Almost a month has passed since my last post. The sequel to Silence of Souls is nearing completion, and (if things go well this week) I am still on schedule to release it sometime between Christmas and New Year's.
The novel is better than the first, or at least I think so. It's much deeper, more emotional, and far different than any other zombie novel I've read so far. Hopefully, it'll gain a lot of readers, though I'm sure there will be people who hate it because of a certain event that takes place in the novel. This one is definitely NOT for children, and I think parents should be aware of what happens before letting their teenagers read it or not. Once it's released, I will put up a fair warning (while trying my best not to give away any important plot points) on the page so that people know it has mature content.
Thanksgiving was a fantastic long weekend. I spent the long weekend camping with family and friends and didn't get on the computer at all. I didn't force myself to think about work at all either. It was a good idea, because I came home with a clear head and an imagination yearning to get to work. As my mind cleared up, new ideas came rushing to me for the rest of Resurgence as well as for my next two novels.
The next novel is a vast expansion of The Secret Room and is going to be an epic battle between good and evil. It's going to have a lot of supernatural elements in it, and my ideas keep expanding and growing, and I'm loving where this is leading to. In all likelihood, this will be another series, which I am okay with. (Don't worry, zombie fans: The Silence of Souls series will continue!) As soon as Resurgence is finished, I'm getting to work on The Secret Room novel (though it won't be called "The Secret Room"; I don't yet have a title for it, though).
Part of me is considering taking on a challenge I've never done before- writing two novels at once. One will be The Secret Room novel, and the other will be the memoir I've been considering writing for a few years now (and more and more encouragement has come from friends and family to write it). Discipline will have to be a top priority if writing two at the same time, though one being fiction and the other non-fiction might make it a little easier. We'll see how things go after Resurgence is released. :)
Showing posts with label ghost stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ghost stories. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Book Signing
Over the weekend, I had my first book signing event. It was at the local library, and they were also doing a book sale. (I got a box full of books for just $2- what a deal!) The library is only a couple years old, so it's a gorgeous building and very spacious.
I sold every copy that I had, and had to take orders for more. It was so much fun, and the feeling of having people come and ask for my novel and autograph was surreal. There were several people who made the trip special just to see and support me, and I am grateful to each and every one of those people.
It was also very cool to have people I didn't know asking for my novel and autograph. I'd tell them the basic gist of the story, and some people got very intrigued.
Proceeds from sales were donated to the Friends of Acton-Agua Dulce Library (they do all sorts of awesome reading, writing, and educational activities for the community), Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, so it all went to good places. Even though I didn't make any money off the sale, it was a very profitable weekend- I met some great people, made some new contacts, and may have opened the door to two more book signings in other communities, which is very exciting!
Halloween is tomorrow, and I think the whole "scary season" is really getting to me, in a good way. I've been getting so many ideas for different paranormal stories lately, and some of them really intrigue me. A few dreams and old memories have washed up on the shores of my mind and are taking up root in my imagination.
I sold every copy that I had, and had to take orders for more. It was so much fun, and the feeling of having people come and ask for my novel and autograph was surreal. There were several people who made the trip special just to see and support me, and I am grateful to each and every one of those people.
It was also very cool to have people I didn't know asking for my novel and autograph. I'd tell them the basic gist of the story, and some people got very intrigued.
Proceeds from sales were donated to the Friends of Acton-Agua Dulce Library (they do all sorts of awesome reading, writing, and educational activities for the community), Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, so it all went to good places. Even though I didn't make any money off the sale, it was a very profitable weekend- I met some great people, made some new contacts, and may have opened the door to two more book signings in other communities, which is very exciting!
Halloween is tomorrow, and I think the whole "scary season" is really getting to me, in a good way. I've been getting so many ideas for different paranormal stories lately, and some of them really intrigue me. A few dreams and old memories have washed up on the shores of my mind and are taking up root in my imagination.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Zombies, Ghosts, and Psycho Killers for Breast Cancer Awareness!!!
While I was lying in bed last night, it hit me. October is the perfect storm for something I've been wanting to do for a while.
October 2012 means:
-The return of The Walking Dead for season three. (And you all know I love ZOMBIES!)
-Breast Cancer Awareness Month
-This October marks 19 years for me of being cancer-free, and 19 is my lucky number. (I am the survivor of a very rare childhood cancer called germ cell cancer of the ovaries; sometimes also called germination cell cancer. Even though it wasn't breast cancer, people still become more aware of cancer during this month.)
-Silence of Souls has been nominated for Book of the Month on The Paranormal and Horror Lovers Group on Goodreads. (Winner will be announced tomorrow.)
So, with all this adding up, I've decided that I will donate 50% of all my income from book (both eBook and paperback) sales for the month of October to cancer research and treatment. Every time someone purchases one of my works, a donation will be made to cancer research and treatment, for the benefit of those currently battling cancer, those who have fought and won, and those who have been lost to cancer.
The donations will be given to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
If you like reading scary stuff, ghost stories, thrillers, or zombies, check out something to read and help make a difference in someone's life! Author Page with List of Works
October 2012 means:
-The return of The Walking Dead for season three. (And you all know I love ZOMBIES!)
-Breast Cancer Awareness Month
-This October marks 19 years for me of being cancer-free, and 19 is my lucky number. (I am the survivor of a very rare childhood cancer called germ cell cancer of the ovaries; sometimes also called germination cell cancer. Even though it wasn't breast cancer, people still become more aware of cancer during this month.)
-Silence of Souls has been nominated for Book of the Month on The Paranormal and Horror Lovers Group on Goodreads. (Winner will be announced tomorrow.)
So, with all this adding up, I've decided that I will donate 50% of all my income from book (both eBook and paperback) sales for the month of October to cancer research and treatment. Every time someone purchases one of my works, a donation will be made to cancer research and treatment, for the benefit of those currently battling cancer, those who have fought and won, and those who have been lost to cancer.
