Monday, April 23, 2018

Shelf Chat: What's Up With Me (Summer Lane!), and What's On My Shelf

If you're too busy to read...you're too busy! I've always been one of those people who likes to fill their days and weeks up with activities. I work, I schedule, and run around. I have a calendar/planner on my desk that's half as tall as I am. There's so much going on in my life at any one time that the only way I'll remember to do anything is if I write it down and then proceed to set five thousand reminders on my phone! 

Over the past couple of years, I've been so busy writing books, teaching classes, and running Writing Belle Publishing, that my inner bookworm has been deprived. To put this in perspective, I used to read at least a hundred books a year, every year, just for fun. Last year I read somewhere between 30-40 books. Keep in mind, I'm a very fast reader, but for me, that's not very much reading. That's barely squeezing a book in here and there! By the time I reach the end of the day, my eyes are physically worn out, so it's either an audiobook or Netflix that I reach for, because even my glasses can't clear up the bleariness I have to deal with after a long day of working. 

This year, I'm changing things up. Many of you know that I went back to school this year. I'm taking a science-heavy major (veterinary technology, followed by zoology), which means I'm doing tons of textbook reading. It also means that I'm running Writing Belle Magazine and Writing Belle Publishing part time so I can focus on school. I'm still writing books (Cassidy Hart is so much a part of me, we don't know how to separate from each other! ;), and I'm busier than ever, raising my two German Shepherd pups, keeping my house clean, maintaining a decent social life, and running to the grocery store so we don't run out of cereal or Pop-Tarts! **wink** 

Despite the busyness of my life, I was determined to begin this year with more time for reading and relaxing and enjoying every day! How do I do that? I schedule "down days." These are days when I have no events planned, no work scheduled, and no homework on the horizon. These are days when I can either stay home or jump in the car and go shopping with a friend or catch a movie with my husband. Adhering to a strict schedule where I have firm, non-negotiable "no-work days" has been an amazing change for me! I'm reading at least one new book per week (in another life I would have been reading at least 3, but hey...I'll take what I can get!), and I have time to take my dogs to the park or hang out with some gal pals here and there. 

I'd love to encourage all of you to make time for yourself, too! Realize that it's okay to rest and relax and be kind to yourself. Life can be stressful, and we all deserve a "chill pill" every once in a while. 

On that note, here are some of the books that are currently on my shelf - some of them I have already read, and some of them are up next in my reading cue. If you've been reading Writing Belle for the past 6-7 years, you know that my reading tastes are wide and varied - I'll pretty much read anything, so don't be surprised by the eclectic variety I've accumulated so far in 2018! 


Stalking Jack the Ripper, by Kerri Maniscalco. This book was such a refreshing change from some of the stuff I'd been reading. A historical fiction about a girl who falls in love with Jack the Ripper? Go, run. Buy this book and read every page. There are two more books, too: Hunting Prince Dracula and Escaping from Houdini. I loved this book, and I highly recommend this author. 


What She Knew, by Gilly MacMillan. Currently reading right now. A mother's young son goes missing, and what ensues is a taut psychological thriller that Liane Moriarty calls, "An amazing, gripping, beautifully written debut." I grabbed it on Kindle for just 1.99 during a sale. If you like mysteries, you'll enjoy this one. 


Cut, by Annelie Wendeberg. This book was gifted to me by its amazing author, Annelie. I love the tagline: "Ten billion died. Three million are left clawing for survival. One more death doesn't make a difference, does it?" I'm currently reading this one, too, and I'm excited to meet the main character, a girl named Micka. 


Women Who Run with the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, P.H.D. Yes, this book was released a long time ago, but I'm slowly reading it over the course of 2018. It's not what I would call "light reading." It's a spiritual look at the inner machinations of the female mind, body, and spirit. Estes takes readers on a poetic journey to help you return to your true self. That is, Wolf Woman. 

The Complete Novels and Stories of Rudyard Kipling. Check it out, folks! You can pick up so many classic short stories and novels on Kindle for little to no cost. Rudyard Kipling wrote the classic and iconic Jungle Book, as well as another one of my favorites, Riki Tiki Tavi. I've also  been perusing this collection, reading one thing at a time. Kipling was an amazing writer! 

