Sooo Excited — Check Out My New Cover for Warrior
What a magical moment I had last Wednesday. WARRIOR’s cover arrived from my publisher, which meant I spent the entire day printing off copies and pinning them around the house. Yep, my hubby and kiddies couldn’t walk anywhere without seeing the image. So, huge thanks to Renee Rocco of Lyrical Press NY for her skilful hand at cover-art.
Warrior is book two in my YA fantasy romance series. Each book features a new heroine and hero, and Warrior is the story of Hope and Silas. Although the characters from the first book, Protector, feature prominently throughout the second, so you’ll not miss catching up with Faith and Davio along the way. Also, as both the heroines from the two books are from the famed Wincrest line, the images of the two girls are strikingly similar. So, here it is, WARRIOR’s cover. I hope you enjoy.
WARRIOR ~~ Magio-Earth Book Two ~~ Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance.
COMING ~~ November 4th 2013 with Lyrical Press NY.
~~~
WARRIOR’s blurb
To love and protect…across worlds.
On planet Magio, Princess Hope Wincrest, of Dralion is on a quest to discover the lost heritage of a mother she’s never known. While in the Australian Outback, her home away from home, her warrior father warns her she is about to meet an enemy protector whom she must work with to uncover her heritage.
Silas Carver, of Peacio on planet Magio, follows his soul’s call only to discover his soul-bound mate is an enemy of his people. Dralion and Peacio are at war. He demands Hope release him from their bond, and she will, after he helps her learn about her mother.
Eighteen-year-old Hope’s adult strength abilities are emerging and one of them could be deadly to her. She must lay her life in Silas’s hands during a journey deep into foreign lands. Theirs is a battle of the heart and of the land. Can the mated pair find their place with each other in a world at war?
If you’d like to add WARRIOR to your TBR list, the link is here–> Goodreads.
Thanks so much for joining me in celebrating the release of my cover. I’m currently working hard on Book Three in the series, and having a blast writing Silvie’s story. She’s one fiery redhead who knows how to have fun. I should have this one ready to send out for submission at the end of May. So close. I can’t wait. If you want to drop me a comment, you know I love hearing from you.
I wish you all a safe and wonderful week. Catch ya later.
PROTECTOR > BUY THE BOOK: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Lyrical Press / iTunes / Kobo
How Do You Write YA?
I found some young ones. So cute. 🙂
Without a doubt, YA (young adult) is a very hot genre to write. It’s been around for a while, although there was a turning point in 2008 when it truly exploded. A number of writers tried their hand at it. Some found YA was for them, and others discovered writing this genre is tougher than it looks. Although, YA isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. Readers of YA are committed. They’re always after more, and for writers of this genre, we’re here to deliver.
Now, what makes YA so popular?
Those teen years we go through, are an incredible time. They’re exciting, fun, awful, painful, scary, amazing, and everything in between. It’s when we discover the world and where we fit in. In our teen years, our emotions are pure, and all that we go through is intense and totally confusing.
That’s why YA captures such a wide-ranging readership base. It crosses the generations, and is read by young adults and adults alike. There is no age barrier to YA. Even my 88-year-old grandmother has recently read my YA fantasy romance. It was her first foray into this genre, and she was fascinated by how enthralled she became. (Phew.) The story reminded her of the time she lived by the seat-of-her-pants. (Yep, seat-of-her-pants. She was such a rebel in her younger years.) She wants more YA–and just like that, she’s hooked.
So, let’s cover what YA writers should be aware of. There are certainly some points to note.
- YA books focus on the essence of what teens go through, and I’m not talking about learning to drive a car, going to prom, or that very first date.
- YA readers are smart. They want deep storylines, and fast-paced action, so don’t even attempt to write simple. Teens will spot simple a mile away, and just get annoyed.
In fact, it’s often said writers must pay attention to the three core questions which should be at the heart of every YA novel.
- Who am I?
- Where do I belong?
- How do I get there?
A ton of new questions can arise from these three core ones, but fundamentally they make great building blocks when writing YA.
Your characters are about to take the journey in discovering the answers they seek. There’ll be struggles and mistakes, bends and twists in the road, triumphs and tears, but that’s how teens uncover all life has to offer. The journey they undertake must be deep. They must challenge themselves to sort out any inner fears and frustrations, and while doing so, remain completely relatable.
All in all, YA books are about teens coming to terms with who they are, and experiencing all life’s ups and downs along the way.
Okay, so if you’re after some YA novel guidelines, here are some helpful pointers.
- So far, there are no forbidden subjects, but whatever you delve into must be done with sensitivity and care, taking into account the age of the teen reader. Often we can allude to something, and then fade out the scene. The YA reader is smart, and they’ll be aware of what’s happened.