The donations will be given to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
If you like reading scary stuff, ghost stories, thrillers, or zombies, check out something to read and help make a difference in someone's life! Author Page with List of Works
 |
| "Silence of Souls" is wearing a pink ribbon this month. |
Sunday, June 3, 2012
My Blood Approves of the Paranormal Activity that was witnessed by Amanda Palmer & Grand Theft Orchestra
The Internet is so full of potential,but I never thought of it as a two-way thing as much as I do right now. I've always known the power the Internet has for the individual as a receiver of information, but it wasn't until this week that I really began to realize how much reach the individual can have as a giver.
All you readers out there have probably heard of Amanda Hocking, the indie writer from Minnesota who sold a million copies of her work when she self-published on Amazon after years of rejection from publishing companies.
You have probably seen at least one of the films in the Paranormal Activity trilogy, or at least heard of them- they're those "found footage"movies by previously unknown director/writer Oren Peli that beat out records previously held by The Blair Witch Project.
In the last couple of weeks, you may have heard of Amanda Fucking Palmer & Grand Theft Orchestra, who shattered all expectations and goals when their album and tour became the first Kickstarter funded project to receive more than $1million.
So what does Amanda Hocking's books, Oren Peli's movies, and Amanda Palmer's music all have in common? The Internet! All of them used the web to reach out, find fans, and get their work noticed. In past posts on Hocking's blog, you can read about her putting in hours and hours of marketing when she released her books. Peli and his team did a ton of internet marketing in order to get people to demand Paranormal Activity be shown in theaters near them. Palmer and her band spent loads of time Tweeting, blogging, and spreading the word about their album and tour.
Artists of all types- be they writers, film makers, or musicians- have this amazing resource at the tips of their fingers (quite literally), and many are finally starting to harness its power. We can no reach our precise audience, thousands of miles around the globe, at any time of the day or night. You can find a web forum on any topic, from something as broad as "Pet Lovers" to something as specific as "People Who Want To Visit Planet Vulcan for the Sole Purpose of Taking An Elective Class On Historical Technologies of Wild Frog-Bears and How They Were Used To Win The Amphibious Civil War of 2361" and you'll find hundreds of people in them.
But there's another thing all three of them have in common- quality. They put a lot of work and dedication in to creating something they believed in; something that other people would want to read/see/hear.
Do you want to reach an endless amount of people and share your work? There's never been a better time to do so. Before the Internet, artists (writers, film makers, musicians, et al) were limited to who they could connect to via snail mail, having to wait months to hear back, if ever, and more often than not it would be a rejection that came back. The outlook was pretty bleak- send in your work, hope it didn't get lost under the mountains of others who were hoping to be discovered just like you, and hope that the person who could do something about it (producer, publisher, etc) would be willing to take a chance on it. More often than not, it would pass through an intern first, and you'd have to hope they liked it enough to pass along to their boss. Once it got that far, you'd have to hope that the company would be willing to front the money for printing, publishing, production, and marketing. If your project was lucky enough to actually get made, you then had to hope that the right people would walk in to the right stores and go to the right section, see your work, and be intrigued enough to pick it up and buy it. A long shot, for sure. (Did you know that the majority of traditionally published authors make $300 a year? A YEAR!)
With the Internet, it's MUCH easier to get noticed. That is, if you work for it. You need a quality product, something you can be proud of, to put out there. The cost of getting it out there yourself is virtually eliminated because of the Internet. For example, publishing on Amazon does not cost the author a cent, which makes it possible for authors who would never have been discovered to become a best-seller. The downside to this is that it is completely YOUR responsibility to get yourself and your work known because you don't have a marketing team doing it for you. None of the three previously mentioned artists just sat back and *hoped* people would happen to Google the right terms to find their work- they went out and let people know about it! So go, get out there, make something incredible, and let people know about it. And please tell me about it, too- I love indie stuff!
P.S.- If you're looking for some great indie music, check out Hey Geronimo. They have a new song out called "Carbon Affair," and it's free to download. They have a great sound!
All you readers out there have probably heard of Amanda Hocking, the indie writer from Minnesota who sold a million copies of her work when she self-published on Amazon after years of rejection from publishing companies.
You have probably seen at least one of the films in the Paranormal Activity trilogy, or at least heard of them- they're those "found footage"movies by previously unknown director/writer Oren Peli that beat out records previously held by The Blair Witch Project.
In the last couple of weeks, you may have heard of Amanda Fucking Palmer & Grand Theft Orchestra, who shattered all expectations and goals when their album and tour became the first Kickstarter funded project to receive more than $1million.
So what does Amanda Hocking's books, Oren Peli's movies, and Amanda Palmer's music all have in common? The Internet! All of them used the web to reach out, find fans, and get their work noticed. In past posts on Hocking's blog, you can read about her putting in hours and hours of marketing when she released her books. Peli and his team did a ton of internet marketing in order to get people to demand Paranormal Activity be shown in theaters near them. Palmer and her band spent loads of time Tweeting, blogging, and spreading the word about their album and tour.
 |
| "I must tell everyone about my romance novel, Secretary Spread!" |
Artists of all types- be they writers, film makers, or musicians- have this amazing resource at the tips of their fingers (quite literally), and many are finally starting to harness its power. We can no reach our precise audience, thousands of miles around the globe, at any time of the day or night. You can find a web forum on any topic, from something as broad as "Pet Lovers" to something as specific as "People Who Want To Visit Planet Vulcan for the Sole Purpose of Taking An Elective Class On Historical Technologies of Wild Frog-Bears and How They Were Used To Win The Amphibious Civil War of 2361" and you'll find hundreds of people in them.
But there's another thing all three of them have in common- quality. They put a lot of work and dedication in to creating something they believed in; something that other people would want to read/see/hear.
