Is it LUCK?

Mr, D sent me an email the other day after we had been discussing the latest sales figures for my books. Attached to the email was an article from The Wall Street Journal which I have included as a link for you to read at you leisure. Anyway, when I read the post, I was totally blown away, and I truly haven't been able to stop thinking about Hugh Howey! Not because he's gorgeous and sexy, although he does look pretty cute, no because this man, a former college dropout who has worked as a yacht captain, a roofer, and a bookseller before self-publishing has achieved such phenomenal success.

Hugh Howey is the author of the best-selling Wool series!

Initially, he was selling Wool at 99c as an e-book novella in 2011, which is now available on Amazon at $5.99.

The five-part post-apocalyptic series is set in a time when the thousands of human survivors live in an enormous, 144 story underground silo. 

Blurb from Amazon!

"This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside."

This guy was selling 20,000-30,000 digital copies A MONTH!!! What the heck???

How does one do that? He was making so much money he was able to give up his day job and focus on writing further books in the series which is mind-blowing and I'm left wondering what on earth do I need to do to make it happen to me?

High Howey has sold over a half a million copies of his digital books and has over 10, 000 reviews on Amazon. I am totally fascinated by his story and rise to fame because in a world in which millions of books are published every year how in all that's holy do you make YOURS stand out???

My next question is once a wonderful and incredible book-loving person takes that chance on your unknown and first novel, how do you get them to post a review?

Did he pay for reviews? Have multiple friends post them? Blackmail, ply them with gifts of chocolate and wine, it would be enough for me but honestly whatever his strategy it worked big time! I would LOVE for him to write a step-by-step guide as to what he did and then I would follow it in the hopes of achieving a modicum of his success. I understand he was active on Goodreads which although I'm a member, I don't lurk there often, but I will definitely be searching to see if the readers of YA Fiction are there AND willing to leave those precious reviews. 

Obtaining reviews still doesn't guarantee success. If your story sucks, the reviews will suck too which brings me back to this, no matter your background or how your journey started as an author if you have a GREAT story it will sell.

I BELIEVE THAT!

And you just need one great story to bring attention to you as an author and hey ho Ridley Scott may come calling to buy the movie rights to your books? 

Congratulations, Mr. Hugh Howey, I'm pleased for your success and very, very jealous!

The Wall Street Journal

Author Kenzie Michaels in the spotlight....

Well, it's Thursday 23rd April, the sun is shining and feeling a lot like spring, so whilst I head into Boston with my boys my author friend KENZIE MICHAELS is taking over, thanks....




Thank you for having me today Jennifer!  I decided to continue from yesterday’s glimpse into NiKoh’s sister SaLie’s secondary storyline, which foreshadows what is to come in book #3.  I hope you find this humorous; sometimes my sense of humor comes out in strange ways.  With all the stress NiKoh has been under, I thought a bit of comic relief was in order.  What is more humorous than teasing your sister when she’s about to give birth?  Sibling rivalry is always fun to write.
                                                   

Blurb:

Still mourning the tragic death of his beautiful mate, could another Chosen one already be waiting for NiKoh SiLah? To avoid what he’s not ready to accept, he throws himself into his work at Planet Security. 

Leaving the Academy behind to follow her dream of working with animals, GiNae SoJae returns home. Preoccupied with work and not ready to take a mate, she’s horrified when her body enters Maturity. GiNae fights the changes occurring within her. But during nightly dreams she cannot control, an unknown man teaches her the secrets of her body.

Will NiKoh and GiNae succumb to the paths they think have been chosen for them or will they discover the true Chosen life that awaits them? 

Blurb:

“What she sees in that ice cold monster is beyond me. How did someone like him become so entangled with that odious, repugnant excuse of lowlife scum?”

“Maybe opposites attract.” NiKoh set down the bundle he’d brought from home. “What room is she in? I’d like to let her know I’m here.”

ReNei pointed a needle. “Through those doors, down the hall, and third door on the left.”

He followed her instructions, then with a deep breath, pasted a smile on his face, knocked twice and entered.

