An Anthem for Writers Working on their WIPs

Today's post kind of fell through, so I thought I'd share this video I made dedicated to writers working on their WIPs. I originally posted it earlier this week on the Scene13 blog, where I post every month on the 27th as part of a group of writers whose books come out in 2013. They're a great gang, and I've even met some of them in person.

Anyway, here's the video. Enjoy!

Review: The Girl with the Iron Touch, by Kady Cross

Kady Cross' much awaited sequel to The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, The Girl with the Iron Touch brings the unapologeticly steampunk feel to a London adventure that spans from Mayfair to Whitechapel, and unearths new secrets in the London Underground. As a woman with a soft spot for the London Underground (have you seen the National Geographic article?), this book certainly touched on some of my favorite themes: Aether, SCOUSes, that's Sea Creatures of Unusual Size, in case you were wondering, Automotons, and philosophy.

The Girl with the Iron Touch revisits all of the story's past dealings in one way or another, Finley even remarks on parallels between the dilemma they are faced with and one she overcame on her own in The Strange Case of Finley Jane, which remains my favorite of the tales from Cross' The Steampunk Chronicles. That said, with the character of Endeavor 312, The Gril with the Iron Touch examines one of my favorite questions in speculative fiction: what does it mean to be human?

Enjoyable, as expected by any novel coming from the pen of Kady Cross, my one reservation is that Finley, Griff, Emily and Sam seem to be spending a little too much time letting their hormones get in the way of their better judgment, and the plot. Yes, the fact that this is a Harlequin TEEN novel means that I shouldn't be surprised, but I missed the slow build of the awkward tension which typified The Girl in the Steel Corset and The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.

Now, I'm going to go find a copy of The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy, because somehow I didn't know this existed until a moment ago, and my logic engine tells me it is imperative that I read it.

YA Highlight: Canary by Rachele Alpine

If you love YA Contemporary, you might be interested in today's YA Highlight: CANARY by debut author, Rachele Alpine. 

In this debut novel, a high school girl tries to understand the world, figure out where she fits in, and learn how to stand up for herself when everything falls apart. With the passing of her mother, Kate Franklin’s life unravels at the seams as she loses the only emotional mooring in her family. Her dad shuts down completely, and her brother enlists in the army. Things start looking better when her dad is hired to coach at Beacon Prep, home of one of the best basketball teams in the state. In a blog of prose and poetry, Kate chronicles her new world—dating a basketball player, being caught up in a world of idolatry and entitlement, and discovering the perks the inner circle enjoys. Then Kate’s fragile life shatters once again when one of her boyfriend’s teammates assaults her at a party. Although she knows she should speak out, her dad’s vehemently against it and so, like a canary sent into a mine to test toxicity levels and protect miners, Kate alone breathes the poisonous secrets to protect her dad and the team. The once welcoming community has betrayed Kate, her family is disintegrating, and she’s on her own to grapple with whether to stay quiet or speak out and expose a town’s hero and destroy her father’s career.

Wow! That sounds great. You can pick up a copy of CANARY at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Happy Release Day: The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler!

Today, I'm happy to announce the release of a seriously creepy sounding YA novel: The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler. 

A supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie  take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

Sounds fabulous! I'm really looking forward to this one. My TBR is about to tip over with all of the books I've added to it lately. Or the column of tomes could be holding my roof up. Either one.

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Guest Post by Ann Snizek: Character Building

Book Title: The Jewel of Nirel

Author:  Ann Snizek

Release Date:  July 27, 2013

Genre:  YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Length:  Over 86,000 Words

Publisher:  Snow Flower Enterprises

Presented by:  As You Wish Tours

Tour Schedule: The Jewel of Nirel

Character Building

One of the main points of fiction writing is building your characters.  You need your readers to connect with your people, human or not, in order for them to invest their time in reading the entire story.

I have several characters in my books that are as real to me as many flesh and blood people.  I know their likes, dislikes, quirks, mannerisms… every little bit possible.  This allows me to write in a realistic way.

Start out by writing up a profile for each character.  Put their physical description, but don’t stop there.  Add any quirks or particulars that make them who they are.  This isn’t for your readers to look at necessarily, but for you to use as a reference.  It allows you to track that you said they love apples on page 10 and not be allergic to them on page 110… unless of course something happens to change that fact about them.

You need to know about their personalities too.  This allows for consistency throughout your writing.  We each have characteristics in our personality that our family and friends can say,” that is exactly like you!”  We want to have that same connection with those we read about.  If we have someone in our book do something out of character, it should be known to the reader without always saying that it is out of character.

