BOOK REVIEW BY @COLLEENCHESEBRO OF “The Reach of the Banyan Tree” @SASSEVN

Title: The Reach of the Banyan Tree

Author: Mark W. Sasse

Publisher: Mark W Sasse (June 29, 2014)

ISBN-10: 1499713002

ASIN: B00LE5MNP0

http://mwsasse.com/

Pages: 301

Genre: Historical romance, Contemporary romance, Fiction, Historical fiction

*A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, which follows.

I was instantly transported back into time to August 1945, French Indochina, where Charles Regal Carson, an American soldier with the OSS Deer Team, was tasked to assist Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen to fight against the Imperialist Japanese in World War II. What ensues is a hauntingly lovely contemporary romance filled with suspense and intrigue that brought me to tears, as I lived through the lives of Charles (Cha Le), Mai, Long, Thuy, and Charles III.

From there, Charles’ (Cha Le’s) story unfolds through the chaotic life of his grandson, Charles Regal Carson III, (Chip) who in the year 2000 left the family oil business to pursue his own ventures in Vietnam. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Vietnam, Chip falls in love with a young woman named Thuy. Their love leads them on a journey of discovery though cultural differences, language barriers, and age old traditions that lead them to face some ultimate truths in their own lives.

This romance spans fifty years through three generations of American men whose lives are interwoven through the women they love, their courage to face reality, and the lifetime friendships they forged. I loved the richness of the characters and the rites of passage into adult-hood that each endured.

The banyan tree plays an integral part in this story. To me the banyan tree represented the hearts of the people of Vietnam. The tree celebrates life by leading you through the lives of Chip, his father, and his grandfather representing the reach of family ties through the generations. I also gained a new insight into the ancient culture of Vietnam where family loyalty at all costs is still represented in modern society.

Sasse’s descriptions of the Vietnamese countryside placed me within the story. I could see the emerald green rice paddies, and I could feel the heat and humidity that is Vietnam. At times, I felt like I could even taste the food and wine, so detailed were the descriptions.

The cultural and societal differences between Vietnam and America were an uncomfortable truth I had to reconcile with myself. Women in many Asian cultures are not valued as much as males are. I was struck by how the death of the only male child in the family was viewed as a total sense of failure for the family. The loss was such a deep scar that it consumed them and left them unable to move forward. I was awed that these feelings and beliefs were so deeply ingrained within the culture of Vietnam and still exist today.

What struck me the most was that even though these cultural differences plagued the characters, their love and honor to each other overcame all obstacles placed before them. I was taught that love and family truly live on through the reach of our ancestors.

Sasse is an expert story teller. He weaves colorful characters that possess great compassion and an emotional complexity that I seldom see in romance novels. I was deeply drawn to these characters.

This book has something to offer everyone. A splash of true historical facts, passionate love, action, and intrigue will take you on a journey you will not easily forget. This story will remain in a soft place within your heart.

Mark Sasse’s Author Interview here on LitWorldInterviews appears Friday, Dec. 5.

RATINGS:

Realistic Characterization: 5/5

Made Me Think: 5/5

Overall enjoyment: 5/5

Readability: 5/5

Recommended: 5/5

Overall Rating: 5

Buy it at: Amazon

FORMAT & PRICING:

Paperback: $11.25 USD

Kindle: $2.99 USD

Colleen Chesebro

@ColleenChesebro

SilverThreading.com

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The Author Interview: How, Why, What, Who?

I love to interview authors, publishers, illustrators, cover artists, proof readers, agents, editors. I think you get the picture. If they are involved with the book business then I want to talk to them. I’ve learned a lot as an author along the way and I’m taking notes as I go. I’m not here today to talk about those notes I’ve taken. All the interviews are there to read and I’ll likely compile a few things at some point, knowing me, and share them with you.

Today I want to discuss what Authors should do with an interview, and also how they should interview.

I’ve done research about how to interview. In other words, what questions should I ask. Well, I actually came up with my own questions after getting a feel for what was going on. I won’t get into my technique because it’s my technique. It’s not that I think it’s a great technique about what I do or how I do, but it’s mine and it’s changing as I write this.

Remember the purpose of the Interview

Profile Snap Shot Questions-Maybe 5 things about you.
Book Promotion such as Book Blog Tour-Let’s say, 10 questions mostly about your book.
Interview about you and your work-No real limit, minimum or maximum. But this is one that is more to give the reader a good impression of who you are personality wise and good detail about your work. This is the one that is to make them connect with you, become your friend, and become your book buying fan.

As I get into details here, just know these are my opinions. I have been thinking of these details for some time though so they are not just quickly put together for an article.

Each type of Interview will determine how you, the Author, might answer. The shorter the interview the more precise your answers and the longer the interview, the more conversational you want to sound. Looking at the number of questions I noted above for each type of interview you can almost see the urgency to be efficient in your use of words without straying off topic.

At the moment I do the Long Form Interview because I enjoy them, and I want every Author that wants an interview to have a good interview of length to turn to when an agent or publisher asks about publicity. And the long form is the type of interview I will discuss today.

For authors I have already interviewed I will be asking some follow up questions in the future for some short form blurb type posts to continue their presence here on LWI and to have one more item out there for their name to show up in when agents or publishers search for them.

What is your goal in a long form interview?

This really depends on the questions you are asked, what you have agreed to. My interviews are all encompassing.

My first piece of advice is-Read through all of the questions before you start answering, if this is an interview where you are sent the questions, such as the way I do it. I would like to do interviews differently in the future so they are more organic, but in truth, the email interview keeps things focused.

Reasons for reading all the questions first

You don’t want to include information one place that you will be including elsewhere. Yes, repetition is fine, but save yourself the headache of repeating yourself, and your interviewer from having to edit down for space limitations. LWI is my site. So I have no set limits, but the longer your interview the greater the possibility of losing the reader, especially with repetition.
You will get an idea of how the interview is set up and the flow of it and that might help you get into the mood of the interview.
This gives you time to think about the questions instead of that feel of needing to jump right in. For those interviewing with me there is no deadline. When I get the answers I then put them on the calendar for the next open date unless the Author has some date that is beneficial to them.

What is my purpose as an interviewer when giving you certain questions?

To discuss your book that has just been released or is about to be released.
Note previous work
Note the book you are working on for the next release
Show your personality
Show your professionalism
Promote you

Those are not in any particular order. If they were, number 6 would be number 1. And know this when you hand over your answers to me I am going to take them and try to make you look like the most interesting person possible. Know that an interviewer edits. I don’t change words unless it is a grammar thing. And no, I don’t leave the wrong spelling in there and note it for the world to see. I even have someone on staff I can turn to that edits for me to make sure that we both look good. Of course I have to ask her to do it. But then she reads the interview anyway and I get these chat messages saying “Oh Ronovan, did you really mean to spell that word like that?” “Oh Ronovan, are you really a grammatical idiot?” And yes, yes I am. I think proof readers and editors should be assured of jobs security.

