Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Squee worthy ANNOUNCEMENT, and an Editing Giveaway


GUESS WHAT?!?

I'm bursting out of my skin today because it's finally time to announce my debut novel, MOONLESS, will be released November 13, 2013 by Raybourne Publishing. Yippee!!! Who wants to celebrate by eating cheese with me?

Better yet, who is so incredibly awesome that they'll help me spread the word?

Sign up for the blog tour or cover reveal HERE. (Please?)


And now to the business of our Writerly Wednesday Truth and Lie game. *rubbing hands*

As part of last week's major giveaway including multiple awards, I offered a free ebook ($5 gift card to Amazon) for one lucky person who shared their favorite cheese and took a stab at guessing my random number.

Well, there were a number of awesome (and brazen) guesses, but the magic number was actually 49. Nice try people!

And the winner is:


...DRUM ROLL...



Congrats, Carol!

On to today.

So, you've written a really great book. Everyone says so. (Your mom, your brother, your friends.) You want to publish it, but there's a nagging sensation at the back of your mind, a little voice that whispers, "You're not ready. It's not good enough. No one will want to read this."

How do you silence that voice?

The answer for me was acquiring an editor. Understand, I have the most amazing critique partners, and such fabulous beta readers. I've even been blessed to work with a writing coach who handled slush pile entries at a small publishing house, and many years ago, a wonderful literary agent friend.

But that voice rarely dims below a scream in my head.

So an editor. I received recommendations and researched probably fifty of them, searching for someone who specialized in ALL of my genres--someone who would be a personality match for me/my writing. This couldn't be just any editor. It had to be THE editor. You know what I'm talking about? The person who loves your work like you do, the person who strives to help mold your story by YOUR vision, the person who energizes you when you're ready to throw in the towel?

A synergist.

Narrowing it down to 10 editors who worked on books I adored, I started the "interview" (email) process. I had some wonderful and very professional discussions with several editors. There are so many fabulous ones out there, but I knew when I found the one. Her enthusiasm for the project was enough to silence that screaming doubt at the back of my mind.

Dead. Silence.

And it went that way for the entire duration of our exchanges.

It's with great pleasure that I recommend Bethany Kaczmarek at A Little Red, Inc. I can't say too much good about this woman--and the selfish monster sitting in my brain wants me to shut up right now so I can keep her all to myself, but that would be wrong. (Or would it?)

Bethany kept me laughing while editing, and sought to preserve and cultivate my vision for the characters/plot. Her communications were regular and timely. Her feedback came in pieces so I wasn't overwhelmed by the immensity of the entire project. These interactive edits left me feeling 100% certain I could stop listening to that voice at the back of my head permanently. And let's talk timetable here: this woman is wicked fast.

So, why do I tell you all that? Because if you need an editor (and you do), you have to find the one that's right for you--but you can't do better than Bethany. No, seriously.

And, lucky for you, Bethany is offering a free 5 page edit to the winner of our Truth or Lie game today!

So here we go! Can you guess the lie?

     1. Bethany tore her ACL watching a Steelers game. On her couch.
     2. Bethany has been bitten on the hand by a flamingo.
     3. She learned to drive stick on the dirt roads of a little place called Hell Hole Swamp.

Alright human lie detectors, which is the lie? And have you signed up for my blog tour yet? *batting eyes*

119 comments:

  1. Of course I'll sign up for your blog tour! It's awesome (and nerve wracking) to have a book come out!! Can I celebrate with yogurt instead of cheese, even though I have a cheesy smile on (:

    Thanks!

    P.S. I think the lie is #2.

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    1. Well, as long as there's cheese involved. Thank you Fida! Now there's a cheesy smile on my face too. =D

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  2. I think #1 is a lie Bethany. And Crystal I will gladly celebrate while eating cheese with you!

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    1. Oh, oh! I want to join the cheese fest. I'll bring some Kerry Gold. It's my temporary favorite.

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  3. Congrats, Crystal! Maybe I can interview you for the Blog Ring of Power when your book is released.

    I think #2 is the lie.

    BTW, I still haven't heard from Madeline Sara about claiming her copy of Twinned Universes. I posted an announcement on my blog and commented on hers, so I'm not sure what else to try.

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    1. She's been having some family trouble. I'll email you about the details.

      Thank you, Sandra! I'll totally take you up on that.

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    2. The Blog Ring of Power. THAT. is. awesome.

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  4. Congratulations, Crystal! I'll help with your blog tour!

    As for lies, I'm gonna guess #1. Which would be hilarious if true.

