Cover Love....Release

Release by M.R. Merrick

Now just take a minute to look at it. Go ahead I'll wait.

I love the detail that went into this cover. We have a funnel cloud, cascading water, a whirlpool, lightning and ancient ruins. This cover packs a punch and I don't know about you, but I am very excited to see what it all means. Here is the synopsis...

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father.  Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

Release is part three in the Protecter series and we can get our hands on it December 10th, 2012.

For more on M.R. Merrick and the Protecter series you can visit his website and Goodreads

Book one is Exiled and book two is Shift. 

Book Breakups

Sometimes, as much as we hate to admit, we have to accept the fact that things just aren't working out.
Book Breakups is hosted by Lori at Pure Imagination.

Lets start with saying that I probably give up on books way too easy. I have very limited reading time, about thirty minutes a day. I give all books the 50 page test. If I'm hooked I continue. If not, hasta la vista, baby.

Endlessly~This was tough to let go. I wanted to love it more than anything. Evie is my number one book bff. I listened to books one and two on my ipod and absolutely loved both stories. But I fell in love the Endlessly's cover and wanted it on my shelf.

It took me about two weeks to read 150 pages. I like the direction the story was going, but it just wasn't keeping my attention. I really think it was because I loved the audible version so much and I missed the spunky narrator.

I will probably revisit this story in the future and give it one more try.

Not everyone feels this way. If this book is on your TBR list please read this glowing review from Mundie Moms.

Tithe~ This has been on my list for many years. I love faeries and love the idea of them being mystical and manipulative.

The writing in this book is solid. I got very clear images and the main character, Kaye, is definitely unique. She is edgy and is not afraid to be herself. Tithe is gritty, and I like that.

But there is a lot of set up. I read 50 pages and only got one little taste of what the story was going to be about. I'm sure this was all done for a reason that pays off in the end, but I got bored. The character has some great early development but I needed more of the story.

Not everyone feels this way. At the time of this post there are 139 five star reviews on Amazon.

Writing Tip of the Week...Concrete or Cement?

As a writer, I know the importance of research and how important it is to be accurate. Being that I am such a helpful person I thought I would bring some clarification to something I read all the time.

How many times have you read in a book, for example, "She blah blah blah and hit her head on the cement." or "I dropped it on the cement floor." Get the idea? Well, the correct thing to say would be concrete.

To clarify, concrete and cement are not the same thing. Cement is a powder and an ingredient in concrete. You could say it is like adding flour to cookies.

Is this inaccuracy ever going to make or break a deal? No, but I see it all the time. It is a common misconception that many highly trained, top notch editors even miss.


**disclaimer**

This post is based on my own experience with the books I have read. I am not saying all editors miss this. But in my personal library the wrong term is used probably 80% of the time.

Book Recommendations

Today I bring you not one, but three very enjoyable reads. I did not write in depth reviews for them, not that they do not deserve them, I've just been busy working on my manuscript and do not have the time. But these are three books I have recently read and I wanted to showcase them.

First up, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

flap copy~ Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.
When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.
Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her . . . and only she can save the future.

This book has been reviewed and featured about a million times and now I know why. It's fabulous. The world building, character development and setting are superb. I read it on my Kindle and will be purchasing the hard back copy to add to my favorites shelf. I loved it.


Second, Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

flap copy~ Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.
Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.
But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.

Ahh fantasy...my true passion. Melina Marchetta knows how to make every word count. I was about 150 pages in and so much had gone on I felt like already read an entire novel. She really packed this book with action and delivered a unique and enjoyable story.


And last, but definitely not the least, Scent of a White Rose by Tish Thawer

from Amazon~ A vampire's love... An innocent's guilt... A secret no one could've imagined... 
What if vampires were the good guys and a human girl was the one to fear?
Scent of a White Rose is a paranormal romance that entices with a heroine that isn't quite what she seems, a vampire who's love story is filled with dark surprises, and a vampire clan who's Sire has lost the ability to inflict "the change".
~ ROSE ~ I'm Rose Reynolds. I have recently lost my Mom in a "freak accident". Now everyone sees me as an innocent girl.... a "white Rose". But I have a secret that no one can imagine. I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks...
~ CHRISTIAN ~ I'm Christian and I'm in love with Rose. I also have a secret as old as time.I'm a vampire. No, she doesn't know...yet. But when our new Sire is revealed, I'll petition them to change her. Because truly, I can't live without her...

