Whoseywhatsit Thursday: Computers

I have the world's crappiest computer.

Okay, that's total hyperbole, but seriously.  For a writer, my computer is utter crap.  About two years ago, I went through Computer Hell: my laptop died, I managed to get everything off of it, then my (seriously old) desktop wouldn't hook up the the internet, so a friend gave me an old PC computer she wasn't using (she'd switched to Mac), THAT computer had a sleeper virus on it, and everything on it had to be erased.

So here I am, with a computer that works, but can't really be trusted online, and doesn't have sound anymore (got deleted--don't ask), and a desktop that runs like a snail.  o.O

My birthday is coming up, and my husband wants to get me a computer, so now I am left with the age-old question:

Mac or PC?

Here's where I really have a dilemma.  I have a friend whose husband's job sells gently-used MacBooks.  But we have no idea when that will happen.  Could be soon, could be six months from now.

I have heard all the arguments about Macs being better, and how much most writers love their Macs.  But I definitely can't afford a new one.  And, although I know they're better, I am more familiar with PCs and I'm comfortable with them. 

Then again, my last new PC only lasted three years before it completely died on me, and my parents have a Mac so old the guys at the Apple Store were flabbergasted.

So what should I do, O readers?  Get a new PC laptop?  Wait for the bargain gently used one?  Sacrifice a chicken?

Tell me and share what computer you use in the comments!

Writer's Wednesday: Forming Your Own Publishing House

As many of you know, I'm in the throes of self-publishing my novel.  I had MANY author friends (including my Oasis Sisters) to lean on for help and guidance, so I thought I'd share some of what I've learned with any of you considering the same route.

One of the first things you may be wondering if you're thinking about self-publishing is why some authors take the time to set up a "publishing house," which is really nothing more than themselves.

Why bother with this, you may ask?  A number of reasons.

*  Added credibility.  Your publisher on Goodreads and Amazon won't be listed as CreateSpace or whoever else you use to print your novels.  You get to fill a publisher's name in the blank.  (With so many big houses having lesser-known imprints these days, most readers probably won't take time to distinguish you from them.)

*  You can purchase your own ISBN number.  Many companies that want to sell you an ISBN charge a huge mark-up.  The process is pretty painless and it's worth it to DIY.  Plus, you are not truly the publisher unless you purchase the ISBN yourself.

*  When you're setting up accounts with Amazon or Lightning Source, etc., they want a business name.  My Amazon user ID (like a stock symbol) is based on my publishing name, not Jessie Harrell.  It's my belief that having a publishing name makes the application process for these companies easier.

*  When you're ready to put your second, third, fourth, novels out there, you can publish them under a unified banner.  Once your "company" has multiple titles, it will be easier to get into the catalogs for Expended Distribution or be considered for purchase by libraries, etc.

*  Vanity.  If I'm being honest, I like that there's a publisher's name on the spine of my book and on the title page.  I endeavored to make my novel as closely resemble a traditionally-published novel as I could, and this just made it one step closer for me.

In case you're curious, my publishing name is Mae Day Publishing (can you tell I thought I'd need rescue?)  To do this, I registered my fictitious name with the State and ran an inexpensive ad in the local paper.  Blamo.  Now I'm a publisher.  I even got really cutesy and drew myself a logo -- this is my boss' dog, Mae, the paper-eating pooch who was really the inspiration for the name.

Got any questions?  I'm happy to drop by and answer them throughout the day.  Writers helping writers -- I'm just paying it forward.

Anyone have any other really compelling reasons to create your own publishing company before you self publish? Please share!

TBR Tuesday: ARTICLE 5

I'm a little late today, because my mind is way not on this planet right now.  :)  But I'm ecstatic to bring you the novel I can't wait for everyone to read.   I've actually already read thanks to our mutual editor, but I couldn't resist because it is awesome!

Also, Kristen is pretty awesome herself and I'll be buying a few copies to give away here and on my own personal blog when it comes out so make sure to come back  on Valentine's Day 2012 to find details on that.

I love dystopians (obviously), but this was the only one that got my blood boiling a mere 5 pages into the MS. I was at my daughter's pediatrician raving to the doctor about how AWFUL the government in this society is, which sparked a 20-minute conversation about the possibility of it happening to us in real life.  I did not like thinking of that possibility, but that's the point of books, to make it easier to talk about an uncomfortable subject.