“So you’ve got a go-getter in there, Salichi?” Hoping her nickname would clear the air between them, he crossed to her side and ruffled her damp magenta hair.

She scowled. “The doctor warned me about teleporting this close, but we were late coming home from—oh!” Her face contorted with a contraction, and she grabbed NiKoh’s arm, nearly cutting off the circulation.

“Easy, Salichi.” Ignoring the pain in his arm, he counted with her, in order to get her through the pain. “Didn’t they teach you at the birthing classes?”

“I didn’t take any.” SaLie panted as she lay back. “I would have had to inform the Elders, and since I am not formally mated anymore, we thought we could do this quietly, at home. But it didn’t quite work out that way. Ice.”

DuKah handed her the cup, and she scooped some up with her tongue. “Ah, that tastes good. Too bad the baby can’t teleport itself out of there.”

NiKoh burst into laughter as he rubbed his sore arm. “Sorry, sweetie, it doesn’t work like that.” He turned to acknowledge the other two men in the room. “You know you’ve screwed up the family pool, right?”

“Not funny. Were you this humorous when OkVei was nearly born?”

“I was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t sit still, and whenever BeSai had a contraction, I swear I had them also.”

SaLie stuck out her tongue, then winced as another contraction hit.

After his sister’s breathing returned to normal, NiKoh turned to JeWal. “How is the search for entertainment coming along?”

JeWal sneered, readjusting his considerable girth in the chair. “I think when the station opens, there will be an adequate amount of shops, artisans, and other entertainment available. But the Xaxonian side will reign superior to yours.”

“JeWal, let’s not be so hasty,” admonished the smooth voice of DuKah. “After all, we haven’t seen everything yet. We will let the patrons of the station decide whose side is the most desirable.”

“That’s very noble of you, DuKah.” NiKoh forced friendliness into his voice, though he despised both men. “I did not expect such gallantry from you.”

DuKah’s green eyes glittered. “My dear NiKoh, you have not spent nearly enough time on Xaxa. Did you not find your short stay last year hospitable? You have been recently widowed, have you not? I would be more than happy to provide you with a personal tour of our, shall we say, special services for selected guests?”

“That’s quite all right. I did find my stay enjoyable, though you’ll forgive my agitation at what my sister experienced.”

“Will you stop it?” SaLie shifted in the bed. “For the last time, this was my choice. If you’re going to sit there and insult DuKah, please leave.”

“No insults were thrown.” NiKoh held up his hands. “I need to check on Mother anyway. SaLie, if you wanted to get out of helping KiRah and DaTil move, all you had to do was refuse. Going into labor was a bit extreme.”

NiKoh’s Chosen:  Family Matters can be found at the following places:

SCP:

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=1059&zenid=0ra2iu1dsbggm4d74393kv5pc3

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/NiKohs-Chosen-Matters-Kenzie-Michaels-ebook/dp/B00UYCM43A/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428442708&sr=1-3&keywords=kenzie+michaels

B&N:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nikohs-chosen-kenzie-michaels/1121488848?ean=2940151635769

ARE:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nikoh039schosenfamilymatters-1765740-143.html

Thank you again for having me!  I’m holding a month-long contest.  Simply comment with your contact info and after the tour is over, all names will be tossed in a hat for a Grand Prize, a special gift pack full of goodies, along with a free book awarded daily.

Bio:

Kenzie Michaels resides in the Midwest with her husband, three children, and various household pets. Her fifth-grade teacher showed this avid reader how to write the stories swirling in her head, successfully unleashing her imagination upon the written word.

Kenzie is the ‘wild child’ of author Molly Daniels. They cohabitate nicely inside the brain of a woman in Indiana who’s the mother of three and ‘Aunt Molly’ to the entire neighborhood. A devout chocoholic, her hubby has learned to watch out when the characters in her head take over and not get too upset when the words are flowing and all concept of time is lost. (LOL)

My five minutes of television fame....