As I recover from my Eric Northman withdrawals and gear up for my Damon Salvator addiction, Christian was gentleman enough to step in to help fill the void. I love vampires and this book is great. Rose and Christian are very likable characters that I became very attached to. If you're looking for a vampire fix, check this out. It is the first in a series and I am definitely reading book two.

What To Expect When Pitching

So you're ready to pitch your book to an agent and you've signed up for a writers conference. I hope you enjoy mental torture. But then if you are a writer it is obvious you do.

Make sure to read the agent bio's to find the perfect fit for your manuscript. Pitch sessions are not free and the last thing you want to do is sign up for someone who does not even represent what your trying to sell. This may sound obvious but I talked to people that did this. Then the next thing you're going to need is an engaging pitch. Need help with that? Here is a link to "How to Craft a Winning Book Pitch" from the San Francisco Writing University. There you will find a step-by-step format that's easy to follow. I used it and two out of the three people I pitched to requested partials.

At the 2012 Willamette Writers conference I attended a panel where selected participants got the opportunity to practice their pitch to agents and get instant feedback. I personally did not say my pitch but I got to listen and hear the suggestions given to those who did. I think that is where I learned the most valuable thing I learned from the entire conference and I am going to share it with you. EVERY AGENT IS DIFFERENT AND YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PLEASE THEM ALL.

Though all were gracious and kind, they did differ on opinions on what they liked. Some said keep it loose while the agent next to them said give it more structure. Some said give a personal bio while the next person said, "If I don't care about your character I won't care about you." This went on about many different things, so I have this suggestion. Craft your pitch to the best of your ability and pitch it until you find someone thats like you and your style. Those agents are out there, but you just may have to search.

There was one thing that ALL agreed on. They must care about the character.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A PITCH SESSION...
The Willamette Writers sessions went like this. At check in you get your name tag. On the back of that is your schedule. Your times are predetermined before your arrival. If you are attending a work shop and need to leave early for your session they just ask you sit near the back and leave with a minimal disturbance to others.

Sessions started every fifteen minutes. All the agents/editors were in the same room (the grand ball room to be exact) and each at an individual table. Out side of this room was an area with seats and refreshments while you waited your turn. When your time came up a coordinator opened the flood gate and all of us aspiring writers spilled into the room.

From there you have ten minutes. I introduced myself, let the agent/editor know why I picked them and jumped into my pitch. Now lets back up a second. The way I let them know why I chose them was very casual. I complimented their book and/or blog.  I did not go on and on, but I wanted  them know I stalked researched them and their agency so they did not think I chose them at random.

After my pitch they jumped in and asked questions. I got asked things like, is it dark, is it edgy, is there romance, how many subplots, it is a series, and what makes this stand out from every other book out there. I suggest you make a list of everything you think they might ask so you don't freeze.

During the session a person announces the time remaining so you know when to start wrapping things up. Then when the ten minutes is up, you leave. If they want to hear more they will give you their card and tell you what to send. It may be a query, synopsis and/or a certain number of pages.

I attended one group session and it was the hardest. There were six of us at the table with the agent and you get two to three minutes to sell yourself. It seemed very rushed and unless you have a dynamic pitch don't waste your time. Because if you don't, you don't have the time to talk causally about your book and let them know other key qualities you could not fit into your pitch. Plus, if the person before you argues with them, (yes this actually happened to me) they don't have time to cool off before it's your turn.

One other thing I feel I should mention is, do not pitch unless your book is done and ready to be read. I did meet a couple people that went to pitch their "idea". Do not do this. Unless your are well established and successful in the industry, you will have to be prepared to hand over a finished manuscript.

 Remember, they want to say yes. We just need to give them something to say yes to.

I Survived the 2012 Willamette Writers Conference

I feel like I should get a t-shirt made or something, because surviving attending the 2012 Willamette Writers Conference is something I will never forget.

As previously mentioned I pitched my manuscript to three different people. "So tell us already, what the heck happened?"

Well... two out of the three asked for partials. Yay for me. They have been sent and I should expect a response in about eight weeks. Now lets hurry up and wait.