I like to pick one or two personality traits that stand out the most in each character.  I develop some level of backstory for the main people… enough to understand why they are the way they are.  This helps with their future interactions and reactions to events and co-characters.

The depth that you go into it all depends on you.  Naturally, the main people get the most detail, but where to stop is up to you.  I’ve heard that have a character write a journal helps.  While not all my characters are the journal keeping kind, I have used this for a few and I like how it worked out.  I even discovered a few things about them that I didn’t know.

I think the key is to never underestimate the importance of developing your characters.

BLURB

For the people of Tunuftol, and other countries on the planet Nyssa, names found them starting at twelve months old… at the earliest. Along with the names came certain skills or powers. Depending on what you did with your powers determined what type of person you were, and sometimes affected future names. Therefore, names had great importance in Tunuftol, and Krissa had more than a few… nine to be exact. Her full name was Krissa Lysandra Rue Alverna Harley Mya Magryta Freya Wittek, which is quite a mouthful.

The dangers haven't ended for our friends yet. The weather is starting to warm and the war started last fall is under way. Journey with Krissa and the crew as they struggle to keep their world safe and find their place in it.

AUTHOR BIO

I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home). My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids. My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military) About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children. Now there are only two remaining in home-school. I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations. Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center.

I struggle with Fibromyalgia and PTSD. So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice. I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically. (again not always successful) However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually.

AUTHOR LINKS

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Jewel of Nirel Tour Facebook Event

Twitter

Website

Snow Flower Enterprises

Amazon Author

Goodreads

BOOK LINKS

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Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

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Interview with Kelly Hashway

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing an extraordinary author. Meet Kelly Hashway. She's super sweet and super smart and types up books faster than a speeding train. Not that speeding trains type up books, but you get the picture. Anyway, let's have a chat with her, and you'll see how cool she is for yourself!

Welcome to We Do Write, Kelly! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks for having me. Well, I'm a former language arts teacher turned writer and freelance editor. I'm also the mother of a beautiful six-year-old girl. I currently live in PA with my husband, daughter, and our three pets.

How long have you been writing?

I remember writing when I was in elementary school. I wrote short stories and even a novel. But I'd say I got serious about writing in 2009.

Tell us about STALKED BY DEATH, the sequel to TOUCH OF DEATH. What’s the story about?

Stalked by Death is the story of a group of necromancers descended from Medusa who are trying to avoid a war with Hades. Here's the official blurb:

Jodi knows that any slip-ups made by the Ophi—a special group of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac—will fall on her shoulders... and that Hades is just waiting for them to screw up so he can wipe out the Ophi line.

Unfortunately, Jodi has only convinced one Ophi to join her school: A hot guy named Chase who jeopardizes her relationship with Alex. Jodi loves Alex, but Chase can enhance her powers with just a touch—making her stronger than any Ophi has ever been.

Her mixed emotions send her powers surging out of control, and the dead start rising without her conscious summoning—exactly what Hades doesn't want! If she chooses Alex over Chase, she may lose the battle to Hades, leading the Ophi race to extinction. If she chooses Chase, she might be able to stop Hades for good… but lose everything else.

Jodi needs to figure things out fast--because death is stalking her at every turn.

So cool! How did the idea of the story come to you?

When I originally wrote Touch of Death, I wasn't planning to make it a series, but my agent suggested tweaking the ending, and as soon as I did, I knew there was more story to tell. The pieces sort of fell into place from there.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have a critique group and beta readers, and I self-edit. LOL

The perfect mix! Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I'm a plotter, but I've been known to totally throw my planning out the window and let my characters take over. Still, I go through the planning so I don't ever sit facing a blank screen.

Yay, a fellow plotter! *high fives* What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

I get obsessive when I draft. I want to get the story out as quickly as possible, but life doesn't always allow that to happen. I am a mom, wife, and pet owner after all. Being torn between my characters and my family is tough sometimes.

I totally hear you! What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A notebook. Even though I have discovered the joy of Scrivener, I still make some cheat sheets by hand in a notebook I keep next to my laptop.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I want to be able to teleport. I hate losing time to travel. Think of all the writing I could do if I could just teleport everywhere. :)

That would definitely come in handy. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I'm going to have to say morgue walk-in refrigerators. It was for research purposes for this series, but I kind of wonder if my name was flagged after looking into breaking bodies out of morgues. ;)

*shudders at the thought of morgues* But seriously, I think that's the mark of a true writer: getting flagged and put on a watch list. ;)

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: touch, stalker, and facetious.