Anyway, here's the deets on it (from Kristen's website and goodreads):

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different.
In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs—like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes—and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

No thank you.

*borrowed from a DeviantArt artist*

Have you ever finished a book and were really, REALLY sorry you went along for the ride? Yeah. I'm riding that Struggle Bus right now. I just closed the cover on a book that felt like a total car wreck.

First thought: wishing I had the hours back I spent reading it.

Second thought/s: contrived, artifice, ridiculous, insulting, riding the cash cow till it spits...

Third thought: What can I learn from that bit of bonfire fodder?

Things I've learned. (Can be construed as tips...)
1.) Readers are smarter than given credit. They are going to see the plot points that aren't right and it will turn them off.
2.) Contrived conflict and tension are visible.
3.) In regards to 1 and 2, when these things occur in a book, readers will feel insulted.
4.) Sometimes, it's best to let a good thing end. It gives you a chance to move on to something even greater.
5.) If you must continue past the point of a logical and satisfying end, please build on what's established and don't create new things not mentioned in the previous books. It feels very false.
And finally...
6.) Maybe I'm just a picky bitch. But I'm glad I didn't pay for that hardcover rubbish. And I will not recommend that book/series to anyone. Ever.

I'm sure we've all read stinkers. Any one learn anything good for a bad book they'd like to share?

The Art of Conflict

For the most part, when I begin writing a new story of any kind or length I keep in mind what draws me into a tale. I think about characters, natural effects, inner workings, motivations/purpose, misunderstandings, settings/world building, and the physical.

So what enhances the elements I listed about?  Tension. Suspense. Mystery. Questioning. 

Basically CONFLICT. The intensity or subtlety of conflict surely varies from scene to scene, chapter to chapter, story to story. But what's most important is that you use it.

So how do we thread conflict throughout our stories without being too obvious about it?

Let's break it down into seven parts, because I like the number seven. I can halve it perfectly, placing three on one side and three on the other.

1. COC or Characteristics of Character - develop personality traits of characters that differ from each other. Put them in opposition. Use one character's demeanor against another's. Character changes due to past experiences can butt heads with the current reality, making for great tension and suspense.

2. Natural Effects - differences in gender are always useful and can be fun to play with. The weather or a specific plight in your world building can work, too. Family dynamics such as parents, other siblings, and extended family or friends can also be used to deepen a story line, which can take on a new life if used in subplots.

3. Inner Workings - this is where a story can really take off, drawing the reader inside the character and making them care. That is so important. Make them care. (Exercise to do while writing: think of your own life & experiences. What emotional conflicts have you or someone close to you experienced? What about mental struggles. For instance, the kid in school who just can't grasp the concept of mathematics or despises gym class. Other interesting areas in our inner realm could be self-doubt, guilt, pompousness, no-drive, depression, fear...we could go on and on.)

Middle/Balance Conflict 

7. Motivation/Purpose - you might think this could be listed under Inner and it could. But I wanted to separate it because of its importance. A character and a story plot must have a reason for existing in the first place or once again...who cares? And who decides on said motivation? The writer. So ask yourself question like:

• what are my motivations for writing this story? Do I have a purpose, a lesson to teach? Am I sending a greater message?

3. Misunderstandings - Does it frustrate you when a writer sets up subplots to simply confuse or muddle the main plot, motivations, and purpose of the story? It sure does me, but it is extremely effective to keep me reading or watching. NOTE: but it must have a purpose and move the story forward.

2. Settings/World Building - Setting and world building can give imbalance to a story when need be, creating a sense of urgency, heightening the tension, and adding to the suspense. Taking two characters, who are already at odds with each other because of any of the above, and transplanting them in an unfamiliar environment can show character weaknesses and flaws.

1. The Physical - it could be a knockdown fist fight or a heated argument. You might use a group of people rioting or kids at a school pep rally or event gone wrong. Conflict can also be physically found on the romantic front, especially when it appears one half of the couple is playing hard to get or genially doesn't like the other. Mix in some physical meddling from another character, and you could have one heck of a conflict.

When developing conflict, remember it's a gradual succession of building blocks to keep the reader engaged. You have an infinite number of blocks to play with. Use them.

TBR Tuesday: Wanderlove

Wanderlove has been one of my favorite ARCs to read this year. I simply adore Kirsten Hubbard, and this book is amazing!! So, even though this book isn't coming out until March - you should go pre-order it NOW or add it to your Goodreads account so you don't forget!!

