club is a group of teachers who meet weekly to read, discuss, and socialize.

The Lady of Steinbrekka is also one of the featured books for the 2014-2015 Battle of the Books! This is a reading competition held by the high schools in Loudoun County, VA. Students on the teams are responsible for reading, learning, and retaining the information from 10 different books in a variety of genres. I have had the privilege of working in one of the Battles in the past and, let me tell you, the facts these kids remember are pretty amazing. I am thrilled and really proud of The Lady of Steinbrekka being selected for this competition, especially because the panel who selects the books are made up of Reading Specialists and Librarians from the school system!

I was even able to give them a bit of information about self-publishing. The Lady of Steinbrekka was originally slated for the 2013-2014 school year (next year), however none of the people who do the book ordering had ever ordered from a self-published author before. They moved The Lady of Steinbrekka to the next year under the assumption that they would have to order the books from me, and I would then have to print them (through Kinkos, Staples, etc) and then deliver them to the schools.

They were pretty blown away when they realized that a self-published author doesn't have to print their own materials, and that they could simply order the books through Amazon or CreateSpace without any issues. Once we get into next year, I am going to write the event organizers and see if they would be interested in me presenting about self-publication and how it is a viable option for writers in this day and age.

Upcoming events

Guess what guys?

I have just received word that I was accepted to be one of the featured authors for the Cascades Library Local Author's Fair! This event will take place Saturday, May 5th at the Cascades Library in Sterling, Virginia. Authors spanning generations, experience, and genres will be gathering to speak with their fans, make some new connections, and spread the love of reading and writing to all who attend.

If you come to the library between 10am and 1pm, I will be there selling signed copies of The Lady of Steinbrekka, offering complimentary bookmarks to all who attend, as well as offering advice about self-publishing.

Authors will be present for book signings from 10am to 5pm. There will also be two panel discussions occurring during the day. The first discussion, "Writers, technology, and the future" will be held from 11am to 12:15pm. The second discussion, "Inspiration: Insight on what motivates us to write" will be held from 2pm to 3:15pm.

Spread the word, and I hope to see you there! This is going to be an incredible event.

Why Indie rocks! - Bethany Lopez

Welcome to another post in the Why Indie Rocks! series. Today's guest author extraordinaire is the wonderful 

Bethany Lopez.

1) When did you first begin to write as an Indie-author/self-published author?

 I began writing in Oct 2010. I didn't release Ta Ta for Now!, my Contemporary YA, until June 2011.

2) Why did you decide to go the Indie-author/self-publishing route?

 I didn't even know it was an option when I began to write. I queried Agents and dealt with the rejections that came along with that. When I learned about publishing through Amazon from my Uncle. I decided to give it a try. I had no idea what I was getting in to. I learned so much in the six months after I self- published, and I met some amazing people who helped me along the way.

3) What are some advantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-published author? 

Control is a big one. I'm kind of a control freak, so it works for me. I like being able to choose my covers, how I want to market, and when I want to release my books.

4) What are some of the disadvantages to being an Indie-Author/Self-Published author? 

A dream of mine has always been to see my books in a bookstore. You can still make that happen by consignment, or doing an event in a store, but not to the same extent that you could if you were traditionally published.

5) What is your best advice to someone who wants to break into the Indie world?

 Build your platform prior to your book release. Start a Facebook Page, a Twitter Account, a Pinterest, and any other social media outlet that interests you. Start a blog. Get to know other writers,bloggers, and readers, before you start marketing yourself or your book. Pay it forward, as they say. No one wants to deal with a new writer who hasn't done their research, doesn't know anyone, and introduces themselves by pushing their work down our throats. That may sound harsh, but it's not meant to. We are a wonderful, generous, and friendly group, get to know us! Now I say this because I didn't go this route. As I said, I knew nothing about Self Publishing before I did it. I'm just trying to make it easier for you than it was for me. Laura Howard is a perfect example of doing this wonderfully. Her book isn't out yet, but she is a strong presence in this community.




Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale is a YA Contemporary Fantasy and will release on April 23rd.

P.S. (How cool is that cover! Gorgeous!)

Want to know more about Bethany? You can find her at any of these locations

Beyond the Western Sun give-away!

Readers - now is your chance to get Kristina Circelli's Beyond the Western Sun for FREE! This great giveaway only lasts April 13th - 17th, so get your copy today by clicking here.

Get Your FREE Copy Here!

Beyond the Western Sun is Book One in The Whisper Legacy, a thrilling adventure into Native American lore. Filled with otherworldly creatures, incredible journeys, and a powerful woman who embraces her dark destiny, this novel is the read you've been looking for. And did I mention it's free?

Check out the blurb below!

A gripping journey into the heart of Native American legend, "Beyond the Western Sun" follows the epic struggle of Whisper, a young female Cherokee apprentice, on a harrowing adventure into the Land of the Dead to save the captive son of Ian Diavya. Together they face insurmountable odds, conquer terrible demons, and in the process, find a strength and courage within themselves neither knew possible. What they don't know is that these early adventures are only tests, for to save Ian's son, they must also stop the evil-minded Raven-Eater from unleashing his Army of the Dead to destroy the living world.

As the Army of the Dead marches closer to the Western Sun, as Whisper leads them deeper into the Land of the Dead, and as the truth behind Cole's death is slowly revealed, Ian discovers that the fate of both worlds depends on his courage, his humility, and the life of his son.

An epic saga of hope, redemption, and undying love, "Beyond the Western Sun" is what all fantasy adventures must strive to be: a complex, intricate examination of human emotion set within the context of worlds known only in our imagination. And in this regard, "Beyond the Western Sun" is a stunning achievement. Melding fantasy and legend in an epic quest, the third novel of her young career signals the arrival of Kristina Circelli as a master storyteller. Creating the indelible character of Whisper, vividly portraying the worlds that she and Ian must traverse to accomplish their goal, and capturing their human frailties, hopes and fears with depth and touching sincerity, Circelli reminds us with stunning precision the greatness we are all capable of, and the heavy price our actions can rend.

Meet the Author

Kristina Circelli is the author of two series, the Helping Hands Legacy and the Whisper Legacy, as well as stand-alone novels, "The Never" and "The Sour Orange Derby", and "Dungeon", a short story. A descendant of the Cherokee nation, Circelli holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida.

First in the Whisper Legacy series, "Beyond the Western Sun," is steeped in the spoken narratives of Native American lore, and is at once a gripping story of a father's love and his search for redemption as well as a written record of a Nation's belief system. Part adventure, part myth, and altogether riveting, the third novel from Kristina Circelli signifies the emergence of an important voice in Native American literature.

From her extraordinary ability to vividly create heretofore-unknown worlds to her engaging prose, Circelli's "Beyond the Western Sun" is a landmark novel from one of the freshest new voices in all of contemporary American fiction.      

Where to Contact

Email: Website: Blog: An Awfully Big Adventure

Twitter: @KCircelli

Character Spotlight - The Aos Si

    The Aos Si, or Sisters of Mourning, are three women who reside in the rocky cliff of Steinbrekka. Cursed to a life within their stone prison, Sorella, Nina and Leora lament the evil that has spread over the realm of Kaldalangra. They have made it their calling to watch over the souls of the damned, people sent to their deaths by the evil King Verikhan.

    While their silver-white hair, porcelain skin and piercing blue eyes give the Aos Si a spectral appearance, the sisters are, in fact, alive. Trapped within their curse, they cannot die, but instead are doomed for an immortal life of pain and grief for the souls they could not save.

    Immediately loved by the sisters, Rhea stumbles into their lair after the King sends her to Steinbrekka to break her sanity, or end her life. After stumbling through a strange door in the rock wall, she meets the sisters and gains strength from their song.

    The story of the Aos Si will be continued further in the fourth book of the Kaldalangran series, Grace of Kaldalangra, due to be released summer 2014.