Back in the Writing Saddle...and IWSG

Just when you think your life has changed...

Surprise! Haha! Try again. Back to the same old formula that brought you joy and misery in the same felled swoop.

We're working on a musical. All my time should be in a theater, editing music, designing sets and costumes and blocking and lighting...but no. 

Want to know where I'm at?

CREATING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

And even more shocking...

WRITING A BOOK.

Let's be fair, the first draft of this book was completed in 2005, but writers grow, and whew! Did you say passive voice? So I'm REWRITING the entire book while doing all the social media stuff and homeschooling my last two kiddoes.

It's not much. 

Oh yeah, and working with a marketing specialist for the first time and completely restructuring our efforts. Nothing, really. All good here.

The awesome co-hosts for IWSG this month are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

Question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

Haha! It has been three or four years since I launched a book, but it won't be the last time (obviously). We are in the middle of launching our MUSICAL (Immortal the Musical) and it's like launching a book times 850%. (Plus there's a book version that will come out one day.) Things that overlap: sharing snippets, interviews in your targeted readership (aka viewership), creating content (written, visual, video) that's easy to share, comment on, interact with. Building a direct mailing list is another aim, incentivized by contest, giveaways, etc. Then ads pushing content you've had proven engagement with...

I wonder at the effectiveness of blogtours these days. It feels like the climate has shifted to podcasts, TikTok/Instragram Reels, quirky graphics, and reposting rave reviews. A friend of mine started an Instagram series of "writer problems" in video where she has quirky issues we all face, and she's done quite well since her books are romcoms. The point is, she's built an audience there. Converting them to purchasing a book is an easy sale.

When prepping a launch, you really have to analyze your strengths, where your community of readers hangs out, and how to make those ends meet. You're not selling a book. Not really. You're selling you. The book will speak for itself in the aftermath.

What unexpected twist has your life taken recently? Book launch ideas? Tasted any really amazing cheeses?

Are You a Hater on Social Media?

HUGE thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh
and his cohosts, Nancy Gideon, Tamara Narayan, 
Liesbet @ Roaming About, and Feather Stone! 

You know those moments when you see the ugly side of humanity? Yeah, I had one of those this last month, regarding social media...

But before I get into that, a HUGE thanks to Operation Awesome for inviting me to share a guest post about running blog tours during the #AtoZChallenge. (Check it out!) Now back to our regular program...

We all know the rules: Behave yourself. Be polite. Don't be a troll.

Or at least we think we all know those rules. I had a moment where I began to wonder, seriously wonder if humanity is lost. Let me tell you about it. (And before we start spouting political opinions about the subject discussed in this thread, keep in mind this is about social conduct and respect, not political opinion. Please refrain from commenting about your like or dislike of President Trump.)

Recently I posted a status update on Facebook about the statement President Trump made at 3 AM after bombing the Syria airport that delivered chemical weapons. I was surprised by 3 things: the compassion you can't help but feel as he speaks, the fact he spoke of God (for the first time that I'd heard), and that he mentioned prayer. Really? All from the lips of Trump. And then, I expressed my hesitant support of the bomb drop with a hope it won't lead to further conflict.

Well, you know how people are. If you mention the word "Trump," (especially with any kind of positive spin) some will zero in on you as their next meal.

And this was the case.

Two such people decided to make my post a flaming war. The first, I asked to refrain from commenting so vehemently. After the second, I told them they were welcome to their opinions, but I liked mine more. (With a winky face.)

And then...

The one kept going, throwing insults at the President.

I asked him to quit.

He continued on.

I asked him to respect that this was my personal Facebook feed and to please refrain from commenting.

He continued by calling Trump a puppet.

Again, I asked him to stop.

At which point he made a public statement about how he was going to defriend me--because we couldn't be friends if I thought Trump had a sincere bone in his body.

Wow, right?

So I asked him to please carry out his threat, finishing with "This is MY feed, and I should be able to state how I feel. If you're too biased to live and let live, we're better of not associating."

Then he called Trump a nasty word on my feed.

