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Friday 31 May 2013

Change is Afoot

It's an annoying trait I have when I decide something can be improved. I'm probably best to leave things alone but I think it must be the artiste in me. I have to get it right. That's what I love about having e-books. It enables the writer to change things and improve the story telling.

I made a decision to keep very low key with my marketing at the moment. This is while I make a few changes to Book 1, Guardian Dragons part of the Aarabassa World series. A nattering feeling I had told me I had to do this. It doesn't alter the overall plot but I feel it will help one of the sub-plots to flow better into Book 2, Flight of a Changeling.

Once this is complete I will then inform Amazon who then notify any past customers that a new version of the book they bought is available for them. I'm also going to change the cover so that it becomes a separate edition within itself and leaves behind the original edition.

What will my readers think of this, I asked myself? Well I am also an avid reader and if I enjoyed a book then I would not mind alterations to improve it. It's just like an updated piece of software. You can replace each version with its update.

So I'll be reporting on my blog when all is to be revealed and you will hear me shouting as my marketing becomes noisy again.

To Have an Editor or Not


value of an editor

An interesting article on having an Editor...

What’s a Professional Editor Worth?

... Real editors—at least the right one for your book—give you tough love. They protect your book from you and push you to do your best...

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Where Darkness Walks



Where Darkness Walks (Mortgatha Trilogy Book 1)One Woman's Quest is hosting an author interview and spotlight on 16th June.

... evil characters beset them at every turn, and the way home seems farther away than ever...


Where Darkness Walks (Mortgatha Trilogy Book 1) By Donna Hawk
Donna will be giving us an insight into the creation of her tales. Call back to see the full interview.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Good and Bad Moments of Being a Writer


I came across this very useful article that I felt was worth sharing:-
international chick lit month


The Seven Best and Worst Things About Being a Writer
by Karen Wheeler

Writing is all I ever really wanted to do. To earn a living by telling stories and juggling words, is an enormous privilege. But it’s not all royalty cheques and roses from your publisher. Here are the best (and worst) things about being a writer.

Monday 27 May 2013

Attention all Book Bloggers

Now it the time to register for the fourth annual Armchair BEA

Networking among other book bloggers, authors, and publishers as well as special coverage of the event, all from the comfort of your own comfy armchair

Follow link for more information and to get all the details of the biggest event of the year

armchair-bea-registration-is-open

Armchair BEA CentralA is scheduled for May 28-June 2, 2013.

Sunday 26 May 2013

Hay Festival Embraces Reading Revolution

Hay Festival
Readers Unite - nice article on Sky News bulletin

hay-festival-embraces-reading-revolution

Thousands now descend on the small Welsh town to be inspired with 10 days of debates and conversations with poets, politicians and comedians, not to mention best-selling novelists.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Lighten Your Load

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-empowerment-image25155378One of my favourite blogs has done a very useful article that I'd like to share with anyone who reads my own blog. It's not about writing, or promoting or anything to do with the aches and pains of being an author. It's about the aches & pains that we each need to remind ourselves of daily and how to overcome them positively. OH NO I hear you say, trust me this is good advice so have a quick peek in and then tell me if it lifted your spirits as it did mine.

molly-greene.com/empower-yourself

Monday 13 May 2013

FREE fantasy Everville,The First Pillar



I have just downloaded the fantasy book Everville.
Will report back with Review once read - watch this space.

Everville: The First Pillar by Roy Huff

FREE to download on Amazon up until 16th May

amazon.com/Everville

Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville. His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom both harbor hidden secrets he must learn in order to gain power over the evil that dwells in The Other In Between.

With a race against time to save both worlds, his short time at Easton Falls did not quite prepare him for the evil, dark forces he must fight in order to conquer The Other In Between.

5/5 "This is definitely an excellent opener to a new fantasy series" I.M.
5/5 "It certainly deserves to be read by those who love fantasy" B.S.
4/5 "Everville" is a fun, fast, and enjoyable read" B.D.

Thursday 9 May 2013

Flight of a Changeling Officially Out


Flight of a Changeling (Aarabassa World)Flight of a Changeling is available in e-format on Amazon Worldwide:-

Flight of a Changeling .com 
Flight of a Changeling .uk

Based on the world of Aarabassa where one half is dark and the other is in constant sunlight. A magic barrier divides the darker characters out of the Lightlands.

Prince Raphael is taken on a pilgrimage to heal his illness, by Rikka the herbal nurse, but all is not as it seems.

Prince Amos and Prince Leon depart on separate quests to invite various races, including dwarves, centaurs and merpeople, to the Lightlands Council to ready for battle with the creatures of the Darklands

Heather, the Changeling is journeying to the Guardian Dragons lair, meeting with the Forest Keepers on her way. Her final destination, to meet with the monshaad Emperor on the other side. 

Saturday 4 May 2013

Indie House Books Interview



Indie House Books logoTranscription of Interview presently being hosted by 
Indie House Books


IHB: Briefly describe your journey in writing your book.