In order to engage a reader I like to create a conversation.

But there have been times that it’s been impossible because I wasn’t given enough to use, so I simply put the questions and answers in an article and put it out there. However, there are some authors who give me what I need and help themselves. If you ask me for an interview, just know that the more you give me the better your interview will turn out. I don’t mean a book, but not one sentence answers either.

When I send out my questions and the information email I suggest what one should do.

Answer the questions like you would in a conversation.
Have some fun.
Show your personality.
Be yourself.

For those who give me that I can create a nice interview. Again, I am not going to go into detail about what I do. If you read the interviews here on LWI you can see which ones really work. All give good answers. Don’t get me wrong. They all answer the questions with the right answers, it’s just that some loosen up and just put it out there honest and like they were talking to their best friend.

It might be that people are worried what they see will make them look bad or someone will use what they say against them. I guess you do need to watch out for that. I personally don’t do that. You can ask any Author I’ve interviewed and they will tell you I am as honest and trustworthy as you get and I’ll make you look as good as I can. Sometimes people will give an answer that I know just doesn’t sound right. I know it’s going to come across wrong. I’ll send an email asking for perhaps another take on it or I will just leave it out. My job is to make YOU look good. Regardless of if I approached you or You approached me for the interview, once we both say yes then my job is to promote you. If I do a hatchet job on you then why would anyone else want to interview with me?

How do you know what an interviewer wants?

Check out their other interviews. See what their style is. You don’t have to say yes if someone asks you.

Who to Interview With

I feel a bit odd answering this one, as I am an interviewer but in truth I am an author first. Check interviews, talk to authors they have interviewed if you have concerns. Most interviewers should be fine. But before saying yes check things out. Unless it is with me, just say yes.

How to get an Interview

You might be asked or you can ask someone who interviews. Some might have how to approach them on their site. I rarely get approached for interviews and to be honest it gets a bit exhausting searching down and approaching authors. But my goal is to help whomever I can, so the search goes on.

What to do with the interview?

Link to it on your own site
Include it in any publicity packet you send to potential agents or other publicity opportunities
Share it in Social Media. Let me tell you this. Don’t Tweet it to death. Use it once a day at the most and that should be around 12:30 New York Time. And have other things going on in between the Tweets. Also change up how you Tweet it with different wording. Why? People will start skipping over things that look like it and might miss a new Interview, a new book, or a sale you have running
Use excerpts from the review. Meaning use quotes from the interview in some promotional way

Finally and Most Importantly

Come back to the person that interviewed you! If you were happy with them and they were happy with you, there is a promotional relationship there waiting to happen. I personally want to keep the people I’ve interviewed as friends. Currently I’ve interviewed 29 people that have appeared here on Lit World Interviews. At some point I intend to take time off from writing on LWI and check up on them, seeing what they are doing and checking all their sites for any new promotions. Although I encourage authors to let me know when any new promotion is going on, I know I will be forgotten. But I don’t forget, well I actually have Retrograde amnesia and Short Term Memory problems due to a concussion but hey, it just makes note taking that much more important.

Until next time, I hope this helps,

Ronovan

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Are your characters in need of a psychiatrist? You’re in luck!

Hi all:

I’d been having a chat with Ronovan about the possibility of writing something regular for the blog, apart from the reviews that I do as often as I can, and we’d discussed some ideas. As I’m a psychiatrist and had until recently been working in forensic psychiatry, I thought about the possibility of offering a service to authors who are considering either writing about mental disorders in their books, or would like a psychiatrist’s point of view or opinion on some conundrum they find themselves in (well, they find their writing in).

The idea at the moment, if you think that could be of use, would be to create a form where you might have a bit more space than in the comments, to describe the issue (you could also share a short sample of the writing…) and then I would discuss it by way of a post. You can be as specific or as vague as you like, although I might ask for more details if I think it could help.

When discussing what to do to present the idea for the future posts we briefly had a discussion about character profiles. As a psychiatrist, I’m a medical doctor who went on to study psychiatry. Although we do study psychology as part of the degree, that’s not our specialty. I’ve attended courses on Personality Disorders and how to diagnose them (and they are a mine of information, believe me) but it was never part of my job to produce anything like a profile for the police. Although we had to give an opinion as to the mental state of the person, we did not get involved in the trial, other than recommending if they needed to be in hospital to treat their illness or condition.

Thinking about what to write about brought to mind some curiosities, not all psychiatric in origin, but that tend to come to the attention of psychiatrists. I found two superb slideshow that I leave you the links for, illustrating some of these syndromes that seem straight out from a fiction novel. Only, they do happen. Yes, I have met some people suffering some of them, although thanks to the DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) there are some new ones, like the Paris Syndrome, that I’d never heard about.

The culture-bound syndromes, that tend to affect people from certain areas exclusively, I have never experienced, but I have noticed in my practice that different cultures deal with mental health difficulties, and manifest mental illnesses in different ways.

Have a look at the links, although I leave you descriptions of some of the classic ones:

-Capgras delusion. The idea that somebody close to the sufferer has been replaced by a double. (Yes, I know you’ve watched the movie…but hey, it happens!). I’ve known patients that presented with this. (It can happen in a variety of conditions although the ones I’ve known were suffering from schizophrenia).

-Fregoli delusion. Here the patient believes that a single individual is disguising himself or herself as a variety of people (Fregoli was an Italian actor who could change clothing and take on many identities in his stage show very quickly, therefore the name). It is rarer than the previous one.

-De Clérambault’s Syndrome. A person (more common in females but not exclusive) believes they are loved by somebody very important, and this can cause all kind of problems (following that person, harassment, scenes…). If you’ve read Ian McEwan’s ‘Enduring Love’, I think it’s a pretty good example. Of course, who’s very important is a bit relative, but important in relation to the subject’s social standing or position.

-Othello Syndrome (‘morbid jealousy’). Here the classifiers borrow from literature. I think you can guess. This is not as uncommon as some of the others and sometimes is seen more in people with a history of alcoholism. It is irrelevant to the diagnosis if the partner might or not have been unfaithful; it is the way the patient reaches such conclusions and their reaction to it that causes the description.

-Ekbom’s Syndrome (delusion of infestation). Pretty self-explanatory too. This can occur in people with a history of substance misuse (cocaine is a big culprit), but also a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

-Cotard’s Syndrome (delire de negation). The person believes that their body has disappeared or they have no entrails, etc.