Spring has arrived and with it is my brand new release in the Children of Annwn series book two The Battle. How excited am I? Ridiculously super excited...

I loved writing this book for so many reasons and I love the title because bringing this book to life was a battle in itself.

Book two finds Mia facing her demons and Ryder also has to face his fears as they continue to fight Greyson, his monsters and Rhiannon. They discover new allies in the shape of a new character from Annwn, Malachi and his side kick Lucas. More secrets emerge as the boundaries between realms blur and cross over. And time is running out as a secret group is discovered that has its own sinister reasons for gaining control of the most powerful artifact from Annwn The Gilgamesh.

BLURB....

Mia's stuck in the human realm because the portal is closed, and her magic AWOL. Powerless, her sworn enemy, Greyson, kidnaps Mia ensnaring her in his spider's web with an offer to restore her magic. Oblivious to the risks, Mia accepts, but spirals into madness, believing her destiny is to retrace the footsteps of her ancestor, the evil Queen Rhiannon.

Ryder visits London with his friends, and Fusion enters the Battle of the Bands competition believing the location of the portal to be nearby,but he bewitched by a beautiful siren. In a blood-thirsty battle for control, a friend's life is sacrificed. Breaking all the rules, Ryder brings out the weapons namely ancient blades, and calls upon the Alltud, an arcane group for help.

Mia must resist Rhiannon's possession or Ryder has agree to end her life to prevent the queen gaining control of the Gilgamesh an omnipotent power, which will mean Armageddon for the humans.

It's time to put the greatest power of all to the test!

Below is the link to my T.V. appearance.....

North Andover CAM

Highlights of March!

It's Spring, although with snow still covering most of the ground and the frigid wind chills it feels anything but,  I'm so ready for the sunshine, longer days and warmer temps, aren't you?

March has been a really busy month with book two in the editor's hands it doesn't mean I get to take a break. I have been reading, studying and coming up with a draft for book three tentatively called Children of Annwn : The Power of the Gilgamesh???

WHAT do you think?

After sitting for the T.V interview in February, we had to shoot more film from one of the book group sessions to add to the background. The magazine segment will be aired in April, and I will share the link if it is not a complete disaster. The lovely Tiffany was so patient, and I hope we gave her enough to play around with. I'm not sure, I will ever feel comfortable in front of a camera but maybe with more practice?


I am actively pursuing getting my books into local libraries and will be following up with personal visits to chat about the story and why it should be accessible to everyone. I did receive wonderful news from my old local library who are happy to receive my book, which will be available very soon in Rhydypennau Library in Cardiff, Wales. I am also working on arranging at least on book signing for my visit in May, if I can get it booked in time.

Some feedback from the two local book groups. It was a brilliant experience, even if I was rather nervous as to how my FIRST EVER BOOK would be received by my peers. I was nervous and I think the groups were too, BUT I need honest feedback to get better . I hope that even if there is something a reader doesn't like about my work, there is something they like. I am more than happy for anyone to review my book, but hopefully in a constructive way  because my heart and soul has been poured into this, and you have to understand it is a learning process.

Give me something to work with!

I loved listening to the reader's viewpoint. I laughed at some comments and took on board queries or concerns that I hope to address as I gain more experience of developing my characters and plot for the further books.

It was clear to me that everyone LOVED Ryder, and I do have a soft spot for him myself. He's a hottie for sure and an alpha male as he likes to take charge and rescue his heroine BUT hopefully as you read the books, you'll see a stepping back from that as he let's Mia come into her own. Both characters go through changes. Mia transforms from the awkward whiny teenager into a strong and independent leader, but it is the strength they give to each other that makes them a force to be reckoned with.

I hope that reader's will not only be able to identify with Mia but learn to LOVE her too! 

One of the most exciting parts of having your book published for me is collaborating with a great team  who are equally excited about your book as you are. One of my favorite parts of the process is  seeing the book come to life in the beautiful art work because it gives me a visual, and I simply love it. It is also very important from a sales point of view because the front cover is the first thing readers will see, and just as it can entice a reader it can turn one away! 

