Monday, September 26, 2016

Writing Belle Announcement!

My beautiful engagement pictures were captured by my cousin at Jen Eileen Photography.

Hi, readers! This is just a quick note to let you know that there will be a brief pause in articles/features on Writing Belle beginning on September 27th, 2016, and ending October 17th.


I am getting married this weekend (October 1), and this is the first real career hiatus I have taken since I started writing at the age of 13. I'm excited! 

I will be back on the 17th! Thank you for all of your well wishes. I am looking forward to my wedding and honeymooning in tropical paradise! 

- Summer 






Friday, September 23, 2016

Bravo: Blood Road Review Copies (VERY Limited Spaces Available!)

Attention, readers! Bravo: Blood Road will be available as an Advanced Review Copy for a limited time, with a very small amount of slots open for readers. This time around, there will only be 15 spaces open for reviewers. 


I ask that you only review if you are committed to actually finishing the book in a timely manner and sharing a fair and honest review online! 

The form to request an ARC is below. Thank you so much for your readership and support. Don't worry if you're not among the first 15 to sign up - the book will be available on October 21, 2016 for just 1.99! 



Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Storm Song: Interview with Aspiring Author Allison Griner

These days, the worldwide web has made it possible for writers to connect with readers all over the globe in just the blink of an eye. Allison Griner is one of those young writers who has discovered this truth. 

Her book, Storm Song, is currently an entry on Inkshares, a crowdfunding website for books. Think of it like Kickstarter for the written word! In order for her book to be printed, she has to win a place in the top three entries. Sounds cool, right? I thought so. So here is Allison, talking about her novel. I encourage you to support her book! 


Interview with Inkshare Contestant Allison Griner 

Hello, Allison! Let's talk about your for a moment. Who are you, and where are you from? 
I'm a 29 year old woman from Indianapolis, Indiana. I'm the big sister to three wonderful brothers, and Aunt Alli to two nieces and two nephews.  I studied Creative Writing and graphic design at Ball State University. And I'm an absolute nerd for board games and tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons. 

Allison Griner.
How did you become interested in writing? 
Even before I could write, I wanted to tell stories. I remember being little, too young to read, and I would sit with a book in my lap, telling myself stories about mermaids going on adventures, or princesses running from dragons. As soon as I figured out how to put my own words on paper, it was game over. It was all I ever wanted to do. I 

Your novel, Storm Song, is on Inkshares.Com. Tell us about the book, and about what Inkshares is all about. 
Storm Song is a story that I've had in my head for a long time. When I was in college, I ran a Dungeons and Dragon campaign for my friends. In that game, a character sprang out of me, fully formed. His name was Thoster Chatwyn and Storm Song is his origin story. It's the story of who he was and how he became the man that existed in that D&D game. He's a family man, trying to take care of his younger siblings. Every choice he makes has them in mind. Thoster is a character that I've had in the back of my mind for the better part of a decade. Being able to tell his story is so important to me, and Inkshares has made it something that could very well become a reality. 

Inkshares is a site that operates similar to Kickstarter. People pre order the stories they want to see published, and if enough backers support the project, the book is professionally edited, designed, and printed to be put on bookstore shelves.The Inkshares contest I'm currently entered in will print the top 3 entries, regardless of if they meet the standard Inkshares goals.

What is your goal with Storm Song? 
I wanted to tell the story of the kind of character that's just trying to do the right thing, even if it doesn't always seem like it. Thoster makes mistakes. He's not very good at much beyond talking himself into and out of trouble, but he continues to do what he can to make sure his family comes out of it all okay. My goal is to tell a story that people can relate to. I know that I've made some questionable decisions in my day, but at the time they felt like my best course of action. And in the end, I learned something from the experience. I also just wanted to tell a story that I thought would entertain people. Pirates, magic, buried treasure... it's the sort of book I would love to read, so I want to make sure it gets the chance to exist in the world.

Do you see yourself writing more books in the future? If so, in the same genre or in a different story world? 
I will absolutely write more books after Storm Song. There's plenty more for me to go into within the world of Thoster and Elysia, but I would love to dive into other worlds and genres outside of this one as well. If people want more of Thoster's story, I have more to give, but I also want to try my hand at something of a more modern setting- or even something with a futuristic spin.

How do you find inspiration to write? 
I read a lot when I need to recharge my writing mojo. Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind is my go-to for that sort of thing. Falling into a story reminds me why I want to write. I want something I put out in the world to give someone else that feeling. I also listen to piano playing while I write. There's no song in particular,  but something about the piano keeps the words flowing. Maybe it's something about connecting my fingers on the keyboard to the playing of each piano key. 

Do you have any favorite authors who inspire you?
Patrick Rothfuss, for sure. Terry Goodkind and Irene Radford are also some of my favorites. I find myself returning to their books over and over again, never growing tired of those stories. That's incredibly inspiring to me. 