Wanderlove is a contemporary novel that follows Bria as she travels to Central America in a journey of self-discovery and to escape some of the things that have been happening back home. What she doesn't expect is to have an adventure of a lifetime! If you read Like Mandarin, you know Kirsten has a beautiful way of describing her setting and making it a character on its own - and this book is no exception. If that's not enough, she also drew the pictures inside the novel.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story

Make sure to pick up this book when it comes out, and in the meantime you can find Kirsten on her blog and on Twitter.

Critiquing the Query

Critiquing the query.  Sort of sounds like "romancing the stone."  And yes, that's a pretty random comparison, but it IS Whoseywhatsit Thursday after all.  If I can't be random today, then pretty much all randomness has got to be out.

* Note: I have never actually seen this movie *

Today, a brave soul who shall not remain nameless (ahem, Jennifer Hartsock) has shared her query with the "Oasis Sisters" (as we like to refer to ourselves) and we are offering up our feedback. We had LOTS more feedback to offer Jennifer and we sent ALL of our comments to her.  (If you win one of our crit contests, we'll do the same for you too.)  But, in the interest of blog space (and reader fatigue), we're posting a more condensed version of our critiques -- just to give you a flavor.  Our comments all appear in red.

If you have any other thoughts to add, I'm sure Jennifer would love to hear them.  What did you think?  Do our suggestions work?  Or are we off-base?

ORIGINAL QUERY:

Dear Ms./Mr. Agent,

I’m seeking representation for my 62,000 word YA novel, Battleground, which portrays the real and sometimes harsh realities of growing up in today’s society.

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Dawson has always been best friends with God, until she meets Gabriel Parker, an intriguing, yet self-destructive atheist. Lilly is determined to reform him, but doesn’t expect to fall in love. Parker unveils kinks in her faith, but as their relationship grows, he is unexpectedly influenced by her kind heart. When Parker is arrested for possession and sent to a boarding school, Lilly loses faith, and now, she can’t figure out where she stands with God. Is Parker’s fate in his own hands, or bound to his own conflicted destiny? When Parker is released early, he seems to slip further into the arms of trouble. Now, Lilly must decide where her faith truly lies; in intriguing though destructive relationship, or rediscovering faith, love and identity for herself.

I received first place for the Elli Writes Monthly Writing Contest in August of 2011. While earning my B.A. in English and minor in business, I work as an English tutor for the community college, as well as opinion editor of the college’s weekly student newspaper, The Commuter. I offer critique and editorial services, and have edited fiction and short stories for publication. I am a member of the non-profit organization YALITCHAT, and maintain a writer’s blog.

Thank you for considering Battleground to add to your list of books.

Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Hartsock

JESSICA’S CRITIQUE (Jess had the most to say, so I'm starting with her - the rest of our critiques are condensed.)

Hi Jennifer!  Thanks for sharing your query with us for critique. My comments will be in red. 

Dear Ms./Mr. Agent,

I’m seeking representation for my 62,000 word YA novel, Battleground, which portrays the real and sometimes harsh realities of growing up in today’s society.  Starting off with this is fine, I know my agent prefers to have this sentence first, but bare in mind that some prefer for this sentence to be below the synopsis.  Also, I think you should be a bit more revealing on your genre here. It’s YA and it sounds like a contemporary romance from this sentence, but when you read further it seems very much an Inspirational read. Also, I'd really like to see more about what makes this story unique.  Realities of growing up is very broad.  How about mentioning what sets it apart?  In your case, I'd say the religious explorations of the main character. Since that is such a specialized genre and not everyone can sell to that market you’ll want to state that up front and probably target only agents/publishers that work and have contacts in that genre. And that leads to this would be a great place to put the specific personal reason(s) you queried this agent.

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Dawson has always been best friends with God, until she meets Gabriel Parker, an intriguing, yet self-destructive atheist. I haven’t read your story, so I don’t what your voice sounds like, which could be a problem for you when you query because some agents only want the query, which means the voice has to come through in the query. This also sounds a bit “textbook” instead of hooky. Some questions to consider: How would Lilly tell a story about herself?  Where's the voice?  Can you think of someway to pep this up? Lilly is determined to reform him, but doesn’t expect to fall in love. Parker unveils kinks in her faith, but as their relationship grows, he is unexpectedly influenced by her kind heart. When Parker is arrested for possession and sent to a boarding school, Lilly loses faith, and now, she can’t figure out where she stands with God. Is Parker’s fate in his own hands, or bound to his own conflicted destiny? When Parker is released early, he seems to slip further into the arms of trouble. Now, Lilly must decide where her faith truly lies; in intriguing though destructive relationship, or rediscovering faith, love and identity for herself.