-Induced delusional disorders. There are different types, but you’ll all have heard about folie à deux. Several people (or two in that case) seem to suffer a contagion of the delusions of somebody else, in many cases people with no diagnosis of mental health difficulties. Not very common unless in special circumstances (people who live in close proximity and very isolated). Yes, I remember a very peculiar case…

As a matter of clarification, these syndromes are descriptions of symptoms, not a diagnosis. The underlying diagnoses can be varied. (The same symptoms might correspond to very different illnesses).

I won’t go on, but do have a look at the links. And remember to let us know if you’d be interested in an ‘ask the psychiatrist’ weekly (or thereabouts) post.

Link to rare psychiatric syndromes slideshow:

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/rare-psych

Other 20 psychiatric syndromes you’ll find hard to believe:

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/culture-synd

Thanks so much for reading, and if you’ve enjoyed it, remember to like, share, comment and CLICK (and fill up the form if you have any queries)!

Olga Núñez Miret

@OlgaNM7 (https://twitter.com/OlgaNM7)

http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com

http://www.OlgaNM.com

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Get ‘Facade’ Latest Novel by @JanelleKahele #Romance #Kindle http://amzn.to/1vweaJY

Tuesday, December 2 Meet

Author

J. Kahele

But NOW

Acquire her latest novel

released Nov. 21!

Facade

@JanelleKahele

Book Descrption

“A normal walk to work turns into a life-changing moment when a near accident brings Ally Lehar face to face with the rude, hostile Liam Sheldon.

A twist of fate places these two together and sparks fly as Ally is forced to work with Liam when he takes over the reins of Curchet Networking, where Ally is employed.

As time goes on an attraction ensues between the two, and Liam’s want to be with Ally, leaves him conflicted. He feels like his successful career is slipping through his fingers, and insecurities flare up as a relationship from his past gets in the way of his current chance at happiness.

The book is intended for mature audiences only!”

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A Place for Submissions @anaiahpress #Authors #Christian

From the Anaiah Press website.

About Anaiah Press

Anaiah Press is a Christian digital-first publishing house dedicated to presenting quality faith-based fiction and nonfiction books to the public. Our goal is to provide our authors with the close-knit, hands-on experience of working with a small press, while making sure they don’t have to sacrifice quality editing, cover art, and marketing.

Authors who sign with Anaiah Press can expect:

Release in digital format first, with a business-savvy plan to facilitate a timely move into audio and print/POD for full-length works.
A senior-level editor assigned to provide quality editing and to guide you every step of the way throughout the publication process
A publicist and a marketing/publicity plan specific to your book, and inclusive of advertising (i.e. blog tours, print/media advertising, review sites, etc.)
High-quality covers expertly designed specifically for your book
Royalties in the amount of 40% on net for digital format and 9-12% net on all other formats.
Subrights personnel who work to sell key subsidiary rights for our entire catalogue

Staff Wish Lists

Imprints

Submission Guidelines

The Anaiah Press Blog here on WordPress

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Write on Through

Whenever I get a huge idea for a new story, I generally stop what I’m doing and open a new document, give it a temporary name, and write down the first couple of sentences and notes. I have lots of these lurking in my WIP folder, but I never allow myself more than ten minutes to create them. Then I leave them alone, to wait until I’ve published what I’m currently writing. I do write more than one book at a time, but I haven’t ever abandoned any of them in favour of starting something brand new, and working on that instead. Many times I get to a place in a book I’m working on when the next thing to happen refuses to reveal itself to me, or I think that the whole story is a lot of rubbish anyway, and getting stuck into something shiny and new would be a much better idea. No matter how much I really, really want to start in on my new idea, I won’t allow myself to do that. Because if I do it once, I’ll do it again, and then maybe another time, and if I’m not careful I could end up with piles of unfinished books and nothing ever ready to be published.

I’ve never heard any famous author say that writing is easy. It isn’t. It’s really hard work. I think that writing is like any other job though, in the way that the more you do it the easier it gets. When you begin an exercise regime you might only manage a ten minute workout, and you have to push yourself through the pain to get fitter. You have the choice of deciding that it’s way too difficult and try something else instead, or to carry on pushing until you reach your goal. If you give up, you’ll be disappointed in yourself, and will never know what you could have achieved. If you choose to keep going, those endorphins are going to give you a happy face every time you complete your workout, especially if it was hard, and eventually you’re going to reap the benefits of all your work with your taut new body, and years added on to your life.

I think that writing’s just the same. When that next sentence just won’t come, you can just drop it and try something new, or you could write on. It’s at these points that I allow myself to write anything, no matter how stupid it sounds, because eventually the tangled threads will unravel, and I’ll see where I need to go. My goal is always the final sentence of the story I’m working on, and then I get to reap the benefits of getting it published. And those writerly endorphins give me a happy face every time I add to my story. There’s always a sense of accomplishment whether it’s one hundred or two thousand words. Not writing anything at all on any day generally brings on anxiety, because I know that the longer I leave it, the harder it will be to get back into. Just like exercise, you have to keep your scribbler muscles in shape. So it doesn’t matter how many new stories you start writing. If you don’t push through on the books you’re writing now, you stand the chance of wasting a whole lot of time, with only a pile of partly written stories to show for it.

Image Credit: Public Domain Review

2 Book Blog Tour/Launch Hosting Pages on LWI!

Two New Pages To Check Out!

Book Blog Tour Hosts
Author’s With Works to be Hosted

I think the names say it all. These are the results of filling out the form on . . .

Need a Book Tour Host/Want to Be a Host?

We already have Hosts and Authors signing up, so please keep filling out the form.

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“Always have beta readers who are willing to be honest” @SbethCaplin Where There’s Smoke Q&A

“Okay, where do I start? This quick read was not what I expected. When asked to review the book, I had expected some kind of romance novel. One featuring religious themes for sure, but a romance novel nonetheless. But what I got instead was a fascinating young adult novel all about hypocrisy, being human, and the cost of living a lie.”-Amazon Review

“There is something that draws someone to such a taboo matter, but beyond the tense/angst amongst the characters there is a seriousness that can not be ignored. That choices we make, individually or together, can change the lives of many. To write about such matters with religion mixed into the storyline takes guts and walks a fine line that I enjoyed reading about.”-Book Flirts

Meet Author

Sarabeth Caplin

“I write to entertain, but also to make people think, which is why I turned to self-publishing: certain stigmas and taboos are not always marketable or easy to categorize. So I write the kind of stories I like to read, and wish I could read more of (I guess I just have weird taste?).”-From her website.

