Wednesday, January 6, 2016

MY PUBLISHING JOURNEY: Author Christa Yelich-Koth

Have you ever wondered how authors get their start?
How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?

This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there:

How did your book become a book?

Enjoy.

Christa Yelich-Koth

Author of

ILLUSION

AGENTS

Do you have an agent?

No. I did, but after 6 months, she took a different job in marketing and had to dismiss all her clients.

How many queries did you send?

Oh boy... probably around 80?

If you don’t have an agent, is it by choice?

It is by choice now. Mostly because of the responses I received from publishing companies.

If represented, how long did it take to get your agent?

When I did have an agent, the entire process took about 7 months for her to send me a contract.

If you have an agent, can you copy and paste your successful query letter for others to reference?

I met my previous agent at a conference—she had sample pages of my novel, not a query letter.

PUBLISHING

Are you traditionally published or self-published?

Self-published.

What made you decide to self pub?

I choose to self-publish because many of the people I worked with (both agents and publishing companies), really loved my work, but didn’t want to take it on because it isn’t easily marketed, especially my novels. For example, ILLUSION is labeled Science Fantasy, but the book itself contains conspiracies, psychological traumas, memory loss, and metaphysical experiences. It’s more adult than Young Adult, but is written more broadly, so teenagers would enjoy the book as well. Makes it difficult for an agent/publisher to determine who is the target audience.

Did you do everything yourself (such as cover design, formatting, etc.) or did you hire out?

I do everything myself except I do have others edit and I don’t create the cover, just design it. I hired an illustrator, Conrad Teves, to put together the cover.

Which platform (such as Createspace) do you self-publish through?

I publish through Buzz & Roar Publishing, which is my own (co-founded) company. We printed our first run of books through Bookmobile Printing. We sell books directly through our website or through Amazon in paperback or ebook.

Have you researched or considered getting a hardcover printed of your book? What about audio?

I have researched hardcover. I would only choose that option when I offer both books (ILLUSINO and IDENTITY) as a box set. And those will be limited. I plan to eventually do an audiobook as I have recording equipment. I have not decided if I will do it myself or hire someone else.

What do you like about self-publishing?

I like that I can control my own sales, be responsible for the financials, and create my own cover design. I also like that I can determine my own release date.

What do you dislike about self-publishing?

Marketing is really tough. Also bookstores seem very uninterested if you are self-published or not selling your books through Ingram.

Looking back would you do anything differently?

Probably not. My path may have winded a lot, but I learned so much through the experience. I’m very proud of my company and am looking forward to bringing my own, and other’s books to readers.

ADVICE

What lessons have you learned? Any advice for those about to go down your path?

I learned to befriend other writers. Friends and family are great, but if they aren’t writers, there are just things they won’t understand. I learned that most writers are actually really friendly and are willing to answer your questions. I learned that you HAVE to show people your writing before you think about publishing—self-editing is not enough. And I learned that writing conventions/conference are a wonderful resource and tool to make yourself a better writer and meet others in the writing world.

Christa Yelich-Koth
www.christayelichkoth.com

Publisher: Buzz & Roar Publishing.

buzzandroarpublishing@gmail.com

www.buzzandroarpublishing.com

Posted by Jessica Therrien comments (3)

Monday, January 4, 2016

Monday Morning Sneak Peek: KINGSTON COURT by Holly Kammier

Did a weekend of reading leave you wanting more?
Sneaking peeks of your newest novel from under
your desk at work?

For the eternal reader...here is your
Monday Morning Sneak Peek!

Enjoy.

KINGSTON COURT by Holly Kammier

What happens when you take middle-aged, stay-home-moms, and throw them back into the workforce and dating? A modern twist between Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City, Kingston Court follows the love, lies, and friendships of two wealthy Southern California women.

Samantha and Natalie are at a crossroads. Gorgeous, over-the-top Samantha, hangs her status and her happiness on her “perfect” husband. That is until she learns his secret.

But she’s not the only mother on the block struggling. Natalie, nurturing and careful, is thrust back into the workforce after her husband barely survives a horrifying car crash. However, it isn’t just her new job co-hosting a national morning news show that keeps her busy. Alik, the hot young production assistant, does everything in his power to seduce the woman he loves.

Death and misfortune in the span of a single year force these two women to rediscover their inner strength and make life-changing choices. Kingston Court is full of scandal, temptation, and all of life’s juicy little secrets.

www.hkammier.com

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

CHAPTER ONE

Natalie: May 22, 2014

I loved the Gaslamp Quarter at night. Here I got to wear heels instead of New Balance, trade my sweats for a little black dress and red lips. The city made me sexy.

It was a tranquil Thursday in late spring and I should have been hanging out with my mommy friends on Kingston Court. Once a week, without fail, we met up in the cul-de-sac with our kiddos in the evening to drink wine and catch up on all the neighborhood gossip. Tonight was special though. I had a date with my favorite man.