You’ve definitely done a great job of synopsizing (is that a word? LOL) the story, but it’s missing that “wow factor.”  And I don’t know what’s at stake for Lilly.  I don’t feel like I care enough about what’s happening to want to read the story. So basically I want to know What's at risk for Lilly?  I understand 

she's exploring her relationship with God, and that until now it’s never been an issue of what it is, but that's more of a theme than a plot.  At the end of this paragraph, I want to know what's at risk for her.  If she chooses Parker, will she become self-destructive as well? If she chooses God, does she lose Parker? Also, I kinda wonder why she can’t have both. What kinks does Parker share with her, that would make her question her faith and also why can’t she be with him if she believes in God?

Something to consider when thinking about this is something my CP said to me:  “The stakes in a romance don't have to be the fate of the world, but

there needs to be something to lose or no one will invest in the outcome.”

I received first place for the Elli Writes Monthly Writing Contest in August of 2011. While earning my B.A. in English and minor in business, I work as an English tutor for the community college, as well as opinion editor of the college’s weekly student newspaper, The Commuter. I offer critique and editorial services, and have edited fiction and short stories for publication. I am a member of the non-profit organization YALITCHAT, and maintain a writer’s blog.

Thank you for considering Battleground to add to your list of books.

And now onto the credit section… Not all of these are going to be something an agent is going to care about and since their time is very limited we need to make this as succinct and simple as possible.  If this were my bio paragraph, it would read something like this:

“I am currently pursuing a B.A. in English at fill-in-the-blank college, where I also serve as the opinion editor of the student newspaper.  I am an active member of YALITCHAT.  (This may or may not be considered a credit depending on the agent. Just as an FYI.)

I look forward to hearing from you.”

Don't be ashamed of not having credits.  I didn’t when I found my agent and it didn’t matter one way or the other. Everyone has to start somewhere

ANN’S CRITIQUE

I’m seeking representation for my 62,000 word YA novel, Battleground, which portrays the real and sometimes harsh realities of growing up in today’s society. (Well worded, but doesn't really say anything about the STORY, just the concept. This sentence needs to be a hook to get the agent to want to read more. I recommend trying to employ some form of Nathan Bransford's Pitch Formula, which is:The OPENING CONFLICT happens to the MAIN CHARACTER, they have to OVERCOME THE CONFLICT to COMPLETE THE QUEST. )

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Dawson has always been best friends with God, until she meets Gabriel Parker, an intriguing, yet self-destructive atheist. (I'm not familiar with religious contemporary stories, but this feels...dry to me. I know a novel is difficult to boil down to a paragraph, but you have to make it intriguing enough to maintain interest.) Lilly is determined to reform him, but doesn’t expect to fall in love. Parker unveils kinks in her faith (how does he do this?), but as their relationship grows, he is unexpectedly influenced by her kind heart. When Parker is arrested for possession and sent to a boarding school, Lilly loses faith (why does she?), and now, she can’t figure out where she stands with God. Is Parker’s fate in his own hands, or bound to his own conflicted destiny? When Parker is released early, he seems to slip further into the arms of trouble. Now, Lilly must decide where her faith truly lies; in an intriguing though destructive relationship, or rediscovering faith, love and identity for herself. (I feel like I've only gotten bare bones, and NOT what would cause a girl of such faith to lose it. I suggest amping that angle up for the needed intrigue.)

NIKKI’S CRITIQUE

Overall thoughts:

* For some reason this query felt very clinical to me. There wasn't any kind of voice for the characters. I realize it's religious in nature, but it almost seems like the book would be very "preachy" based on the query.

* If I understand the premise ... good girl meets bad boy and wants to convert him. Bad boy breaks holes in good girl's staunch "good" beliefs. Bad boy gets in trouble. Good girl must face whether she truly is good.  If so, it seems a very overdone premise.  Which is fine, but you have to make sure yours is unique enough. What makes your book original?  That's what you'll want to showcase in your query.  Are there paranormal elements?  Is there an amazing voice (if so, show it)?  Show what differentiates your novel from others out there.