Please include the synopsis of Storm Song below:
Thoster Chatwyn has spent his whole life in the city of Merrowport. When the captain of a ship steps off the dock and into his life, everything changes. Captain Calvin Roff offers Thoster a job, and the means to help keep his family afloat. More than that, he offers Thoster the one thing he's always dreamed of- a chance to see the world and experience it for himself. Thoster has always been the man to tell stories of far off places, but now he finds himself setting sail and about to see them firsthand. The crew is in search of a powerful magical item called the Luck Diamond. And unbeknownst to Thoster, a magic within him is deeply connected to this item. Dark forces hope to thwart him from finding his true potential, but perhaps luck will be on his side. 

Where can readers connect with you online to support your work? 
You can find my Inkshares entry, which includes 5 sample chapters of Storm Song and more information about the world of Elysia here!


Monday, September 12, 2016

AVENGING FATE by Jennifer Derrick (And International Giveaway)


Avenging Fate
Jennifer Derrick
(Threads of the Moirae #2)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: September 12th 2016
Genres: Mythology, Romance, Young Adult

Still reeling after killing the man she loved, Atropos turns her attention to the twin tasks of avenging his death and freeing humanity from the deadly grip of the Keres. When she sets out on a murderous mission to retrieve her shears, her only aide is her temperamental ex-boyfriend, Ares. He is fickle at best, traitorous at worst, and assistance from him may be worse than none at all.
Along the way, she allies with a group of powerful supernaturals and learns that the crimes of the gods are more twisted and far-reaching than she realized. What begins as a quest for vengeance becomes a journey through betrayal, loss, love, and hope. It ignites a war that will pit Atropos against the gods in a battle for the freedom of humanity.
Avenging Fate is the second book in The Threads of Moirae Series by Jennifer Derrick.

Grab book 1 – Broken Fate – for FREE!
EXCERPT:

When we reach Alex’s house, I’m not surprised to see that it’s been vandalized. With no residents to defend it, it was easy pickings. The front door’s been kicked in and the frame is splintered so it won’t close properly. A couple of the windows are broken, too. Once we’re inside, I’m relieved to see that most of the damage is limited to the kitchen. Whoever came here was looking for food and not much else. The presence of a rotting, stinking corpse on the kitchen floor probably made them hurry up and get out.
I leave Ares and Elaina to gather up any dog food and supplies they can find as I make my way down the hall to Alex’s room. Stopping in the doorframe, I grip it hard to keep myself upright. The memories and the grief come fast and hard, threatening to overwhelm me. The hospital bed is still in the room, as is most of the medical equipment that kept him alive those last few days. No one’s made the bed, so the sheets are still rumpled from Alex’s body.
The IV still hangs on the pole next to the bed, and the oxygen tank is on the floor under the bed. The needle and tubing for the IV and the cannula for the oxygen rest on the mattress where I dropped them the night I took Alex away from here to die in peace. The book we were reading together lies facedown on the mattress, open to the page where we left off. Everything is frozen in time, except the most important part. Alex is gone and he isn’t coming back.
Alex’s bookcases still droop alarmingly, although they aren’t as orderly as they once were. It appears the looters rifled through them, probably looking for stray cash tucked in the pages of the books. I force myself to cross the room and scan the shelves for anything that might indicate where Emily has gone. I also check the desk, but find nothing in either place.

I cross to the bed and can’t help myself. Picking up the pillow, I hug it to my chest, burying my nose in it. I catch the last whiff of Alex’s shampoo, the same fruity-spicy scent he always used. I’m aware this isn’t good for me and it’s not helping us with our mission, so I reluctantly put it down. But I can’t resist one other thing. Grabbing the book, I fold down the corner of the page we were on and tuck it in my waistband next to the gun. It’s sentimental and dumb, but I want to remember our reading time.
When I turn to leave, Ares is standing in the doorframe, watching me with an expression that is both pitying and concerned. I can stand the latter, but I don’t need his pity.
“Don’t say anything,” I warn as I push past him and head down the hall toward Emily’s room.
“I just came to see if you’re okay. I figured this would be hard for you.”
“Just getting up in the morning is hard for me, but I do it,” I say. “I’ll be okay.”
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About the Author 
Jennifer is a freelance writer and novelist. As a freelancer, she writes everything from technical manuals to articles on personal finance and European-style board games. Her interest in storytelling began when she was six and her parents gave her a typewriter for Christmas and agreed to pay her $.01 per page for any stories she churned out. Such a loose payment system naturally led to a lot of story padding. Broken Fate, her first novel, earned her $2.80 from her parents.
Jennifer lives in North Carolina and, when not writing, can often be found reading, trawling the shelves at the library, playing board games, watching sports, camping, running marathons, and playing with her dog. You can visit her at her official website:www.JenniferDerrick.com.