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    1. Thanks, Julie! You are awesomesauce.

      I laughed when I read #1 too.

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  5. Congratulations! I'd love to help with the cover reveal. :)

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  6. Yay for you, Crystal!

    I'm gonna go with #3 as a lie. :)

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  7. Congrats, Crystal! She sounds like a perfect fit for you, and you were smart to search for that fit. It's one of the drawbacks of the independent editing process, in my opinion, that by bypassing the traditional blind-dating "matchup" of traditional publication, writers can end up with editors who don't love the manuscript enough to "get" it. So glad you had such a fantastic experience!

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    1. Thanks, Martina. I was definitely blessed in the process.

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  8. Oh, YAY!!!! Signing up. Major contrats, cheese-mate.

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  9. Bitten on the hand by a flamingo...
    BTW, signed on for your tour. Yay!

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  10. Congratulations, Crystal! :)

    I'm going with #3 as the lie.

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  11. I'll say #1 is the lie!

    I'm all signed up for the cover reveal and the tour :)

    Congrats to Carol on her win!

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  12. Wheee! I won! Thanks for the opportunity, and there's nothing better than winning a free ebook. How delightful!

    Congrats for your soon-to-be-published book, and Bethany sounds like a wonderful editor. :)

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    1. Crystal is a wonderful client. She deserves a bouquet of virtual cheese.

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  13. That deserves an extra long squeeeeeeeeee!!! Congratulations!

    And hey, go Carol on winning!

    This week's "lies" all sound believable! I'll go with #3...

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    1. Or a chorus of squees!

      Bethany is totally awesome at hiding her truth, eh?

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  14. Congrats, Crystal! So excited for you and off to sign up for the tour. E-mail me soon to set a date. And let someone else win your awesome contest.

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  15. So exciting, Crystal!

    I'm guessing that #1 is the lie.

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  16. I think the lie is number two.

    Congrats on the upcoming book release!

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  17. very exciting---and well deserved!!!

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  18. I'm going to go with number 1 as the lie. Congratulations! I've been meaning to start helping people with their blog tours/cover reveals so you can be the first one :)

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  19. Squeeing right along with you, Crystal. Working with you was...how did you put it? Gut-busting and energizing? I'm so glad you're excited and confident in your work. You should be. Your praise may have been on the too-flattering side, though. Still, I'll take it (and put it on my blog!) Signing up for the cover reveal!

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    1. LOL. It was well deserved and you know it! Little Miss Humble. ;)

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  20. Congrats!! That is fantastic news! And I'm definitely signing up :)

    Okay, I'm going to guess the flamingo one as the lie--they peck, right? :)

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  21. Congratulations on the great news! That's very exciting. I've signed up. I always have that little voice nagging me too. I'm lucky one of my CPs is a fabulous editor. I'd be lost without her.

    Hmm, the lie. It's difficult this time around. I'm going with the flamingo one.

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    1. Yay! Christine, that's fabulous, and thank you!

      One of my CPs is an amazing editor too, but I'm one of those people who has to be told about fifty times before she can drown out the voice.

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  22. I say number three is the lie. Nobody drives a stick anymore. :P

    And I'm holding off on signing up for your reveal for now, just because I'm not sure of my plans in November. BUT, if I'm still around I'll be sure to give you a shout out. :))

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  23. Congratulations! That's huge. I'd love to sign up, but I'm terrified of committing to anything and then forgetting right now because all I can think about is unpacking :)

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    1. Understandable. If I was unpacking I'd have a hard time thinking of anything else. When there's a mess, well, yikes! How is a body supposed to focus?

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  24. Congratulations on your book coming out in November!

    I do think you've got confused though. It's not cheese that makes the world go round but chocolate.

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    1. Depends on your world, I suppose. This one runs on deliciousness of a different sort. ;)

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  25. Much congratulations to the release of your debut novel, Moonless. Mine was released on Saturday and it's been quite a ride. I'd also like to help with your cover reveal! And Bethany sounds wonderful. I'm going to guess, she didn't get bit on the hand by a flamingo! Oh, and we ate cheese today! Munster and Colby Jack.

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    1. Awesome. Congrats on your release! I'm sad I stumbled across you too late to participate. Hey, for future releases, you've got to rope me in!

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  26. Congratulations on your upcoming release! Woo HOO! Break out a bottle of wine to go with that cheese! November will be here before ya know it.

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    1. I know, right? I'm sitting here thinking the summer has just begun, and suddenly September is staring me in the face. Brr?