RW: You write young adult fiction that appeals to older adults as well, how did you come to choose this particular genre?

SARABETH: I grew up on young adult fiction. It may sound lame, but some of my best friends and role models are found in fiction. I like to think I have the spunk of Anne Shirley, the independence of Jane Eyre, and the bravery of Katniss Everdeen. It’s safe to say that books helped shape my identity and made me feel less alone during the lonely years of middle school.

RW: Why is your most recent novella called Where There’s Smoke?

SARABETH: The story centers around a fire that not only causes physical destruction, but threatens to expose lies and secrets as well. I like the title because it sounds ominous.

RW: Your book touches on some themes that are somewhat timely today. Some of those being Christianity and how certain elements of it can take things a bit to the extreme, such as people being outcasts for their sexuality. What was the inspiration for Where There’s Smoke?

SARABETH: I had a brief stint in seminary a year after undergrad. I saw the worst stereotypes of what Christians could be, and found more encouragement with my atheist friends than I did with many of the students I met there. That angered me.

RW: Who is the main character?

SARABETH: A teenage girl named Hannah who belongs to a very conservative Christian community, where the “Cool Crowd” consists of wannabe missionaries who believe they hold a monopoly on the truth.

RW: Is Hannah the “perfect” Christian?

SARABETH: Hannah isn’t always likeable, and she doesn’t make the best decisions, but she’s real. How many of us survived high school without saying, doing, or believing things we weren’t sure about just to fit in? That’s human nature. Flawed, yet empathic characters are my favorite to write.

RW: I’ve experienced the adult version “Cool Crowds” in churches. What reality does Hannah find out about this “Cool Crowd”?

SARABETH: They use their faith to manipulate and alienate people, which Hannah doesn’t realize until she befriends a lesbian student, Lia, whose coming out made her an outcast. It’s through Lia that Hannah experiences genuine respect and friendship, and is confronted about her own hypocritical tendencies.

RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?

SARABETH: That authenticity is always worth it, despite the personal costs to your popularity or reputation. That people who don’t always agree with you can still teach you valuable lessons.

RW: What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

Sarabeth: That I am by no means as pure in my motives and as sincere as I’d like to be, since I too am a Christian.

RW: Describe your book in one word.

Sarabeth: Gutsy.

To get Sarabeth Caplin’s books:

Amazon Author Page

Confessions of a Prodigal Daughter: my memoir about growing up Jewish and becoming a Christian as an adult.

Someone You Already Know: My first YA novel about two teenage rape victims struggling to understand what the other went through, and how societal views and stereotypes about rape affect them both.

Public Displays of Convention: Another YA novel about a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet kind of woman trying to figure out how best to live as a single woman after her college boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her.

Sorting Myself: a short collection of poetry, with mainly religious and feminist themes.

sbethcaplin.com

To Connect With Sarabeth:

Twitter: @SbethCaplin

Facebook: Author Sarabeth Caplin

RW: Tell us about your early journals?

SARABETH: I’ve been making up stories as long as I can remember, and have always had a habit of narrating my life as it happens. Because my first love was fiction, my journals read like first-person young adult novels.

RW: And how did you come to self-publishing

SARABETH: It wasn’t until 2012, after graduating college, that I figured out self-publishing. But one need not be published to call themselves a writer.

RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?

SARABETH: Always have beta readers who are willing to be honest with you about what needs improvement in your story. Even if you think you’re ready to publish, it’s always better to wait. The first versions of my first two books were published before they were ready, and it was such a pain to redo them.

RW: Are you opposed to having an agent and doing what is called ‘traditional’ publishing?

SARABETH: I like being my own boss for now, but I’m not ruling out the possibility. It’s important for me to find an agent who is okay with self-publishing on the side.

RW: What are you working on right now?

SARABETH: My first attempt at a New Adult novel about a young woman whose boyfriend is accused of rape by an ex girlfriend, and he challenges her to interview all his previous exes to prove he’s innocent.

RW: What book are you reading at this time?

SARABETH: I’m rereading Mockingjay in preparation for the movie, as well as The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts.

RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?

SARABETH: I admire the deviousness of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. I wish I were capable of that level of intrigue, suspense, and psychological mind-bending. Also Lauren Winner’s Girl Meets God, because it’s basically a far more articulate version of my life story.

Sarabeth writes about real topics and not just what ifs. I’ve personally started a number of what Christian communities can really be like books but never finished them. I think perhaps in part I’m just old. I need some of Sarabeth’s youth and energy. To take this topic head on is admirable, especially being a Christian. I think people might find it surprising that one Christian author finds another Christian author writing about the realities of some communities as being admirable. Don’t be. We know there are the bad communities out there. Connect with Sarabeth and support her through the purchase of her books. Young indie authors, old indie authors, all authors need our support. And as always, remember . . .

Read a Book, Write a Review.

Much Respect

Ronovan

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Want to be a book tour host? Need a book tour host?

Do you want to host an author’s book launch/tour?

Do you need someone to host your book launch/tour?

LitWorldInterviews wants to help you out.

We are providing a page where we will list your needs as an author

and

Your willingness to be a host.

What’s a host?

A host posts something for the author on their blog/site. For example: I will be a host on my personal blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com for my friend and fellow LWI team member Jo Robinson. She will send me something to copy and paste into my post editor and an image and very likely a date for it to be published. It’s that simple. I help a friend and author out, I get an easy blog post for the day and possibly more people visiting my site but don’t tell Jo that that’s what I’m doing. Okay, so I’m not really doing it for those last two reasons . . . maybe.

Click here to go to the page to fill out the simple form. Directions are included. Or if you are not a link clicker then check out the page in the menu at the top titled ‘need a book tour host/want to be a host?’.

We want LWI to become a useful place for authors to turn to and a place for readers to get involved in a fun way in the careers of authors. Trust me, I did it and then created this site. Now I review, interview, and beta read and some other things I never thought I would do. And it’s a BLAST!

Much Respect

Ronovan

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New Book Cover of The Convenience of Lies @K_A_Castillo

Brand New Cover

The Convenience of Lies

K.A. Castillo

@K_A_Castillo

Read the interview here.

Book Description

“It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. All that matters is if you can. If you can do something, what difference does it make?”

Based on a true story, The Convenience of Lies is a novel that keeps readers up past midnight with its story of friendship, mystery, crime, sex, and betrayal. Set in a suburban town, this story is told through the eyes of a high school junior, Mackenzie, who describes her crush on a “bad boy,” Ramon and her relationship with her best friend, Kira. During the course of the story, Mackenzie does her best to attract the affections of Ramon while her friendship with Kira evolves. Eventually, the different characters’ property starts getting vandalized and a mystery develops as Mackenzie and Kira try to get to the bottom of who is behind the vandalism.