Catherine: On a cold, wet day in the middle of Northern France, I was stuck in a tent on holiday with my family. We are a family of readers so we were all lying on our camping beds reading our books quietly. I cannot remember what I was reading as I had strangely started to write some mini scenery plots down as a break from reading. The memory is vague, but I know I wrote everything by hand (as no electricity and certainly no wifi in camping). I wrote lots of descriptive paragraphs on an A4 pad. I then cut out each paragraph and began to move the order of them around. This hand written method lasted for approximately a year and once I had a real plot with real people in a good order (paragraphs literally cut and pasted to larger pieces of paper), I then typed it all up on a desk top computer (lap tops were expensive then).

Today everything is typed on a lap top and the cutting and pasting is much easier. I have developed a style whereby I simply write and write and write, without editing or proofing. Then when I am approximately three quarters of the way through my plot, I will go back and begin the editing. The process of editing will happen many times by reading the whole thing through and making constant changes, at least 20-30 times.

IHB: What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

Catherine: Always treat others as you would expect them to treat yourself. I hope that my readers will get the same as I do when I read a book. Excellent likable or hate-able characters. A plot that keeps you turning the pages with its twists and expectations. Descriptive surroundings so the reader feels as though they are in the stage setting. A story that they do not want to finish, but yet they want to know how it ends.

IHB: What is your writing schedule like?

Catherine: I’m actually a bit of a scatterbrain. I love to make lists but then I tend to change the schedule on the lists. I read and write every day. I also have a self employed day job so that has to fit in aswell. I will make a list of the days tasks and stick to it as closely as I can.  If I cannot, then what I didn’t get done goes as more urgent the next day. I don’t necessarily write for my book every day, it could be a promotional day whereby I’m doing written interviews or perhaps finding new free places to market my books. Everyday will involve some task to do with my work as an author, even on holiday.

IHB: What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

Catherine: There are two hard tasks to being a writer. One is the old adage of ‘writers block’. I overcome this one fairly easily by putting a scenario to one of my older children and they often come up with good ideas because they are also avid readers. Sometimes their ideas are enough to move me forward. The second stumbler is being an indie author. Promotion and marketing takes up a lot of my time but at least I cannot blame anyone else if things do not go to plan.

IHB: Where can people find out more about you and your writing?
Catherine: I have a blog where I’m attempting to share my books and other relevant information. It’s early days yet but I’m getting ideas all the time on how to improve it. If any readers pop in and have any ideas on how I can improve it, please let me know.
http://onewomansquestuk.blogspot.co.uk/


IHB: What kinds of books do you like to read?

Catherine: I didn’t take reading seriously until in my thirties when I had to read Charles Dickens and instantly became a fan. I then looked at other English classics and read the Bronte sisters.  My very first fantasy author was the famous Lord of the Rings (before the days of the films). I was then lured to Anne Rice via the character Lastard. I also read her witch tales and loved them all. This gave me a taste of horror and I became enmeshed in Brian Lumley. By now I was loving anything fantasy and my list of favourite authors was continually growing. Robin Hobb, Raymond Feist, I think I could easily fill the page with authors I adore, and it still grows.

IHB: Please give us a brief synopsis about your current book and when and where it is available.

Catherine: Shortly Book 1, Guardian Dragons will be coming to its 90 day end with KDP on Amazon and I will be able to publish the e-copy elsewhere. Once this is accomplished I will release Book 2, Flight of a Chageling via KDP Amazon as a kindle version.

Book 2, Flight of a Changeling immediately follows on from Book 1.

Based on the world of Aarabassa where one half is dark and the other is in constant sunlight. A magic barrier divides the darker characters out of the Lightlands.

Prince Raphael is taken on a pilgrimage to heal his illness, by Rikka the herbal nurse, but all is not as it seems.

Prince Amos and Prince Leon depart on separate quests to invite the various races, including dwarves, centaurs and merpeople, to the Lightlands Council to ready for battle with the creatures of the Darklands

Heather, the Changeling is journeying to the Guardian Dragons lair, meeting with the Forest Keepers on her way. Her final destination, to meet with the monshaad Emperor on the other side.

Thursday 2 May 2013

CELEBRATIONS my first review on Amazon

4/5
Oh yes, this is wonderful news. I'm very pleased to announce this fantastic review giving Book 1, Guardian Dragons 4/5 stars. This makes all the hard work worthwhile knowing that someone out there has enjoyed my characters and my story.

Get your copy now before Book 2, Flight of a Changeling is available as an e-version.  (presently only in paperback)
amazon.com/Guardian-Dragons e copy
amazon.com/Guardian-Dragons-paperback
amazon.com/Flight of a Changeling-paperback





Wednesday 1 May 2013

Wow, my interview as an author


 Flight of a Changeling
Excited to announce my latest interview as an author. The following link will take you directly to Indie House Books and the interview page.

author-catherine-l-vickers-talks-with-indie-house-books/

I'm plugging Book 2 of my series here as it has just recently been released in paperback on Amazon worldwide. It will shortly be available in e-format aswell.

amazon.com/Flight of a Changeling