A Dark Lure, by Loreth Anne White. Yes, I've got a thing for missing-persons mysteries and thrillers. This novel covers the story of a woman who was abducted and abused by someone called the "Watt Lake Killer." She escaped, but now, 12 years later...it looks like the killer is back. There's romance, action, and mystery here. I also picked this up for 1.99 during a sale, but now it's available for 4.99 (still a great price!). 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, by Rick Riordan. I'm re-reading this AMAZING and PERFECT series from the genius mind of Rick Riordan. This was my favorite series when I was a young teen, and I had forgotten how incredible it was. I cannot recommend the series enough. It's got the perfect balance of narrative humor to action and emotional punch. My favorite middle grade series of all time - yes, I do like it better than Harry Potter ( gasp! )! 

Plague Land, by Alex Scarrow. This novel, about a genetically self-aware virus that destroy the world, is pretty dark. I picked it up because I can't help but read apocalyptic stories, and this one had a very interesting and unique twist that other doomsday books don't. Instead of a zombie virus or even a nuclear war, the enemy here is an intelligent, parasitic host that spreads, multiplies, destroys, devours, and then reforms. The idea is that the virus literally steals DNA and genetic material from all life on earth and tries to create its own twisted form of life, resulting in a devastating and grotesque form of evolution. Not sure if there's going to be another book. 

How Dogs Love Us, Gregory Burns. A neuroscientist uses the brain of his adopted dog to "decode the canine brain." This is basically an entertaining narrative of a scientific study of what goes on in our favorite furry friends' brains. I'm an animal science major, so I couldn't resist picking this up. I mean...LOOK AT THE DOG. TOO CUTE. 

Dog On It, by Spencer Quinn. I'm also getting ready to read this one, the first in the series of Chet and Bernie Mysteries. Told from the perspective of a dog, it offers a fun and fresh take on narration. 


Have any books you think I should be reading? Feel free to recommend! You can reach me on Instagram (@writingbelle), Twitter (@SummerEllenLane), and Facebook (@SummerLaneAuthor). 

**Note: 
The books and covers here on Writing Belle are meant to further the creative intent of the authors and to recommend their purchase for my readers. No sponsorship is involved. I genuinely would love to see you check out these books!








Monday, April 16, 2018

THE AGENCY GAMES: EXAMINING THE HUMAN AGENCY OF THE HUNGER GAMES









About this Book: 
Coming soon from 
McFarland Publishing House and author Kayla Ann

Summary Courtesy of Author:

The working title of my non-fiction book is The Agency Games. In this book, I will be examining human agency within the popular Hunger Games trilogy. I will be doing in-depth character analyses of individuals such as: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy, Cinna, Primrose Everdeen, and more in trying to understand how human agency is discovered, maintained, tested, lost, and regained in a dystopian society and how that relates to us as readers. 

Human agency, simply stated, is the individual's ability to act based on intention and desire. However, intentions and desires are affected by a plethora of internal and external constraints which is what makes human agency so complex. The book is loosely scheduled to be published in late 2018 or early 2019.



Why Consistency is Crucial
Guest Article from Kayla Ann 

Every new writer in every country has asked this question: how do I become an author?
We ask established authors for tip and tricks on how to become like them. Well, I believe that there is one major difference in being a writer and being an author.

Being an author requires consistency--in every aspect of your 'job'. You must have consistency when you write (and I encourage you to write every single day). You must have consistency in marketing your work to agents or publishing houses (if you go the traditional route). You must have consistency in marketing yourself to your own audience (if you are self-publishing or just promoting your own work). 

Whatever you do, do it well and do it continuously.

You want to be an author instead of a writer? Write consistency until you look around and realize, you are an author after all. 




About the Author
My name is Kayla Ann and I have been writing since I could hold a pencil. The earliest stories of my childhood include a unicorn that fell in love with a dinosaur and a young girl named Kate who didn't really want to be a pirate. As I have aged, I remained true to my love of fantasy, but I am now also fascinated by how stories work. My desire to investigate and understand literature has brought me to my latest venture and first traditionally published work.

Connect with Kayla:
Blog
Facebook: @KaylaAnnAuthor 
Instagram: @KaylaAnn




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Monday, April 9, 2018

Coming Soon From Author T.R. Hendricks: Of Leap and Pledge (including guest article)



Synopsis

COMING SOON!