It can put the cover artist under a lot of pressure, BUT thankfully I have a brilliant one namely Dawne Dominique, and I love her work.

Thank you X
DRUM ROLL

                           

Write about what you know???

I am having one of those truly surreal weeks, my youngest for the first time ever is away from home, and I feel bereft! However,  I have time to completely devote myself to my work which isn't really work because I love it so much. I never get this opportunity and it wasn't even planned.

My husband is away for the third week in a row, my teens are all occupied with girlfriends, and friends, and my youngest is away skiing!

This never happens!

Anyway, this week I had my first ever T.V. interview to be broadcast in our town of North Andover in April. The lovely Tiffany approached me after reading my article in the North Andover Patch and asked if I would like to chat about my book and writing in front of a camera, well how could I refuse???

Did I ever tell you that one of my biggest fears was public speaking? Well it is, and I used to hate it when as a student Midwife we would have to present to the group and my way of overcoming my insecurities and FEAR was to always go first.

That fear is still there, but I will not let it stop me from doing what I need to do and I keep telling myself this every-time I get scared or nervous, but it takes a lot of practice I think to feel comfortable in front of a camera knowing that your neighbors, friends, and members of the community perhaps will see you.

It was a learning experience, and I will get better! When it airs in April I will post the links...

                         

I remember being told once upon a time that when it comes to writing, write about what you know. What do you think? Well, I believe you should write about what you know and if you don't know something then you research, discover, and bloody well find out.

My second and equally exciting  piece of news was my delightful interview with my friend Kelly Flanagan a witch and psychic who shared her knowledge with me and answered the many questions that I had about magick, spells, and energy.

A fascinating afternoon. Check out her blog. Kelly's Blog

After chatting and picking her brain my book order on Amazon makes me smile, but it is so exciting as this is all research for the third book in the Children of Annwn series. In this book Mia Leronde finally accepts who she is, all the light and the dark that makes her Mia, and she learns how to use all her magick and to harness the temperamental side of her nature. She battles the evil queen Rhiannon and loses someone that she never thought she would feel sadness at losing, but realizes her destiny and embraces all that entails. I cannot wait to get started but need to read everything and finish the edits of the second book.

Every day, I'm learning, and I'm the luckiest woman alive doing what I love, and if you discover that, never let it go!

Longest Winter evah!!!

Soiree

Wow, so much to talk about!

In January, I spent time arranging a book signing, a Goodreads competition, a T.V. interview with my town cable channel which is due to be  aired in March, 2015, setting up plans for 2 book group meetings to critique Children of Annwn: The Promise planned for March, and continuing to work on my own Writers group!

On 31st January, 2015, I also submitted my second book in the Children of Annwn series entitled The Battle. I truly loved writing this second book and there are parts that are absolutely magical. I cannot hide how excited I feel about this book. It is also to me so different from the first!

Watch this space for news of it's release...

Busy, busy, on top of all the snow storms, blizzard and Hurricane warnings...with record levels of snow falling in my back garden...



THE BLURB for THE BATTLE...

Mia Leronde wishes to go home to Annwn with Ryder, Brianna and Tristan, but the usual portal is closed, and her magic has vanished.
Powerless to stop him, the perpetual thorn in her side and sworn enemy Greyson kidnaps her, but drawn into the spiders web she is ensnared with an offer to restore her magic. Oblivious to the risks, she spirals into madness, and is convinced her destiny is to follow in the footsteps of her ancestor the evil Queen Rhiannon, and when Ryder rescues her fears not even the power of his love will save her.
Ryder has demons to fight as well and when a beautiful siren controlled by Greyson sinks her claws into him with fatal consequences as they lose of one of their own the gloves come off, and the blades are drawn. n retaliation, they break all the rules by contacting the Alltud an arcane group for help as the lines between realms are blurring and war is on the horizon.
Mia must win her hardest battle yet to prevent Rhiannon gaining possession of her mind, body and soul as she wants control of the Gilgamesh an ancient artifact with unlimited power that will allow her to be immortal in the human world, bringing mankind to its knees!
It's time to show her and everyone how bad-ass she can really be


SNIPPET about half way through, Children of Annwn: The Battle...
Ask me anything but that!
His deep soulful pain filled voice pleaded. Mia chewed on her lower lip gazing at him and took the several steps that parted them bracing her hands on his stiff broad shoulders. The lift jerked to a stop.