As a first time conference attendee I had no idea what to expect. In the next few days I will post an in depth "what to expect when pitching" post.  I would have included it with this but it will be lengthy and I want to dedicate the entire post to it.

Over all I met some great new people and participated in some extremely educational workshops. This was mental torture a huge learning experience. If you write I recommend you attend at least one conference in your writing life time. It is one thing to talk to other writers on line, but it does not compare to being surrounded by a thousand other like minded people. It was a place I didn't need to justify what I do "gosh Kriston, you've become a social pariah" or listen to someone humor me. "Oh you write, what a nice hobby".  Hobby?! You better step off cause I will hurt you. I walked away from with this with a new sense of ownership and confidence.

Going Into Lock Down

It is rather obvious my posts have been pretty sparse lately. Life caught up with me and as of recent I have been secluded in my writing cave. I recently joined the Willamette Writers association and am attending their annual conference.

I have been diligently working on my manuscript and decided to see if she is good enough to be introduced into the world.

As far as deciding on the conference...that is very last minute. Every year I flirt with the idea of going and chicken out in the end I decide against it. After some encouragement from  a fellow writer/friend I decided it was time. After all, what do I have to loose? Pride, self respect. Nothing. I only stand to gain as I plan on attending every workshop possible and meeting as many writers as I can.

Oh ya...I'm also pitching my book to two agents and an editor. And these are not your average agents/editor. These are three very talented ladies who have all worked with  reputable and well known authors. Two of the authors they have worked with have been featured on my blog receiving high praise and glowing reviews.

I feel like I am in over my head a bit, but this is my dream and I'm going for it. Since signing up for this I have either been too busy or nervous to even eat. It has turned out to be a great diet plan. I will be back after the conference, August 3rd, to share everything I learned and experienced. I'm sure most of the posts will be more like, "What not to do at a conference", or  "Things you should never say during a pitch".

Any writers out there attend any conferences? What should I expect? I would love to hear how it was for you.

Be Careful What You Ask For

When I was a newbie blogger one thing that really impressed me was reading reviews for books yet to be released. After asking a few blogger friends I learned about the fabulous service NetGalley offers.

NetGalley offers professional readers Advance Reading Copies (ARC) for review.

Oh wow! A place you can requests ARC's, and if approved receive them for free! Here we go. Step one, create account. Step two, browse and request books. Step three, read and post your raving review about the most recent, pre-released books.

Steps one and two were no problem. Step three is where I hit the snag. For the first year my blog was poorly designed (I did it myself and I'm not the most visually creative) and had around thirty followers. Coincidentally, I was denied all of my requests. Fine, whatever.  

Time went on, I got some experience under my belt,  a professional blog design and a few hundred readers found their way to my little piece of the cyber world. I was posting regularly and decided to give NetGalley another shot. I requested all the books that interested me.

I hit the lottery. I got approved for all my requests. Yippee! The next thing I knew I had six books for review. For many book bloggers that is a small number, but for me that was plenty. I still had my own ever growing "to be read" pile, a job and my own book to write. 

Book one started out okay. It was not nearly as good as I hoped but I soldiered on. When I hit page fifty I could not force myself to read one more page. But I felt I owed the publisher a review, after all they graciously gave me the copy for free. The bad thing was I did not like the book. I was left with two options. 

Option one: Finish the book and review it. Sounds easy enough. But life is short and I did not want to waste my time reading a book I did not like.

Option two: Stick in on the shelf and move on. I went with option two.  Then I posted on NetGalley and in place of my review I told the publisher I would not be reviewing their book, because I could not even finish it and did not want to write a complete review based on fifty pages. Moving on...

I tried reading two more books and did not like them. By the time I started book four, the story was awesome but so poorly formatted it was hard to follow. At that time I decided I would no longer request ARC's from NetGalley because I was not following through with anything I committed myself to. It also zapped some of the fun out of reading. In a way I felt like it turned reading into a job. I started my blog for entertainment. Not more work. NetGalley is a wonderful service and many bloggers love and appreciate it. Unfortunately it is not for me.

Some times I get a little jealous when I see reviews for certain upcoming releases. I just remind myself that I already tried that route. Plus waiting for certain books is exciting. I always have something to look forward to.