My husband Mark shifted the gears of our BMW as I peered up at the passing lights and giant fashion ads painted on the brick walls of San Diego’s classic building facades. Victorian era architecture mixed with modern skyscrapers. The din of traffic and dingy smell of the streets made me forget to worry over ladies’ night or our two children at home. At least for this moment, we were young again.

Mark slid a hand against my bare thigh as we slowed at a light. “Wanna ditch dinner and find a dark alley?”

The subtle streaks of his greying hair were hidden in the dimly lit sports sedan, turning him into a darker, more mysterious, version of himself. I laughed and leaned toward him, kissing the freckle below his ear. “Tempting. Very tempting. If I wasn’t so hungry I might take you up on that.”

I breathed in his citrus scented after-shave, as I wrapped my hand around his bicep. Mark flexed his arm and narrowed his green eyes at me. “You sure?” he teased in a low voice, almost like a growl. “I get all crazy when you dress like that.”

“Shoot.” My eyebrows sank as I glanced down at my open purse. A small green toothbrush sat on top of my wallet.

“What?”

“I have Ben’s toothbrush.”

My husband and I looked at each other in resignation.

“Jamie is watching him. Maybe it’ll be fine,” I said, though we both knew it wouldn’t.

Our five-year-old son could be difficult. His most recent obsession was brushing his teeth after every meal. I could think of worse things for him to be insistent upon, but going to bed without his toothbrush of choice wasn’t an option. It was only a matter of time before my best friend would call telling us to come home.

Mark’s tired face turned stoic without the charm of his smile. He pulled into the next u-turn lane to head back for the freeway.

“Are you mad?” I asked, reaching for his knee.

“Eh, we’ll just drop it off and swing by that Thai place you like.” He shrugged and took my hand, reverting back to the role of comforting husband.

I scrunched up my nose and removed the barrette holding back my shoulder length brown hair. We were celebrating my thirty-eighth birthday and there was nothing romantic about the Taste of Thai at our neighborhood strip mall.

The light in front of us turned green, and I brushed my hand against the back of his neck, hoping to be absolved of my guilt. “Maybe we can still—”

He turned to look at me. His eyes, focused only on mine, carried none of the fear I suddenly felt wash over me. In that single moment life froze. I needed to speak, to take the wheel, something. Instead, I watched the set of headlights outside Mark’s window get closer.

An intake of breath. A downpour of shattered glass. The sound of my scream as if it belonged to someone else.

The car lifted then tumbled. A dizzy Ferris wheel of lights …

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Sunday, January 3, 2016

Beta Readers/Writing Partners Anyone?

Well, I'm slowly climbing out of the holiday fog...5 kids and 8 adults under one roof felt like some Home Alone Christmas awesome. Here's a little peek into the madness:

Now that I'm trying to get back into the writing/blogging world, I wanted to introduce an idea. I've been getting asked the same question a lot lately: How do you go about getting beta readers for your novel?

Aside from friends and family, who often have a biased opinion, it's important to get some external feedback. But who can you trust with your manuscript? One author proposed asking GoodReads reviewers, but that sounded too risky to me, plus GoodReads reviewers tend to be way too harsh...

For me, the best beta readers have been other authors, because they happen to be readers, too!

Of course we all have writing partners, but sometimes our writing partners also fall into that "friend" category and/or they have read your manuscript too many times.

So here's my idea.

If any of you authors out there are interested in doing a manuscript swap (not with me in particular because I don't actually have a completed manuscript right now) I can pair you up or introduce you with someone else who is interested. If you would like to take part, here is a little form to fill out :)

Also, if you would just like to beta read even though you don't have a manuscript, that's fine too!!

Posted by Jessica Therrien comments (1)

R&R Challenge December Winner!

The goal of the Read & Review Challenge is to read 5 or more books from the R&R Library by March 31st. All books in the library are free! Each month there will be a giveaway for those who review the books they've read.

For details on how to take part in the challenge click here.

To add your novel to the R&R Challenge Library click here.

Contact me @ therrien.jessica@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

This month's winner is...

Jade Klinger

Jade reviewed SHRILUGH by Myndi Shafer.

Nothing can explain to Aydan Fulbert how she survived the savage attack in the woods. Why her left eye, instead of being blinded by the injuries she’d sustained, had simply turned a shocking shade of silver. And nothing can explain the fact that she can hear the Stranger speaking in her mind - or that she can answer him back without using her mouth.

Nothing can explain it - unless he’s telling the truth.

Nothing can explain the things the Stranger knows about her - things that she, until just a few hours ago, hadn’t known herself: that she’d healed faster from her injuries than was humanly possible. That the cruel family she’d been raised by isn’t biologically hers. That her stepfather is now hell-bent on bringing her to his own form of justice for a crime she didn’t commit.

Nothing can explain it - unless he’s telling the truth.

Nothing can explain why she so easily agreed to go with the Stranger. Why she didn’t find the notion of another world ludicrous and impossible. Why she didn’t cut and run the minute he explained where he wanted to take her.