            A battle rages for the immortal souls of humanity. Heaven is under attack, its borders constantly infringed upon by the forces of the dark one. Jason McNamara is a husband, father of two little girls, and an Iraq war veteran. He has just died sacrificing himself to save another. Newly arrived, Jason marvels at the beauty and wonder of paradise.
            He is reunited with Robert, his best friend from the service who was killed in action. Although overjoyed to see him, Rob is troubled at what he must ask of his friend. He reveals the true reason for Jason’s arrival and shows him the darkness that threatens their existence. Robert gives his friend a choice. Faced with a stark reality, Jason must decide. Will he live for all eternity free of pain, suffering, and sadness? Or does he become a warrior for good, subjecting himself to the tortures of being a combatant once again?
As Jason begins his journey another father, Steve, is enduring his loss of faith. He sits by helplessly as he watches his daughter Cara slowly die of cancer. The fate of Jason and Cara become intertwined, culminating in a battle against the evil that aims to take her life. In the aftermath, Jason must make a final decision to determine what his eternity will be.

Article

The concept for “Of Leap and Pledge” (working title), that of how and why someone becomes a guardian angel, is something that I have been developing for over twenty years. Throughout that time the story has taken many shapes and forms as new experiences added to the overall framework. It wasn’t until late last year that, as a surprise to me, the entire project finally burst to life.
I’ve been writing on and off for decades now. Basically ever since I stopped playing with G.I. Joe’s and started transferring the adventures I used to have with them onto paper. Letting my imagination run wild in this way had always been an outlet and never more than a hobby. 2017 changed all that.
Last year I started writing more and more short stories, and after receiving some sage advice, began posting them online. The positive response I received to my writing was overwhelming. With that confidence boost in hand I kept creating new works of fiction, completed a fantasy manuscript, and launched a website called Fever Dreams (readtrhendicks.com) to house my short story collection.
With each passing work finished, the far-fetched dream of one day becoming a published author turned a hobby into an attainable goal. I dedicated myself to not only becoming a better writer, but also learning the process of what it takes to become published. In doing so, I came across National Novel Writing Month. The event challenges writers to complete 50,000 words in the month of November.
Having never heard of it before, I arrived to NaNoWriMo already four days into the month. (Or for my fellow writers out there, behind by 6,668 words.) It was here that my concept took hold of me and I began to write furiously. At times I couldn’t stop, hammering away at my keyboard for hours on end. The plotlines, characters, messages, they all kept coming. Streaming from my fingers, “Of Leap and Pledge” came to life in a way I never expected it to. It truly felt as though I was meant to be writing it.
When all was said and done I had finished the challenge eight days before the deadline, recording 50,342 words in eighteen days. After taking a much needed breather, I returned to the work a month later and realized that this was it. This was the story that I was going to turn into my debut novel.
It’s been a steep learning curve, but my manuscript is coming along better than I could have expected. As of this writing I’m at 70,000 words. I’ve been through several rounds of beta readers, edits, and rewrites. Right now I’m working through another polish of the entire project. My next goal is to finish this round and begin the querying process in earnest by the end of the month. 
I’m excited, not only that a personal goal and dream is drawing closer to fruition, but in what I’m hoping will be a meaningful story for those who read it. “Of Leap and Pledge” has many themes, and although it falls into the genres of Christian fiction or spiritual, it is also an action adventure that has something in it for everyone.
Of all the themes, the most important to me is the insight as to what our veterans deal with when struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many of the episodes that occur around this theme are from a deeply personal space, while many more are mixed from tales and experiences of other vets. If I can have one wish for this book, it will be that those outside of military life and culture come away with a better understanding of what service members and their families go through as a result of this diagnosis.
So… fingers crossed. Hopefully one day you’ll see my name on the shelves. Until then, happy reading and writing everyone!




About the Author


 Tim is a former U.S. Army Armor and Military Intelligence officer who served five years of active duty, including two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He holds a B.A. in History from Hofstra University, and now works as an Operations Director for a Background Screening and Private Investigations firm. In true Long Island fashion, he married the girl of his dreams and moved two towns over. He has written several fantasy and Christian fiction works and hopes to have several published series in the future. 