I thought she was being facetious when she said she wanted to touch the stalker's abs, but the smile on her face tells me she meant it.

Awesome sentence. Finish this one: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

playing with my daughter.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I have so many people to thank. My family, my amazing agent, Lauren Hammond, everyone at Spencer Hill Press and Month9Books, my CPs, my writer friends, the awesome book bloggers who spread the word about my books, my fellow Scene13 and YA Bound bloggers, and every reader who choses one of my books among the millions out there. I love you all!

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

You can find my books on Amazon, B&N, Book Depository, and wherever else books are sold.
My blog is: http://kellyhashway.blogspot.com
My website is: www.kellyhashway.com
I'm on Twitter: @kellyhashway
And I'm on FB: https://www.facebook.com/kellyhashway

Kelly, thank you so much for chatting with us. I have shelf space saved specifically for the Touch of Death series!

Book Blast: Imperfection by Phaedra Seabolt

Imperfection (Pure Blood)

At the center of a war brewing between two packs: her son

Meara Falk always followed her parents' rules, until one night in March when the temptation to let loose changed her life forever.

Nine months later, disowned and with a baby on her hip, she discovers werewolves exist after being on the wrong end of some teeth and claws. During her first change, werewolves attack, stealing her son and driving her out of her home.

Now she’s looking for the man who kidnapped her baby and turned her life upside down. Meara's son is in the middle of a threatened war between two powerful packs. Getting him back will jeopardize the lives of everyone she loves.

Available on Amazon

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About the Phaedra Seabolt

Phaedra Seabolt is the youngest of four and the only girl. She spent her childhood trying to be the best she could be at everything she did which drove her to attend college long enough to attain her master's degree. Now she is a stay at home mom and happily married.



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Interview with Ellen Booraem

I'm pleased to be able to have Ellen Booraem on the blog today for an interview. Ellen is a fellow author and blogging buddy of mine, and she's here to talk about her book, TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD.

Hi, Ellen! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m on my fourth writing career. I started out doing college publications, then had three instructive years doing corporate newsletters. On to small-town journalism, which I did for nearly 20 years here in Maine, loving every minute. (Well, most minutes.) I quit my all-time favorite job to write my first book, and still can’t believe I did that. Glad I did, though!

How long have you been writing?

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’ve made my living as a writer for 39 years. (Can’t believe that, either.) I wrote some short stories in my 20s and 30s, then abandoned fiction entirely until 2003, when I started writing THE UNNAMEABLES.

Tell us about TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD. What’s the story about?

It’s about a scaredy-cat South Boston 12-year-old named Conor O’Neill, visited one night by an inexperienced young banshee named Ashling. She’s there because someone in his family is about to die, but she doesn’t know who or when, only that she will turn into a wraith and keen as the death approaches.

Ashling waits for the death in a cupboard in Conor’s bedroom, but then gets bored and follows him to middle school, where she tries to pass as his cousin from Ireland. Eventually, she and Conor, along with his younger sister and grandfather, travel to the Underworld to see if they can prevent the death.

Conor takes his cell phone with him. Texting ensues.

Sounds so cool! How did the idea of the story come to you?

I was reading ABBEY LUBBERS, BANSHEES & BOGGARTS by the late Katharine Briggs, a renowned British folklorist. Since childhood, I’d thought of banshees as these horrible shrieking wraiths, but Briggs thought they were maidens who’d died too young and returned to warn their families about an approaching death. A maiden like that would have an interesting story, I thought. Three hours later, Ashling and Conor were alive and breathing.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have a wonderful six-member writers group. We try to meet weekly, but sometimes that works out to twice a month. We just went on a three-day retreat together in Eastport, a sparsely populated  part of the Maine coast where one of us has a house and a “camp.” It was pure magic.

In addition, my partner Rob is an excellent reader. My lifelong friend Shelly Perron is a crackerjack professional copy editor, and has been so helpful I dedicated this book to her. My agent Kate Testerman gives me a great sense of how things are working overall. But the essential diagnostician in my life is my editor, Kathy Dawson. She leaves the solutions to me, but she’s pretty much flawless in identifying what the story is and what’s getting in the way.