Read a Book, Write a Review.

Much Respect

Ronovan

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Book Cover Artist Chris Graham the @StoryReadingApe

Who knew an Ape could use a computer AND create book covers?

Lit World Interviews very own Jo Robinson did.

The surprising thing is how many people don’t, even with the information right there on his VERY POPULAR site The Story Reading Ape Blog.

http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/authors-resources-central/tsra-doings/

Blog: TheStoryReadingApeBlog.com
Twitter: @StoryReadingApe
Facebook Timeline
Facebook Promotion of New Authors and Books Page
Google+: Chris Graham (The Story Reading Ape)
LinkedIn: The Story Reading Ape
Pinterest: Graham Christopher
Goodreads: Chris The Story Reading Ape

Am I saying you should give Chris Graham a look at for creating you a book cover? I’ll say this, he’ll be creating one for me. Interview here.

“What better holiday gift for the writer in your life than a professional book cover? Hugs!”–Teagan Geneviene Author of Atonement, Tennessee review here.

Much Respect

Ronovan

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The Blue Diamond by @PSBartlett A Top 10 of the Year from @KindleNinja Book Reviews!

That’s Right!

LitWorldInterviews Very Own

PS Bartlett

The Blue Diamond: The Razor’s Edge

Is one of the Top 10 Books of the Year

KindleNinjaReviews.BlogSpot.com

1 Man, 6 Woman. Kings and Queens @TerryTyler4 Q&A

“Even if you are not a fan of English history and know nothing of the metaphors and references the author has slyly inserted into the story, this book will draw you in as contemporary fiction, demonstrating that the human foibles are ageless and that a historical family drama can repeat itself.

This is a great read, and I’m looking forward to a sequel featuring the Lanchester children, especially the son Harry wanted so much he was willing to marry again and again to get: the spoiled and entitled Jasper.

Kings and Queens is rich in the sins and peccadillos of the wealthy and entitled, those that captivate readers across the board. Bravo to Terry Tyler for giving us such a sumptuous read with a grand historical twist.”~Rosie Amber ofRosieAmber.WordPress.com

“This novel promises to be uniquely different in its concept and delivery. And actually, that promise is fulfilled…in spades. The storyline and characters very artfully parallel the life and times of Henry VIII in a modern day setting.

Handsome and charming, Harry Lanchester makes his first appearance as a sixteen year old wannabe rock star and his story is told initially from the viewpoint of Harry’s best friend, Will. Thereafter we see Harry through the eyes of each of his wives in turn, combined with short chapters from Will, who acts almost as an impartial onlooker and supporter. Even when he disagrees with Harry and suspects him of a terrible act, Will feels unwilling and, possibly, unable to confront his friend. “~Cathy of Between the Lines Book Blog

I’m not going to say a whole lot about today’s guest as the answers will tell you more than I ever could. Full of personality and energy just from the words alone must make for a novel length full of my guests thoughts an amazingly good time. Meet . . .

Terry Tyler

@TerryTyler4

RW: Where are you from?

TERRY: I live in the north east of England, but come from the Midlands/East Anglia.

RW: I so love the British. And no, before anyone ask I do not have a contract with the Queen to promote her favorite authors. Although it is possible Terry is on the night stand of a certain young main with hair colored similar to mine. Now that we have that out of the way, what allows us to call you an Author instead of someone throwing wrods about?

TERRY: I seem to remember that I used to write stories when I was a child. I wrote a load of astrology based short stories in my 20s. I bet they were dreadful, I’m glad I haven’t still got them! I wrote 9 or 10 novels in the 1990s, then nothing much for about 10 years, until I wrote You Wish in 2010. Happily, that coincided with the rise in popularity of the Amazon Kindle.

RW: What genre does your book Kings and Queens fall into?

TERRY: I suppose contemporary family drama, crossed with romantic suspense, with appeal to the readers of Tudor historical fiction, too.

RW: Okay with that bit of mix and cross over tell us a little about the book and the main characters.

TERRY: I was watching The Tudors on Netflix and suddenly thought “hang on, this is a marvellous story”; it’s always been one that interests me, anyway. I began to think how I could translate it into the present….

The story of property developer Harry Lanchester is told through the eyes of the six women with whom he becomes involved (only five of them become his wives). Their chapters are separated by the man’s eye view, that of Harry’s lifelong best friend, Will Brandon. The story spans the years 1971 – 2007.

Each of the six wives is so different, with all sorts of experiences; many of the people who’ve read the book have named their favourites. The most popular one is Hannah Cleveley, my modern day Anne of Cleves. Then there’s fiery Annette (Anne Boleyn), former lap dancer Keira (Catherine Howard) and dutiful Kate (Catherine Parr)… as far as Harry himself is concerned, most people have found him arrogant and selfish, but not without endearing qualities.

RW: Based on that answer and my obviously amazing Historian mind I think I know the answer, but why Kings and Queens?

TERRY: All my book titles (except for You Wish) are named after Aerosmith songs, for no reason other than that they’re my favourite band and it amuses me to do so. I wouldn’t have chosen any of them if they weren’t totally appropriate, but so far the perfect one has always been there, waiting for me! Kings and Queens is a modern day re-telling of the story of Henry VIII and his six wives; although my novel is one about the king of a property developing company, it’s still very apt.

RW: What age group is your basic target group?

TERRY: Probably 18 – 65!!!! I’d say 25-55.

**Normally I don’t include this answer but I just love how Terry answered it.**

RW: Who would play your main character(s) in a movie?

TERRY: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth would make the perfect Harry. Maybe Evangeline Lily for Annette. I haven’t really thought about it – I am not one of those writers who has book-into-film fantasies; though now you come to mention it…. hmmm…!

RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?

TERRY: I don’t know. Maybe “don’t cheat on your spouse or you might end up dead”???

RW: Describe your book in one word.

TERRY: Compulsive!

RW: What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

TERRY: That I like writing more than I like doing virtually anything. Yes, I even worked on it on Christmas Day.

Visit the following to Purchase Terry’s Kings and Queens

Half price from Nov 21-26

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

Connect with Terry

@TerryTyler4

Goodreads: Terry Tyler

Terry Tyler Blog

Terry’s Blog on UK Arts Directory:

RW: Who are your favorite authors?

TERRY: (Deep breath… ) Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Kate Atkinson, Emily Barr, Dorothy Parker, Susan Howatch, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Norah Lofts, Jack Kerouac, Phillipa Gregory, Jackie Collins, Bill Bryson, P J O’Rourke, Evelyn Waugh…. I’ll stop now!