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Thursday, September 8, 2016

Reapers: An Interview with New Author Josh Collins


Title: Reapers: The Shadow Soldiers 
Author: Josh Collins 
Release Date: Available Now! 


Synopsis: 
Amid a violent terrorist takeover on the icy planet of Silverset, Ben Burns, a troubled former black ops assassin, is forced to join the fight. Assigned to a mysterious team of misfits, and equipped in illegal battle armor, he stands a chance at becoming the hero Silverset needs. The real question is, who will save him?




Josh Collins is a young author who just released his first self-published novel, a science-fiction adventure sure to thrill young and old readers alike. Check out his book and lend your support! Josh also took a few moments to answer some fun questions for Writing Belle. 

Here is an interview with the up and coming writer. 





Interview with the Author


When did you start writing? 

Creatively, I didn't start seriously writing until early 2014, when I came up with the initial idea for Reapers. Though, I've always been a natural with words. 

How did the idea for Reapers come about? What was the story-creation process like? 

Some of it came from TV shows or movies I liked. Other bits came from the real world.

How long did it take you to write the book - from day one to publication? 

Honestly, it was a bit of a loopy process. It took many forms, from movie scripts to animated features, and was put on hold a lot. I worked on two other books before coming back to this. There was just something about this story that I couldn't give up on. Once I began working on it seriously, it took most of 2015. So, I'd say a year and a couple of months. 

Why do you think people would enjoy your book? 

It's labeled science-fiction but it's really a human story. Most are going to be able to understand the themes in this novel. There are no scientific principles or theories being thrown out. The topics here: depression, hope, hatred and love are all inherently inside each of us. We deal with them every day. Yes, it has soldiers in seriously cool armor beating up intergalactic terrorists, but at it's core it's about people.

What authors do you enjoy reading - and which ones have influenced you as far as inspiration goes? 

This is probably strange, but I actually don't read all that much. I watch a lot of movies. That's where I began to understand story structure. 

Do you plan on writing more books in the future? 

Absolutely! In fact, I don't think it's physically possible for me to stop.

How did the idea for Reapers come about? What was the story-creation process like? 

It was a single 'ah-ha' moment followed by several months of forming it all up. 

Why science-fiction? 

Tough question. I'm not really that into science, which is probably why Reapers isn't really that scientific. I like to be creative, I guess. I like to make stuff up. It's not that I don't like to learn or that I'm afraid of doing serious research, it's just a lot more fun to come up with an idea and run with it.

What advice do you have for those who are struggling to finish their own manuscripts? 

Just do it. Write. Get it on the page. It's a lot harder to give up on a 350 page manuscript than it is on a 5 page scribble. Even if that 5 page scribble has perfect sentence structure. Look, writing books isn't like most jobs where if you make a mistake it's permanent. If you make a mistake, you've got MANY edits to fix it. So, just write. Get it out there and then go back and fix it. Trust me. I am a perfectionist with a capital P. I spent several months working only on chapter one. If I kept up that rate, Reapers wouldn't even be done yet. I just had to write and not give a crap. You can always fix it later. 

Where can readers connect with you online (all social media links that you want my readers to know about) 

If you're interested:
You can follow me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/JCollinsAuthor
Give my Facebook page a like at: https://www.facebook.com/JCollinsauthor/
Or check out my website at: www. joshcollinsauthor.com

Where can we buy your book? 

Currently, it is only available on Amazon.com. Link: http://goo.gl/0vHzbG

What's next for Josh Collins? 

The sequel to Reapers, actually. More on that will be posted in the coming months on my various social media profiles!



About the Author 

Josh Collins was born in the state of Colorado. He always enjoyed intriguing stories and had a knack for the written word.  His debut novel, Reapers: The Shadow Soldiers, is available now!












Thursday, September 1, 2016

Sign-Ups for BLOOD ROAD are OPEN!

Good afternoon! It's nearly Labor Day Weekend, which means (for some of us, at least), that there is a glorious three-day weekend ahead. Oh, and my birthday. That's right, I LOVE birthdays and my birthday is just around the corner! **releases balloons into the sky**

In other news (and in fact, the point of this entire post), the blitz sign-ups for Bravo: Blood Road, the sequel and final installment of the #1 bestselling Bravo Saga, are now officially open, hosted through the always-efficient and incredible Xpresso Book Tours! The post window begins on October 21st and runs through October 25th of this year. 

I would love if you participated! It's bloggers and tweeters and Facebookers and Instagrammers (and everything else in between) that makes the world go 'round for authors. Thank you for your support! I would be very appreciative of your help, as I always am! 

As an added bonus, you are welcome to enter the nation-wide giveaway to win a Kindle Fire with the release of the novel! 

Sign up right HERE