Do you want to reach an endless amount of people and share your work? There's never been a better time to do so. Before the Internet, artists (writers, film makers, musicians, et al) were limited to who they could connect to via snail mail, having to wait months to hear back, if ever, and more often than not it would be a rejection that came back. The outlook was pretty bleak- send in your work, hope it didn't get lost under the mountains of others who were hoping to be discovered just like you, and hope that the person who could do something about it (producer, publisher, etc) would be willing to take a chance on it. More often than not, it would pass through an intern first, and you'd have to hope they liked it enough to pass along to their boss. Once it got that far, you'd have to hope that the company would be willing to front the money for printing, publishing, production, and marketing. If your project was lucky enough to actually get made, you then had to hope that the right people would walk in to the right stores and go to the right section, see your work, and be intrigued enough to pick it up and buy it. A long shot, for sure. (Did you know that the majority of traditionally published authors make $300 a year? A YEAR!)
With the Internet, it's MUCH easier to get noticed. That is, if you work for it. You need a quality product, something you can be proud of, to put out there. The cost of getting it out there yourself is virtually eliminated because of the Internet. For example, publishing on Amazon does not cost the author a cent, which makes it possible for authors who would never have been discovered to become a best-seller. The downside to this is that it is completely YOUR responsibility to get yourself and your work known because you don't have a marketing team doing it for you. None of the three previously mentioned artists just sat back and *hoped* people would happen to Google the right terms to find their work- they went out and let people know about it! So go, get out there, make something incredible, and let people know about it. And please tell me about it, too- I love indie stuff!
P.S.- If you're looking for some great indie music, check out Hey Geronimo. They have a new song out called "Carbon Affair," and it's free to download. They have a great sound!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Don't Be A Lazy Writer
Last night I could barely sleep, and for three reasons:
1. It was far too hot.
2. I had zombies on my brain (pun totally intended) and every little noise was making me jump.
3. Ideas for my next novel were flooding in and couldn't be stopped! (Not that I'd want them to be stopped, of course.)
When ideas rush to me, I have to write them down before they escape into thin air. I can't tell you how many times I used to say "I'll remember this in the morning" and then wake up the next morning and not be able to recall what it was. Usually, I'd remember that I had an earth-shattering idea that would alternate reality as we know it, but couldn't remember for the life of me what that idea was. I could've ended hunger, demolished the obesity epidemic, cured cancer, wiped away the national debt, and so much more if only I had written down those lost ideas! Seriously! (Okay, maybe I exaggerate here, but I've lost a lot of story ideas because of not writing them down.)
I'm totally in love with this idea. So much so that I already have ten (10!) pages of notes on it, including character backgrounds and an underlying plot. The best part is, after searching all around, I can't find any book out there yet even remotely similar to this idea! (I've been waiting for an idea to come to me that is completely new and fresh and has nothing similar to it out there.) It combines two (maybe three) of the most popular genres but does not seem to have been done yet, which makes me very happy. I don't think the idea is too "out there" to be completely rejected by the reading community, especially people who enjoy these two major genres.
Seriously, I can't wait to start writing this story. It's becoming so clear to me that I have to actually try to take the notes and then mute it so I can focus on my current project.
But what excites me so much about this idea isn't the thought of when it'll be done, published, and read by others (well, that thought does excite me, too), it's the thought of being able to explore this idea and see where it goes, to be able to dive into this world and become the characters.
The thing I've loved so much about writing my zombie novel is the fact that I'm there experiencing it all as it happens. Each character is a part of me, and when I write I become them (I call it "method writing," but I'm not sure if there's actually a term for it or not), one at a time. I know everything there is to know about every single one of them, even things they don't know about themselves.
So here's a big tip for all of you writers out there: don't be lazy! Write an idea down when it comes to you! You'll be thankful you did. There has been dozens of times when I look back over notes to find part of an idea that I completely forgot about and then incorporate it right in to my story, and it makes the story so much stronger. My whole zombie novel is based on a series of dreams, and most of the notes I have were written at 2am, 3am, or 4am after having seen something in a dream (so keep a notepad next to your bed, or do what I do: use a "Notes" app on your phone or text it to yourself).
Keep writing, and keep taking notes!
1. It was far too hot.
2. I had zombies on my brain (pun totally intended) and every little noise was making me jump.
3. Ideas for my next novel were flooding in and couldn't be stopped! (Not that I'd want them to be stopped, of course.)
 |
| "I just want a hug. That's all." |
When ideas rush to me, I have to write them down before they escape into thin air. I can't tell you how many times I used to say "I'll remember this in the morning" and then wake up the next morning and not be able to recall what it was. Usually, I'd remember that I had an earth-shattering idea that would alternate reality as we know it, but couldn't remember for the life of me what that idea was. I could've ended hunger, demolished the obesity epidemic, cured cancer, wiped away the national debt, and so much more if only I had written down those lost ideas! Seriously! (Okay, maybe I exaggerate here, but I've lost a lot of story ideas because of not writing them down.)
I'm totally in love with this idea. So much so that I already have ten (10!) pages of notes on it, including character backgrounds and an underlying plot. The best part is, after searching all around, I can't find any book out there yet even remotely similar to this idea! (I've been waiting for an idea to come to me that is completely new and fresh and has nothing similar to it out there.) It combines two (maybe three) of the most popular genres but does not seem to have been done yet, which makes me very happy. I don't think the idea is too "out there" to be completely rejected by the reading community, especially people who enjoy these two major genres.
Seriously, I can't wait to start writing this story. It's becoming so clear to me that I have to actually try to take the notes and then mute it so I can focus on my current project.
But what excites me so much about this idea isn't the thought of when it'll be done, published, and read by others (well, that thought does excite me, too), it's the thought of being able to explore this idea and see where it goes, to be able to dive into this world and become the characters.