RW: What is your favorite beverage to drink, any kind?

TERRY: Can I be really boring and say coffee? It’s the only one I can’t imagine a day without, so I suppose it must be my favourite! Has to be the real stuff, preferably freshly ground, and very strong.

RW: What is your escape from writing when you are at that about to explode point?

TERRY: I don’t ever get to a point like that. I love writing, always. I stop and do something else because I’m tired, or need some exercise, or because that bathroom won’t clean itself, not because it makes me want to explode. I never feel the need to escape from it. If I did, I wouldn’t do it.

RW: Why do you write in the genre that you do?

TERRY: I don’t choose a genre, I just write the story I want to write. I work out what genre it is when it comes to publishing and marketing it. That’s probably the wrong way to go about it, but never mind. They’re all roughly the same non-specific genre, anyway.

RW: What other books do you have to share with us and can you tell us a little about them?

TERRY: I’ve published 9 books on Amazon – 7 full length novels, I novella and a collection of short stories. They’re all contemporary drama/romantic suspense, though some are lighter than others. For instance, Nobody’s Fault is a fairly heavy family drama, whereas Dream On and Full Circle incorporate rock fiction and are quite funny. Essentially, though, I write about real life relationships (not just romance).

RW: Do you currently have representation? If so who, and if not describe what qualities you would like in an agent and what you would bring to the relationship. Also how did you come to get signed.

TERRY: No, I don’t have representation. I made a decision not to seek it anymore; I hadn’t sent my work to an agent since You Wish, but thought I would try again with Kings and Queens. The first agent I sent it to asked for the full MS as soon as she’d read the synopsis and sample chapters, but wrote back with suggestions for change that it would have made it a different book. I’m not closed to the idea of having an agent, and am open to ideas for improvement, but not so much that a book is no longer the one I want it to be.

RW: What are you working on right now?

TERRY: The sequel to Kings and Queens, LAST CHILD, is almost ready to go to the proofreader….

RW: What book are you reading at this time?

TERRY: I am about to finish Sheer Fear by Geoff West, after which I will read The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift.

RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?

TERRY: If it’s your first time, don’t publish yourself or send to an agent/publisher without having a few people read it first, preferably ones who will tell you, honestly, if you have any talent for writing.

RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?

TERRY: The complete works of Shakespeare. I’d never have to worry about paying the phone bill again! That’s kind of a joke, by the way. I don’t know. Possibly The Beach by Alex Garland, Cashelmara by Susan Howatch, or Norah Lofts’ The House At Old Vine trilogy – oh, I can’t make up my mind!

RW: What is your favorite word?

TERRY: Haven’t really got one. I quite like ersatz and zeitgeist. I like words with zeds in them.

Many thanks for inviting me onto your site, Ron, and I hope this has been of some interest to your readers.

You now know why Terry was a guest today. Didn’t you have fun? I mean seriously, I never thought some of those answers were coming my way, and I actually laughed at times and smiled the entire way through. I want to thank Terry for giving in to my begging and agreeing to the interview. Now if she will please lift the restraining order, I will promise not to step foot in England again. Follow her everywhere, purchase her book, and always remember . . .

Read a Book, Write a Review.

Much Respect

Ronovan

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The Gift of Charms @JuliaSuzuki_uk Q&A Read and you’ll want more of her.

“Julia has written a delightful story that touches on all the themes we were told were important when we were growing up- rising to the occasion in times of crisis, trusting yourself in times of peril, the things that make us unique are often the things that lead us to succeed, and that there is the possibility of greatness in everyone, even those that others think are hopeless.”-Brian Switzer-Amazon Review

“I have enjoyed reading this book for myself, I know my daughters will certainly enjoy it in a couple of years and until then, I can quite happily read it for them, knowing that there are no unexpected plot twists that will confuse them.”-Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) (Excellent reviewer ranking)

“This is a captivating tale for young readers, and interesting enough to feed the imagination of older fantasy readers as well.
It starts out rather slow, but once the little dragon starts training, the adventure and excitement continue through the rest of the book.
Entertaining and well written!
I look forward to the sequels.”-Amazon Review.

Why today’s guest? Why not, right? The book subject is just right. I can’t wait for my son to read it, hopefully over the holidays. British. Well, I do seem to be that British magnet. Serious about work and getting an author career off in the right direction. Well I can’t say much more without revealing . . .

Author

Julia Suzuki

@JuliaSuzuki_uk

RW: You told me about two other famous authors, other than yourself, that come from the place in which you live. Share with my friends who they are and where that is.

JULIA: Erasmus Darwin; the philosopher, and Samuel Johnson; who invented the dictionary. I live in Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is in fact the smallest city in Europe but has many enchanting places to visit including a stunning Cathedral.

RW: And yes, the Historian in me just geeked a little bit there. Now what is your background in writing, what makes you a writer?

JULIA: I studied Creative Writing in my degree at University, and also took exams with The London School of Music in ‘Speech and Drama’, which included a lot of literature recital.

RW: Why do you write in the fantasy/adventure genre, what is appealing about it to you?

JULIA: I am really comfortable writing in a fairly simplistic tone and I find I engage with children easily. I absolutely adore fairy tales and adventure and feel at home in this genre.

RW: Why did you pick The Gift of Charms as the title of your book?

JULIA: The Gift of Charms is the first release in the series ‘The Land of Dragor’. This title just came to me — suddenly — and I felt it sounded magical and mystical which is exactly fitting for Dragor.

RW: Tell us a little about your your first adventure into ‘The Land of Dragor’.

JULIA: ‘The Gift of Charms’ is the introduction to the Land of Dragor series. Dragor is an epic place where the world’s remaining dragons are hiding from us humans and the dragsaur beasts. The novel is based around the main character Yoshiko, who undergoes many challenges at Fire School, and then discovers a hidden talent that leads him on a great mission and a new destiny…

RW: Tell us about Yoshiko and what you think will make him connect with readers.

JULIA: Yoshiko is tormented for being different and I believe many of us can relate to a time like this in our lives, when we may have felt we do not fit into a situation. Yoshiko is kind and has a huge heart, but because he is so sensitive he takes everything personally. However, underneath this soft exterior he has deep determination and grit. This zeal helps him to overcome obstacles and go from zero to hero. Many readers have stated that they enjoy sharing Yoshiko’s journey of development — that it is empowering when good wins through and to witness his hard work paying off…

RW: You said that relationships and personal challenges were the main catalyst for your The Gift of Charms, what other things were involved? And please don’t tell me it was because you mentioned that Tom Cruise would make a fab voice Yoshiko.