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  27. I'd say yes to your blog tour, but my blog doesn't have the biggest readership. Still, if you have a hole in your blog tour on a Wednesday, I'm sure I can fit you in.

    Lie? Hmmm. #2?

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    1. Awesome, Liz. I'll take whatever help I can get.

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  28. Congratulations! And thanks for the tips on finding an editor, very helpful... :)

    My migraine doctor banned peanut butter and chocolate from my diet, and as a result, I've been eating more cheese. I'm coming around to your way of thinking.

    :)

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  29. Huge congrats, Crystal! That is so wonderful!

    #2 is the lie, I think.

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  30. Awesome! Big congrats! Just signed up for the tour! I'm aiming for a release date of 11-12 so I'll be asking for the return favor soon. :D
    Nice you found such a great editor. Makes a big difference! But those are hard truths/lies to guess from. I'd say #2 is the lie.

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    1. Yay! It wouldn't be a complete tour without you. Pk, you are totally scheduled for my Writerly Wednesday feature on the 20th. Wahoo!

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  31. I've not done many blog tours, but I'll sign up.

    And I'll say #1 is the lie.

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  32. Yay you! November will be here before we know it, with how fast time seems to be anymore. So exciting! :D

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    1. I think time is exponential. The longer you live, the faster it goes. ;)

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  33. Congratulations Crystal! I'm cutting the cheddar and poring a port. :)

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    1. Hey, as long as you save me some--cheddar that is. :D

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  34. Congrats, Crystal! And thanks for coming by my blog. Your words were kind.

    Editors...not quite there yet, but I hope to find a match made for me like the one you're so pleased with when the time comes.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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  35. Congratulations Crystal that's awesome!

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  36. Congrats! Mail me if you want a blog tour stop on my blog. (mishagericke(AT)gmail(DOT)com)

    I suspect #2 is the lie. ;-)

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  37. I'll pass on the game, but congrats on the book! I'll definitely sign up for your blog-touring!

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  38. This is exciting news! Congratulations! Hmmm... #3.

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  39. Congratulations!
    I'm in for your cover reveal!
    And I was thinking, you should host a Cheesy Tale Blogfest sometime. What will it be all about? I have no idea...
    Writer In Transit

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    1. Michelle, that's total gold. You're 100% right. I even have an amazing cheese story or poem to lead it off with. Now I just have time find an opening on the calendar...

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  40. Congratulations! Wow, sounds fun!

    All the best!

    Nas

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  41. Did anyone say cheese?! I'm coming! :D
    Congratulations Crystal what exciting news. I can't wait to see your cover! And yes, having a good editor to work with is so important. Thanks for sharing her with us. (;

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  42. Congratulations on MOONLESS! That's really exciting!

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  43. Wow, how exciting!! Woo-hoo! I'm signed up for both the reveal and the tour and looking forward to participating. Congratulations!!

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    1. Thanks, Julie. You're super awesomesauce. I can't wait to read your book either. Alaska...

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  44. That IS squee-worthy! :D Huge congrats, Crystal!

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    1. Thanks, E.J.! We only get this experience once, eh?

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  45. November this year? How exciting! CONGRATS!!!

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  46. Congratulation, Crystal!!! I am so excited for you. I'd love to help spread the word anyway I can- blog post, cover reveal. You name it!

    Bethany sounds absolutely wonderful- I'm glad you found such a great fit!

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  47. Oh, congrats on your pending book release! Put me on the list if you have a promotion plan! And I am SO with you on the editor! I VERY luckily found mine early--a member of my writing group who was so helpful through my early books that I am finally paying her for it, but they are SO worth it!

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  48. Congratulations! I'd love to help you spread the word, going to sign up now...

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  49. Happy to help with tour. I'm going to say 2 is the lie.

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  50. Congratulations, Crystal! Signing up now. :D

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    1. Yay! I'm on board for your tour next month too, Carrie.

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  51. Congratulations! I signed up.

    I think it's 2.

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  52. Congrats!!!!!!!!!! That is FABULOUS news! So excited for you! :)

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  53. Congrats, Crystal. Have another 'do' on October 2 on my main blog.
    I don't get a lot of comments on my Kid Lit blog, but I have a fair amount of traffic, so I could to it there. Gonna visit the Linky.
    I'm guessing 1 is the lie.

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  54. Congrats Crystal. I'm excited for you :)

    ......dhole

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  55. A huge and happy congrats to you!!!!!
    And congrats to Carol!

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Hit me with your cheese!