And that was the point at which I began to lose faith in people. I do my research, and I admit to not knowing everything, but I don't write anything in social media without a great deal of thought. Now this is where things changed. Several friends (from both sides of the political spectrum) stepped up and called him out.

One person asked if this was the kind of world we live in--where you have to go unfriending everyone who disagrees with you, essentially taking your ball and going home.

Another person scolded him for using fowl language on my feed.

Yet another asked if he was an adult.

Someone else told him to grow up and stop being mean and hurtful.

And suddenly my faith was restored in people.

So if you're having one of those days where you've lost your faith in humanity, fear not. Good people are out there, quietly hovering. They just need a call to action. However, some people cannot see beyond their own noses to begin grasping even the concept of respect. If you're ever confronted by one of those, feel free to be the adult in the room and turn your back, unfriend, or walk away.

[And a quick aside: There's all this rhetoric about the US president, so much misinformation, propaganda, and hate. I have disagreed with pretty much every president in some regard, but I still respected the office. When an election is complete, an election is complete and the nation is supposed to come together as a whole and heal. That isn't happening. Is it because we can't be friends and disagree on political aspects? Tell me, what is going on, because I fear for the future of this great nation--and not because of Syrian or Russian retaliation.]

Two weeks ago, S.M. Boyce shared LICHGATES along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win an eBook.

The game:

1. Before quitting to write full time, I used to work as a software tester and was even promoted to lead/deemed the project expert of the software.
2. I planned a cross-country move from Maryland to Washington state in 2 weeks, from idea to move-in.
3. Due to an addiction to glittery things, I own 24 carats worth of diamond jewelry.

The lie: #3. 

From Boyce: Though this isn't true, I do have a bit of a jewelry addiction after working at Zales Jewelers in my college years. I was my boss's favorite customer for quite awhile!

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Barbara Fisher!

Congrats, Barbara!

Speaking of people coming to our rescue, how about a rockin' Superhero book:

Sometimes the villain must create the hero.

The streets of Arcania are overrun with crime, deteriorating as a madman named Fortune makes himself at home. He shows no mercy, striking down anyone in his path – including Nova Benson’s little sister. Devastated, Nova vows to seek justice for her family, but aside from her freak strength and impenetrable skin, how is she supposed to stop a monster like Fortune?

Cole Warner wants to help people. Entrusted to keep his family’s secret, he’s also frustrated at having to hide his gift. He knows he could do more to help in the fight against Fortune. If he could convince his sister Penelope to join him, they might even have a chance at beating him. When Cole meets Nova, he realizes his whole world is about to change. And he’s going to welcome it with open arms.

Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan.

Then again, neither was becoming a superhero.

Buy your copy on Amazon.

Ready to meet the author?

Liz Long is a proud graduate of Longwood University. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her day job as Associate Editor includes writing for a magazine publisher in Roanoke, VA. She is also the director of the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference and the annual Roanoke Author Invasion.

Comic book readers and fans of CW Network smash hits Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Netflix’s Daredevil will root for Liz Long’s bestselling YA summer series as the HoA’s gifted teen superheroes attempt to save their city from its impending demise. The Donovan Circus series has best been described as "X-Men meets the circus." Adult horror story Witch Hearts tells the tale of a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. New Adult PNR A Reaper Made is about a teen Reaper who gets caught between falling in love or saving her sister's soul. All titles are available for paperback or ebook on Amazon. 

To learn more about Liz (including more information on her books, plus writing, marketing, and social media tips), visit her website: http://lizclong.com.

You might stumble across her on the couch in her slanket, singing about my Night Cheese (30 Rock, anyone?) while munching on brie and apples. Or smoked Gouda. 

Liz gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. If you guess the lie, right or wrong, you will be entered to win an eBook of SUPERNOVA. (Open internationally.) IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL ON THE PROFILE, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS OR EMAIL IT TO crystal@crystal-collier.com WITH YOUR SCREEN ALIAS.