JULIA: I had been thinking back to the wonderful vintage books I had read and wishing there were more like this — but with unique and modern edge and interactive web presence. I knew first hand what parents were looking for when purchasing a book for their children, yet more than that, I knew also what they sought themselves. They wanted gripping action, loads of adventure — all the classic aspects of heroes and villains, mystery and magic, quests and suspense, and the hope of happy endings.

My desire was to create books with universal appeal, that were fantastical and ‘out there’ and yet still felt somehow real; to fulfill the expectations of book lovers and also hook non-readers back into reading. For me this had to be in the form of a series set in a place we would all be excited to visit and so the Land of Dragor came to be.

The most beautiful places that I had seen on my international travels were integrated into the setting of Dragor: the amazing mountains of Colorado, the great deserts of Palm Springs, California, the vast waters in the Lake District, and the seaside caves of Cornwall — not forgetting the enchanting wilderness of Scotland. Dragor would be my ideal place to live — full of magnificent scenery, bursting with animals and nature’s magical trees, flowers and plants. Dragor is a place full of adventure, excitement and promise.

RW: Describe your book in one word.

JULIA: Enchanting.

To connect with Julia:

@JuliaSuzuki_uk

Julia Suziuki-Author on Facebook

Visit the dragor interactive cave www.thelandofdragor.com

Julia Suzuki on GoodReads

RW: Who are your favorite authors?

JULIA: CS Lewis, Charlotte Bronte, Enid Blyton.

RW: What is your favorite beverage to drink, any kind?

JULIA: That has to be coffee — from Starbucks!!!

RW: What is your escape from writing when you are at that about to explode point?

JULIA: Movies — I love the cinema!

RW: What book are you reading at this time?

JULIA: I am reading Martina Cole’s latest thriller, which is about a guy who takes revenge on a man who upset his daughter. It is actually titled ‘Revenge’. Martina is one of my favourite authors. Her work is very hard-hitting; this is definitely not a book you would find put you to sleep!

RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?

JULIA: Be professional and follow guidance of the top people. Read books and articles that other have printed about getting published. Always stay true to your overall vision. Shut your ears to the nay-sayers.

RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?

JULIA: ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, because it has positive impact on millions of people’s lives — helping to eliminate negative thinking patterns can only be a good thing

RW: What is your favorite word?

JULIA: Eloquent!

http://youtu.be/uMPsWoJR4jI

Now you see why I asked Julia for an interview. She is really in to her story. We all write with some inspiration but some go that bit beyond and Julia has done that. I’ve checked out her sites and followed her everywhere. The idea of an interactive site is just, pardon this, awesome! Some very good ideas there. I can’t wait for her next book to come out. If you want a sneak peek, check out her newest Author photo. That isn’t The Gift of Charms cover from above and that’s not the same hair style we saw from Julia from above. Whichever book and whichever look she brings us, always remember . . .

Read a Book, Write a Review.

To Order The Gift of Charms

An important thing to note is that the books are only available to pre-order in America at Barnes and Noble.

However, it is available for INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING to the Untied States from the UK here: http://bit.ly/DragorChristmasGift

Much Respect

Ronovan

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Review of Atonement, Tennessee by Teagan Geneviene.

Title: Atonement, Tennessee

Author: Teagan Geneviene

ISBN-10: 1481826948

ISBN-13: 978-1481826945

ASIN: B00HGWKRA8

Published: 21st December 2013

Pages: 296

Genre: Urban Fantasy

If there is such a thing as your “standard novel” and I’m not sure there is, Atonement, Tennessee is definitely not it. Although some aspects of the story might seem familiar to readers (we have a newcomer to a small and seemingly fairly quirky town, a catalogue of slightly odd characters, hidden and dark stories behind perfect surfaces…), others definitely will not. Although we spend most of the time in Ralda’s head (her given name is Esmeralda and that plays quite an important part in the book), we also see things from the point of view of Lilith, her cat, and that allows us to gain more knowledge than Ralda has, but from a peculiar viewpoint that means we are observes and what we see is unfiltered by either reason or prejudice.

Other novel and original aspects are its mixing of the everyday and the magical/paranormal. There are dogs barking, cats sneaking out, moving companies that keep getting delayed, but also strange and eerie mirrors, a cemetery that is part of the property and hides many secrets, attractive but strangely bizarre men, unknown magical birds, and fairly unusual dreams.

Ralda is self-reflective and we not only see things from her point of view (for the most part) but her internal dialogue works as a narrator who accompanies us. But how reliable a narrator is she? The many everyday worries that surround her (will the cat get out of the house? Will she finally get her possessions back? How much will it cost to repair the house?) keep pulling her attention away from the many strange and fantastic things that are also happening. She doubts herself, but she’s shown as dealing well with other people’s problems and being highly effective. When it comes to herself, though, things are more complicated and she does not want to accept that she can be at the centre of unknown powers and events. It is not so much that she’s trying to misguide us; it is that she does not even want to allow herself to think about certain things (like what she might feel for the male characters).

Although something mysterious happens early in the book (that seems connected to one of the objects), this is by no means the main mystery. Why Ralda is there and who she is are at the heart of the book and by the end we might have our suspicions, but like the protagonist, we lack information to come to any conclusions. We have the answer to some of our questions, but can only speculate about others. But this leaves room for the sequel, on which I understand the author has begun work.

The writing style is engaging and accessible, there is enough description to fire the imagination without being overly detailed and doing all the work for the reader, and the chosen point of view offers fascinating psychological insights into the main character.

What did I love about the book? The setting, the fabulously strange house, the cemetery, Lilith, the sheriff (not as onedimensional as everybody thinks), the friendship between the four women, the locket, the bed, the dreams…It reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe but not as dark.

What didn’t I like? That there isn’t a second part to tell me more about the mysteries that are suggested but we don’t get to know enough of.

Who do I recommend it to? If you like spooky tales, old houses, mystery, cats, legends, magic and stories about women I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Ah, let’s not forget unusual birds and cemeteries…Is there anybody not included?

I encourage the author to bring us part two very soon. We want to know more!

Here the book trailer, in case you want to get in the mood for the story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koggOn6vcDs#t=57

Ratings:
Realistic Characterization: 3.5/5
Made Me Think: 5/5
Overall enjoyment: 5/5
Readability: 5/5
Recommended: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Buy it at: Amazon (e-version, paper), Barnes & Noble

Format & Pricing:

Paperback: $7.45
Kindle: $3.52

Olga Núñez Miret

@OlgaNM7

http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com

http://www.OlgaNM.com

Kings and Queens @TerryTyler4 Q&A

“Even if you are not a fan of English history and know nothing of the metaphors and references the author has slyly inserted into the story, this book will draw you in as contemporary fiction, demonstrating that the human foibles are ageless and that a historical family drama can repeat itself.