Each book also has its group of kid readers, who read the manuscript before the last revision. They’re a huge help. I won’t put their names here because they’re kids, but they are in the book’s acknowledgements.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Both. In my first two books I was pantsier: I knew from the outset what the last line was going to be, but had no idea how I’d get there. For TEXTING, I gave my editor a synopsis before I started writing, so I knew the whole plot from the beginning. That was a barrier at first, because I felt that I’d already told my story. But I learned to ignore the synopsis, or at least to depart from it at will. Now I’m addicted to the reassurance a synopsis offers—it’s nice to know that there is a workable plot out there even if I don’t stick to it.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Definitely drafting—it’s exhilarating, but also scary.  I fight it, so I have to be extremely disciplined or it won’t happen. I sit down at my desk by 9 a.m. and I can’t eat lunch until I have a thousand words. They don’t have to be good words. Just words.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A pot of herbal tea, usually licorice or something gingery and spicey.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Flight, which is bizarre considering how scared I am of heights. But I think if I were under my own power, not relying on a contraption or a rope or something, I’d love flying.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Video of a Burmese python attacking and eating a rabbit. (Poor Conor.) Found it, too!

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: texting, under, and gracious.

While texting under the tamarack tree

I was stung by a gracious bee.

“Jst stng by B,” I texted my friend,

Waiting to yelp until I pressed “send.”

That was awesome! Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Normally the answer would be “reading” but right now it’s “playing with the new puppy.”  He’s been with us five days as I write this, and he’s intoxicating.

How cute! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

All the people I mentioned in the “beta readers” question, but also fellow residents of Brooklin, Maine, the world’s most supportive town. And the Marauders, a group of fantasy fans from across the globe whom I met nine years ago in a private Harry Potter forum online. We’ve shared all of our lives’ ups and downs, virtually and in person. These days we’re on Facebook, and they’re utterly faithful about “sharing” what I post on my book page.  That kind of moral support is priceless.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

My website, ellenbooraem.com, has links to buy books and communicate on social media. It also has background information about banshees, pre-Christian Ireland, and the Underworld figures who appear in the book—basically, any research that I ended up not using.

Awesome. Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Ellen. I can't wait to read your book!

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Dorothy.

Ellen winds up the TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD blog tour at her own blog, Freelance Ne’er-do-well. She’ll be giving you trivia about fifth-century Irish girlhood. See you there!

Ragesong by J. R. Simmons + GIVEAWAY!!

When the peaceful kingdom of Fermicia is enslaved by a power-hungry renegade, its only hope lies in a band of unlikely heroes: two children whose musical abilities allow them to harness the power of Ragesong, and their shape-changing guides. Jake starts his first day of junior high completely oblivious to the fact that he has been chosen for something incredible. That same afternoon, he learns that he has been marked as one with the power to save an entire kingdom. Through the course of his journey, Jake discovers that his advanced musical abilities are peculiarly connected to a mysterious power known as Ragesong. Joined by a shy, young girl with similar musical talents and two Changelings that hold a fierce loyalty to their homeland and king, Jake must learn to harness this ability in order to survive the dangers of a hostile new world.

Buy on Amazon

About the author:

JR Simmons lives in Northern Utah with his wife and 4 boys. He loves spending time with his family and coaching his kids in all of their different sports. He is an avid gamer and is very excited that his boys are picking up on his hobby. JR was recently introduced to triathlons and has since found that he loves the sport. Most nights he can be found either sitting down with a good game or hunched over his iPad writing.

Follow J.R on FaceBook | Blog | Twitter

Blast starts August 21st and the author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card

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Happy Book Birthday: Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Not only is it my birthday today (yay!), but it's also the book birthday of DOON by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon. Check it out!

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

Sounds so cool! Be sure to give it a look.

Amazon
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Review: Antithesis by Kacey Vanderkarr

Centering around an unlikely and reluctant heroine, Kacey Vanderkarr's science fantasy YA novel Antithesis offers a bizarre but compellingly constructed universe as a backdrop to her tale of murder, kidnapping, and a bid for pandimensional domination. While featuring the bright but off-putting, egotistical, angsty, and too attractive for his own good male lead I've nearly grown to expect, Antithesis' female lead went a step beyond the expected awkward female lead to focus a differently-abled young woman, Gavyn, who doesn't plan to let the arm that never grew keep her from doing exactly what she wants.

Although Gavyn often picks on herself for her one-armed ginger status, and the steamy scenes, sometimes literally, got a little too steamy for me, the world building driving Antithesis was altogether too delightful. In Gavyn's world, things aren't too different from the world we know, until Liam comes into her life and pulls her through to a series of alternate worlds which could only exist in dreams, each farther from the one she left behind, a world which is endangered by the machinations of a world in which another girl wears her name and her face, but shares none of what's inside.