The thing I've loved so much about writing my zombie novel is the fact that I'm there experiencing it all as it happens. Each character is a part of me, and when I write I become them (I call it "method writing," but I'm not sure if there's actually a term for it or not), one at a time. I know everything there is to know about every single one of them, even things they don't know about themselves.
So here's a big tip for all of you writers out there: don't be lazy! Write an idea down when it comes to you! You'll be thankful you did. There has been dozens of times when I look back over notes to find part of an idea that I completely forgot about and then incorporate it right in to my story, and it makes the story so much stronger. My whole zombie novel is based on a series of dreams, and most of the notes I have were written at 2am, 3am, or 4am after having seen something in a dream (so keep a notepad next to your bed, or do what I do: use a "Notes" app on your phone or text it to yourself).
Keep writing, and keep taking notes!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Positive Results Breed Positive Motivation
When I first published The Secret Room, it was an amazing feeling to see so many people downloading and reading my work. During the first five days it was available, I put it on a free promotion in order to get the word out about it and I had about 1,800 people download it in the five-day span. Right now on this promo it's at 572 downloads, in just the first day!
When Shadows in the Window went up, I put it on a free promotion for its first five days, just like I did with The Secret Room. It sold around 1,200 copies during that time. In this promo's first day, it's already at 313 downloads!
Since it is a holiday weekend and many are off for 3 days, I decided to put both books on a free promo since Amazon gave me a few more promotion days to use. The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window both went up for free a little after midnight this morning. Now, they are currently BOTH in the Top 100 in Kindle's Horror section! Shadows in the Window is #67 and The Secret Room is #6! Having one book in the Top 100 is amazing enough, but to have TWO is completely indescribable!
I'd love to have this keep going, and if any of you would be willing to share the links to my books on your blog, FaceBook (check out the brand-new author page), Twitter (I'm @smober on Twitter), or anywhere else I would be most appreciative!
This has been such motivation for me to work more and work harder on my zombie novel. It's getting closer to completion, and I'm loving how it's flowing! Some of what's happened has even surprised me- certain elements and events just come organically when writing, seemingly out of nowhere. When that happens, I just let it come and see where it goes- if I don't like it, then I can change it, but most of the time when it "just comes to me" it seems to work much better than when I try to force something.
Even though it is a three-day weekend and most people are off, I'm spending my time writing my novel. I didn't get a chance to do any work on it on Thursday or Friday, so I've made this a work weekend. I love writing, and I'm so inspired based on what The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window are doing right now that I wouldn't want to be doing something other than writing! I am getting close to picking a title, and Danny already has some ideas for the cover. You'll all be able to read it very soon!
Maybe this will sound corny, but sometimes the story just takes you away and even though it's coming from your imagination, you're hanging on to the edge of your seat waiting to see what develops. Writing is a thrill!
When Shadows in the Window went up, I put it on a free promotion for its first five days, just like I did with The Secret Room. It sold around 1,200 copies during that time. In this promo's first day, it's already at 313 downloads!
Since it is a holiday weekend and many are off for 3 days, I decided to put both books on a free promo since Amazon gave me a few more promotion days to use. The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window both went up for free a little after midnight this morning. Now, they are currently BOTH in the Top 100 in Kindle's Horror section! Shadows in the Window is #67 and The Secret Room is #6! Having one book in the Top 100 is amazing enough, but to have TWO is completely indescribable!
I'd love to have this keep going, and if any of you would be willing to share the links to my books on your blog, FaceBook (check out the brand-new author page), Twitter (I'm @smober on Twitter), or anywhere else I would be most appreciative!
This has been such motivation for me to work more and work harder on my zombie novel. It's getting closer to completion, and I'm loving how it's flowing! Some of what's happened has even surprised me- certain elements and events just come organically when writing, seemingly out of nowhere. When that happens, I just let it come and see where it goes- if I don't like it, then I can change it, but most of the time when it "just comes to me" it seems to work much better than when I try to force something.
Even though it is a three-day weekend and most people are off, I'm spending my time writing my novel. I didn't get a chance to do any work on it on Thursday or Friday, so I've made this a work weekend. I love writing, and I'm so inspired based on what The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window are doing right now that I wouldn't want to be doing something other than writing! I am getting close to picking a title, and Danny already has some ideas for the cover. You'll all be able to read it very soon!
Maybe this will sound corny, but sometimes the story just takes you away and even though it's coming from your imagination, you're hanging on to the edge of your seat waiting to see what develops. Writing is a thrill!
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Great Beyond
I can't really remember a time when I wasn't aware of how fast time goes by. When I was in elementary school, I remember thinking "Wow, it's 1994 already. It seems like the years just sped by!" In 1994, I was 7 (turned 8 in September of 1994).
Life seems to go a little quicker each year, which sometimes feels overwhelming. I think part of the reason I've been aware of the hastiness of time is that I've dealt with my own mortality at a young age. It's never been a secret to me that my life has no guaranteed length; I wasn't even expected to see my 7th birthday when I was diagnosed with germination cell cancer back in 1993. But here I am, almost 19 years later, and doing fine. (Well, for the most part. Cancer, as I've learned, is a lifelong battle, even when the cancer itself is gone- it doesn't define or rule me, though.) There's always been the thought in the back of my mind that I'd go before I'm 30, which I hope I'm wrong about. There's no real rhyme or reason for the thought; just something I've felt.
I'm not really afraid of dying (I'd prefer not to for a while, though). It's something that is a part of life- there is no secret to immortality that has been discovered, and the fact remains that if you're alive, you will also die. But like I said, dying isn't scary- it's not really living that is scary.
We're put here on earth for only a short while. In the grand scheme of things, our lifespans are pretty short. But they're full of endless potential- what we are capable of stretched beyond the depth of the most vivid imaginations, and the beauty of humanity can really shine through if we let it.
I think that's one reason why books and movies that deal with immortality do so well: most people fear death and wish they could continue living forever. I think that's also why ghost stories and tales of the Great Beyond do so well, also. We fantasize about living eternally or at least having a solid answer as to what comes next.