Nothing can explain it - unless she believes he’s telling the truth.

Aydan knows she’s being intentionally naive. She knows her decision to follow the stranger is at best, reckless. At worst, deadly.

...unless he’s telling the truth.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

The review was posted on GOODREADS.

Jade Klinger's Reviews > Shrilugh

Rate this book

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Shrilugh (The Shrilugh Saga, #1)
by Myndi Shafer (Goodreads Author)

Jade Klinger's review

Dec 21, 15

really liked it

Recommended for: EVERYONE

Read from December 14 to 15, 2015 — I own a copy, read count: 1

Brig Cooper lives his young twenty-one year old life working for the Fulbert's. Brig enjoys working on the farm. But the one things he enjoys much more than working on the farm is hanging out with his best friend Aydan Fulbert. Brig has all of his goals set out and ready for him, but he can't seem to continue them without Aydan.

Aydan can't wait to get out of her hell hole that she's currently living in. Being able to graduate has been a complete relief for Aydan. All she has to do is hold out for a couple more months, then she is finally free. For most of her life all she could think about was Brig, she immediately dropped her fantasy of being with Brig after coming to terms with herself that Brig was more of a bother than anything else. But when she finally realizes that there's more to hers and Brig's relationship, everything stops her in her tracks.
Everything seems to be falling perfectly in place. All when it comes to both Brig and Aydan's attention that it's not going to be as easy as they thought it would.
Aydan's father is completely against her dating anyone, especially when she's still under his roof. So knowing that her father will try in every way to separate her and Brig.
Brig and her both end up deciding on keeping their relationship a secret.
But we all know secrets don't last.

The writing style this book, has a very fluid motion about it that just keeps you wanting to read until the very end. I found that the perspective changes between Brig and Aydan were done extremely well. Both characters perspectives were evenly done throughout the novel. I ended up reading quickly though this, and finished it within a day. What I found I didn't entirely enjoy, was that I felt that the ending was a tad bit abrupt when it came to a conclusion.It felt as though someone ripped out all of the last pages in the book, and the words were there was the conclusion. Another thing I found around the end of the novel, was that it was hard to discern the "fantasy" aspect of the novel. There wasn't enough information about what was going on with Aydan and knowing what she was. Which made it confusing and interesting at the same time. And I feel that if the novel would've just held out a little longer it would've made more sense.

Both Brig and Aydan as characters in the novel are great! I absolutely love the relationship between Brig and Aydan. And I'm also super addicted to how mysterious Aydan is. I mean we know how she acts and the way she is.. but we don't know what she quite is. Also the tension between Aydan's dad, Brig, Shannon, and Aydan herself can be super overwhelming, but in a great way because of that fact that we don't know what lengths Aydan's dad will take to crush Aydan and everyone she knows around her. From the tension happening with the characters it gives the novel a huge thriller aspect!

Other than that I really love the Shrilugh Saga. I think that it's unique, in a way of drawing you into a normal life that has it's limits, to a life that's full of dares and maybe a hint of magic. When reading Shrilugh I had to spread it out for the entire day because of how fast paced and addicting it was.
Super happy to have ran into another amazing author, and to get the chance to see what happens next.

Posted by Jessica Therrien comments (1)

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

ADIOS Release Day!

~ RELEASE DAY ~

Title: Adios

Series: Stories about Melissa, book 6

Author: Bethany Lopez

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Cover Design: Makeready Designs

Photo: K Keeton Designs

Junior year is halfway over and Melissa is thrilled to be going with Jess, Jimmy, and Brian to Cabo San Lucas for Spring Break. Things at home haven't been great, and she could use the break that the sun and sand of Mexico is sure to bring. But things don't go as planned and the perfect vacation changes things for Melissa and her friends. Will the damage done be permanent and will life at home ever get back to the way it used to be?

Goodreads

Special Release Week Price - $.99

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Smashwords

Excerpt:

Unable to keep it to myself any longer, I’d told Megan, hoping she’d talk it out with me and maybe keep an eye on things with them while I was gone.

Boy, was I wrong.

“That’s nice,” she’d replied when I told her. She didn’t even look away from her Kindle to acknowledge that I’d spoken.

“Yeah, Megan, I hope so. This is our parents I’m talking about. Can you at least look at me?”

I stood over her bed, looking down as I waited for her response, and … nothing.

She just kept on reading.

“You’re turning into a real jerk, you know that?”

“Takes one to know one,” was her witty response.

“You know what, I’m not going to let you do it. You aren’t making me mad so that I jump on top of you and start a fight … Nuh uh, I’m not messing up this trip for anything. So you can go ahead and sit there, with your greasy head, stuck in your stupid book, and forget I said anything. And make sure you don’t touch any of my stuff while I’m gone.”

With all of that said, I’d whirled around and stomped down the stairs.

When I heard her yell out, “Whatever,” I bit back the scream of frustration in my throat.