Vanderkarr's novel demonstrates a surprising layering of the intimately familiar and mundane with advanced technologies, surreal landscapes, and the clinically macabre, in a story which has left me waking from dreams wondering for a moment if maybe I really am just glimpsing other realities, just as real as this one. Isn't that what books should do? Make us think? Antithesis has definitely given me a few things to consider.

Happy Book Birthday: Demonosity by Amanda Ashby

Happy Book Birthday to Demonosity by Amanda Ashby! This sounds like such a fun read.

An ancient myth + a mean girl + a reluctant warrior = a lively take on good vs. evil

The Black Rose--a powerful ancient force--has been let loose and has taken up residence in Celeste Gibson, popular girl at Cassidy Carter-Lewis' high school. Thomas Delacroix is the spirit of a fourteenth-century knight who is devoted to protecting the Black Rose, but he needs a contemporary living being to take on the challenge. That's where Cassidy comes in. She's a quirky high school junior who just wants to dress in her vintage clothes, hang out with her best friend, and take care of her father, who is recovering from surgery. She's the last person who would ever volunteer for such a task, but no one actually asked her. Now, like it or not, she finds herself training before dawn and battling demons at parties, the mall, and even at school. But hey, no one ever said high school was going to be easy.

Amazon

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Happy Book Birthday: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Today we celebrate the release of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. Check it out!

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

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Guest Post: The Search for a Critique Partner by DelSheree Gladden

Book Title:  Wicked Hunger

Series:  SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes

Author:  DelSheree Gladden

Release Date:  July 9th

Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy

Length: 95,000 words/240 pages

Publisher:  GMTA Publishing LLC

Presented by:  As You Wish Tours

Tour Schedule

The Search for a Critique Partner

One of the scariest things for a writer is showing their work to someone else, to another author especially. The fear of rejection and criticism can be overwhelming.  Regardless, this is such an important step in polishing your writing. I’m sure most of us writers out there finish a first draft and think it is absolutely amazing. I know I’ve done that plenty of times. It’s only after someone else reads it and points out a plot hole, or a bizarre reaction, or even an unlikeable character that we can admit the book might still need a little work.

Finding a critique partner can be a challenge. You want someone who will be honest without being brutal. You have to be able to trust that person enough to show them a project that you know needs work, or call on them when you are stuck and can’t write yourself out of a plot problem. So, how do you find someone like that?

Local writer’s groups are a great place to start. You can meet up in person and have a face-to-face discussion about each other’s work. This is a great way to get to know the other writers well enough to know who you can trust with a first draft.

Unfortunately, many writers live in areas where there are no writer’s groups available. That’s when you need to start looking online. There are several great online writer’s groups like The Next Big Writer, Scribophile, Authonomy from Harper Collins, and many others. These types of sites allow you to post chapters of your work in exchange for reviewing other authors’ work. This can be a great experience because you get a wide variety of readers’ thoughts. Another benefit is that you end up making friends with other writers, which can be helpful on staying up to date on publishing news, contests, and which publishers/agents to avoid.

Another way to find a critique partner is simply to ask. Do you know someone who is also a published or aspiring author? If you don’t, ask around. Your friends and family might. I had no idea that a lady I went to church with was a writer until a friend at work mentioned it. Sometimes writers think they are the only ones struggling with a chapter, or unsure of what direction the story should go. You’re not. We all struggle with the same things, and most of us are happy to have someone to turn to for help. Writers may not have a lot of money to spend on writing services either, so working out a trade can be mutually beneficial as well. You need a beta reader, maybe another writer needs and editor or cover designer. Just ask who needs your help, and you’ll find plenty of writers willing to help you in return.   

SYNOPSIS

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens.  She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

AUTHOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Delsheree Gladden's first book in her new YA series SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes is a riveting story of uncontrollable bloodlust that turns dealing with family, friendships, trust, devotion and love into a WICKED HUNGER~~~Susan Stec, author of Dead Girls Never Shut Up and The Grateful Undead Series.

AUTHOR BIO

DelSheree Gladden lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. The Southwest is a big influence in her writing because of its culture, beauty, and mythology. Local folk lore is strongly rooted in her writing, particularly ideas of prophecy, destiny, and talents born from natural abilities. When she is not writing, DelSheree is usually teaching yoga, coaching gymnastics, reading, painting, sewing, or working as a Dental Hygienist. Her works include Escaping Fate, Twin Souls Saga, and The Destroyer Trilogy. DelSheree's newest series, The SomeOne Wicked This Way Come series, follows Vanessa and Zander Roth, siblings with an uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering that will either gain them limitless power or lead them to their deaths.

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