The truth is, though, we won't know until we get there. We can speculate, imagine, and fantasize about what lies beyond, but the only way of truly knowing what it will be like is to actually die and cross over. I think that's why so many people have liked my books so far- The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window have both sold better than I would've imagined. They both deal with the unknown and the human fear and inquisition of wanting to know what lies beyond death.
I personally believe in a life after death, though I can only speculate on the details of it. I love ghost stories and tales of the Great Beyond, but most of the time I don't really think about death. I try to focus on life, love, and enjoying the moments we get here on earth and the people we share them with.
And I leave you with this, a little visit to the Dark Side of the Moon:
Life seems to go a little quicker each year, which sometimes feels overwhelming. I think part of the reason I've been aware of the hastiness of time is that I've dealt with my own mortality at a young age. It's never been a secret to me that my life has no guaranteed length; I wasn't even expected to see my 7th birthday when I was diagnosed with germination cell cancer back in 1993. But here I am, almost 19 years later, and doing fine. (Well, for the most part. Cancer, as I've learned, is a lifelong battle, even when the cancer itself is gone- it doesn't define or rule me, though.) There's always been the thought in the back of my mind that I'd go before I'm 30, which I hope I'm wrong about. There's no real rhyme or reason for the thought; just something I've felt.
I'm not really afraid of dying (I'd prefer not to for a while, though). It's something that is a part of life- there is no secret to immortality that has been discovered, and the fact remains that if you're alive, you will also die. But like I said, dying isn't scary- it's not really living that is scary.
We're put here on earth for only a short while. In the grand scheme of things, our lifespans are pretty short. But they're full of endless potential- what we are capable of stretched beyond the depth of the most vivid imaginations, and the beauty of humanity can really shine through if we let it.
I think that's one reason why books and movies that deal with immortality do so well: most people fear death and wish they could continue living forever. I think that's also why ghost stories and tales of the Great Beyond do so well, also. We fantasize about living eternally or at least having a solid answer as to what comes next.
The truth is, though, we won't know until we get there. We can speculate, imagine, and fantasize about what lies beyond, but the only way of truly knowing what it will be like is to actually die and cross over. I think that's why so many people have liked my books so far- The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window have both sold better than I would've imagined. They both deal with the unknown and the human fear and inquisition of wanting to know what lies beyond death.
I personally believe in a life after death, though I can only speculate on the details of it. I love ghost stories and tales of the Great Beyond, but most of the time I don't really think about death. I try to focus on life, love, and enjoying the moments we get here on earth and the people we share them with.
And I leave you with this, a little visit to the Dark Side of the Moon:
Saturday, February 11, 2012
To you, I say- THANK YOU!!!
Today will probably be a bit of an emotional day. The Aungst family, a family my family has known for more than a decade (and this family is like family to us- proof that family doesn't always mean blood relative) is moving to another state. This afternoon is the going-away gathering for them. We're not calling it a "Goodbye Party," but a "See-Ya-Later Party" because we know that this is hardly goodbye. Even a state away, they'll never be able to get rid of us. ;)
It's interesting about family and the friends who become like family- they're always the ones who have seen you during your most embarrassing state, your darkest hour, and your worst moment, and yet they stick around unconditionally to help you celebrate the good times, laugh with each other, and join in on life's highest moments. Family isn't defined by blood, really. Family is defined by love, support, and encouragement. I'm super-blessed for the family I have, both the blood relatives and the friends who became like family. I'm super-blessed to have the friends I have, too. Without all those people in my life, I know I wouldn't be the person I am today. They've help me find the best in me, even when I didn't believe it was there.
And speaking of support and love, I can't begin to tell you how amazed and flattered I am. Shadows in the Window is doing so well, and I am just so grateful! Thank you to all of you (even if you haven't downloaded it yet) for the support, encouragement, and enthusiasm you all so graciously offer. You are the ones I write for! To my family, my friends, my future friends, my future family members, my readers, and everyone else- thank you, endlessly, from the greatest and most beautiful depths of my heart. Truly, without you I wouldn't be on this amazing path, and I am so grateful to get to share the journey with you all!
So now, for a little update on Shadows in the Window- Last night, I reported it was ranking #773 in Free in the Kindle Store, and #29 in the Horror genre. Here's this morning's numbers:
That's right! Can you believe those numbers?? It's #401 in Kindle Free, and #12 in Horror! I also got an amazing review:
I'm really really hoping to see Shadows in the Window reach the top 100 before the free sale is over. Can you help, please? Just share the link with someone you know likes to read- tell your mother, brother, father, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, friends, classmates, phlebotomist, swim coach, boss, coworker, favorite teller at the bank, the telemarketer who interrupts your dinner tonight, your dog, cat, zookeeper, bartender, pastor, and anyone else you can think of!
Don't have a Kindle? You can still read the book for free: click here.
Just a forewarning: as the review says, this book is not recommended for children. I'd say PG-13. Parents, if your kid wants to read it, maybe you should read it first: you're the best judge for your child.
Again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I can't thank you all enough!!! You've made me so incredibly happy! :-D :-D :-D
It's interesting about family and the friends who become like family- they're always the ones who have seen you during your most embarrassing state, your darkest hour, and your worst moment, and yet they stick around unconditionally to help you celebrate the good times, laugh with each other, and join in on life's highest moments. Family isn't defined by blood, really. Family is defined by love, support, and encouragement. I'm super-blessed for the family I have, both the blood relatives and the friends who became like family. I'm super-blessed to have the friends I have, too. Without all those people in my life, I know I wouldn't be the person I am today. They've help me find the best in me, even when I didn't believe it was there.