“Warriors die in battle every day; they forfeit their lives to save others. You said you loved that about me, and I’m learning you’re right this is who I am. I want you by my side but only if you have my back. If you love me, you’ll do what I ask,” she said her heart pounding in her chest, and she prayed he didn’t simply leave her.
Ryder smoothed his thumbs over the white knuckles of her hands before taking them in his only to release them at her sides. His deep chestnut brown eyes looked into hers, and he nodded.
“I promise. I will not let Rhiannon win, but you must promise not to stop fighting her. I will not make it easy for you to give in knowing I will end her life. I love you and want you to live. Do you hear me?” he said cupping her chin and staring deeply at her.
“I will not stop fighting until my heart stops beating.”

Check out my friends store.

Soiree

I am presently researching the third book and hope to start writing soon as I'm eager to continue the momentum I was feeling as I finished the second book BUT it is hard to juggle everything all at once, pushing the first book, finalizing the second, and plotting the third. You truly have to wear many hats and not get confused as to which one you're wearing. I am tremendously proud of my loyal band of friends, my team at Secret Cravings Publishers and my readers.

2015 is going to be AWESOME.

I'm going to finish here as I have to go and shovel but my first book signing was brilliant and the snow didn't stop people turning up to support me and that was the best feeling ever! I have to thank my friend Trish Martini who set up a lovely table for me and jumped at the chance to host this event in her store.Lesson that I learned that night TAKE PICTURES before everything gets underway because I was swept up with all the chatting and didn't take enough.

North Andover Patch 

Happy New Year 2015!!!

Amazon UK paperback
Amazon UK kindle
Amazon USA kindle
Amazon UK paperback
                                

Happy New Year everyone. It is now 2015, wow, and it's already flying by fast. I know this because my diary and planner are already filling up with events. 2014, was a great year for me as a writer! I fulfilled my goal after five years of writing. I signed with Secret Craving Publishers and saw my first book released in e-book format in September, 2014. Since then, I have been juggling some social media promotion of the book and writing the second installment which I enjoy so much more.

This being a new year and wondering about my new year resolutions which I have to say I'm not a fan of mainly because by February all my good intentions of eating less and exercising more have subsided and lay forgotten. This year, I'm looking at goals that I plan to achieve this has served me well in the past!

Goals
1. Finish and submit second installment  of Children of Annwn: The Battle ?? end of January/ February.
2. Write, complete, and submit third installment of COA: The Return Home?? not sure of title May/June.
3. Finish and submit Capturing the Last Welsh Witch April/ May.
4. Finish and submit Returning to the Vineyards of Allegretti. August/ September.
5. Finish and submit The Diary of a Lonely Housewife ( Not too sure whether I like this title)
6. Draft the story for the 17 year itch...
7. To improve my writing skills, getting stronger at editing, proofreading and showing more than telling.



                                                         


News!
My first YA romance Children of Annwn: The Promise was released in print on December 25th, 2014!!! So cool. I will remember Christmas day 2014, for quite sometime.

I am working on two local book signings and will when I have formalized the dates let you know, so excited!

 I am also visiting my local libraries to arrange for them to stock my book, and I'm investigating local newspapers to gauge their interest in writing an article about said local author!!!

Ooh, I have also started a writing group with a bunch a local writers and we are having our second meeting this month. I have wanted to create this group FOREVER and although I'm busier than ever I really feel the need to chat with like minded souls. I'm stuck behind the computer far too much and really need the moral support of other writers. Plus, I love to swap and share our experiences it's a great way to learn and improve, which is another goal of mine for 2015.

I would love to host other writers on my blog, so please contact me to arrange something!