Website: readtrhendricks.com
IG: @readtrhendricks
Twitter: @TRHendrickson
Email: readtrhendricks@gmail.com


About the Author

Currently, I’m knee deep in my fictional universe, the AFFINITY WEB. The enormous amount of stories in my head finally forced their way out and created their own playground, and I’m loving every magic-infused second of exploring it.
On a more personal note, I’m married and live with my wife, two kids and two cats in Doncaster, England. As a family, we love to travel, especially to Florida, as we love theme parks. You could say that is an understatement.
I love reading all genres. Physical books or e-books on my kindle, I don’t mind, so long as I always have a good novel to read. Some people say they can sleep anywhere, I can read anywhere. As soon as the page turns, my mind blocks everything else out.




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Monday, April 2, 2018

URBAN FANTASY FROM D.B. GREEN + INTERACTIVE ADVENTURE APP, ORACLE: THE SAVAGE FLAME


The Spark: A Meridia Falls Fantasy Thriller by D.B. Green (Book 1)

Join Logan Collins, as he takes his first steps into a world of magic, meets the girl of his dreams – and uncovers the mysteries entwined around his life, and his soul…
"10 years ago, I watched as my sister was dragged through a mysterious white door that stood alone in a forest. My mom, stepdad, and an army of shrinks tried to convince me it was my dad that had taken Cassie. They told me he'd taken us hiking in the forest, intending to kidnap us both. That he dragged Cassie, kicking and screaming, into the trunk of his white car. That I got away and my mind invented the whole stupid door business to cope. Eventually, I believed them.
My dad is on death row, where he belongs.
My sister?
I never saw her again.

Now, I want to forget and start over. No one knows me in Meridia Falls. It's time for a new beginning, a new horizon - and a new Logan Collins..."

Grab the book for free: http://viewbook.at/The-Spark
Watch THE SPARK trailer: https://youtu.be/px8-0ghQChU




Sunburst: A Meridia Falls Fantasy Thriller by D.B. Green (Book 2)
Join Logan and his friends as they journey across the threshold where they discover secrets that put all their lives in danger. Time will never feel the same again…
"I moved to Meridia Falls to start a new life. To forget my past and become someone new.
I thought things would be normal here. That I could move on from witnessing my father kidnapping my sister. That I could forget what endless shrinks had finally convinced me was a coping hallucination - a strange white door, alone in the forest, that I watched my sister be dragged through. That I could finally stop hearing her screams…
I should have known that wouldn’t be possible.
Because, before me, in the forest, stands a white door. The same strange white door. And I’m about to walk through it…”

Watch the SUNBURST trailer: https://youtu.be/1qfQVR_SY_4





Enchanters: A Meridia Falls Fantasy Thriller by D.B. Green (Book 3)
When all is lost, a ghost of hope shows the way…
"I thought that losing my sister was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. That having my father on death row for her kidnapping and suspected murder was the most pain I’d have to endure.
I was wrong.
Now, I’ve lost everything.
But this time - there may be a chance to get it back. To fix things. To save at least one person I love.
Because, it turns out, that team of shrinks was wrong. I didn’t hallucinate my sister being dragged through a strange white door to avoid facing the reality of what my father did. I didn’t imagine every strange thing that happened after.
I’m not crazy.
I’m an Enchanter.
And I’m not the only one.
Now, my friends and I will have to team up with other Enchanters to try and save the only person left that matters to me - and maybe start putting my life back together."

Watch the ENCHANTERS trailer: https://youtu.be/velKnW4Z07Q




Affinity: A Meridia Falls Fantasy Thriller by D.B. Green (Book 4)
There's nowhere to turn, nowhere to hide...
"My dad is innocent. After all those years of thinking he kidnapped my sister, I find out the truth - and it leaves me with more questions than answers.
Trouble is, my dad was executed before I could even ask the questions.
One of his friends offers some solace - as well as even more unknowns. And now, time is running out.
Escaped prisoners - pure evil, and pure power - are tracking me for my rare, magical blood - and they will find me. Meridia Falls isn't safe, but nowhere else is, either.
In the midst of darkness, a message of hope leads me and my friends to search for a key, a key that could unlock all of the secrets, all of the answers.
Unfortunately, that key is in a place from my worst nightmares.
And if I go there, I'm not sure I can ever come back - or if I'll ever be the same..."