And speaking of support and love, I can't begin to tell you how amazed and flattered I am. Shadows in the Window is doing so well, and I am just so grateful! Thank you to all of you (even if you haven't downloaded it yet) for the support, encouragement, and enthusiasm you all so graciously offer. You are the ones I write for! To my family, my friends, my future friends, my future family members, my readers, and everyone else- thank you, endlessly, from the greatest and most beautiful depths of my heart. Truly, without you I wouldn't be on this amazing path, and I am so grateful to get to share the journey with you all!
So now, for a little update on Shadows in the Window- Last night, I reported it was ranking #773 in Free in the Kindle Store, and #29 in the Horror genre. Here's this morning's numbers:
 |
| click to enlarge |
I'm really really hoping to see Shadows in the Window reach the top 100 before the free sale is over. Can you help, please? Just share the link with someone you know likes to read- tell your mother, brother, father, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, friends, classmates, phlebotomist, swim coach, boss, coworker, favorite teller at the bank, the telemarketer who interrupts your dinner tonight, your dog, cat, zookeeper, bartender, pastor, and anyone else you can think of!
Don't have a Kindle? You can still read the book for free: click here.
Just a forewarning: as the review says, this book is not recommended for children. I'd say PG-13. Parents, if your kid wants to read it, maybe you should read it first: you're the best judge for your child.
Again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I can't thank you all enough!!! You've made me so incredibly happy! :-D :-D :-D
Friday, February 10, 2012
Shadows in the Window is available now!!!
Shadows in the Window became available last night, and is on Amazon for FREE right now!! Get your copy now, there's only four copies left!!! Just kidding, there's an endless supply, but it will only be free for the next few days. Click HERE to get it! :-D I'm very happy with how it came out, and I think it's even better than The Secret Room, actually.
I was so anxious about the debut of Shadows in the Window that I barely got any writing done yesterday. I'm on it today, though, working on my zombie novel, and LOVING IT!!!!
And check it out, Shadows in the Window is on the Kindle Author Blog today!! I was so pleasantly surprised, I actually squeaked with joy when I saw it on there!
Take a look at this: out of the MILLIONS of books on Amazon, Shadows in the Window is ranking pretty high and climbing (you can click on the pictures to make them larger)-
Twenty minutes later...
Please help it climb, I'm so thrilled that it's doing so well! I would be honored if you would share the link with your friends, family, and anyone else who likes a good spooky story. :-D
I'm riding on Cloud Ten today, and feeling fantastic!!! Thank you everyone for your support, and I hope you'll enjoy Shadows in the Window! :-D THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! :-D
I was so anxious about the debut of Shadows in the Window that I barely got any writing done yesterday. I'm on it today, though, working on my zombie novel, and LOVING IT!!!!
And check it out, Shadows in the Window is on the Kindle Author Blog today!! I was so pleasantly surprised, I actually squeaked with joy when I saw it on there!
Take a look at this: out of the MILLIONS of books on Amazon, Shadows in the Window is ranking pretty high and climbing (you can click on the pictures to make them larger)-
(if it's too small to read, it says it's ranking at #1,581 of free books in the Kindle Store, and #73 in the Horror genre)
Twenty minutes later...
(#1,191 of free books in the Kindle Store, and #47 in Horror! Just twenty minutes later!!)
Please help it climb, I'm so thrilled that it's doing so well! I would be honored if you would share the link with your friends, family, and anyone else who likes a good spooky story. :-D
I'm riding on Cloud Ten today, and feeling fantastic!!! Thank you everyone for your support, and I hope you'll enjoy Shadows in the Window! :-D THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! :-D
Thursday, February 9, 2012
SNEAK PREVIEW- Just for you.
Just for my blog readers (all ten of you, haha), I posting a special preview of Shadows in the Window, which is coming out tomorrow.
Here's the cover:
And the description on Amazon:
It was the house sitting dream-job for Rachel.
For the next ten days, it was all hers: a luxurious pool, over-sized beds, her favorite foods, and all the horror movies she could watch.
But this old mansion has some secrets of its own.
Is this amazing house actually haunted? Or is it just her imagination?
And the first couple paragraphs of the first chapter:
Here's the cover:
And the description on Amazon:
It was the house sitting dream-job for Rachel.
For the next ten days, it was all hers: a luxurious pool, over-sized beds, her favorite foods, and all the horror movies she could watch.
But this old mansion has some secrets of its own.
Is this amazing house actually haunted? Or is it just her imagination?
And the first couple paragraphs of the first chapter:
The long, winding road made Rachel wonder if she had the address right. She had started her own housesitting business about a year ago, and was impressed that she was getting so many jobs. This one was almost too good to be true- large house, pool, all food included, no strange pets, and an amazing pay rate. The clients, Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy, were paying her more than double what she usually asked for. The job was for ten nights, and Rachel knew it would be one of the more luxurious jobs, considering the way Mr. Abernathy described the house over the phone.
Rachel pulled up to the house and looked up in awe. It wasn’t just a house- it was a mansion. The structure was magnificent; towering walls lined with brick and stone, countless windows, a lovely porch, two upstairs balconies- one with lounge chairs, the other with a table set- and glorious trees that looked at least a hundred years old. The mansion nearly resembled a petite castle, and Rachel felt like royalty as she parked her car on the stone driveway.
She grabbed her bag from the trunk and walked up to the double-doors, admiring the intricate designs on the tempered glass that accented the deep wood as she rang the doorbell. A moment later, a slender, well-dressed woman greeted Rachel. The woman smiled softly at Rachel, showing just a sliver of her teeth. Her eyes were deep brown and wide, her slick black hair pulled up tightly into a bun, and she wore a sleeveless, form-fitted black dress that fluttered down past her knees.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
What's your story?
If there is one thing I learned in Solo Class, it's that everyone has a story. (I actually learned a lot in Solo, but that's not the point of this post.) If you have lived, if you are alive, you have a story. Whether you are one-hundred years old, or just a few minutes old, you have a story. Of course, the person who is 100 will have a much longer, richer story, but the person who is just a few minutes old has a story as well- who are his/her parents? How was birth? Did he/she come out via natural birth, or was it a C-Section? Anyway...