JESSIE’S CRITIQUE:

I’m seeking representation for my 62,000 word YA novel, Battleground, which portrays the real and sometimes harsh realities of growing up in today’s society. [Two things. 1 - I’m not sure this description does your storyline justice. 2 - maybe just a personal preference, but I prefer to see this summary paragraph btwn the detailed description and your credentials. provides a natural transition/break, IMO]

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Dawson has always been best friends with God, until she meets Gabriel Parker, an intriguing, yet self-destructive atheist. Lilly is determined to reform him, but doesn’t expect to fall in love. Parker unveils kinks in her faith, but as their relationship grows, he is unexpectedly influenced by her kind heart. [does this mean he is drawn to  her faith, or just softens up around the edges? a little vague]  

[suggest paragraph break here]

LARISSA’S CRITIQUE

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Dawson has always been best friends with God, until she meets Gabriel Parker, an intriguing, yet self-destructive atheist. Lilly is determined to reform him [why? Does she feel a connection to him, feel it’s her job as a Christian, does the Holy Spirit move her, ?], but doesn’t expect to fall in love [This may come a bit too soon.  Maybe just “doesn’t expect to discover feelings for him” or something like that?]. Parker unveils kinks in her faith, but as their relationship grows, he is unexpectedly influenced by her kind heart. [I’m wondering about the juxtaposition of the sentences here.  Parker is influenced by her kind heart, but in the next sentence he’s getting arrested for possession… I don’t know.  It may be okay, but think about separating them.] When Parker is arrested for possession and sent to a boarding school, [military school?  Juvie? Boarding school sounds too luxe.] Lilly loses faith, and now, she [cut “now, she”] can’t figure out where she stands with God. Is Parker’s fate in his own hands, or bound to his own conflicted destiny? [This confuses me a bit. Can you reword this?  Also, I get that a boyfriend moving away is devastating, but I wonder about Lilly as a character if this makes her question her faith.  Especially when Parker actually did something wrong.] When Parker is released early, he seems to [cut “seems to”] slip further into the arms of trouble. Now, Lilly must decide where her faith truly lies; in [an] intriguing though destructive relationship, or rediscovering faith, love and identity [maybe reverse love and identity so that we understand it is love for herself she is rediscovering] for herself.

SHERI’S CRITIQUE

I’m seeking representation for my 62,000 word YA novel, Battleground, which portrays the real and sometimes harsh realities of growing up in today’s society. I know some agents like this info up front, while others prefer to dive into your story. Just do your research before sending to individual agents.

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Dawson has always been best friends with God. That is until she meets Gabriel Parker, an intriguing, yet self-destructive atheist. 

Writer's Wednesday: Soggy middles

We’ve covered beginnings. We’ve covered endings But we always seem to pass over that middle.  But it’s just as important, right?  So why do writers skip over talking about them?  Because they suck!  LOL.

By far, I’d say the middle is always the toughest for me to keep writing.  With the beginning, while the most difficult for me to get right, I’m usually excited to start writing again, so I breeze right through it.  The end, I’m excited I’m thisclose to finishing, so I can breeze through that, too (relatively speaking of course.)  But those middles?  Yeah. Hate ‘em.  LOL.

It’s always at this point where I think I suck (and probably do) and I’m boring and my characters are awful. The plot doesn’t work. Blah. Blah. Blah. The middles make me want to give up writing, color my hair, get plastic surgery done on my face and move out to some distant island never to be heard from again.

Even with plotting and self-set deadlines, the middles are the pits for me and it’s taken me this long to figure out why.  Mostly it’s because by this time, the newness of the MS has worn off.  It’s like when you got that new doll or videogame as a kid. 

For days you carted it around with you everywhere. You played with it constantly. From the minute you woke up to the minute you went to sleep that toy wasn’t far from you, physically and mentally.  But then, the newness wears off. You’re tired of thinking about it. There’s a different maybe newer toy that you want to play with more. And so you just want to put it off to the side, but your mom (or other) spent a lot of money on this new toy and she wants to see you play with it because otherwise she’s “never going to buy you another toy again” because she wants to get her money out of it.  So you force yourself to play with it, dreading just SEEING it. 

Sound familiar?  Well, that’s how the middles feel for me. The newness has worn off, BUT I’ve invested so much into it already I have to keep going for it to pay off.   I want something to show for all the hard work I’ve done up until that point.  So I open the document like a good girl every morning and force myself to write until eventually I realize I’ve either finished or I’m thisclose to finishing and I’m excited all over again.