Watch the AFFINTY trailer: https://youtu.be/lUSjRNPyKL0




ORACLE: SAVAGE FLAME – An Interactive Chat Story app by D.G. Green
Play for FREE as the ORACLE Boss, guiding your field ops safely through a nightmarish abandoned town in this interactive chat story where YOU make the choices.
You’ve been assigned to run all field operations out of ORACLE Headquarters – your dream job. Or it would be, except you’ve got a couple of agents out in the field who may be in over their heads, and that means your head may roll if things go sideways.
Can you help the agents navigate the sinister, abandoned town of REMAY HILLS in their mission to find six copies of the dangerous SAVAGE FLAME book? Can you uncover the mystery that threatens everything you hold dear? Join the mission, if you dare!
Make good decisions in this fast-paced, gripping adventure, and experience the next generation of interactive storytelling.
INTERACTIVE, IMMERSIVE, and ADDICTIVE! You’ll be clinging to the edge of your seat.

Get the app for free: www.db-green.com/savage-flame
Watch the SAVAGE FLAME trailer: https://youtu.be/Qp1_mxn_5Hs



A whole new self-publishing universe
Guest Post by D.B. Green

I love to write, I always have. My clearest memory of childhood is when I re-wrote Star Wars in a twenty-page school book. I can still remember how proud I felt at writing my first book. Spin forward a few decades and my training in graphic design intensified my desire to create, tenfold. By now, my head was so full of stories that it was difficult to get them all out onto the proverbial paper. What I didn’t realize at the time was all these stories were forming a yet unnamed fictional universe in my head.

I completed my first full novel two years ago. I originally wanted to go down the traditional route of publishing, but something held me back. I didn’t know what that was until I read a book on self-publishing by Joanna Penn. This book quite literally changed my life. The lack of control was the chain holding me back. You see, I’m a control freak at heart, and finding out self-publishing would give me control over everything was a revelation. My graphic design training then came to the fore. I could do all my own covers, posters, and trailers. I could market my books my way. This epiphany was just what I needed.

This new-found energy led me to delay the publication of my full-length novel and write a new introduction to my fictional universe in the form of a novella series. Meridia Falls was born. A series of fast paced urban fantasy novellas, that would act as a jumping on point.
Spin forward to now. The first four books of Meridia Falls series one have been published, the first part is currently free as an eBook. The finale to series one, The Dark, will be published on 17 April 2018. Due to the success and positive feedback, series two of Meridia Falls will be coming later this year. I’m also developing a new novella series which will hopefully launch this year too. My aforementioned full-length novel will be published early next year, which in itself is the first part of a series. And, I didn’t just stop at writing books, I also branched out into the world of apps. I created an interactive chat story app called Savage Flame. This is also linked into my fictional universe and is also free to download and play from here: www.db-green.com/savage-flame

To accompany my books, I also write free chapters and send them out to my readers’ group. These chapters feature different characters and expand my stories in new directions. My aim is to give my readers a place where they can explore even more of my universe, like with J.K Rowling’s Pottermore. You can visit my fledgling Affinity Web here: www.theaffinityweb.com

As if writing wasn’t enough, I’m just about to launch my own merchandise line to tie into my books. And on top of that, I also record a weekly vlog for YouTube. Here I go into greater detail about my writing week. Recently, I was able to show the design process of my latest book cover, from concept to finish. My channel also hosts all my book trailers too. You can visit it here: www.youtube.com/dbgreen
I’m juggling three separate timelines, across several books and apps, and you know what, I absolutely love it.




About the Author
Currently, I’m knee deep in my fictional universe, the AFFINITY WEB. The enormous amount of stories in my head finally forced their way out and created their own playground, and I’m loving every magic-infused second of exploring it.
On a more personal note, I’m married and live with my wife, two kids and two cats in Doncaster, England. As a family, we love to travel, especially to Florida, as we love theme parks. You could say that is an understatement.
I love reading all genres. Physical books or e-books on my kindle, I don’t mind, so long as I always have a good novel to read. Some people say they can sleep anywhere, I can read anywhere. As soon as the page turns, my mind blocks everything else out.


Author links
Join D.B. Green’s readers’ group for exclusive extras: http://www.db-green.com/readers
Explore the expanded AFFINITY WEB universe: http://www.theaffinityweb.com





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