Each day has its own story. Life is a story, whether it is one person's short life, or the entire existence of life itself. I think that's why people love stories so much- they are a reflection of life, meant to intrigue us and try to help us better understand the chaos we live in and contribute to every day. We search for explanations of the world around us, seek to know our inner selves, and strive to expand our intellectual horizons (at least, most of us do. If you're reading this, I'm betting you're probably one of those people just because you're reading).
Whether it's a true story, a ficticious story, an exaggerated story, or a fragmented story, we all love stories. We devour them on a daily basis, through movies, books, novelettes, FaceBook posts, Tweets, magazine articles, news reports, word-of-mouth, and so many other mediums.
I love telling stories. I love sharing my own personal story as well as writing the fictional stories I create. Writing is an addiction, a hobby, and hopefully soon a career. Days I am unable to write feel less productive, even if I've spent the entire day cleaning house, cooking, making a fort out of toothpicks, or working on other projects. I need to write, be it five words or two-thousand. I can't think of a day in recent memory where I didn't write something, even if it was only a status update or a text message.
Today I wrote some revisions for Shadows in the Window, as well as added a new chapter. I'm very excited about it! Tomorrow, Danny is going to make a cover for me. I'm not sure what I want, but I'll have to come up with something so he'll have at least a basic idea to work with. (He created the cover for The Secret Room, and I think it turned he did a fantastic job!) I feel really good about Shadows in the Window, and I hope that if you're reading this post that you will also read Shadows in the Window when it comes out. (It'll be free for the first five days of availability, so you have no reason not to. After that, it's just $0.99. You can't even get a cup of black coffee for $0.99 any more!)
With Shadows in the Window, I feel the story is strong and interesting. Well, at least interesting. Maybe. I'm not sure, I am probably a terrible judge of my own work- usually I either love it or absolutely loathe it, when it usually turns out to be somewhere in the middle in most peoples' opinion. My goal is not to just tell a good story, but to tell it well. I want characters to be interesting, events to keep the reader on the edge of the seat, and make the audience want a little more. You be the judge. :)
This week, my time is dedicated to finishing up Shadows in the Window. Next week, I'll be starting work on The Secret Room: Beginnings, and from what I have so far in my notes, I think that will be my best work yet. It'll probably also be my longest! I'm going to aim for 30,000 words on that one, make it reach novel (instead of novelette or novella) status. I can't wait!
Each day has its own story. Life is a story, whether it is one person's short life, or the entire existence of life itself. I think that's why people love stories so much- they are a reflection of life, meant to intrigue us and try to help us better understand the chaos we live in and contribute to every day. We search for explanations of the world around us, seek to know our inner selves, and strive to expand our intellectual horizons (at least, most of us do. If you're reading this, I'm betting you're probably one of those people just because you're reading).
Whether it's a true story, a ficticious story, an exaggerated story, or a fragmented story, we all love stories. We devour them on a daily basis, through movies, books, novelettes, FaceBook posts, Tweets, magazine articles, news reports, word-of-mouth, and so many other mediums.
I love telling stories. I love sharing my own personal story as well as writing the fictional stories I create. Writing is an addiction, a hobby, and hopefully soon a career. Days I am unable to write feel less productive, even if I've spent the entire day cleaning house, cooking, making a fort out of toothpicks, or working on other projects. I need to write, be it five words or two-thousand. I can't think of a day in recent memory where I didn't write something, even if it was only a status update or a text message.
Today I wrote some revisions for Shadows in the Window, as well as added a new chapter. I'm very excited about it! Tomorrow, Danny is going to make a cover for me. I'm not sure what I want, but I'll have to come up with something so he'll have at least a basic idea to work with. (He created the cover for The Secret Room, and I think it turned he did a fantastic job!) I feel really good about Shadows in the Window, and I hope that if you're reading this post that you will also read Shadows in the Window when it comes out. (It'll be free for the first five days of availability, so you have no reason not to. After that, it's just $0.99. You can't even get a cup of black coffee for $0.99 any more!)
With Shadows in the Window, I feel the story is strong and interesting. Well, at least interesting. Maybe. I'm not sure, I am probably a terrible judge of my own work- usually I either love it or absolutely loathe it, when it usually turns out to be somewhere in the middle in most peoples' opinion. My goal is not to just tell a good story, but to tell it well. I want characters to be interesting, events to keep the reader on the edge of the seat, and make the audience want a little more. You be the judge. :)
This week, my time is dedicated to finishing up Shadows in the Window. Next week, I'll be starting work on The Secret Room: Beginnings, and from what I have so far in my notes, I think that will be my best work yet. It'll probably also be my longest! I'm going to aim for 30,000 words on that one, make it reach novel (instead of novelette or novella) status. I can't wait!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Back to reality.
This last week has been so busy! In a way, I'm a little relieved that the chaos is over, but I'm sad that family and friends have gone.
We got back to California from Texas last Monday. I was certain I was going to get sick- we were surrounded by coughing passengers on the flight home and you could just taste the germs in the air. I'm pleasantly surprised that I didn't catch anything.
Tuesday, we picked up Danny's parents (whom we stayed with for a month in TX). They were in town for Grandma O's (Danny's dad's mother) funeral, and stayed with us. Vickie (my sister) came to stay Thursday and Friday night with us because it was my mom's birthday; my friend Emma (who just completed a year-long internship at Walt Disney World) was in CA for a couple weeks before going home to Australia, and stayed with us on Friday and Saturday night. Danny's parents and Emma all flew home yesterday from LAX.
I haven't had any time to write or do edits yet on Shadows in the Window, but that's what I'm working on this week. Doing a cover on Wednesday night, and I have an official release date for Shadows in the Window: February 10th!! It'll be on a free promo for the first 5 days of its availability, then will go to the regular $0.99 price on February 15th.