This is a great read, and I’m looking forward to a sequel featuring the Lanchester children, especially the son Harry wanted so much he was willing to marry again and again to get: the spoiled and entitled Jasper.

Kings and Queens is rich in the sins and peccadillos of the wealthy and entitled, those that captivate readers across the board. Bravo to Terry Tyler for giving us such a sumptuous read with a grand historical twist.”~Rosie Amber ofRosieAmber.WordPress.com

“This novel promises to be uniquely different in its concept and delivery. And actually, that promise is fulfilled…in spades. The storyline and characters very artfully parallel the life and times of Henry VIII in a modern day setting.

Handsome and charming, Harry Lanchester makes his first appearance as a sixteen year old wannabe rock star and his story is told initially from the viewpoint of Harry’s best friend, Will. Thereafter we see Harry through the eyes of each of his wives in turn, combined with short chapters from Will, who acts almost as an impartial onlooker and supporter. Even when he disagrees with Harry and suspects him of a terrible act, Will feels unwilling and, possibly, unable to confront his friend. “~Cathy of Between the Lines Book Blog

Terry Tyler

@TerryTyler4

RW: Where are you from?

TERRY: I live in the north east of England, but come from the Midlands/East Anglia.

RW: What genre does your book Kings and Queens fall into?

TERRY: I suppose contemporary family drama, crossed with romantic suspense, with appeal to the readers of Tudor historical fiction, too.

RW: Okay with that bit of mix and cross over tell us a little about the book and the main characters.

RW: Based on that answer and my obviously amazing Historian mind I think I know the answer, but why Kings and Queens?

RW: What age group is your basic target group?

TERRY: Probably 18 – 65!!!! I’d say 25-55.

**Normally I don’t include this answer but I just love how Terry answered it.**

RW: Who would play your main character(s) in a movie?

RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?

TERRY: I don’t know. Maybe “don’t cheat on your spouse or you might end up dead”???

RW: Describe your book in one word.

TERRY: Compulsive!

RW: What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

TERRY: That I like writing more than I like doing virtually anything. Yes, I even worked on it on Christmas Day.

Visit the following to Purchase Terry’s Kings and Queens

Half price from Nov 21-26

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

Connect with Terry

@TerryTyler4

Goodreads: Terry Tyler

Terry Tyler Blog

Terry’s Blog on UK Arts Directory:

RW: Who are your favorite authors?

RW: What is your favorite beverage to drink, any kind?

RW: What is your escape from writing when you are at that about to explode point?

RW: Why do you write in the genre that you do?

RW: What other books do you have to share with us and can you tell us a little about them?

RW: What are you working on right now?

TERRY: The sequel to Kings and Queens, LAST CHILD, is almost ready to go to the proofreader….

RW: What book are you reading at this time?

TERRY: I am about to finish Sheer Fear by Geoff West, after which I will read The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift.

RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?

RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?

RW: What is your favorite word?

TERRY: Haven’t really got one. I quite like ersatz and zeitgeist. I like words with zeds in them.

Many thanks for inviting me onto your site, Ron, and I hope this has been of some interest to your readers.

Read a Book, Write a Review.

Much Respect

Ronovan

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Best selling e-publishers with some print accepting #submissions @evernightpub

Romance and Erotica best selling e-publishers with some print accepting submissions. They do have sub genres so don’t let the Erotica scare off some of you.

EverNight Publishing

**RomanceErotica RomanceUrban Fantasy**

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Publishing Single Short Stories

There are lots and lots of people who buy and read mainly stand alone short stories. Probably because of the speed of life these days. This came as a big surprise to me when I published my first one. There are short story connoisseurs who follow authors who only publish short, and are considered masters of the art. I thought it was a cop out to be honest – a way of publishing something a lot easier than a novel length book, because I thought that anyone can bang out a short story. There’s an art to creating a good short though, so that’s not entirely true. I’ve always enjoyed reading them and have piles of anthologies and singles on my Kindle, written by authors from debuts to Stephen King. A short story must still be a complete tale, with good flow, plot, structure and ending. In some ways getting a great short written can be more of a challenge than when you have much more space and time when writing fifty thousand words or so.

I have quite a few lurking on my computer waiting for polishing and publishing, and for me personally, because there’s so much less time invested in them than my longer books, I allow myself to play with the way I write them. The story I wrote for the Save the Rhino anthology, Nkoninkoni, inspired me to write a whole lot of short tales of Africa and its legends. Other stories I’ve started with the purpose of trying to write in different styles and genres, and then just follow where they choose to go. Writing a bad short story is going to be less heartbreaking than writing a bad book, although you might just surprise yourself when you’re just going with the flow. Writing shorts is good practice, but it has other advantages too.

I’ve always thought that as an Indie, the best way to get a feel for the process is to publish a short story before that novel you’ve been slaving over for a year or two. If you publish your novel green, there will be all sorts of learning curves that you’ll wish you knew before, and without any ideas about marketing it you could end up really disappointed when it just sits there and nobody buys it. There is no shame in publishing a single short story, as long as you put the same effort into its creation that you would a full length book. You’ll be in excellent company, because most bestselling authors publish them too. And if you enrol it in Amazon’s Kindle Select programme you can use it as a free marketing tool when you publish your big boy.

Doing this will take some of the terror away when you do publish your novel – not all of it – I don’t think that ever goes away no matter how many books you put out there. Make a great cover for it, edit it and make sure it’s nicely formatted. Make it the best little book that you can, and then let it loose. Have a marketing campaign on all of your online sites. Have a couple of free days in the hopes of some nice reviews. Set up your Amazon Author page. Join Twitter if you haven’t already, and see how it works. Even if you don’t have many sales to begin with, you’ll have learned a great deal, and your systems and sites will all be in place and ready for you when the time comes to publish your labour of love.

New Agents @kimberlybrower & @RebeccaLScherer to Query from @ChuckSambuchino

From Guide to Literary Agents with @ChuckSambuchino: 2 New Agents To Query

Kimberly Brower of Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency

“Kimberly is seeking: Kimberly is interested in both commercial and literary fiction, with an emphasis in women’s fiction, contemporary romance, mysteries/thrillers, new adult and young adult, as well as certain areas of non-fiction, including business, diet and fitness.”

@kimberlybrower

Rebecca Scherer of Jane Rotrosen Agency

“She is seeking: women’s fiction, mystery, suspense/thriller, romance, upmarket fiction at the cross between commercial and literary”

@RebeccaLScherer

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