ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you're looking for behind the scenes, exclusive content.... be sure to join my Facebook group where I post almost daily. Just click on the FB icon below!!!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

It's Official... Cover Reveal Date Set

If you're interested in helping, feel free to sign up using the Become An Event Host tab above. Still accepting until April 8th so if you're wanting to take part .... hurry and be sure you sign up before then!!!!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Amazon Celebration

As of today I'm happy to announce that I've met my goal of reaching 50 lovely reviews on Amazon by the end of the month!!!!!

A huge thank you goes out to each person who took the time to read and review Silenced! I appreciate it very much.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Silenced: The Overtaking Cover Reveal: BLOGGERS AND FACEBOOK PAGES NEEDED

Cover Reveal

Title: Silenced: The Overtaking (Silenced Series)

Expected Date: April 13

BLOGGERS AND BOOK FACEBOOK PAGES NEEDED FOR REVEAL.

This reveal will consist of only the cover. (Blurb is planned to be revealed at a later date.) I'm asking for each blogger and page owner to share the cover on April 13 any time throughout that day.

If you're interested in helping out, please use the Event Sign up form tab to sign up. (Be sure you sign up for the Cover Reveal Option)

DON'T FORGET TO PASS ON THE WORD AND HELP SPREAD AWARENESS!!!!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Beta Readers

As I bring Silenced: The Overtaking to an end, I am beginning to plan the next part. Editing. This also includes beta readers.

What is a beta reader?

 A beta reader is someone who agrees to look over a piece of fiction for spelling, grammar, characterization, and continuity errors. Unlike a true editor, a beta reader is typically unpaid, and he or she sees the work at a very rough state. Many authors like to use beta readers to improve the quality of their work before they submit it for professional editing and critique, and beta readers are usually profusely thanked in acknowledgments, in recognition of the time and energy which they invested in the work. The beta reader also looks for flaws in characterization and plot. The beta may question why a character does or does not do something, or how someone ends up in France with no apparent explanation halfway through the third chapter. Authors sometimes miss these flaws as they are caught up in the greater whole, so a beta reader is especially valuable.

Here are the list of requirements that I'm asking for when doing the call for readers. If you do not meet all of the requirements, please do not sign up.

1. Beta reading experience: You must understand what you are signing up to do. You will be emailed an unedited version of the book. This will be for beta reading purposes ONLY!

2. You must be able to read the book by the deadline and have your feedback returned. I'm running on a schedule to have my book published. Any delays will result in pushing the release date further into the year.

3. There are limited positions that need filled.

What do you get in return?
 It would be a volunteer position. In most ways, the compensation will be pretty minimal: a free copy of a book you were (presumably) going to buy anyway. Getting to read it weeks or months in advance of when the final version will be released to the public. Helping me increase the book's overall awesomeness. And a thank you on the acknowledgements page.



Fill out the form below to sign up for your chance to be chosen as a beta reader. *More information may be requested if you're chosen* 


Monday, March 11, 2013

Fan Interview

A while ago I asked on my author page on Facebook for fans to ask me questions they'd like to see me answer in my upcoming vlog. I'm still planning on doing a vlog but there are some things I need to do first before making one. So.. I've decided to use some of these questions for our first Fan Interview. So here we go...

 1st question is from Jen Hawk: When did you decide to be a writer? Why? 

I figured it out with the help of my younger sister. She was looking through the shorten version of Silenced and suggested I add to it. She said it’d make a very good book to help spread awareness for self harm and depression.


 2nd question is from Aileen Aroma: Did anyone influence you to write Silenced?

There are several things that have inspired me to write SILENCED. First of all the lack of knowledge that I’m seeing when it comes to depression and self harm. I’ve met so many people that had no clue self harm existed.  Second I suffer from depression and in the past did cutting to help me feel I had control some where within my life. I felt like the depression controlled me.  In my opinion, it’s time that depression and self harm become another issue people bring awareness to.

SILENCED isn’t about having the perfect storyline or the perfect adventure. It’s to help people understand. Thus inspiring me to try to help those people understand.
 

 3rd question is from Kate Warren: What's the first book you remember reading (and loving) as a child?

This one took me a while to think about. I've read so many books (and loved them) over the years. The one that sticks out the most to me is Night by Elie Wiesel. 

4th question is from Greg Stephen Buda: What are your goals as a writer?

I have several goals for different aspects of my writing. My overall goal for being a writer is to get my name out there along with my work. If you'd ask me what my goal is for Silenced... it's to send the message that cutting isn't the only option for those who are going through it and to help those who don't suffer to understand.

5th question is from Tara Davisson: What is your target audience?

My target audience with Silenced is young adults. Anyone 13 and older due to the depth of the scenes within Silenced as well as drugs, drinking, and some sexual content.

6th question is from Brandy Jeffus Corona: Who is your favorite character??

Amber Brown is my favorite character. I based her off of a few people I know and she’s all of them mixed into one. She’s the outcast in school and finds her one true friend in Casey. This was me in high school. It was hard to find where I fit in. Her outlook comes from a mixture of people I met and based her off of.



7th question is from Carole Ronneberg:  What inspires book titles?

The title just came to me. I felt that when my main character Amber cuts, she’s silencing the feelings that go along with depression.
  


I want to thank all seven of you that submitted questions. If you posted a question and you don't see it here... keep your eye open for the next Fan Interview...they may be posted there. If you have any questions you'd like to add on for the next interview.. feel free to post them in the comments below or visit my author page.

Welcome

I'd like to welcome all my fans to my blog. This is where I'll write updates and share my progress with any of my upcoming work. I am the owner of another blog called The Writing World which I'll use strictly for helping to promote other authors like myself. This blog will be fully dedicated to my own work.

The type of posts that I plan for this blog:

Fan Interviews
Silenced Updates
Upcoming work progress
Interviews I do with other blogs

Basically this is where my thoughts will be. In addition to my website which can be found here:

So if you're a fan of my recently published book Silenced and would like to get inside the authors mind, please feel free to follow this blog. I won't post all the time but I will keep all my fans updated.