I don't regret that I haven't done any work for the last week; it was nice to have a break (because going back to it after a period means I'll have fresh eyes) and I would never give up time with my family. But today it's back to reality (or at least my version of it): working on writing, getting unpacked, and working at the front desk at Goddess Fitness Dance this evening. I love Goddess- it's a dance studio I work at every Tuesday (this week I'm there Monday and Tuesday) that offers amazing classes. So much fun, and after more than a month of no dancing, I'm very ready to get back to it.
The main focus this week is finishing Shadows in the Window. Sending it out to my proofreader after I make some corrections and add in a scene I feel it needs. After it goes up, I'm going to begin writing The Secret Room: Beginnings (working title, I may change it- what do you think?) which is a follow-up to The Secret Room. I've got a ton of notes for it, and I think it's going to answer the important questions that The Secret Room did not.
We got back to California from Texas last Monday. I was certain I was going to get sick- we were surrounded by coughing passengers on the flight home and you could just taste the germs in the air. I'm pleasantly surprised that I didn't catch anything.
Tuesday, we picked up Danny's parents (whom we stayed with for a month in TX). They were in town for Grandma O's (Danny's dad's mother) funeral, and stayed with us. Vickie (my sister) came to stay Thursday and Friday night with us because it was my mom's birthday; my friend Emma (who just completed a year-long internship at Walt Disney World) was in CA for a couple weeks before going home to Australia, and stayed with us on Friday and Saturday night. Danny's parents and Emma all flew home yesterday from LAX.
I haven't had any time to write or do edits yet on Shadows in the Window, but that's what I'm working on this week. Doing a cover on Wednesday night, and I have an official release date for Shadows in the Window: February 10th!! It'll be on a free promo for the first 5 days of its availability, then will go to the regular $0.99 price on February 15th.
I don't regret that I haven't done any work for the last week; it was nice to have a break (because going back to it after a period means I'll have fresh eyes) and I would never give up time with my family. But today it's back to reality (or at least my version of it): working on writing, getting unpacked, and working at the front desk at Goddess Fitness Dance this evening. I love Goddess- it's a dance studio I work at every Tuesday (this week I'm there Monday and Tuesday) that offers amazing classes. So much fun, and after more than a month of no dancing, I'm very ready to get back to it.
The main focus this week is finishing Shadows in the Window. Sending it out to my proofreader after I make some corrections and add in a scene I feel it needs. After it goes up, I'm going to begin writing The Secret Room: Beginnings (working title, I may change it- what do you think?) which is a follow-up to The Secret Room. I've got a ton of notes for it, and I think it's going to answer the important questions that The Secret Room did not.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Can't wait to get it done and make it available!
I finished Reflections in the Window a couple days ago. There's been one major change, as per a suggestion from Danny: I'm changing the title from Reflections in the Window to:
It seems to suit the story much better
This week, I'll be editing the story and having my proofreaders take a gander to find anything that needs corrections. I'm also going to add in an event. Once that is done and the cover is made, Shadows in the Window will go live on Amazon! :-) :-)
After Shadows in the Window is up, I'm going to begin work on the sequel to The Secret Room! I'm excited about that one: it's going to explain Elias's origins and how the secret room came to be, who the mysterious girl that tried to warn Jimmy is, and what ultimately happened to all of them. At this point, it looks like it is going to be longer than The Secret Room, and possibly spawn a third installment. We'll see, though, after the second one is done. :-)
I'm also putting more work into my zombie novel. All this writing makes me happy- the only drawback is that my ideas are forming faster than I can write them down, but I guess that's a pretty good problem to have.
Shadows in the Window
It seems to suit the story much better
This week, I'll be editing the story and having my proofreaders take a gander to find anything that needs corrections. I'm also going to add in an event. Once that is done and the cover is made, Shadows in the Window will go live on Amazon! :-) :-)
After Shadows in the Window is up, I'm going to begin work on the sequel to The Secret Room! I'm excited about that one: it's going to explain Elias's origins and how the secret room came to be, who the mysterious girl that tried to warn Jimmy is, and what ultimately happened to all of them. At this point, it looks like it is going to be longer than The Secret Room, and possibly spawn a third installment. We'll see, though, after the second one is done. :-)
I'm also putting more work into my zombie novel. All this writing makes me happy- the only drawback is that my ideas are forming faster than I can write them down, but I guess that's a pretty good problem to have.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Creating My Own Nightmares
Last night, I didn't sleep very well. I kept having nightmares based around the novelette (though it may turn out to be a novella, I'm not sure) I'm writing. In the room I'm sleeping in, there's an open door that looks right into the bathroom. In the bathroom, there's an electrical outlet with a tiny red light on it, that happens to be right next to the mirror. When it's dark, it looks like a pair of big red eyes staring right at me, so even when I could block out the scary images I had created for Reflections in the Window, I was kept company by the demon eyes that watched me as I slept. Not comforting.
I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that my own ideas give me nightmares. Danny says it's a good thing. Of course, I've been living in my mind as Rachel for several hours a day, so it's been on my mind a lot while I try to create ideas to scare her. Since I put myself in her mind, then what scares her scares me. (Or is it vice versa?)
Either way, I'm pretty excited about Reflections in the Window. I think it will turn out better than The Secret Room, and I think the novelette will become my forte. (But I do have some novels planned, too.)
I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that my own ideas give me nightmares. Danny says it's a good thing. Of course, I've been living in my mind as Rachel for several hours a day, so it's been on my mind a lot while I try to create ideas to scare her. Since I put myself in her mind, then what scares her scares me. (Or is it vice versa?)
Either way, I'm pretty excited about Reflections in the Window. I think it will turn out better than The Secret Room, and I think the novelette will become my forte. (But I do have some novels planned, too.)
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