You have until Tuesday, May 16th at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on May 17, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I've appeared as a Jeopardy contestant.
2. I have interviewed Kevin Costner and Bill Maher.
3. I was once involved in an FBI case.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you ever faced a cyberbully? What solution do you propose for healing the US? Have you met Liz Long? Do you like superhero books?

Can We Get Any More Awesome in this Room? IWSG, Writerly Wednesday, and a Blogfest

You don't have to be crazy to get how stoked I am about everything that's happened lately. It's humbling and oh so amazing. There are people, REAL people, who like my book and email me about the sequel, and beg me to make it as awesome as the first, and who write reviews and rave on their blogs or facebook (without me even asking!!!), and squee every time I post a writing update...

As amazing as this trip is, it leaves me with one HUGE worry. If this book is that good, am I sufficient enough to market it, or am I squashing it before it gets out the door for lack of a larger marketing team? 

Don't get me wrong, I love my publisher. (Like the bleeding-heart kind of soul-mate love.) Before launch, we made a very clear plan that we'd wait until the first series and serial story were published and then make a HUGE campaign push (we're talking EPIC here), but I worry that putting off the push is shooting myself in the foot. Still, I don't have the time or energy to do it all, darn perfectionist that I am. 

Whatever happens, I'm in for the ride -- or better yet, I'm driving and wondering if someone else should have been put in charge of this crazy train. Teeth rattling, I'm hitting every bump and unsure of the road ahead. Where is my crystal ball?

Enough of that. Who's ready to win a book and test your lie detection skills?

Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books. 

A few weeks ago Rachel Morgan shared two truths and one lie about herself and those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win a book of their choice from her Creepy Hollow series.

The options were:

1. Rachel has read every Harry Potter book at least 8 times.
2. When she was little, she had an imaginary friend who was sometimes a boy and sometimes a girl.
3. To relieve exam stress, Rachel and her high school girlfriends used to hit the middle of the school field and scream. 

And the lie is: 

#1. As much as we all want it to be true, Rachel is not quite that much of a Harry Potter fan. 

Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Linda! 

Congrats, Linda!

And now for this week's special feature! I'm so excited to share Julie Flanders and her amazing new release with you!

A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.

Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick.

By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.

Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.

She shakes her head.

For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul. Why? ... Who is she? ...

Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry.

What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?

Hannah finds out.

But, it’s not at all what she expects...

Hannah unravels a century old murder.

This one is at the top of my TBR list, precariously teetering over the edge. You can buy it HERE.  

Ready to meet Julie?

Julie Flanders is a novelist and freelance writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a life-long love affair with the ocean and has spent more summer vacations than she can count on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. When not writing, Julie can be found playing with her pets, reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams and watching too much television. The Ghosts of Aquinnah is Julie’s second novel. Her debut novel Polar Night was released in February, 2013 by Ink Smith Publishing.

The Ghosts of Aquinnah was released on December 5, 2013 by Ink Smith Publishing. It is available in both paperback and ebook formats. For more information, including purchase links, please visit Julie’s website here.

You might stumble across her munching on Muenster pretty much anywhere. (A cheese after my own heart.)

Julie gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win her eBook. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 14th at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 15th.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. While work as a psychiatric social worker, helping with assessments for the county jail, she was nearly strangled by an inmate who was having a psychotic episode.

2. She was in drama club as a teen and loved performing in plays and musicals.  

3. Julie desperately hates pie and can’t understand why anyone would choose it for dessert.

And if that wasn't enough awesomeness, check this out!

My very first blogfest! Meet my AMAZING co-hosts: Pk Hrezo, Tammy Theriault, and Michael Di Gesu. Is this a party, or what? 

In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.

Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.

So here's where you come in: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? That's what I want to know on February 10th, so think about it, sign up on my linky list, and make sure to include the hop image in your post.

Oh, and be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party! Yay! I can't wait to hear all about your dream matches!

P.S. If you're a coffee drinker, you have to get over the Michael's blog, now! 

Okay, which is the lie? Have you signed up for my ROCKIN blogfest? (And if not, are you crazy?!?) What marketing worries do you have or have you overcome? Have you read Julie's super amazing book? Have you read any truly amazing books recently?