So, what’s the secret to getting through those soggy middles?  Keep writing.  Don’t think about what you’re writing (too much anyway.  Even though it helps if you know where you’re going.)

I know.  Easier said than done, right?  Well, the best thing I’ve found for me is to do writing challenges with other writers.  I personally like the #1k1hr sprints on twitter, but I’ve heard the write or die or word war sprints work just as well. 

The reason these work so well is that humans are naturally competitive so it gives you that spark to write again and the point isn’t necessarily to write good, but to write a lot.  So quantity over quality.  By doing that, you don’t start second guessing yourself.  You just write and worry about what needs to be changed, cut, or added to later.

In other words, it allows you to keep playing, even when all you want to do is put that toy back on the shelf and never see it again.

So Q4U, what do YOU do to get past those soggy middles? 

TBR TUESDAY: The Iron Knight by Julia Kagawa

Okay, so first let me be honest here. I avoided this series for a looong time. I mean... come on, faeries? Way over done. And anyone that knows me knows I am not into those prissy elitists with sparkly wings. Thank God The Iron Fey is SO not that kind of faeries--I found that out the day I needed something different to read and decided to bite the bullet and order The Iron King. I've been following Harlequin Teen on Twitter forever, and I figured I'd listen to all the hype about this series. Let me tell you, I am SO glad I did! I devoured the first two. I need to read The Iron Queen ASAP.

From the enterthefaeryworld.com website (where you can see the superstupendousabsolutelyfreakingamazing BOOK TRAILER!):

Ash is about to learn something that will change everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

From the Harlequin Blog(where you can also read an excerpt!!):

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn’darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court.

And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl—smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end—a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

More links:

Author's website

Purchase The Iron Fey on

IndieBound

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Whoseywhatsit Thursday: Crit Style

Here's a big thumbs'up for our second edition of Whoseywhatsit Thursday. *thumbs wave & the crowd cheers*

We're looking for writers, who are in the market for a free critique. Any volunteers? What are we offering this month?

Easy ~ a query critique.

We all know the tug of war that attacks a writer's innards at the thought of writing a query or--gosh, even worse--a synopsis. *shivers* But we're here to help.

Anyone interested in having their query critiqued by the Oasis Sisters please leave a comment below. Random.org will choose the lucky recipient, who will be notified via email. So please make sure to leave your email addies in the comment section!

Good Luck!

Writer's Wednesday: The Revision Process of Cutting

I'm in the middle of my third revision on my manuscript and it's a pretty heavy overhaul ... changing up a significant portion of the second half and adding in several new scenes.


But I also need to cut scenes for balance. And that's where it gets tricky. See, I'm not one of those authors who has a first draft of 120,000 words and they can cut at will, hitting the delete key with abandon and saving them as "teasers" or "deleted scenes" for their blog. No, I'm lucky if I hit 65,000 words, and then I'm forced to bulk up. Adding scenes is great. Deleting? Not so much.

So, here's what I'm doing...

I'm starting small. In my edits yesterday I attacked a scene that may need to go altogether, but I'm just not ready to do it yet. It helps build the romance, shows off some world-building, etc. I can probably incorporate most of that elsewhere, but for now, it's staying in ... well at least half of it. I was able to delete a good chunk of it.

It's like the cutting room floor of a movie studio. The scene is complete, but at the moment it's a heck of a lot smaller. I took out words, sentences, even paragraphs to get to the point faster ... and then get out.

Maybe next time I'll cut it in half again!

Do you have problems with cutting in your manuscript? What are your tips for deleting scenes?

TBR Tuesday: Between the Sea and Sky + giveaway!

My friend Jaclyn Dolamore's book Between the Sea and Sky comes out October 25, 2011.  This is a beautiful, romantic story about a mermaid and a winged guy.

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.
And, because Jackie is a friend of mine, I got to read an ARC!  I really loved this story, and I think you will, too, so I am going to GIVE AWAY my signed and doodled ARC.

To enter, just comment with your email addy.  I will choose a random winner from all the entries at 1pm EST on Friday.  Feel free to tweet, blog, or facebook for one extra entry each.

And make sure to add Between the Sea and Sky to your TBR list!

The giveaway is now closed.  The winner is sablelexi!  Congrats!