- Overall, teens will identify more strongly with the character’s feelings, and this is why intense situations don’t always need to be written in.
- Characters are teens, and aged within those years.
- YA novels generally run between 40,000-75,000, but you will find books either side of that. If there is a particular publisher you’re after then make sure you check out their website’s submission guidelines to see if they have a preferred word count.
- There are also no vocabulary restrictions for YA, but make certain any coarse language is age or topic appropriate.
- YA is predominantly written in 1st or 3rd Person (I said, or she said.) Although there are some in 2nd Person (you say.)
- And lastly, any subgenre is enjoyed, like fantasy, romance, paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi, historical, mystery, adventure, humor. There are no limitations on this.
I hope this post has been helpful for those writers wanting to delve into YA, or for those who just want to know a little more about this intriguing genre. Even in writing this post, I was surprised by how much I had to share. YA is certainly not easy to write, although it’s incredibly enjoyable.
If you have any questions, just leave me a comment. I love hearing from you. And if you’d like to read a YA novel, one getting some fab 4&5 Star reviews, then PROTECTOR’s buy links are just below. Enjoy, and take care this week.
PROTECTOR > BUY THE BOOK: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Lyrical Press / iTunes / Kobo
Want to Know An Easy Way To Sell More Books?
Teachers. You gotta love them. 🙂
Want to know an easy way to sell more books? Ahh, the question every author wants the answer to.
I happened to be over on Goodreads, and reading their latest reader survey when I read the answer. I was shocked. My first thought was, of course. Now, why didn’t I think of that?
So, here’s the answer, and I’m going to give it to you by asking you a question, one the Goodreads’ team posed to their readers.
What do you want to do when you get to the end of a book?
Well, this question was put to 15 million readers. A phenomenal number for sure, and the results, simply amazing. 83% wanted to see what else the author had written.
Now, at the end of a book, I usually feel all happy and content, and that’s the moment I want to know what else the author has written. I’m definitely one of those in the 83 percent.
So, how do we as authors make this happen? How do we easily get this information of “what else we’ve written” into the reader’s hands? The answer is, right after your reader has turned that final page, make sure the very next one is a page which includes a list of your other books. In the case of ebooks, you could even include a link.
At times, I’ve seen this done, but until it’s pointed out, the obvious can become forgotten. So, let’s make sure as authors, that information is now viewable at the end of our books, in exactly the place it’s needed. Thank you Goodreads, for some wonderful information.
Although, I decided to take this question one step further . What else could likewise aid an author in selling more books?
What else do you want to do when you get to the end of a book?
For me, I want to read something about the author, and I don’t quite mean their bio which I usually see. Those I find interesting, but if it’s the standard blurb, I don’t feel the connection. No, what I want, is for the author to share specific information about the book I’ve just read, and their next project. I want to be informed, entertained and to connect with the author on a more personal level. I want to remember their name, so it’s in the forefront of my mind for when I go to buy my next book. I’m not asking to be swamped with information, but simply to have a short page which gives me a taste or a teaser for more.
Are you like this? Do you want to get the warm fuzzies and connect with the author after investing hours in reading their book? Do you think having a page where readers can find an author’s work is a good idea? Do you like the idea of having an informative “About the Author” page over reading the usual author bio?
Drop me a comment and let me know. And to end this post in an interesting way, I found this fabulous reading test. See if you become enlightened after reading this. And if you totally got every word, shout it out.
Have an absolutely amazing week. Catch ya later.
PROTECTOR > BUY THE BOOK: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Lyrical Press / iTunes / Kobo
Inspirational Thoughts From Me To You
By nature I’m an encourager, so this week I’m laying out some inspirational thoughts, from one writer to another. Sit back and enjoy.
1. Write the book your heart demands you write.
2. Create something special, which you long to share with your readers.
3. If there’s a fire within you to write. Allow that passion to burn bright.
4. Write with your own voice, and make it stand out from the crowd.
5. Don’t wonder what if? Make it happen.
6. Never lose your courage. Writers stick with it.
7. Don’t worry about the setbacks. Just focus on the writing.
8. Put one foot in front of the other, or one letter after another.
9. Relentlessly pursue.
10. Kick those obstacles to the curb. Focus on your passion.
11. Choose your destination. Educate yourself. And write.
12. Struggles often end with the most rewarding triumphs.
13. Success is a choice. Now get out there, and control your own future.
And…
Do you have any inspirational thoughts to add to mine? If you do, drop me a comment and let me know. Perhaps there was one such thought which truly struck home. Shout it out, because I love hearing from you guys. Have an absolutely inspirational week. I’ll catch you all later.
PROTECTOR > BUY THE BOOK: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Lyrical Press / iTunes / Kobo